San Fransisco Examiner Endorses John Dennis

It's about time.

[A]fter years of singing the virtues of patriotic dissent against Bush administration policies, Pelosi falsely branded dissenters on Obamacare as Nazis “carrying swastikas and symbols like that,” then denouncing those who challenged their members of Congress in town hall meetings as “drowning out opposing views” and therefore “un-American.”

The Examiner does not believe that Pelosi has ever been drowned out, given the enormous power and speaking platform she possesses. Further, we view her attempt to demonize dissenters as far more dangerous to democracy than anyone’s protest. Therefore, we encourage voters in the 8th Congressional District to support her opponent, John Dennis — an anti-war, pro-marijuana Republican.

A vote for Dennis will send a strong, clear message that dictatorial policymaking, the lavish and unnecessary spending of tax dollars on wasteful programs and personal perks, and demonization of the political opposition are unacceptable behavior for officeholders of any party or philosophy.

Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/San-Francisco-Examiners-state-nation-election-recommendations--105962408.html#ixzz13iasGdYp

Please support John Dennis.

No matter where you live in the country, this is one election which effects us all.

He's the first candidate in a long time that not only has a chance to unseat Mrs. Pelosi, but he would be a fabulous boost to the cause of liberty and a return to constitutionally limited government. I have had the pleasure of interacting with him on several occasions and find him to be honest, sincere, dedicated, easily approachable, and perhaps most important of all, a principled believer in individual rights.

Every dollar helps.

The materials to support volunteers are very expensive. Every volunteer must be fitted with push cards, stickers, literature, door hangers and yard signs as well as transportation. That is why we are asking you to help keep our volunteers going.

$24.00 supports a volunteer for 1 day.

$48.00 supports a volunteer for 2 days.

$96.00 supports a volunteer for 4 days.

And that's what we have left.

Four days.


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Four Ways to Spend Money

When you go to the polls next week, think about which way the candidates and the initiatives propose to spend money...and then remember that the most cost-effective way to spend money is when you spend your own money.

Vote accordingly.

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Who is the aggressor?

This weekend, while following the developments of the health care vote on FDL, I learned about some unacceptable behavior by some Tea Party protesters on the Washington Mall.[See UPDATE below]

Sen. Barney Frank was call a faggot.

Rep. John Lewis was called a nigger.

Others were reportedly spit upon.

A brick was thrown through the office window of Rep. Louise Slaughter.

Racism and ad hominim attacks such as described above are always inappropriate and worthy of condemnation. Tim Ryan made a statement to the House requesting Republicans condemn the entire Tea Party movement (after referring to them as tea baggers!) The acts above were performed by a few discrete individuals and are not indicative or representative of the movement, which has been been remarkably peaceful and well-behaved, even if angry.

The acts of violence are more disturbing, and have no place in a country which respects individual rights.

But let us be clear about the nature of the struggle in which are are currently engaged. The problem we face is that the instrument of government, whose sole legitimate purpose is the protection of individual rights, is being used to initiate force against innocent, peaceful private citizens. Multiple provisions within the health care bills (individual mandates, state interference in private contracts, price controls, confiscatory taxes, laws which turns some citizens involuntarily into the indentured servants of others) are acts of aggression on the rights of each individual to his own life, liberty and labor and ONLY TO HIS OWN.

Government is coercion: force backed by the threat of violence. The process of voting does not change the moral character of an act which violates an individual's rights. Those of us who protest against the implementation of ObamaCare can see that it is an act of aggression, backed by the threat of violence, against our inalienable rights. Our ability and our right to live free and independent lives is under attack by the very government created for our protection. It is a frightening place to stand.

This country is facing many significant challenges, but the solutions we implement must be consistent with a respect for the life, liberty and property of others—equally before the law. No special interests. No special treatment of one group as opposed to another. All other solutions involve the initiation of force and are neither moral nor practical—and must be actively condemned and resisted.

I am not sure how egregious violations of individual rights by the government must be before responding with physical force is justified. Although this is a question which must eventually be answered, we are not there yet.

That is what the original Tea Party was all about.

3-37-2010 UPDATE: The charges of racial slurs and spitting are most likely inaccurate if not out right fabrications. The spitting incident was caused by the unintentional spittle of a yelling protester. No hard evidence for use of the n-word exists---where as the accusers have a past history of false accusations of racism. HT TIA Daily.

Health Insurance Rate Authority

President Obama was only 12 years old in 1973 during the OPEC oil embargo, so he may not remember the effects of price controls on gasoline availability. Having just obtained my driver's license, images like those below are seared into my memory.

Clearly the President has failed to make the connection between price controls and shortages. What else could account for his proposal yesterday to establish a Health Insurance Rate Authority?*

Attempts to deal with the gasoline shortage included closing gas stations on Sunday, and restricting customer access by allowing gas purchase only every other day for odd and even numbered license plates.

Does President Obama have something similar in mind medical care? Emergency rooms closed on Sundays. Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday if your Social Security Number is odd. Even numbers can have appointments Tuesdays, Thursdays or alternate Fridays. Saturdays are first come first serve--bring your own chair for while you wait.

We don't have to go back to 1973 to see the results of price controls--just to last November in Zimbabwe:

Zimbabwe price controls spark food shortages

The staple maize-meal, sugar and cooking oil have disappeared from most shops in Harare's city centre and suburbs while most pumps at fuel stations have run dry, forcing motorists to brace for long queues.

Maize-meal supplies were already erratic in the country in recent months with supermarkets out of stocks for days on end and long queues quickly form where the commodity is available.

Anger and sarcasm are justified. It is hard to believe that the President's policy recommendations are based on mere ignorance of such a basic economic concept, especially when one simple lesson can explain it so clearly. Alternative explanations are not pleasant.

Write to the President and all of your legislators, federal and state.

Silence is implicit agreement.

Before it was just gasoline. Now it is our very lives which are at stake.



President's Proposal pg 3: Strengthen Oversight of Insurance Premium Increases. Both the House and Senate bills include significant reforms to make insurance fair, accessible, and affordable to all people, regardless of pre-existing conditions. One essential policy is “rate review” meaning that health insurers must submit their proposed premium increases to the State authority or Secretary for review. The President’s Proposal strengthens this policy by ensuring that, if a rate increase is unreasonable and unjustified, health insurers must lower premiums, provide rebates, or take other actions to make premiums affordable. A new Health Insurance Rate Authority will be created to provide needed oversight at the Federal level and help States determine how rate review will be enforced and monitor insurance market behavior.

Senate Resolution on EPA Finding CO2 a Danger

Today I came across a website, Freedom Action, that makes it very easy to send a message to your national Congressmen on the matter of EPA regulatory control over energy production and use in the USA. Ever since the disastrous Supreme Court decision Massachusetts v. EPA requiring the EPA to to issue emission standards for motor vehicles and recognizing its authority to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, the EPA has been gearing up to impose regulations on CO2 emissions. These efforts are accelerating now that cap-and-trade legislation is faltering.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R, AK) has introduced the following resolution disapproving of the EPA endangerment finding:

S.J.Res.26 - A joint resolution disapproving a rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the endangerment finding and the cause or contribute findings for greenhouse gases under section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act.

You can fill out the form using their boilerplate statements, or you can compose your own statements. After entering your name and address, your letter will be automatically sent to your Representative and your two Senators.

Although the resolution appears to merely register "disapproval" (bark without a bite) --registering disagreement is a first step. Here's my letter. Feel free to use whatever parts of it you like.

I am writing in strong support of Senator Murkowski's Resolution of Disapproval to stop the EPA from using the Clean Air Act to ration energy.

The EPA's attempt at regulatory control of the economy is not only based on flawed science, but it is a clear example of exercising arbitrary political power in violation of the rule of law.

Recent events make it clear that the science on climate change is NOT settled. Limits on energy production will unnecessarily hobble our struggling economy.

I urge you to vote Yes on the Disapproval Resolution to stop EPA from issuing climate regulations to control our economy, violate our property rights, raise energy prices, and perhaps most importantly, undermine the moral foundation of this country: liberty and the protection of individual rights.