Last night I sent out a blog on an Initiative that would FINE people who are worth more than $20 million before they could move to another state. My good friend Joel Strom thought this was a Saturday Night Live proposed skit. Others thought the same and did not believe this was a real measure. Sadly, it is. But, I now realize that Democrats like Pelosi love SNL—so much so, they are practicing to become writers for the show. Otherwise how do you account for the fact that Pelosi wants to put an impeached judge (who SHE voted to impeach) in charge of national Security for the House of Representatives? How do you account for Pelosi promoting the ethically challenged John Murtha for Majority Leader, or Charlie Rangel wanting to return our nation to government controlled and run slavery? This is either a joke or they have smelled the weed filled air in San Francisco once too often. Obviously Pelosi and her friends are looking for their next job, as comedy writers for SNL.Stephan Frank's California Political News and Views
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Saturday Night Live's new crew
Labels:
Charlie Rangel,
Democrats,
John Murtha,
Nancy Pelosi,
Saturday Night Live,
SNL
You can check out, but you can never leave
Thanks to the Los Angeles Times blog, Political Muscle, we know the latest crazy idea from the Democrats. If you have made more than $20 million, you will not be allowed to leave the State without paying a FINE. Not a typo. How about this part, if the Initiative passes, the State of California would buy a majority position in Exxon Mobil, Chevron Corp., General Motors Corp., and Ford Motor Co. Of course that could cost north of $100 billion..yet the source of the purchase price is not noted in the measure.Have $20 Million, Want To Move to Another State? You Will be Fined"
These folks promoting this are not socialists or communists, they are seriously ill. Looks like they had a party one night, drank "Thunderchicken" (that is what we in the Army called Thunderbird Wine), got some bad weed and got sick inhaling from an aerosol can. That can be the only reason for the theft of private property envisioned by this measure.Obviously, the sponsors have "money envy" problems.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Secret plan to destroy America
I HAVE A SECRET PLAN TO DESTROY AMERICA.
IF YOU BELIEVE, AS MANY DO, THAT AMERICA IS TOO SMUG, TOO WHITE BREAD, TOO SELF-SATISFIED, TOO RICH, LETS DESTROY AMERICA. IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO DO. HISTORY SHOWS THAT NATIONS ARE MORE FRAGILE THAN THEIR CITIZENS THINK. NO NATION IN HISTORY HAS SURVIVED THE RAVAGES OF TIME. ARNOLD TOYNBEE OBSERVED THAT ALL GREAT CIVILIZATIONS RISE AND THEY ALL FALL, AND THAT "AN AUTOPSY OF HISTORY WOULD SHOW THAT ALL GREAT NATIONS COMMIT SUICIDE."
HERE IS MY PLAN:
I. WE MUST FIRST MAKE AMERICA A BILINGUAL-BICULTURAL COUNTRY. HISTORY SHOWS, IN MY OPINION, THAT NO NATION CAN SURVIVE THE TENSION, CONFLICT, AND ANTAGONISM OF TWO COMPETING LANGUAGES AND CULTURES. IT IS A BLESSING FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE BILINGUAL; IT IS A CURSE FOR A SOCIETY TO BE BILINGUAL. ONE SCHOLAR, SEYMOUR MARTIN LIPSET, PUT IT THIS WAY:
THE HISTORIES OF BILINGUAL AND BICULTURAL SOCIETIES THAT DO NOT ASSIMILATE ARE HISTORIES OF TURMOIL, TENSION, AND TRAGEDY. CANADA, BELGIUM, MALAYSIA, LEBANON-ALL FACE CRISES OF NATIONAL EXISTENCE IN WHICH MINORITIES PRESS FOR AUTONOMY, IF NOT INDEPENDENCE. PAKISTAN AND CYPRUS HAVE DIVIDED. NIGERIA SUPPRESSED AN ETHNIC REBELLION. FRANCE FACES DIFFICULTIES WITH ITS BASQUES, BRETONS, AND CORSICANS.
II. I WOULD THEN INVENT "MULTICULTURALISM" AND ENCOURAGE IMMIGRANTS TO MAINTAIN THEIR OWN CULTURE. I WOULD MAKE IT AN ARTICLE OF BELIEF THAT ALL CULTURES ARE EQUAL: THAT THERE ARE NO CULTURAL DIFFERENCES THAT ARE IMPORTANT. I WOULD DECLARE IT AN ARTICLE OF FAITH THAT THE BLACK AND HISPANIC DROPOUT RATE IS ONLY DUE TO PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION BY THE MAJORITY. EVERY OTHER EXPLANATION IS OUT-OF-BOUNDS.
III. WE CAN MAKE THE UNITED STATES A "HISPANIC QUEBEC" WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT. THE KEY IS TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY RATHER THAN UNITY. AS BENJAMIN SCHWARZ SAID IN THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY RECENTLY:
THE APPARENT SUCCESS OF OUR OWN MULTIETHNIC AND MULTICULTURAL EXPERIMENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED NOT BY TOLERANCE BUT BY HEGEMONY. WITHOUT THE DOMINANCE THAT ONCE DICTATED ETHNOCENTRICALLY, AND WHAT IT MEANT TO BE AN AMERICAN, WE ARE LEFT WITH ONLY TOLERANCE AND PLURALISM TO HOLD US TOGETHER.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL IMMIGRANTS TO KEEP THEIR OWN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. I WOULD REPLACE THE MELTING POT METAPHOR WITH A SALAD BOWL METAPHOR. IT IS IMPORTANT TO INSURE THAT WE HAVE VARIOUS CULTURAL SUB-GROUPS LIVING IN AMERICA REINFORCING THEIR DIFFERENCES RATHER THAN AMERICANS, EMPHASIZING THEIR SIMILARITIES.
IV. HAVING DONE ALL THIS, I WOULD MAKE OUR FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP THE LEAST EDUCATED - I WOULD ADD A SECOND UNDERCLASS, UNASSIMILATED, UNDEREDUCATED, AND ANTAGONISTIC TO OUR POPULATION. I WOULD HAVE THIS SECOND UNDERCLASS HAVE A 50% DROP OUT RATE FROM SCHOOL.
V. I WOULD THEN GET THE BIG FOUNDATIONS AND BIG BUSINESS TO GIVE THESE EFFORTS LOTS OF MONEY. I WOULD INVEST IN ETHNIC IDENTITY, AND I WOULD ESTABLISH THE CULT OF VICTIMOLOGY. I WOULD GET ALL MINORITIES TO THINK THEIR LACK OF SUCCESS WAS ALL THE FAULT OF THE MAJORITY - I WOULD START A GRIEVANCE INDUSTRY BLAMING ALL MINORITY FAILURE ON THE MAJORITY POPULATION.
VI. I WOULD ESTABLISH DUAL CITIZENSHIP AND PROMOTE DIVIDED LOYALTIES. I WOULD "CELEBRATE DIVERSITY." "DIVERSITY" IS A WONDERFULLY SEDUCTIVE WORD. IT STRESSES DIFFERENCES RATHER THAN COMMONALITIES. DIVERSE PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ARE MOSTLY ENGAGED IN HATING EACH OTHER-THAT IS, WHEN THEY ARE NOT KILLING EACH OTHER. A DIVERSE," PEACEFUL, OR STABLE SOCIETY IS AGAINST MOST HISTORICAL PRECEDENT. PEOPLE UNDERVALUE THE UNITY IT TAKES TO KEEP A NATION TOGETHER, AND WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS MYOPIA.
LOOK AT THE ANCIENT GREEKS. DORF'S WORLD HISTORY TELLS US: THE GREEKS BELIEVED THAT THEY BELONGED TO THE SAME RACE; THEY POSSESSED A COMMON LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE; AND THEY WORSHIPED THE SAME GODS. ALL GREECE TOOK PART IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN HONOR OF ZEUS AND ALL GREEKS VENERATED THE SHRINE OF APOLLO AT DELPHI. A COMMON ENEMY PERSIA THREATENED THEIR LIBERTY. YET, ALL OF THESE BONDS TOGETHER WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO OVERCOME TWO FACTORS (LOCAL PATRIOTISM AND GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS THAT NURTURED POLITICAL DIVISIONS).
IF WE CAN PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE "PLURIBUS," INSTEAD OF THE "UNUM," WE CAN BALKANIZE AMERICA AS SURELY AS KOSOVO.
VII. THEN I WOULD PLACE ALL THESE SUBJECTS OFF LIMITS - MAKE IT TABOO TO TALK ABOUT. I WOULD FIND A WORD SIMILAR TO "HERETIC" IN THE 16TH CENTURY - THAT STOPPED DISCUSSION AND PARALYZED THINKING. WORDS LIKE "RACIST", "XENOPHOBE" THAT HALTS ARGUMENT AND CONVERSATION.
HAVING MADE AMERICA A BILINGUAL-BICULTURAL COUNTRY, HAVING ESTABLISHED MULTICULTURALISM, HAVING THE LARGE FOUNDATIONS FUND THE DOCTRINE OF "VICTIMOLOGY", I WOULD NEXT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS. I WOULD DEVELOP A MANTRA - "THAT BECAUSE IMMIGRATION HAS BEEN GOOD FOR AMERICA, IT MUST ALWAYS BE GOOD." I WOULD MAKE EVERY INDIVIDUAL IMMIGRANT SYMPATRIC AND IGNORE THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT.
VIII. LASTLY, I WOULD CENSOR VICTOR DAVIS HANSON'S BOOK Mexifornia
— THIS BOOK IS DANGEROUS — IT EXPOSES MY PLAN TO DESTROY AMERICA. SO PLEASE, PLEASE — IF YOU FEEL THAT AMERICA DESERVES TO BE DESTROYED — PLEASE, PLEASE — DON'T BUY THIS BOOK! THIS GUY IS ON TO MY PLAN.
"THE SMART WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE PASSIVE AND OBEDIENT IS TO STRICTLY LIMIT THE SPECTRUM OF ACCEPTABLE OPINION, BUT ALLOW VERY LIVELY DEBATE WITHIN THAT SPECTRUM." — NOAM CHOMSKY, AMERICAN LINGUIST AND US MEDIA AND FOREIGN POLICY CRITIC.
RICHARD D. LAMM
Washington D.C. (2004)
(Revised, June 2005)
IF YOU BELIEVE, AS MANY DO, THAT AMERICA IS TOO SMUG, TOO WHITE BREAD, TOO SELF-SATISFIED, TOO RICH, LETS DESTROY AMERICA. IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO DO. HISTORY SHOWS THAT NATIONS ARE MORE FRAGILE THAN THEIR CITIZENS THINK. NO NATION IN HISTORY HAS SURVIVED THE RAVAGES OF TIME. ARNOLD TOYNBEE OBSERVED THAT ALL GREAT CIVILIZATIONS RISE AND THEY ALL FALL, AND THAT "AN AUTOPSY OF HISTORY WOULD SHOW THAT ALL GREAT NATIONS COMMIT SUICIDE."
HERE IS MY PLAN:
I. WE MUST FIRST MAKE AMERICA A BILINGUAL-BICULTURAL COUNTRY. HISTORY SHOWS, IN MY OPINION, THAT NO NATION CAN SURVIVE THE TENSION, CONFLICT, AND ANTAGONISM OF TWO COMPETING LANGUAGES AND CULTURES. IT IS A BLESSING FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE BILINGUAL; IT IS A CURSE FOR A SOCIETY TO BE BILINGUAL. ONE SCHOLAR, SEYMOUR MARTIN LIPSET, PUT IT THIS WAY:
THE HISTORIES OF BILINGUAL AND BICULTURAL SOCIETIES THAT DO NOT ASSIMILATE ARE HISTORIES OF TURMOIL, TENSION, AND TRAGEDY. CANADA, BELGIUM, MALAYSIA, LEBANON-ALL FACE CRISES OF NATIONAL EXISTENCE IN WHICH MINORITIES PRESS FOR AUTONOMY, IF NOT INDEPENDENCE. PAKISTAN AND CYPRUS HAVE DIVIDED. NIGERIA SUPPRESSED AN ETHNIC REBELLION. FRANCE FACES DIFFICULTIES WITH ITS BASQUES, BRETONS, AND CORSICANS.
II. I WOULD THEN INVENT "MULTICULTURALISM" AND ENCOURAGE IMMIGRANTS TO MAINTAIN THEIR OWN CULTURE. I WOULD MAKE IT AN ARTICLE OF BELIEF THAT ALL CULTURES ARE EQUAL: THAT THERE ARE NO CULTURAL DIFFERENCES THAT ARE IMPORTANT. I WOULD DECLARE IT AN ARTICLE OF FAITH THAT THE BLACK AND HISPANIC DROPOUT RATE IS ONLY DUE TO PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION BY THE MAJORITY. EVERY OTHER EXPLANATION IS OUT-OF-BOUNDS.
III. WE CAN MAKE THE UNITED STATES A "HISPANIC QUEBEC" WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT. THE KEY IS TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY RATHER THAN UNITY. AS BENJAMIN SCHWARZ SAID IN THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY RECENTLY:
THE APPARENT SUCCESS OF OUR OWN MULTIETHNIC AND MULTICULTURAL EXPERIMENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED NOT BY TOLERANCE BUT BY HEGEMONY. WITHOUT THE DOMINANCE THAT ONCE DICTATED ETHNOCENTRICALLY, AND WHAT IT MEANT TO BE AN AMERICAN, WE ARE LEFT WITH ONLY TOLERANCE AND PLURALISM TO HOLD US TOGETHER.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL IMMIGRANTS TO KEEP THEIR OWN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. I WOULD REPLACE THE MELTING POT METAPHOR WITH A SALAD BOWL METAPHOR. IT IS IMPORTANT TO INSURE THAT WE HAVE VARIOUS CULTURAL SUB-GROUPS LIVING IN AMERICA REINFORCING THEIR DIFFERENCES RATHER THAN AMERICANS, EMPHASIZING THEIR SIMILARITIES.
IV. HAVING DONE ALL THIS, I WOULD MAKE OUR FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP THE LEAST EDUCATED - I WOULD ADD A SECOND UNDERCLASS, UNASSIMILATED, UNDEREDUCATED, AND ANTAGONISTIC TO OUR POPULATION. I WOULD HAVE THIS SECOND UNDERCLASS HAVE A 50% DROP OUT RATE FROM SCHOOL.
V. I WOULD THEN GET THE BIG FOUNDATIONS AND BIG BUSINESS TO GIVE THESE EFFORTS LOTS OF MONEY. I WOULD INVEST IN ETHNIC IDENTITY, AND I WOULD ESTABLISH THE CULT OF VICTIMOLOGY. I WOULD GET ALL MINORITIES TO THINK THEIR LACK OF SUCCESS WAS ALL THE FAULT OF THE MAJORITY - I WOULD START A GRIEVANCE INDUSTRY BLAMING ALL MINORITY FAILURE ON THE MAJORITY POPULATION.
VI. I WOULD ESTABLISH DUAL CITIZENSHIP AND PROMOTE DIVIDED LOYALTIES. I WOULD "CELEBRATE DIVERSITY." "DIVERSITY" IS A WONDERFULLY SEDUCTIVE WORD. IT STRESSES DIFFERENCES RATHER THAN COMMONALITIES. DIVERSE PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ARE MOSTLY ENGAGED IN HATING EACH OTHER-THAT IS, WHEN THEY ARE NOT KILLING EACH OTHER. A DIVERSE," PEACEFUL, OR STABLE SOCIETY IS AGAINST MOST HISTORICAL PRECEDENT. PEOPLE UNDERVALUE THE UNITY IT TAKES TO KEEP A NATION TOGETHER, AND WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS MYOPIA.
LOOK AT THE ANCIENT GREEKS. DORF'S WORLD HISTORY TELLS US: THE GREEKS BELIEVED THAT THEY BELONGED TO THE SAME RACE; THEY POSSESSED A COMMON LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE; AND THEY WORSHIPED THE SAME GODS. ALL GREECE TOOK PART IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN HONOR OF ZEUS AND ALL GREEKS VENERATED THE SHRINE OF APOLLO AT DELPHI. A COMMON ENEMY PERSIA THREATENED THEIR LIBERTY. YET, ALL OF THESE BONDS TOGETHER WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO OVERCOME TWO FACTORS (LOCAL PATRIOTISM AND GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS THAT NURTURED POLITICAL DIVISIONS).
IF WE CAN PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE "PLURIBUS," INSTEAD OF THE "UNUM," WE CAN BALKANIZE AMERICA AS SURELY AS KOSOVO.
VII. THEN I WOULD PLACE ALL THESE SUBJECTS OFF LIMITS - MAKE IT TABOO TO TALK ABOUT. I WOULD FIND A WORD SIMILAR TO "HERETIC" IN THE 16TH CENTURY - THAT STOPPED DISCUSSION AND PARALYZED THINKING. WORDS LIKE "RACIST", "XENOPHOBE" THAT HALTS ARGUMENT AND CONVERSATION.
HAVING MADE AMERICA A BILINGUAL-BICULTURAL COUNTRY, HAVING ESTABLISHED MULTICULTURALISM, HAVING THE LARGE FOUNDATIONS FUND THE DOCTRINE OF "VICTIMOLOGY", I WOULD NEXT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS. I WOULD DEVELOP A MANTRA - "THAT BECAUSE IMMIGRATION HAS BEEN GOOD FOR AMERICA, IT MUST ALWAYS BE GOOD." I WOULD MAKE EVERY INDIVIDUAL IMMIGRANT SYMPATRIC AND IGNORE THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT.
VIII. LASTLY, I WOULD CENSOR VICTOR DAVIS HANSON'S BOOK Mexifornia
"THE SMART WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE PASSIVE AND OBEDIENT IS TO STRICTLY LIMIT THE SPECTRUM OF ACCEPTABLE OPINION, BUT ALLOW VERY LIVELY DEBATE WITHIN THAT SPECTRUM." — NOAM CHOMSKY, AMERICAN LINGUIST AND US MEDIA AND FOREIGN POLICY CRITIC.
RICHARD D. LAMM
Washington D.C. (2004)
(Revised, June 2005)
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Sign language
SIGN IN A STORE WINDOW
"WE WOULD RATHER DO BUSINESS WITH 1000 AL QAEDA TERRORISTS THAN WITH ONE SINGLE AMERICAN"
This sign was prominently displayed in the window of a business in Philadelphia.
You are probably outraged at the thought of such an inflammatory statement. One would think that anti-hate groups from all across the country would be marching on this business and that the National Guard might have to be called to keep the angry crowds back. But, perhaps in these stressful times one might be tempted to let the proprietors simply make their statement . . .
We are a society which holds Freedom of Speech as perhaps our greatest liberty--and after all, it is just a sign!
You may ask what kind of business would dare post such a sign?
Answer: A Funeral Home
(Who said morticians had no sense of humor?)
You gotta love it!
God Bless America!!!
Friday, November 17, 2006
America's Decline: Is It Fanciful?
The brilliant political observer and columnist Mark Steyn recently opined that over the last 40 years America has proven that she has no stomach for backing her rhetoric with action. Rather than stand up and fight she has opted to flee confrontation. It started with Vietnam and surrender has wound its way through to the 2006 elections where the populace irritated that the war of civilizations was upsetting their "soaps" and taking too long they again decided to flee; this time Iraq.
Daniel Pipes added to Steyn's piece writing that "Europe is Lost". Pipes posits that Europe is slowly becoming "Eurabia". Its ever-expanding Muslim population has become a problem so acute that the culture of Europe is being challenged by Islam.
The scenario is quite simple. The United States essentially won WWII. In the aftermath Europe had a "peace dividend" as it didn't have to spend the money to defend itself. America footed that bill. So it voted to spend that dividend on a nanny state that provided for cradle-to-grave dependence on a government essentially dedicated to socialism "light".
Those entitlements have "feminized" their populations, secularized their spirituality, plummeted their birth rate and neutered their self-reliance. All this made them ripe for a Muslim takeover because to keep their economy going they had to import workers from other countries; and those workers came from Islamic countries. It is estimated that Europe will be populated by a Muslims majority in 30 years unless a sea change is made and their native birth rate radically increases.
Faced with a similar need to fuel its economy and maintain its growth rate America has turned a blind eye to an influx of Christian Latinos primarily from Mexico. There is little fear that this influx will turn Muslim anytime soon. Likewise the fear of America becoming a part of the Islamic "caliphate" is remote. Yet that is not our only concern. Radical Islam is planning our demise by incineration if you read the papers. A nuclear winter is in our future as I don't believe Islam is willing to wait for our religious conversion to their 7th. Century dogma.
Faced with these many concerns Pipes made the following summation of Steyn's prescription for America:
Pared to its essentials, he counsels two things: First, avoid the "bloated European welfare systems," declare them no less than a national security threat, shrink the state, and emphasize the virtues of self-reliance and individual innovation. Second, avoid "imperial understretch," don't "hunker down in Fortress America" but destroy the ideology of radical Islam, help reform Islam, and expand Western civilization to new places. Only if Americans "can summon the will to shape at least part of the emerging world" will they have enough company to soldier on. Failing that, expect a "new Dark Ages" a planet on which much of the map is re-primitivized."
So how do we avoid becoming a "bloated European welfare system", "shrink the state" and "become self-reliant". Well as I sit here what we have to do is repeal Social Security, Medicare and various other entitlements and replace them with programs that rely on the capitalist system. Enacting personal accounts would be a giant step in making that a reality. First of all it will make the nation so much richer than it already is and that wealth in turn will eliminate so many of our social problems.
Recently I have run into so many intelligent people that are confused as to what America can do. Without exception I run into people who believe if China decides to sell it US securities (bonds) that will bankrupt America. They also believe America is up to its ears in debt. All things considered they believe we have no national net worth. This is such a fallacy it is downright laughable. If that were the case why are we still the world's reserve currency? Why is the stock market surging and setting new records every day. Why? Does that sound like an impending bankruptcy to you?
The confusion lies in the simple fact that America is so tolerant that it lets its politicians promise so much largesse to its citizens that if we let it they would sell our future for a vote. They would let us become a bloated European welfare state. Current history tells us that this problem is a problem of both political parties irrespective of their rhetoric.
These promises are not fatal. They universally present no problem if they are addressed. These promises are made to Americans (the people) from other Americans (the government which is the people). They have absolutely no effect upon the net worth of America. If they did our economy and stock market would be in the tank. The promises to the elderly (Social Security and Medicare) are promises from the young to the old; all Americans. The young work to pay for the benefits granted to the old. It is quite unfair considering that could all be avoided with personal accounts.
Personal accounts will empower the people. It will make them self-reliant. The fact that we won't need half of the budget (presently burdened with entitlements) means we would get the biggest tax cut in history (no need to fund that puppy). All of which begs the question can we afford the transition. Well that takes us back to the beginning. How much is America worth.
The Federal Reserve says households by themselves are worth upwards of $63 Trillion. The fact that consumer debt is owed to other Americans means for my analysis other Americans hold that receivable. Against this small fraction ($63 trillion) of America's real net worth we must subtract $2.2 Trillion which we owe real foreigners (like the Chinese (12%) and Japan (31%)). The balance of our $8.5 Trillion national debt is either a debt from one government agency to another ($3.7 Trillion) or debt owned by Americans ($2.6 Trillion).
So without considering the immense net worth that America possesses the net household net worth alone is at least $60 Trillion (after deducting the $2.2 Trillion owed foreigners). So if we replace Social Security and Medicare and install personal accounts we sure could finance the transition. All your Senators and all your Congressmen together with 3.3 million Federal workers already have personal accounts so what is the problem with our having them?
Don't be confused by 24/7 news. They need dramatic headlines to retain their ratings. They have distorted the belief of Americans in America so badly that 60% of the people believe the economy is going in the wrong direction in the midst of the biggest economic boom in history. The fact that Congress promises doesn't mean those promises will be fulfilled. We can change the law with a stroke of the pen and that is what we should do.
Which leads us back to Steyn's prescription for survival of self-reliance, shrinking government and repealing the welfare state. Enacting personal accounts will accomplish much of that. Standing up against your enemies will then be a lot more urgent when everyone has a nest egg to protect and a religious dogma to defeat.
by Dick McDonald
www.dickmcdonald.blogspot.com
www.thenewsocialsecurity.com
Daniel Pipes added to Steyn's piece writing that "Europe is Lost". Pipes posits that Europe is slowly becoming "Eurabia". Its ever-expanding Muslim population has become a problem so acute that the culture of Europe is being challenged by Islam.
The scenario is quite simple. The United States essentially won WWII. In the aftermath Europe had a "peace dividend" as it didn't have to spend the money to defend itself. America footed that bill. So it voted to spend that dividend on a nanny state that provided for cradle-to-grave dependence on a government essentially dedicated to socialism "light".
Those entitlements have "feminized" their populations, secularized their spirituality, plummeted their birth rate and neutered their self-reliance. All this made them ripe for a Muslim takeover because to keep their economy going they had to import workers from other countries; and those workers came from Islamic countries. It is estimated that Europe will be populated by a Muslims majority in 30 years unless a sea change is made and their native birth rate radically increases.
Faced with a similar need to fuel its economy and maintain its growth rate America has turned a blind eye to an influx of Christian Latinos primarily from Mexico. There is little fear that this influx will turn Muslim anytime soon. Likewise the fear of America becoming a part of the Islamic "caliphate" is remote. Yet that is not our only concern. Radical Islam is planning our demise by incineration if you read the papers. A nuclear winter is in our future as I don't believe Islam is willing to wait for our religious conversion to their 7th. Century dogma.
Faced with these many concerns Pipes made the following summation of Steyn's prescription for America:
Pared to its essentials, he counsels two things: First, avoid the "bloated European welfare systems," declare them no less than a national security threat, shrink the state, and emphasize the virtues of self-reliance and individual innovation. Second, avoid "imperial understretch," don't "hunker down in Fortress America" but destroy the ideology of radical Islam, help reform Islam, and expand Western civilization to new places. Only if Americans "can summon the will to shape at least part of the emerging world" will they have enough company to soldier on. Failing that, expect a "new Dark Ages" a planet on which much of the map is re-primitivized."
So how do we avoid becoming a "bloated European welfare system", "shrink the state" and "become self-reliant". Well as I sit here what we have to do is repeal Social Security, Medicare and various other entitlements and replace them with programs that rely on the capitalist system. Enacting personal accounts would be a giant step in making that a reality. First of all it will make the nation so much richer than it already is and that wealth in turn will eliminate so many of our social problems.
Recently I have run into so many intelligent people that are confused as to what America can do. Without exception I run into people who believe if China decides to sell it US securities (bonds) that will bankrupt America. They also believe America is up to its ears in debt. All things considered they believe we have no national net worth. This is such a fallacy it is downright laughable. If that were the case why are we still the world's reserve currency? Why is the stock market surging and setting new records every day. Why? Does that sound like an impending bankruptcy to you?
The confusion lies in the simple fact that America is so tolerant that it lets its politicians promise so much largesse to its citizens that if we let it they would sell our future for a vote. They would let us become a bloated European welfare state. Current history tells us that this problem is a problem of both political parties irrespective of their rhetoric.
These promises are not fatal. They universally present no problem if they are addressed. These promises are made to Americans (the people) from other Americans (the government which is the people). They have absolutely no effect upon the net worth of America. If they did our economy and stock market would be in the tank. The promises to the elderly (Social Security and Medicare) are promises from the young to the old; all Americans. The young work to pay for the benefits granted to the old. It is quite unfair considering that could all be avoided with personal accounts.
Personal accounts will empower the people. It will make them self-reliant. The fact that we won't need half of the budget (presently burdened with entitlements) means we would get the biggest tax cut in history (no need to fund that puppy). All of which begs the question can we afford the transition. Well that takes us back to the beginning. How much is America worth.
The Federal Reserve says households by themselves are worth upwards of $63 Trillion. The fact that consumer debt is owed to other Americans means for my analysis other Americans hold that receivable. Against this small fraction ($63 trillion) of America's real net worth we must subtract $2.2 Trillion which we owe real foreigners (like the Chinese (12%) and Japan (31%)). The balance of our $8.5 Trillion national debt is either a debt from one government agency to another ($3.7 Trillion) or debt owned by Americans ($2.6 Trillion).
So without considering the immense net worth that America possesses the net household net worth alone is at least $60 Trillion (after deducting the $2.2 Trillion owed foreigners). So if we replace Social Security and Medicare and install personal accounts we sure could finance the transition. All your Senators and all your Congressmen together with 3.3 million Federal workers already have personal accounts so what is the problem with our having them?
Don't be confused by 24/7 news. They need dramatic headlines to retain their ratings. They have distorted the belief of Americans in America so badly that 60% of the people believe the economy is going in the wrong direction in the midst of the biggest economic boom in history. The fact that Congress promises doesn't mean those promises will be fulfilled. We can change the law with a stroke of the pen and that is what we should do.
Which leads us back to Steyn's prescription for survival of self-reliance, shrinking government and repealing the welfare state. Enacting personal accounts will accomplish much of that. Standing up against your enemies will then be a lot more urgent when everyone has a nest egg to protect and a religious dogma to defeat.
by Dick McDonald
www.dickmcdonald.blogspot.com
www.thenewsocialsecurity.com
Conservatives more generous than liberals
Syracuse University professor Arthur C. Brooks...the child of academics, raised in a liberal household and educated in the liberal arts...has written a book that concludes religious conservatives donate far more money than secular liberals to all sorts of charitable activities, irrespective of income.
The book, titled "Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism" (Basic Books, $26), is due for release Nov. 24.
One reviewer said something that I believe is the real heart of the matter: "It should be obvious to any clear rational person that liberals are only concerned with helping the poor with OTHER people's money." [emphasis mine]
Labels:
Arthur C. Brooks,
books,
charity,
conservatives,
liberals,
poverty,
Syracuse University
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Dr. Milton Friedman (1912-2006)
Statement on Death of Nobel Laureate Dr. Milton FriedmanINDIANAPOLIS—Today, upon news of the death of Nobel Laureate economist Dr. Milton Friedman, Gordon St. Angelo, president and CEO of the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation, offered the following statement:
America has lost a true visionary and advocate for human freedom. And I have lost a great friend.
Milton’s passion for freedom and liberty has influenced more lives than he ever could possibly know. His writings and ideas have transformed the minds of U.S. Presidents, world leaders, entrepreneurs and freshmen economic majors alike. The loss of his passion, incisive mind and dedication to freedom are all national treasures that we mourn for today.
Milton never chose to slow down; even at 94 he kept fighting to bring educational equality to all of America’s children. And it’s this vision, this drive for educational liberty that the Friedman Foundation will continue to bring to families throughout America.
His impact on my life over the last 33 years was significant. His impact on the world was momentous. Without a doubt, few people have done more to advance civil and economic liberties throughout the world during their lifetime than Dr. Milton Friedman.
Flashback: Milton Friedman's Powerful Ideas
History is repeating itself (think "Neville")
The Democratic voters have fallen into the trap. Their acceptance of the great Islamic lie has paved the way for the great liberal charade; we are to blame for all that ails the world."The American Israeli Patriot: The Democrats: Neville Chamberlain Incarnate"
On September 30, 1938 Neville Chamberlain stepped off a plane waving a scrap of paper signed by Adolf Hitler. In front of a cheering crowd at 10 Downing Street in London he proclaimed the following:The Neville Awards
"My good friends this is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honor. I believe it is peace in our time."
On September 1, 1939 Hitler invaded Poland, England declared war on Germany, and the rest is history. Chamberlains' place in history is secure as the "Godfather of Appeasement".
We at the Neville Awards believe history is repeating itself.
Labels:
Democratic Party,
Democrats,
Islam,
Neville Awards,
Neville Chamberlain
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
"He farts dust!"
If you missed last night's absolutely brilliant analysis of "The Internet" by astute analysts Larry King and Rosanne Barr, well here's just a sampling:
KING: The Internet as a political medium viable?
BARR: Yes, it’s like the only one left, absolutely, and that’s not just me saying it. That’s everybody saying it.
Larry King Admits He’s Never Used The Internet: ‘Do You Punch Little Buttons and Things?’
COMMENTS:
Damn, it must suck to be so old and useless.
Comment by DieNowForPeace — November 15, 2006 @ 5:45 pm
That guy’s a dinosaur. He’s so old he farts dust!
Comment by greenchilecheeseburger — November 15, 2006 @ 5:46 pm
Who do you trust?
Today this man called for cutting off Iraq war funds:

Kucinich Calls for Cutting Off Iraq War Funds...
...and this man warned against it:

U.S. Commander Warns Against Iraq Cutoff
WHICH MAN WOULD YOU TRUST WITH THE LIVES OF YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY?
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Top Ten Reasons You Should Convert Your Home to Products that are Safer for Your Home and Family
1. "Toxic Threat to Child Development" is a report published by the Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility in May, 2000. Their findings (with the work of 31,000 physicians) link chemicals to many childhood ailments and disorders including ADHD, Autism, and Asthma. For this study, they won the Nobel Peace Prize!
2. The EPA reports that toxic chemicals found in homes are three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor airborne pollutants. This means the "brown cloud" you see downtown isn't as dangerous as the invisible one in YOUR OWN HOME!
3. A recent Environmental Working Group study found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in the umbilical cord blood of newborns, some of which are pesticides that may have entered the bloodstream through the mother's diet. Additionally, adult levels exceeded 275 contaminants.
4. This company's products DO include such ingredients as melaleuca oil, enzymes, essential oils, baking soda, vinegar, and citrus solventsessentially "back to nature" ingredients.
5. This company's products products are FREE of phosphates, and contain NO formaldehyde, ammonia, chlorine bleach, lye, abrasives, petroleum solvents, or many other harmful chemicals.
6. The leading dishwasher detergent contains 3.39 grams of phosphates per tablespoon. As new reports come forth on the danger of phosphates, several countries and 12 states in the US have completely banned the use of phosphates in detergents. Yet, Cascade is still the leading dishwashing detergent!
7. The American Medical Association said in 2001 that essentially EVERYONE needs daily supplements as a result of our soil being depleted and food being altered. However, many of the mass-produced vitamins contain fillers and shellac that bind up in your colon. Additionally, many of the ones that actually dissolve only get absorbed about 30%. This company's vitamins contain no fillers or shellacs and have about a 90% absorption rate due to their patented "fructose compounding".
8. This company's products offers an incredible 350+ products organized into 5 lines:
10. This company's products has been in business since 1985 and was the winner of the Blue Chip Enterprise Award from the US Chamber of Commerce for their commitment and successes in addressing wellness and the environment. Since then, they have received numerous other awards and grew to $702 million in sales in 2005.
2. The EPA reports that toxic chemicals found in homes are three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor airborne pollutants. This means the "brown cloud" you see downtown isn't as dangerous as the invisible one in YOUR OWN HOME!
3. A recent Environmental Working Group study found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in the umbilical cord blood of newborns, some of which are pesticides that may have entered the bloodstream through the mother's diet. Additionally, adult levels exceeded 275 contaminants.
4. This company's products DO include such ingredients as melaleuca oil, enzymes, essential oils, baking soda, vinegar, and citrus solventsessentially "back to nature" ingredients.
5. This company's products products are FREE of phosphates, and contain NO formaldehyde, ammonia, chlorine bleach, lye, abrasives, petroleum solvents, or many other harmful chemicals.
6. The leading dishwasher detergent contains 3.39 grams of phosphates per tablespoon. As new reports come forth on the danger of phosphates, several countries and 12 states in the US have completely banned the use of phosphates in detergents. Yet, Cascade is still the leading dishwashing detergent!
7. The American Medical Association said in 2001 that essentially EVERYONE needs daily supplements as a result of our soil being depleted and food being altered. However, many of the mass-produced vitamins contain fillers and shellac that bind up in your colon. Additionally, many of the ones that actually dissolve only get absorbed about 30%. This company's vitamins contain no fillers or shellacs and have about a 90% absorption rate due to their patented "fructose compounding".
8. This company's products offers an incredible 350+ products organized into 5 lines:
- Vitality for Life ~ Nutritional supplements for daily health and specific health concerns, Sports Nutrition, and Weight Management
- EcoSense ~ Laundry, Dish, and Cleaning products that are safer for your home and family
- Nicole Miller ~ Skin Care and Cosmetics that use natural vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts
- Bath & Body ~ Hair Care, Bath, and Body products with unique healing herbs, botanicals and essential oils
- This company's Pharmacy ~ Basic pharmaceuticals, the best Sunscreen on the market, the best Oral Hygiene on the market, the best Skin Therapy on the market, and natural First Aid wonders!
10. This company's products has been in business since 1985 and was the winner of the Blue Chip Enterprise Award from the US Chamber of Commerce for their commitment and successes in addressing wellness and the environment. Since then, they have received numerous other awards and grew to $702 million in sales in 2005.
INS/FBI tell of high crime rates for illegals
INS/FBI Statistical Report on Undocumented Immigrants
2006 (First Quarter) INS/FBI Statistical Report on Undocumented Immigrants
CRIME STATISTICS
BIRTH STATISTICS
Posted here and taken from here.
2006 (First Quarter) INS/FBI Statistical Report on Undocumented Immigrants
CRIME STATISTICS
- 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.
- 83% of warrants for murder in Phoenix are for illegal aliens.
- 86% of warrants for murder in Albuquerque are for illegal aliens.
- 75% of those on the most wanted list in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Albuquerque are illegal aliens.
- 24.9% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally
- 40.1% of all inmates in Arizona detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally
- 48.2% of all inmates in New Mexico detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally
- 29% (630,000) convicted illegal alien felons fill our state and federal prisons at a cost of $1.6 billion annually
- 53% plus of all investigated burglaries reported in California, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and Texas are perpetrated by illegal aliens.
- 50% plus of all gang members in Los Angeles are illegal aliens from south of the border.
- 71% plus of all apprehended cars stolen in 2005 in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California were stolen by Illegal aliens or “transport coyotes".
- 47% of cited/stopped drivers in California have no license, no insurance and no registration for the vehicle. Of that 47%, 92% are illegal aliens.
- 63% of cited/stopped drivers in Arizona have no license, no insurance and no registration for the vehicle. Of that 63%, 97% are illegal aliens
- 66% of cited/stopped drivers in New Mexico have no license, no insurance and no registration for the vehicle. Of that 66% 98% are illegal aliens.
BIRTH STATISTICS
- 380,000 plus “anchor babies” were born in the U.S. in 2005 to illegal alien parents, making 380,000 babies automatically U.S.citizens.
- 97.2% of all costs incurred from those births were paid by the American taxpayers.
- 66% plus of all births in California are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal whose births were paid for by taxpayers
Posted here and taken from here.
Labels:
crime,
crime statistics,
FBI,
illegal aliens,
undocumented immigrants
New Photo Suggests Iran's President Was One of the 1979 Hostage-Takers
Right Politics USA pulished this story today:

A new photo, published in a Russian paper, seems to suggest that Iranian President Ahmadinejad was indeed one of the the Iranian Hostage-takers who stormed the U.S. Embassy in November 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

Labels:
1979,
52 American hostages,
Ahmadinejad,
Iran,
President
Monday, November 13, 2006
Rosie O'Donnell is dead
BRAIN DEAD!
ABC's Rosie O'Donnell: 'Don't Fear the Terrorists, They're Mothers and Fathers'.
==================> ***NEWSFLASH*** <==================
Newflash for Rosie: Nazi's were mothers and fathers too, as Bill O'Reilly pointed out today on his radio show.
Newsflash for YOU: People (liberals) like Rosie will get us ALL killed.
Al Qaeda seeking nuclear kit for attacks
NOVEMBER 13, 2006:
LONDON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda is trying to acquire the technology that would enable it to use a nuclear device to attack Western targets including Britain, a senior British official said on Monday.
"We know the aspiration is there. We know attempts to gather materials are there, we know that attempts to gather technology are there," the senior Foreign Office official told reporters.
The comments at a briefing came days after the head of Britain's domestic spy agency said Muslim extremists were plotting at least 30 major terrorist attacks in Britain which could involve chemical and nuclear devices.
The Foreign Office official, asked whether there was any doubt that Al Qaeda wants to gather nuclear material for use against Western targets, said: "No doubt at all."
ABC's Rosie O'Donnell: 'Don't Fear the Terrorists, They're Mothers and Fathers'.
==================> ***NEWSFLASH*** <==================
Newflash for Rosie: Nazi's were mothers and fathers too, as Bill O'Reilly pointed out today on his radio show.
Newsflash for YOU: People (liberals) like Rosie will get us ALL killed.
Al Qaeda seeking nuclear kit for attacks
NOVEMBER 13, 2006:
LONDON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda is trying to acquire the technology that would enable it to use a nuclear device to attack Western targets including Britain, a senior British official said on Monday.
"We know the aspiration is there. We know attempts to gather materials are there, we know that attempts to gather technology are there," the senior Foreign Office official told reporters.
The comments at a briefing came days after the head of Britain's domestic spy agency said Muslim extremists were plotting at least 30 major terrorist attacks in Britain which could involve chemical and nuclear devices.
The Foreign Office official, asked whether there was any doubt that Al Qaeda wants to gather nuclear material for use against Western targets, said: "No doubt at all."
Sunday, November 12, 2006
What is the truest definition of Globalization?
Answer:
Princess Diana's death.
Question:
How come?
Answer:
An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend crashes in a French tunnel, driving a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was drunk on Scottish whisky, (check the bottle before you change the spelling) followed closely by Italian Paparazzi, on Japanese motorcycles; treated by an American doctor, using Brazilian medicines.
This is sent to you by a Canadian using Bill Gates' technology, and you're probably reading this on your computer that uses Taiwanese chips, and a Korean monitor, assembled by Bangladeshi workers in a Singapore plant, transported by Indian lorry-drivers, hijacked by Indonesians, unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen, and trucked to you by Mexican illegals.
That, my friends, is Globalization!
Princess Diana's death.
Question:
How come?
Answer:
An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend crashes in a French tunnel, driving a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was drunk on Scottish whisky, (check the bottle before you change the spelling) followed closely by Italian Paparazzi, on Japanese motorcycles; treated by an American doctor, using Brazilian medicines.
This is sent to you by a Canadian using Bill Gates' technology, and you're probably reading this on your computer that uses Taiwanese chips, and a Korean monitor, assembled by Bangladeshi workers in a Singapore plant, transported by Indian lorry-drivers, hijacked by Indonesians, unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen, and trucked to you by Mexican illegals.
That, my friends, is Globalization!
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Democrats win and al Quada, Iran, and others are celebrating!
Does this tell you something? Anything?
If not, you either don't pay any attention to politics or you are delusional.
al Qaeda, as I mentioned in a previous post, is GLOATING:
See for yourself
and
Iranian Leader Khamenei Calls US Vote a Victory for Iran
Every major enemy of the US is celebrating the democratic win on Tuesday!!!
If not, you either don't pay any attention to politics or you are delusional.
al Qaeda, as I mentioned in a previous post, is GLOATING:
See for yourself
and
Iranian Leader Khamenei Calls US Vote a Victory for Iran
Every major enemy of the US is celebrating the democratic win on Tuesday!!!
Operation Gratitude Fourth Annual Holiday Drive
Los Angeles organization to send 50,000 Care Packages to Support the Troops
During the Veteran's Day Weekend, November 11- 12, Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, will kick off its Fourth Annual Holiday Drive, to assemble and mail over 50,000 care packages to deployed troops for the Holidays.
Operation Gratitude's ( www.operationgratitude.com) mission is to put a smile on a service member's face, lift morale, and express the appreciation of the American people for the sacrifices of the men and women defending our freedom. To see more information on Operation Gratitude's program to Support the Troops, click here: Operation Gratitude Video
Beginning November 11, Operation Gratitude's more than 1000 volunteers, along with stars from Hallmark Channel's upcoming holiday movies, will assemble and ship at least 50,000 Holiday Care Packages filled with Flash Drives, Sports Calling Cards, DVDs and CDs, Candy, Gum, Cough Drops, Cookies, Hand Warmers, Skin Care Products, Coffee and Flavorings, Greeting Cards, Batteries, Energy Drinks, T-Shirts, Socks and assorted Snacks.
WHAT: Operation Gratitude 2006 Holiday Drive
WHEN:
November 11-12, 2006, (Veteran's Weekend)
November 24-25 (Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving Weekend)
December 16-17
December 30-31
From 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Daily
WHERE:
California Army National Guard Armory
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(Corner of Victory and Louise)
Press Conference:
Saturday November 11, 2006 at 12:30p.m.
All products for the packages have been donated by individuals, organizations, schools, community groups, businesses and Corporate Sponsors. Overall expenses of ~$10-15/package are covered by tax deductible financial donations from citizens across the country.
Operation Gratitude obtains names of troops from their loved ones or from comrades who previously received a package. The vast majority of names are provided by commanders and leaders in the field who have seen first-hand the positive impact of the program on the morale of their Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors.
WHAT THE TROOPS SAY:
"This is to express my deepest gratitude to you, this organization and the service they are providing to us Soldiers who are deployed. Sometimes with all the negativity that we hear it makes us wonder how the home front sees us. Then a bright spot appears and we see how people such as you support us here. Your care package was wonderful and everything will be put to good use. Thank you so much!" MSG SS
"Thanks so much for sending all the care packages to us here in Afghanistan. The items contained were greatly appreciated. Without efforts such as yours, these deployments would not be bearable. Thanks for all you do and all you have done for the fellow service members of the great USA." Sincerely, MAJ RD
Learn more about Operation Gratitude:
Operation Gratitude ( www.operationgratitude.com) is the California- based 501 (c) (3) non-profit, all-volunteer organization that sends care packages of snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and on military ships at sea. Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to all troops the appreciation and support of the American people. For safety and security, all assembling of packages occurs at the Operation Gratitude headquarters in Southern California. Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 153,000 packages to American troops deployed overseas.
Operation Gratitude is now featured on the popular video site, YouTube. To view this short, informative video, check out Operation Gratitude Video
Website: http://www.operationgratitude.com
Operation Gratitude
Carolyn Blashek
email: cblashek@aol.com
Hotline: 818.789.0563
cblashek@aol.com
Operation Gratitude is a federally registered trademark.
During the Veteran's Day Weekend, November 11- 12, Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, will kick off its Fourth Annual Holiday Drive, to assemble and mail over 50,000 care packages to deployed troops for the Holidays.
Operation Gratitude's ( www.operationgratitude.com) mission is to put a smile on a service member's face, lift morale, and express the appreciation of the American people for the sacrifices of the men and women defending our freedom. To see more information on Operation Gratitude's program to Support the Troops, click here: Operation Gratitude Video
Beginning November 11, Operation Gratitude's more than 1000 volunteers, along with stars from Hallmark Channel's upcoming holiday movies, will assemble and ship at least 50,000 Holiday Care Packages filled with Flash Drives, Sports Calling Cards, DVDs and CDs, Candy, Gum, Cough Drops, Cookies, Hand Warmers, Skin Care Products, Coffee and Flavorings, Greeting Cards, Batteries, Energy Drinks, T-Shirts, Socks and assorted Snacks.
WHAT: Operation Gratitude 2006 Holiday Drive
WHEN:
November 11-12, 2006, (Veteran's Weekend)
November 24-25 (Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving Weekend)
December 16-17
December 30-31
From 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Daily
WHERE:
California Army National Guard Armory
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(Corner of Victory and Louise)
Press Conference:
Saturday November 11, 2006 at 12:30p.m.
All products for the packages have been donated by individuals, organizations, schools, community groups, businesses and Corporate Sponsors. Overall expenses of ~$10-15/package are covered by tax deductible financial donations from citizens across the country.
Operation Gratitude obtains names of troops from their loved ones or from comrades who previously received a package. The vast majority of names are provided by commanders and leaders in the field who have seen first-hand the positive impact of the program on the morale of their Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors.
WHAT THE TROOPS SAY:
"This is to express my deepest gratitude to you, this organization and the service they are providing to us Soldiers who are deployed. Sometimes with all the negativity that we hear it makes us wonder how the home front sees us. Then a bright spot appears and we see how people such as you support us here. Your care package was wonderful and everything will be put to good use. Thank you so much!" MSG SS
"Thanks so much for sending all the care packages to us here in Afghanistan. The items contained were greatly appreciated. Without efforts such as yours, these deployments would not be bearable. Thanks for all you do and all you have done for the fellow service members of the great USA." Sincerely, MAJ RD
Learn more about Operation Gratitude:
Operation Gratitude ( www.operationgratitude.com) is the California- based 501 (c) (3) non-profit, all-volunteer organization that sends care packages of snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and on military ships at sea. Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to all troops the appreciation and support of the American people. For safety and security, all assembling of packages occurs at the Operation Gratitude headquarters in Southern California. Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 153,000 packages to American troops deployed overseas.
Operation Gratitude is now featured on the popular video site, YouTube. To view this short, informative video, check out Operation Gratitude Video
Website: http://www.operationgratitude.com
Operation Gratitude
Carolyn Blashek
email: cblashek@aol.com
Hotline: 818.789.0563
cblashek@aol.com
Operation Gratitude is a federally registered trademark.
Friday, November 10, 2006
7 reasons why Tom Tancredo could be our next President
"A Line In The Sand": Confronting the Threat at the Southwest Border.
1. Drug trafficking organizations and human smuggling networks are proliferating and strengthening their control of key corridors along our Nation’s Southwest border.
2. The Mexican drug cartels wield substantial control over the U.S.-Mexican border. Law enforcement on the border agree that very little crosses the respective cartel territories, or “plazas,” along the Southwest border without cartel knowledge, approval, and financial remuneration.
3. These criminal organizations and networks are highly sophisticated and organized, operating with military style weapons and technology, utilizing counter surveillance techniques and acting aggressively against both law
enforcement and competitors.
4. Drug trafficking organizations, human smuggling networks and U.S. based gangs are increasingly coordinating with one another to achieve their objectives.
5. Federal, State and local law enforcement report new and ever-increasing levels of ruthlessness and violence associated with these criminal organizations, which are increasingly spilling across the border into the United States and moving into local communities.
6. Each year hundreds of illegal aliens from countries known to harbor terrorists or promote terrorism are routinely encountered and apprehended attempting to enter the U.S. illegally.
7. The existing resources of the U.S. Border Patrol and local law enforcement must continue to be enhanced to counter the cartels and the criminal networks they leverage to circumvent law enforcement.
CONGRESSIONAL IMMIGRATION REFORM CAUCUS
Chairman Tom Tancredo, Chairman
Prepared by the Majority Staff of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommitte on Investigations, The Honorable Michael T. McCaul, Chariman
***WARNING***
The report contains material that is violent and graphic in nature
1. Drug trafficking organizations and human smuggling networks are proliferating and strengthening their control of key corridors along our Nation’s Southwest border.
2. The Mexican drug cartels wield substantial control over the U.S.-Mexican border. Law enforcement on the border agree that very little crosses the respective cartel territories, or “plazas,” along the Southwest border without cartel knowledge, approval, and financial remuneration.
3. These criminal organizations and networks are highly sophisticated and organized, operating with military style weapons and technology, utilizing counter surveillance techniques and acting aggressively against both law
enforcement and competitors.
4. Drug trafficking organizations, human smuggling networks and U.S. based gangs are increasingly coordinating with one another to achieve their objectives.
5. Federal, State and local law enforcement report new and ever-increasing levels of ruthlessness and violence associated with these criminal organizations, which are increasingly spilling across the border into the United States and moving into local communities.
6. Each year hundreds of illegal aliens from countries known to harbor terrorists or promote terrorism are routinely encountered and apprehended attempting to enter the U.S. illegally.
7. The existing resources of the U.S. Border Patrol and local law enforcement must continue to be enhanced to counter the cartels and the criminal networks they leverage to circumvent law enforcement.
CONGRESSIONAL IMMIGRATION REFORM CAUCUS
Chairman Tom Tancredo, Chairman
Victor Davis Hanson says that now, after the elections, "congressional reformers will be blitzed by advocates of the failed status quo with a series of false assumptions concerning the issue...The evidence suggests that massive illegal immigration causes as much upheaval inside Mexico as it supposedly prevents - while aggravating, not solving, problems in the United States." Rethinking Illegal Immigration
Labels:
illegal aliens,
immigration reform,
Tom Tancredo,
U.S. border
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