3 Nephi, Chapter 6

What brings about change?

A year ago I was not pregnant. I had a 5 year old and a 9 month old.  I was just beginning to make better choices for my daily habits.  Life for me was truly different.  I imagine that a year from now will be very different than life is today as well.  With three children instead of two, life is bound to change some.

The Nephites went back to their own lands with all of their belongings and what was left of their provisions (v. 1-2).  The robbers who were set free under covenant, were given land to live on as well (v. 3) “. . . and thus they did establish peace in all the land (v. 3).  And they began again to prosper and to wax great; and the twenty and sixth and seventh years passed away, and there was great order in the land; and they had formed their laws according to equity and justice (v. 4).  And now there was nothing in all the land to hinder the people from prospering continually, except they should fall into transgression (v. 5). . . And thus passed away the twenty and eighth year, and the people had continual peace (v. 9).”  During this time, the Nephites lived in peace and prosperity.

“And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity; therefore they had enjoyed peace but a few years (v. 16).  And thus, in the commencement of the thirtieth year—the people having been delivered up for the space of a long time to be carried about by the temptations of the devil whithersoever he desired to carry them, and to do whatsoever iniquity he desired they should—and thus in the commencement of this, the thirtieth year, they were in a state of awful wickedness (v. 17).”  Between the twenty-eighth year and the beginning of the thirtieth year, the Nephites became a wicked people again.  In one year, they had started to fight among each other, become prideful because of their prosperity, and started persecuting others (v. 10). The rich were set above the poor (v. 12).  There was a clear distinction between those who were prideful and those who were humble (v. 13).  The church was “broken up” in most of the land, which led to Satan having a greater power over the people (v. 14-15).

We live in a world much like this today.  We have clear distinctions between the poor and the wealthy.  We have a lot of wickedness among those who have riches and wealth.  We have persecutions to those who are living humbly and trying to seek God.  The state of the Nephites before the Savior came to them and the state of our lives now, before the second coming are not that different.  The way to avoid this state in our families, is to remain humble.  To serve others often and to remain faithful in gospel through the “little” things like prayer, scripture study, family home evening, and so on.

Does knowledge make sin more serious?

We are held more accountable as members of the gospel, because we know more of the commandments of God and are expected to live them.  Someone who is outside of the gospel and is not aware of the word of wisdom, cannot be held to the same level of accountability for following or breaking it.

“Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did wilfully rebel against God (v. 18 ).”  The Nephites knew the gospel principles and chose to disobey them.  In Mosiah 3:11-12 we read, “For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned (v. 11).  But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 12).”  Also in D&C 82:3 we read, “For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.”  When we know more we are surely held more accountable for the bad choices that we make.

How do you react when you are told you are doing wrong?

“And there began to be men inspired from heaven and sent forth, standing among the people in all the land, preaching and testifying boldly of the sins and iniquities of the people, and testifying unto them concerning the redemption which the Lord would make for his people, or in other words, the resurrection of Christ; and they did testify boldly of his death and sufferings (v. 20).  Now there were many of the people who were exceedingly angry because of those who testified of these things; and those who were angry were chiefly the chief judges, and they who had been high priests and lawyers; yea, all those who were lawyers were angry with those who testified of these things (v. 21).  Now there was no lawyer nor judge nor high priest that could have power to condemn any one to death save their condemnation was signed by the governor of the land (v. 22).  Now there were many of those who testified of the things pertaining to Christ who testified boldly, who were taken and put to death secretly by the judges, that the knowledge of their death came not unto the governor of the land until after their death (v. 23).  Now behold, this was contrary to the laws of the land, that any man should be put to death except they had power from the governor of the land (v. 24)—”

Many of the Nephites did not like that some were preaching of their wickedness.  People do not like to be told when they are doing something wrong, especially when they know inside that it is the truth.  Many who testified of the redemption of Christ were put to death secretly.  The better thing to have done, would have been to listen to the preaching and taken some time to look within to see if something in their lives needed to change for them to be better people.  This is what is expected of us, when we are told something we may be doing wrong.  When the church leaders chastise us for a common sin, we need to look at our lives and see if there is room for improvement.

“Therefore a complaint came up unto the land of Zarahemla, to the governor of the land, against these judges who had condemned the prophets of the Lord unto death, not according to the law (v. 25).  Now it came to pass that they were taken and brought up before the judge, to be judged of the crime which they had done, according to the law which had been given by the people (v. 26).  Now it came to pass that those judges had many friends and kindreds; and the remainder, yea, even almost all the lawyers and the high priests, did gather themselves together, and unite with the kindreds of those judges who were to be tried according to the law (v. 27).  And they did enter into a covenant one with another, yea, even into that covenant which was given by them of old, which covenant was given and administered by the devil, to combine against all righteousness (v. 28 ).  Therefore they did combine against the people of the Lord, and enter into a covenant to destroy them, and to deliver those who were guilty of murder from the grasp of justice, which was about to be administered according to the law (v. 29).  And they did set at defiance the law and the rights of their country; and they did covenant one with another to destroy the governor, and to establish a king over the land, that the land should no more be at liberty but should be subject unto kings (v. 30).”

The anger of the Nephites led the people to change the way their laws worked.  These were the laws established by God for them to live in peace and happiness.  Instead, the allowed the wicked to rule and those wicked judges decided they wanted to make the people subject to a king, no longer having their precious liberties that they had fought so hard to keep.  Sin and anger always lead to giving up liberty, which is a gift from God to all His children.  I can honestly say that I feel this happening in this country today.  We have a great amount of wickedness that is leading to all of our liberties being taken away from us.  We would be living a very different life, if more people repented and turned to God instead of sinning and turning to wicked leaders.

[Via http://maryrubow.wordpress.com]

Children Are the Future

I have always believed that children are the future.  And it bothers me to see that they do not know what Democracy is and what it should be.  It worries me to see children being taught to stalk and harass people.  It is sad to see how afraid some of those children become.

I hate child abuse in ALL its forms.   And I especially despise those who teach thier children to tolerate abuse, to give out abuse and to live in fear.

It is terrible to see a Nazi like attitude toward children.  It is a sad day in American History to see Americans using their children in their illegal activities.

I have done my best to help kids and I will continue to do so.  Children are our future, America!  So, don’t teach them hate and fear.  Stop abusing your children.  Help them to grow up healthy wealthy and wise.  Teach your children how to love by being loving parents, and citizens of this great country!

[Via http://stopgangstalkingca.wordpress.com]

The System Worked

On Christmas Day, a Nigerian man claiming to be part of the al-Qaeda terrorist group attempted to destroy a Northwest Airlines aircraft on its final approach to Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Christmas Day. The suspect was successful with placing a destructive device on that aircraft.

While the incident is still being investigated, Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano appeared on national television and attempted to put a “happy face” on the incident. Secretary Napolitano told reporters that the Obama Administration is reacting to the terrorist threat and that “the system worked” in the case of the Detroit Metropolitan Airport incident. “The system worked? What system? If it weren’t for a faulty explosive device and a Dutchman who subdued the would-be bomber, this could have been a disastrous Christmas for the Flight 253 passengers and for our nation,” said former NYPD detective Sid Frances, a noted security expert. Let’s review: A slovenly-dressed “poor” Muslim (who in reality is a son of privilege) on a  terrorist watch list boards a plane in Amsterdam after flying from Lagos, Nigeria on a flight bound for Detroit with a small carry-on ONLY and NO PASSPORT, just a Visa. Nothing suspicious here. Move along.

Officials said he came to the attention of U.S. intelligence last month when his father, Alhaji Umar Mutallab, a prominent Nigerian banker, reported to the American Embassy in Nigeria about his son’s increasingly extremist religious views. In a statement released Monday morning, Abdulmutallab’s family in Nigeria said that after his “disappearance and stoppage of communications while schooling abroad,” his father reached out to Nigerian security agencies two months ago. The statement says the father then approached foreign security agencies for “their assistance to find and return him home.”

The family says: “It was while we were waiting for the outcome of their investigation that we arose to the shocking news of that day.”(san diego online)

Now you know what we Arizonan had to put up with when she was the Governor and her refusal to deal with Illegal Immigration on any level. And her silly politically correct ideology.

“In fact, one of Napolitano’s first orders was for ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) agents to stop workplace inspections to arrest illegal workers and identity thieves,” said veteran cop Lieutenant Stephan Rodgers from New Jersey.

The very thing that had been a thorn in her side for years. People, like Maricopa County Sherriff Joe Arapaio and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas were actually ENFORCING THE LAW.

And that was just driving her mad. Even now as Secretary of Homeland Security she is still in a piss fight with Arapaio and Thomas.

She hates crisis, and always trys to deflect onto someone else.

Sounds like your proto-typical liberal to me.

So, when you board that next plane know that “the system works” according to your Homeland Security Secretary.

That system being, a Foreign national has to tackle the bomber AFTER his bomb fails to go off.

That’s your system.

Don’t you feel safer now.

And this far from the first time for dear Janet.

First, during her testimony on Capitol Hill, Napolitano noticeably failed to use the words terrorist or radical Islam even once while testifying, in spite of the fact her very job was created as a result of terrorist attacks perpetrated by radical Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001.

The former Arizona governor has been slow to respond to the violence and chaos that exists at the US-Mexican border and continues to hesitate in dealing with an out-of-control immigration problem. Instead, Napolitano pointed to the US-Canadian border as cause for concern, going so far as to say the 9-11 terrorists entered the United States from Canada.

Napolitano subsequently was forced to apologize to the Canadian government and had to correct her erroneous statement. The fact that the nation’s top terrorism fighter didn’t know from where the men — who committed the worst terrorist attack in US history — entered this nation did not instill must confidence in her knowledge and ability.

She doesn’t want to deal with reality because it conflicts with her radical leftist ideology.

Sound familiar?

This is the governor who had been pressured to put National Guard Troops on the border because of the massive influx of  Illegal Aliens.

When she finally did declare “an emergency” they were sent down their with no ammo and orders to sit on their hands and do nothing. Just look like they were doing something. To be a presence.

It was a calculated political maneuver. It was the absolute minimum she could do to look like she gave a damn.

Nothing more.

Sound Familiar?

Then  there was the report Secretary Napalitano put out right after her confirmation saying, in effect, the greatest threat to America was “Right Wing Extremists”.

Seriously.

Not Terrorists.

Right Wing Extremists.

I remember when that came out. I remember thinking, “yeah, that’s sounds like her”.

She’s all politics.  All Ideology. All the time.

Sound familiar?

Congressional Democrats anyone?

Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) gave the following statement in response to ongoing controversy over the Department of Homeland Security’s recent report on right-wing extremists and potential domestic terrorism, as well as Secretary Napolitano’s failure to appropriately apologize for the offensive assertions made in the report:

“The outrageous, unsubstantiated, politically-loaded DHS report on ‘Right-Wing Extremism,’ shows a stunning lack of understanding of the real and imminent threats America is truly facing,” said Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ), who is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, Military Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, Constitution Subcommittee, and is ranking member on the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.

“It is also a disgraceful insult to the true heroes of our country. If veterans, pro-life and states’ rights advocates and those who seek to protect the Constitutional rights of themselves and their fellow Americans are at higher risk for becoming domestic terrorists, then over 80% of the people in my District can be categorized as a potential national security threat,” said Rep. Franks.

Franks also noted that it would be very interesting to see what taxpayer-funded resources went into producing “this disgraceful report and what documents and evidence they are using to justify it.”

Franks and other conservatives believe that using the vast and powerful resources of the Department of Homeland Security to target and ostracize political opposition, as it would appear is being done, sets an incredibly dangerous precedent and it’s something America’s federal government should have no part of.

Franks said, “The report claims the election of an “African American president” and the downturn in the economy has caused ‘right-wing extremism’ and could possibly even radicalize our veterans.”

“To say that the noble and patriotic men and women who wear this nation’s uniform and have laid their lives on the line to protect their country are now one of the greatest potential domestic security dangers to our country is so staggeringly irrational and insulting that I am unable to find the words to express it,” he said.(examiner)

And there’s More:

The (then-) Democratic governor, accused by her Republican critics of being soft on immigration, has vetoed other immigration bills from the GOP-majority Legislature within the past year, including a proposal to give police the power to enforce federal immigration laws. She’s also provided services for illegal aliens and is a proponent of drivers licenses for illegals.

But, don’t worry. The system worked. Janet’s large and in charge. She right on top of it.

MetroTimes: A Michigan man who was aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 says he witnessed Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab trying to board the plane in Amsterdam without a passport.

While Mutallab was poorly dressed, his friend was dressed in an expensive suit, Haskell said. He says the suited man asked ticket agents whether Mutallab could board without a passport. “The guy said, ‘He’s from Sudan and we do this all the time.’” Mutallab is Nigerian. Haskell believes the man may have been trying to garner sympathy for Mutallab’s lack of documents by portraying him as a Sudanese refugee. “I stood up and walked a couple feet ahead to get a closer look, and that’s when I saw the flames,” said Haskell, who sat about seven rows behind Mutallab. “It started to spread pretty quickly. It went up the wall, all the way to ceiling.” But the system worked. Don’t you feel so much better knowing Janet has your back.

AP: Napolitano refused to say whether Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has a connection to al-Qaida, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.

The fact that he said he was member, no one cares. And also, notice, she calls it a criminal investigation. Not a Terrorist incident.

“Right now, we have no indication that it is part of anything larger,” Janet Napolitano told the CNN news network.

On “Meet The Press” on Sunday:

Host David Gregory asks: Is your suspicion, based on intelligence you’re seeing and information that he’s providing, is your suspicion that he is part of al-Qaeda?

SEC’Y NAPOLITANO: You know, David, I, I, I don’t want to speculate on that. Again, the, the FBI has that under investigation. We’ll ascertain whether or not he is what he, he allegedly says he is. But what we are focused on, again, is screening, making sure that mitigation measures are in place at airports across the country.

Yeah, we have to mitigate the political damage first!

She confirmed that there was no air marshal on the plane with Abdulmutallab. They are not on every flight.

Napolitano says that despite Abdulmutallab’s success at getting dangerous chemicals on board the plane, commercial flying is safe.

She says the United States is reviewing what security measures were used in Amsterdam, where he boarded the flight.

Nothing to see here. Move along.

But I saved the best for last:  Today

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano conceded Monday that the aviation security system failed when a young man on a watchlist with a U.S. visa in his pocket and a powerful explosive hidden on his body was allowed to board a fight from Amsterdam to Detroit.

A day after saying the system worked, Napolitano backtracked, saying her words had been *** taken out of context***. (emphasis added)

Now where have I heard that from a liberal caught trying to cover something stupid they said or did to cover up their own mistakes??  Hmmmm….

“Our system did not work in this instance,” she said on NBC’s “Today” show. “No one is happy or satisfied with that. An extensive review is under way.”

Aka, how can we blame this one someone else; how can we better prepare to not to have to take the blame for it the next time.

Let’s scramble around look like we give a crap.

Just like the border, Janet just like the border.

[Via http://indyfromaz.wordpress.com]

He is clearly a rich man

David Davis…has no objection to that. But “rich” and “poor” are not defined by this “leading economist”. Although what he says is strictly logical in a Newtonian sense, it is not clear to me that “the poor have been subsidising the rich” in what remains of the education market: quite the opposite in fact.

He can start by offering to pay to send a couple of our younger bloggers to Oxford.

[Via http://libertarianalliance.wordpress.com]

Obama's Interpol Executive Order

Now this should frighten people. At least those of us not transfixed by the Tiger Woods mess.

An amendment to Executive Order #12425, signed by Our Lord and Savior Himself:

Executive Order — Amending Executive Order 12425

EXECUTIVE ORDER
- – – – – – -
AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER 12425 DESIGNATING INTERPOL
AS A PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION ENTITLED TO
ENJOY CERTAIN PRIVILEGES, EXEMPTIONS, AND IMMUNITIES

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 1 of the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288), and in order to extend the appropriate privileges, exemptions, and immunities to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), it is hereby ordered that Executive Order 12425 of June 16, 1983, as amended, is further amended by deleting from the first sentence the words “except those provided by Section 2(c), Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, and Section 6 of that Act” and the semicolon that immediately precedes them.

BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 16, 2009.

What’s the text of Section 2(c) that is no longer applicable to Interpol?

(c) Property and assets of international organizations, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall be immune from search, unless such immunity be expressly waived, and from confiscation. The archives of international organizations shall be inviolable.

What does that mean, in English?

Noisy Room has the translation, and it should scare the crap out of anyone with an IQ higher than that of a turnip:

This now says that Interpol is no longer subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Their premises or staff can no longer be searched either. Their files are not subject to legal subpoena or discovery. Our government could just hand documents and files over to Interpol and Americans would no longer have access to them. Interpol can legally keep files now on all citizens of the US with no right to redress.

In reality, we have just handed over our sovereignty. Interpol headquarters in the US is currently headquartered in the Department of Justice. A ‘separate’ Interpol agency has been created in the DOJ – let that sink in for a moment. Interpol has been granted diplomatic immunity now by Obama – they have exemption from being subject to search and seizure by law enforcement, US taxes and immunity from FOIA requests, etc. This action could also be used to divulge American military secrets and a whole host of horrific practices having to do with going after our military. It’s the road to internationalism on steroids.

I contend this is the foundation for an international governing and policing body. A modern day SS here in the US if you like. Remember how Obama wanted to create a civilian police force? Well, it’s here, just from a direction I never saw it coming from. I really believe you will see Interpol police forces on US soil in the near future. It will resemble the Gestapo and their intelligence gathering techniques. This police force would not be subject to our normal Constitutional oversights – remember, no search and seizure etc. You have to admire the evil genius behind all this.

Says Death By 1,000 Papercuts:

To use an Obamaism, this is truly “unprecedented” on a variety of levels.

Truly, Richard Nixon must be asking himself, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Compared to this White House, Nixon was bush league when it came to naked power grabs.

That’s right. Interpol is no longer subject to Freedom of Information act requests, cannot be physically searched and is not subject to any means of legal discovery.

This is the foundation for Obama’s civilian national security force. His SS, His Gestapo. Operating right out of His Justice Department, independent of any control and operating outside of the U.S. Constitution. But since when did the Constitution matter to Obama or His Gestapo thugs? American citizens have no legal or constitutional protection from them.

The Anchoress connects the dots:

Color me cynical. As we watch the tyrannical Harry Reid (and an apparently fully-corrupted parliamentarian) bribe, lie and bully his way to passage of a ruinous healthcare bill (with the reprehensible Mrs. Pelosi waiting to do exactly the same in the House), as we watch the elected leaders of this representative democracy try to inflict legislation upon us which can never be rescinded, I don’t think there is any misunderstanding, at all.

A few days ago, I wrote: the Democrats are conspicuously unworried about upcoming elections. Perhaps they are not worried because they know something that all the angry voters do not seem to understand: that they no longer have to give a damn; they will not have to worry about future elections; they will not have to care what anyone thinks of their governance, and they have no worries about the press, either. There are no Woodwards or Bernsteins on their horizons.

Civil Disobedience is a good thing, sometimes -a force for good- we learned that from the very same spoiled-brat generation that now attempts to utterly corrupt our government, and our way of life, and who want us all to just sit down and shut up, as they do it.

I know it is very difficult to get anyone interested in this Executive Order, because the dishonest Obamacare bill is dominating the day. This is part of the problem: Obama and his team have started so many fires that while one is being fought in one place, another is taking hold, elsewhere. But the thing is, the fires are all connected, and they come from the same source.

The odds that there won’t be any elections in 2010, 2012 or beyond just got a little lower. It’s definitely in the ballpark now.

This move has dictatorship written all over it, but we’re too preoccupied to notice. The simple-minded can follow Tiger Woods then … oh, look at the bright, shiny object! It’s the new season of American Idol!

Over at The Corner, Andrew McCarthy asks some pertinent questions:

Why would we elevate an international police force above American law? Why would we immunize an international police force from the limitations that constrain the FBI and other American law-enforcement agencies? Why is it suddenly necessary to have, within the Justice Department, a repository for stashing government files which, therefore, will be beyond the ability of Congress, American law-enforcement, the media, and the American people to scrutinize?

How’s the old saying go? Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.

There is something nefarious going on here. Be afraid, be very afraid.

[Via http://theundergroundconservative.wordpress.com]

Bah Humbug but just wait, here comes 2010

You think this Health Care Bill is a lemon now, just you wait till 2010, when your paycheck will shrink even more.

Sing it with me: “Jingle Bells the Government smells, the people ran away.”

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll shows that just 25% of the nation’s voters strongly approve of Obama’s job performance.A whopping 46% strongly disapprove – giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -21.

That is President Obama’s lowest rating to date…

Alabama Democratic Rep. Parker Griffith will switch to the Republican party which was reported in the news… December 22, 2009.

RESIGNING THEIR SEATS: Neil Abercrombie, Hawaii and Robert Wexler Florida. Both say it is for other reasons, but is it really? I don’t believe it anymore. I personally think they are running scared and afraid that the American people have had enough and so they are getting out, while the getting is still good. Therefore, if all of these important Democrats are leaving, jumping ship, whistling Dixie, and whatever else we are led to believe, what does this tell you?

DO YOU HAVE: Buyers remorse and want a refund? Maybe you got sold a lemon and it was so bitter, it made your mouth sweat? You took the bag of apples home and they were all rotten inside? Ate some government food and now you have a bad case of food poisoning…bathroom close by I hope?

All of the Above?

Well here is the latest on the TEA PARTY and it isn’t even a real Party. Funny enough though, it is ahead of both Democrats and Republicans in the polls. Imagine that! The people have finally had enough. So I say,we need a new 3rd Party, bring on the TEA.

I like a good strong cup of black tea anyway. How about you? It just might fix up that tummy upset you have, from trying to swallow all that government muck YOU gobbled up.

The president goes on TV and tells the American People that WE have to cut costs and spending. Uh-huh, so shouldn’t you also lead by example? Or is it, do as I say but don’t do as I do?

I don’t know about you but the only people who are spending lately is the Government and all it’s corrupt politicians. Let’s see…BIG FANCY PARTIES, SPENDING MORE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’S MONEY INTO DEBT, TAKING TO THE AIR, IN PLANES AND JETS THAT EAT UP SO MUCH FUEL. THESE ARE THE SAME PLANES THAT CREATE POISONOUS GASES AND FOSSIL FUELS (hmm and I thought the Democrats supported the environment too). What a bunch of hypocrites our politicians are.

THE BAH HUMBUG PART: Were you aware that even though you will not get to use the National Health Care System till 2014,(read that again folks…..2014). Our wonderful Government is going to start taxing you as of January 2010 another whopping 8% more in Taxes. By 2014 the majority of Americans will NOT be able to AFFORD HEALTH CARE period. Isn’t this a great way to start the New Year!

Smile now, while you suck on that nasty sour lemon, does it taste good yet?

Were you also aware that on top of our 12.4 trillion dollar deficit the Government is going to BORROW another 2 trillion dollars and something to pay for this horse manure of a health care bill?

I am pretty sure that Horse Manure is worth much more now, than the Health Care Bill ever will be. At least Horse manure is a great fertilizer and helps plant life grow and re-generate. Our National Health Care will kill off people and regulate everything.

Not to mention the doctors that will quit practicing medicine because there will be NO more incentives unless they love working like a dog and get paid for pittance. You forget folks, I have already seen this happen with many doctors in Australia who came to America to practice medicine. Why do you think they did that? Because they couldn’t get paid what they were worth under National Health Care, that’s why. So where will the doctors go next then?

BABY DON’T CRY: Our Kids and their Kids will never forgive us, as we lower their cost of living by another 38% for many generations to come. Imagine being 1 years old, and having to pay back approximately $400,000.00 in taxes, to government spending that you were not even conceived through. Nice huh? That’s what these corrupt government officials that we have elected, have done to our babies and unborn children.

See these little faces above?

We are saddling our children, with debt they will NEVER be able to pay off. Our Government takes their income away, that they haven’t even earned yet. The government is doing this, to them Right Now, Yesterday, Today.

Your children and my own. Aren’t you upset about that?

I have said it before and I will say it again. Both the Republican and Democratic parties are as bad and as corrupt as each other. I have absolutely NO FAITH in either. I never was much into politics until I started to see the real darkness of it. You know even Gandhi the great Indian Spiritual leader, said politics was like a coil of a snake.

“If I seem to take part in politics, it is only because politics encircles us today like the coil of a snake from which one cannot get out, no matter how much one tries. I wish therefore to wrestle with the snake.” Mahatma Gandhi

So I guess, here I am wrestling with a nasty two headed venomous serpent we call our Government. I wrestle for you and your children. For me and my children. Let’s all help each other get uncoiled from this snake, we call our Political Government.

Love and Blessings

Victoria

As I am sure many of you are aware, in order to keep this blog alive it costs money. I know, what I am writing to YOU ALL about, is making a huge difference in the lives of many people. However, I also need your support financially too. Any Donation to our cause for change, can make such a difference in all of our efforts. This Money will also be used to help support Venus Rizing Publishing, which will create more books and articles that can be distributed Nationally and Internationally

Thank You for Your Love and Support. Victoria

[Via http://catchfallingstars.wordpress.com]

Open Letter to TV Licensing

Dear TV Licencing,

Thank you so much for your letter of December 13th letting me know that a TV Licencing Officer will shortly be coming round to inspect my home.Thank you also for the reminders about the various penalties etc.

I guess you think you need to make sure that I’m not stealing ‘live television’ but I can assure you that I am not. In my opinion live TV just rots peoples’ minds and as shown in research by Dr Aric Sigman can actually cause brain damage.

Meanwhile I understand that you have absolutely no right to enter my home, so portraying yourself as some kind of authority with ‘officers’ and such like seems to be nothing more than empty menace. Perhaps if I did watch your live signal I would be more susceptable to such posturing.

As I would like to help you protect your live signal without having to resort to such methods may I suggest coding it and having people rent decoders. I think you must agree that this would be a far more civilised way to go about things as you wouldn’t have to bandy around your empty threats and people would be more aware that they have a CHOICE in the matter. Additionally it would open the door to FAIR COMPETITION, though I wonder if you’re afraid that that would have a negative effect on your revenues.

Anyway, if you or one of your representatives would like to discuss any of the issues I’ve raised, then please feel free to post a reply below.

Yours sincerely,

Nigel Davies

[Via http://tigerchess.wordpress.com]

Have you ever actually "Read" your Constitution ?

How many of you have never read your entire Constitution from start to finish ? Have any of you ever even glanced at it ? How about the Bill of Rights.. most of you probably think it only applies to media reporters or non christian religions.

Come On.. be honest, how much dont you know about the rights your corrupt marxist government and its treasonous scum in congress are stealing from you every day ?

Is your self imposed ignorance your safety shield.. as in “what you dont know cant hurt you” ? Boy is that backwards.. Do you actually trust your congressman or senator with the physical well being and security of your immediate family ? ..as in they’ll do whatever it takes to defend you from criminals or corruption 24/7 !

Lets test your Sheeple Intelligence and see if you are qualified to be a free man or a managed mutt.

View This Poll
trends

[Via http://spitnyri.wordpress.com]

A Great Man Steps A New Tune

A Great Man Steps A New Tune

Bang! And so it begins.

The shot heard around the world! I thought to myself as I reminisced about my recent visit to the East to my uncle’s house in Lexington, Massachusetts and the staring eyes of the Minute Man statue who started the Revolutionary War, with one fire of his gun.

“Now is the time for a Revolution!” The former presidential nominee Ron Paul says to the crowd.
The Candidate who often makes the most sense, who is often made most fun of, for his sane commentary on the Constitution and our civil liberties being lost at the hands of war hungry greedy politicians and their herds of “sheeple” who listen to them unknowing of their doomed fate.

Marginalized by mainstream media Ron Paul’s resilience to any sort of attack on his character or policies really never bothers him. They bounce off of him like big tumble weeds hitting his car grill in the Texas Desert where this congressman got re elected for 10 terms, including one this year. This man has seen lots of resistance in his political career and not in one term did he ever take for granted or go against his word for political gain or bargaining. He is truly a man of constitutional principle, or unjust stubbornness some would argue.

What surprised me most about this speech in his not so formal concession was his fiery enthusiasm for our victory of waking up the masses of young people in the last 18 months. He has said this before. He has seen all types of people and their socioeconomic and political group join the force for his cause; from Republicans, Libertarians, Democrats, and Anarchists he opened his arms to everyone to spread the message of freedom.

Still in today’s powerful angry tone by Dr. Paul followed months of ignoring, laughing, attacking, and finally the complete break down of our free Republic, when the Conventional GOP switched and broke their own rules to knock Ron Paul’s delegates to the sidelines, including in our grand state of Colorado.

Never in my generation have I witnessed a more educational, powerful, un-corrupted message then in watching Ron Paul’s campaign going through its ebbs and flows of media mischief. The growing blows from the masses that are unable to digest his heavy truth serum, that leaves the doctor’s mouth in one breathe and pierces our eardrums without any mercy.
His unstoppable momentum of an unusual campaign spreading the words of Ron Paul, transcending people’s limited knowledge of government by diplomatically educating them with facts, not lies and scholarly views rather than political rhetoric. It allowed people to reflect on their own party’s flaws regardless of what voting side they were used to being a part of. He managed to do this without getting overly concerned with the Neo Con agenda of moral politics, which to many old school Republicans was like a breathe of fresh air.

Ron enlivens his supporters with raw candor like the old cliché “a moth to the flame”. He still preaches that fairness can exist if we are willing to stay involved. His vehement resolve is now to empower the people, make sure they realize that we are the grassroots, we are the government, we need to be the politicians getting elected and we are responsible for turning our country around.

A note of importance for those who would never aspire to be a Republican or ever even think of following the advice one. It has to be the most disturbing time for anyone paying attention to the media and how it completely runs our country and it’s political process more now than ever before. This stately man, Ron Paul, was not shown nearly as much on television as he was liked or respected. He was not revered by mainstream because his message did not go along with the views of oil tykes; military strikes and media moguls who love to subdue the masses into consumptive political boredom. I hope for our country, that there is something for you to learn as well. I am definitely a fan. Not just of Ron Paul, but of his message of Freedom, true liberty and of his revolutionary followers.

They are some of the greatest and most determined people that you will see in the coming years. This is only the beginning, I can’t wait to see Amerika become America again.

-Liberty Girl.

[Via http://crimsonandchrome.com]

Congress Fails "Paper Boy Test"!

A fourteen year old paper boy from Up-State New York claims Congress could not make a profit running his paper route! Even if! Papers were Free! He states, “First, Congress would have to show up for work. Second, Congress would have to work. Third, Congress would have to have enough talent to ride a bike. Fourth, Congress would have to deliver the products they promised. Fifth, Congress could not steal back the products delivered. Last, Congress would have to get off their “Fat Lazy Asses” and do something! Paper Boy gives Congress an “F”!

Dear Paper Boy,

Our Fearless Leaders are no longer motivated or want to build a strong America. Today’s  Congress is a parasite feeding upon the sweat equity of  Working America! At whatever the cost! Yes, New York Paper Boy you are “We the people”.

Skeetron.

[Via http://skeetron.wordpress.com]

Britain to "leave the EU"

David Davis

Well, it was nice to dream if only for a second or two. Via the eternally-estimable Devil, we learn that Douglas Carswell has tabled a Bill, asking for a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU.

It won’t happen like that, of course. Carswell will get his marching orders and P-45 from the Camoron, and for now we’ll have business (or not any) as usual. But one day, one day…..

And to end, a comment on the front of The Devil’s thread on that posting, stated that it says in the Register that “online publications are to be regulated by the PCC”. But not those of Soviets, for these are “marketing material“. Well, the Libertarian Alliance Blog has just this minute become one of the LA’s “marketing publications”. Officially. You have read it here first!

The Libertarian Alliance is a Soviet, at last.

[Via http://libertarianalliance.wordpress.com]

Can The American People Afford Three More Years Of The Progressive Radical Socialist Democratic Party Led By President Obama? Absolutely Not--Throw The Bums Out Next November!

Glenn Beck-12-11-09-A

Glenn Beck-12-11-09-B

 

Glenn Beck-12-11-09-C

 

Glenn Beck-12-11-09-D

 

Glenn Beck-12-11-09-F

Economic Collapse: Peter Schiff explains Obama’s false Chinese policy

Background Articles and Videos Related Posts On Pronk Palisades

 

The Progressive Radical Socialists led by President Obama are destroying jobs, wrecking the economy and killing the American dream.

There are currently over 25,000,000 Americans seeking full time employment.

Unemployment rates are expected to exceed ten percent throughout 2010.

So what are the political “elites” in Washington D. C. proposing to do about it?

The Progressive Radical Socialists are trying to massively increase your taxes, the national debt and erode the purchasing power of the US dollar.

Vote out of office any Democrat or Republican representative or Senator that votes in favor of the Health Care and Cap and Trade Energy tax bills and comprehensive immigration reform.

Abolish both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Reserve System.

The Federal Reserve and Congress caused the problem of a housing bubble by massive government intervention in expanding credit for housing mortgages and failing to regulate the investment activities of commercial, investment and mortgage bankers.

Shut them down now, before it is too late.

The political class of both parties are fast become tyrants in their disregard of what is in the best interest of the American people.

The political class only concern is how to control your lives and business and to stay in power.

Throw these corrupt bums out of office in November 2010, 2012, and 2014.

When in doubt–throw them out.

Background Articles and Videos

Jim Rogers America is Collapsing Part 1 of 5

Jim Rogers America is Collapsing Part 2 of 5

Jim Rogers America is Collapsing Part 3 of 5

Jim Rogers America is Collapsing Part 4 of 5

Jim Rogers America is Collapsing Part 5 of 5

Jim Rogers: Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner and Federal Reserve System Chairman Ben Bernanke Are Incompetent–Tim and Ben Exit Strategy aka Thelma & Louise Ending The Fed!  American People Want Stimulus Package Canceled And Oppose Bailouts To State Governments! Irresponsible Government Intervention Results In Huge and Continuing Government Failures–Shut Down Government Interventions–No More Bailouts!

 

Cloward Piven Cloward Piven Strategy–The Crisis Strategy Of Barack Obama President Obama’s Cloward-Piven Strategy of Controlled Crisis Creation Crippling Capitalism–Coup D-Etat On America 

 

Bailouts Rose Colored Glasses:The Economy Is Recovering–Where Are The Jobs? When Will Inflation Hit? 2012–Election Year! Job Creating Businesses and CIT–Videos The 12 Trillion–$12,000,000,000,000 Crime of The Century: The Decline and Fall of United States of America By Radical Socialist Spending–Look Before You Leap! The Financial Crime of The Century: William K. Black On Massive Mortgage Fraud –Videos Bailed Out Bank Trillion Dollar Derivative Exposure The Mother of All Bailouts–2 to 3 Trillion Dollars–$2,000,000,000–$3,000,000,000!–Rewarding Greed, Arrogance and Stupidity–Pay for Play! Federal Government Extortion Of Sound Banks–You Decide?–Take This TARP and Shove It! Boycott Bailedout Businesses and Banks Ban Bailouts–Stop Inflation Now (SIN)–Stop Socialism of Losses! The United States is Broke!–Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Time For GM and Ford Is Now! The Sovereign Wealth Fund Threat: Are Chinese Communists Behind Rush In Passing Bailout Bill? Pelosi’s Porky Pigout Poison Package–Economy Wrecker and Job Destroyer–Have A Blue Christmas 2009! Ben Bernanke The Coming Inflation and A New Money Supply Backed By Real Estate?–Free Enterprise To The Rescue? Banking Cartel’s Public Relations Campaign Continues:Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke On The Record The Obama Depression Has Arrived: 15,000,000 to 25,000,000 Unemployed Americans–Stimulus Package and Bailouts A Failure–400,000 Leave Labor Force In July!

  

Fiscal Policy The Great Depression and the Current Recession–Robert Higgs–Videos The Obama Depression: Lessons Learned–Deja Vu! Rose Colored Glasses:The Economy Is Recovering–Where Are The Jobs? When Will Inflation Hit? 2012–Election Year! The Battle For The World Economy–Videos Broom Budget Busting Bums: Replace The Entire Congress–Tea Party Express and Patriots–United We Stand! The Obama Depression Has Arrived: 15,000,000 to 25,000,000 Unemployed Americans–Stimulus Package and Bailouts A Failure–400,000 Leave Labor Force In July! The Big Economic Picture–Some Perspectives–Videos American People’s Plan = 6 Month Tax Holiday + FairTax = Real Hope + Real Change!–Millions To March On Washington D.C. Saturday, July 4, 2009! A New Political Party In The United States? American Citizens Alliance Party–ACAP On Government Spending, Taxes, Debt, and Regulations! Bad Government Intervention Requires Bad Government Bank-The Road Map Out Of The World Economic Crisis–Stabilize–Stimulate–Strengthen–Simultaneously! Barlett Boo Boos–Boortz Blasts Back President Doom and Panic Obama’s Big Lie: More Government Spending Works and Tax Cuts Do Not Work 

 

Monetary Economic Policy The Obama Depression: Lessons Learned–Deja Vu! Rose Colored Glasses:The Economy Is Recovering–Where Are The Jobs? When Will Inflation Hit? 2012–Election Year! The Coming Inflation and A New Money Supply Backed By Real Estate?–Free Enterprise To The Rescue? The Battle Between Keynes and Monetarism in the UK–Videos Banking Cartel’s Public Relations Campaign Continues:Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke On The Record The Big Economic Picture–Some Perspectives–Videos M3 Money Meteorite Moves–Deep Impact–The Coming Inflation Tidal Wave–Wage and Price Controls Will Signal Radical Socialist Obama’s Failure! The Monetarization of The Debt and Quantitative Easing: The Federal Reserve is printing $1,000,000,000,000!–Run-Away Inflation Coming Soon! Thomas E. Woods, Jr.–Videos Bailed Out Bank Trillion Dollar Derivative Exposure Banking–Videos Creature from Jekyll Island: The Federal Reserve System–Videos The Monopoly Men: The Federal Reserve Bank Cartel–Videos L. William Seidman on The Economic Crisis: Causes and Cures–Videos 

 

Federal Reserve System The Coming Inflation and A New Money Supply Backed By Real Estate?–Free Enterprise To The Rescue? Richard Fisher–Inflation and Debt: The Interaction of Fiscal and Monetary Policy –Videos Banking Cartel’s Public Relations Campaign Continues:Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke On The Record Banking–Videos Creature from Jekyll Island: The Federal Reserve System–Videos The Monopoly Men: The Federal Reserve Bank Cartel–Videos  M3 Money Meteorite Moves–Deep Impact–The Coming Inflation Tidal Wave–Wage and Price Controls Will Signal Radical Socialist Obama’s Failure!

 

Ludwig von Mises Institute Our Enemy, Inflation–Videos The Great Depression and the Current Recession–Robert Higgs–Videos Murray Rothbard–Videos Thomas E. Woods, Jr.–Videos

 

Economists The Battle For The World Economy–Videos Frederic Bastiat–The Law–Videos Yaron Brook–Videos David Gordon–Five Best Books on the Current Crisis–Video Friedrich Hayek–Videos Henry Hazlitt–Economics In One Lesson–Videos The Great Depression and the Current Recession–Robert Higgs–Videos Milton Friedman–Videos Milton Friedman on Education–Videos Ludwig von Mises–Videos Robert P. Murphy–Videos The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged and The Ideas of Ayn Rand

 

[Via http://raymondpronk.wordpress.com]

Samuelson

From the NYT obituary (via Cafe Hayek) of one of the greatest statist economists of the twentieth century-

Mr. Samuelson attracted a brilliant roster of economists to teach or study at the university, among them…Paul Krugman…Joseph E. Stiglitz.

Mr. Samuelson wrote one of the most widely used college textbooks in the history of American education. The book, “Economics,” first published in 1948, was the nation’s best-selling textbook for nearly 30 years….

“I don’t care who writes a nation’s laws — or crafts its advanced treatises — if I can write its economics textbooks,” Mr. Samuelson said.

His textbook taught college students how to think about economics….

The textbook introduced generations of students to the revolutionary ideas of John Maynard Keynes… No student would ever again rest comfortably with the 19th-century nostrum that private markets would cure unemployment without need of government intervention.

[...]

Mr. Samuelson also formulated a theory of public goods — that is, goods that can be provided effectively only through collective, or government, action….Public goods, he concluded, cannot be sold in private markets because individuals have no incentive to pay for them voluntarily.

[...]

…President Herbert Hoover, he noted, had never referred to Keynes other than as “the Marxist Keynes.”

“I never quite understood that venom, Mr. Samuelson said.

[...]

Mr. Samuelson said he had never regarded Keynesianism as a religion, and he criticized some of his liberal colleagues for seeming to do so, earning himself, late in life, the label l’enfant terrible, emeritus. The experience of nations in the second half of the century, he said, had diminished his optimism about the ability of government to perform miracles.

If government gets too big, and too great a portion of the nation’s income passes through it, he said, government becomes inefficient and unresponsive to the human needs “we do-gooders extol,” and thus risks infringing on freedoms.

But, he said, no serious political or economic thinker would reject the fundamental Keynesian idea that a benevolent democratic government must do what it can to avert economic trouble in areas the free markets cannot. Neither government alone nor the markets alone, he said, could serve the public welfare without help from the other.

“Benevolent democratic government.” And then there was the tooth fairy.

Shouldn’t be news to anyone sympathetic to the Austrians, or anyone who’s read him, but this is what the late great Samuelson said about the Soviet Union, right before it collapsed-

The Soviet Union is proof that, contrary to what many skeptics had earlier believed, the socialist command economy can function and even thrive.

One of his critics (he has been attacked both from the left and the right, which is the mark of a pragmatist), Mark Skousen, writes-

Samuelson spent whole chapters in serious discussion of the socialist economics of the Soviet Union and China, while writing little or nothing on the success stories of West Germany, Japan, the East Asian Tigers or Chile…. He had numerous sections on ‘market failure,’ while offering little on ‘government failure.’ He criticized laissez-faire, favored progressive taxation and endorsed the pay as you go Social Security program.

Unfortunately, he’s not the first and surely won’t be the last…statist.

Skousen also quotes conservative economist Wallich who despite arguing that, in Skousen’s words, “freedom leads to lower economic growth, greater income inequality, and less competition” concluded-

The ultimate value of a free economy is not production, but freedom, and freedom comes not as a profit, but at a cost.

Freedom.

[Via http://aristotlethegeek.wordpress.com]

UPDATE "Farm Truck Blows Tire! Route 200" UPDATE "Save America Send a Sheep to Washington".

A Chester’s Hauling truck transporting 15 sheep from Hingham to railway blows right front tire.  All are safe sitting along road. Craig’s tire service has been dispatched. Chester explains, “I just can’t afford new tires”. Craig’s Tire service says “No Charge! Anything for America. We understand”. Craig states “We had to lay off three of our long time employees. Nobody has any money. If they do. They don’t buy tires. They buy food! Try to stay warm”!

Chester and Craig you are “We the people”

Thanks, Skeetron.

[Via http://skeetron.wordpress.com]

One nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Well at least the lyrics are catchy, even though for certain groups, it doesn’t ring true. Here’s a small list I put together:
OJ Simpson: He might as well have done it
Donte Stallworth: Straight Idiot
Jamal Lewis: Are you serious!?
Michael Vick: The Ultimate Example
Alonzo Spellman: A year for interference with a flight crew?!
Nate Newton: Former Cowboy=Idiot from the starting line
Marion Jones: As if she was the only one who’s lied about it?!
Darryl Strawberry: Born cursed
Dwight Gooden: For running from police
Mike Tyson:The girl said she thought she was going to his room at 3AM to just talk.
NOW..a crime is a crime. Yea yea, do the crime pay the time. Now if you happen to be of a “darker persuasion” be prepared to do additional time. It seems not even being on a box of wheaties can save you from the fear of dropping the soap. It’s so ridiculous to see this stuff going on even with a person of color still being the main resident of the WHITE House. Nothing can ever be fair or equal. I’m hoping for a 2012 style ending to this madness. Then maybe we can all start over in Africa. Alas, since that is where diamonds and other precious stones/metals come from, you can bet they won’t be worth as much with the “the brutha man” being the homeland people there. Currently Native Americans run the vast majority of casinos here in the good ol USA, but are still able to not pay fees/taxes in the sum of TENS OF MILLIONS and not have to pay the price. I forget to return my rental flick and after two weeks I get calls and possible collections. The first people who discovered the oil and bought the land here in the “United” States of America weren’t a minority. No, we couldn’t afford it, and the oil? Well if any minorities…never mind i better stop, even whistling at white woman wasn’t good. In closing, people will stop asking for handouts when you stop giving them out to undeserving/already compensated parties. You can hardly rediscover oil, free schooling and land to some for something another part of the population wasn’t even part of. 40 Acres and a Mule? I’ll let you know when I get mine.

[Via http://mythoughtsyourtime.wordpress.com]

Rodd Liddle inn Trubble

Michael Winning

The Independent has picked up something he’s said.

Rod Liddle says the things, about people made by our Enenmy Class to torment us, that cant be said. It is a pity that humans get tormented and robbed and corrupted into evil beings, by others who mean it to happen to them  and then so they can do it to us.

The boss thinks this is a War Crime and they meant it. I aggree.

[Via http://libertarianalliance.wordpress.com]

The Lord of Doom

This from the Lord of Doom, The “Carbon Credits” Millionaire Profit (no I did not mean Prophet ) AL GORE in the London Times:

“Even a final treaty will have to set the stage for other tougher reductions at a later date,” he said. “We have already overshot the safe levels of CO2 in the atmosphere.”

“We are gambling with the future of human civilisation in accepting odds that by any definition make our present course reckless . . . But it’s still the most likely path to success.”

2006- USA TODAY: Al Gore has spoken: The world must embrace a “carbon-neutral lifestyle.” To do otherwise, he says, will result in a cataclysmic catastrophe. “Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb,” warns the website for his film, An Inconvenient Truth. “We have just 10 years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tailspin.”

Gee, thanks Chicken Little.

He said that a system of carbon emissions trading was a more realistic first step on this path and rejected criticism from James Hansen, the pioneering climate change scientist at Nasa, who has condemned both Mr Gore and the Copenhagen meeting for their focus on carbon markets as a solution to climate change.

Mr Gore said: “The correct policy response will include both of these powerful tools. But the degree of political difficulty associated with a carbon tax is a degree of difficulty much higher than the cap and trade approach.”

Like this Mr. Doom: UK telegraph Nov 14,2009: Everyone in Britain should have an annual carbon ration and be penalised if they use too much fuel, the head of the Environment Agency will say.
Lord Smith of Finsbury believes that implementing individual carbon allowances for every person will be the most effective way of meeting the targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

It would involve people being issued with a unique number which they would hand over when purchasing products that contribute to their carbon footprint, such as fuel, airline tickets and electricity.

Like with a bank account, a statement would be sent out each month to help people keep track of what they are using.

If their “carbon account” hits zero, they would have to pay to get more credits.

Those who are frugal with their carbon usage will be able to sell their unused credits and make a profit.

Lord Smith will call for the scheme to be part of a “Green New Deal” to be introduced within 20 years when he addresses the agency’s annual conference on Monday.

An Environment Agency spokesman said only those with “extravagant lifestyles” would be affected by the carbon allowances.

He said: “A lot of people who cycle will get money back. It will probably only be bankers and those with extravagant lifestyles who would lose out.”

You mean like the Liberal Elites with their mansions and private jets??

Of course not, silly.

Back to Gore: He also brushed aside questions over the reliability of climate science that have followed the publication last month of leaked e-mails between climate experts. He claimed that the scientific consensus around climate change “continues to grow from strength to strength”. He added: “The naysayers are in a sunset phase with a spectacular climax just before they subside from view. This is a race between common sense and unreality.”

Does that mean the liberal elites will give up their private jets to save the planet?

USA TODAY: Gore receives $20,000 a year in royalties from Pasminco Zinc, which operates a zinc concession on his property. Tennessee has cited the company for adding large quantities of barium, iron and zinc to the nearby Caney Fork River.

He’s raping the earth for profit. Someone call the Environmentalist Luddities!!

Oh wait…

2007:  These latest revelations are reason enough to rent the movie just to see Gore standing before an enormous bar-graph comparison of individual carbon emissions by nationality while sanctimoniously tut-tutting about how the average American’s energy use is greedily off the charts.

A Gore spokesman tried to deflect the charges of “do as I say, not as I do” by stating that the Gores “purchase offsets for their carbon emissions to bring their carbon footprint down to zero.” Gore himself has been very public about this approach to carbon neutrality, but not only is this claim not exactly true, it’s quite meaningless in terms of global warming.

First, Al Gore doesn’t purchase carbon offsets out of his own pocket and the actual economic cost, if any, to him is unknown.

The actual offset purchaser is a London-based investment firm, Generation Investment Management (GIM), that Al Gore co-founded with former Goldman Sachs executive David Blood and others in 2004.

Goldman Sachs? Where have I heard that one before….

So. Lord Doom has a “carbon credits”  offset company. So he’s buying off his “carbon footprint” from himself.

How convenient. Or  is this an Inconvenient Truth?

The elite liberal intelligensia are preaching doom and destruction and the death of mankind.

And many are Profiting from it.

There’s a term for that, and it’s not Nobel Laurette.

Huckster.

Scam Artist.

Fraud.

Did you know there’s a Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), as in a  Commodities Market??

And here I thought Wall Street trader types were evil?

“Did we think Kyoto would [reduce global warming] when we signed it [in 1997]?… Hell no!” said Gore. He then explained that the actual point of Kyoto was to demonstrate that international support could be mustered for action on environmental issues. (Al Gore say about the Kyoto Protocol following a private presentation of his climate slide show I attended at the Americans for Tax Reform offices in January, 2006.-Fox News)

His company buys the offsets for their employees. There’s no cost to him. He benefits politically – and perhaps financially, as well – from them. He then advocates that the rest of us who cannot so easily offset are carbon production suffer myriad personal sacrifices.

The would-be Emperor has no clothes.

While Gore and the other Liberal Elites relax in  posh luxury you should be taking shorter and colder showers, and hanging your laundry outside to dry. As Gore and his Environmentalist Doomsayers jet around the world in first-class comfort to hob-nob with society’s elites about his self-declared “moral imperative”, you should travel less and bike to work. You should use less electricity while Al and his wife, Tipper, use 20 times the national average. Now that’s a real carbon offset.

“Are you ready to change the way you live?” Gore literally meant you – and only you.

Just Recently- Lord Doom cancels his show at Copenhagen: As described in The Washington Times’ Inside the Beltway column Tuesday, the multimedia public event to promote Mr. Gore’s new book, “Our Choice,” included $1,209 VIP tickets that granted the holder a photo opportunity with Mr. Gore and a “light snack.”

“Our Choice” is the sequel to his “inconvenient truth”. I’m sure the movie will be coming soon.

Maybe it was the Inconvenient Truth that he and his fellow doomsayers are LYING. Ya Think?

IDB:  As the high priests of what Czech President Vaclav Klaus has called a “religion” prepare their pilgrimage to worship the earth goddess Gaia in Copenhagen, complete with humanity being sacrificed, the heresy of climate truth is finally being heard.

The gospel of climate change, once expressed with the messianic fervor of an Elmer Gantry by Al Gore, is now expressed with the stammering incoherence of an Elmer Fudd by the defenders of doctored and destroyed data.

“What is most important is that CRU continues its world-leading research with as little interruption and diversion as possible,” Phil Jones said in a statement.

My, that sounds like a very political statement.

According to the Daily Collegian, the Penn State University student newspaper, professor Michael Mann, featured prominently in the CRU e-mails and creator of the famous and fraudulent “hockey stick” showing a sharp and sudden increase in man-caused global warming, is being investigated by the university.

This includes Jones’ note to his colleagues telling them he had “just completed Mike’s Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years (i.e., from 1981 onwards) and from 1961 for Keith’s to hide the decline” in temperatures.

Now we just have to get the Ministry of Truth (ABC,NBC,CBS,CNN,MSNBC, et al) to actually cover the real story instead of the alleged “hacking” “crime”.

But I won’t hold my carbon dioxide exhaling breath.

According to the U.S. Treasury, this proposal includes between $100 billion and $200 billion in additional taxes a year, costing an additional $1,761 per family — equivalent to a 15% hike in the personal income tax.

A further report commissioned by the U.S. Senate has shown that the additional gas taxes in the proposal equate to $3.6 trillion by 2035. According to an analysis by the independent Heritage Foundation, once fully implemented this would lead directly to a staggering 2.5 million jobs lost.

And other reports suggest that air fares would double at best (all that evil airline fuel you know). So going anywhere would be out of the question for millions of people.

So you won’t be able to afford your car, and will have to take government funded public transit or bike to work, if you have one. You won’t be able to go on vacation anywhere, and your taxes will skyrocket.

But you’ll feel good about “saving the planet” right along side Lord Doom as he rakes in the millions.

But Al Gore and his Liberal Elites will still have their mansions, private limos, and private jets!

You must make the sacrifice!

You must be the sacrifice to the Gods of Green Gaia.

Ruth Lea, an economist from Arbuthnot Banking Group, told the Daily Mail: “This is all about control of the individual and you begin to wonder whether this is what the green agenda has always been about. It’s Orwellian. This will be an enormous tax on business.”

Yes, Mrs Lea, you do have wonder.

And with unemployment at 10.2% I’m sure more taxes is just what they need to start hiring people.

Meanwhile China, the biggest polluter in the world says “no” to any deals and laughs hysterically at the Lord and and ladies of Doom.

Hindu, The National Newspaper of India Online: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang, “China and India both are developing countries and victims of climate change,” he said. “The two countries do not have obligations to binding emissions reduction targets. On climate change, both countries have same positions, same concerns and same demands.”

China and India, along with Brazil and South Africa, this week submitted a joint draft listing their non-negotiable demands ahead of Copenhagen. The draft said the countries would not accept legally binding cuts and international measurement, reporting and verification of unsupported mitigation actions.

So the world’s biggest polluter is the victim.

And the US, #2, is the perpetrator.

And Obama and Doomsayer’s and Fraud’s “consensus” agree.

A Chinese made candle to light your home and a Chinese-made bike to pedal to work (if you can get one that is) anyone??

[Via http://indyfromaz.wordpress.com]

AGW Comedy Gold: Captain Carbon Bails On Copenhagen

O bama No!!!!! Who’s he gonna shout out to now??????  His Wholly Reluctance is going to look even dumber, if that’s possible, saying he’s going to save the planet from AGW without Ozone Al giving him…wait for it…Carbon Cred.  Bwuhahahahaha, I kill myself.

This piece is just so chocked full of Eco-fail goodness, I won’t excerpt. Okay, just one:

Pajamas Media founder Roger L. Simon and independent filmmaker Lionel Chetwynd — both members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Oscar nominees — have called on the academy to rescind Mr. Gore’s Oscars in light of the Climategate revelations.

“In the history of the academy, not to my knowledge has an Oscar ever been rescinded. I think they should rescind this one,” Mr. Simon said Thursday.

I am so loving that wistleblower from East Anglia.  Bwuhahahahahahahahaha

[Via http://cbullitt.wordpress.com]

Signs and portents

Michael Winning

It says in the Daily Mail that burgulators are using a form of sign language to each other. Well what did you exepct, they had to learn something in State Schools under New Labour so I guess this was it. here’s some@

And here’s some I drew myself just now@

Keeep away from crazed property-protector!

Better not try going in here...

[Via http://libertarianalliance.wordpress.com]

Australian government wants right to detain sick people

JILL PENGELLEY
News.com.au
November 30, 2009

Australian government wants right to detain sick people
November 30, 2009 at 9:49 am JILL PENGELLEY
News.com.au
November 30, 2009

• A d v e r t i s e m e n t
• 

Health authorities want the power to detain people for up to three months if they refuse testing or treatment for infectious diseases.Under draft legislation proposed by the State Government, someone with swine flu, measles or meningococcal disease could be forcibly held, examined and treated.

It is one of several wide-ranging powers sought to protect the public.

The Public Health Bill also would, for the first time, give authorities the power to override parents who refused treatment for their children with infectious conditions.

Other diseases that could be controlled include AIDS, polio, rabies, salmonella and cholera.

The tougher enforcement powers would come with a substantial increase in fines – up from $60,000 to $1 million and 10 years’ jail – and relate to any serious risk caused to public health. SA Health public health director Kevin Buckett said the new legislation would give authorities wider powers to act more quickly.

“There’s nowhere on Earth that is more than 36 hours from anywhere else and where people go, bugs can go,” he said yesterday.

“We have to have legislation that can respond in that sort of time.

“The idea would be that we get them out of circulation, where they can’t infect other people.” Dr Buckett said there were many reasons people refused treatment, including mental health issues, language barriers and even malicious behaviour.

Non-communicable diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, could also be declared, allowing the Government to introduce codes of practice for certain industries or the community. Opposition health spokesman Duncan McFetridge said he supported powers to protect the public from infectious diseases but feared parts of the Bill – to be debated next year – would allow the Government to control people with chronic conditions.

“It’s bordering on nanny-state legislation,” he said. “It’s understandable but how far do we go?”

Australian Medical Associat- ion state president Andrew Lavender said he welcomed most of the changes. as important to protect the public.

[Via http://dochand.wordpress.com]

AGW Twofer: CBS Reports The CRU Scandal Truthfully and CEI Files Papers To Sue NASA

As Bunk noted in the comments to the Harry_Read_Me post, CBS, that bastion of evenhanded news reporting, has actually reported on the repercussions of the CRU data release–including the significance of Harry. Well, color me yellow and squeeze my lemon:

CRU wields outsize influence: it claims the world’s largest temperature data set, and its work and mathematical models were incorporated into the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2007 report. That report, in turn, is what the Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged it “relies on most heavily” when concluding that carbon dioxide emissions endanger public health and should be regulated.

But wait–There’s more. This morning, Chris Horner announced that on behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, he had filed three notices of intent to sue NASA and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies for failing to honor FOIA requests about AGW data going back three years. But the real comedy is Horner’s request for documents…

relating to the content, importance or propriety of workday-hour posts or entries by GISS/NASA employee Gavin A. Schmidt on the weblog or “blog” RealClimate, which is owned by the advocacy Environmental Media Services and was started as an effort to defend the debunked “Hockey Stick” that is so central to the CRU files. RealClimate.org is implicated in the leaked files, expressly offered as a tool to be used “in any way you think would be helpful” to a certain advocacy campaign, including an assertion of Schmidt’s active involvement in, e.g., delaying and/or screening out unhelpful input by “skeptics” attempting to comment on claims made on the website.

This and the related political activism engaged in are inappropriate behavior for a taxpayer-funded employee, particularly on taxpayer time. These documents were requested in January 2007 and NASA/GISS have refused to date to comply with their legal obligation to produce responsive documents.

BWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Via http://cbullitt.wordpress.com]

The Russians are Coming (And Thank God for That!)

Sean Gabb

How’s this for a conspiracy theory? The 61Mb of climate change fraud evidence was hacked by the Russians. They had the means, motive and opportunity.

Means and Opportunity: Just because the Cold War is over doesn’t mean the Russian security services have become any less efficient than they used to be – nor that all those connections with lefties in the universities have entirely lapsed.

Motive: Climate change is all nonsense so far as we are supposed to be the villains. However, the sort of funding poured by Western governments into developing alternative energy sources might actually get somewhere. Bearing in mind that Russia is kept afloat solely by its oil and gas exports, the Russians have every reason to want to shut this research down.

Add to this that the data was first put up on a Russian site, and I find the case most persuasive.

Good on you, Mr Putin. It’s too late for the KGB to apologise to all the people it murdered. But if it has now joined the forces of light in the climate change debate, there may be an element of redemption.

[Via http://libertarianalliance.wordpress.com]

Podcast: Id Card's, Why Why Why?

So it is really happening, Manchester is to get ID cards in two weeks time. Not quite sure why Manchester is the Guinea Pig for this initiative after the failure of the congestion charge, something about an above average amount of young people or something, but anyway heres my podcast on the debate:

Click here to listen

Oh and heres a video explaining a bit about them:

[Via http://alaintolhurst.wordpress.com]

Inflation, The Governments Hidden Tax. Our Problem

I tossed my own spin on this and added a video, but my source for this was Chris Brady’s blog. You should check it out in my blog roll Inflation is a hidden government tax that they can issue when ever they want without having to go through legislation or congress. Inflation is the result of money being printed out of thin air when there is no demand for that money in the economy. ie an expansion of a money supply that exceeds the demand for that money.

You might think to yourself (or even worse, out loud) that we do need more money! That’s not true. While we could always use more money for things like a 100 square inch t.v., helicopters, video games, cable and eating out for every meal of every day, but we do not have a real need for that money. The actual demand for money in an economy is limited. For example, if you can live off from $10.00 a day and survive, then that is all that the demand is for the total supply of money for that day (obviously on a larger scale when talking about a whole country, but it boils down to the same end result). If you go to the bank and withdraw more than $10.00 than you have just increased the demand for money for that day. But, at the same time Larry down the street has deposited some of his $10.00 for the day and thus off sets your withdrawal.  Can we agree that withdrawals and deposits are opposite of each other? Well then, the net result of deposits and withdrawals at any given time is equal to the demand for money at that moment. So if more deposits are made than withdrawls then the demand is less. And if more withdrawals are made than deposits then the demand is… Good you’re getting it.

So, if an economy is doing well and expanding then there would be a need for more money. More people, business, more manufacturing and production = the need for a bigger money supply to equal the growing economy. Which by the way are all great things. Do you remember when we had economic growth? Sense we do not have any of this, then we do not have the need for more money being printed into our economy. We do not have a growing economy. We do not require more base money (that $10 you need to live). But, the government still prints it faster than it is demanded. Because of this banks have higher reserves. Why? Well, you  guessed it, because there is more money on hand because there is no demand of it from the people. So they are forced to lower their interest rates to appeal to consumers to borrow. Then the borrower takes the money and spends it right? Throwing it back into the economy. This is where some people are confused(congress?) , “Well we need the money in the economy to help stimulate it again.” And boy does that money make its way back into the economy alright, but to the dismay of the masses. Now there is more money than is needed (more than before),thus now there are more dollars fighting for the same products as before. If you are a business man than this is a no brainer. More money in the economy means you can raise your prices. My ho ho’s go to the highest bidder. The result is a huge price increase, and that is not inflation, but a direct result from inflation. Remember, inflation is the expansion of the money supply beyond what is needed or demanded at the moment by the economy.

Now that we have a raise in prices for the same products and services, not new ones, we have just plain “Higher Prices”. The reason for this again is…more money than is demanded in the economy. Everyone has more money now, so they can pay more. Now sense there is more money floating around the value of the dollar has decreased. I used to pay a $1.00 for a bag of potato chips, now I pay $1.30 for the exact same bag of chips. Or, maybe you’ve noticed products that have gone up just a fraction, yet the serving size or amount that you used to get has shrunk.

Now that the dollar has been devalued because of prices going up. This means the spending power of the dollar has decreased. Sense the establishment of the Federal Reserve in 1913 our dollar has inflated 25 times. For those of you who don’t get it, let me explain. Our dollar today is worth only $.04 (four cents) compared to the dollar in 1913. Ouch. Where’s the other $.96? The government stole it brothas and sistas. They made it, issued it and stole it back.

“Nah Ha, not my government.” Yes your government. Your government that has always had a nack for spending money uncontrollably. More than it brings in. As did you and I. But, we go bankrupt, the government has their own printing press! They just print more money to pay their bills. When we do that it’s called counterfeiting. When they do it they call it “Monetary Policy”.

So now that they have gone and devalued our dollar their debts are actually smaller. When they borrowed a gazillion dollars from China our dollar was worth X. Now when we pay it back it is worth Y.  You think that you can play this game friend? Well you can’t. Wages are the last thing to go up. Prices go up way faster and you lose buying power. Tough break.

So when I say that the government has access to your 401k, IRA, savings and checking accounts and even that wad of cash under your mattress I’m not kidding. I just hope that some of you start paying a bit more attention to whats really going on, and stop thinking that government is any type of “Good” answer to your problems, because in all reality their mostly the reason behind them.

Opinions That Offend

Should freedom of speech have self-imposed boundaries?  Especially when airing opinions cause distance and sometimes alienation in relationships? I’ve been thinking recently about the consequences of posting on a public forum and unabashedly sharing such opinions.  As Abe Lincoln knew, some of them popular to some, but not all; some of them repellent or offensive to some, but not all.  An opinion is nothing more than a personal belief.  As such, it vexes me why stating one’s opinion could ever offend another person.  I suppose opinions run the whole gamut of casual musings to utter vehemency and benign remarks about a group or person to truly malicious ones.  For practical purposes, let’s say one is just stating a belief which this person clearly believes in to the nth degree.  Perhaps an opinion stated with such surity  seems like an insult to anyone who would disagree and have similar depth of belief in their opinion.  This is where we start treading into a dangerous briar patch though.   The only reason I can imagine someone being offended over someone else’s opinion would be that a) either he felt the person was stating their opinion as fact or b) he felt that his opinions, after invested in and developed as a result of years of experience and research, were actually facts.  This is where we get into trouble, intolerance and separation.  Suddenly, we are holding our ‘opinions’ aloft as the Gospel and by choosing to be offended by others, we are in essence saying that there is no room for them.  We have already found the Holy Grail of truth and any others who disagree are clearly “misguided” or “confused.” 

Anger and defiance over someone’s opinion (usually equally as strong), when it does not match with our own is nothing short of intolerance and arrogance.  How can we get to a place where we agree to disagree?  Whatever happened to those days of true and gallant civility? Why does disagreeing with a person have to call into question their very validity and perspective as an individual human being?  Do we really believe that only 5%, 10% or even 80% have a monopoly on all of the ‘correct’ opinions or beliefs.  Opinions are not facts; to blur this line and begin to impose them on others with fervor or to take offense at a statement of opposing belief is ludicrous. 

Let’s look at the definition of freedom up close:

freedom 1. the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint: 2. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc. 3. the absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc 4. ease or facility of movement or action: to enjoy the freedom of living in the country. 5. Philosophy. the power to exercise choice and make decisions without constraint from within or without; autonomy; self-determination.

What strikes me the most: an exemption from external control, interference or regulation; also, an absence or release from ties or obligations the power to exercise choice and make decisions without constraint from within or without; autonomy; self-determination.  Let’s apply this definition to speech and airing of one’s opinions.  In order to have true freedom of speech, one needs to feel free to air one’s beliefs and opinions without punishment or constraints from the outside.  This could be in the form of a withdrawal of friendship or love if you’re stating opinions that are not inalignment with theirs religiously, politically or morally.  To an extreme, one might also face constraints of a grave nature like a censored  internet if opinions and beliefs shared are not in alignment with the agenda of the governemental powers that be, physical threats or death.  As human beings, we like to pay lip service to freedom of speech and encourage people to do so, but after they speak we punish them in myriad ways if their beliefs are in disagreement with ours.  How can we make another person’s beliefs moot?  It is impossible.  Each individual soul has just as much right as anyone else to be on this planet.  We all have our individual lessons to learn and at different rates.  I do not believe that there are a select few who after much refinement, study or soul-searching has finally found all of the answers that have plagued man or even none of the answers.  We do have our experiences, our hearts and our beliefs – and no one can ever question or disparage those.  Punishment for expressing the ‘wrong’ opinions is oppression, pure and simple.  So the next time someone’s opinion pushes your button and you find yourself getting  self-righteous and defiant, let’s take a step back and pause, and remember that there is enough room for all opinions and beliefs without one cancelling another out.  Who knows, through exercising tolerance, we may even find ourselves loosening our grip on our own beliefs long enough to open our minds and hearts to truly listen and make room for others at the table.

Back to birdshot blogging

I’ve got a rant on wealth destruction and Generalovernment Motors stewing in my mid-brain; for now, here’s some neat shit from around the big truck*.

——

Remember the uproar from late this May, when Canadian Governor-General Michaëlle Jean ate raw seal heart?  Get ready for some more pants-shitting hysteria from the grass-eaters:

• Parliamentary restaurant serves up seal meat (Globe and Mail)

Seal meat is about to join beef tenderloin and baked salmon on the haute-cuisine menu for MPs and senators in the parliamentary restaurant.  MPs say Parliament is picking up the fork from Governor-General Michäelle Jean, who triggered a global controversy last May by gobbling seal meat in a show of support for Inuit culture in the Arctic.

(Image link goes to original source)

——

Next, we have a blinding flash of the obvious from Dr. WhiteCoat as he advances an idea that might actually work:

• Have at it (WhiteCoat’s Call Room)

As I was fixing the wiring in my basement, a thought popped into my head about another way to decrease costs of medical care in this country.

Get rid of prescription requirements for most medications and procedures.

How many people would go to the doctor for a sore throat if they could buy a strep test over the counter? If the strep test is positive, they go to the pharmacy and purchase some penicillin over the counter.  If you twisted your ankle and could walk into a radiography center and get an x-ray of your ankle for $100, would you bypass the emergency department?  If you could buy your blood pressure medication over the counter, would you keep going to your doctor for those $150 checkups? Would you even purchase routine insurance? Or would you stick with just “major medical” coverage?

That makes far too much sense to be actually implemented.

The natural objection (from certain quarters — those Hayek named as “socialists of all parties”) is that people don’t know what’s good for them and must be vetted, advised, nudged, guided, prodded, compelled, verified, examined, and monitored by proper experts… for their own good, of course.  WhiteCoat notes (not unreasonably) that a fully-open system has risks:

I know that issues would have to be worked out with an open access system – such as preventing narcotic abuse and preventing antibiotic resistance due to people taking Zithromax for the flu or Levaquin for their coughs. Maybe we’d have to limit the number of CT scans or angiograms that someone may receive to keep down the radiation doses.

However, there are precedents, and it is in precedent that his introduction rises from irrelevance to shine with the blinding light of “of course… why didn’t I think of that?”

In almost any other situation, if I choose to take care of a problem myself, I can do it.

If I want to cut my own hair, I get a pair of scissors, look in the mirror, and start hacking. I don’t need a stylist’s prescription to purchase scissors.

If I want to sue someone, I can go to court, fill out the papers, pay the filing fee, and play the lotto. I don’t need a lawyer’s OK in order to gain entrance to the court house.

If I need to fix an electric outlet, I can go read about it online, buy the stuff at Home Depot, then hope I don’t get the red and the blue wires mixed up. I don’t need an electrician’s permission to purchase conduit.

When I get in over my head doing any of these things, I either take my chances or I call someone who knows more about the problem than I do.

Why should medicine be any different?

It would be interesting to explore the history of medicine’s regulation and find out how medicine became “any different”.  Sounds like another job for the Glib Dilettante to half-finish.

——

Moving from medicine to economics, we find that Eric Crampton has unearthed a pair of papers on immigration:

• Immigration (Offsetting Behaviour)

First, Giovanni Peri finds that immigration in the US doesn’t crowd out natives’ employment; rather, increases in total factor productivity from increased immigration work to raise income per worker.

You mean the myth of the great American melting-pot as a land of opportunity isn’t entirely mythological?  Comparative advantage works?  Say it ain’t so! (Emphasis in quotation added.)

So if immigration actually makes people richer — even the people who’d likely be seen as in competition with the immigrants — why do batshit xenophobes like Pat Buchanan and Lou Dobbs even exist?

Next, David Card, Christian Dustmann and Ian Preston find that folks in Europe oppose immigration less because of worries about pecuniary effects on wages and more because of what he calls “compositional amenities” – people, especially the low-educated, value the characteristics of their coworkers, schools, and neighbours, and just dislike foreigners on those margins.

Oh, of course.  It’s because “they’re different”.

Here’s the thing, though: if you go off on a shrill  hysterical rant about how different those hard-working immigrants who moved in next door are, and how they don’t share your core cultural values, you just come across as a narrow-minded asshole.  (Not that this stops anyone.)  But if you go off on a shrill  hysterical rant about how those hard-working immigrants who moved in next door are stealing your jobs!!!!11one, you can get your victim-mentality on, and claiming victim status is how people get ahead these days.

——

And speaking of shrill hysterical people who embrace known-bad political-economic views and plead persecution when they go wrong, Megan McArdle has some bad news about Venezuela’s strongman Hugo Chavez:

• Chavez’s economic problems turn nasty

President Hugo Chávez has been facing a public outcry in recent weeks over power failures that, after six nationwide blackouts in the last two years, are cutting electricity for hours each day in rural areas and in industrial cities like Valencia and Ciudad Guayana. Now, water rationing has been introduced here in the capital.The deterioration of services is perplexing to many here, especially because the country had grown used to cheap, plentiful electricity and water in recent decades. But even as the oil boom was enriching his government and Mr. Chávez asserted greater control over utilities and other industries in this decade, public services seemed only to decay, adding to residents’ frustrations.

[...]

This comes on top of the sporadic food shortages that result from price controls combined with high inflation.

So suppose you’re one of Michael Moore’s anointed anticapitalist democrats, and the Gods of the Copybook Headings are booking hotels in Caracas.  What do you do?

Well, naturally you ramp up the bellicose bloviation against one of your neighbours!

Chavez’s solution to these problem has been to go militaristic on neighboring Columbia.

[...]

No one thinks war is imminent; they think it’s just bluster to stir up patriotism and channel it through the figure of one Hugo Chavez.  But then, as the article points out, no one really thought Argentina would invade the Falklands, either.

There’s a cheery thought.

——

* Hey, Ted Stevens?  Fuck you.

Advent Can't Come Soon Enough

Planning Ahead for the Advent Season 

If you’ve paid attention to recent posts, perhaps you’ve noticed that I have been in “Advent” mode for almost a month and its just the middle of November. I can’t explain it- maybe it is due to the year we’ve witnessed since last Advent and the urgency I feel to witness to the Incarnation Event to all who will give an ear, pointing to that event as the most signifcant of all events in this present world. 

The Coming of the Promised Deliverer

Once again this year, I am going to post about the resources over at The General Board of Disciplehip of the UMC. Here is a little teaser along with the link for planning for Advent, including the Scripture texts and the themes of worship:

“Advent places us into the sweep of the Eternal One breaking into history, awakens us to the radical disjuncture between God’s dream for creation and the mess we have made of it, and challenges us to join God’s mission to make all things new.Especially after this year of so much economic upheaval, it may be the ancient call of the Advent message, rather than the ephemeral call to recreate the “perfect Christmastime,” that the church and the people around us most need to hear and heed.

“The days are surely coming,” Jeremiah reminds. “Even so, come Lord Jesus,” the church in Revelation replies. May our reply this season join that of all the saints, here and now and in the age to come.

ADVENT PLANNING 2009 - I encourage you to check out the resources and the orientation unless you already have found your own. At the beginning of the Christian year (for most) is a great time to actively participate with Christians the world over the Gift of the Son of God, Jesus the promised Christ.