Sunday, August 28, 2011
Balanced Budget Amendment
Definitions to apply to the following language of this amendment:
Balanced Shall mean that there will be NO deficit spending and the budget shall not increase the national debt. Decreasing the debt or underspending revenues shall be allowed.
Declared War Shall mean that a war was declared by the president and the declaration was approved by both houses of congress as is specified in the Constitution of the United States.
Declared Natural Disaster Shall mean that the House of Representatives shall pass a bill, by a 2/3rds majority,to declare, for a period of one year and ONLY one year, that a naturally occurring disaster has occurred and that it affects a specific portion of the country. The Senate shall then pass that SAME bill by a 2/3rds majority and the President of the United States will sign that bill.
Exempt Shall mean that it is NOT subject to the "Balanced Budget Amendment"
Naturally Occurring Shall mean any weather disaster, earthquake, volcanic, meteor impact, tsunami, and infectious disease. It shall not include global climate change effects.
A Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution of the United States
This amendment to the Constitution of the United States establishes that the annual budget of the United States shall be balanced in expenditures and revenues and will not add to the national debt in any one year. It shall be permissible to reduce the national debt.
There are two areas of spending that will be Exempt from this amendment, Declared Natural Disasters, as defined above and Declared War, as defined above.
1) Declared Natural Disasters must be re-declared annually as stated in the definition above. All expenditures that are exempted from this amendment MUST BE direct expenses relating to the declared natural disaster and will be exempt ONLY to the extent that they exceed 5% of the total annual budget, and ALL the expenses for any particular natural disaster whether exempted because they are above the 5% limit or within that first 5% MUST BE direct expenses related to the declared natural disaster..
Examples of allowed expenses are:
a) infrastructure repairs to the original state,
b) relocation of disaster victims,
c) housing, food and medical expenses of disaster victims
Non-allowed expenses would include, but not be limited to such things as:
a) improvements on the infrastructure. These would fall under other headings such as Corps of Engineer budgets and normal infrastructure improvement budgets and be non-exempt for that reason.
b) continued support of disaster victims past one year,
All allowed expenses will only be approved one year at a time subject to a re-enactment of a subsequent, one year, Declared Natural Disaster bill.
2)Declared War expenses will be exempt ONLY to the extent that they exceed 5% of the total annual budget, and ALL the expenses for any particular war whether exempted because they are above the 5% limit or within that first 5% MUST BE direct expenses related to the declared war.
Examples of allowed expenses are:
a) weapons, equipment, training, and facilities for troops
b) transportation of troops,
c) housing, food and medical expenses of troops
Non-allowed expenses would include, but not be limited to such things as:
a) infrastructure improvements within the United States,
b) weapons research, etc. that fall under the usual military expenditures needed to maintain a standing military force.
"You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free."
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
Sunday, August 21, 2011
The Freedom of the Second Amendment
The second amendment to the constitution was placed there by the founding fathers for good reason. They had just overthrown an unjust government and wanted to make sure that if the occasion ever arose again, the populace could, again, overthrow an oppressive government.
In this day and age it becomes increasingly unlikely that even a “well armed militia” could overthrow the HUGE government we now live under even if it did become oppressive. But that being the case, there is no reason to avoid the meaning of the second amendment. It was clearly not placed there to protect “sportsmen” or to protect the ability to hunt for food. No, it was meant to give citizens the ability to confront other citizens on an even footing. The weak could not be oppressed by a well armed minority, government, local police organization or vigilante group.
The movement, since the 70s toward concealed carry permitting and open carry permitting has been in the right direction. Some states are doing it as the Constitution meant it to be done. Vermont and Arizona are good examples. California was without permits until the Supreme Court told them they had to have a permitting process. They now do have a process, though it is actually a sham as only the well connected can get a permit in that state. The interesting thing is that, in California, open carry is permitted without any permit as long as the weapon is unloaded. But, you can carry the magazine in your pocket!!! Texas has “concealed carry” with a permit and they are working on “open carry” with a permit so they are moving in the right direction.
But why is it important…other than that the Constitution says we have that right?…. In every state that has enacted “concealed carry” permitting crime rates have gone down. They have gone down because the potential criminal is concerned that he might have resistance and not even know from which direction that resistance might come. Open carry has its problems. I am not sure I would want to be carrying in the open even if it was permitted. The first target of a criminal, on entry into an area, would be take out those with exposed weapons! I would prefer the criminal would not know I was behind him with a weapon.
Some states don’t allow carrying in hospitals, banks, government buildings, drinking establishments and churches. Some of this, such as drinking establishments makes a small amount of sense, but some states don’t restrict it except to say the person carrying should not be drinking which makes a LOT of sense. However, why would a permit carrier who had to go through an FBI background check to get the permit be restricted from carrying into a bank where he might be able to stop a hostage situation from developing. A restriction that the bank robber has no compunction in ignoring. The robber in this case knows that he will not meet any resistance as no one but him/her will have a weapon!! Why is there a restriction against carrying a gun into a church, where an Islamic extremist might launch an attack? The usual answer I get to that one is, “Why would you want a gun in church?” That is a very uninformed question and the answer is a simple, “Why not?”. It is our right to carry.
The permit method of allowing the carrying of weapons is not, in my opinion, constitutional, but does carry with it a full FBI background check which should quench some of the critics. However, what would you think if the government said you free speech was conditioned upon a permit obtained only after having taken a four year course in English and paying a $100 a year fee for the permit? Or your right to freedom of religion or from religion was predicated on your having obtained a permit that required a study course of all the worlds major religions and a “church tax” or $5 to be paid every time you entered a church, synagogue, or mosque. (For the non believers, the fee would be an equal distribution of a tax equal to all the church taxes received from the previous year, distributed to all the atheists. Even taxing, fair and balanced.) Freedom of association would then mean every person on Facebook would then have to pay $1 for every “friend” that they accumulated. So why is the second amendment different? Why is there a permit required to exercise that Constitutional right?
Actually, though the critics will say otherwise, carrying of weapons either open or concealed reduces violence. Back in the old west when two men, carrying openly on their hip, met on the side-walk, they tipped their hats to one another and were polite. To do otherwise might cause one or the other to draw and shoot. It was a gentler time!!! That of course is an exaggeration. But, when the law places a heavier burden on one who is carrying, that person is more aware of his responsibilities. If you are carrying and know that the law frowns on your exposure of your weapon, you tend to be very concious of that responsibility to keep it out of sight and your need to be really sure that it is justified before pulling it out. This causes you to quell your anger and think in a very controlled manner about what you may be thinking of doing. Most states make a big issue out of “brandishing” a weapon and assess large penalties on those that pull a weapon for the purpose of “scaring” someone. I know that if I have a weapon in my car, I am a much better driver and less aggressive. When I carry I feel secure and in feeling secure I feel less need to be aggressive. Aggressive behaviour, at least in males in most species, is intended to scare away a rival when a threat is perceived. When you are carrying you feel less threatened so there is less need to be aggressive.
I saw a statement recently that referred to the open carrying of weapons as a levelling of the playing field. The 90 pound grandmother is equal to the 230 pound “gorilla” in the dark alley. In that confrontation both are on level ground when it comes to force and any exchange must be negotiated and the more convincing argument is the winner because force is no longer a factor. Only reason can be used when force is neutralised. The upholding of second amendment rights will lead us toward a more reasoned society.
"You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free."
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
In this day and age it becomes increasingly unlikely that even a “well armed militia” could overthrow the HUGE government we now live under even if it did become oppressive. But that being the case, there is no reason to avoid the meaning of the second amendment. It was clearly not placed there to protect “sportsmen” or to protect the ability to hunt for food. No, it was meant to give citizens the ability to confront other citizens on an even footing. The weak could not be oppressed by a well armed minority, government, local police organization or vigilante group.
The movement, since the 70s toward concealed carry permitting and open carry permitting has been in the right direction. Some states are doing it as the Constitution meant it to be done. Vermont and Arizona are good examples. California was without permits until the Supreme Court told them they had to have a permitting process. They now do have a process, though it is actually a sham as only the well connected can get a permit in that state. The interesting thing is that, in California, open carry is permitted without any permit as long as the weapon is unloaded. But, you can carry the magazine in your pocket!!! Texas has “concealed carry” with a permit and they are working on “open carry” with a permit so they are moving in the right direction.
But why is it important…other than that the Constitution says we have that right?…. In every state that has enacted “concealed carry” permitting crime rates have gone down. They have gone down because the potential criminal is concerned that he might have resistance and not even know from which direction that resistance might come. Open carry has its problems. I am not sure I would want to be carrying in the open even if it was permitted. The first target of a criminal, on entry into an area, would be take out those with exposed weapons! I would prefer the criminal would not know I was behind him with a weapon.
Some states don’t allow carrying in hospitals, banks, government buildings, drinking establishments and churches. Some of this, such as drinking establishments makes a small amount of sense, but some states don’t restrict it except to say the person carrying should not be drinking which makes a LOT of sense. However, why would a permit carrier who had to go through an FBI background check to get the permit be restricted from carrying into a bank where he might be able to stop a hostage situation from developing. A restriction that the bank robber has no compunction in ignoring. The robber in this case knows that he will not meet any resistance as no one but him/her will have a weapon!! Why is there a restriction against carrying a gun into a church, where an Islamic extremist might launch an attack? The usual answer I get to that one is, “Why would you want a gun in church?” That is a very uninformed question and the answer is a simple, “Why not?”. It is our right to carry.
The permit method of allowing the carrying of weapons is not, in my opinion, constitutional, but does carry with it a full FBI background check which should quench some of the critics. However, what would you think if the government said you free speech was conditioned upon a permit obtained only after having taken a four year course in English and paying a $100 a year fee for the permit? Or your right to freedom of religion or from religion was predicated on your having obtained a permit that required a study course of all the worlds major religions and a “church tax” or $5 to be paid every time you entered a church, synagogue, or mosque. (For the non believers, the fee would be an equal distribution of a tax equal to all the church taxes received from the previous year, distributed to all the atheists. Even taxing, fair and balanced.) Freedom of association would then mean every person on Facebook would then have to pay $1 for every “friend” that they accumulated. So why is the second amendment different? Why is there a permit required to exercise that Constitutional right?
Actually, though the critics will say otherwise, carrying of weapons either open or concealed reduces violence. Back in the old west when two men, carrying openly on their hip, met on the side-walk, they tipped their hats to one another and were polite. To do otherwise might cause one or the other to draw and shoot. It was a gentler time!!! That of course is an exaggeration. But, when the law places a heavier burden on one who is carrying, that person is more aware of his responsibilities. If you are carrying and know that the law frowns on your exposure of your weapon, you tend to be very concious of that responsibility to keep it out of sight and your need to be really sure that it is justified before pulling it out. This causes you to quell your anger and think in a very controlled manner about what you may be thinking of doing. Most states make a big issue out of “brandishing” a weapon and assess large penalties on those that pull a weapon for the purpose of “scaring” someone. I know that if I have a weapon in my car, I am a much better driver and less aggressive. When I carry I feel secure and in feeling secure I feel less need to be aggressive. Aggressive behaviour, at least in males in most species, is intended to scare away a rival when a threat is perceived. When you are carrying you feel less threatened so there is less need to be aggressive.
I saw a statement recently that referred to the open carrying of weapons as a levelling of the playing field. The 90 pound grandmother is equal to the 230 pound “gorilla” in the dark alley. In that confrontation both are on level ground when it comes to force and any exchange must be negotiated and the more convincing argument is the winner because force is no longer a factor. Only reason can be used when force is neutralised. The upholding of second amendment rights will lead us toward a more reasoned society.
"You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free."
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
Monday, July 18, 2011
The NRA Is Assaulting Our Second Amendment
The second amendment was designed as a method to protect the people from an oppressive government. The framers of the Constitution had just fought a war against a government that far outnumbered them and that had superior weapons. But they won the war. They could not have even considered a war against their oppressor if they had not had arms. The second amendment was meant to guarantee that they would always have this ability in case the new government that they were forming was to turn bad. The Declaration of Independence states....
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
When the framers of the constitution wrote the second amendment, they did not do it to provide the people the ability to hunt game. They did not do it to provide the people with protection from one another. They wrote it to allow the people to protect themselves from the government!! They wanted the population to have, as they had, the means to change an oppressive government.
Our government has machine guns, rockets, atomic bombs etc. So for us, the citizens, to ask that we at least can have assault weapons is a very pathetic whimper. And for the government to say that we cannot is a very disturbing assault on our ability to change an oppressive government if in the future it becomes necessary.
The NRA has always been one of the bastions , one of the walls, to protect the second amendment from the assault by the liberals that would turn this country into an elite governed country with no way for the populace to take their freedoms back. But NRA is now singing the Progressive song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE-r531Bs-I
I dont think there is anyone that thinks the a 5 round magazine is sufficient if we have to eventually remove an oppressive government from our backs and return to the constitution. Apparently the NRA is willing to give up their second amendment rights to placate a government that seems to be running down the path of becoming oppressive. They are willing to give away, in dribbles, all our rights
Its like the German people that let 6 million Jews die rather than rock the boat. As Pastor Martin Niemoller said,"First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."
Now they are coming for our ability to arm ourselves against the government.....next they will become the government we need the arms to protect ourselves from.
"You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free."
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
When the framers of the constitution wrote the second amendment, they did not do it to provide the people the ability to hunt game. They did not do it to provide the people with protection from one another. They wrote it to allow the people to protect themselves from the government!! They wanted the population to have, as they had, the means to change an oppressive government.
Our government has machine guns, rockets, atomic bombs etc. So for us, the citizens, to ask that we at least can have assault weapons is a very pathetic whimper. And for the government to say that we cannot is a very disturbing assault on our ability to change an oppressive government if in the future it becomes necessary.
The NRA has always been one of the bastions , one of the walls, to protect the second amendment from the assault by the liberals that would turn this country into an elite governed country with no way for the populace to take their freedoms back. But NRA is now singing the Progressive song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE-r531Bs-I
I dont think there is anyone that thinks the a 5 round magazine is sufficient if we have to eventually remove an oppressive government from our backs and return to the constitution. Apparently the NRA is willing to give up their second amendment rights to placate a government that seems to be running down the path of becoming oppressive. They are willing to give away, in dribbles, all our rights
Its like the German people that let 6 million Jews die rather than rock the boat. As Pastor Martin Niemoller said,"First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."
Now they are coming for our ability to arm ourselves against the government.....next they will become the government we need the arms to protect ourselves from.
"You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free."
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
Saturday, July 16, 2011
He who sups with the devil should do so with a long spoon
Compromise is not usually good. If you are compromising on how much sugar to put in a pie, that may be a good place for compromise. But if you are right and the other side is wrong, then compromise is non-productive.
If you were in a car driving down the highway with a sheer drop of 500 feet on the right and you had the choice of staying on the road or ending at the bottom of the cliff, would compromise at falling only half way down the cliff be attractive? I don't think so.
In this case, the debt ceiling, we have a situation not far from the car example. Here the "right" is correct and the "left" is incorrect. Compromise at half incorrect is not a good thing! If we are to "sup with the devil" then we need a "long spoon" as the saying says. If we are to compromise with the left and raise the debt ceiling half way to where they want it, then our "long spoon" had better be a firm and unavoidable commitment to a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution AND spending cuts to match the increase in the debt limit. Without those, the spoon is too short and we will be agreeing to the devils wills.
The devil lies. We all know that. The devil gets what he wants by telling lies. Lies like. "The US will go into default on its debt if the debt ceiling is not raised." This is not just a misstatement, not just an error, it is a LIE. Call it as it is, it is a fabrication and a LIE.
The 14th amendment to the constitution requires that the service on the debt be paid before anything else is paid. The service on the debt is about 270 billion dollars, period. That is all it is. The projected income to the US Government for the next year is 2.7 trillion dollars. Thus the service on the debt is only 10% of income. There can be no default!!! I suspect that most people reading this have a debt service that is twice or three times that much. Most people are paying a mortgage that is 20% of their income. In the first 5 years, almost 100% of your house payment is interest (debt service). Then add the car, another $250 a month in interest (debt service).
But the government is way out of line with its spending outside of the debt service. Capping the debt ceiling and not raising it would NOT AFFECT our ability to pay the interest on the debt but it would mean that some of the wasteful crap would not be funded. SS, Medicare, are all well funded without raising the debt ceiling. Obamas claim he could not guarantee SS payments would go out on time was the truth, but only because he couldn't guarantee it even if we had 10 trillion in surplus, because its not his responsibility!!!! He COULD however, if he so chose, delay the payments for political reasons but it would require that congress agree with him. But SS is funded without his help.
Obama, faced with a shortage of funds, is the one that can decide which of the domestic programs to cut, but he cant cut service on the debt. And you can be sure that he would pick the ones that cause the most pain and then blame it on the Republicans. But the truth is, HE would be the one making the choices so HE would be the one on which the blame belongs. It is up to the Republicans to make it clear just who made those decisions instead of sitting on their hands in abject fear of the repercussions from Obama if they speak out against him or repercussions at the ballot box. NO decision should ever be made considering how it will look at the next election.
Its time to forget "Politically Correct". Its time to speak out and tell the president that he is a liar. Tell the Democrats that they are liars. They know the truth and they are hiding it. We need to "call a spade a spade", as the old poker saying goes. We need to speak the truth, not the politically correct pablum because we fear repercussions.
"You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free."
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
If you were in a car driving down the highway with a sheer drop of 500 feet on the right and you had the choice of staying on the road or ending at the bottom of the cliff, would compromise at falling only half way down the cliff be attractive? I don't think so.
In this case, the debt ceiling, we have a situation not far from the car example. Here the "right" is correct and the "left" is incorrect. Compromise at half incorrect is not a good thing! If we are to "sup with the devil" then we need a "long spoon" as the saying says. If we are to compromise with the left and raise the debt ceiling half way to where they want it, then our "long spoon" had better be a firm and unavoidable commitment to a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution AND spending cuts to match the increase in the debt limit. Without those, the spoon is too short and we will be agreeing to the devils wills.
The devil lies. We all know that. The devil gets what he wants by telling lies. Lies like. "The US will go into default on its debt if the debt ceiling is not raised." This is not just a misstatement, not just an error, it is a LIE. Call it as it is, it is a fabrication and a LIE.
The 14th amendment to the constitution requires that the service on the debt be paid before anything else is paid. The service on the debt is about 270 billion dollars, period. That is all it is. The projected income to the US Government for the next year is 2.7 trillion dollars. Thus the service on the debt is only 10% of income. There can be no default!!! I suspect that most people reading this have a debt service that is twice or three times that much. Most people are paying a mortgage that is 20% of their income. In the first 5 years, almost 100% of your house payment is interest (debt service). Then add the car, another $250 a month in interest (debt service).
But the government is way out of line with its spending outside of the debt service. Capping the debt ceiling and not raising it would NOT AFFECT our ability to pay the interest on the debt but it would mean that some of the wasteful crap would not be funded. SS, Medicare, are all well funded without raising the debt ceiling. Obamas claim he could not guarantee SS payments would go out on time was the truth, but only because he couldn't guarantee it even if we had 10 trillion in surplus, because its not his responsibility!!!! He COULD however, if he so chose, delay the payments for political reasons but it would require that congress agree with him. But SS is funded without his help.
Obama, faced with a shortage of funds, is the one that can decide which of the domestic programs to cut, but he cant cut service on the debt. And you can be sure that he would pick the ones that cause the most pain and then blame it on the Republicans. But the truth is, HE would be the one making the choices so HE would be the one on which the blame belongs. It is up to the Republicans to make it clear just who made those decisions instead of sitting on their hands in abject fear of the repercussions from Obama if they speak out against him or repercussions at the ballot box. NO decision should ever be made considering how it will look at the next election.
Its time to forget "Politically Correct". Its time to speak out and tell the president that he is a liar. Tell the Democrats that they are liars. They know the truth and they are hiding it. We need to "call a spade a spade", as the old poker saying goes. We need to speak the truth, not the politically correct pablum because we fear repercussions.
"You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free."
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
Monday, July 11, 2011
Obama puts the Ball Back in his OWN court.
The stunning revelation that Obama intends to ignore congress if they fail to increase the debt limit as truly amazing. By making that threat, he has given the GOP and some Dems the out they need. Until now it was widely assumed that congress would cave and pass an increase in the debt limit because Obama would handle the purse strings and cut popular programs in order to keep things going. This would allow him to accuse the Republicans of being against the cut programs.
But now with this threat to ignore congress, the Republicans can refuse to increase the debt limit and if Obama ignores the currently established limit, he will be in contempt of congress!!!
This would result in the case going to the Supreme Court and the 14th amendment being held as inapplicable to the Debt Limit?? This is something that no one, not even Democrats want. This would result in the total rejection of Obama in the next election.
Its bad enough that he wants to stay the execution of a rapist/murderer in Texas...apparently because he hates Texas, he sues Arizona over their immigration law, threatens Fremont NE over their immigration law, threatens Texas over their anti groping law, and the list goes on. Now he intends to openly flaunt the constitutions stated separation of power.
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
But now with this threat to ignore congress, the Republicans can refuse to increase the debt limit and if Obama ignores the currently established limit, he will be in contempt of congress!!!
This would result in the case going to the Supreme Court and the 14th amendment being held as inapplicable to the Debt Limit?? This is something that no one, not even Democrats want. This would result in the total rejection of Obama in the next election.
Its bad enough that he wants to stay the execution of a rapist/murderer in Texas...apparently because he hates Texas, he sues Arizona over their immigration law, threatens Fremont NE over their immigration law, threatens Texas over their anti groping law, and the list goes on. Now he intends to openly flaunt the constitutions stated separation of power.
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
Monday, July 4, 2011
From Night to Day
John Adams, referring to the Declaration of Independence long before the war to assert it was over, said to his wife Abigail in a letter, “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shows, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction, even although We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”
This was a time when the 13 states were emerging from night into day. This was a time when oppression of the people by a king was being contested. This was a time when freedom was being established "for the people", long before it was fashionable.
Yesterday I went to church at a new congregation. Not a new denomination, just a new congregation. I have become tired of the lack of respect for the country that I have seen in the old congregation. It seems that in some circles it is fashionable to separate the church from the state by not mentioning the state in any way within the church. In other words, don't mention that your right to practice whatever religion you want is guaranteed by the Constitution. In most other countries around the world, no such guarantee exists. The churches, synagogues, and Mosques and atheists should celebrate the United States where they have total religious freedom because if their lack of enthusiasm results in the downfall of the United States, they will loose their freedom completely. Even the atheist might be forced to worship some demigod of the oppressive regime that takes over. So, even they cannot say they "don't have a dog in this race."
Yesterday, as soon as the service was started, there was a pledge of allegiance to the Christian Flag and then to the United States Flag. The sermon hymn, the one just before the sermon was "America the Beautiful". The sermon, "Hard Work Great Reward." referenced, several times, the birth of our nation and how it was in many ways a miracle. On several occasions the Pastor referred to the congregation as "American Christians." After the sermon the hymn was "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." and as we were filing out of the church the piano was playing "God Bless America".
Yes, this was the day before the 4th, so I wont expect this much patriotism next week. But in the congregation I am now leaving I have never heard the pledge of allegiance in the sanctuary, I have never heard either America the Beautiful or God Bless America sung in the five years I have been going there. And the pastor has never used the term "American Christians." The pastor omitted any mention of Memorial Day a few weeks ago, yet both churches are of the same denomination. Exactly the same just 40 miles apart.
It was like coming out of the night and emerging into the light of day. The pastor was delivering his first sermon in his new church after graduating from the seminary. To my wife and I, emerging from the cave of darkness and denial, it was a beacon to where the light shown brightly for BOTH my religion AND my country.
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
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This was a time when the 13 states were emerging from night into day. This was a time when oppression of the people by a king was being contested. This was a time when freedom was being established "for the people", long before it was fashionable.
Yesterday I went to church at a new congregation. Not a new denomination, just a new congregation. I have become tired of the lack of respect for the country that I have seen in the old congregation. It seems that in some circles it is fashionable to separate the church from the state by not mentioning the state in any way within the church. In other words, don't mention that your right to practice whatever religion you want is guaranteed by the Constitution. In most other countries around the world, no such guarantee exists. The churches, synagogues, and Mosques and atheists should celebrate the United States where they have total religious freedom because if their lack of enthusiasm results in the downfall of the United States, they will loose their freedom completely. Even the atheist might be forced to worship some demigod of the oppressive regime that takes over. So, even they cannot say they "don't have a dog in this race."
Yesterday, as soon as the service was started, there was a pledge of allegiance to the Christian Flag and then to the United States Flag. The sermon hymn, the one just before the sermon was "America the Beautiful". The sermon, "Hard Work Great Reward." referenced, several times, the birth of our nation and how it was in many ways a miracle. On several occasions the Pastor referred to the congregation as "American Christians." After the sermon the hymn was "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." and as we were filing out of the church the piano was playing "God Bless America".
Yes, this was the day before the 4th, so I wont expect this much patriotism next week. But in the congregation I am now leaving I have never heard the pledge of allegiance in the sanctuary, I have never heard either America the Beautiful or God Bless America sung in the five years I have been going there. And the pastor has never used the term "American Christians." The pastor omitted any mention of Memorial Day a few weeks ago, yet both churches are of the same denomination. Exactly the same just 40 miles apart.
It was like coming out of the night and emerging into the light of day. The pastor was delivering his first sermon in his new church after graduating from the seminary. To my wife and I, emerging from the cave of darkness and denial, it was a beacon to where the light shown brightly for BOTH my religion AND my country.
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Constitution is DEAD !!
Do you remember many years ago when the phrase "God Is Dead" was popular among non-believers? Well, they made the case for the statement with unsubstantiated circumstantial evidence. They were wrong.
Today I am declaring that "The Constitution Is Dead". But, I have PROOF.
I came to this realization yesterday when I was complaining that one of the bad things about growing older was that you could remember how it was in the good old daze. I remember fishing for Spanish Mackerel with no license and no limits. In Southern California in those days if you were fishing in the ocean you needed no license and there were no limits on salt water species. The more I thought about it the more I realized that almost nothing has gotten better in the 74 years I have been alive. Everything is going to hell in a hand cart.
Then I suddenly realized that the Constitution was dead when I started thinking about sending a check for $117 in to secure a Concealed Carry Permit. That $117 is to pay for a right that the Constitution guarantees to me. There is nothing in the constitution about paying for the rights granted by it. But I will pay $117 to the state of Florida every 7 years to have this inalienable right.
So I decided to look at each of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and see what it was costing me...or if I even had those rights anymore. Or if I had them, but greatly impoverished.
1st amendment.......nope, that is gone without paying for it. If I want to "peaceably assemble" on public (I am public, right) property, I need to get a permit from the reigning government body. That permit will not be free. So I am paying for the right to peaceably assemble. And they get to set limits on my assemblage.
2nd amendment.......nope, I am paying for the right to carry arms CONCEALED. I cant even pay for the right to carry them in the open!!! Open Carry is against the law here in Texas!! But that is a violation of the 2nd amendment to the Constitution!!
3rd amendment.......well, so far, I still have this.....
4th amendment.......nope, it is clear that the prohibition against unreasonable searches without "probable cause" is going on daily by the TSA at airports all over the United States. According to the Constitution the TSA cannot search me unless they have reason to believe that I am breaking the law. BUT...they do it every day. And many residents of this state don't have the right "to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects" anymore since Home Owner Associations can now demand, as a requirement of residence in a particular community, that the homeowner turn over to the HOA a key to their home, just in case the HOA needs to get in. This is an unconstitutional ability to search. What protection does the homeowner have that the HOA wont steal them blind. Can they sue the HOA if something is missing? I think not!
5th amendment.......Double Jeopardy? Well, while I think OJ Simpson got what he deserved, isn't it "double jeopardy" to be tried twice for the same crime? Ok, Ok, maybe it was justice in this case, and his "life and limb" were not at peril in the Civil case, but I think that is just lawyers talk for a way around what would have horrified the founding fathers. Its still double jeopardy and one day it will come back to haunt an innocent person and that innocent person might be YOU! We have to think about what happens if an apparently just reading of the law is turned against an innocent person.
6th amendment.......a "speedy trial"?? Do we really think that a 20 year stay on "death row" while exhausting appeals is a "speedy trial". At the time the Constitution was written that would be HALF of a lifetime. I really don't think they thought that a trial should last 20 years!!!
7th amendment.......I plead no contest....
8th amendment.......But isn't "No Bail" excessive? Isn't denying bail the same as assessing excessive bail?
9th amendment.......Here we have a whole barrel of worms. But just one worm; the government has taken my right to insure myself in any way I may feel sufficient to secure my health. The Obama Care law takes away a right that was not enumerated in the constitution...WITHOUT AMENDING the constitution to add that as a right. I have been denied a right.
10th amendment.......WOW, here we are at the biggest failure of the ten. The Federal government, under the guise of regulating interstate commerce has violated this amendment so many times that I wonder why the foot traffic hasn't wiped away all the ink on the constitution. Obama care claims to be regulating interstate commerce while regulating the sale of insurance WHICH CANNOT BE SOLD ACROSS STATE LINES. Folks, that ain't interstate commerce!!! The Feds have taken to regulating firearms that are made in a state and not sold across state lines. Folks, that ain't interstate commerce!!! The Federal government arrests Amish farmers for selling home grown milk within the borders of the state. Folks, that ain't interstate commerce!!!
Out of the ten, and there are another 18 I haven't even looked at, two might still be intact. The rest have been trashed. If 80 percent of my body was decaying, I would hope someone would declare me dead.
The Constitution Is Dead.
Can we revive it? Yes, I think we can. But you cant bring something back to life until you, first, concede that it is dead. We cannot be in denial. To resurrect the Constitution we first have to accept the fact that it is, for all intents and purposes, DEAD.
Come out of your denial and join the movement to restore the Constitution to the living document that it was meant to be.
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
Today I am declaring that "The Constitution Is Dead". But, I have PROOF.
I came to this realization yesterday when I was complaining that one of the bad things about growing older was that you could remember how it was in the good old daze. I remember fishing for Spanish Mackerel with no license and no limits. In Southern California in those days if you were fishing in the ocean you needed no license and there were no limits on salt water species. The more I thought about it the more I realized that almost nothing has gotten better in the 74 years I have been alive. Everything is going to hell in a hand cart.
Then I suddenly realized that the Constitution was dead when I started thinking about sending a check for $117 in to secure a Concealed Carry Permit. That $117 is to pay for a right that the Constitution guarantees to me. There is nothing in the constitution about paying for the rights granted by it. But I will pay $117 to the state of Florida every 7 years to have this inalienable right.
So I decided to look at each of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and see what it was costing me...or if I even had those rights anymore. Or if I had them, but greatly impoverished.
1st amendment.......nope, that is gone without paying for it. If I want to "peaceably assemble" on public (I am public, right) property, I need to get a permit from the reigning government body. That permit will not be free. So I am paying for the right to peaceably assemble. And they get to set limits on my assemblage.
2nd amendment.......nope, I am paying for the right to carry arms CONCEALED. I cant even pay for the right to carry them in the open!!! Open Carry is against the law here in Texas!! But that is a violation of the 2nd amendment to the Constitution!!
3rd amendment.......well, so far, I still have this.....
4th amendment.......nope, it is clear that the prohibition against unreasonable searches without "probable cause" is going on daily by the TSA at airports all over the United States. According to the Constitution the TSA cannot search me unless they have reason to believe that I am breaking the law. BUT...they do it every day. And many residents of this state don't have the right "to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects" anymore since Home Owner Associations can now demand, as a requirement of residence in a particular community, that the homeowner turn over to the HOA a key to their home, just in case the HOA needs to get in. This is an unconstitutional ability to search. What protection does the homeowner have that the HOA wont steal them blind. Can they sue the HOA if something is missing? I think not!
5th amendment.......Double Jeopardy? Well, while I think OJ Simpson got what he deserved, isn't it "double jeopardy" to be tried twice for the same crime? Ok, Ok, maybe it was justice in this case, and his "life and limb" were not at peril in the Civil case, but I think that is just lawyers talk for a way around what would have horrified the founding fathers. Its still double jeopardy and one day it will come back to haunt an innocent person and that innocent person might be YOU! We have to think about what happens if an apparently just reading of the law is turned against an innocent person.
6th amendment.......a "speedy trial"?? Do we really think that a 20 year stay on "death row" while exhausting appeals is a "speedy trial". At the time the Constitution was written that would be HALF of a lifetime. I really don't think they thought that a trial should last 20 years!!!
7th amendment.......I plead no contest....
8th amendment.......But isn't "No Bail" excessive? Isn't denying bail the same as assessing excessive bail?
9th amendment.......Here we have a whole barrel of worms. But just one worm; the government has taken my right to insure myself in any way I may feel sufficient to secure my health. The Obama Care law takes away a right that was not enumerated in the constitution...WITHOUT AMENDING the constitution to add that as a right. I have been denied a right.
10th amendment.......WOW, here we are at the biggest failure of the ten. The Federal government, under the guise of regulating interstate commerce has violated this amendment so many times that I wonder why the foot traffic hasn't wiped away all the ink on the constitution. Obama care claims to be regulating interstate commerce while regulating the sale of insurance WHICH CANNOT BE SOLD ACROSS STATE LINES. Folks, that ain't interstate commerce!!! The Feds have taken to regulating firearms that are made in a state and not sold across state lines. Folks, that ain't interstate commerce!!! The Federal government arrests Amish farmers for selling home grown milk within the borders of the state. Folks, that ain't interstate commerce!!!
Out of the ten, and there are another 18 I haven't even looked at, two might still be intact. The rest have been trashed. If 80 percent of my body was decaying, I would hope someone would declare me dead.
The Constitution Is Dead.
Can we revive it? Yes, I think we can. But you cant bring something back to life until you, first, concede that it is dead. We cannot be in denial. To resurrect the Constitution we first have to accept the fact that it is, for all intents and purposes, DEAD.
Come out of your denial and join the movement to restore the Constitution to the living document that it was meant to be.
Jim Isbell
=================================================================
The Free Republic
=================================================================
July 3rd 2010 Speech
April 17th 2010 Speech
Trinity Base - in Defense of our Republic
Ronald Reagan was Right
American Majority
Red State
Blog Mirror of The Free Republic
My Facebook
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