Posted by sweetliberty on 11/06/09

This is a great article, from the Durango Herald:

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2009/11/06/Opponents_descend_on_Salazars_
office/

What I especially enjoyed was the mention of the TEA Party movement, and the citing of a concerned citizen who correctly stated, "Nowhere does the Constitution mandate health care," and, "People have to take responsibility for themselves."

The article even quotes a citizen who, upon becoming self-employed, is voluntarily un-insured. "I'll stick my neck out, save money to pay my own bills and die at home because I don't want you to pay for me."

I love this American spirit! Keep it up, folks! Stand up for liberty, and stand against yet another failed federal program that steals the rights of individuals!

Posted 11/07/09 Paul Hogan Middle Village, NY

Thanks for sharing. You can fool some of the people some of the time and you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Posted by sweetliberty on 11/06/09

I'm currently enrolled in a professional first aid/first responder class at my local college. We're a little over halfway through the semester, and are now learning how to assess and treat victims of trauma. Medically, trauma is defined as an event that causes harm, like a car accident.

The lecture began, and the teacher began talking about the importance of learning how to respond to trauma -- especially multi-casualty events, because, and I quote as best as I can remember, "terrorist attacks have really been on the rise in this country in the last few years."

This is a paid government employee, and there are myriad implications with that; however, I don't believe the teacher is knowingly spreading government propaganda. I think she really believes -- like many Americans -- that terrorist attacks are on the rise, and that there has been an increase in attacks in the "last few years." Why do people think this? Because government spews out this message by the metric ton, and media outlets fall all over themselves to repeat it, cramming it into the eyes and ears of Americans every chance they get.

The "last few years" means, to me, 3 or 4, or maybe even 5. That time span wouldn't even include 9/11.

This believe that terrorism is "on the rise" is fascinating to me, because it's so strikingly similar to the fear that global temperatures are "on the rise." Or that Muslim extremism is "on the rise." Or prices, or Socialism, or the number of uninsured, or illegal immigration, or gun violence, or teen violence, or obesity, diabetes, swine flu, nuclear proliferation, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria... The American people have been corralled by a media+government fence that's absolutely plastered with panic-inducing propaganda. Everywhere we look: doom -- doom that's "on the rise" in these "last few years."

I'm not doubting that some trends are upward. What my concern is (and a first responder should obviously know this) is that panic leads quite directly to bad decisions and misinformation. What we need are actual facts, uncovered with relentless diligence from a media who considers it their duty, and given to a public that will accept nothing less. Instead, what we have are fearmongering sound bytes, unquestioned by the mouths that repeat them, and delivered with an air of hysteria and alarm that is not questioned by most Americans.

The thing that's "on the rise" in these "last few years" is the absence of responsibility.

And I'm not sure how to bring it back.

Posted 11/06/09 C00kieM0nster Oxnard, CA

Replace safety nets with the normal risks involved in life would be a good start.

Posted 11/06/09 Mike in Virginia Fredericksburg, VA

Ahhh, but you forget the tea parties. Which produced zero violence, zero injuries, even zero littering. But they were anti government...isn't that the very definition of terrorism? Just ask Reichsfuehrer Obama or Oberfuehrer Pelosi. They'll tell you.

Posted 11/07/09 Paul Hogan Middle Village, NY

Great post Sweet Liberty. What's happening in the media and in some colleges is just good old indoctrination and propaganda. I've also enrolled in a local college and throughout the registration the school was giving away copies of Obama's memoir novels and I have a professor that continually brings up the subject of global warming. My daughter is also in college and she is currently writing a thesis about globalization. There is definitely an agenda behind all of this.

Posted by sweetliberty on 11/05/09

When I was a kid, my siblings and I used to listen to story records -- little 45 vinyl records, usually made by Disney, with songs and stories. One of our favorites was Robin Hood. There are so many memorable lines from the story record that have become inside jokes to us; however, today, as I looked at my paycheck, a line sprang to mind, and it was definitely no joke.

"I must have more taxes!" cries the evil tax collector. "Hand over that gold coin, sonny!" And with that demand, he snatched the last coin out of the hands of a young, cartoon talking animal dressed in rags.

That's right, you guessed it: suddenly my take-home pay is smaller this month than last month. I'm paid a salary, not hourly, so the discrepancy cannot be attributed to working a different number of hours. I haven't gotten married, haven't given birth, and haven't modified my W2. Clearly, by looking at my federal and state deductions (such a nicer word than "stolen funds"), they've gone up.

This infuriates me. I spend a lot of time and effort clipping coupons, shopping sales, opting out of trips with friends, and trying to stick to a budget -- and why? Because the government takes tens of thousands of dollars from me in "deductions" every year. Imagine getting a 25% raise! Imagine if everyone in America got a 25% raise!

Taxed Enough Already is far too kind a phrase. I'm thinking something with a lot more profanity, and maybe a few illustrations to boot.

Posted by sweetliberty on 10/22/09

This is absolutely freaking hilarious.

http://blog.mises.org/archives/010884.asp

Posted 10/22/09 ladynurse Festus, MO

Oh, my. I'm dumber for having read that...lol!! McInerney is a McMoron.

Posted 10/22/09 Scott from PA Hopwood, PA

Is there a video of this debate? This is too funny.

Posted 10/22/09 Isomies Mechanicsville, VA

video or it never happened :)

Posted by sweetliberty on 10/20/09

There's a great article at reason.com about crime decline in America. Yes, you heard me. Crime decline.

From the article:
" According to Gallup, since 2002 the percentage of the American public who think violent crime is on the rise has been increasing, even as actual violent crime rates continue to fall. Sides notes that from 1989 to 2001, perception and reality somewhat went hand in hand. But 2002 to 2003 saw a 19 percent leap in public perceptions that violent crime was on the uptick, and the figure has been going up in the years since—to 74 percent today. What's going on?"

Of course, as our perception of rising crime goes up, so does our tolerance for police state activities that steal our liberties on the promise of keeping us safe. Politicians play on this fear every chance they get, to win votes, and steal money.

The article also mentions that the federal government has been adding to the list of what constitutes a "federal crime" to the tune of 55 additions per year, since the 1980's.

Here's the article:
http://reason.com/archives/2009/10/19/were-all-felons-now

Posted 10/21/09 rightsman Las Vegas,, NV

sweetliberty, In 2002 alone 80,000 laws were passed in the United States, the States, Counties, Cities, and Municipalities. We cannot establish a religion without permission from the Internal Revenue Service. One cannot print and distribute a pamphlet without a permit from one or more government agencies, We cannot peaceably assemble without a permit, and a redress for grievances brings down upon one a heap of trouble. That's amendment one. Thank you, Robert Walker