Defending Core Tea Party Beliefs

I’ve been challenged to defend “core Tea Party beliefs” and requirements directed toward our government by someone who claims I’m out of touch with reality. He’d visited one of my recent articles and left a comment which listed the following as “unrealistic” core beliefs found on one of the “official Tea Party” websites.


1. Illegal Aliens Are Here Illegally.
2. Pro-Domestic Employment Is Indispensable.
3. Stronger Military Is Essential.
4. Special Interests Eliminated.
5. Gun Ownership Is Sacred.
6. Government Must Be Downsized.
7. National Budget Must Be Balanced.
8. Deficit Spending Will End.
9. Bail-Out And Stimulus Plans Are Illegal.
10. Reduce Personal Income Taxes A Must.
11. Reduce Business Income Taxes Are Mandatory.
12. Political Offices Available To Average Citizens.
13. Intrusive Government Stopped.
14. English As Core Language Is Required.
15. Traditional Family Values Are Encouraged.


There you have it, fifteen ideas which appear to separate Tea Partiers from reality, at least according to those who apparently believes life can’t exist without government involvement in each and every aspect of our lives. In a word, Poppycock!


Illegal Aliens Are Here Illegally


Now that’s a tough one, Illegal Aliens are Here Illegally. President Obama and Homeland Security seem to have difficulty understanding that as well; guess I’ll have to concede the match, throw my hands up in despair and give up.


The border between our sovereign nations means absolutely nothing; immigration laws mean absolutely nothing and citizenship means absolutely nothing. I think not; those who enter our nation in any way other than legally therefore are here illegally. (That’s 1 for the Tea Party)


Pro-Domestic Employment Is Indispensable


If Americans were rich beyond our wildest dreams I suppose we could have everything, and I mean EVERYTHING (where’s Ed McMan when you need him) done by the “hired help”. We’d all have two or three (undocumented) Mexican maids, an Argentine butler and a Chinese chauffer to pamper us daily. There would be a full compliment of Polish yard workers and Pakistani maintenance people to keep the estate going not to mention our haberdashery over in Hong Kong and a seamstress in Paris. I guess that’s pushing the envelope; where are summer jobs flipping burgers for kids in high school or grad students working their way through college? No, there has to be domestic employment or our children will grow up spoiled beyond measure.


We’re not rich beyond belief; a good percentage of Americans actually have to earn a living. Unfortunately our government has created an unfavorable business environment on our own soil and has driven jobs away by the thousands, many which involve the creation of tangible products which now are made over seas. In the month of July alone over 600 newly imposed mandates were implemented which make it that much harder for businesses to operate. Pro-domestic employment is indispensable. (That’s 2 for the Tea Party)


Stronger Military Is Essential


Until recently the United States was considered the world’s super power; that is until “we” (read that any way you like; but it still comes out the same) decided to relinquish the title and become a spineless jelly fish adrift in an ocean of sharks. The singular most important job which We the People have given our government is to safeguard our God given inalienable rights from those who would seek to do us harm. Having the strongest military possible is essential to inflict mortal damage on a grand scale or simply have the ability to do so; it matters not. Our enemies are forced to consider the consequences as long as we remain strong. (If you’re keeping score, that’s 3 for the Tea Party)


Special Interests Eliminated


That could be interpreted any number of ways; let’s just say the wording is a bit vague. Our Declaration of Independence did a wonderful job of expressing the sentiment:


“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,”


That means no matter how much influence a lobbyist uses to sway our elected representatives, our God given inalienable rights can never be voted away in favor of special projects intended to enrich a small segment of society at the expense of others. Somewhere along the way elected representatives have misplaced their allegiance along with their integrity in favor of “filthy lucre”; they’ve sold their souls for a few pieces of silver. It is not unreasonable to expect and even demand people of character and integrity to represent us. (That’s 4 for the Tea Party)


Gun Ownership Is Sacred


The 2nd Amendment listed in the Bill of Rights to our Constitution defines one of our inalienable God given rights, the right to own and bear arms. While this singular right has often been argued as to its exact meaning and scope; our Supreme Court recently made it evidently clear that the right to own and bear arms is an Individual right and may not be restricted other than in the case of mental instability or other such invalidations. Whether or not a person believes in God or an all powerful deity is of little importance; the “natural right” to defend life and property existed prior to the formation of any government. (Five for the Tea Party and counting)


Government Must Be Downsized


How big should government be, perhaps I should alter that; how big should our federal government be? The answer; only as big as necessary to accomplish the tasks assigned to it through our Constitution; not one iota more. Government works best at its smallest level, being close enough to those who must abide by its rules, regulations and laws. It doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to explain this principle; however the folks in Washington would have us believe “they know better”. They know better than the individual what formula blend of gasoline we should use, what kind of light bulb to read by and which toilet paper is environmentally friendly; bluntly put, they are mistaken. A goodly portion of the laws enacted stand at variance to our Constitution, having usurped powers never intended and certainly at odds with God given individual rights. Government must be downsized in order to comply with the will of the governed. (Six for the Tea Party and I’ve yet to break stride)


National Budget Must Be Balanced


Why is this concept difficult to accept? As individuals we must adhere to this rule; why should government be exempt from eternal laws? We can only spend that which we are able to cover through actual income; either with a cash and carry system or within reasonable expectation of future earnings such as would be necessary to make a car payments or mortgage over an extended yet established and finite time period. The idea of placing future generations in bondage for our reckless spending is deplorable and immoral.


Likewise, it is immoral to expect one group of citizens to carry the burdens of others through disproportionate taxing systems intent of depriving some individuals the fruits of their labors while rewarding other individuals who have not. Being a citizen requires effort and our government has violated the trust of its citizenry by promising rewards and entitlements to undeserving members of society in such unrealistic amounts as to bankrupt even the wealthiest among us.


“Though the people support the Government, the Government should not support the people.” - Democrat President Grover Cleveland


Spending must be restrained and brought within reasonable limits even if it means cutting social programs which many among us have taken for granted. Social Security, Medicare and other entitlements are in violation of moral concepts and we as a people turned a blind eye from their inception. Socialism is not compatible with our constitutional republic. The welfare of our citizenry should be taken care of at the local level by means other than government such as private donation or church funds.


Redistribution of wealth through taxation is nothing more than government authorized theft and cannot be compared with charitable donations intended to help the less fortunate or those in desperate need. Balancing the budge would be much less trouble if it were not for special interests and entitlement spending; but that limitation on government “taxes” reason for those looking for Utopian castles in the sky. ( That’s 7 time, for a Dr Pepper)


Deficit Spending Will End


Deficit spending has been covered in the previous section; however, there’s a great article worth reading, an interview with Milton Friedman .


“In the long run government will spend whatever the tax system will raise, plus as much more as it can get away with. That’s what history tells us, I think. So my view has always been: cut taxes on any occasion, for any reason, in any way, that’s politically feasible. That’s the only way to keep down the size of government.” (Eight for the Tea Party)


Bail-Out And Stimulus Plans Are Illegal


If Congress would stick to limits placed upon it by our Constitution it wouldn’t have to explain why it was involved in “Crony Capitalism”, favoring one business over another, or businesses “too big to fail”. The free market capitalistic system which has served our country has been, forgive the common expression, “basterdized” to the point where it’s hard to tell if it isn’t closer to pure socialism than capitalism. Government is strictly forbidden from playing favorites and yet that is exactly what is going on; paying off political “debts” with favorable trade arrangements.


The use of taxpayer money is a stewardship which requires people of integrity and character. Sadly it is the disposition of all men that when they obtain a little power they tend to use that power unrighteously. It is not unreasonable for We the People to expect or even demand our government commit to following limits placed upon it by our Constitution. (That’s 9 and still counting)


Reduce Personal Income Taxes A Must


Personal income taxes have been used to redistribute wealth ever since it was forced upon the public. The purpose of a “graduated tax” was to level the playing field so to speak; the rich wouldn’t mind helping out in a disproportionate manner since the poor didn’t have the means to accomplish grand projects proposed for our national infrastructure. Beyond being immoral, the graduated income tax has become a tool used to deprive earned income from successful individuals as if exceptionalism were some sort of sin, “You make too much compared to others so we will relieve you of what others rightfully would have if you hadn’t stolen it to begin with.” Isn’t that a nice way of putting it?


Regardless of wealth redistribution, natural laws of productivity kick in at some magical point. It becomes counter productive to work if the government is going to take it all anyway; better to take a vacation than work.


Ronald Reagan explained this thought process when he was a member of the Actor’s Guild. Any money he made after a certain amount was taxed at such a high rate as to make him want to sit out the rest of the year and not make any movies once the “target” level had been reached. The same holds true for wage earners or those simply raking in money from their investments; if the government is going to take it all; why bother extending or stretching to reach your highest potential? (Ten and I haven’t stuttered once, not even once)


Reduce Business Income Taxes Are Mandatory


The idea of taxing business only adds to the cost of doing business. The cost of doing business is always passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices. In actuality, by taxing businesses, individuals at every level of earning capacity are paying higher taxes. This is a hidden tax which hurts the lowest income levels of our society more so than any other tax. (Moving right along, that was 11)


Political Offices Available To Average Citizens


I have mixed feeling on this particular point; not that my opinion is so important. Those who represent We the People are going to be tempted by special interest groups and lobbyists at every turn. The “average citizen” might not with stand the temptations offered whereas a person of established means might not.


In the movie, A Man For All Seasons, there was a scene on the river where a boatman had been hired to taxi Sir Thomas Moore, played by Paul Scofield, to his residence. He held for display, to an up and coming young man, a silver pitcher given by a lobbyist to sway his opinion. Our hero tossed it in the river, recognizing it for what it was, a poorly fashioned bribe. The boatman retrieved the “prize” as it broke the water’s surface, before it was lost forever; as it was worth a considerable sum, then as it would be now.


With the power to legislate also come temptations, often more than the average person might be prepared to resist through self discipline, which certainly isn’t being taught in our public schools; that was the lesson Sir Thomas Moore wanted understood. Have we learned it; I think not.


So it is with our elected representatives. I fear the “average citizen”, if there can be such a moniker placed on humans, the average citizen in our day has not been sufficiently taught to resist temptation. Even so, the financially elite among us, those who are currently serving have ignored Sir Thomas Moore’s council and seek monetary incentives at every turn; I could be mistaken on this issue. (The Tea Party movement is built upon “average citizens” who represent a goodly portion of We the People; admittedly, I may be a bit short sighted on this one)


Intrusive Government Stopped


This topic has been covered throughout all the above subsections. If our elected government officers and representatives would adhere to Constitutional limitations placed upon them the Tea Party movement wouldn’t have to remind them of their back sliding ways. God given individual rights are not to be toyed with. (Not too many left, are you with me so far?)


English As Core Language Is Required


English is the language of the United States of America, all others are fine when individual citizens are within the confines of their homes or businesses. The idea of America having to be “diversified” is a ploy used by progressives to undermine the unifying Spirit requisite for a successful society. Pandering to each and every minority defeats the purpose of our great Experiment, an experiment which requires our several states to agree on certain basic elements; English as our language is part of our foundation. Those who come here seeking the blessings offered need to learn English so they can be assimilated and become We the People; anything less is destructive of these purposes. (Almost done, hang in there)


Traditional Family Values Are Encouraged


Our country was founded on Christian principles as set forth in the Bible. I know, that catches in the craw of progressives and those claiming otherwise. None the less, our originating documents are the result of wise men specifically brought forth at precisely the right moment to establish a nation which would honor our Creator and gain His stamp of approval on our founding documents and form of government.


The family is the single most important unit of government and the teachings which proceed from within the walls of our individual homes determine the quality of our lives. The family unit has come under attack by those who recognize this fact. There is a concerted effort to destroy the foundations of America, the family unit is at the top of the list. We are in a war, the same war which started before the Earth was formed; a war between the forces of good and evil.


For America to survive its citizens must develop good character and integrity, the same qualities which the Lord would have His children cultivate and which just happen to be taught best at the family level. Is it any wonder those who wish to destroy America also want the Ten Commandments removed from public view, falsely claim that our Constitution has placed a wall of separation between religion and government or that prayer has no place in open society? The family unit stands in the way of total collapse of our nation and those who follow the Father of Lies, even Satan, know this.


I do not apologize for depending on my faith or the teachings of morality gained in my youth as my parents drilled these lessons into my stubborn spirit. I acknowledge my belief in God the Eternal Father and in His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer as having set aside this nation to be a beacon unto the world for all that is right and proper. I acknowledge the Constitution as the law of the land. It is not unreasonable to demand elected representatives confine their actions to those specifically outlined within that essential document.


Two hundred years ago the core beliefs shared by today’s Tea Party activists were dominant among a goodly portion of We the People. It is my hope that a strong majority of my fellow citizens continue to hold these truths to be self evident. I rest my case.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Sticks, Stones and Dehumanization - History Repeats

Have you noticed the left’s marginalization of conservative values, more specifically folks who align themselves with the Tea Party movement? Glenn Beck touched on it during his radio show the other day; focusing on a disgusting name calling explosion which aired on MSNBC .


“Well Martin Bashir really went all out on this one. He brought a guest on who called Tea Party members aliens, cannibals, addicts and more – plus he said that if they don’t get their (…) what they want they will end up in a “Norway” situation!”


{…}


“Many of the Tea Party people, they are some of the most responsible among us. These are people that have paid taxes their whole life. They have run businesses their whole life. They have done the right thing. They have never broken the law. They have never taken a handout. They have paid charity. They have tried to be decent law abiding citizens. And now what they are saying is, we will pay the price as well. We understand. But it’s best for our country and our children’s freedom to do it. That’s a psychosis? That’s nirvana? No, nirvana, nirvana is some socialist communist utopia that never happens. It always ends, can I even say poorly or is that the understatement of the entire universe?” Glenn said.”


During the radio broadcast a history lesson was given, a reminder of a time, not too long ago, when an unpopular group of people were similarly branded as less than human; part of an agenda to have them eventually eradicated. Yes; the reference was to the Jews during the build up of public resentment and ridicule which marked the extermination of millions of people during the Holocaust.


People in high places are calling Tea Partiers a variety of names, none of them too flattering. From an article by Brian Faughnan , House Democrat Leaders: Tea Partiers Are Racist, Nazi, Gun Nuts, something the more than pliant news media is happy to broadcast steadily.


‘“This initiative is funded by the high end; we call it AstroTurf, it’s not really a grass-roots movement. It’s AstroTurf by some of the wealthiest people in America to keep the focus on tax cuts for the rich instead of for the great middle class,” Pelosi said.


Other House Democratic leaders took a different tack: One senior aide has been circulating a document to the media that debunks the effort as one driven by corporate lobbyists and attended by neo-Nazis...


In addition, the tea parties are “not really all about average citizens,” the document continues, saying neo-Nazis, militias, secessionists and racists are attending them. The tea parties are also not peaceful, since reporters in Cincinnati had to seek “police protection” during one of the events, it states.”


Nancy Pelosi, while speaking at Tufts University in Massachusetts back in April gave some advice to the “other side of the isle”; but if you read between the lines the information is more telling about the old guard Republicans than perhaps they would like us to know.


“To my Republican friends: take back your party. So that it doesn’t matter so much who wins the election, because we have shared values about the education of our children, the growth of our economy, how we defend our country, our security and civil liberties, how we respect our seniors.”


This is the same (old guard) Republican Party which advocated larger government through No Child Left Behind, the same (old guard) Republican Party that caved over the “debt ceiling crisis” and agreed to add to the national debt rather than act responsibly. They promised to cut spending, eventually; except the spending cuts would happen so far down the line as to be a pipe dream which only the dimmest of light bulbs might accept as plausible.


Pelosi wants everyone to know how dangerous the Tea Party movement is to the rest of us. Tea Partiers are to be blamed for nearly taking the country over the cliff, defaulting on our monthly payments to those who’ve been dumb enough to lend us several trillion dollars more than we could ever pay back in several life times; but we can at least put together enough to pay the interest due. Tea Partiers are to blame for Obama considering a hold on Social Security payments to our elderly. Tea Partiers are to blame for our troops not getting paid as well; but only if Obama decides not to pay them.


John Kerry is following the play book as well, speaking on August 4th , Tea Partiers are hostage takers with guns:


“There is a small group that has the ability in the last days to hold the entire country and our economy hostage and were willing to literally shoot the hostage,” said Senator Kerry.


The Democratic U.S Senator from Massachusetts slammed the tea party for equating compromise to a “form of treason” and bringing the country to the brink of default by blocking efforts in Washington to raise the federal debt ceiling “that would have guaranteed a financial crisis more severe than anything since the Great Depression.”’


In yet another assault on Tea Party members within the Republican Party, as reported by Jonathan Allen and John Bresnahan at the Politico :


“Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) called it a “Satan sandwich,” and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) called seemed to enjoy the heat analogy, saying: “the Tea Partiers and the GOP have made their slash and burn lunacy clear, and while I do not love this compromise, my vote is a hose to stop the burning. The arsonists must be stopped.”


It wouldn’t be fair to leave our Joe Bidden, Vice President and heir to the Presidency. Joe must not be taking his lithium; but it’s fun to listen when he babbles on, even if he denies having said it during the Democrat Caucus this past Monday.


“We have negotiated with terrorists,” an angry (Rep Mike) Doyle (D-Pa) said, according to sources in the room. “This small group of terrorists have made it impossible to spend any money.”


Biden, driven by his Democratic allies’ misgivings about the debt-limit deal, responded: “They have acted like terrorists.”


Do you see how this matches the template used by the propaganda machine in pre WWII Germany? The Jews were to blame for the poor economy, the Jews were to blame for unemployment, the Jews were to blame; get rid of the Jews and Germany will once again be able to stand proud.


Tea Partiers are to blame for all the ills of our broken nation. If only the Tea Partiers would shut up; better yet, go away! Isn’t that the message being sent?


“Sticks and stones may break my bones; but words can never harm me”; a particle of truth in the popular saying when we were in grade school. The cold hard fact of it, there’s a purpose behind attacking the Tea Party movement. The ideas of our founders must be eradicated from public discourse regardless of the methods used. Those who support constitutional restraints on government, responsible spending and a balanced budget must be marginalized and their influence on society removed in order for the statist Utopia promised by Hope and Change to come about.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

…is good for the gander

I like colloquial sayings; used to have a picture with the most common phrases in the bathroom. “Today is the first day of the rest of your life”, not one of my favorites; but you get the idea.


A line which wasn’t on the list; but easily could have been, “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander”. Who’d have guessed there would be an entire page on Google dedicated to explaining this ancient saying?


The only reason the subject came to mind was the recent debt ceiling crisis talks in Washington. Devin Dwyer, writing for ABC World News wrote an article explaining how Obama wants both sides to “pull off the band-aid”, something which is often quite painful.


“Obama has endorsed a “balanced approach” to deficit reduction that would trim close to $4 trillion over the next decade through a mix of spending cuts -- including changes to some entitlement programs -- and tax increases for wealthier Americans and corporations.”


The problem, at least the way I see it, has to do with what folks in Washington call a “balanced approach”. They show up at the public trough and fill their pockets while at the same time destroying the livelihood of the very people who pay those tax dollars and then tell us there isn’t enough money; we have to spend more money to get out of debt and increase taxes on the filthy rich. I’ve yet to figure out how spending more money we don’t have will…kind of like a short sheeted bed isn’t it?


Statistics are fun to play with because they have so many ways of being interpreted. Looking up the median income for working Americans proved more difficult than expected so the numbers included here are those shown are from a 2003 Wikipedia compilation . The figures listed can easily be projected to present day since, according to the information supplied; these numbers have not changed significantly in decades.


“While the median household income has increased 30% since 1990, it has increased only slightly when considering inflation. In 1990, the median household income was $30,056 or $44,603 in 2003 dollars. While personal income has remained relatively stagnant over the past few decades…” (Subliminal message to sheeple, ignore that word inflation, printing money is good, long term debt is healthy…)


Family income for 50% of American households ran between $45K and $47K. The next major bracket was for those making between $50K and $75K; only 18% of the total families. In other words roughly 70% of all America working families make less than $75K; this data does not take into account the recession which put unemployment over 9% after the Obama administration took charge of the economy.


When Obama said he wanted a “balanced approach” to fixing the budget nothing was mentioned about cutting payroll to the elite among us, our federal workers. An article by Dennis Cauchon in USA Today pointed out the fact that public sector jobs tend to pay almost 20% better than private sector jobs requiring the same job skills.


‘“The data flip the conventional wisdom on its head,” says Cato Institute budget analyst Chris Edwards, a critic of federal pay policy. “Federal workers make substantially more than private workers, not less, in addition to having a large advantage in benefits.”’


The real elite class, our elected representatives, make at least twice the median income of most Americans who are paying their salaries. We actually pay these folks to muck up the budget, to tell us we need to sacrifice more. Our president said we need to “pull off the band-aid” and suck it in. Well isn’t that special.


“The current salary (2011) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year.” This does not even mention automatic pay raises and side benefits such as tax payer funded staffing which greatly increase the cost of government.


I have an idea; let’s take the federal budget down by 20% starting the first Monday of September, that’s Labor Day for those not looking at a calendar. All federal employees, regardless of position, longevity or pay grade will take an automatic 20% reduction. This won’t hurt nearly as much as being out of work like 9% of Americans unemployed during this recession; come on “rip off that band-aid”!


The EPA has gone out of its way to destroy the coal and petrochemical industry through draconian policies and the EPA is only one of many government bureaucracies. Not only are we paying elitist bureaucrats excessive salaries compared to the median income of most American families; their agenda would seem to run counter to helping the economy recover and I’ve said nothing about how they’ve trampled on individual liberties. Enough!


How about a substantial reduction in salaries paid to elected representatives? These folks are more than willing for average Americans to sacrifice in order to “right the ship”. Why should they be exempted; after all, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander”!


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

There is nothing like a DAME

Stealing a line from the hit show, South Pacific, seemed like an appropriate way to start today’s article. Far from home in the middle of the war thousands of men reminded of the fact…


“…There are no books like a dame,
And nothin’ looks like a dame.
There are no drinks like a dame,
And nothin’ thinks like a dame,
Nothin’ acts like a dame,
Or attracts like a dame.
There ain’t a thing that's wrong with any man here
That can’t be cured by pullin’ him near
A girly, womanly, female, feminine dame!




But that’s not what the article is about; sorry to have led you down the garden path. This past weekend the Greater Houston Locksmith Association (GHLA) had Harry Sher down to teach an eight hour DAME class. DAME is the acronym for Defense Against Methods of Entry. The class covered areas of the industry which I seldom if ever venture into, my being an automotive specialist. I needed eight more hours before the end of August to keep my locksmith license up to date; don’t get me started on mandated continuing education .


Harry Sher’s been a locksmith since the 50’s and has forgotten more about locks than I’ll ever know; not that he’s forgotten much. His presentation was fast moving as he showed us how to defeat one lock system after another using sophisticated audio visual tools which were all linked to his laptop computer. Some of the tools looked like they’d fit in a James Bond movie, real “Holy Crap! You mean someone actually makes a tool that can do that?”, kind of stuff.


At the half way mark, when it was time to go for lunch, Harry wanted to make sure the building would be locked up; all that fancy equipment being left with nobody to watch over it. I turned to the locksmith sitting next to me and laughed out loud, “Yea, like that’s gonna’ stop anyone”; having observed Harry defeat every lock on display.


Here’s the message, don’t bother locking your door, file cabinet, safe deposit box or safe. If Harry wants in they won’t do any good. I watched him defeat a UL listed lock in 20 seconds; UL listing means it’s supposed to resist picking or manipulation for at least 15 minutes. As for the rest of us, regular everyday locksmiths it might take “a while” longer; but there isn’t a lock made that can’t be defeated.


Rest easy, the average thief hasn’t got the smarts to use the techniques Harry Sher referenced in his DAME class; for that matter, very few locksmiths could claim to be as proficient.


“There is nothin’ like a dame,
Nothin’ in the world,
There is nothin’ you can name
That is anythin’ like a dame!”


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.


This will also appear as a feature article on Fiercely Independent Locksmiths of America’s website.

Entering Police State (for your own good)

There’s a story out of New York by Taylor Hatmaker, Secret Service raids Apple store artist for snapping 1000 spy photos , that caught my attention the other day. The secondary title was a bit more accurate, “A young digital artist secretly recorded shoppers peering into computers at New York Apple stores”; too late, I was already looking for James Bond behind every iPad.


The article indicated Kyle McDonald asked for permission to install a computer program of his own design which would secretly take photographs of potential customers as they contemplated purchasing items at the store. McDonald collected the photographs to make a short artistic video which he posted on the internet; a video which is no longer available for viewing.


Who hit the alarm button, the one to alert Homeland Security, Secret Service, the CIA and MI-6 to save us from having our pictures taken in a public setting? “All units, unauthorized picture taking on 14th Street; seek and destroy. Call out the black ops helicopter and get Maxwell Smart out of retirement; the security of our civilized society is now at Defcom 3”. Somebody took photographs in New York City; oh my heavens, call out the guard!


“The stealthy undertaking resulted in the confiscation of McDonald’s two computers, his iPod, and some other storage devices, but it isn’t yet clear if the McDonald was actually in violation of any laws. While the Secret Service warrant cited 'computer fraud' as the cause for the raid…”


Did you catch that, “it isn’t yet clear if the McDonald was actually in violation of any laws”? The “state” always knows best so it must be for our own good.


I’m sure the Patriot Act extension signed by Obama covers a wide range of terrorist activity via its ambiguous wording, enough for an unnamed federal judge to sign a warrant giving the Secret Service authorization to seize “McDonald’s two computers, his iPod, and some other storage devices”.


So, exactly what laws were violated; please be specific. We the People want to know the definition of “for our own good”. Not too long ago Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she stands by the report, which lists returning veterans among terrorist risks to the U.S. .


Without the rule of law our foundation cracks and falls apart. If our individual liberties are at the whim of whomever is in power then our nation is doomed; for what is liberty without a clear understanding of private property rights?


“If the declaration of independence is not obligatory, our intire political fabrick has lost its magna charta, and is without any solid foundation. But if it is the basis of our form of government, it is the true expositor of the principles and terms we have adopted.” (John Taylor 1823)


Where is the line drawn in the sand, the one which identifies tourist activity from terrorist activity? Shouldn’t reason and common sense be used to determine criminal intent or has common sense been thrown out and Zero Tolerance taken its place?


If someone takes pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge while on a trip to New York could they be arrested for planning its demise based merely on the image stored on the camera’s memory card? What if they took pictures of some of the characters seen at Wal-Mart ; not that anyone could be embarrassed with a few “candid camera” shots there.


Glenn Harlan Reynolds wrote an article which explained, “Taking Photos In Public Places Is Not a Crime” , giving generally accepted rules which apply regardless of the fact that too many officials think otherwise.


“Legally, it’s pretty much always okay to take photos in a public place as long as you’re not physically interfering with traffic or police operations. As Bert Krages, an attorney who specializes in photography-related legal problems and wrote Legal Handbook for Photographers, says, “The general rule is that if something is in a public place, you’re entitled to photograph it.” What’s more, though national-security laws are often invoked when quashing photographers, Krages explains that “the Patriot Act does not restrict photography; neither does the Homeland Security Act.” But this doesn’t stop people from interfering with photographers, even in settings that don’t seem much like national-security zones.”


I ask once more, getting back to the original article that got my blood pressure up a notch, where in our laws is it written that the Secret Service can confiscate McDonald’s personal property simply for taking pictures of folks shopping for a computer? Exactly what laws were violated; please be specific? I know; it must be for our own good.


“Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” -C.S. Lewis


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

"X" Marks the Spot

When I was growing up, not that the process was ever completed, we had a Hobo’s “X” marked on our front door. You couldn’t see it; but all the same it was there. Stray animals wandering the neighborhood would recognize the mark and know they were welcome to stop in for a meal and safe lodgings for as long as needed. Some of them became members of our extended family.


One time there was a lonely “hound mix” waiting for us to open the front door. He looked like he was on his last leg so my parents invited him in for a meal and a bowl of water. He didn’t venture very far into the house; content to be in out of the elements, he stayed in the entry way.


At the time we already had two pets, a large rust colored dog named Gritz and a feisty old grey cat, Topsey. Gritz was easy going and saw no problem letting the stranger in; Topsey, on the other paw, drew an imaginary line on the floor letting the interloper know he was on thin ice.


This was the Sixties and a popular television show in our house was Bonanza. One of the episodes had a hound sleeping on the porch of a back woods friend. Now and then the hound would move in its sleep. The dog shook its head when a fly landed on its ear and the owner remarked, “Walter’s getting excited”, as the dog went back to his slumbers.


We observed the “energy challenged” dog in our entry way the rest of the evening. The hound was so tired he fell asleep while leaning against the wall; his loose fitting frame sliding slowly down the wall and into a heap on the floor. We knew right away; his name must be Walter.


When it was time for bed it was decided the dog was to stay inside, something which everyone except Topsey thought was a good idea. Later in the night we awoke to the hound’s plea for help. Topsey had taken it upon herself to corner Walter and chastise him for trespassing.


Walter was indeed cornered; Topsey had a low growling threat escaping her mouth as her ears fixated on the cowering dog in the corner. Every now and then Walter would look to the heavens and let go with a mournful howl as if it were his last breath on this earth. Topsey would have been satisfied with that; but Walter was saved from eminent destruction that day and eventually become part of the family.


Walter wasn’t the sharpest pencil in the box and never figured out Topsey hadn’t signed the family contract adopting him. Topsey would set traps for Walter from time to time and enjoyed taking a piece of Walter’s nose when the poor dolt would fall into those traps.


Topsey would lie upside down on the floor pretending to be asleep. Walter would study the situation for a while and cautiously approach to see if she was in deed asleep. He would inch closer and observe no discernable movement until he was directly over her. At precisely the right moment Topsey’s front paws would surround Walter’s nose, claws extended, as she’d bite him. There would be a yelp as Walter retreated and a quite moment of satisfaction from Topsey as she marked her score card. Walter never learned from experience and fell for the ploy numerous times.


That was then and this is now, isn’t that how the line goes. The Hobo’s X that was on my parent’s home somehow managed to find my own home regardless of where we’ve lived. In reality, that Hobo’s X isn’t on the house, at least not the structure; it’s on our hearts. These wandering creatures are able to see into our hearts and recognize a gentle spirit, one who will graciously offer a meal or safe haven without expecting much, if anything in return.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Looking for an Old Photograph

(This story was posted previously; however, when I tried to link with it "the powers that be" had placed a blocker on it; claimed it had offensive material and/or spam, it does not contain anything offensive.  I've removed any and all links to it; hopefully that clears off the block.) 

Looking for an Old Photograph

I spent the morning looking for an old photograph. I wanted to find a group picture of my 1976 Point Control softball team to send off to an old friend. We would play in his backyard, tossing a worn out baseball for hours on end; pretending we were at Yankee Stadium. Forty years later we are comparing notes and catching up with each other.


I went through stacks of old pictures; finding all kinds of vacation shots in the mountains, our kids in various stages of growing up, cars we had owned (or had owned us); everything except the team picture. I found some photos from when my dad and I flew up to Chicago to take in a game, the Cubs at Wrigley Field, close but no cigar.


I rummaged through my desk, a study in creative disorder. I found my first rough draft for Chapter One of “Pecaw’s Gift”, a novel length work that I tried to get published. To save money I’d printed it on the back of my locksmith company letterhead; might as well since it had our old address. I wonder where I put the rest of that manuscript.


Maybe I could scan a copy of the plaque given to us for sponsoring my son, William’s, baseball team. They came in second place that year and each boy earned a trophy. Trophies are an important part of growing up. I still have the trophy from my Little League days. Thinking back, every kid who put on a team shirt got some kind of trophy just for being a member of the team, any team. It didn’t matter if they ever won a game, you got a trophy to put on the fireplace mantle. That trophy was a solid piece of evidence that you existed on this Earth. In time, at least in the back of your mind, that first trophy would be the start of many worldly awards; Rookie of the Year, National League MVP, two or three World Series rings, and the dreams roll on.


I played high school ball long enough to figure out that my chances of getting to the next level were slim to none. I did get my “letter sweater” and it hangs in the closet next to a light blue shirt with four hash marks on the left sleeve; the shirt I wore when I retired from the police department. Some trophies never make the fireplace; they hang in the closet.


I imagine that some time later in the day I may stumble over that team picture I was hunting for. It would be nice to have a look at some of the faces, young police officers taking a few moments in the middle of the night to play softball together. It was the “midnight league”, at least that’s what we called it. We all worked the evening shift and would get off duty around ten or eleven. The teams were made from various divisions within the police department. Ours was Point Control, the guys who directed traffic during rush hour, later to become Special Operations,. We came in third place that year; gave that trophy to our division commander to show off in the office. Point Control didn’t have too many trophies. There was the Safety Award Plaque that hung on the wall; the one that accidentally got nicked by a stray bullet, but that’s a whole other story.


I’ll keep looking for the picture; it’s become a challenge now. I did find a picture taken the day Lucy and I got married. We’d only been married a few minutes as we confidently marched back up the isle; my arm crooked around hers. I have to admit, that picture grabs my interest even more than the Point Control team photo. Trophies come in various shapes and sizes, this one still holds my hand on our Saturday night date.

Journal Entry July 1st 1776

This past week has been very difficult. As mentioned in previous journal entries, many of our neighbors have been forced to house British troops. We all have had to turn over much of our food stores to maintain the troops. If these insults were not sufficient to get my blood running hot, these Red Coats are going house to house in our small village confiscating anything which resembles a weapon, tools we use to gather fresh game as well as fend off those who would do us harm.


Just yesterday Lucy was forced to stand patiently at the front door to our humble quarters while Red Coats searched every nook and cranny for weapons. Fortunately they didn’t search under her overly long dress where they would have found four muskets; thank heavens for quick thinking. All our gun powder and shot has been carefully hidden away under the floor; but first thing tomorrow it will be taken to a more secure location in the thicket.


A small group met at the local pub last night after normal business hours. With the doors locked and lamps turned down low we heard rumors out of Philadelphia that armed conflict is inevitable. Cousin Richard Henry Lee has been attending those meetings, representing our interests and has assured us that every peaceable measure has been attempted up to date. According to Richard the only avenue left to the colonies is to declare our independence from British rule and the King. I fear our hardships have only begun.


Unfortunately, and perhaps to be expected, a few hot heads have taken to violence such as tossing stones at passing British troops. On Friday one soldier got bloodied and had his head bandaged after a volley of moderately sized rocks cascaded from behind a large stand of trees. As yet there have been no arrests; yet we all are considered suspect by the manner in which we are searched without cause upon entering the public square or simply walking among them.


Pastor Williams has asked the entire congregation to fast this Sunday and asked us to pour out our hearts to our Lord’s that we might have His Holy Spirit help in finding His will in these matters. May our actions be compatible with the expectations of our Savior or may He grant us forgiveness in our errors.


(This is a fictional account created as a measure of respect for those who placed their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor on the line in order to secure us our independence)


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

If you don’t know where you came from…

Have you ever heard the expression, “If you don’t know where you came from how can you know where you’re going?” This weekend many of us celebrate our Independence Day. I say many of us; but there’s a significant portion which doesn’t share the pride swelling inside as an American Flag is paraded down Main Street according to some Harvard professors. Why is that?


‘“The political right has been more successful in appropriating American patriotism and its symbols during the 20th century. Survey evidence also confirms that Republicans consider themselves more patriotic than Democrats. According to this interpretation, there is a political congruence between the patriotism promoted on Fourth of July and the values associated with the Republican party. Fourth of July celebrations in Republican dominated counties may thus be more politically biased events that socialize children into Republicans,” write Harvard Kennedy School Assistant Professor David Yanagizawa-Drott and Bocconi University Assistant Professor Andreas Madestam.”


Maybe folks would have a better understanding of America if they took the time to figure out where we came from. When you ask important questions interesting things happen.


Take for example the children’s song, I Am A Child of God , consider the message and compare it with what the Scriptures tell us; the answer is the same. We are children of our Heavenly Father, that same Being referred to in the Declaration of Independence as the Creator.


“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27


I keep forgetting, this requires a leap of faith, something quite alien to statists. There’s a line drawn in the sand, so to speak, dividing intellectuals from Creationist loonies. Many demean and ridicule people of faith as if religion was a crutch for the weak minded; a ploy used by the Father of Lies from the beginning of time.


Intellectuals don’t mind hiding behind God given inalienable right to express themselves at every turn. Of course they’d have us believe these are “natural rights”, something which government identified and handed out like pop sickles rather than acknowledge their true source. In fact they’ve embellished on the original right to freedom of speech considerably which now includes profanity, pornography and almost any conceivable abomination which springs from the mind, mouth or hand of man. Never mind the Commandments of God; we are free to act any damn way we please.


Progressive minded folks are comfortable with Einstein’s mathematics and theories regarding complex relationships on time, space, gravitational interaction and physics. If you looked up “Relativity” on the internet there are many listings, the easiest to understand is found here .


“Einstein stated that the theory of relativity belongs to the class of “principle-theories”. As such it employs an analytic method. This means that the elements which comprise this theory are not based on hypothesis but on empirical discovery. The empirical discovery leads to understanding the general characteristics of natural processes. Mathematical models are then developed which separate the natural processes into theoretical-mathematical descriptions. Therefore, by analytical means the necessary conditions that have to be satisfied are deduced. Separate events must satisfy these conditions. Experience should then match the conclusions.”


Before Einstein took his first breath the same all encompassing parameters had already been recorded; not in scientific terminology, plain ordinary English. God’s laws are comprehensive, binding and eternal; they include mathematics, physics, particle theory as well as how His children should behave while in mortality.


“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated — And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” Doctrine and Covenants 130:20,21


John Adams, one of our finest minds wrote: (No doubt, Adams was a hard core right winger)


“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”


Follow that train of thought and you’ll find George Washington’s famous quote: (What a crack pot, no doubt he had a few screws loose. He was a Free Mason; and we all know they were up to no good, a bunch of right wingers if ever there was…)


“Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”


Call me a right winger, one of those “tea partiers” who’ve sipped one too many. I snap to attention at the playing of our National Anthem and when I see the Stars and Stripes go by I stand, salute and revere what it stands for. Our Pledge of Allegiance includes the words, “one nation under God”. All that “extreme” right wing brain washing from the GOP must have found a weak spot.


Our athletes standing on the podium during Olympics give us a chance to appreciate a land so vast and full of accomplishments; my mind reflects on Francis Scott Keys historical tale which had our nation come out on top against incredible odds.


If successive generations fails to recognize the importance of these lessons then the shame be upon us for not doing our duty as citizens, parents and children of our Father in Heaven. My heart swells with pride and tears run down my cheeks when Katharine Lee Bates’ America the Beautiful is sung.


O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!


America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!


O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!


America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!


O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!


America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!


O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!


America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!


I refuse to take a step backwards and apologize for showing my patriotism, to shy away from feelings which are stirred within my chest this time of year. Those who fail to recognize the importance of knowing where we came from are empty shells living on borrowed, even stolen hope. Can those who lack the ability to understand and implement these foundational concepts expect to lead our nation toward a bright and shinning future?


Americans must recognize the Author of Liberty and gratefully acknowledge His hand as we celebrate our Independence Day. In case you haven’t figured it out, I know where I came from and I know where I’m going!


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.