Liberty Maven

Much of what our federal government is doing right now is not just illegal and unconstitutional, it’s also just plain stupid. How about using some “Common Sense”?

by Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution
Originally published on Monday, June 8, 2009 at http://www.nolanchart.com/article6514.html

This short piece will describe “50 Laboratories” model using the current debate over federal nationalization of our health care as a practical example. However, I want to stress that this argument can be applied to most other topics of national concern, such as energy, the economy, retirement and even hot-button topics like same-sex marriage and abortion.

As the self-styled “Champion of the Constitution,” readers of this column are very familiar with my application of the Constitution to current events and issues. I confess that an affection for the Tenth Amendment from the Constitution’s Bill of Rights runs very strong in my blood. I even believe it should be repeated several more times in the Constitution so that posterity will never neglect it.

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

However, let us assume for the purpose of this article that this argument is null and void. In fact, our federal Legislative, Judicial and Executive have behaved for the past decade as if this is the case, so whatever your personal views are, oath or no oath, this is a fair assumption to make.

Conversely, let us also hypothetically assume the argument that all 50 States do not have Sovereignty over their own States is also null and void, though this is fairly ridiculous. Perhaps when the day arrives where Rhode Island and Connecticut decide to merge into the state of Rhodnecticut, or North Carolina and South Carolina combine into Carolina, we can review this once more.

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In a parallel universe, public servants would compete to serve the public best.

Today the union leader for the Rochester Private Fire Company ‘won’ a decision by a State judge that ceases the Company’s participation in Rochester City “Cool Sweeps”. In the past, the professional and volunteer firefighters of RPFC would give back to their customers and achieve inexpensive advertising to attract new customers by opening fire hydrants on hot and sticky summer days.

These events were naturally quite popular among children and made them admire the firefighters as role models. Some even showed signs of wanting to become firefighters when they grew up. It’s just another way the RPFC brought value to their community and improved the health of young Rochesterians in the face of dangerous weather.

Last week Judge Jean Doerr ruled that “such tasks represent duties ‘not inherent in the duties of firefighters,’ and therefore constitute an unfair work practice.” Unfair to whom? We’re not quite sure. Chief Firefighter and CEO of RPFC John Caufield said that he is “disgusted” with this decision and believes this ruling to be a public relations disaster.

Caufield told our reporter, “We loved [participating in] the Cool Sweeps. It’s great to be out there in the community. Firefighters have always done more than just fight fires. Pick up any children’s book and you’ll see depictions of us rescuing cats, helping children cross the street and volunteering for Senior Citizens. We don’t find these tasks to be demeaning and we certainly don’t find them to be outside of our duties. In fact, most of us became firefighters to help in any way we could.” Caufield is worried about how the competition might react and has vowed to appeal the decision.

The competition is reacting quickly to the news. The steering committee for West Brighton Fire Service Organization (WBFSO) announced today that they will be opening two new stations on the edge of the city to provide service to residents on the edge of the city. According to a press release WBFSO will be delighted to continue Cool Sweep operations for Rochester residents and will match existing rates in their new service areas.

Other competing fire companies are interested in expanding their coverage as well. The Gates Fire Corporation has announced plans to fast-track construction on a new station in the City. Their CEO announced “We recognize the huge misstep the RPFC has made here and we are reaffirming our commitment to our current customers to put their interests first.”

Although Cool Sweeps are on hold for now, Rochester is not expecting sweltering weather until next month, giving businesses, neighborhood associations and fire companies a window of opportunity to find solutions.

Originally posted on riseuprochester.org

In an interview by Kathleen Wells on the Huffington Post Ron Paul aims and fires at both former President Bush and current President Obama. It is this kind of brutal honesty we should demand of our Representatives.

Kathleen Wells: What are your thoughts on President Obama’s decision to release the torture memos?

Congressman Ron Paul: I think he is purely political. I think he has backed down on what he said. He was elected for change and it is the same old stuff and he is as much of a neo-con now as Bush was with this issue and other issues. The war has been expanded. He continues with not closing down Guantanamo. There is probably, for as most [sic] as we can tell, there is still secret rendition going on. We just moved some of this process overseas. We are not going to be aware of it in detail.

Kathleen Wells: You feel President Obama is a neo-con like Bush? You don’t see a distinction between the two administrations?

Congressman Ron Paul: The tone is different, but the policies don’t change. We are spreading the war. The war is expanding. We are not prosecuting those that committed torture. Guantanamo is not going to be closed down. So, no, I don’t see [a distinction between Bush and Obama].

He [Obama] increased the DOD [Department of Defense] budget. We surely could spend some of that money at home where people are really hurting. But we increased the DOD budget, I think, by 10-percent. I can’t see any significant change in foreign policy. The pretense in leaving Iraq was a mild pretense and I’m predicting that’s not going to happen. There are going to be troops in Iraq throughout this administration, I’m convinced.

That’s right people… It’s taken Barack Obama less than 6 months as President to prove beyond any doubt that the only change he represents is rhetorical. The honeymoon is over.

D o w n s i z e r – D i s p a t c h

Quote of the Day: “By a continuing process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens. There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose.” — John Maynard Keynes Source: “The Economic Consequences Of The Peace”

* The amount of new money the Fed has created is roughly $107 billion more than all the money that was in circulation just a year ago
* In other words, the U.S. money supply has more than doubled

Think about what this does to the value of your dollars, to your savings, to your paycheck, to your retirement income? A doubling of the money supply means your money is worth half what it was.

Of course, your money’s loss of value won’t manifest itself overnight. It will take time for the Fed’s counterfeiting to drive up prices. But those who get the new money first will be able to spend it while prices are still low, increasing their wealth at your expense.

The Federal Reserve, as you might expect, promises that prices won’t rise. They claim they’ll withdraw their counterfeit money before that happens. Do you feel comforted? Should we really believe that…

* The Fed can really undo so much counterfeiting
* The attempt to withdraw the counterfeit dollars won’t cause economic disruptions of its own

And if they did sop up their funny money, wouldn’t that mean another “contraction?” …more unemployment? …other sectors in trouble and screaming for a taxpayer-funded bailout?

Our position is simple. If it’s wrong for individuals to counterfeit, it’s also wrong for the government to do it. What we need is money that no one can counterfeit, like gold and silver. Some people want to make this happen by abolishing the Fed. We agree. That needs to happen. But it’s a big step. We think there’s an easier way…

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Why does anyone believe this guy?

by Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution
Originally published on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at http://www.nolanchart.com/article6512.html

The following quotations from Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve are taken from the transcript of his June 3 speech to Congress. All emphasis marks are mine. The reader should be aware that I have very short fuse when dealing with Mr. Bernanke.  To discover why, please read “Bernanke’s Great Lie – The “Gold Standard” and the Great Depression (PART 2/2)” for more details.  (emblem)

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