What an interesting video on economics! Economic policy differences share a long history. Watch this rap video and maybe you'll walk away knowing more about the boom and bust of economics.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Want a Visit From a Government Approved Census Worker?
In the event you are not real interested in having a federally approved census worker knock on your door and ask questions, be sure to mail in your census by Apr 16.
For the first time, the Census Bureau even sent a duplicate set of forms to some areas. And now a PSA I've seen attempts to place blame (in a round about way) on those who don't send back the census as wasting taxpayer money.
In all the census forms I have filled out over the last years, I just don't remember all the extra hype and tax money being spent to remind residents to mail it in.
I have to ask. Who is paying for this "March to the Mailbox"? Or maybe I already know the answer.
Seven-day Countdown Begins: Mail Back Census Forms by April 16
/PRNewswire/ -- The following event advisory is issued by the U.S. Census Bureau:
On April 10th, the seven-day clock starts for residents to return 2010 Census forms by mail. Those who do not mail back the form by April 16th may be visited by a census worker starting in May.
With just seven days left for households to mail back their 2010 Census forms, thousands of volunteers in more than 6,000 neighborhoods plan to participate in "March to the Mailbox" parades, marches, walks, rallies and motorcades Saturday designed to remind people that it's not too late to mail back their forms.
These grassroots efforts, led by census partners, volunteers and local residents, are being held nationwide in neighborhoods with low mail participation rates -- from Albuquerque to Worchester and Los Angeles to Long Island. During events, volunteers and community leaders will come together in high traffic areas to remind residents that it is not too late to mail back their Census forms and encourage those who have delayed to "March to the Mailbox" and mail it back today.
For the first time, the Census Bureau even sent a duplicate set of forms to some areas. And now a PSA I've seen attempts to place blame (in a round about way) on those who don't send back the census as wasting taxpayer money.
In all the census forms I have filled out over the last years, I just don't remember all the extra hype and tax money being spent to remind residents to mail it in.
I have to ask. Who is paying for this "March to the Mailbox"? Or maybe I already know the answer.
Seven-day Countdown Begins: Mail Back Census Forms by April 16
/PRNewswire/ -- The following event advisory is issued by the U.S. Census Bureau:
On April 10th, the seven-day clock starts for residents to return 2010 Census forms by mail. Those who do not mail back the form by April 16th may be visited by a census worker starting in May.
With just seven days left for households to mail back their 2010 Census forms, thousands of volunteers in more than 6,000 neighborhoods plan to participate in "March to the Mailbox" parades, marches, walks, rallies and motorcades Saturday designed to remind people that it's not too late to mail back their forms.
These grassroots efforts, led by census partners, volunteers and local residents, are being held nationwide in neighborhoods with low mail participation rates -- from Albuquerque to Worchester and Los Angeles to Long Island. During events, volunteers and community leaders will come together in high traffic areas to remind residents that it is not too late to mail back their Census forms and encourage those who have delayed to "March to the Mailbox" and mail it back today.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Census Data- Used for What During War Time?
Being a good law abiding citizen, I opened up the second letter today regarding the 2010 census. The first letter was just informing me the census would be taken. Ok. Was this a huge waste of money in a tight (or any) economy?
So, I opened up the census and looked at it. It's the short form, which means they are only asking for your name, rank, age and race. How will this information be used?
According to the insert, the information can not be used by law enforcement or by tax collection folks. Hmmm. Really? It's only to decide how much money your neighborhood gets for children and the elderly? It's only to identify how many Representatives are to be in Congress from your state?
The census bureau has in the past given information found on the census to the federal government for purposes other than law enforcement or tax collection. What? It has been claimed the census bureau gave info on residents to the government during World War I so they could look for draft dodgers. Hmmm. It has been claimed the census bureau gave info on Japanese American citizens for the infamous detention camps on American soil during World War II. Is this true? Did the phone ring over at the big boss's house saying, "Hey, I've got some people you may want to round up?" Did the big boss decide the information was needed to secure America?
I don't know if the claims are accurate or not, but it certainly gives me chills just imaging how the information could be used by those who may be in a position to abuse power given them. After all, we are in a time of war against terrorism. Hmmmm.
Another fun little tidbit I've heard is there is no long form this time around. So, genealogy types who delve into the census years of old will be mightily disappointed come 2082.
Guess I'll get out my blue or black pen so I can fill in the blanks. Just too bad there won't be anyone coming around to fill out all the blanks in previous census years with a completely illegible writing skill or with guesses on how old the residents are since the neighbors were supposed to know!
So, I opened up the census and looked at it. It's the short form, which means they are only asking for your name, rank, age and race. How will this information be used?
According to the insert, the information can not be used by law enforcement or by tax collection folks. Hmmm. Really? It's only to decide how much money your neighborhood gets for children and the elderly? It's only to identify how many Representatives are to be in Congress from your state?
The census bureau has in the past given information found on the census to the federal government for purposes other than law enforcement or tax collection. What? It has been claimed the census bureau gave info on residents to the government during World War I so they could look for draft dodgers. Hmmm. It has been claimed the census bureau gave info on Japanese American citizens for the infamous detention camps on American soil during World War II. Is this true? Did the phone ring over at the big boss's house saying, "Hey, I've got some people you may want to round up?" Did the big boss decide the information was needed to secure America?
I don't know if the claims are accurate or not, but it certainly gives me chills just imaging how the information could be used by those who may be in a position to abuse power given them. After all, we are in a time of war against terrorism. Hmmmm.
Another fun little tidbit I've heard is there is no long form this time around. So, genealogy types who delve into the census years of old will be mightily disappointed come 2082.
Guess I'll get out my blue or black pen so I can fill in the blanks. Just too bad there won't be anyone coming around to fill out all the blanks in previous census years with a completely illegible writing skill or with guesses on how old the residents are since the neighbors were supposed to know!
Monday, March 15, 2010
End of Life Care Rationing?
What do you envision when your time comes to get ready for the exit from the breathing tax paying world to that of the pushing up daisy world? No matter whether you are a firm believer in "quality vs quantity" or in the "I want to go peacefully" mode, you will no doubt find this debate of interest. Why should the government decide who lives and who dies? Why should the government be involved in such a personal private decision?
Does this subject give you chills? It certainly gives them to me as we wait and see if the government is successful in taking over health care by the reform bill on the table.
Thought you'd want to follow this debate of the analyists for the government potentially using Medicare patients as a way to ration, and therefore, "contain" medical costs.
Does the U.S. Need to Ration Costly End-of-Life Care?
/PRNewswire/ -- With skyrocketing Medicare costs contributing to record-setting budget deficits, does the United States need to ration costly end-of-life care? This compelling topic will be the focus of an upcoming debate produced by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in partnership with MacNeil/Lehrer Productions and The National Press Club.
The debate will take place at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, March 24 at 7:00 pm ET. It will be webcast live at www.millercenter.org and air later on PBS stations across the country.
Debaters include:
-- Ken Connor, Chairman, Center for a Just Society, Gov. Jeb Bush's
Attorney in Terri Schiavo case
-- Marie Hilliard, Director of Bioethics and Public Policy, National
Catholic Bioethics Center
-- Dr. Ira Byock, Director of Palliative Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Medical Center, Author, "Dying Well"
-- Arthur Caplan, Director, Center for Bioethics, University of
Pennsylvania
Susan Dentzer, Editor-in-Chief of "Health Affairs" and a "PBS NewsHour" analyst, will moderate the debate.
With more than one-fourth of Medicare expenses going to medical treatment in patients' last year of life, debaters will argue what, if anything, the government should do to contain costs. Should the government spend less on costly end-of-life procedures and instead use these resources to care for more patients? Would it be better to ration by choice and let patients and their doctors decide on end-of-life care, such as living wills and pain management? What would be the social implications of a rationing policy? Would the government be deciding who is worth saving and who is not?
This debate will be followed later this spring by debates on the cost of college moderated by Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for "PBS NewsHour" and on the impact of the Internet on democracy moderated by Robin MacNeil of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions.
The Miller Center of Public Affairs is a leading nonpartisan public policy institution aimed at bringing together engaged citizens, scholars, members of the media and government officials to focus on issues of national importance to the governance of the United States, with a special interest in the American presidency.
Does this subject give you chills? It certainly gives them to me as we wait and see if the government is successful in taking over health care by the reform bill on the table.
Thought you'd want to follow this debate of the analyists for the government potentially using Medicare patients as a way to ration, and therefore, "contain" medical costs.
Does the U.S. Need to Ration Costly End-of-Life Care?
/PRNewswire/ -- With skyrocketing Medicare costs contributing to record-setting budget deficits, does the United States need to ration costly end-of-life care? This compelling topic will be the focus of an upcoming debate produced by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in partnership with MacNeil/Lehrer Productions and The National Press Club.
The debate will take place at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, March 24 at 7:00 pm ET. It will be webcast live at www.millercenter.org and air later on PBS stations across the country.
Debaters include:
-- Ken Connor, Chairman, Center for a Just Society, Gov. Jeb Bush's
Attorney in Terri Schiavo case
-- Marie Hilliard, Director of Bioethics and Public Policy, National
Catholic Bioethics Center
-- Dr. Ira Byock, Director of Palliative Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Medical Center, Author, "Dying Well"
-- Arthur Caplan, Director, Center for Bioethics, University of
Pennsylvania
Susan Dentzer, Editor-in-Chief of "Health Affairs" and a "PBS NewsHour" analyst, will moderate the debate.
With more than one-fourth of Medicare expenses going to medical treatment in patients' last year of life, debaters will argue what, if anything, the government should do to contain costs. Should the government spend less on costly end-of-life procedures and instead use these resources to care for more patients? Would it be better to ration by choice and let patients and their doctors decide on end-of-life care, such as living wills and pain management? What would be the social implications of a rationing policy? Would the government be deciding who is worth saving and who is not?
This debate will be followed later this spring by debates on the cost of college moderated by Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for "PBS NewsHour" and on the impact of the Internet on democracy moderated by Robin MacNeil of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions.
The Miller Center of Public Affairs is a leading nonpartisan public policy institution aimed at bringing together engaged citizens, scholars, members of the media and government officials to focus on issues of national importance to the governance of the United States, with a special interest in the American presidency.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Brit Hume Says It Loud and Says It Proud
Good for him. Hopefully, others will continue their journey further as they seek The Truth and The Way....
On 'O'Reilly', Brit Hume Reaffirms His Faith; Tells Tiger Woods He Should to Turn to Christianity
On 'O'Reilly', Brit Hume Reaffirms His Faith; Tells Tiger Woods He Should to Turn to Christianity
Thursday, January 7, 2010
National Effort to Amend the Constitution Launched
Thought this interesting----
/PRNewswire/ -- A national effort to add ten specific amendments to the Constitution of the United States was launched this week when the nation's 7,300 state legislators received the book "10 Amendments for Freedom" along with information on how to convene a Constitutional Convention.
The effort is being spearheaded by 10 Amendments for Freedom, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, to provide permanent restraints upon the federal government.
"The initial goal is to have the state legislatures vote to have Congress convene a Constitutional Convention to propose ten specific amendments be added to the Constitution," stated William H. Fruth, Founder and National Director. "After the amendments are proposed by the convention, they will need to be ratified by three-fourths of the states."
The proposed Constitutional amendments include the following topics:
1. Require the federal government to have a balanced budget and stop
incurring debt.
2. Repay the national debt over a 50-year period.
3. Force Congress to be more transparent regarding the legislative
process.
4. Enable the president to have "line-item veto" authority.
5. Limit the number of terms a person can serve in Congress.
6. Mandate Congress control illegal immigration.
7. Provide a legal framework to prevent becoming a bilingual nation.
8. Prevent foreign laws and courts from having authority over the American
people.
9. Restrain the growth of the federal government and prevent "socialism."
10. Allow for the presence of "God" in the public domain.
"The Constitutional Convention will be the most important political event held in 200 years," Fruth continued. "It will reaffirm the belief the American people have in individual liberty and freedom and that government is created to serve the people, not control their lives."
In order to amend the Constitution, an amendment must first be formally "proposed." There are two ways to propose an amendment.
Either Congress, by two-thirds of the vote of both the House and the Senate, or the delegates at a Constitutional Convention may propose amendments.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times. Each amendment was proposed by Congress.
"Since most of the amendments place limits on Congress, it is not likely Congress will propose them," Fruth continued. "As a result, a Constitutional Convention called by the states is needed."
Article V. of the Constitution states that upon the "application" of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states, Congress shall convene a Constitutional Convention.
After the convention is convened, the delegates will decide if each of the amendments should be proposed for ratification.
If they are proposed, 38 states must then ratify them in order for an amendment to become part of the Constitution. The convention itself cannot change the Constitution.
Information regarding this effort and the text of the amendments is posted at http://www.10amendments.org/.
/PRNewswire/ -- A national effort to add ten specific amendments to the Constitution of the United States was launched this week when the nation's 7,300 state legislators received the book "10 Amendments for Freedom" along with information on how to convene a Constitutional Convention.
The effort is being spearheaded by 10 Amendments for Freedom, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, to provide permanent restraints upon the federal government.
"The initial goal is to have the state legislatures vote to have Congress convene a Constitutional Convention to propose ten specific amendments be added to the Constitution," stated William H. Fruth, Founder and National Director. "After the amendments are proposed by the convention, they will need to be ratified by three-fourths of the states."
The proposed Constitutional amendments include the following topics:
1. Require the federal government to have a balanced budget and stop
incurring debt.
2. Repay the national debt over a 50-year period.
3. Force Congress to be more transparent regarding the legislative
process.
4. Enable the president to have "line-item veto" authority.
5. Limit the number of terms a person can serve in Congress.
6. Mandate Congress control illegal immigration.
7. Provide a legal framework to prevent becoming a bilingual nation.
8. Prevent foreign laws and courts from having authority over the American
people.
9. Restrain the growth of the federal government and prevent "socialism."
10. Allow for the presence of "God" in the public domain.
"The Constitutional Convention will be the most important political event held in 200 years," Fruth continued. "It will reaffirm the belief the American people have in individual liberty and freedom and that government is created to serve the people, not control their lives."
In order to amend the Constitution, an amendment must first be formally "proposed." There are two ways to propose an amendment.
Either Congress, by two-thirds of the vote of both the House and the Senate, or the delegates at a Constitutional Convention may propose amendments.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times. Each amendment was proposed by Congress.
"Since most of the amendments place limits on Congress, it is not likely Congress will propose them," Fruth continued. "As a result, a Constitutional Convention called by the states is needed."
Article V. of the Constitution states that upon the "application" of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states, Congress shall convene a Constitutional Convention.
After the convention is convened, the delegates will decide if each of the amendments should be proposed for ratification.
If they are proposed, 38 states must then ratify them in order for an amendment to become part of the Constitution. The convention itself cannot change the Constitution.
Information regarding this effort and the text of the amendments is posted at http://www.10amendments.org/.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Freddie and Rahm
A very interesting story has appeared about Freddie Mac and Rahm Emanuel.
Thought you'd be interested in reading it as well.
Will anything come of it? Just wondering.....
http://www.opednews.com/articles/2/Jane-Hamsher-Grover-Norqu-by-Jane-Hamsher-091224-642.html
Thought you'd be interested in reading it as well.
Will anything come of it? Just wondering.....
http://www.opednews.com/articles/2/Jane-Hamsher-Grover-Norqu-by-Jane-Hamsher-091224-642.html
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
We The People- New Hit Song by Ray Stevens
Love American values? Remember "The Streak"?
You are gonna love this awesome song on Obamacare by Ray Stevens!
You are gonna love this awesome song on Obamacare by Ray Stevens!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Will States Stand Up to Big Brother Taxes for Healthcare?
Will the states listen to their population or will the states realize that the new tax burdens each state (other than Nebraska) will have to impose upon their citizens will be too high for the taxpayers? Will the states stand up to Big Brother Healthcare?
Just wondering....
I thought this opinion piece very interesting. Guess I'll be contacting my local boys to see what they have in mind to do to protect our state.
Health Care Nullification: Things have just gotten underway
21. DEC, 2009
by Michael Boldin
For the past few days, I’ve received loads of emails urging me to get active regarding the healthcare vote – most of which had a subject line similar to: “Last Chance to Stop National Healthcare!”
Well, if you believe the only way to protect your rights is by begging federal politicians to do what you want, then these emails are certainly right. The vote went as expected, and so will the next.
So if you think marching on D.C. or calling your Representatives, or threating to “throw the bums out” in 2010 or 2012 or 20-whatever, is going to further the cause of the Constitution and your liberty – you might as well get your shackles on now. Your last chance has come and gone.
But, those of you who visit this site regularly already know that the Senate’s health care vote is far from the end of things – and you also know that even when it goes into effect (which I assume some version will), it’s still not the end of the road for your freedom.
The real way to resist DC is not by begging politicians and judges in Washington to allow us to exercise our rights…it’s to exercise our rights whether they want to give us “permission” to or not.
Nullification – state-level resistance to unconstitutional federal laws – is the way forward.
When a state ‘nullifies’ a federal law, it is proclaiming that the law in question is void and inoperative, or ‘non-effective,’ within the boundaries of that state; or, in other words, not a law as far as that state is concerned.
It’s peaceful, effective, and has a long history in the American tradition. It’s been invoked in support of free speech, in opposition to war and fugitive slave laws, and more. Read more on this history here.
Regarding nullification and health care, there’s already a growing movement right now. Led by Arizona, voters in a number of states may get a chance to approve State Constitutional Amendments in 2010 that would effectively ban national health care in their states. Our sources here at the Tenth Amendment Center indicate to us that we should expect to see 20-25 states consider such legislation in 2010.
20 States resisting DC can do what calling, marching, yelling, faxing, and emailing has almost never done. Stop the feds dead in their tracks.
For example, 13 states are already defying federal marijuana prohibition, and the federal government is having such a hard time dealing with it that the Obama administration recently announced that they would no longer prioritize enforcement in states that have medical marijuana laws.
Better yet, in the last 2+ years more than 20 states have been able to effectively prevent the Real ID Act of 2005 from being implemented. How did they do that? They passed laws and resolutions refusing to comply with it. And today, it’s effectively null and void without ever being repealed by Congress or challenged in court.
While the Obama administration would like to revive it under a different name, the reality is still there – with massive state-level resistance, the federal government can be pushed back inside its constitutional box. Issue by issue, law by law, the best way to change the federal government is by resisting it on a state level.
That’s nullification at work.
Over the years, wise men and women warned us that the Constitution would never enforce itself. The time is long overdue for people to start recognizing this fact, and bring that enforcement closer to home.
The bottom line? If you want to make real change; if you want to really do something for liberty and for the Constitution…focus on local activism and your state governments.
Thomas Jefferson would be proud!
Michael Boldin is the founder of the Tenth Amendment Center
Copyright © 2009 by TenthAmendmentCenter.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.
Just wondering....
I thought this opinion piece very interesting. Guess I'll be contacting my local boys to see what they have in mind to do to protect our state.
Health Care Nullification: Things have just gotten underway
21. DEC, 2009
by Michael Boldin
For the past few days, I’ve received loads of emails urging me to get active regarding the healthcare vote – most of which had a subject line similar to: “Last Chance to Stop National Healthcare!”
Well, if you believe the only way to protect your rights is by begging federal politicians to do what you want, then these emails are certainly right. The vote went as expected, and so will the next.
So if you think marching on D.C. or calling your Representatives, or threating to “throw the bums out” in 2010 or 2012 or 20-whatever, is going to further the cause of the Constitution and your liberty – you might as well get your shackles on now. Your last chance has come and gone.
But, those of you who visit this site regularly already know that the Senate’s health care vote is far from the end of things – and you also know that even when it goes into effect (which I assume some version will), it’s still not the end of the road for your freedom.
The real way to resist DC is not by begging politicians and judges in Washington to allow us to exercise our rights…it’s to exercise our rights whether they want to give us “permission” to or not.
Nullification – state-level resistance to unconstitutional federal laws – is the way forward.
When a state ‘nullifies’ a federal law, it is proclaiming that the law in question is void and inoperative, or ‘non-effective,’ within the boundaries of that state; or, in other words, not a law as far as that state is concerned.
It’s peaceful, effective, and has a long history in the American tradition. It’s been invoked in support of free speech, in opposition to war and fugitive slave laws, and more. Read more on this history here.
Regarding nullification and health care, there’s already a growing movement right now. Led by Arizona, voters in a number of states may get a chance to approve State Constitutional Amendments in 2010 that would effectively ban national health care in their states. Our sources here at the Tenth Amendment Center indicate to us that we should expect to see 20-25 states consider such legislation in 2010.
20 States resisting DC can do what calling, marching, yelling, faxing, and emailing has almost never done. Stop the feds dead in their tracks.
For example, 13 states are already defying federal marijuana prohibition, and the federal government is having such a hard time dealing with it that the Obama administration recently announced that they would no longer prioritize enforcement in states that have medical marijuana laws.
Better yet, in the last 2+ years more than 20 states have been able to effectively prevent the Real ID Act of 2005 from being implemented. How did they do that? They passed laws and resolutions refusing to comply with it. And today, it’s effectively null and void without ever being repealed by Congress or challenged in court.
While the Obama administration would like to revive it under a different name, the reality is still there – with massive state-level resistance, the federal government can be pushed back inside its constitutional box. Issue by issue, law by law, the best way to change the federal government is by resisting it on a state level.
That’s nullification at work.
Over the years, wise men and women warned us that the Constitution would never enforce itself. The time is long overdue for people to start recognizing this fact, and bring that enforcement closer to home.
The bottom line? If you want to make real change; if you want to really do something for liberty and for the Constitution…focus on local activism and your state governments.
Thomas Jefferson would be proud!
Michael Boldin is the founder of the Tenth Amendment Center
Copyright © 2009 by TenthAmendmentCenter.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.
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