Posted by Sharon on 03/19/10
Last updated 03/19/10

I awake early in the morning to get ready to milk my goats. That is when I do my most convoluted thinking, while the swish-swish rhythm of the milk hitting the bottom of the pail lulls me to contemplate the "big stuff".

Imagine my surprise this morning when a Major News Network decided in the wee hours of the morning to announce the latest sweetheart deal for someone who was holding out "wavering"  on committing their vote for the latest big monster atrocity of Government  Spending - Health Care.

Rep. Earl Pomeroy, a North Dakota Democrat - is apparently undecided on his vote. To my understanding, undecided currently  means "What have you done for me lately?" and not "Is this for the good of the American People as a whole".  In the "not so surprising transparent back room dealings", Representative Earl Pomeroy has secured a tidy little money making deal for his state  - the entire United States Federal Student Loan Program.

According to The Washington Times article "A North Dakota payoff attempt for a health care bill 'yea'?

 The education section of the bill is the student loan provision, whereby private lenders will no longer have the authority to handle student loans. Instead, all student loans would be dealt with solely through the federal government. However, within the CBO cost estimate for the education portion of the health care bill (at the top table of page 2 or section 2213 of the actual language), there appears to be a questionable guaranteed lending circumstance that goes exclusively to the Bank of North Dakota.

The Democrats' health care bill allows "State-Owned Banks" to be exempt from the government's student loan takeover.(H.R. 4872):

"Section 2213. Agreements with State‐Owned Banks. This section amends Part D of Title IV to direct the Secretary to enter into an agreement with an eligible lender for the purpose of providing Federal loan insurance on student loans made by state‐owned banks."

It should be noted that the Bank Of North Dakota is the "Only State-Owned Bank In The Nation."

Well - that's pretty impressive. How much is this deal worth?

According to a Wall Street Journal piece from September 12th, 2009 titled "The Quietest Trillion" - about $100 Billion per year. For a single "Yea" vote. It seems that holding out for the best deal might just pay off for Mr. Pomeroy. Imagine those early-in-the-game "undecideds"  that are kicking themselves right now for settling for $100 - $400 million.

I've said all this to follow up with the following question: What does your vote cost?

If I walked up in November to my local polling station and attempted to sell my vote to a Legislator for $100 would that be illegal? What if I wanted 20' of my neighbors property? Would I be quietly detained while the local police were called to arrest me for violating 18 USC 597 which according to OpenJurist.org is described as:

Expenditures to Influence Voting

Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate; and Whoever solicits, accepts, or receives any such expenditure in consideration of his vote or the withholding of his vote Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

In the end, I would never be able to sell my vote even if it was legal.

You see my vote was paid for at little places whose names are even now forgotten: 

Some unnamed Northern Coast beach of Africa where my Grandfather took a bullet to his right shoulder forever destroying the mobility, the deck of the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk where my fathers knee was ripped to shreds, Ong Thanh where my beloved father-in-law told me stories of how hardened soldiers wept when they returned as B-52s never arrived until 5 days had passed, and my service in the U.S. Navy. 

I would no more dishonor the memories of those who came before to gain a monetary reward than I would vote in the future for any individual in the Legislature who did not fully vet the process of voting on a Bill that will affect 1/6th of America's Economy.

At least I am not undecided.

Posted by Sharon on 03/04/10
Last updated 03/04/10

Recently Matt Phillips blogged about our efforts in conjunction with the Illinois State Beekeepers Association (ISBA) in Springfield to modify the existing rules and classification on Honey. As an update on March 2nd SB 2959 and HB 6132 were passed out of their respective Committees with no opposing votes. HB 5775 passed out of Committee February 24th, 2010 with no opposing votes.

Before these bills are assigned to the Schedule, we encourage each Illinois Citizen (if they support the concept behind the bills)  to either call their Senator and Representative to request they become co-sponsors or to vote for them when they are presented upon the floor. Also, once your legislator has done what you ask - thank them in writing not e-mail, fax, or phone call. Day in and day out legislators get calls that are discouraging, strident, and abrasive.

Remember the adage "You can catch more flies with Honey than with Vinegar"? Not withstanding the fact that I just made a very stupid pun - it is really true. At the most recent Agricultural Committee Hearing our family was pulled aside and thanked for the note we'd sent up. We became "real" and therefore our concerns were real as well. We weren't a faceless part of a FaxBlast or email campaign - we were "The Sabo Beekeeping Family".

I'd also like to address Matt's request that our family reveal our Business information. In the most simplistic form, we are your neighbors. Our names, location and "sale hours" are irrelevant to someone more than an hour away.

No matter where you reside in Illinois someone has an item that you need: Honey, Beeswax, Vegetables, Fruits, Jelly, Salsa, Milk: I could expand the list until the Blog is filled and not finish listing the items that can be locally purchased.

Many, but not all of the above items suggested can be sourced through LocalHarvest by simply typing in your zip code with the product you are searching for. 

Milk and Dairy can be sourced through The Weston A. Price Foundation including the applicable laws that must be followed.

Also, don't forget your local small Butcher. Ask for locally grown and processed meat or poultry. If you don't ask, how will they know what you want?

Why would I tie this conversation in with the legislative process one might ask? It is really quite simple.

If the process of changing statutes encourages local producers to participate in local sales - there will be more local sales.

This in effect will lead to more individuals participating in Local Economic Growth and reducing the dependency on large business concerns.

Farmer to Consumer the Old Fashioned Way

Constituent to Legislator the Old Fashioned Way

At a time when many of us feel like we are headed off to work only to have a passing acquaintance with our surrounding neighborhoods and farmers, I'd like to encourage each and everyone of you to expand your opportunities. Instead of reaching for the imported honey or products on shelves, take a moment to ask the Manager "I'd really like to see more local products carried here. Do you know where I can get local ___________?" If enough people ask and indicate their desire change could truly happen.

I'd also like to personally thank all of the Illinois C4L Bloggers who keep on each day providing their view of the world. You are real to me.

Sharon Sabo

Prairie Du Rocher, Illinois

Posted by Sharon on 06/05/09
Last updated 06/05/09

I don't tweet, twitter, myspace, facebook or any of those new fangled things. In fact learning to use the Blog has been a challenge for me.However - this is an issue all Campaign for Liberty members in Illinois and Missouri MUST know about.

The USDA had been be-bopping around the United States to select locations to take input (via the Delphi Technique) for the Implementation of a Mandatory National Animal Identification System.

After No NAIS supporters raised the battle cry over only 7 locations in the entire United States being allotted the "honor" of participating via Lottery the "right" to speak for 3 minutes, the USDA added 6 more "Sessions". Missouri will be holding the first of these additional meetings.

 
 Truman Center
 1510 Jefferson Street
 Jefferson City, Missouri 65109

  Tuesday June 9th, 2009

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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This Press Release is from Doreen Hannes as to the plans for June 9th, 2009. Contact information follows:

You may pre-register by telephone by calling 301-734-0799. There was an answering machine at this number when I phoned. Frankly, I am loathe to give my name and address to the USDA in association with the word 'register' at all.

 We would like for everyone who possibly can to show up at 7:00 am and we will have an ongoing protest outside the event while the "listening session" is taking place. There will be signs available, but please feel free to make your own and bring them. Volunteers for refreshments are needed as well.

 While people give their three minute statements, we ask that those who have spoken go ahead and go outside and engage in the protest there. We want the USDA bureaucrats to be met by people vehemently telling them "We Will NOT Comply!" as they enter the building.

 Obviously, this will be a peaceful protest, but we will exercise our first amendment rights in seeking to protect other rights.

 Media will be contacted and we will also be contacting several state representatives and senators as well as Federal representatives to ask them to come and witness exactly how opposed to this insane infringement upon our God Given Rights we are.

 We have made a difference, and, with the proper exposure, we will make an even bigger difference if we stay the course.

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For more information Contact:

Doreen Hannes: animalwaitress@yahoo.com

Website to be updated with further information:

http://www.missouriansagainstnais.com/

Please pass this information on to those you know in Illinois, Missouri, and the surrounding states.

Respectfully,

Sharon Sabo

Prairie Du Rocher, Illinois

618-458-7745

Posted 06/05/09 Elaine Prairie City, OR

I am glad to see the attendance and protest is picking up steam at these "listening" sessions. I don't think they are listening at all! I testified at the Pasco, Washington session ending with "What Part of NO NAIS does USDA not understand?" Many of the people at the Pasco venue told them "We Will Not Comply!"

Posted 06/11/09 BBLiberty Pekin, IL

Keep up the great work! I just met a local farmer here in central Illinois and he is adamantly against NAIS - so is his veterinarian wife. I am working to spread information about this and other health freedom issues.

Posted by Sharon on 04/08/09
Last updated 04/09/09

Mornings never start easy around here : 4:30 am milkings are just the beginning of our day.  When done,  I approached with dread (and a little embarrasment for not being aware of) the text contained within "H.R. 1207: Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009"      

One must understand that I have been attempting to wrap my coffee drizzled brain around thousands of pages and literally millions of words to figure out what is happening at .gov central. Food safety, land set asides, Cap and Tax, etc. The past few months have been a bit busy.

So imagine my surprise when only 447 words appeared. Wow.

In the last few years I have been trying to imagine just how Congress Critters manage to stuff proposed Bills full of a labyrinth series of words designed to drive one mad in the futile search for a path through the impenetrable walls of the vernacular maze created.

See what happens when one spends too much time among the trenches?   I should have just said "Why do they write in such a convoluted manner?" Contained within the 447 words are common sense without all that additional verbage designed to hide what is being proposed "Audit the Fed" - simple.

Why did I bother to find out what the Text of H.R. 1207 is?

Jeff Covington, our District Coordinator down here in the 12th,  is working on gathering 1,000 signatures on a petition calling for Jerry Costello to support H.R. 1207. I thought it would be a good idea to know what he is working on and why. So - I went to see what the text contained.

We have been setting up in Waterloo, Illinois at  the Mid-West Bird and Animal Breeders Association  (next meet April 26) at their request to pass out information about NAIS and the effect it will have on the Swap. When Jeff and I talked last - we discussed having the Petition available for signing. It looks like that will happen.

If Southern Illinoisians are done with their milking by 5 am, why not head on over to the Waterloo Fairgrounds , snack on a Slim Jim and meet some like minded supporters of Liberty. We will be there until about 9 am or so and are easy to find (right by the "Necessity").

 Look forward to seeing you!

Sharon Sabo

Posted 04/11/09 Jeff Covington , IL

You can plan on seeing me Sharon! Looking forward to working with you and Mike!

Posted by Sharon on 04/22/09
Last updated 04/22/09

Good news?

HR 1207 is everywhere and seems to have a groundswell of support!

Bad News?

The more we speak to people  -  the less seem to realize that HR 1207 exists.

Let us be very honest here : We are just a simple family with limited contact with the "outside" world. Like the majority of rural citizens our obligations run the ubiquitous 24/7. We have a little farm to run, children to educate, bills to pay - that leaves a lack of time to open up dialogue with other people as to the State of our Union.

Through internet connections we have communicated with people across the United States of America and tried to answer the following question:

 "Why has there has never been a public audit of the Federal Reserve since its inception in 1913?"

Every year we gather together our financial information to answer for our success by essentially being Audited by the IRS. Small Business concerns throughout our Nation do the same by wading through the morass of Federal Regulations.

So our question is this "If not now - then when?"

When will the Federal Reserve be held accountable, and perhaps in some cases liable, for their lack of accountability in the past 96 years? What is being hidden and why should we accept that?

Now that the "case" has been presented it is time one asks what exactly can one person do?

We have an answer for that!

1. Support local petition drives to have your Congress Critter Co-Sponsor HR 1207.

2. Carry with you several copies of   HR 1207    and give them to others throughout the day. Don't limit yourself to "friends and family" give to: Dry cleaners, Grocery Stores, Feed or Tack shops - you know - people who have just signed their Tax Returns and are wondering how they will manage to do the same next year. Also carry a copy of the Petition around - people will be more likely to sign right then while they are thinking about the unknown ramifications of "Tax Day" next year.

According to our calculations, if every Campaign For Liberty Member in Illinois did this for just one day and managed to garner 15 signatures - that would be 77,400 signatures. How many people do you contact in your day that would refuse a simple request for Accountability through a Federal Audit - especially if they just had to do it?

We can give it a fancy name and tie it up with a sparkly ribbon as is done in Washington D.C. - something like "The Federal Reserve  Audit Petition to end all Petitions". Our 12 year old wants to call it the "Where is Our Money Going Act?" - I sort of like that one as well.

If you are in Southern Illinois this Sunday and need a place to put your "John Hancock" so to speak, why not stop by the Waterloo Animal Swap and join us in assisting District 12 reach our 1,000 signatures to encourage Congressman Costello to become a Co-Sponsor? In fact - why not invite Costello to join us and add his own name to our little effort? After all - he works for us.

See you this Sunday!

Michael and Sharon Sabo

"There, I guess King George will be able to read that."

(Attributed to John Hancock upon signing the Declaration of Independence)

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And while we are tilting at windmills - why not contact some media? Feel free to chose one or more of the following (or look here for your newpaper):

Belleville News-Democrat : newsroom@bnd.com 618-239-2451

The Telegraph (Alton) : linda_weller@thetelegraph.com

The Southern (Carbondale): Gary.Metro@TheSouthern.com

The Republic-Times (Waterloo) : rtedit@htc.net

North County News (Red Bud/Prairie Du Rocher) : ncnews@htc.net (Attn: Jane Lucht)

News-Plaindealer (Sparta) : mspringston@bnd.com