Volunteerism in the New Reich

Congress is exploring options for forcing "all able young people" into mandatory service. It is calling this "volunteerism," but Congress makes its interest in a mandatory civil security service very clear. Its reasons: to provide security in the war on terror, to create social change by bringing together youth of "diverse" backgrounds, and to limit government costs.

The problem: civilians have the right to decide how they spend their own time, including how they prepare for disasters.
· HR 1444 creates a congressional commission on whether a mandatory service requirement can be developed for American young people.
· HR 1388 establishes a new civilian National Service Reserve Corps, among many other provisions.
It is dangerous when any government feels it has power to order private citizens to 'volunteer' in any government program. It seems that President Barack Obama is taking early steps toward a campaign promise:
"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded," he said last July.

The Commission on Civic Service Act
The Congressional Commission on Civic Service Act, HR 1444,creates a commission to analyze "whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed." HR 1444 would encourage civilian volunteer work, for the purpose of enhancing "our Nation and the global community," and train youth to be tomorrow's leaders in the public sector. By gathering together people with different backgrounds, it also aims to strengthen America's "social fabric."
"Citizenship is not an entitlement program," Rahm Emanuel (not to be confused with General Erwin Rommel) said in an August 2008 interview, where he discussed a universal training requirement. "The goal here is understanding the challenges of the war on terror," he said, at one point calling the program "universal civil defense training." "We were saying somewhere between the ages of 18 to 25, you will do three months of training," he said. Americans are asking how far HR 1444 opens the door for that goal.

The Congressional Commission on Civic Service would also explore whether a public service academy is needed. This four year undergraduate institution would be aimed at youth, in addition to recruiting on regular college campuses. Nor are other generations left out: the commission would be responsible to pursue volunteerism among baby boomers and senior citizens.
But according to modest estimates, Americans volunteered over 8 billion hours of service in 2007 and that figure represents nearly 61 million Americans, who freely gave services. It is forAmerican parents to train children about volunteerism and we are already teaching the leaders of tomorrow -- for work in public and private spheres, not just the government sector, where HR 1444 is focused.
America's military proudly serves to keep this nation safe. Congress has no business spending time and tax money on "mandatory volunteering," even if this is currently at the idea stage, and not ready for implementation. The commission itself is an affront to Americans' personal liberty.

The "guiding light" behind the Hitler Youth in the NAZI Government which seized power in 1933 was Baldur Von Schirach, who was eventually tried at Nuremberg and hanged. When evaluating this move by the Obama Administration we would do well to remember the following:
The basic principles concerning the Hitler Youth, which under Schirach's tutelage became an instrument of the Nazi State, declared:
1. The future of the nation depends on its youth, and the youth shall have to be prepared for its future duties.
2. All youth in the country is to be organized within this structure
3. The youth, besides being reared within the family and school, shall be educated physically, intellectually, and morally in the spirit of serving the people and the community.
4. The task of educating the youth is being entrusted to the government.

I understand The Goose-step is even easier to learn than The Macarena and wouldn't ACORN look sharp in those SS Uniforms?

The Dark Side of the Force

With money comes power, right? Then it should surprise no one that with all the money pouring out of Washington, that the move to consolidate power would closely follow.
This week, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner released details of the Obama administration's plan to further control the private sector. If Obama and Geithner have their way, more financial institutions will be forced to "report in" to the government and have restrictions placed on what the institutions and the investors can and can not do with their money. With each passing day, Obama is chipping away at America.
The premise of this new Obama/Geithner plan is to do something about "toxic assets," which the government is now calling "legacy assets," because it sounds less... well... toxic. The Heritage Foundation notes multiple flaws in this plan. In particular, "the plan will almost inevitably lead to even more expanded government micro-management of financial firms."
This big-government plan has thankfully drawn swift opposition, not only do some lawmakers and business people reject more government intrusion, they also question whether it would accomplish the specified result.
"We're not in this mess because we need new rules," said Bill Fleckenstein, a Seattle-based hedge fund manager who accurately predicted the housing bubble. "We need to enforce the rules we already have," he said. "What we had was a complete breakdown by all our regulators. They simply didn't do their jobs."
These are the same SEC regulators that missed the Bernard L. Madoff Multi-Billion Dollar Ponzi Scheme!
“…massive fraud — both in terms of scope and duration," said Linda Chatman Thomsen, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement regarding the Bernardd Madoff sceme. "We are moving quickly and decisively to stop the fraud and protect remaining assets for investors, and we are working closely with the criminal authorities to hold Mr. Madoff accountable." Andrew M. Calamari, Associate Director of Enforcement in the SEC's New York Regional Office, added, "Our complaint alleges a stunning fraud that appears to be of epic proportions."
According to regulatory filings, the Madoff firm had more than $17 billion in assets under management as of the beginning of 2008. It appears that virtually all assets of the advisory business are missing. Who was guarding the Hen house....The SEC!

And who does the Obama Administration wish to sit in the seat of ultimate authority over this mess? Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, the man who could not even pay his own taxes! The last thing America needs is more control transferred to the federal government, especially this federal government. Once control is taken by Obama, the next logical step is to seize more power. No one ever gives power back.
Being a fan of Star Wars, I can't help but recall Emperor Palpatine's words as he was granted even more power by a willing society: "It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling. I love democracy. I love the Republic. Once this crisis has abated, I will lay down the powers you have given me!"
Similarly Obama goes on television and answers softball questions from hand picked reporters and he just smiles. He smiles because he knows that he is moving America exactly in the path that he wants... a path toward socialism.



Mark Levin, Constitutional Lawyer, Radio Talkshow host and Author of “Liberty & Tyranny” speaks out regarding this move by President Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner:

Character Still Matters!

The character of our public officials has decayed, and our future (at least our political destiny) is at risk. Much like a broken down old wagon, our current government is hitched to these blind mules as they run head long off a cliff.

A great article regarding this vital element of character can be found at: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090321/OPINION/903210305/1016

What History Teaches

My father was a bright man with a decidedly conservative view of things. He majored in history at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. He always said that we could learn a great deal from the mistakes of the past, making history one of our most powerful tools moving forward into the future.

Europe has long been experimenting with socialism (over 100 years) and has much to tell us regarding the practice, where it leads and what its limitations are. Europeans, while not keen on killing such a central part of their culture, are not blind to its ill effects. These include high unemployment, lack of job mobility, failure to foster business startups, talent flight, hyperinflation and generally slow economic growth. In short, many Europeans are fed up with Socialism and are crying out for change! (change…..sound familiar?) Isn’t is interesting that the socialism they are running from is exactly what our new president is asking us to embrace?

Below, Daniel Hannan, Conservative MEP for South East England, gives a speech during Gordon Brown´s visit to the European Parliament on 24th March, 2009. You can Read Daniel´s blog at www.hannan.co.uk

We the People - Time for a TEA Party!

The Wrong Way to be Right!

During last night's nationally televised press conference, President Barack Obama defended his policy to allow taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research.
While admitting he had to "wrestle" with the moral and ethical concerns, he plainly stated:
"…[F]or embryos that are typically about to be discarded,
for us to be able to use those in order to find cures…
that is the right thing to do."
Mr. President, how can it ever be the "right thing to do" to "discard" human life? How can you even justify stating that you "wrestle" with the moral issues of life when you so easily justify "discarding" life? This sort of "wrestling" makes the WWF look like the Normandy Invasion. Your callous disregard for human life is exceeded only by your relentless determination to drag us deeper and deeper into debt and socialism, the likes of which this world has never seen before.

That's NOT the Way We Roll!

The administration of President Barack Obama will move to increase oversight of executive pay at all banks, Wall Street firms and possibly other companies as part of a sweeping plan to overhaul financial regulation, The New York Times reported.
Citing unnamed government officials, the newspaper said on its website that the plan was expected to be unveiled this week in preparation for Obama’s first foreign summit next month. The proposal would seek a broad new role for the Federal Reserve to oversee large companies, including major hedge funds, the report said.
Could it be that the control sought here was and is the ultimate goal of this administration? The ridiculous way in which the AIG bonus fiasco was brought to light, fueled by the passion of the American people to seek justice, may well be used to limit the ability of private enterprise to steer their own course, through the murky waters of a socialistic future. Much like taxation, governmental tinkering with free enterprise places an anchor on economic growth...the likes of a New York City parking boot.

Ask the Experts

According to the Wall Street Journal’s INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY, The European Union, after 100 years of experimenting with Socialism is now convinced that government spending in excess of the ability of a nations productive capacity to finance it, is fool hearty.

You can't think you can solve everything with taxpayers' money. Stimulus packages are already in place and taking us through this challenging time," said Fredrik Reinfeldt, the prime minister of, brace yourself, Sweden.

The full article available at: http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=322441982950784 is quite an interesting parallel. The new administration is asking that we embrace this new CHANGE, but europe has been living it for over 100 years.

Europeans and Americans aren't precisely alike, but that doesn't mean we can't listen to them on something they understand better than us: Socialism. So much spending, Europe tells us, isn't good for you. Are we going to listen?

Geithner: I Am Responsible for AIG Bonuses!

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday he takes responsibility for the controversy surrounding the payment of bonuses to American International Group employees. He repeated in an interview on CNN television that he first learned of the bonuses last Tuesday, March 10, and said that if fault was to be assigned for not knowing earlier, then it lay with him. "On Tuesday I was informed about the full scale and scope of these specific bonus problems," Geithner said. "You know, it's my responsibility, I was in a position where I didn't know about these sooner, I take full responsibility for that.”

Geithner has a brief history of taking responsibility, abeit a bit late, like his taxes for instance.

AIG should have been placed in bankruptcy last fall under some sort of government sponsorship. While in bankruptcy, all the salary contracts (and every other AIG contract) would have been nullified and voided. At the same time, there would have been an orderly liquidation and sale of AIG's assets and separate divisions.

The Pitch-Man Presidency

The Obama people are in a perpetual campaign mode. They talked about change and looking forward optimistically to the next administration, but they keep looking back as if they’re still fighting a campaign. They have to govern now. It’s their turn, they are the administration now.
Obama is a pitch-man, not a president. He can deliver a message, but he can’t implement the message that he’s sending. Americans want a president they can admire and trust. Obama’s tactics suggest he may not have faith in himself . If Obama were really convinced that his own plans had merit, why would he feel the need to divert attention to a scapegoat by pointing the finger of blame at a previous administration? He is quite right to question himself. Things seem to be falling apart all around him. And if this “Pitch-Man’s” sinking poll numbers are any indication, the American people are beginning to agree with that assessment.

The Looting Continues!

Dodd scrambles over A.I.G.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The head of insurance giant AIG goes to Capitol Hill this morning, where he'll reluctantly defend millions of dollars' worth of bonuses doled out to employees despite the company's need for a $170 billion government bailout. Edward M. Liddy, who took over AIG last fall, says the bonus payments, while "distasteful," had to be paid. Liddy, chairman and CEO of American International Group Inc., has become the reluctant defender of princely employee bonuses that members of Congress -- and much of the American public -- find indefensible. AIG, the giant insurance company that has received $170 billion in government assistance, is paying more than $200 million in bonuses to keep employees from fleeing its troubled financial products division. On Wednesday, Liddy is to pull up a chair at a congressional witness table and take the heat.
Rep. Barney Frank says Congress should rewrite a Depression-era law that the Federal Reserve used to give American International Group its initial government bailout. Frank said Congress had no say in the decision last fall to plow $85 billion in taxpayers money into the insurance giant, and said that because of that no conditions were attached to the deal to limit or restrain the payment of executive bonuses.

The above AP article explains quite well the AIG situation that is currently causing such commotion in Congress. Several facts are missing however, mainly a discussion of the Dodd amendment, written by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.)

Though Sen. Chris Dodd, is among those leading the charge on retrieving the bonuses, an amendment he added to the $787 billion stimulus bill last month created a roadblock to getting that money back. The amendment, meant to restrict executive pay for bailed-out banks, also included an exception for "contractually obligated bonuses agreed on or before Feb. 11, 2009."
This would seem to exempt the AIG bonuses that lawmakers and President Obama are looking to recover.

Incidentally, Dodd is the largest single recipient of 2008 campaign donations from AIG, with $103,100, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

The Dodd amendment creates a "prohibition on what the president is now talking about," said Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, the House minority whip. He also accused the administration of being in "disarray." However, Dodd told FOX News late Tuesday that the exemption was not part of his original amendment and was only added during negotiations after the fact.
"When the language went to the conference and came back, there was different language," he said. "I can tell you this much, when my language left the Senate, it did not include it," he said, referring to the exemption. "When it came back, it did."

All this further proves that this administration and this rubber-stamping body of, largely Democrats, in Congress does not have a clue what they are doing. This monstrous $787 billion stimulus bill passed last month was apparently too big to read.

America wants to know:
”If the language in the bill was wrong, why was it signed into law?” and what about:

Nobody messes with Joe?

Messing with Joe

President Obama delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday February 24, 2009. Below are some of his remarks as prepared for delivery. Source: Office of the White House press:
The state of our economy is a concern that rises above all others. (except that His own plans to take advantage of this “Crisis” and re-engineer our society through another Big Government socialist experiment)
Not because I believe in bigger government — I don't. (except that is exactly what he has already begun creating, when we can least afford it)
Not because I'm not mindful of the massive debt we've inherited — I am. (except that he believes that it needs to be tripled to achieve His ends, again when we can least afford it)
Because of this plan, there are teachers who can now keep their jobs and educate our kids. (except that numerous teachers have lost their jobs in local schools within weeks of this speech)
I know there are some in this chamber and watching at home who are skeptical of whether this plan will work. I understand that skepticism. Here in Washington, we've all seen how quickly good intentions can turn into broken promises and wasteful spending. (like his own Campaign promises of transparancy in governing and over 8500 earmarks and pork in his recent legislation?)
And with a plan of this scale comes enormous responsibility to get it right. That is why I have asked Vice President Biden to lead a tough, unprecedented oversight effort — because Nobody messes with Joe. (except A.I.G.?)

Are We Betting Everything?

Since Barack Obama was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, stocks have tumbled to record lows — with investors losing an estimated $2.5 trillion in market value. The trend continued Thursday, with the Dow closing down 281 points, a 4.1 percent drop for the day. Since Inauguration Day, the Dow has fallen 20.4 percent. All week, negative headlines have competed with the slumping market ticker, including early news Thursday that General Motors might well go bankrupt despite billions in taxpayer loans.

Obama has moved aggressively on economic and fiscal policies. But investors — if the market is any indication — are giving his initiatives a chilly response. A keen poker player, Mr Obama is gambling not only his own presidency, but the future wellbeing of the country. If he pulls it off, they might find room for him on Mount Rushmore. If he fails, he could bankrupt the world's largest economy.

Bright Spots Distract President

During an address today before a group of Healthcare Reformers, President Obama’s speech was interrupted briefly when two small bright spots appeared before the leader of the free world’s podium. Completely caught off-guard by the sudden intrusion of something that he was not in control of, the president immediately reached out to strike the two bright spots. The healthcare reformers in the audience struggled to understand the presidents’ wild movements and gestures to subdue and gain control of the bright spots.

Following the event, the media quickly responded by blaming the Republican Party for the presence of the bright spots. A spokesman for the administration claimed the brightspots would be subject to a full inquiry and subject to a full review of their tax history. After the conclusion of the event the president was reported as saying "It has never been my intention to ever have any Bright Spots in my term in office". It is assumed that Vice President Joe Biden assisted the President with this statement. When questioned regarding the incident, a spokesman for the secret service refused comment.

Stim-you-less = Poor-you-more

Hello? Is there anybody out there? Just knod if you can hear me!
Is there anyone out there who thinks the Presidents plans (to spend us out of this hole we are in) will actually work?

Remember the first rule of holes: When you find yourself in one,…. Quit digging!

A nearly $2 TRILLION deficit this year. Another deficit over $1 TRILLION next year. A national debt of over $23.1 TRILLION during the next ten years. And $1 TRILLION in new tax increases over the next ten years?????.

These pork-laden budget plans the Obama Administration laid out this week for 2009 and 2010 are reckless, irresponsible and irrational. The Obama/Pelosi/Reid Democrats are using this current economic crisis to accelerate their liberal agenda to grow the size and scope of government at all levels, increase spending to record levels and foster the redistribution of wealth at an alarming rate.

I'll be the first to admit that Republicans had a hand in creating this mess, but further uncontrolled spending, record deficits and a huge tax increase during a recession are not the prescription for creating jobs and making our economy strong again.

There is a better way and it starts with the old Ronald Reagan slogan of "Get the government off our backs." It's a return to the basic principles of Conservative America: limited government, freedom, opportunity and providing the tools for free enterprise to create, innovate and prosper.

Conservatives believe that empowering the people -- not the government -- will help get us out of this crisis. Obama's massive tax increase on individuals and small businesses, the engine that provides 75% of economic growth, is like turning the furnace off in a blizzard. It won't revive our economy and together with the massive spending increases - is dangerous and irresponsible

Conservatives believe the way to strengthen our country is to restrain spending in Washington, and empower individuals and small businesses to grow our economy and create jobs -- not the budget busting, record spending and deficits the Liberals prescribe

I cannot believe that the Democrats across this great nation (party leadership and voters alike) really desire to march off this cliff in lock-step unision with President Obama. Like a catcher in the rye, we are in desparate need of a Conservative voice in Congress to stand and rally a cohesive movement to oppose these insane policies. John McCain, still smarting from his campaign defeat, seems to maybe showing some signs of stepping up to this post, but maybe he’s too broken now. Governors Bobby Jindal and Mark Sanford are making news in their opposition, but if not them then who?

Will the conservative party, wait until the liberals destroy this country and then ride into town with their white cowboy hats to rebuild it? This destuction should be avoided, this could be the defining moment of the career of a true Conservative Leader. Where are they????

Congressman Offers Preemptive Apology For Extramarital Affair

Winter of Discontent?

The phrase “Winter of Discontent” itself is derived from the opening line of William Shakespeare’s Richard III

“Now is the Winter of our Discontent / Made glorious summer by this sun of York…",

and was popularly applied to the events of the British winter of 1978-1979 by the then editor of The Sun, Larry Lamb in an editorial.
This phrase "Winter of Discontent" was used to describe this time, during which there were widespread strikes by trade unions demanding larger pay raises for their members, and the government of James Callaghan struggled to cope. Much of the basis of Callaghan's Labour Party was that it represented the unions in parliament.
The strikes were a result of the failed socialist ecomomic principals of the Labour government's rule that caused problems including various food shortages and widespread and frequent power outages. Wilst the strikes were largely over by February 1979, the government's inability to contain the strikes earlier helped lead to Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative party victory in the 1979 general election. Thatcher entered 10 Downing Street with a mandate to reverse the UK's economic decline. Her political philosophy and economic policies emphasised reduced state intervention, free markets and entrepreneurialism.
Is the United States and by extension the entire world currently in another “Winter of Discontent”? Will our Conservative Party likewise come to our aid during this time of great need?

Divorce Separation Agreement

I wish I could take credit for the following, I can not, but thought it should be shared.

Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists and Obama supporters, et al:

We have stuck together since the late 1950's, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.

Here is a model separation agreement:

Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.

We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell (You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them).

We'll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood.

You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we'll help provide them security.

We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values.. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N.. but we will no longer be paying the bill.

We'll keep the SUVs, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find.

You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors. We'll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right. We'll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the National Anthem. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute Imagine, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World..

We'll practice trickle down economics and you can give trickle up poverty your best shot. Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our flag.

Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you ANWAR which one of us will need whose help in 15 years..

Sincerely,

John J. Wall
American Law Student

P.S. Also, please take Barbara Streisand & Jane Fonda with you.

Quote of the week

"I didn't vote for Obama but he is remarkable. In less than three weeks in office he has collected more than $150,000 in back taxes." Just from cabinet appointments.

Governor Sanford ...South Carolina