Top Constitutional Scholar: Secret Bush Memos Reveal Plan For “Massive Military Takeover Of US”
Expert says Yoo memos instigate “Law by fiat”, “Fuhrer’s law”, “constitutes treason”
Steve WatsonInfowars.netThursday, March 26, 2009
A top constitutional scholar has said that recently released Justice Department memos prove that nefarious elements within the Bush Administration were planning a massive military takeover of the country and that the documents should be used to bring charges of treason.
In an interview with author Naomi Wolf, legal expert Michael Ratner explains how the move toward total elimination of First, Fourth and Fifth amendment rights, as outlined in the memos, cannot be taken in isolated relation to terrorism related prosecutions and instead represents a smoking gun of a larger intention toward the general population.
“The memos revealed how massive the takeover of our democracy was to be — that this wasn’t just going to be a few individuals here or there who suffered the arrows of a police state.” Ratner says.
“These memos lay the groundwork for a massive military takeover of the United States in cahoots with the president. And if that’s not a coup d’etat then, nothing is.”
The nine DOJ memos, released earlier this month, were mostly written by former assistant attorney general John Yoo. They reveal how the rights of all American citizens have been effectively stripped away under the auspices of the so called “war on terror”.
They argue for a broad range of powers under the office of the president that cannot be restricted by any law or constitutional right or treaty.
They argue that the legal rights of anyone considered a terrorist suspect can be completely rescinded by the president, that the president may order the military to operate in the U.S. without constitutional restrictions, that the prohibition on unreasonable search and seizure takes a back seat to fighting terrorism domestically, and that the president can, in the name of wartime restrictions, limit free speech.
Read our previous summary of the memos here.
(Article continues below)
Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, describes the legal arguments made in the memos as “Law by fiat”, underscoring the historical precedent of such attempts to subvert long established legal protections and processes.
“If you are familiar with the history of dictators, coups and fascism (as I know you are), they (the planners) prefer a veneer of legality.” Ratner explains.
“Hitler killed 6 million Jews with a veneer of legality — getting his dictatorial powers through the Reichstag and the courts. These memos gave the Bush administration’s [lawless] practices the veneer of legality.”
“Who has suspended the law this way in the past? It is like a Caesar’s law in Rome; a Mussolini’s law in Italy; a Fuhrer’s law in Germany; a Stalin’s law in the Soviet Union. It is right down the line. It is enforcing the will of the dictator through the military.”
Ratner believes that the memos provide ground for charges of treason against Bush Administration officials such as Dick Cheney and the president himself.
“I do think that a plan to control the military, use it in the United States contrary to law and the Constitution and employ it to levy a war or takeover that eliminates the democratic institutions of the country constitutes treason, even if done under the president of the United States.”
“The authority given by these memos that could be used to raid every congressional office, raid and search every home, detain tens of thousands, would certainly fit a definition of treason.”
Perhaps most importantly, Ratner acknowledges the fact that the details outlined in the memos were, to a great extent, actively implemented.
“Here they crept right up and actually implemented part of the plan, with Padilla, with the warrantless wiretapping. Yet they are saying in the White House and in Congress that it is looking backward to investigate the authors of these memos and those who instructed Yoo and others to write them.”
“But investigation and prosecutions are really looking forward — to say we need the deterrence of prosecution so this does not happen again.” Ratner states.
As we have previously outlined, we have not seen any deviation from the Bush-era war on terror policies by Obama.
There has been no repeal of Patriot Acts I and II by the Obama administration. Nor have we seen a reversal of Bush’s signing statement that would effectively repeal the John Warner Defense Authorization Act, legislation that stemmed directly from the opinions and counsel offered in the previously secret Justice Department memos.
Research related articles:
1. Terror Memos Reveal Total Destruction Of U.S. Constitutional Freedoms
2. Civil rights group to Obama: Release secret Bush memos
3. Attorney General suggests he may make secret Bush memos public
4. Bush-era memos saw rights limits in U.S. terror war
5. Dozens of secret Bush surveillance, executive power memos found; Could be made public
6. Turley: Bush terror memos are ‘very definition of tyranny’
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Are you Militant?
This is Very Interesting. Be careful what you say and do or Big Brother will label you a terrorist!!
If you're an anti-abortion activist, or if you display political paraphernalia supporting a third-party candidate or a certain Republican member of Congress, if you possess subversive literature, you very well might be a member of a domestic paramilitary group.
That's according to "The Modern Militia Movement," a report by the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC), a government collective that identifies the warning signs of potential domestic terrorists for law enforcement communities.
"Due to the current economical and political situation, a lush environment for militia activity has been created," the Feb. 20 report reads. "Unemployment rates are high, as well as costs of living expenses. Additionally, President Elect Barrack [sic] Obama is seen as tight on gun control and many extremists fear that he will enact firearms confiscations."
MIAC is one of 58 so-called "fusion centers" nationwide that were created by the Department of Homeland Security, in part, to collect local intelligence that authorities can use to combat terrorism and related criminal activities. More than $254 million from fiscal years 2004-2007 went to state and local governments to support the fusion centers, according to the DHS Web site.
During a press conference last week in Kansas City, Mo., DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano called fusion centers the "centerpiece of state, local, federal intelligence-sharing" in the future.
"Let us not forget the reason we are here, the reason we have the Department of Homeland Security and the reason we now have fusion centers, which is a relatively new concept, is because we did not have the capacity as a country to connect the dots on isolated bits of intelligence prior to 9/11," Napolitano said, according to a DHS transcript.
"That�s why we started this.... Now we know that it's not just the 9/11-type incidents but many, many other types of incidents that we can benefit from having fusion centers that share information and product and analysis upwards and horizontally."
But some say the fusion centers are going too far in whom they identify as potential threats to American security.
People who supported former third-party presidential candidates like Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin and former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr are cited in the report, in addition to anti-abortion activists and conspiracy theorists who believe the United States, Mexico and Canada will someday form a North American Union.
"Militia members most commonly associate with 3rd party political groups," the report reads. "It is not uncommon for militia members to display Constitutional Party, Campaign for Liberty or Libertarian material."
Other potential signals of militia involvement, according to the report, are possession of the Gagsden "Don't Tread on Me" flag or the widely available anti-income tax film "America: Freedom to Fascism."
Barr, the 2008 Libertarian Party presidential nominee, told FOXNews.com that he's taking steps to get his name removed from the report, which he said could actually "dilute the effectiveness" of law enforcement agencies.
"It can subject people to unwarranted and inappropriate monitoring by the government," he said. "If I were the governor of Missouri, I'd be concerned that law enforcement agencies are wasting their time and effort on such nonsense."
Barr said his office has received "several dozen" complaints related to the report.
Mary Starrett, communications director for the Constitution Party, said Baldwin, the party's 2008 presidential candidate, was "outraged" that his name was included in the report.
"We were so astounded by it we couldn't believe it was real," Starrett told FOXNews.com. "It's painting such a large number of people with a broad brush in a dangerous light."
Michael German, national security policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the report "crosses the line" and shows a disregard for civil liberties.
"It seems to implicate people who are engaging in First Amendment protected activities and suggest that something as innocuous as supporting a political candidate for office would mean that you're harboring some ill-intent," German told FOXNews.com. "It's completely inappropriate."
German � who claims the number of fusion centers nationwide is closer to 70 � said the centers present several troubling concerns, including their excessive secrecy, ambiguous lines of authority, the use of data mining and military participation.
"No two are alike," German said. "And these things are expanding rapidly."
But MIAC officials defended their report, saying it's not a basis for officers to take enforcement action.
"These reports sometimes mention groups or individuals who are not the subject of the document, but may be relevant to describing tendencies or trends concerning the subject of the document," MIAC said in a statement.
"For example, a criminal group may use a particular wire service to transfer funds, but the mention of that wire service does not imply that it is part of that group, or a criminal enterprise. Nor does it imply that all individuals who use that service are engaged in criminal activity."
The statement continues, "We are concerned about the mischaracterizations of a document following its recent unauthorized release and we regret that any citizens were unintentionally offended by the content of the document."
Donny Ferguson, a spokesman for the Libertarian Party, said he was concerned by the report's "poor choice of words," among other things.
"Unfortunately it is so broadly worded it could be interpreted as saying millions of peaceful, law-abiding Americans are involved in dangerous activities. These mistakes happen and we hope Missouri officials will correct the report," Ferguson wrote in an e-mail. "The Libertarian Party promotes the common-sense policies of fiscal responsibility and social tolerance. We are the only party in America who makes opposition to initiating violence a condition of membership."
Bob McCarty, a St. Louis resident who blogged about the MIAC report, said he's afraid he may be targeted, since he's previously sold Ron Paul-related merchandise.
"[The report] described me, so maybe I need to get a gun and build a shack out in the woods," McCarty said facetiously. "It's certainly an attempt to stifle political thought, especially in Missouri. It definitely makes me pause, if nothing else � Maybe Missouri is just a test bed for squelching political thought."
ACLU officials blasted a Texas fusion center last month for distributing a "Prevention Awareness Bulletin" that called on law enforcement officers to report activities of local lobbying groups, Muslim civil rights organizations and anti-war protest groups.
If you're an anti-abortion activist, or if you display political paraphernalia supporting a third-party candidate or a certain Republican member of Congress, if you possess subversive literature, you very well might be a member of a domestic paramilitary group.
That's according to "The Modern Militia Movement," a report by the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC), a government collective that identifies the warning signs of potential domestic terrorists for law enforcement communities.
"Due to the current economical and political situation, a lush environment for militia activity has been created," the Feb. 20 report reads. "Unemployment rates are high, as well as costs of living expenses. Additionally, President Elect Barrack [sic] Obama is seen as tight on gun control and many extremists fear that he will enact firearms confiscations."
MIAC is one of 58 so-called "fusion centers" nationwide that were created by the Department of Homeland Security, in part, to collect local intelligence that authorities can use to combat terrorism and related criminal activities. More than $254 million from fiscal years 2004-2007 went to state and local governments to support the fusion centers, according to the DHS Web site.
During a press conference last week in Kansas City, Mo., DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano called fusion centers the "centerpiece of state, local, federal intelligence-sharing" in the future.
"Let us not forget the reason we are here, the reason we have the Department of Homeland Security and the reason we now have fusion centers, which is a relatively new concept, is because we did not have the capacity as a country to connect the dots on isolated bits of intelligence prior to 9/11," Napolitano said, according to a DHS transcript.
"That�s why we started this.... Now we know that it's not just the 9/11-type incidents but many, many other types of incidents that we can benefit from having fusion centers that share information and product and analysis upwards and horizontally."
But some say the fusion centers are going too far in whom they identify as potential threats to American security.
People who supported former third-party presidential candidates like Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin and former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr are cited in the report, in addition to anti-abortion activists and conspiracy theorists who believe the United States, Mexico and Canada will someday form a North American Union.
"Militia members most commonly associate with 3rd party political groups," the report reads. "It is not uncommon for militia members to display Constitutional Party, Campaign for Liberty or Libertarian material."
Other potential signals of militia involvement, according to the report, are possession of the Gagsden "Don't Tread on Me" flag or the widely available anti-income tax film "America: Freedom to Fascism."
Barr, the 2008 Libertarian Party presidential nominee, told FOXNews.com that he's taking steps to get his name removed from the report, which he said could actually "dilute the effectiveness" of law enforcement agencies.
"It can subject people to unwarranted and inappropriate monitoring by the government," he said. "If I were the governor of Missouri, I'd be concerned that law enforcement agencies are wasting their time and effort on such nonsense."
Barr said his office has received "several dozen" complaints related to the report.
Mary Starrett, communications director for the Constitution Party, said Baldwin, the party's 2008 presidential candidate, was "outraged" that his name was included in the report.
"We were so astounded by it we couldn't believe it was real," Starrett told FOXNews.com. "It's painting such a large number of people with a broad brush in a dangerous light."
Michael German, national security policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the report "crosses the line" and shows a disregard for civil liberties.
"It seems to implicate people who are engaging in First Amendment protected activities and suggest that something as innocuous as supporting a political candidate for office would mean that you're harboring some ill-intent," German told FOXNews.com. "It's completely inappropriate."
German � who claims the number of fusion centers nationwide is closer to 70 � said the centers present several troubling concerns, including their excessive secrecy, ambiguous lines of authority, the use of data mining and military participation.
"No two are alike," German said. "And these things are expanding rapidly."
But MIAC officials defended their report, saying it's not a basis for officers to take enforcement action.
"These reports sometimes mention groups or individuals who are not the subject of the document, but may be relevant to describing tendencies or trends concerning the subject of the document," MIAC said in a statement.
"For example, a criminal group may use a particular wire service to transfer funds, but the mention of that wire service does not imply that it is part of that group, or a criminal enterprise. Nor does it imply that all individuals who use that service are engaged in criminal activity."
The statement continues, "We are concerned about the mischaracterizations of a document following its recent unauthorized release and we regret that any citizens were unintentionally offended by the content of the document."
Donny Ferguson, a spokesman for the Libertarian Party, said he was concerned by the report's "poor choice of words," among other things.
"Unfortunately it is so broadly worded it could be interpreted as saying millions of peaceful, law-abiding Americans are involved in dangerous activities. These mistakes happen and we hope Missouri officials will correct the report," Ferguson wrote in an e-mail. "The Libertarian Party promotes the common-sense policies of fiscal responsibility and social tolerance. We are the only party in America who makes opposition to initiating violence a condition of membership."
Bob McCarty, a St. Louis resident who blogged about the MIAC report, said he's afraid he may be targeted, since he's previously sold Ron Paul-related merchandise.
"[The report] described me, so maybe I need to get a gun and build a shack out in the woods," McCarty said facetiously. "It's certainly an attempt to stifle political thought, especially in Missouri. It definitely makes me pause, if nothing else � Maybe Missouri is just a test bed for squelching political thought."
ACLU officials blasted a Texas fusion center last month for distributing a "Prevention Awareness Bulletin" that called on law enforcement officers to report activities of local lobbying groups, Muslim civil rights organizations and anti-war protest groups.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Everyone should read this since it seems we are under attack and or government wants to ignore it.
This is astounding and infuriating. Why isn't this in the papers? Please read and pass it on. WHY ARE WE BANKRUPT? Informative, and mind boggling! You think the war in Iraq is costing us too much? Read this: Boy, was I confused. I have been hammered with the propaganda that it is the Iraq war and the war on terror that is bankrupting us. I now find that to be RIDICULOUS. I hope the following 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them. I also have included the URL's for verification of all the following facts.
1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state governments. Verify at: http://tinyurl.com/zob77 2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. Verify at: http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html 3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens. Verify at: http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html 4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English! Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.0.html 5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.Verify at http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens. Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/ TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens. Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare & social services by the American taxpayers.Verify at: http://premium.cnn.com/TRANSCIPTS/0610/29/ldt.01.html 9. $200 Billion dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens. Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSC RI PTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/12/ldt.01.html 11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroin and marijuana, crossed into the U. S from the Southern border. Verify at: Homeland Security Report: http://tinyurl.com/t9sht " href="http://tinyurl.com/t9sht%3E" target=_blank> http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/pdf/deportation.pdf
12. The National policy Institute, estimated that the total cost of mass deportation of illegal aliens would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period.' Verify at: 13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances to their countries of origin. Verify at: http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm> 14. 'The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One million sex crimes Committed by illegal immigrants In The United States .' Verify at: http: // www.drdsk.com/articleshtml The total cost is a whopping $ 338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND IF YOU'RE LIKE ME HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY; IT IS $338,300,000,000.00 WHICH WOULD BE ENOUGH TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY. Are we THAT stupid? YES, FOR LETTING THOSE IN THE U.S. CONGRESS GET AWAY WITH LETTING THIS HAPPEN YEAR AFTER YEAR!!!!!
This is astounding and infuriating. Why isn't this in the papers? Please read and pass it on. WHY ARE WE BANKRUPT? Informative, and mind boggling! You think the war in Iraq is costing us too much? Read this: Boy, was I confused. I have been hammered with the propaganda that it is the Iraq war and the war on terror that is bankrupting us. I now find that to be RIDICULOUS. I hope the following 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them. I also have included the URL's for verification of all the following facts.
1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state governments. Verify at: http://tinyurl.com/zob77 2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. Verify at: http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html 3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens. Verify at: http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html 4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English! Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.0.html 5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.Verify at http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens. Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/ TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens. Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare & social services by the American taxpayers.Verify at: http://premium.cnn.com/TRANSCIPTS/0610/29/ldt.01.html 9. $200 Billion dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens. Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSC RI PTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html 10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/12/ldt.01.html 11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroin and marijuana, crossed into the U. S from the Southern border. Verify at: Homeland Security Report: http://tinyurl.com/t9sht " href="http://tinyurl.com/t9sht%3E" target=_blank> http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/pdf/deportation.pdf
12. The National policy Institute, estimated that the total cost of mass deportation of illegal aliens would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period.' Verify at: 13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances to their countries of origin. Verify at: http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm> 14. 'The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One million sex crimes Committed by illegal immigrants In The United States .' Verify at: http: // www.drdsk.com/articleshtml The total cost is a whopping $ 338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND IF YOU'RE LIKE ME HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY; IT IS $338,300,000,000.00 WHICH WOULD BE ENOUGH TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY. Are we THAT stupid? YES, FOR LETTING THOSE IN THE U.S. CONGRESS GET AWAY WITH LETTING THIS HAPPEN YEAR AFTER YEAR!!!!!
Friday, March 20, 2009
An Open Letter to Chuck Norris by Glenn Jacobs
An Open Letter to Chuck Norris
by Glenn Jacobs
Dear Chuck,
Like so many others, I have a great deal of respect for what you have accomplished in your life. You are the epitome of the American Dream; rising from a troubled childhood to the heights of international celebrity. While you and I may not agree on many political issues, I believe that you are sincere in your concern for the future of the American republic.
However, I think you miss the mark with your support of the Fair Tax. Yes, the current federal income tax system is immoral, invasive, and represents a form of slavery (resting on the premise that individuals are not entitled to the fruit of their labor), but eliminating one tax and replacing it with another is never a good idea.
Besides, we have bigger fish to fry. While taxes are certainly an important issue, it is not the taxes we see that are our greatest worry at this point. The tax we should be concerned about is the one that we don’t see.
As long as the Federal Reserve System retains the monopoly power to issue currency, it really doesn’t matter what the tax system is. Theoretically, the Fed can print all the money the government needs and we will be taxed through the loss of purchasing power of the dollar. This is going to become more and more evident as the federal government grows to unprecedented proportions. The crisis that we are witnessing now pales when compared to the unfunded liabilities of Social Security and Medicare. The only way for the government to deal with them is to inflate the debt away.
The Fed is an unconstitutional institution. According to Article 1, Section 8, Clause 5 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is empowered to "coin money and regulate the value thereof." In 1913, Congress delegated that authority to the Fed. This action in itself is questionable as it would seem that a constitutional amendment would be required for Congress to delegate authority with which it is specifically vested.
The issue, however, is even bigger than that. It is no accident that these powers were included in a clause which grants Congress the authority to "fix the standard of weights and measures." That is because the dollar itself is not money; it is a measure of money. Money, according to the Framers, was gold and silver. Congress is simply empowered to standardize the dollar as a measure of precious metal – traditionally, 1/20 of an ounce of gold.
In other words, the Constitution does not grant Congress the power to create money or to regulate the value of the dollar by manipulating the money supply. The power which the Fed claims to posses under congressional mandate – the power to create money – never existed in the first place.
As Thomas Jefferson predicted, the Fed’s monopoly on the issuance of currency is enslaving America. Most insidiously of all, we are being enslaved with our own productivity. The law has been perverted into an instrument of plunder. All these bailouts are really reverse wealth redistribution as taxpayer money is lavished on political capitalists. In addition, the Fed is backstopping trillions of dollars of losses in the commercial banking sector. Where are the Fed and the government getting all this money? What the government cannot expropriate or borrow will be created out of thin air by the Fed, expanding the money supply and ultimately causing price inflation.
Inflation is most pernicious tax of all. It destroys savings by devaluing the monetary unit. It distorts the price signals on which entrepreneurs rely to make decisions about how best to meet customer demand, choking the economy with waste and inefficiencies. It punishes the poor since they receive the new money only after prices have already risen, if they receive the new money at all. And worst of all, very few realize who is to blame for these problems.
Inflation is the politician’s best friend. It allows him to promise his constituents all sorts of goodies seemingly for free. When the bill comes due in the form of higher prices, the politician can blame greedy businessmen or OPEC sheiks. In reality, the trail leads back to the government profligacy.
Some will say that the Fed is an independent agency and is therefore not subject to political caprice. Balderdash. The Fed works closely with the President to implement monetary policy. In addition, the folks at the Fed are people just like you and me. Who wants to take the blame when the economy takes a downturn as it inevitably will if the Fed contracts the money supply? Why not just keep the printing presses cranking and let your successor deal with the consequences? That is what Alan Greenspan did and he was heralded as a god; don’t you think that that may have gone to his head?
The problem with central banking is not whether the central bank is run by private interests or the government. The problem is that it is controlled by people, people who answer to political pressure and not market forces. For this reason (as well as many others), central planning never works. The Fed – America’s central bank – is simply central planning under a different name.
The only way for the American people to restore their freedom is to take back control over their money. We must eliminate legal tender laws and break the Fed’s monopoly on currency. If the government is going to be involved in monetary affairs at all, we must reinstate a gold standard in order to limit its ability to inflate.
Chuck, you have never backed down from a fight, and this fight will be an epic. The people who think that they run this country are not just going to give up. Just like Nicholas Biddle, they will do everything possible to stay in power, even threatening to destroy the economy. The truth is that the economy is being destroyed right now and the only way to save it is to allow the free market to work.
There is a movement in America which, although it is still in its nascent stages, is causing the Establishment to tremble. It is a movement which promises to smash the shackles of the central bank and liberate Americans from the clutches of power-mad politicians and their corporate cronies.
Chuck, forget about the Fair Tax and add your voice to our battle cry.
END THE FED!!
March 21, 2009
Glenn Jacobs [send him mail] is the actor and wrestler Kane. Visit his blog.
Copyright © 2009 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.
Find this article at: http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig8/jacobs4.html
by Glenn Jacobs
Dear Chuck,
Like so many others, I have a great deal of respect for what you have accomplished in your life. You are the epitome of the American Dream; rising from a troubled childhood to the heights of international celebrity. While you and I may not agree on many political issues, I believe that you are sincere in your concern for the future of the American republic.
However, I think you miss the mark with your support of the Fair Tax. Yes, the current federal income tax system is immoral, invasive, and represents a form of slavery (resting on the premise that individuals are not entitled to the fruit of their labor), but eliminating one tax and replacing it with another is never a good idea.
Besides, we have bigger fish to fry. While taxes are certainly an important issue, it is not the taxes we see that are our greatest worry at this point. The tax we should be concerned about is the one that we don’t see.
As long as the Federal Reserve System retains the monopoly power to issue currency, it really doesn’t matter what the tax system is. Theoretically, the Fed can print all the money the government needs and we will be taxed through the loss of purchasing power of the dollar. This is going to become more and more evident as the federal government grows to unprecedented proportions. The crisis that we are witnessing now pales when compared to the unfunded liabilities of Social Security and Medicare. The only way for the government to deal with them is to inflate the debt away.
The Fed is an unconstitutional institution. According to Article 1, Section 8, Clause 5 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is empowered to "coin money and regulate the value thereof." In 1913, Congress delegated that authority to the Fed. This action in itself is questionable as it would seem that a constitutional amendment would be required for Congress to delegate authority with which it is specifically vested.
The issue, however, is even bigger than that. It is no accident that these powers were included in a clause which grants Congress the authority to "fix the standard of weights and measures." That is because the dollar itself is not money; it is a measure of money. Money, according to the Framers, was gold and silver. Congress is simply empowered to standardize the dollar as a measure of precious metal – traditionally, 1/20 of an ounce of gold.
In other words, the Constitution does not grant Congress the power to create money or to regulate the value of the dollar by manipulating the money supply. The power which the Fed claims to posses under congressional mandate – the power to create money – never existed in the first place.
As Thomas Jefferson predicted, the Fed’s monopoly on the issuance of currency is enslaving America. Most insidiously of all, we are being enslaved with our own productivity. The law has been perverted into an instrument of plunder. All these bailouts are really reverse wealth redistribution as taxpayer money is lavished on political capitalists. In addition, the Fed is backstopping trillions of dollars of losses in the commercial banking sector. Where are the Fed and the government getting all this money? What the government cannot expropriate or borrow will be created out of thin air by the Fed, expanding the money supply and ultimately causing price inflation.
Inflation is most pernicious tax of all. It destroys savings by devaluing the monetary unit. It distorts the price signals on which entrepreneurs rely to make decisions about how best to meet customer demand, choking the economy with waste and inefficiencies. It punishes the poor since they receive the new money only after prices have already risen, if they receive the new money at all. And worst of all, very few realize who is to blame for these problems.
Inflation is the politician’s best friend. It allows him to promise his constituents all sorts of goodies seemingly for free. When the bill comes due in the form of higher prices, the politician can blame greedy businessmen or OPEC sheiks. In reality, the trail leads back to the government profligacy.
Some will say that the Fed is an independent agency and is therefore not subject to political caprice. Balderdash. The Fed works closely with the President to implement monetary policy. In addition, the folks at the Fed are people just like you and me. Who wants to take the blame when the economy takes a downturn as it inevitably will if the Fed contracts the money supply? Why not just keep the printing presses cranking and let your successor deal with the consequences? That is what Alan Greenspan did and he was heralded as a god; don’t you think that that may have gone to his head?
The problem with central banking is not whether the central bank is run by private interests or the government. The problem is that it is controlled by people, people who answer to political pressure and not market forces. For this reason (as well as many others), central planning never works. The Fed – America’s central bank – is simply central planning under a different name.
The only way for the American people to restore their freedom is to take back control over their money. We must eliminate legal tender laws and break the Fed’s monopoly on currency. If the government is going to be involved in monetary affairs at all, we must reinstate a gold standard in order to limit its ability to inflate.
Chuck, you have never backed down from a fight, and this fight will be an epic. The people who think that they run this country are not just going to give up. Just like Nicholas Biddle, they will do everything possible to stay in power, even threatening to destroy the economy. The truth is that the economy is being destroyed right now and the only way to save it is to allow the free market to work.
There is a movement in America which, although it is still in its nascent stages, is causing the Establishment to tremble. It is a movement which promises to smash the shackles of the central bank and liberate Americans from the clutches of power-mad politicians and their corporate cronies.
Chuck, forget about the Fair Tax and add your voice to our battle cry.
END THE FED!!
March 21, 2009
Glenn Jacobs [send him mail] is the actor and wrestler Kane. Visit his blog.
Copyright © 2009 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.
Find this article at: http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig8/jacobs4.html
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
It's time fellow Americans. It's time we Unite to defend the inalienable Rights granted to us by God and Our Constitution. Year after year our Government strips away those rights a little at a time. For decades they've been stripping away our rights, little by little, with NO ACCOUNTABILITY. They've legislated loopholes to subvert the Democratic process set forth by our Forefathers. They do this right under our noses in the Name of "Progress"
What's the opposite of Progress?............. Congress!!!
Everyone (it seems) wants to blame our current quagmire on former President George W. Bush. Do these people not pay attention to History? Do they remember the last time our economy was in trouble? Most don't. Some of us are not old enough to remember. Most of us don't remember ( or choose not to) all those History and Social Studies classes in school. Most of us don't pay attention to what's been going on in this country, or even the World. They have no idea what Japan's "Lost Decade" was, or how our "Great Depression" transpired. It would seem we've been too arrogant or apathetic to care.
The political "Powers that be" have kept our attention on Our President, and not on the whole system. Our Congress has made careers out of their elected Civil Service Positions. They've used their positions to line their pockets and retain power for far too long.
I live in Maryland and I remember when Barbara Mikulski (D-Md) was first elected to Congress. I was a young boy and William Donald Schaeffer (D) was still in office. If I remember correctly, he was still the Mayor of Baltimore. Does anyone remember that? I'll give you a clue, it was approximately 30 years ago. She's still in office today, and I can't remember one significant thing she's accomplished while she's been in office.I'm sure she can spout offnumerous "appropriations" she has aquired " for the State of Maryland" I've never voted for her, and I don't know anyone who has. Do you know someone like that where you live?
Why would someone spend Millions of Dollars to win an election for a job that pays less than $200,000 a year? Congress is the problem. They run term after term, for decades, with no accountability.They Black ball anyone that is a threat to their power. They vote for raises for themselves regardless of their performance. I could write a book thats larger than "War and Peace" about the violations on our Constitutional Rights!!
Fellow Americans, it's time to do something about it. Glenn Beck Said it, " We Surround Them". It's true. There is no greater power on the planet than a large group of people with the same goals. Americans proved it when we beat England in the Revolutionary War. We proved it during the Civil Rights Movement in the 60's. It's been proven time and again throughout Human History. We don't need to be violent or unlawful. We just need to Unite with one common pupose.
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" - Patrick Henry
The Constitution outlines why it is necessary for American Citizens to unite to keep our Government in check. Our Forefathers understood man's nature to be swayed by power and greed. They saw firsthand what happens when Government gets "too big for their britches". Let me be clear, I DO NOT SUPPORT VIOLENCE OR BREAKING THE LAW. I support the inalienable rights provided by our Constitution!
" The Pen is Mightier than the Sword" - Edward Bulwer-Lytton
I implore all Americans. If you don't agree with what's been going on with our Government, PLEASE pick up that pen, or keyboard, and start writing. Write your particular representatives, sign the right petitions, contribute to blogs. Get your friends, relatives, co-workers, and anybody else with the same beliefs together. Discuss the situation. Create reasonable goals, that lead to larger goals, that will effect the changes we need.
If we remain divided, WE WILL FALL. There's no doubt about it. Congress supports our division because it keeps the power in their hands. Democrats bashing Republicans, Conservatives bashing Liberals, and all the while we're confused and unsure who to believe. I personally don't believe that Americans are one way or the other. Deep down we all want to be Free, Happy, Secure, and Alive. Once we ignore the labels we realize that Americans all have the same goal. It doesn't matter what your ethnicity, religion, political party, or background is. We're ALL HUMAN. In this country, We're ALL AMERICANS.
It's time to hold Congress accountable for it's actions. If you believe in Congressional Term Limits, or enacting a "Vote of No Confidence" for ALL POLITICIANS, let me know. I look forward to everyone's input. When I get enough people involved, I'll write the necessary petitions to get the ball rolling, with YOUR SUPPORT!!
God Bless America!!
Sic Sempur Tyrannis!!
What's the opposite of Progress?............. Congress!!!
Everyone (it seems) wants to blame our current quagmire on former President George W. Bush. Do these people not pay attention to History? Do they remember the last time our economy was in trouble? Most don't. Some of us are not old enough to remember. Most of us don't remember ( or choose not to) all those History and Social Studies classes in school. Most of us don't pay attention to what's been going on in this country, or even the World. They have no idea what Japan's "Lost Decade" was, or how our "Great Depression" transpired. It would seem we've been too arrogant or apathetic to care.
The political "Powers that be" have kept our attention on Our President, and not on the whole system. Our Congress has made careers out of their elected Civil Service Positions. They've used their positions to line their pockets and retain power for far too long.
I live in Maryland and I remember when Barbara Mikulski (D-Md) was first elected to Congress. I was a young boy and William Donald Schaeffer (D) was still in office. If I remember correctly, he was still the Mayor of Baltimore. Does anyone remember that? I'll give you a clue, it was approximately 30 years ago. She's still in office today, and I can't remember one significant thing she's accomplished while she's been in office.I'm sure she can spout offnumerous "appropriations" she has aquired " for the State of Maryland" I've never voted for her, and I don't know anyone who has. Do you know someone like that where you live?
Why would someone spend Millions of Dollars to win an election for a job that pays less than $200,000 a year? Congress is the problem. They run term after term, for decades, with no accountability.They Black ball anyone that is a threat to their power. They vote for raises for themselves regardless of their performance. I could write a book thats larger than "War and Peace" about the violations on our Constitutional Rights!!
Fellow Americans, it's time to do something about it. Glenn Beck Said it, " We Surround Them". It's true. There is no greater power on the planet than a large group of people with the same goals. Americans proved it when we beat England in the Revolutionary War. We proved it during the Civil Rights Movement in the 60's. It's been proven time and again throughout Human History. We don't need to be violent or unlawful. We just need to Unite with one common pupose.
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" - Patrick Henry
The Constitution outlines why it is necessary for American Citizens to unite to keep our Government in check. Our Forefathers understood man's nature to be swayed by power and greed. They saw firsthand what happens when Government gets "too big for their britches". Let me be clear, I DO NOT SUPPORT VIOLENCE OR BREAKING THE LAW. I support the inalienable rights provided by our Constitution!
" The Pen is Mightier than the Sword" - Edward Bulwer-Lytton
I implore all Americans. If you don't agree with what's been going on with our Government, PLEASE pick up that pen, or keyboard, and start writing. Write your particular representatives, sign the right petitions, contribute to blogs. Get your friends, relatives, co-workers, and anybody else with the same beliefs together. Discuss the situation. Create reasonable goals, that lead to larger goals, that will effect the changes we need.
If we remain divided, WE WILL FALL. There's no doubt about it. Congress supports our division because it keeps the power in their hands. Democrats bashing Republicans, Conservatives bashing Liberals, and all the while we're confused and unsure who to believe. I personally don't believe that Americans are one way or the other. Deep down we all want to be Free, Happy, Secure, and Alive. Once we ignore the labels we realize that Americans all have the same goal. It doesn't matter what your ethnicity, religion, political party, or background is. We're ALL HUMAN. In this country, We're ALL AMERICANS.
It's time to hold Congress accountable for it's actions. If you believe in Congressional Term Limits, or enacting a "Vote of No Confidence" for ALL POLITICIANS, let me know. I look forward to everyone's input. When I get enough people involved, I'll write the necessary petitions to get the ball rolling, with YOUR SUPPORT!!
God Bless America!!
Sic Sempur Tyrannis!!
AIG..who owns them?
??? AIG is a publicly held company, 70-80% owned by the Federal Goverment???
How does that work?
Comments please.
How does that work?
Comments please.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Revolution By Constitution
A Call to Revolution by Constitution
“The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself, or be ruled by a small elite.” - Thomas Jefferson
Our founding fathers gave us the Constitution of the United States of America. A great document chocked full of protection of the peoples’ rights under a government meant to serve the people. Yet everyday we watch politicians in Washington ignore, usurp, circumvent by legislation, disregard and shred our Constitution for their own power, profit and benefit. All the while we the people sit back and watch, with a helpless feeling. WE ARE NOT HELPLESS!!!
Under the 1st Amendment ‘we the people’ can petition the government fro a redress of grievances. Many people will tell you it doesn’t work, they won’t listen, etc. Yes they will! It amazes me that a million people will scream loud when “Facebook” takes away their right to content and privacy. But will sit by idol and do nothing when the government takes more and more of your rights everyday.
Why is that? Are they scared? They should be, of what the tyrannical government is doing and not what will happen if ‘we the people’ act as ‘we the people’. Stand up and shout loud, let them know how you feel. Meet together, stand together, protest together. Call the politicians out for what they are doing to ‘we the people’. We all may not agree about everything, but we all agree that they are out of control, and no longer represent ‘we the people’.
How much longer will we put off overthrowing this screwed up system just to work towards temporary solutions to the problems it causes? Let’s cut to the root of the matter right now!!
Wanted, full time constitutional revolutionaries! Not armchair revolutionaries, not ivory tower revolutionaries. Not “professional” revolutionaries, either, rather then making a business out of constitutional revolution, make constitution revolution your business. Men and women who will not allow their efforts to win back their freedom to become just another job or fad. Men and women who are ready to live according to their desires around the clock.
“Government is instituted fro the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.” - John Adams
Let’s take back our country!! Let’s take back our constitution!! Let’s make this nation great again. Make them listen and effect real change for the people they were elected to serve.
We all know what the politicians are doing to the constitution is wrong but we don’t speak up. Many say, “I’m unsure, I’m afraid and I don’t really know if this is the right thing to do….”
But I tell you this: THE SILENCE ENDS HERE AND NOW!!!
Sic Semper Tyrannis
“The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself, or be ruled by a small elite.” - Thomas Jefferson
Our founding fathers gave us the Constitution of the United States of America. A great document chocked full of protection of the peoples’ rights under a government meant to serve the people. Yet everyday we watch politicians in Washington ignore, usurp, circumvent by legislation, disregard and shred our Constitution for their own power, profit and benefit. All the while we the people sit back and watch, with a helpless feeling. WE ARE NOT HELPLESS!!!
Under the 1st Amendment ‘we the people’ can petition the government fro a redress of grievances. Many people will tell you it doesn’t work, they won’t listen, etc. Yes they will! It amazes me that a million people will scream loud when “Facebook” takes away their right to content and privacy. But will sit by idol and do nothing when the government takes more and more of your rights everyday.
Why is that? Are they scared? They should be, of what the tyrannical government is doing and not what will happen if ‘we the people’ act as ‘we the people’. Stand up and shout loud, let them know how you feel. Meet together, stand together, protest together. Call the politicians out for what they are doing to ‘we the people’. We all may not agree about everything, but we all agree that they are out of control, and no longer represent ‘we the people’.
How much longer will we put off overthrowing this screwed up system just to work towards temporary solutions to the problems it causes? Let’s cut to the root of the matter right now!!
Wanted, full time constitutional revolutionaries! Not armchair revolutionaries, not ivory tower revolutionaries. Not “professional” revolutionaries, either, rather then making a business out of constitutional revolution, make constitution revolution your business. Men and women who will not allow their efforts to win back their freedom to become just another job or fad. Men and women who are ready to live according to their desires around the clock.
“Government is instituted fro the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.” - John Adams
Let’s take back our country!! Let’s take back our constitution!! Let’s make this nation great again. Make them listen and effect real change for the people they were elected to serve.
We all know what the politicians are doing to the constitution is wrong but we don’t speak up. Many say, “I’m unsure, I’m afraid and I don’t really know if this is the right thing to do….”
But I tell you this: THE SILENCE ENDS HERE AND NOW!!!
Sic Semper Tyrannis
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