September 1, 2010

Article "F"

As I write this sad epitaph, few, if any Americans will believe we could ever lose the freedom our hardworking forefathers have fought so hard and long to have and enjoy, since 1776.

But that will certainly be our fate, soon, if something is not done to save our cherished way of life.  Today, we are faced with a challenge to our freedom not from the usual foreign enemies, but from within our borders, and from our own Government and our leaders.

            Under our Democratic system of Government we vote for representatives to Congress to represent our interests in the United States Government.  Our representatives are elected for a short period of two years, while our Senators serve a term of six years in staggered two year periods, two each from our fifty states.  All this was provided in our United States Constitution of 1787, as amended.

            The House of Representatives is assigned the task of proposing necessary legislation and spending money for the Government to function and provide the needed services country needs, while the Senate confirms the laws passed by the House after argument and compromise between themselves and the two branches of Government.  This is the process by which it was meant for the Congress to act on behalf of all its inhabitants.  However, for the last forty years, ever thing has changed and the people are not represented by their elected officials, as they should be.

            Washington has been invaded by an increasing number of lobbyists, from various moneyed interests, bent on convincing the members of Congress, to pass legislation designed to favor the interests and not the interests of the American people.  They also object to proposed legislation which may favor the American people but not the interest of the companies that hired them.  These lobbyists have spread around enough money to most congressmen, that they have become addicted to this readily available cash.  These lobbyists come to their offices at the capitol in such large numbers that the Congressmen feel it more convenient to accept these large sums than to ask or look for those small, limited contributions from their constituents.  It is estimated, on the average, each Congressman receives between one and two million dollars a year from lobbyists, while their pay is less than $200,000.00 a year.

            It is for this reason, the money involved, that most Congressmen feel more obliged to protect the interests of these large donors, than the people who elected them into office and whom they are obligated to represent for free.

            Now you know why important issues and matters that need Congress's attention for actions and solutions have been neglected for the last 40 years.  It is the Congressman's drive for money, ostensibly for their re-election that gets their attention first and foremost.  Their quest for money is their principle driving force and it occupies most of their time each day.  Now that the sessions of the House and Senate are televised each day, have you ever seen the speakers speak to a full House and Senate?  It is more likely they speak to an empty Chamber.  When the last 1100 page Stimulus Package was passed last February, the members had about three hours to read it, and most went to bed instead, but voted for it because of the pork projects they manage to include in the dead of the night.

            As an example, some of the important matters that have needed attention, but have been neglected for many years include:

• 1. The Social Security System needs complete overhauling but has only had temporary, band aids and patches attached, because no one wants to be responsible to vote for the additional taxes needed to fix it.
• 2. The National Health System proposed by Presidents for the last 20 years will be passed. However, President Obama is afraid we will read the multi- thousand pages Bill, and realize it will cost more to run, while costs have not been reduced as promised and needed, and while it cannot run without new taxes on the already burdened Americans. Lastly, the Insurance Lobby likes our system just as it is. As they get richer by the day and Congress is afraid to offend them less their big political contributions are cut off.
• 3. The price of prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals will remain at twice the world average, simply because our Congress has been paid off for years not to interfere, witness the prescription plans pass by Congress at the insistence of President Bush, whereby Americans are prohibited from overseas purchases of prescription drugs, while the Government is paying exorbitant prices to their lobbying companies. In this case both the President and Congress are plainly, paid and bought off.
• 4. The cost of gasoline and fuel oil has been a cancer on Americans since the first oil embargo by OPEC in 1972. Today we continue to import twice the amount we imported then and we are at their mercy and that of the equally greedy domestic oil companies even more. Congress has done nothing about promoting legislation for the alternative energy we need to rid ourselves of the stranglehold except a token amount when a full speed-ahead approach is sorely needed. The foreign and local oil lobbies have been greasing the palms of Congressmen for thirty five years and counting so, as long as these Congressmen are left in office, do not hold your breath for the needed relief, but expect to suffer even more.
• 5. The present rising unemployment problem in the U S A will never be corrected and reduced as long as Congress continues to reward companies that move overseas in search of cheap labor. The free trade system this country adopted twenty years ago has caused this and also produced a record trade imbalance throwing our money overseas instead of our trade good. The steel, construction and auto unions have caused this problem and President Obama seems set to continue to favor unions in this endeavor, while all the employers either go bankrupt or sail away overseas.
• 6. The mortgage foreclosure problem in the U S A caused by greedy financial institutions and Wall Street, preying on unsuspecting and unqualified applicants, will continue unabated while real estate prices keep falling on all American homes, causing a wave of new foreclosures every month while increasing unemployment adds to the problem all the while our last two Presidents, including Obama have come to the aid of the very institutions that caused this problem while every American is losing more equity every day. Now the banks that Obama said, "are too big to fail" are making record profits and awarding huge bonuses, with our tax money while every American continues to suffer because of the greed of the banks and Wall Street, who are prospering more than ever before.

            Do not expect Congress to vote or the President to propose any legislation, to solve any of these real, long standing problems, or to shut off this lucrative source of money from the world's lobbyists.  This is their perceived money for re-election and to insure their power and longevity in office.

            In the meantime, members of Congress have been entrenched in office for their own personal gain while the needs of their constituents are ignored and left unresolved.  When you have such a situation in the operation of our Government, you have a breakdown of the Democratic process, under our Constitution, decay from within, and based on the mistrust of our servants, the elected officials we voted into office to run our government.

            So, if you want more of the same, continue to re-elect our greedy selfish Congressman.  However, if you want to produce the change you need to return the power of your vote to the people of this Country, as it should be, then you must have the courage and outrage and good sense to vote out of office those scoundrel congressmen.  You must replace them with persons who pledge to represent the people in their district and no one else.

            It does not matter whether you vote for a registered Democrat or Republican, neither one deserves your vote, since they have proven to be the culprits who have caused this problem for the last twenty years.  We have cast out one party over the other, time and time again always with the frustration and the result that no improvement has been made.  What this Country needs now, is a list of Independent Candidates, not beholden to any political party or group.

            You do not need money to get elected or re-elected, if you do the bidding of the people who elected you.  They will know and recognize your efforts and accomplishments and they will re-elect you without any need to spend a nickel for advertising.

            Soon, the Independent people of America, along with many disillusioned and disgusted Democrats and Republicans, will band together in a new Independent party to acquire the strength in numbers to replace our do nothing incumbent representatives with those that will represent the people of America and no one else.

Federal Campaign Financing has Become a "For Sale Sign for our Politicians in Washington"

Article "E"

August 25, 2010

          Over the last forty years, a shift has occurred in the manner our political representatives to Washington have sought to finance their political campaigns.  You may assume every office holder in Washington has a "For Sale" sign on his/her office door and another on their suit lapel, instead of the traditional flower.  Whereas, in the past, politicians depended on personal contributions from the voter, their constituents', more and more, lately, the office holder has found it more convenient to rely on large, easily available political contributions from lobbyists representing big businesses like oil companies, lending institutions, credit card companies, unions and the like.  After all, the lobbyists peddle their influence and money, strolling along the halls of Congress, regularly every day, delivering their envelopes and packages like the dependable mailman making his rounds every day, but Sundays.

          Now, you know why, when Congress is in session, there are but a few members present to hear the arguments and speeches of their brothers, because the member is in his/her plush office collecting his/her presents, like it was Christmas.  You may be assured that these big contributions are not for something the American people may need or want but especially for what the contributor may expect in return.

          This practice eliminated the consuming task of raising a few dollars at a time from the voter to run his/her campaign.  Of course, every office holder will assure you that these contributions never, never influence their actions or vote since they will tell you; they always have the voter's interest in mind primarily.  However when the vote is cast the voters interest and needs seem to fall far short of expectations while the lobbyist and big business seem to get all the help they pay for.

          As a result, it is now common place for the politician to be beholden to the whim of the lobbyist instead of the people they, by law, are sworn to represent.

          In addition, political parties and labor unions are strong because of their positions to raise large sums of money for the party members, whereas, voters and individuals are restricted by law to very modest limits of contributions to candidates.

          The death knell has been sounded on the power and influence of individual voters or "We, the People" of the U.S. to control campaign contributions and thusly the influence of money on the election of candidates by swaying advertising.  Now that our August Supreme Court has actively decided to reverse long standing prior decisions of the Court, banning corporations from contributing money to political candidates by ruling corporations as individuals may contribute unlimited funds in political parties and campaigns without the restrictions or limitations placed on us, the voters. 

          The sad result is that, more and more, of our elected politicians, be they Republican or Democrat, are beholden to the demands of their political parties and not the American voter, or risk ostracizing.

          Under our system of Government, it seems that for the last one hundred years, without exception the two major political parties and their members, "Democraps" and "Repugnantcans", have selected their candidates at primary elections to run in the final election in November, for all the Federal Offices.  As a result, at the same time, it has become more and more evident that these elected officials, from either party, vote in lockstep to the demand of their political party and not in the interests of the American people, they represent and who elected them.  After all, these same elected officials are elected by members of their own party but also the other unregistered for one or the other party because of their dissatisfaction with both parties as such, once elected, and in their District, State or Country.  Therefore, when they act politically for their party, instead of the wishes of their constituents', they are violating their trust and obligation to them.  The people's needs should always come before the demands of their political party, but unfortunately, at present, they don't.

          Since each and every attempt to limit political contributions and financing has been struck down as unconstitutional, the only way to limit these influencing contributions would be by Constitutional change, a long, drawn out process which has no guarantee of success.

          I suggest that collectively the majority of the American voters have the power of their single vote, joined with others to elect a representative to Washington without spending that contaminating money or contributions.  It is the vote that is counted at the polling placed not the money spent at each campaign.  All each voter needs to do, is to put their interest and that of the American people first by taking an interest in their Government first, then voting at each election for the candidate, they feel will consider the needs of the American people first and foremost.  This is what is expected of us in a democracy, and this is what we must do to elect the Peoples' candidates for office.  There is no excuse, during these trying times, not to get involved so that the people take back the control of our country from our sold out political representatives in Washington who are controlled by the lobbyists and their political party and not by the American people they were elected to represent.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS

 IN THE U.S.A. ARE INTERRELATED WITH OUR

PRESENT IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS

AND SYSTEMS

August 22, 2010

Article D:   With a rising unemployment problem for the last three years, illegal immigration and work visas have compounded this problem and made it untenable.  For the last twenty five years, the illegals have been flooding over our borders to work at menial jobs most Americans did not want, working in fields and factories at near minimum wages.  This rising unemployment and the threat of terrorism since 9/11 have caused the American people to take notice of the illegal's caused the American people to take notice of the illegal's pouring over our borders seemingly at will.

          Suddenly, Americans began to realize that, in spite of the 1985 Amnesty Act for millions of illegal's, then in the United States this act of kindness and generosity, it only triggered a new flood of illegal's over our borders, as if to signal that eventually another Amnesty Act will allow them to stay here also.

          Now, with the United States economy in shambles, and empty treasury and unemployment higher than any time since the great depression of the 1930's, suffering Americans began to take a good hard look at our immigration system and found it totally lacking to the safety and well being of the American people.  Suddenly we are taking notice of student and visiting visas where the person have overstayed their visas and took jobs in competition with the American workers.  In many cases these illegal workers were willing to take jobs for fewer wage for many past years, with a shortage of skilled employees, they saw Congress pass legislation, adding more and more foreign work visas to foreigners to work here in America.  This was especially true in the computer field, where Bill Gates, not satisfied to be a multi billionaire has visited Congress many times seeking more and more work visas for English speaking workers in the computer field, claiming there were not enough Americans to fill these jobs.  To this day, no one knows how many millions of these work visa persons are working in American jobs since our Government has no system for keeping track of them or their numbers.

          If the total number of these people is added to the illegal fence jumpers, it is reasonably estimated they may exceed the total number of our unemployed 15 million people.  These are jobs most Americans would be happy to perform or could be readily trained to perform in order to feed their families and help keep their homes, in these trying times.

          From time to time both Democratic and Republican members of Congress have been in favor of amnesty for these illegal's, but for different reasons.  The Republicans representing big business are always in favor of cheap labor, while the motivation of Democrats has always been for their potential votes.  Either way, the American people lose if they have their way, and that is the problem with both political parties.  Each is working in the best interest for their, own reasons, and not as to what is best for the American people.  All the while, neither party has been serious about securing our borders nor ports which should be our first priority while both are anxious to leave our borders open to the illegals.  It has been something of a miracle that terrorists have not attacked the U.S.A. since 9/11, since the last two administrations have deliberately left our borders open and not securely closed.

          To cite the urgency of this problem, the State of Arizona has recently passed a law under which illegal's may be fettered out and sent back to their country of origin because our Government has steadfastly refused to enforce the law by preventing people to enter the United States illegally.  Many Border States have been complaining of the violent acts of these illegal's carrying drugs for sale in the United States in addition to the cost of welfare and medical services the illegals have been causing.  In addition they rush here to have their children born here and automatically become American citizen, under our Constitution.

          President Obama has done NOTHING to help secure the borders Just as President Bush did during his terms of office.  They both have taken sides with the illegals, instead of the American people who insist on the borders being made secure. 

          There is no question, but that the United States has exclusive jurisdiction to handle the immigration problem, but in the event the Government fails to enforce the law when people blatantly and continuously violate the law of immigration self help by any state hurt as a result should be justified.

          President Obama is deliberately violating his oath of office under Article 2, Section g, of our Constitution, in that he is not preserving protecting and defending the laws under our Constitution.

          Illegals should not have the protection of any rights under our Constitution, since they are no different than invaders.  Our visa laws should be reviewed by Congress, so that all work visas should be cancelled and their jobs give to some of the 15 million unemployed Americans until we have full employment.  While we are reviewing our visa system we should also root out all overstayed visitor visas since many if not all, are unlawfully gainfully employed here in the U. S. A., in jobs that Americans have the exclusive right to hold.  In the meantime, as usual, Congress and the President are turning a blind eye to this serious unemployment problem since they are fat and content in their jobs, in Washington, with big salaries and the best of medical and pension plans while the American people are losing their jobs, their homes and are increasingly desperate and discouraged with their representatives and their Government.

          It is time for the American people to vote out all their incumbent representatives and leaders so they may state the feelings of unemployment and the continuing recession themselves, since they caused it.

"We the People's Plan" to Take Back Control of Our Country

August 11, 2010

Plan Number Three:  The Four Year and Never Ending Recession

C.  Since 2006, this country has experienced a deep recession, the likes of which we have not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930's.  The first signs were the slowing down of the construction field and the housing and mortgage market which finally collapsed in the autumn of 2008.

Who does not remember President Bush and his Treasure Secretary, Henry Paulson, rushing to the Capitol in 2008, asking for a nearly trillion dollars to bail out the financial industry, because of the collapse of mortgage market by defaulting borrowers who had lost their jobs and could not make their payments.  Presidential candidates Obama and McCain rushed to Washington to vote for this "Emergency Bill" to bail out the financial institutions, only to find out later, that, in their haste they failed to attach any conditions on the loans while they took the money, failed to correct the mortgage problem while the American public learned they had lost all this money due to their greed and lack of government controls.  Huge bonuses were given out to the very people that should have been fired.  Instead, costly, lavish parties were held in celebration of their failings.

Due to this problem and the failure of the Obama administration to address it vigorously, unemployment has doubled to nearly 10%; the falling real estate values have spurred continuing mortgage foreclosures and prevented the construction industry from recovering from a standstill, due to the bargain prices of foreclosed homes and commercial property.

Congress and the Obama administration have passed a supposed "Bank Reform Bill," recently which has only partial addressed this problem due to the fact that traditionally these financial institutions are big contributors to the campaign funds of Congressmen, the President and both political parties.  This bill was "watered down" to the point it's 2,800 pages gives only "lip service" to the banking and finance world.  If anything, its provisions are intended to hold these institutions as hostages, in order to do their bidding and squeeze continual contributions from them.

Real bank reform should include the following, in order to help jump start the economy with the necessary loans and keep people in their homes to stop this foreclosure problem:

• 1. The government guarantees on mortgages should be reduced to 50% of the mortgage while the lending institution is made responsible for the other 50% in order for the lender to be more careful and prudent it it's lending practices.
• 2. All existing home and business mortgages must be reviewed and their balances reduced to current market value in order to give. The borrower the incentive to remain in their property and continue payments thereon. This action is guaranteed to stop the decline and surplus of real estate values, stabilize the market and encourage the start up of the construction field to provide needed employment in this static field.
• 3. Mortgage and loan insurance companies must be bonded for 100% of all mortgage insured to prevent another debacle as happened with A.I.G in 2008 and the need for another government bailout.
• 4. Banks and lending institutions must hold every mortgage they write and not be allowed to trade them on the open or stock markets.
• 5. The government's guarantees on deposits must be reduced to 50% to make the lending institutions equally responsible for its business transactions and cost expenditures to stop irresponsible actions by them, knowing the government will bail them out of 100% guarantees.
• 6. Interest rates and charges for services must be strictly controlled by the government as well as the forms and terms on loans and mortgages in order to prevent the consumer from being taken advantage of as a borrower.

These are but a few of the suggested actions that our government must take to stabilize the lending and mortgage market.

These articles and possible solutions will be continued.

THE PRESIDENT'S INSENSITIVITY TO THE SENSITIVITY OVER THE PLANNED LOCATION OF A MUSLIM MOSQUE NEAR THE WORLD TRACE CENTER SITE

August 17, 2010

          There has been a controversy brewing over the proposal by Muslims to locate a Mosque within a block of the location of the former World Trade Center in New Your City.  It has been determined that legally the proponents have the right to build a Mosque there, but still the controversy continues by the families of the three thousand victims who died there y the families of the three thousand victims who died thereby the hands of a handful of Muslim extreme terrorists, and those of us sympathetic to the sensitivity of these persons.

          Sixty percent of those Americans polled came to the conclusion that they believe, under the circumstances, the Muslim Mosque should be built elsewhere, because of this sensitivity and in respect to those who died, or were injured.

          It seems the Muslim supporters have been seeking funds for this project worldwide, stating it will be located within a block of the site.  This statement gave rise to the belief that these Muslim supporters are planning this Mosque, more as a tribute to their heroic Muslim terrorists than to the desire to build a Mosque for worship of Muslims as they have a legal right to do under the First Amendment of our United States Constitution.

          Into this controversy miss-stepped our President Obama, to announce, he personally and as President, felt the Muslims had a Constitutional right to build the Mosque there and that fact alone should be accepted by the American people to allow the Mosque to be built there.  Coming from a man whose father was a Muslim and who as a child spent part of his youth in a Muslim school in Indonesia, shocked the American public to the realization that our President was favoring the position of the Muslims and insensitive to the majority of victims of the Trade Center and the majority of the American people who sympathized with them.

          There very next day President Obama tried to backtrack on this statement by saying he only meant to quote the law, but it was too late since it was clear from his statement that he intended to side with the Muslims and not those injured or the families of the victims and the majority of American people.

          This is not the first time the President Obama has failed to respect the sensitivity of any individual or group since, he wrongly came to the defense of his black Harvard College Professor and friend, by calling the legal action of the Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Department, "stupid."  On a more recent example, he deliberately forced the resignation of a competent longstanding member of his Agricultural Department, before he learned her alleged racial statement was taken out of context and untrue.  To add, insult to injury, although the President took the time to talk to the innocent woman employee, he failed to specifically apologize for this gross and damaging mistake.

          It is now clear to the American people that this President is out of touch with reality and he and his Administration is only interested in the politics of the time and not the plight and needs of the American people he steadfastly promised to help during his campaign for President, but soon has ignored since he was elected.  Every action his Administration has taken for nearly two years has been political and devoid of any consideration or sympathy for the American people he swore to represent and help.

The Dilemma of the American Voter in 2010 and 2012

August, 2010

          Between now and November the American people must select a new U.S. House of Representatives and one third of the U.S. Senate.  At the same time, they are disappointed and disgusted with their Washington Representatives and leaders, especially for the last ten years.

          Starting with our Republican President, George W. Bush, and his Republican majority in Congress, they pushed us into a never ending war in Afghanistan and needless war in Iraq, which has drained the lifeblood of our brave servicemen, with endless tours of duty which has caused them and their families to suffer untold physical and emotional harm.

          At the same time, the monetary costs has been added to our national debt which now is reaching the 13 trillion dollar mark, a figure Congress has thrust upon our children and grandchildren to bear, unjustifiably.  Part of that deficit was caused by the Bush Tax Cut for only the rich.

          In the meantime, the serious energy problem with rising gasoline and fuel prices dating back to the Arab OPEC Embargo of 1973 have never been addressed by Congress or successive Presidents, simply because they are controlled by the lobbyists for domestic and foreign oil companies with political donations in return for huge, shameful profits at the expense of the American people.

          Problems of the high, triple costs of prescription drugs have never been adequately answered while the American people are prohibited from buying cheaper drugs from overseas. 

          The American stock market continues to experience periodic gyrations up and down wiping away the retirement funds of financial institutions and the U.S. Treasury access to cheap money at the expense of retirees and the American people.

          We have been faced with a serious and worsening economic recession starting in 2006 with unemployment rising to an alarming rate of ten percent while continuing mortgage foreclosures depress values of real estate and prevent the construction industry from any hope of recovery.  Instead of our Congress and Presidents, including Barack Obama, helping this problem, they instead threw nearly a billion dollars to the greedy financial institutions who caused the financial problem in the first place, instead of the unemployed, and a plan to rid us of dependence on oil fuels.

          First, in 2006, the American people voted out the Republican majority in Congress and installed a Democratic majority as a protest to the wars and worsening economy, more as a protest against the Republican majority and administration than a reward or acclaim for the Democrats.  Still Congress let the war drag on while the economy worsened with more and more gridlock and vetoes between Congress and President Bush.

          Then, in 2008, the American people, increasingly, disillusioned and disappointed with their Representatives in Washington, chose to elect a Democratic President for the Democratic majority in Congress, who promised the "Change and Can Do" the American people, needed and wanted in these trying times.

          Instead of confronting and cajoling his Democratic Congress to work with their republican counterparts, President Obama gave them a "Carte Blanc" to pass a much needed stimulus package filled instead with unneeded and wasteful pork projects that have helped Congressmen and state, public and union employees instead of the unemployed American people or to help the economy recover.

          President Obama's promise to end the wars was broken when he agreed to add thirty thousand troops in Afghanistan on a mission that has only killed and wounded more servicemen/woman than ever before, while the Taliban have increased their control of their country and his own commanders say we are losing the war there.

          At this point and juncture, the American people are so disgusted with their Representatives for their inattention to all these pressing problems, that they feel the only thing they can do is to turn our their incumbent Representatives and elect anyone else who appears on the election ballot, in frustration, next November.  I believe they are right in their actions simply because, they have no choice since at this point the choice has been the same for many years, vote for either a Democrat or Republican Candidate.  This has been exactly what they have been doing without success for years and especially since 2006.  Therefore, what is needed is for the American people to have an added choice, other than to vote for either a Democrat or a Republican, since neither is worthy.

          It is obvious to me that the American people have already become disenchanted with both major political parties since over the years the American people have increasingly changed their party affiliation to that of an "Independent" voter, without party affiliation.  On the average, the Independent voter outnumbers either the Democratic or Republican voter in most states while in the State of New Hampshire, the Independent voters outnumber both major parties combined.

          Therefore, it is logical, to ask, "Why haven't the voices of the Independent voter been heard in Washington?"  The answer is simple, because they are not organized as a party; they have been ignored by both political parties.

          Article 1 Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution prescribes to each state Legislature the times, places and manner of holding elections for members of Congress.  Each state Legislature is obviously controlled by one major party or another.  Therefore, in almost every state, the primary elections are designed purposely to prevent non party voters from voting for an Independent Candidate since they are deliberately excluded from primary voting.  An Independent voter is therefore only allowed to vote in a Primary if they select a Democrat or Republican ballot.  By excluding non party Independent Candidates from the primary ballots, because they are non party members, they are left to be voted for in the General Election.  Since in most cases, more than a few Independent Candidates run for office, their vote is diluted between competing Independents whereas at the Primary Election once a Party Candidate is chosen from any running group and the rest are eliminated, giving each Party Candidate the decided advantage over a usual group of Independent Candidates for office.  Whereas, only party designated voters may vote at most state Primaries, most debates are party oriented and Independent Candidates are usually ignored and not invited to participate.  Couple this fact of little or no free publicity, with the moneyed power of each political party to advertise for their respective selected Candidate, you can readily see the political advantage of existing political parties.  Everyone knows from experience that once on party Candidate is elected to Congress or the Presidency that the political party has its elected members collared and controlled with money, power and intimidation to vote along party lines only in all cases while the votes and needs of the Independent voter are ignored by both.

          Based on these facts and this circumstance, it is obvious that an Independent voter's desired needs and wishes can only be heard if they organize into a political party under present rules.  In addition an Independent voter may then be able to vote for an Independent Candidate of their choice at the primary election rather than a member of the other political parties and their votes will not be diluted as it is at present.

          This is the only way "We the Independent People" may be able to take back our Country from the politicians and have our voices heard and help elect an Independent of our choice.

"WE THE PEOPLE'S PLAN" TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF OUR COUNTRY

August 10, 2010

          On July 5, 2010, we filed our first reason in a plan to throw out our incumbent representatives in Washington, that of actions of OPEC and our Domestic Oil Companies in gouging Americans by raising the prices of gasoline and fuel oil, with the help of our elected officials in return for campaign contributions.  It is interesting to note that Americans are running a Trade Deficit with the OPEC nations in the amount of a trillion dollars a year, money that is leaving our Country all this could be avoided if only our Country adopted a crash alternative energy program, to rid us of our dependence on foreign and domestic oil, which, it is estimated, would reduce the price of these fuels by one half.

          This next article, deals with our Free Trade Agreements with foreign Counties like China and under CAFTA and NAFTA.

          B.  In 1985, President Clinton, A Democrat, began signing Free Trade Laws passed by the Republican controlled Congress, in the interest of allowing cheaper goods to enter the Country.  After twenty five years, those laws have caused our entire American manufacturing base and companies to leave the Country in search of cheap labor in order to compete with foreign Countries.  This is the main cause for our ten percent unemployment today.  In addition, we are running a trade deficit of more than a trillion dollars with Countries like China, and if this continues, China and the foreign countries will own all our assets soon.

          It is a simple fact that poorer nations have a lower standard of living and an ample supply of cheap labor which American has tapped into, in the interest of lower prices.  However, in spite of the good intentions, the price for these cheap goods has resulted in the loss of our manufacturing and tax base and about ten million jobs, since Americans cannot make these goods as cheaply.

          Even though this problem has been apparent to our government for the last fifteen years, our representatives have done nothing to attempt to solve this problem so that these jobs may be saved or some jobs created to replace them.  In fact, our representatives have helped many of our industries to move overseas by voting tax breaks, which only adds insult to the injury to their loss. 
 

          One simple solution to allow us to keep importing these cheaper goods would be for Congress to change our "Free Trade Laws" to "Balanced Trade Laws."  This would mean that these same Countries may continue to sell us the low priced goods, but must buy American goods in return, dollar for dollar value. This plan would automatically put millions of Americans back to work while our trade deficit would be eliminated, immediately.

          One might wonder why Congress and President Obama have not come up with this or a similar plan in the past to help our unemployment or Trade Deficit problem.  It is because they are being paid by the big business lobbyists to assist big business and not the American people they should be representing.

          It is time that all the American people become aware that our Democratic and Republican representatives in Washington, along with their respective political parties, have been bought and paid for by special interest groups, like labor unions and big businesses, through their respective lobbyists.  All this has been going on for years under the guise of campaign contributions to run for re-election.  Where I come from, if a representative does a good job representing the people, the people will know that and readily re-elect them without the necessity of spending or needing campaign money.  That was one of the reasons the Free Stamps or Franking Privilege was included in the Constitution, to allow our representatives to inform their constituents at all times, what they have done for them.  This practice has fallen by the wayside, because, our representatives are busy filling their pockets with campaign contributions and also have done nothing good for their constituents to inform them about. 

          It is time for the American people, especially the ever increasing block of Independent voters, join with those disgruntled and disappointed Democratic and Republican voters to throw out all our incumbent representatives in Washington and elect new representatives who will once again represent the American people who elect them and no one else.

          This is the second of a long series of articles which will be posted to inform the American people of the problems facing our beloved Country along with some possible solutions for them to consider when they take this Country back from our Washington politicians, who only work for themselves.

WHY ARE THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS IN THE UNITED STATES DISENFRANCHISED AND TREATED AS A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN AT STATE AND FEDERAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS?

August 7, 2010

• 1. Did you know that Independent voters cannot vote in the State and Federal Primary Elections held in each state unless they ask for either a Democratic or Republican ballot? If you do, your designation is changed to the party whose ballot you selected. But then you must ask to return to an Independent.
• 2. Article 1 Section 4a, of the U.S. Constitution prescribes to each State's Legislature, the time, places and manner of holding elections for members of the U. S. Congress, although the Congress may at any time, make or alter said (State) regulations.
• 3. Did you know that in most states, the leaders of both the Democratic and Republican parties decide the question of the date of the primary for those states?
• 4. Did you know that you as a taxpayer in the state pay the entire cost of holding said Primary Elections, which are being held exclusively for Democratic or Republican candidates?
• 5. Did you know that each Independent candidate for office must pay a separate fee to the state or must also obtain a certain amount of approving signatures of registered voters to run for Federal office in the November election?
• 6. Did you know that there is no provision for an Independent voter to vote for an Independent candidate at said primary election?
• 7. Would it make sense for Independent voters to be able to vote for an Independent candidate, also if they choose, at a Primary Election, as well as to vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliations?
• 8. Do you feel disenfranchised if, as an Independent voter, you are prohibited from voting for the person of your choice at a Primary Election?
• 9. Are you willing to sign a petition asking both your, State Legislature or Congress, to change the present Primary Law so that you as an Independent voter may vote for the Candidate of your choice at future Primary Elections?
• 10. Would you be interested to join the "We the Independent People Party" run by you at regular town or City meetings where only the vote of the majority of the people controls.
• 11. If you are interested, please respond.

Illegal Immigration

May 6, 2010

     The attached letter was sent to Senator Kennedy as a result of his stand on illegal immigration and the legislation he co-sponsored in early 2007.    Fortunately, public opinion stopped him, the President and most Democrats in their tracks. This is an example of the power of public opinion the voters have collectively, over our representatives in Congress. This is our only key to success until we have representatives that put the voter's demands and needs first and foremost.

    Three years later, may, 2010, the same illegal immigration problem remains and has worsened, with higher unemployment and a sagging economy when Arizona's Governor and legislators passed a law to try to control immigration into their state, they were chastised by our President Obama instead of applauded for doing the job the United States government has failed to do it seems our president favors the illegal's over the vast majority of the American people.  Please contact your Representative, Senator or President and if they do not listen to us in our just demands, vote them out in November, the message is "re-elect nobody".

Dear Senator Kennedy:

Enough is Enough

      As usual, the President and Congress have failed to handle the illegal immigration problem properly.

      In 1986, Congress passed an immigration amnesty bill to provide citizenship to millions of illegal aliens.  Most of them had crossed our borders illegally or had overstayed their visitor's visas.

     Since then, because our borders were not secured and the visa programs were not corrected, this very amnesty bill encouraged millions upon millions of illegal aliens to enter our country illegally or to overstay their visa permits, simply because our borders were not made secure and our visa laws were not corrected and violation enforced.    Now, it is said we have about twelve million illegal's here, but there is no way to really determine the precise figure.

     Without a change on the U.S. Enforcement of our borders laws and  policy, we can expect  this problem to increase with millions of illegal's continuing to enter our country each year, assured and encouraged that they will be granted amnesty, again as in the past.

      The 9-11-01 incident has driven home our country's need to secure our borders and ports of entry.   Our laws concerning the issuance of visas to visiting aliens need to be tightened and enforced so we know where they are at all times.

       The so-called "guest workers program" should be put on hold until we ascertain how many uninvited "guests" we have in this country. The question of granting of so-called amnesty to illegal immigrants should be put on hold until they come forward, are identified and are counted.  There is no question that these illegals are depressing the wages of the low and middleclass while filling the pockets of businesses that see and want the illegal's as cheap labor.   Why hasn't our Government enforced the existing laws against hiring illegal aliens?   It is because President Bush and Congress controlled by big business have been paid off with the help of their hired hands, the lobbyists.  It is certain that Americans are willing and able to do the work of these illegal's, if they are paid a living wage.  The cost of labor to pick agricultural products  is measured in pennies a pound, a mere tiny fraction of the cost to the consumer, while the farmer and middleman charges two dollars a pound for tomatoes, which should cost no more than one half the price.  Go look at the abandoned fields; they are full of unpicked vegetables, as away to keep the prices high.

      We all sympathize with the plight of the illegal immigrants; however, their plight comes second to the security of the U.S. and the welfare of its citizens. In my opinion, they should return to their homes, because they are one cause of the unemployment problem in the U.S.

      Therefore, it is of vital importance for Congress to prioritize this problem, by first securing our borders and ports in the interest of national security and to stop this uncontrolled influx of illegal immigrants.

     The vast majority of Americans have taken this stand against illegal immigration and they want it stopped in a quick and efficient manner.

      The American people should not need to demonstrate in the streets to let their feelings heard.  They have their elected officials who should do the bidding of the majority, not that of lobbyists or even the President when it is against public opinion.  Such considerations as the human plight of these illegal should not and cannot be considered when coupled with the needs and opinions of the majority of American people who come first.  I can readily understand why the Roman Catholic Church is sympathetic to the illegal's cause, but that is a religious or moral argument, which has no weight in law.   We have too many illegal immigrants here now, and we definitely don't need more to compound the problem.  I urge you, and other Democrats and the President to reconsider your position in this matter, which is one hundred and eighty degrees opposite from public opinion, today.

      In addition, it is the power of the American voter who will ultimately decide the fate of members of Congress, who go against the wishes of the majority of American.  They will be tested at the voting booth.

     The way to reward Congressmen who fail to put the interests of the American people first is at the ballot box in the next Federal election, by voting to "re-elect nobody", democrats and republicans alike.

     This Congress has failed miserably, to pass legislation to solve the pressing problems of homeland security, the economy, social security, health care, the cost of prescription drugs and the high cost of gasoline.   For this reason alone, they do not deserve re-election. We should not re-elect anyone to Congress until these problems have been solved by meaningful legislation.

Very truly yours,

Andy Looney

March 15, 2007

The 2010 Election Plan for the

Democratic and Republican

Parties

July 18, 2010

      It is ironic that both the Democrats and Republicans think they have the winning plan for their election in the year 2010.

     The Democrats claim, after what former President, George Bush, did with the economy during his eight years in the White House, starting two wars that have no end, adding 10 trillion dollars to the deficit, and promoting a trillion dollar bank bailout bill the American people have a choice, go back to Bush's mismanagement or stay with a Democratic new President and Congress who are slowly bringing back the economy.   The Democrats have convinced themselves that because the American people wanted change and elected a Democratic President less than two years ago, they certainly do not desire to go back to the Republican ways and a Republican Congress now.

      The Republicans claim the Democrats promised change for the better with a new Democratic President and a Democratic Congress.  All the changes have been for the worse, with unemployment rising to nearly ten percent in spite of a trillion dollar stimulus bill, and a deficit now approaching 14 trillion dollars and with record foreclosures keeping the economy in shambles, the American people are dissatisfied and disillusioned with their government and the help they need is not coming, even with the extension of the unemployment benefits.

       All the polls show the American people are not happy with Congress and the President's actions so they feel the people definitely want change again, so they will throw out the Democratic Congress majority in 2010.

    The see-saw battle between Democrats and Republicans and their parties for elective office has been raging for at least 15 years, with open bickering and back biting in the halls of Congress to the point most action by Congress to solve any problems has been stymied and stalemated for years.

      I have come to the conclusion, after hearing both these plans and their attendant claims that both political parties are right, but at the same time, that does not mean the American people have the choice of voting for a Democrat or a Republican candidate only.  It is a known fact, that the Independent voters today outnumber either the Democrats or the Republicans.  If the Independent voters are to believe one or the other, between the Democrats and Republicans that does not mean the Independent voters will vote for one or the other in 2010.  If, on the other hand, the Independent voters believe, both or neither, the Democrats nor the Republicans then it is logical they will be seeking another or Independent candidate instead of a Democratic or Republican candidate.

      If some responsible person were to take an honest poll of the American people , they will discover that the American people are fed up with and have given up on both  political parties and all  the Democratic and Republican office holders in Congress and in November 2010, every incumbent seriously faces a loss of his or her  job in Congress.  The result eventually will be that there is a better chance for a "We the People" Independent candidate to win election in November 2010, than either a Democrat or Republican.

       Therefore, the conclusion is, that both the Democratic and Republican parties are right in their strategy, that the other party should lose, except they are wrong that the other party will win as a consequence, since we, the American Independent people will have a clear choice to elect a new face, an Independent candidate as a back handed reward to the Democrats and Republicans for their misfeasance and malfeasance in office for the last fifteen years.    

THE LATEST RACIAL ACCUSATION BY THE NAACP AGAINST THE "TEA PARTY"

July 17, 2010

Dear President Barack Obama:

            Here comes the race card again!  The latest is the NAACP attack on the Republican "Tea Party" claiming it is against blacks, and specifically against you.  As an American I cannot condone the vilification of my President at a Tea Party rally depicting you as a monkey with the slogan, "go back to Kenya" but, then again, this is what you can expect from a political party who has changed its color and ideology twice in the last hundred years.  First the South, former National Confederates and sympathizers changed their party affiliation from Republican to Democratic, because of President Lincoln's Constitutional beliefs and his Emancipation Proclamation of the black slaves during the Civil War.  Then, after John F. Kennedy's and Lyndon Johnson's Civil Rights Actions and Acts as Presidents, for the suffering blacks dealing with segregation in the South under "separate, but equal" accommodations, which were not equal, but segregated and in violation of the U.S. Constitution, the South suddenly and unabashedly changed its political party affiliation again, from Democrats to Republicans.  This was to correct a wrong that had existed in the U.S.  Since its Constitution itself sanctioned slavery and racism in spite of Lincoln's subsequent Emancipation Proclamation, the 14^th Amendment and the Civil Rights act of 1963.  Southerners and former slave owners and their offspring have stubbornly clung to their beliefs that blacks are not equal and will never be equal and they feel they are justified in being prejudicial and racial toward blacks.

            While they are at it, these black haters have also turned on the Jewish and Catholic people who, from their own experiences over the last two or three thousand years know something about suffering from prejudice and subjugation as recently as what happened to the Jewish people in the 1940's in Germany and the Catholic people here in the U.S. as late as 1900's under the protestant majority.  Remember the Presidential campaigns of Al Smith and John F. Kennedy?

            Racism, Anti-Semitism and Anti-Nationality has existed, world-wide, since the beginning of time, spurred on by jealously, prejudice and supposed hate.  Just look at the situation in the Middle East today, where most Muslims have hated the Jews for three thousand years and now hate the U.S. and England because they have supported the Jewish state of Israel.  Wars are being fought to this day between religions of different faiths, racism is not new anymore than nationalism and the wars continue daily.

            The Catholics have an answer to this problem, they say, "Hold your loved ones close and your enemy closer (that way you will know what they are up to and you will be better able to defend yourself).  This is really a human nature thing; a person's beliefs come from their mind, taught like a poison from generation to generation.  Wars resolve nothing as the vanquished plot the future revenge while the victor baths in his imagined victory since like all things they are temporary as the challenge continues.

            And that is the way racism endures, it is branded and engrained in the mind and passed from father to son and from generation to generation.  You may be able to stop these aggrieving and aggressive acts temporarily, but not permanently, unless and until you learn how to deal with it and you deal with it by ignoring it when it doesn't threaten your safety.  By calling attention to it you are giving them attention and publicity and that is what they want and need to keep the insult alive.  When you ignore it, it will die on the vine and you will be the bigger for it, since you know what you are and what they are and to be thin skinned is a fault, of course when they threaten you physically the law will always protect you.

            In all events, remember the time honored slogan, "stick and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me."  Repeat it out loud or silently and you will receive great solace from it knowing you are a bigger person then they are.

            When I was young, the Irish kids in the neighborhood called me a "nigger" (as a Sicilian, I am dark skinned) I realized if I showed them I was angry they would repeat the taunts.  Instead, I ignored them and they stopped.

            One more point, the "tea parties" only threat is to the Republican Party, itself, please ignore them.  

THE CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR ATTORNEY ELENA KAGAN

June 30, 2010

Dear President Barack Obama:

          As an American attorney of fifty-three years, I have watched with intense interest, the Senate Judiciary Committee's Confirmation Hearing on your nomination of former Harvard Dean, Elena Kagen, as the next Justice to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.

     Having watched other Confirmation Hearings over the years, I did expect the usual minority political party's squabble, complaints and opposition to the nomination by the opposite political party's administration to the nomination by the opposite political party's administration as a matter of course.  However, in this instance, I did not expect the minority, Republican Party, members of this Judiciary Committee's vilification of the nominee, just because she was a Law Clerk to an outstanding former Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, the first black member appointed to this August Court.

          Why chastise and call Justice Marshall, a liberal activist member of the Court who purposely advocated a justified interpretation of the Constitution especially as it applied to the rights of black Americans?  Justice Marshall, obviously did try to make up for the one hundred years of denial of Constitutional rights to black Americans by the Southern States, since 1863, when President Lincoln rightly issued the emancipation proclamation.  He is renowned for this legal fight in the case of "Brown vs. the Board of Education", to end once and for all, the South's crude actions by establishing segregated schools and facilities, under the guise of "separate but equal" accommodations and ending with President Lyndon Johnson's Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Voting Rights 25^th Amendment.  If anyone needed to be activists in those days on behalf of the downtrodden black Americans, how could anyone condemn a black person for his actions after the Southern States had openly deprived black Americans of their "God given rights."  These same Southerner's cry out in their drive to bring religion into the schools and Government while they have also succeeded in having the present activist Supreme Court Majority turn around the real meaning of the 2^nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution so that now "the rights of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed," by any state of the union.  When you, also, add the recent Activist Act of the present majority of the Supreme Court in calling Corporations and Unions a "person" with the unrestricted right to make political contributions to political parties and candidates.  You wonder why and how, the republican members can complain about the possibility a candidate may act liberally actively, in supposed contravention of the Constitution, when the Republican controlled Supreme Court has recently acted in the very same manner.

          To call our first famous black Justice of the Supreme Court an activist when he was merely seeking to right a wrong perpetrated on the black people of America for more than a hundred years, is a tragedy in itself.  It betrays the lingering problems still perceived by the Southern whites against the blacks they have always looked upon as their property, and not fellow human beings and Americans, since the Civil War between the States.  It is the same reason the Southern States have managed to change their political party from republicans to democrat, starting in 1865 and then after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Southern States, again changed their party affiliation from Democrats to Republicans, in protest of the Civil Rights Act and the 25^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

     It is obvious that most Southern Republicans are smarting at the election of a black Democratic President, and are still not willing to accept the black Americans they had managed to subjugate as slaves and free men and woman since 1863, as their equals from their stubborn and un-American actions to this day and never will.

     In addition, these same bigots hate the liberal Jews and Catholics who, knowing and having some experience about the pains of discrimination have always come to the aid of their brothers, the black Americans.

     And now, we know why most sensible people call the Confirmation process a charade and mere political duel without weapons, at the expense of the innocent nominee, something that should never happen, but is commonplace in Congress and our Government these days.  Hopefully, we also now realize that when on Political party calls the other Political party "...no good...," they are both right and they exemplify the reason why we should do away with political parties in our voting and in our Government.  They are the main problem why our Government is not working for the people as it should be and is torn apart by petty politics, today.

REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH BARTON,

REPUBLICAN OF TEXAS, PERSONIFIES THE ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CONGRESS

June 19, 2010

Dear Representative Barton:

          When you spoke at the public hearing held by a Committee of Congress investigating the problem of the oil spill by BP in the Gulf of Mexico, I could not believe what I was hearing.

          After about sixty days of the worst oil spill in history that is still ongoing and damaging the environment and livelihood of hundreds of thousands of fishermen and tradesmen in the Gulf States every day, it was both fitting and proper for Congress, as representatives of the American people, to seek answers as to the cause of this tragic event and hopefully find answers to end this problem and hopefully prevent this catastrophic event from happening again.

          It was obvious from the start of the questioning period that the representative from BP was stonewalling and as a lawyer of many years I can understand his evasiveness in order to protect his company from possible criminal liability in this matter.  It may be unfortunate that he had to take this stance, in light of the US Attorney General's ongoing investigation, but certainly understandable from a legal point of view.

          However, your actions and statements as a member of the committee in charge of this Congressional investigation even as a Minority Member leaves us perplexed as to your real motivations in this matter.

          Since this incident happened sixty days ago, BP has repeatedly acknowledged financial responsibility to pay for all past, present and future damages caused by this spill and in addition has tried to handle these claims as it also has attempted to stop the spill and has employed several methods to pick up the oil spilled and clean the beaches where the oil has come to shore.  BP has also stated it will not be bound by the money limit of 75 million dollar cap placed into law by the Congress for such disasters, a measure that has no practical basis nor reason and one, I am sure, you voted for.

          For you to publicly apologies to BP because our President Barack Obama called for a meeting with BP at the White House to ask for a 20 billion dollar fund to be set aside by BP to handle these damages by a third party, calling it a "shakedown", smacks of a complete disregard for the recovery of damages suffered and will be suffered by the American people at the hands of BP under the present circumstances.

          When you consider the precarious position of BP in this matter, with its stock falling to half its value in only sixty days, and with continuing damages mounting, it is obvious that a question arose about the viability and capacity of BP to pay all the damages and that Obama's actions in pressing BP to set up a damages fund, was nothing less than a stroke of unexpected genius.  In addition, Obama is putting the damages suffered by the American people ahead of the expected fines due the U.S. Government due to the spill.

          With the economy in such bad straits in the Gulf States, people have no time to wait for damage recovery by legal actions, since most are living from paycheck to pay check.

          Instead of playing the usual political game against the administration of the other party, by apologizing to BP, you Mr. Barton, should have complimented them and President Obama for doing the right thing for the American people in this tragic matter.  Instead, the President and the American people have found an "ass to kick" in this matter.  The apology you directed to BP should have been made to the American people, whom you never mentioned in your comments and who you obviously do not care about their suffering and predicament.

          If you politicians in Washington cannot find common ground to work together on the subject of this oil spill, then, you do not deserve to be in Washington come next November!

GENERAL McCHRYSTAL AND THE WIMP

IN THE WHITE HOUSE

June 22, 2010

Dear General McChrystal:

          For a great General who has been a hero in the service for your country and to your men, you and your staff are acting like a bunch of school kids talking about your teachers.  I am referring to the comments you made to Rolling Stone Magazine, recently, during an interview that should have never taken place.  The fact that you offered your resignation tells me you did make these statements about President Obama, Vice President Biden and others.  Even if your statement may be true, that President Obama is a wimp, you are the last person to be talking that way publicly about our Commander in Chief.

          As a soldier, myself, stationed in France and Germany during the War we heard our famous great, General Patton, make some stupid statements and act out of character more than a few times during the War, but tough as he was on himself and his men, who always loved and respected him, he always was a great General who out performed every other General in the field.  Who can forget his actions in saving the brave soldiers at the break through in December 1944.

          I know full well the stress you are under every day in the field worrying about your men and the success of your mission and how frustrated you may feel at times.  When you honestly say the Taliban are not winning while the allies may not be winning too.  That remark is true after nine years in Afghanistan without a clear victory.  As a soldier, our fight was to win and I can understand your frustration in Afghanistan.  The Taliban and Al-Qaida do not wear uniforms and cannot be distinguished from the civilian population, you fighting an invisible enemy who hides among the population dressed just like any civilian you may meet.  One minute they are armed and fighting you from the darkness and as daylight comes they blend in with the sympathetic Afghans their former leaders.  I can readily understand how common it may be to mistake a civilian for the Taliban or Al-Qaida members, or to bomb them on bad intelligence or by mistaken identity.  I can also understand your frustrations to see suicide bombers kill your soldiers and civilians alike.  My own grandson was severely injured by an IUD in Iraq and lost an arm and a leg.

          When I look back in history, I am reminded of, President Truman's, actions in firing the famous, General McArthur, for publicly stating we should declare War with China during the Korean War that now has lasted sixty years without resolution.  McArthur was right, in hindsight, but Truman was the Commander in Chief and only he could make that statement or decision.

          There is only one way to be successful in Afghanistan and that is to secure the boarders and occupy the entire country and prevent the population from carrying even a firecracker.  Like in World War II, you must fight a War to win you are not there to be on the defensive because the enemy can wait you out at little or no cost to them, while they make every day an expensive one for the lives and safety of the troops along with the expensive cost of a War.  You must ignore the Karzai Government since they cannot be trusted.  Al-Qaida and the Taliban cannot fight without weapons they are the key to success but you must secure the borders first to keep the flow of weapons and the enemy out.  You must move forward with the army, occupy and control once you defeat the fighters and remove their weapons they are at your mercy and will have no choice but to submit or die.

          If your Commander in Chief has not allowed you to win in such a way as I have described, you might as well resign than see your men led to a slaughter, day after day, in a defensive way.  It is obvious that our Government is lacking in this fight in Afghanistan and Iraq.  I can see why a fighting man like you cannot be made to be a part of the failure that will befall us and our troops if this strategy continues.  We are heading for another Vietnam and or Korea just as sure as when the troops are not allowed to win this War in an all out fight as they want to do and are only trained to do.

          Again, what you and your staff said is inexcusable and wrong, but at the same time if you cannot fight the War to win, it is better for you to resign so you can tell the American people just what the problem is, since you are in the best position to know.  When all is said and done we will always love you and be grateful for your great service to our country. 

THE REAL MEANING OF THE 4^TH OF JULY

July 4, 2010

       This year, as in the last two hundred and thirty four years, we will celebrate the anniversary of the signing of our declaration of independence by the thirteen colonies in America in 1776.    It was a very solemn occasion and a sheer act of defiance against the British crown who had ruled over them since the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts in the fall of 1620.

      As a result, the country was thrown into an eleven year war that only ended after many failures and few victories by our patriots who chose to risk   losing their lives and property, rather than to continue under the yoke of British rule, in order to be free.   When the U. S. Constitution was signed in 1787, the signers, all patriots said to their countrymen,"we have given you a democracy run by the people, but it is up to you to keep it alive and thriving."

       Today we celebrate this occasion with much fanfare, with parades, picnics and displays of fireworks and fun to the great entertainment of every inhabitant, proud to be an American.    Little thought is directed to those patriots who fought and died, against all the odds, to win the freedom and independence, we enjoy today.

      however,  every American, whether natural born or naturalized, has that inner feeling of  love for this country and way of life, to the point they will fight and die for America, just as those patriots did so many years ago to preserve it  for us and future generations to enjoy in freedom.

       Yes, it is proper for us to celebrate our freedom, but at the same time we should reflect, remember and be grateful to those men and women, who have sacrificed so much so we may remain free and keep our democracy.

       At the same time, we must remain ever vigilant to prevent others from eroding our freedom or way of life.    Today, our nation faces threats to our freedom from within and without our country.    North Korea and Iran brazenly challenge and insult us daily as does Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro from as close ninety miles away.  We have been mired down in a combat with the Taliban in Afghanistan because of the bombings in New York and Washington by the forces of Osama bin laden.   The eight year fight in Iraq is draining our lifeblood of our brave armed forces in a seemingly endless struggle, for a cause no one can justify.

      China, our nemeses in Korea at the North Korean border in 1954, and the oil Arab nations of OPEC have been draining our money in return for their oil and cheap products, while our local oil producers join in for excessive and shameful profits, at the cost of the American consumer.   We are losing two trillion dollars a year to them with the imbalance of trade, which has reduced our assets and placed us at their mercy for credit.  Our factories have run overseas because greedy unions have priced their goods out of the market.

       To meet these challenges, it is obvious that something must be done to free us of our commitment in Afghanistan and Iraq, so we may turn our needed attention to solve the problems presented by the threats of North Korea and Iran which are equally damaging.

       Our forces are already strained to the limit and we are incapable to take on any other military challenge, at this time, and our enemies know this fact.

       That is the reason American voters disclaimed the actions of president bush and his administration and elected a majority of democrats in congress in 2006.  Americans wanted the war in Iraq to end and for our brave fighting men to finally come home.   Instead, the new democratic congress voted the bush administration the necessary funds to keep the war going through 2008 for a "surge" and, as a result, the will of most Americans was denied.

        This was the reason why the democratic candidate, Obama won the presidency in 2008.    The American people wanted a change in direction in the war and a change from the same-old way congress and the bickering between the democratic and republican members have stalled any meaningful action.

       Instead, president Obama formed a cabinet composed of old line politicians, while giving the democratic congress the green light to pass a stimulus bill full of pork projects that only aided the congressmen votes for re-election and did little or nothing to aid the growing unemployment problem in the country. With unemployment at about ten percent, and climbing monthly at the rate of nearly half a million people, the country needs jobs.  Obama, congress and the bush administration, have given and wasted three trillion dollars to wall street and the nation's banks and another half trillion to the failing auto industry, while unemployment keeps rising.  All these expenditures were driven by the lobbyists who have controlled our politicians for years with fat contributions to their campaign funds.  It does not take a genius to realize that unemployment is our main problem with the economy,  without work, people cannot feed their families and pay their taxes so the local state and federal governments can afforded to provide the services needed by the people and country.  At the same time, real estate values are falling, because of the mortgage foreclosures, which continue to depress values and hurt the ability of municipalities to collect sufficient taxes to balance their budgets.

       Until something drastic is done to stop these foreclosures and stabilize real estate prices, and to put our ten million unemployed workers back to work, we will have a depression even worse than that experienced in the 1930's.  Without these corrections implemented soon, the country and democracy we have enjoyed since 1787, will wither and die.  This is the equally threatening danger of our collapse from within. It is caused by the lack foresight and action by our elected officials, for the last ten years.  We cannot afford the free trade agreements our past presidents and congress have foisted upon us and our working force.  We must replace this folly with a balanced trade policy, based on an equalization of our imports and exports.   This will balance our trade and eliminate our crippling trade deficit and put most Americans back to work. If we had poured all that stimulus money into a program for the alternative energy we should have started in the 1970's, we would be free of our dependence on oil in this country and that trade imbalance would have been eliminated by today.

        The fact that Obama and congress have done little or nothing with regard to these simple solutions, should convince everyone that they all have sold out to the lobbyists instead of the critical needs of the American people.

When this happens and the elected officials represent moneyed interests instead of the American people they are bound by law to represent, we have a breakdown of our government, of the people and by the people, and we are left with a government of politicians and special interests, instead.

        So as you celebrate the 4^th of July this year think about who is running this country and who they represent, and where this country is heading.  It is time for the American people to rise up, organize and take control of their country back from the professional politicians who are only interested in themselves and their own agenda and not the people they should represent.  We, the people have allowed this to happen because of our refusal to vote them all out of office.

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MORATORIUM ON

DEEP SEA DRILLING OF OIL

June 24, 2010

Dear President Obama:

            Soon after the disastrous BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, your administration imposed a moratorium on deep sea oil drilling on the remaining about 33 other deep sea drilling sites, for fear of another catastrophic spill.  Of course, it turns out this act was overturned by a Judge on the Federal Court in Texas since the reasons given were not considered adequate to interfere with the contractual relationship with the oil drillers involved.  It turns out; if you had only given the real reasons for this moratorium that your government agency responsible to inspect and oversee this drilling operation had done their job the spill would likely not have occurred.  You quickly learned that agency had been compromised with gifts and favors, from the oil companies, which brought a quick resignation of one of its members.

            You said on television and you publicly stated that you were investigating the spill because you wanted to "know whose ass to kick."  This was a charade on your part because you were hoping to hang the entire blame on BP and away from your administration.  Also the American public knows you and Congress are beholden to the oil companies for their huge campaign contributions to all of you politicians, year after year.  That maybe the very reason why you hesitated to take control of this situation as you should have since American property was being damaged and whole industries were being seriously affected.  Your General, Thad Allen, is not in charge and you know that, too.  BP is still making all the decisions in this matter and sometimes the American public is kept in the dark and not kept informed, as we should be.

            In your haste to cover your tracks and place the blame on others, you did not realize your actions would put thousands of Americans out of work, and when added to the sagging economy only makes matters worse instead of better for the employment and business areas.

            If your administration had been the least bit honest in this matter it should have started making the required inspections of the remaining rigs to minimize the damage to the industry, workers and related business, but you did nothing.

            In the meantime, you put the County at risk for higher oil prices due to the shortages while drilling has stopped.  Now you are blindly threatening appeal of the Judge's decision instead of doing the job of inspection and monitoring, of which your administration is legally responsible to do, but has not done.

            This is just another example of your administration's insensitivity toward this recession and ignorance as to how to turn the economy around.  You say that the economy is improving when you know it is not.  Why do you insist on being political instead of a sympathetic American leader you claimed to be and are obligated to be?  Do you wonder why incumbents are losing in recent primaries and elections?  In addition you should pay attention to the National Polls for the last year that spells the doom of incumbents.

            I am reminded of the remark made recently, by General McChristal, to Rolling Stone magazine, that you were a "wimp".  Of course as a subordinate, he cannot say that, even if it was true and you were justified in firing him.  However, your actions since you became our President have been sorely lacking.  All the change you promised is for the worse and by your actions, you have repeatedly demonstrated you and your administration cannot do anything right.

            As an American free to speak my mind, within the bounds of decency, I reluctantly must tell you sir, that you are the biggest disappointment I have seen in the White House since I was born in 1924, and that even included President Herbert Hoover, our leader during the stock market crash of 1929, which brought on the depression of the 1930's which lasted about ten years.  This list includes such notable disappointments as Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and both George Bushes.  Are you surprised you have been added to this "Dumber than Dumb" list so early in your Presidency? As a word of advice, until you stop acting politically and rid yourself of your political advisers that ran your campaign, all your actions will be considered political as they have been viewed since you were elected.  You are a phony and a fraud and your sweet talk and promises have soured from the neglect of the American people you and your Democratic cohorts cannot knock and belittle our military leaders and expect them to respect you as their Commander in Chief.  Politics has no place in a war, when the lives and safety of the troops are involved.  We have had enough of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan; it is time to win a war, if you intend to stay in the business of you Presidency.  We are becoming a second rate Nation, when we should be a number one Nation in peace and war.

Greetings faithful readers: I wrote this article back on April 1, 2010, but didn’t post it.  Here it is now…months later…and look where we are today!

April 1, 2010

        Yesterday, President Obama announced his decision to allow off shore drilling in areas previously announced as off limits.  This has been met overnight with alarm and skepticism by almost every American.

        The environmentalists are up in arms with a President who says he is concerned about the environment, but seems intent to invite another Valdez oil spill disaster.

        The people of Florida, a majority of whom, voted for him in the Presidential election, are very disappointed that the President would announce such an important decision without consultation with the very people who will be affected by the affects of this very controversial decision.

        There is no question that the country needs to produce as much oil or other sources of energy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce the trillion dollar annual trade deficit which drains our assets and helps to cause high oil prices in America.  This adversely affects our sagging economy.

        Speaking of higher prices for oil fuels, this country has been plagued with high and fluctuating prices and fuel shortages since the Arab embargo of the mid seventies.   

Gasoline and oil prices were up to four dollars a gallon lately, today, it is heading to the three dollar mark.  Our government has consistently, done nothing to help the American consumer cope with this unjust and  unchecked greedy attitude of foreign and domestic oil companies who join together to rig prices and rob consumers.

       It is obvious to most Americans that the Washington lobbyists have controlled Congress and previous administrations, regarding oil prices with their schemes to profit as much as possible on a gallon of fuel, whether imported or domestic.     

      With the outrageous profit reported last year by Exxon-Mobil, the time has come for the United States to do something about this constant rip-off of the American consumer.

      Now that president Obama has announced his plan and approval for drilling oil off our U. S. coastline, the time has come for Congress to move to control fuel oil and gasoline prices here in the U. S. as part of this plan to give oil companies leases to drill for oil off our coast.   The following suggestions are made to guide Congress as they plan the legislation for said oil drilling, but do not hold your breath for Congress to act prudently in this regard:

1. Only American companies may bid for these leases. This is American property only Americans should be able to profit from this activity.
2. Only U.S. citizen workers may work on these off shore leases and all materials    used must be American made and supplied by American companies.  
3. All granted leases should contain a stipulation for the U. S. government to share 50% of the profits from these leases or a per gallon fee equivalent, in addition to bid for said leases, which in the past were, give-a ways. 
4. None of our American oil produced in the U.S. may be sold overseas, but must be held for domestic use only. This would apply to all existing leases, including those in Alaska, or they should be cancelled, under the War Powers Act, since oil is a critical national resource. 
5. No company or person who has donated money to any Congressman or administration, political party or action committee in the past 5 years may bid on said offshore oil leases.  This obvious influence must end. 
6. This plan for offshore drilling must be part of a well planned and comprehensive bill, passed by Congress to rid this country of our dependence, on Middle East oil and gas and to reduce our imbalance of trade in oil, within a deadline period of not more than 5 years. 
7. The plan referred to in #6 above, must include every practical and economical source of energy available in the U.S. today, including, but not limited to, wind, water, solar and nuclear power.  They must employ only American citizen workers and materials and equipment manufactured and sold in the United States of America.  The intended purpose is to help relieve the serious unemployment problem in the U. S., today, by finding new employment fields to offset those lost overseas.

OUR AMERICAN FLAG

How many Americans realize today, June 14^th, is Flag Day?  A special day set aside by law to celebrate our glorious symbol of freedom, our stars and stripes and to remind us just what it means to every American.

Since 1776, our flag has been a symbol of our struggle for freedom.  Our first flag was a depiction of a dangerous reptile, curled up and ready to strike, with the written motto "Don't Tread on Me" emblazoned thereon in defiance of England, who had repeatedly taxed the original thirteen Colonies and people, "Without Representation" as the colonists had complained repeatedly. 

Then someone reportedly, Betsy Ross, sewed up a flag with thirteen starts and strips, representing the thirteen Colonies at the time.  This became the National American symbol in their ten year fight for freedom and independence from England, the greatest power in the world, at the time?

Starting with the Boston Tea Party, the Colonists first defiant act was against the stamp act, a tax on tea, when dressed as Indians, they boarded a British ship moored in Boston Massachusetts harbor and dumped the cargo of tea into the harbor.

Later, on April 19, 1776, a British army force marched on Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, to confiscate the arms and powder allegedly stored there by the "Rabble of Traitors" They were met with the heroic gun fire of ordinary farmers and settlers, who, although greatly outnumbered finally decided they had enough of English tyranny and misrule and that it was better to die in a fight for their freedom than to   live under the yoke of British rule any longer.

America at the time, had no army, no navy and no government, but it had the innate human fighting spirit to be free.  This was the spirit that is represented in our flag, with its starts we look up to for hope and strength and the thirteen stripes to remind us of the courage and sacrifice of our thirteen colonies and forefathers who fought and died to give us the freedom we so casually enjoy today.

Therefore, the flag, in all its beauty and glory is but a symbol of the sacrifice every American has made and should continue to make to guard against those that would take our freedom and our country we love away from us.

This is why the flag is carried proudly into every battle we have fought since 1776, a symbol of our freedom and the determination to fight and die to keep it.  This is why we have goose bumps when we hear our National Anthem played or we are brought to tears when we see our flag and salute it whether in a classroom as a child, or as a serviceman in a battle.  It is our flag that gives us the strength, the spirit and determination that we as Americans must always be prepared to fight and be willing to die for the freedom we all believe we and our families are entitled to enjoy during our lives as Americans and as free people, in this great country.

We, as loyal Americans carry that flag, that banner of freedom proudly in our hearts, every day of our lives ever grateful of our heritage as freedom loving people and ever vigilant of those who may want to take it from us, be it from within or from foreign shores.

GOD BLESS THE USA