What If McChrystal Was Right?

The cavalcade of messages we just exchanged re "Valueless Human Life" all started with the mention that General Stanley McChrystal - BO's hand picked Afghan war leader - had been summoned to the White House for what was McChrystal's firing after decades in the military.

Now the irony of the great patriot General David Petraeus bailing BO out by accepting a demotion to return to the field from his Central Command position can certainly be illustrated by our own e-mail club message of 9/21/07 - "Senators who are Presidential candidates who did not vote to support General Petraeus are Hillary Clinton & Chris Dodd. Joe Biden did not vote. But the worst case was Barack Hussein Obama who was not only in the building @ the time of the vote but had just been on the floor of the Senate minutes before the vote - Obama did not vote thereby keeping his empty suit record @ a perfect zero, which is exactly what he is."

What a difference it makes when you sit behind the desk of responsibility - or in BO's case when you want to do away with the irritants like the war in Afghanistan & the Gulf oil leak that are slowing down your real agenda of completing the socialization of America.

McChrystal was fired because he & his aides were documented in an anti-war publication that accurately stated the soldiers thought BO didn't seem engaged & was uncomfortable & intimidated by military personnel & that BO's entire national security team was incompetent & dysfunctional.

Since the firing the anti-American hostile media has concentrated on proclaiming BO's so-called decisiveness in firing McChrystal saying that BO demonstrated he is in charge maintaining order & discipline & that replacing McChrystal with Petraeus was a brilliant move.

America is set up for a fall when this sort of fluff is what is presented @ a time that our military personnel are risking their lives running what looks more like a "fool's errand" every day with BO as Commander-In-Chief - didn't anyone ever think to question what if McChrystal was right in his assessment?

Continuation Discussion - Valueless Human Life

Ever so often a message promotes a continuous stream of responses for days & the one entitled "Valueless Human Life" certainly has done that.  Below are two additional responses.  The first one is counting on the Republican Party to be the answer to our problems & calls for fast action while the second one calls for a more gradual swing of the pendulum but in the same direction.  I add a few comments in red.

 

Both messages act as though "we" have the power to vote in Republicans any time "we" want.  "We" are drastically outnumbered & the sooner "we" recognize this the better off "we" will be - how else did our supposed center-right country wind up with BO, an overwhelming Democrat House, & a virtual filibuster proof Democrat Senate.

 

Arizona Representative John Shadegg has introduced the Enumerated Powers Act since the 1990s - this bill requires any Congressman to call out the authority from the Constitution for any new spending.  All 435 Members of the House take an oath to uphold the Constitution & yet only 68 have signed on as co-sponsors of this really redundant bill.  It is hard to believe that we are going to find the answer to our problems by just voting in Republicans - especially those who currently undermine the Constitution every day & have not signed on as cosponsors of John Shadegg's bill.

 

---Response #1---

 

Both the article and response are correct - for a faster correction we should vote for Republicans and fast.  We can not wait for enough non socialist or tea party members to come up to run, but vote for the ones who do run with an R behind them.  It is critical to remove what we have in power now.  I have been telling everyone to watch their words and decipher them - they are not hiding much now that their real beliefs are out.  As I heard from a communist tonight in the Khrushchev era , we do not have to fight you, we will feed you small parts of socialism and you will accept them - than you will wither like rotting fruit and lose to communism.  We are already more than 50% socialist thanks to both Republicans & Democrats.  Without the right "non socialist or tea party members" this slide will only continue no matter how fast we vote in Republicans this portion of the two party election cycle.

 

---Response #2---  

 

  Doug,

 

    We are not going to succeed in our objective unless and until we do the following:

 

    1. The ballot box has an additional entry that can be check marked to indicate none of the candidates are acceptable.  This is why the primaries are so very important - maybe even more important than the general election.  This will send a message to both the political parties.    We need more than just the two political parties.

 

    2. The political pendulum that currently is on the extreme left cannot be swung to the right in one easy step. It will never succeed unless it is done gradually. The reality is that it is difficult for the voters to accept sudden shifts in ideology.  Gradualism is certainly how we got to our present point.  David Hume - "It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all @ once."

A Further Response - Valueless Human Life

Below is a message that I present that was posted directly on ReturnToExcellence.net by a subscriber to the blog.  This will be redundant to all of you except those who do not get your messages directly from the blog & read the comments as they are posted.  My comments are in red below.

 

In this case the writer believes that all of our problems can be solved by everyone voting Republican - "just this once" - thereby "ridding ourselves of the Socialists."  I refer everyone to the blog posting of December 8, 2009 entitled "How To Vote The Bums Out" that was followed by three similar messages that month that I believe comprise a better method of returning America to her founding principles - which is what many of us, but certainly not all of us, want.  Please refresh your memory & see where you stand six months later on the strategy presented in that posting.

 

After reading the message below Carol reminded me of Friedrich Hayek's dedication in "The Road To Serfdom" - "To The Socialists Of All Parties."  And we certainly have enough Socialists in the Republican Party to make me feel the strategy below is only a way to perpetuate the two party system @ the citizenry's expense.

 

---Posted Message On Blog---

 

Since we have, for years, given permission for the two corrupt political corporations to walk all over and destroy our Constitution, it will undoubtedly take more than just a few years to repair the damage caused by our neglect.  it may in fact be way too late for repair & if we have been neglectful we can only blame ourselves for the results of our negligence

I believe we need to implement a two step strategy to begin moving in the right direction (no pun intended).

Step #1) Demonstrate our power by voting completely Republican (just this once). This is the only way we can be sure of ridding ourselves of the Socialists, and, at the same time, letting the politicians, the media, the Hollywood liberals and the entitlement crowd, know that we are in control, and not them.  but they are in control - not us

Step #2) For subsequent elections we can begin the process of electing strict Constitutional Conservatives. why haven't we been doing this if this is what the people want?

Any other strategy runs the risk of us defeating ourselves and failing to send a very loud and clear message. We can not turn this around by attempting to do it all in one shot. we most likely will never turn it around peacefully since we are outnumbered right now & are losing ground every day as the entitlement program enrollments continue to grow

Responses - Valueless Human life

Thanks to everyone who responded to the subject posting.  I am always so grateful for the insight I learn from those who take the time to respond.  Below are just three that add to the original message

 

---Response #1---

 

Doug - I have been wrestling with the apathy of our citizens trying to rectify in my own mind their ambivalence to their government's actions.  In my opinion, a large part of apathy is fear.  Afraid of the police powers of our government is a real concern.  Everyone knows when big brother comes down on you it's going to be bad.  Throughout history fear of state silences men and we are at that point in the life span of our government.  Fear to speak out and object to our government's overwhelming interface in our lives is genuine fear of retribution. 

 

---Response #2---

 

I think that the 'multitude of fools' (even the 'gimme, gimme's) are having second thoughts about this.  Hopefully, the GOP doesn't give us a worse fool in 2012 to run against him.

 

---Response #3---

 

Yes , good article, show support for those who are willing to stick their neck out.  But I worry there are not enough with common sense to change the state we have stumbled on.

Valueless Human Life

So many people have recently told me they are throwing in the towel (@ least temporarily) with comments such as "I am not thick skinned enough to continue fighting" & "in this great Country we get the government we elect."

Now with right & wrong turned upside down - with the Arizona people having to defend themselves for their very lives against criminal illegal aliens when the federal government just won't, with the Gulf oil spill continuing for over two months with absolutely no one in charge & our own government blocking any attempt by BP et al to help, & with General McChrystal being called from the battlefield in Afghanistan to the White House because of some article in a flea bitten publication it all just shows how valueless every human life other than those of the elites has become in America. Why would anyone want to enlist in the military or border patrol under these circumstances? And of course this is exactly BO's plan.

Below is an anonymous piece sent to us from a subscriber to ReturnToExcellence.net that sums all of this up for us in a few short sentences.

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president.

The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.

The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."

The last sentence means that if the "multitude of fools" is large enough political candidates representing people of substance in America will never win another presidential election.

Huckabee Show - A Fun Afternoon

As most of you know several members of FairTax NJ have made applications to attend the Huckabee Show in NYC.  Below is a report of the first such visit. 

 

I always tell people that this event is fun even if the FairTax was not involved.  Other than meeting Governor Huckabee after the show - he personally greets every member of the audience - the best part is the other high energy people you meet like the ones described below that are the type of people you want to spend your life with rather than the chronic complainers & losers who make up "all the 'deadbeats' and 'hubcaps' out there that disappoint ya."

 

Hi Doug,

 

Well, we had a great time and like you said the Fox studio treated us very well.

 

We all wore our FairTax stickers.

 

I gave my unused spot to a teacher who had come in from PA and who was on stand-by.  He was ever so grateful!!  He was standing in line grading his papers with his book bag at his feet.  I struck up a conversation by saying that I remember "those days".... with the ever-present book bag loaded with papers to grade!

 

Anyway the spot didn't go to waste as I had thought it might.

 

We met so many friendly folks there and talked a lot about the FairTax.  I met a 71 year old pilot who used to fly candidates around and had got to know the Huck.  He was there from Ohio with his wife, 2 granddaughters and a friend and his wife.  All had come to NYC just to see the show!  Ditto for the folks from TEN and GA.  They didn't come to NY to see the sights... they came just to see the Huck show!  It's amazing! ... For all the "deadbeats" and "hubcaps" out there that disappoint ya, there are these people that spend their $$ and time to come see Mike Huckabee.

We are in the audience, second row; 3rd & 4th seat from the end on the left.

Responses - The Connection Between No Jobs & The Lack Of Oil Clean Up In The Gulf

Below are two responses plus one additional point from me that add to the original subject message.

 

The op-ed in the WSJ by Arthur Laffer on June 7 pointing out how the expiration of the 2003 so-called Bush tax (rate) cuts will adversely affect the 2011 economy starting on January 1 when tax rates rise due to the expiration certainly made the rounds since it appeared.  Responder #1 below correctly adds this point to the subject message. 

 

Responder #2 describes her friends who are trying to enter the entrepreneurial system - the only real creator of jobs, value, & wealth thereby increasing our standard of living as pointed out in the original message.  Based on my next comment it is encouraging to learn that we still have such people. 

 

I add to the other main point of the original message that because of poor education & training Americans are largely unqualified to fill the few jobs that are available.  Pennsylvania based Mission:Readiness, a nonprofit, bi-partisan organization led by senior retired military leaders, reports that up to 90% of young Philadelphians are ineligible for military service because of criminal records, obesity, or lack of education.  The report said 145,000 Philadelphians ages 18 to 24 cannot meet the military medical, moral, & mental standards.  The DOD estimates that nationally 75% of young adults are disqualified from military service.  Is it any wonder that as originally reported Firstar Precision could not find any qualified machinists from their help wanted ad?

 

---Response #1---

 

Doug:

 

Compared to next year, this year will be the good old days.  The Bush tax cuts will end & capital gains tax will increase to 40%.

 

Always remember, in this great Country we get the government we elect.  It all makes perfect sense after viewing your chart.  - The chart is a graphical depiction of the Death Of Democracy.

 

---Response #2---

 

Saw part of this week's Huckabee....there were some innovative ideas, to say the least. I have 2 friends who are bravely bucking the system as entrepreneurs....one started a catering business, and the other has her own decorating business...hers is word of mouth...both are doing well, and I admire them. - & I admire you for your contributions to this e-mail club, your community, & America.

The Connection Between No Jobs & The Lack Of Oil Clean-up In The Gulf

Far too many people have told me "I've looked for work everywhere & there is none to be found."  Now anyone who understands how an economy works knows that the jobs putting caps on tubes of toothpaste will never return to America & neither will call center jobs - for several years even some attorney jobs @ many large firms have been outsourced to India. 

 

What is missing in America for starters is the unleashing of entrepreneurs & innovators in a true unfettered free enterprise system - which is far from what we have had in a long time.  This unleashing is what creates jobs, value, & wealth thereby increasing our standard of living.

 

But a common thread through these postings to you over many years is that America no longer has a sufficient number of people who are properly trained to meet employers' requirements.  For instance, Jack  Horstman, president of the small business Firstar Precision in Parma Ohio has been trying to hire two new workers for his air-driven tools firm that makes tools used by auto makers, food processors, & industrial firms.  In response to a recent help wanted ad by Firstar for skilled machinists several hundred applications were received - not one of which even remotely qualified for the position.  Mr. Horstman said "there's an awfully lot of people who are not going to find jobs."

 

The above graph only shows part of the problem - the income tax portion.  According to the graph virtually half of the country pays no income tax & the other half pays it all.  To get a more complete picture you must add in payroll taxes (Social Security & Medicare taxes) that are regressively charged on the first dollar of earnings, but can be refunded to some through the Earned Income Tax Credit program.  The results according to the Tax Policy Center are that the top 20% of Americans pay 72% of the combined total of income & payroll taxes, the bottom 20% pay less than half a percent, & the top 1% pays 27.5% of the combined total revenue collected from the income & payroll taxes.  BO's plan is obviously to move more people into the government dependent class thereby leaving less people to produce wealth & jobs - & of course we have less & less people every year to fill whatever jobs are created as illustrated above.

 

Even when (& if) people return to work economic research shows that they will earn less than they once did - do you know people who fall into this category, or are you one yourself, or afraid you might become one?  I know many who earn far less than they once did with no chance to recover under the statists model - how cruel!

 

Maurice Emmer so accurately describes what is happening to America per BO's plan when he writes - "progressive strategists ... are not ignorant of the fact that a weaker private sector results from higher (tax) rates.  That is precisely what they seek.  A strong private sector competes with government for power.  By weakening the private sector, progressives increase government's relative power.  Progressives can't leverage private-sector power but they can leverage government power.  Higher tax rates are all about weakening the progressives' enemy - the private sector.  Get it?"

 

Now you can carry Mr. Emmer's thought even one step further if you saw the Huckabee Show on FNC Saturday night - to be repeated Sunday night.  The show was exclusively devoted to entrepreneurs who demonstrated one method after another for cleaning up the oil spill that resulted from the BP/Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20.   Of particular significance to me were the citizens in Alabama who were interviewed who did not wait for government approval to protect their property & livelihoods - these are the same type of people I referred to last month who reconstructed Galveston after its hurricane, Chicago after its fire, & San Francisco after its earthquake all without a dollar of federal money.  Carol has wondered for several weeks if the lack of oil clean-up progress in the Gulf is contrived by BO & his administration's slow bureaucratic approval process to portray to an ignorant citizenry a weakening of the private sector that can't compete with government - based on all of the above you make your own call.

 

 

 

Primary Election Highlights

Although there are still some big ones coming up - with eleven states holding their primaries on Tuesday we are now well into the primary season. In addition to the normal mid-term Members of the House primary races there were races in California, Nevada, South Dakota, Iowa, South Carolina, & Maine for both Governor & Senate.

Highlight results for Tea Partiers include two victorious candidates who Sarah Palin heartily endorsed:

1. Outsider Sharron Angle won the Nevada Republican Senate primary & will oppose the insidious Senate Majority Leader Harry "Ringside" Reid in November.

2. SC state Rep Nikki Haley won the Republican Governor's primary & will be in a runoff because she only won 49% of the vote running against three other candidates - the closet to her had 22%.

Two congressional candidates in NJ who ran endorsing the FairTax did very well with one winning outright & the other being in an election too close to call. Both candidates endorsed the FairTax during their campaigns & said they will cosponsor HR 25 if elected in the fall.

1. Michael Agosta (57% & 5,397 votes) won NJ's 9th Republican district. Third place finisher Sergey Shevchuk also expressed late interest in the FairTax.

2. Anna Little leads her opponent by 63 votes – 50.2% to 49.8% with 482 of 483 precincts counted in NJ's 6th district. Little raised $22,000 to Gooch's $432,000 which is a similar story to Dave Corsi who ran his campaign on a financial shoestring but with great ideas & strong principles & lost his election 54% to 46% to a millionaire establishment Republican party line candidate.

If Little ultimately wins her primary she will take on 22 year incumbent Frank Pallone in the general election. Agosta will take on 14 year incumbent Steve Rothman. The consequences of these two seemingly insignificant races in NJ are enormous so you know the statists will do everything they can to hold America back.

Aggressive Response - Saving Fingers & Eyes

The original subject message brought many responses most of which said they would pass the "bottle bomb" information on to their local police department - which was one of the recommended defensive steps to take. 

 

Below is a more aggressive idea from one of our most libertarian members.

 

---Aggressive Response To Saving Fingers & Eyes---

 

I've just sent this to a long list of friends.  I had no idea.  Thank you.

If I were running a sleeper cell in the U.S., I'd start by doing this sort of thing -- not merely to train budding terrorists to handle explosives carefully and to wreak havoc, but also to test the ability of police to investigate this sort of thing, and to learn how lenient our justice system would be, should anyone be caught.  (Can't you already hear the "He's just a young man who made a foolish choice" and "it was just a prank" defense, and envision some judge sentencing the person to community service or a few months in jail?)

This crime should be classified as terrorism (this may mean prosecution in federal court -- I don't know the law).  It should also carry a stiff sentence, with mandatory prosecution as adults juveniles age 15 or over. 

Saving Fingers & Eyes

Thanks to a subscriber to ReturnToExcellence.net for sending us this link from Snopes regarding the latest destructive phenomenon known as "bottle bombs." Carol & I have picked -up & discarded several plastic bottles each year for several years that we found on our lawn or street like those described on the link - never imagining there could be imminent danger.

To check this out farther I sent the link to our friend the Somerville Police Chief Dennis Manning.

Thanks to Chief Manning who called & made the following comments & suggestions for our group:

1. There is always a worry about "copy-cats" imitating what they see on videos - there are people around who want to hurt us. The balance between trying to keep the message away from copy-cats shifts in this case to more importantly trying to inform the general public re what to do to defend themselves.

2. We can throw away empty plastic bottles safely with no danger. Call 911 or your local police if you find a suspicious plastic bottle - one that is full of liquid & is bulged or expanded.

Although we have had no incidence of bottle bombs in Somerville, Chief Manning has sent the link to all his policemen & plans to bring the subject up @ the next County Chiefs' meeting. He suggests that every one contact their local police re this link & also thanks the subscriber who sent this along. She may have saved someone's fingers or eyes.

Hold It - You Don't Want To Be In This Picture

Thanks to a subscriber to ReturnToExcellence.net for sending this link that every one who has every been asked to take a photo of tourists will surely appreciate - it shows a scam that can cost you dearly.

Carol also routinely points out to women who leave their pocket books in their push carts unattended in grocery stores of a similar situation in which they could be preyed upon.