This evening as I watched the results from the New Hampshire primary, I was confronted with a considerable problem that plagues America today. There is a massive amount of misinformation being broadcast by the American media. My father-in-law was visiting because my step-son was celebrating his 11th birthday. As things were winding down, I went into my living room and turned on Fox News. I wanted to see what the results were.
At first my father-in-law kept his distance. His politics pretty much lie with whatever Fox News or his friends (who watch a lot of Fox News) tell him. Ron Paul was giving his speech and was getting to the point where he started discussing our foreign policies.
First, I must say that I was already a little perturbed about the way Brit Hume introduced the Paul speech. He said that RuPaul had just as much of a chance of getting the nomination as Ron Paul. It's this type of political commentary that sways people to vote a certain way. Even with this type of marketing, Ron Paul pulled a decent 2nd place finish in New Hampshire.
As Ron Paul started talking about reducing our military involvement abroad, my father-in-law started huffing and puffing. He didn't come out and say anything at first, but his audible disagreement was enough to turn my attention from the speech and to him.
The next two hours were really involved. I brought forward a case that he couldn't argue. He failed in every respect. His excuse was that he didn't want to be my "sparring partner". I can understand that when you have such little grasp of the facts that you can't really hold up an argument.
I'm emotional about this subject. I feel that what we do today will have a great impact on my children's lives. I'm concerned about the world they will grow up in. I'm increasingly aware of political issues because they have huge bearing over the future for my children.
I personally don't agree with everything the Ron Paul believes. His morals, however, don't play a significant role in his politics. He believes in our constitution and particularly our bill of rights. So, while I may disagree with his stance on abortion, I agree completely with his idea of the role the Federal government plays in such decisions.
I'm a crazy Ron Paul follower, I guess. I'm someone who would like to see the world's people get along in a rational way. I'm someone who would like to see our country get back to sound money. I'm against the inflation tax that many aren't aware of.
In fact, for my next post, I'll try to explain the inflation tax in much more detail.
Suffice it to say, our argument didn't end well. I got plenty of points across, but they weren't well received. In fact, my father-in-law suggested that I talk to someone about my emotional outbursts.
I think it's a shame that more people aren't emotional about their politics.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Anonymous Threatens Congress Over SOPA Bill
Some originally thought that congress was postponing their hearing of the "Stop Online Piracy Act" (SOPA) bill until after the first of the year, but more recent news points to Dec 21 as the day they will continue their discussion on the bill. This is one of two bills that would give the government and corporations far more control of the Internet than they need. I hope neither of the bills pass.
Now that I've established that I'm opposed to the bills, let's talk about the latest threat from the hacker group "Anonymous" which has threatened Congress in regard to SOPA. They have claimed that Congress "will pay" if they pass the bill.
Usually this means that they will do something minor to a website and make huge claims about what they actually accomplished. Anonymous has been a lot of bark and no bite for quite some time. Half of me wants to think that this is some government conspiracy meant to instill fear in the populous in regard to online "hackers". By that I mean that Anonymous is actually agents of the government used as a fear tactic on the average citizen.
The existence of Anonymous adds fuel to the fire when it comes to censoring the Internet. So whether it's the government in disguise or actual anonymous citizens, it is detrimental to freedom on the internet.
Anonymous closely resembles what it claims to be opposed to. They are trying to dictate Internet law themselves. They are not the solution to the problem. They only add to it. I'm not claiming that they are the government in disguise, because there's no proof of that. However, their actions and threats are only adding support to position that they are trying to "fight".
For more information check out http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/111216/anonymous-hackers-sopa-vote-congress?fullpage=
Now that I've established that I'm opposed to the bills, let's talk about the latest threat from the hacker group "Anonymous" which has threatened Congress in regard to SOPA. They have claimed that Congress "will pay" if they pass the bill.
Usually this means that they will do something minor to a website and make huge claims about what they actually accomplished. Anonymous has been a lot of bark and no bite for quite some time. Half of me wants to think that this is some government conspiracy meant to instill fear in the populous in regard to online "hackers". By that I mean that Anonymous is actually agents of the government used as a fear tactic on the average citizen.
The existence of Anonymous adds fuel to the fire when it comes to censoring the Internet. So whether it's the government in disguise or actual anonymous citizens, it is detrimental to freedom on the internet.
Anonymous closely resembles what it claims to be opposed to. They are trying to dictate Internet law themselves. They are not the solution to the problem. They only add to it. I'm not claiming that they are the government in disguise, because there's no proof of that. However, their actions and threats are only adding support to position that they are trying to "fight".
For more information check out http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/111216/anonymous-hackers-sopa-vote-congress?fullpage=
Friday, December 16, 2011
December 15, 2011 Fox Debates
I just finished watching the Republican debates on Fox. I actually had to catch a recording because I wasn't available to watch it live. There are three things I want to talk about.
First of all. The National Defense Authorization Act wasn't talked about at all. It wasn't brought up by anyone, not even Ron Paul. I expected Dr. Paul to bring it up at least once. I was somewhat surprised when he didn't. Of all the issues discussed during the debate, none are as important as this piece of legislation.
Secondly, Ron Paul was attacked for his foreign policy. Why is it that all the other candidates and the media make it out like he is crazy in this regard when in reality, he's the only sane person on the stage or on either party when it comes to foreign policy. Our country's economy is crashing as a result of many policies, but mainly due to monetary and foreign policy. He's the only person in either party that has firm grip with reality when it comes to these two issues. Yet, he's made out to look like a kook.
Listen, back in 2003 we invaded Iraq on false intelligence. Has everyone forgot that? We are about bankrupt due to the two wars we've been fighting this decade, and now everyone is chomping at the bit to start another war? The hypocrisy during the debate was amazing. We talk about how Iran is a threat because it is a country ran by terrorists and totalitarians. What about one of our biggest allies in the middle east, Saudi Arabia? What about North Korea during the Bush administration? It was openly known that they were working toward obtaining nuclear capability yet we did nothing. North Korea's dictator is just as crazy as Iran's, and he hates us just as much.
American's look... North Korea was a non-issue because North Korea isn't sitting on a ton of oil. You can pretend that all of this isn't about oil, but it is. Well, it's about that, and it's about Israel. We are so bent on protecting Israel, that we don't even care about our own citizens. War in this region will continue indefinitely until RATIONAL human beings sit down and recognize the plight of the humans on both sides.
If you ask the average American why we are so concerned with Israel's well being, they'll probably say, "because the Jews are Gods people and we have to protect them". Are you serious? According to most statistics, Christianity (although that's a broad term for many different religions) is the number one religion in this country. Do Christians honestly believe that Jews are God's chosen people? Do they not even study their own faith?
I'm not religious at all. I was raised a Southern Baptist, but I no longer follow faith at all. How can't anyone who's learned anything about Christ and who views themselves as Christian, see Jews as "God's People"? Christians, if the Jews are God's people and they don't accept that Jesus Christ was the messiah, are you saying that you are wrong? I'm just asking, because this logic doesn't make any sense.
Finally, while I'm on the subject of Christianity, I come to my third point. Why are Christians so hell-bent on killing more people. Abortion was an issue raised during the debate. Evangelical right-wing conservatives are dominantly pro-life. Think about that term for a moment... PRO-LIFE... Yet a huge majority of those evangelical right-wing conservatives are scared crazy of Iran and are ready to launch an attack on Iran to "help protect us".
You are bleeding this country from the inside. You are hypocrites in your thinking. You are the destruction of this country. Read your holy book and realize that the hate and war that you are so much for are the opposite of what Christ taught in the New Testament. You shouldn't claim to be Christian while supporting these views.
You should be ashamed to call yourself Christian. A Christian doesn't preach hate and intolerance. I do not understand the hypocrisy that is so strong in the republican party.
Calling for a war on anyone isn't an American value. Sticking to truth, justice, and supporting the freedom of our people is our burden. It's our responsibility. It saddens me to how many people have been lead astray by our media. It saddens me to see people throw their liberties away left and right.
America, we can't get better until we recognize our weaknesses. Right now, nationalism is rampant on the right side of politics. "We are the greatest", is often said. We were the greatest. We're throwing it away. We haven't learned from history. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. It doesn't matter how many times you say, "this is the greatest country in the world". You'll never be able to make it true. The only way to make it true is to inwardly look at ourselves, see our shortcomings and improve them.
We have it in us to be the greatest country in the world, but we are doing a terrible job at making that a reality.
The first step we can possibly take at improving this country is to improve our education system. We should also abolish any bills or acts that gave too much power to the Executive and/or Legislative branches of this country. They are running this country into the ground.
They seriously stood on that stage tonight and said that the Judiciary branch was too powerful in this country. Wow, either I'm completely dumb or that's the stupidest remark I've heard. There are checks and balances in place to prevent any of the three branches from gaining too much power. Congress and the Presidents of the past couple of decades have been chipping away at those checks and balances.
The executive branch today has the power to detain American citizens without a warrant, charges, or a reasonable trial. And they claim that Judges have too much power. Wow...just wow.
This makes me angry, but I shouldn't even say that, because that's probably all the evidence the government needs to lock me away for good.
America, you've lost your way. You've forgotten why the founders put the bill of rights in the Constitution. You've neglected to protect the Constitution. If you want to blame someone for the situation in America today, go look in the mirror. We're to blaim, and we are the only ones who can fix the problem.
First of all. The National Defense Authorization Act wasn't talked about at all. It wasn't brought up by anyone, not even Ron Paul. I expected Dr. Paul to bring it up at least once. I was somewhat surprised when he didn't. Of all the issues discussed during the debate, none are as important as this piece of legislation.
Secondly, Ron Paul was attacked for his foreign policy. Why is it that all the other candidates and the media make it out like he is crazy in this regard when in reality, he's the only sane person on the stage or on either party when it comes to foreign policy. Our country's economy is crashing as a result of many policies, but mainly due to monetary and foreign policy. He's the only person in either party that has firm grip with reality when it comes to these two issues. Yet, he's made out to look like a kook.
Listen, back in 2003 we invaded Iraq on false intelligence. Has everyone forgot that? We are about bankrupt due to the two wars we've been fighting this decade, and now everyone is chomping at the bit to start another war? The hypocrisy during the debate was amazing. We talk about how Iran is a threat because it is a country ran by terrorists and totalitarians. What about one of our biggest allies in the middle east, Saudi Arabia? What about North Korea during the Bush administration? It was openly known that they were working toward obtaining nuclear capability yet we did nothing. North Korea's dictator is just as crazy as Iran's, and he hates us just as much.
American's look... North Korea was a non-issue because North Korea isn't sitting on a ton of oil. You can pretend that all of this isn't about oil, but it is. Well, it's about that, and it's about Israel. We are so bent on protecting Israel, that we don't even care about our own citizens. War in this region will continue indefinitely until RATIONAL human beings sit down and recognize the plight of the humans on both sides.
If you ask the average American why we are so concerned with Israel's well being, they'll probably say, "because the Jews are Gods people and we have to protect them". Are you serious? According to most statistics, Christianity (although that's a broad term for many different religions) is the number one religion in this country. Do Christians honestly believe that Jews are God's chosen people? Do they not even study their own faith?
I'm not religious at all. I was raised a Southern Baptist, but I no longer follow faith at all. How can't anyone who's learned anything about Christ and who views themselves as Christian, see Jews as "God's People"? Christians, if the Jews are God's people and they don't accept that Jesus Christ was the messiah, are you saying that you are wrong? I'm just asking, because this logic doesn't make any sense.
Finally, while I'm on the subject of Christianity, I come to my third point. Why are Christians so hell-bent on killing more people. Abortion was an issue raised during the debate. Evangelical right-wing conservatives are dominantly pro-life. Think about that term for a moment... PRO-LIFE... Yet a huge majority of those evangelical right-wing conservatives are scared crazy of Iran and are ready to launch an attack on Iran to "help protect us".
You are bleeding this country from the inside. You are hypocrites in your thinking. You are the destruction of this country. Read your holy book and realize that the hate and war that you are so much for are the opposite of what Christ taught in the New Testament. You shouldn't claim to be Christian while supporting these views.
You should be ashamed to call yourself Christian. A Christian doesn't preach hate and intolerance. I do not understand the hypocrisy that is so strong in the republican party.
Calling for a war on anyone isn't an American value. Sticking to truth, justice, and supporting the freedom of our people is our burden. It's our responsibility. It saddens me to how many people have been lead astray by our media. It saddens me to see people throw their liberties away left and right.
America, we can't get better until we recognize our weaknesses. Right now, nationalism is rampant on the right side of politics. "We are the greatest", is often said. We were the greatest. We're throwing it away. We haven't learned from history. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. It doesn't matter how many times you say, "this is the greatest country in the world". You'll never be able to make it true. The only way to make it true is to inwardly look at ourselves, see our shortcomings and improve them.
We have it in us to be the greatest country in the world, but we are doing a terrible job at making that a reality.
The first step we can possibly take at improving this country is to improve our education system. We should also abolish any bills or acts that gave too much power to the Executive and/or Legislative branches of this country. They are running this country into the ground.
They seriously stood on that stage tonight and said that the Judiciary branch was too powerful in this country. Wow, either I'm completely dumb or that's the stupidest remark I've heard. There are checks and balances in place to prevent any of the three branches from gaining too much power. Congress and the Presidents of the past couple of decades have been chipping away at those checks and balances.
The executive branch today has the power to detain American citizens without a warrant, charges, or a reasonable trial. And they claim that Judges have too much power. Wow...just wow.
This makes me angry, but I shouldn't even say that, because that's probably all the evidence the government needs to lock me away for good.
America, you've lost your way. You've forgotten why the founders put the bill of rights in the Constitution. You've neglected to protect the Constitution. If you want to blame someone for the situation in America today, go look in the mirror. We're to blaim, and we are the only ones who can fix the problem.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Threat of Defense Authorization Bill
The House and Senate have both passed the "Threat of Defense Authorization Bill". Obama was set to veto it, but for the wrong reasons. Now the White House says that Obama will not veto the bill (after some of the bill was changed so that it guaranteed some powers for the President).
This bill gives the executive branch the ability to indefinitely detain American citizens without charges or a trial. This bill received 93 aye votes and 7 nay votes in the Senate. One of the "nay" votes in the senate was Rand Paul, Ron Paul's son. Ron Paul voted against it in the House. Unfortunately most of congress voted for it, republicans and democrats alike.
I know most of you are well aware of the 2nd amendment, and you may base your entire political thought on protecting that amendment, but this bill completely demolishes the 4th and 6th amendments. If you think that this bill and its provisions are justifiable to "protect America", perhaps you should re-evaluate what America is all about.
If terrorists hate us for our freedom, they don't have to worry long because our government is helping them get rid of that pesky freedom, constantly.
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Ben Franklin
Truer words have never been spoken in regards to what America stands for.
http://www.nationaljournal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/
http://www.opencongress.org/
This bill was crafted by John McCain and Carl Levin. The main part of this bill is to authorize the military budget for 2012, but they piggybacked this junk with it.
Levin has said, “The requirement to detain a person in military custody under this section does not extend to citizens of the United States."
However, the bill actually lets the government detain a citizen in military custody indefinitely without a trial or even without charges being filed. The magic words are "suspected belligerence". The executive branch will be able to detain any American citizen for "belligerent" actions.
This country's justice system was founded on the principal of "innocent until proven guilty". Of all the things in the political news lately, this is the one everyone should be aware of. It's shocking that the press hasn't been talking about it much.
Along with this, I should also point out that the Protect IP act is another piece of legislation we should all be looking at. This gives the government unlimited power to censure the internet, just like China does.
Some of you may hate Obama, but you should also be looking real close at the rest of Washington that is behind these things. So while the TV has you worried about whether Obama mentioned God during Thanksgiving or whether we're taking the Christ out of Christmas, EDUCATE yourself about the important things that are actually going on.
If you feel like it's worth anything, forward this. At least people can research this and find out more for themselves. Lack of real understanding about the issues is crippling America right now. Read your constitution. Understand our basic liberties and how they are being removed to "protect" us. This is exactly how, historically, governments have stripped people of their rights, by fear. This is exactly how the Nazis took power in Germany.
Mr. Lowerly, my high school history teacher had two very fond sayings: 1.) It's was all about money. 2.) History repeats itself.
We study history to learn from our mistakes, but when we forget those mistakes we often repeat them. The central bank of England was a historical mistake that our founding fathers learned from. We forgot about that in 1913, and instituted the Federal Reserve. We have to keep sight of what they accomplished when they created this country. They created a very good system of government. It has been abused and distorted to benefit a few at the expense of many.
Thanks for taking the time to read through this.
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