Let Freedom Ring

As I watch the events that are shaping the future of America, a growing sense of disbelief and sadness overwhelms me—as Republican state after Republican state adopts voter suppression laws in this country. To me it is a slap in the face to every man and woman who served, died or was wounded either physically or mentally to protect the freedoms that Americans cherish.

My father's generation sacrificed their lives to rid the world of "fascism", or as Mussolini called it "corporatism", an unholy alliance of the rich, aloof business class, a subservient military, prepared to obey even the most horrific orders—for "the homeland"—and an authoritarian government—that sought the enslavement of the "ordinary people"—all to satisfy rantings' of a megalomaniacal lunatic.

Those who saw the death camps first hand —that were euphemistically referred by cynical Nazi propagandists as "work camps"—were shocked to the core and were then outraged, by the piles of unburned corpses and the sight of walking skeletons—the victims of the same nexus of power hungry Nazi elite—the so called Übermensch. The "super race".

Those images were so shocking to me they still haunt me to this day as much as when I saw them in a LIFE magazine pictorial about WW II as a child—I can only imagine the devastating impact they had on the young soldiers who witnessed the sight first hand when accompanied by the sounds human anguish and the stench of rotting human flesh.

Many young soldiers who bore witness to such inhumanity said it was the first time they understood that, that was why they were fighting. It brought home to them in the most profound way the meaning and promise of America. It changed them forever. It changed America too.

That same vivid atrocity also struck Americans at home in their souls and played a large role in the accelerated end of segregation of the military under Truman—and a generation later, the expansion of voters rights, the end of the shameful Jim Crowe laws in the south, and the sham of "separate but equal education"—they were rightly exposed as just another form of oppression and completely intolerable to the vast majority Americans. Equality for all was the lesson of that generation! All men were created equal, reverberated in the American heart.

That sense of "equality and justice for all" sparked the Civil Rights movement and led to the Voting Rights Act—that liberalized and expanded democratic participation to every African American citizen finally keeping promise of full participation by all Americans in their own governance.

The Voting Rights Act was the fitting legacy of the aftermath of WW II—a culmination of a struggle that began with "emancipation" the slaves of the south nearly one hundred years earlier by a Republican president.

Today—because of voter suppression—that legacy is in peril.

Commentary: There are some things worth dying for—liberty is one of them. There can be no liberty without the right to vote—it is the foundation of all other rights. That is why Republican attempts to suppress that right are so utterly contemptuous in their implementation—it is so anti-American it is inconceivable to the vast majority of Americans—yet it is happening in every "republican held state" in the nation. In my view there is something fundamentally repugnant about a political party, that is so desperate to gain and maintain power they would deliberately engage in such treasonous behavior. It is a stunning repudiation of the sacrifices American veterans have made.

In a now infamous October 16th 2005 memo from Citibank* some of their the top executives, declared America, "a plutonomy" and except for **the peoples power of the vote they were advising that the rich would only get richer at the expense of the working and middle class. Their fear of a working class uprising is being realized in the current mobilization of the Occupy Movement. America wake up and rise up, now is the time to take back our country from these self-proclaimed "Masters of the Universe." These same plutocrats—who take everything and give nothing— keep us so focused on the enemies outside and pitting us against each other—that we fail to see them as the enemies of democracy in our midst.

A young Marine, Scott Olsen, who served his country for two tours in Afghanistan—who sustained head injuries that impaired his speech—not in Afghanistan—but at a Occupy Oakland protest—said with great eloquence, "I took an oath to protect the Constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic, that oath did not end when I took off my uniform." "I was simply exercising my first amendment rights to peacefully assemble and ask the government for a redress of my grievances."

I was moved by his courage and feel the same today as I did, when I too took that same oath as a young man. Duty bound to honor it. It occurred to me that it's time—that all Americans—whether you served in uniform or not—need to take, or reaffirm that oath—to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic. It reads:

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

If not us—who? If not now—when?

We are the people.

We are the government we elect.

They cannot buy "our" government.

They cannot suppress our votes.

* ELITIST BASTARDS - Citibank Plutonomy Memo Scandal - YouTube

**commonsense: America:The United States of Plutocracy.

Voting Rights Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

With Liberty and Justice for All

The Suppression of the Occupy Wall Street Movement Is Unconstitutional.

The reasons are simple the Constitution says that the people have a right to assemble peaceably and petition government for the redress of grievances. Its guaranteed.

By its nature the Constitution is written in broadest possible strokes and does not enumerate or attempt to tell people what form their protests should take. It does not say they can petition the government only Mon-Fri from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Nor does it say that they cannot sleep in tents overnight as part of their protest. It sets no limits other than it be done peaceably. All others forms expression are permitted.

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress* of grievances.

The Constitution is purposefully written in such a way as to allow for the most diverse expressions of human and civil rights and to prevent the government from abridging the rights of the people. That is so that the government cannot say—"its not in the Constitution therefore its not a right".

Another way of looking at it is that the Constitution strictly limits the Governments rights by listing their rights and any rights not listed belong to the people. That is so the government can't make up petty rules that restrict or defeat the peoples rights—such as setting a curfew or limiting such assembles to a certain place.

This is made clear in the 9th amendment that states any right not listed in the Constitution is still a right retained by the people. Government is limited by a list the people are not limited.

Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution. Ratified 12/15/1791.
"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people".

The 10th amendment recapitulates the same thing regarding the rights of the states and then restates the rights of the individual over even the state.

Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note
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.

Commentary: Both of these Amendments were added because, there was an on going— "wrongheaded'—debate at the time which argued for the inclusion of a "Bill Of Rights" which listed all individual rights of the people. The founders saw that as a trap, that would be used to suppress the rights of the people and simply stated that there are no limits on peoples rights, but, set definite rights of government. They concluded and rightly so that the rights of the people are infinite and given to them by their creator—any list would finite and by its inclusion automatically limit the rights of the people.

In the sixties the government circumvented the rights of the people, by putting government paid provocateurs among the demonstrators, who would then cause violence and property damage allowing the police to move in with extreme aggression smashing peoples heads in order to prevent the people from petitioning the government.

That tactic is still being used today and is a clear violation of the intent of the founders. The other tactic was to marginalize the demonstrators with labels—liberals, communists, hippies, drug addicts, elitists, spoiled, pampered, lazy, a mob e.g.

Right wing radicals are little better than "fascists" whose only knowledge of the Constitution is limited to the 2nd Amendment and who would suppress every other right of the people they disagree with. When that occurs there is little difference between the authoritarian governments of Syria, Egypt, and Tunisia and the United States when both suppress the rights of their people unjustly with violence.

The Right always says that they love the Constitution. My question is why do they subvert it every chance they get?

*Redress—redress v. 1. To set right, remedy or rectify. 2. To make amends for. n. 1. Satisfaction for wrong done; reparation. 2. Correction. [

An open letter to John Boehner: The Benedict Arnold of our times.

Dear Mr Boehner,

You stated last night that the President created this crisis [quote] - "the 'crisis' atmosphere he has created will simply disappear."[unquote] Do you really think for one moment that people are so stupid that you can insult our intelligence with that kind of bold faced lie.

 

You made up numerous other lies, to mislead the American people—but the point is:

 

WE KNOW WHO HAS ORCHESTRATED THIS CRISIS. YOU AND THE TEA PARTY. BUT THE PARTY IS OVER. WHATEVER YOU WERE HOPING TO GAIN IS ALREADY LOST. YOU'VE OVERPLAYED YOUR HAND. AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT. YOUR BETTING THE FARM AND YOU DON"T OWN THE FARM. YOU ARE JUST A HIRED HAND THAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE.

 

In the end you will be held accountable for this grievous wound that you and your party have inflicted on this nation's honor. You have jeopardized it's financial stability with this outrageous scheme and in the process it's National Security. This Nation was founded on COMPROMISE. Something you never knew or have forgotten.

 

How dare you hold this Nation hostage in a game of political one-upmanship. You are playing a very dangerous game, on behalf of your corporate masters—and frankly you're not smart enough—you are fooling no one by your mendacity.

 

Great harm has already been done and if it continues and this ends badly for this Nation —you had better find a very deep hole like Saddam Hussein did, because there is no where you can go, no where you can hide, that people will not curse you and revile your name. You will go down as a modern day Benedict Arnold. You and your tea bagging colleagues. You are on the wrong side of this fight and you know it. In your heart of catholic hearts you know this is wrong. No one is going to thank you for this debacle. You've pushed this nation to the brink and NO ONE LOVES YOU FOR IT.

 

In my opinion—the harm you and your party is doing and have already done, is more than al qaeda ever could dreamed of doing to damage this country's stability. 

In opposition to all that you stand for

Michael Weber

Adam Smith: The Budget Debate Examined

Once the plutocracy has destroyed the middle class who's going to buy their cheap China imports or afford to pay for their energy or buy their over processed foods or pay their exorbitant interest rates and usurious service fees. 

The free marketers are fond of Adam Smith and use his ideas to promote their behavior—but—on closer reading he never condoned the kind of behavior that is  prevalent among modern day Capitalists. 

He said:"Consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production; and the interest of the producer ought to be attended to, only so far as it may be necessary for promoting that (the interests) of the consumer." he was just as concerned for the welfare of the consumer as he was for the "job creators" He understood what the "masters of the universe" don't—commerce is a societal contract and that mutual benefit must be shared.

He also said: "As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed, and demand a rent even for its natural produce."  Does that sound like the modern oil barons who exploit the "commonwealth of the Nation and take enormous profits and are also rewarded by our government with tax subsidies on top of their exploitive profits? Does that sound like bankers who get money created from nothing and given to them for free while they profit from it by inflating the cost to borrow it? The current plutocratic class are waging a dangerous war that they cannot win by economic subjugation—sheer numerical superiority will win out as it has countless times before in human history—the French Revolution and our own revolution were violent reactions to the masses being repressed by the ruling class.

On the issue of taxation he said:"The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state. The expence of government to the individuals of a great nation is like the expence of management to the joint tenants of a great estate, who are all obliged to contribute in proportion to their respective interests in the estate." 

If he were alive today he would be the first to approve of a tax increase and a "progressive tax system", because he knew there is no free lunch. "And that, to whom much is given much is required."

Commentary: The "conservatives" are fond of pointing out that "our" government of, by, and for the people, is a waste and produces nothing of value.  "Its the problem." they say. 

I say—It's the problem—that builds dams and roads and bridges—invents the internet—puts a man on the moon and in the process invents thousands of technological innovations that have created jobs beyond anything the private sector could ever hope to accomplish. It's the problem—that launched synchronized satellites that allows GPS and cell phones to operate? It's the problem that controls disputes and conflicts that maintains order and civility. It's the problem—that helps educate our young and care for our old and sick. It's the problem—that rushes into burning collapsing buildings and try's to save lives. It's the problem—that comes to our aid when natural disasters strike. Without the interstate how would they move their cheaply made inferior outsourced products from China. Where would they be without the internet. Where would they be without the stability that a strong government provides. 

They say that "our" government is the problem. It seems to me the only time its a problem is when it doesn't favor their selfish point of view and they can't buy enough political clout to get their way.

Its quit clear that CONservs cherry pick their belief systems and ignore long established codes of societal conduct and common human decency. Make no mistake every dime of tax cuts for the "job creators" comes from you and I and adds to the "debt ceiling." Every dime they receive is coming out of your pocket.

Did Republicans Deliberately Increase the Debt So They Would Have An Excuse To Gut Medicare?

This "deficit crisis" has been manufactured by excessive tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires, an inexcusable war in Iraq, a corporate give away to pharmaceutical companies, a fake bank crisis and bailout brought on by the Republican deregulation of banks. Why did Republican's try to block finance reform after the banks brought this country to near collapse? Why are banks sitting on trillions of dollars and not lending it to American Small Business the real engine of economic growth? Why are they speculating on oil markets that are driving gas prices through the roof for the average American?

This manufactured "CRISIS" has been engineered by the Republicans from top to bottom, so they can say "See We Told You So, Government Doesn't Work." Their constant undermining of the American peoples trust in their government started with a lie that the government "is the problem". It began under Reagan when the Republicans decided that in order to cut the size of government they would need to reduce the governments revenue stream—taxes. It was refered to as "starving the beast".

"Starving the beast" is a fiscal-political strategy of some American conservatives to create or increase existing budget deficits via tax cuts to force future reductions in the size of government. Prior to being elected as the President, then-candidate Ronald Reagan foreshadowed the strategy during the 1980 US Presidential debates, saying "John Anderson tells us that first we've got to reduce spending before we can reduce taxes. Well, if you've got a kid that's extravagant, you can lecture him all you want to about his extravagance. Or you can cut his allowance and achieve the same end much quicker." It appears the earliest use of the term "starving the beast" to refer to the political-fiscal strategy was in a Wall Street Journal article in 1985 where the reporter quoted an unnamed Reagan staffer." 

[from Wikipedia under starving the beast]

But why would they wanted to bankrupt our Nation? 

Its thirty years later and now we know "WHY?"—so they could gut every social program that this Nation has. They intend to balance the budget on the backs of average Americans. The so-called Ryan DEFICIT REDUCTION Budget was crystal clear. 

Paul Ryan's—"DEFICIT REDUCTION BUDGET"—(shock)—DOESN'T REDUCE THE DEFICIT—for seventy years,—(double shock)—because it contains another 10% tax cut for the richest people in the country. But it does cut Medicare-it cuts back Social Security–and severely cuts every other government program and regulatory agencies that protects the American people against fraud waste and abuse—(triple shock)—but doesn't touch one dollar in government "tax spending" for corporate welfare or raise one dollar of taxes on millionaires and billionaires. 

"Economist Paul Krugman summarized the strategy in February 2010: "Rather than proposing unpopular spending cuts, Republicans would push through popular tax cuts, with the deliberate intention of worsening the government’s fiscal position. Spending cuts could then be sold as a necessity rather than a choice, the only way to eliminate an unsustainable budget deficit." He wrote that the "...beast is starving, as planned..." and that "Republicans insist that the deficit must be eliminated, but they’re not willing either to raise taxes or to support cuts in any major government programs. And they’re not willing to participate in serious bipartisan discussions, either, because that might force them to explain their plan — and there isn’t any plan, except to regain power."

[from Wikipedia under starving the beast]

THIS WAS A DELIBERATE ACT OF SABOTAGE NOT SOME FINANCIAL CYCLICAL EVENT: It was planned and executed by a core of Ultra Right Winged Republican's and their very wealthy bosses, like the Koch Brothers. If it had been carried out by the old Soviet Union or some other foreign entity it would have been considered an act of war. These men who have done this are NOT American patriots they are TRAITORS guilty of SEDITION and TREASON. They have risked the national Security of this Nation solely for their own financial benefits. Look at the history—its all there. Research it yourself. 

They hate the poor and label them as leeches.

They want to pay for the "deficits" they created—on the backs of the old.

They spew anti government remarks that incites treason.

They hate the power of the vote.

They hate union workers.

They hate the middle class.

They hate women's rights.

They want to RULE like KINGS not govern as representatives of the people. They SERVE their corporate masters and conspire to bring down America.

They want a New World Order where they are MASTERS of the masses.

They see the average American as a tool they can turn against each other.

They use the propaganda tactics of nations at war to turn countrymen against one another with labeling stirring up hatred and jealousy.

Why would anyone who claims to love America do what they are doing to America?

Jesus said you would know his followers—not by what they said—but by how they treated one another—with love and respect. 

The same can be said of the Republicans who wrap themselves in the flag and profess their love of the Constitution and then say they want to drowned our government in debt and starve it by cutting taxes on the rich. We know they hate America by what they do—they are suppressing voters rights in Wisconsin, and abrogating local city governments by silencing duly elected officials in Benton Harbor Michigan so they can take over valuable land that belongs to the City of Benton Harbor. Every Republican held State is in the process of passing state laws that are Un-American and Un-Constitutional. They are defending the indefensible at the highest halls of government when they propose to defend DOMA—a clear cut attack on individual human rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Republicans hate "average" Americans and consider them unworthy to determine their own destiny as laid out in the Constitution. If they hate the average American, they also hate the document that lays out their rights. If they hate the document that lays out those rights they hate the America. If you are reading this Republicans hate you, because I can guarantee they don't have a clue of your existence. 

Commentary: If you are supporting them out of some sort of misguided notion you are in their class or could be, you are deluding yourself, they are laughing their asses off and wondering what the poor are doing? The poor includes you. Their contempt is obvious—their most famous talking douche bag calls his followers "dittoheads"—as in you are too stupid to form a thought—so let "me" tell you what "you" think. 

The question is.

Is the Master of "DITTOHEADS"right?

In Memoriam: The Day America Murdered Its Children

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism"
—Thomas Jefferson—

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law “respecting an establishment of religion”, impeding the free exercise of religion, infringing on the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Forty-one years ago, on Monday, May 4, 1970—that right to peacefully assemble and freedom of speech—guaranteed by the Constitution—was violated at Kent State University by the representatives of the people—who had sworn an oath to protect and defend the Constitution.

Four Kent State students were brutally executed by their government for exercising their first amendment rights, during several days of protest against Nixon's broadening of the Viet Nam War into neighboring Cambodia.

While Jeffrey Glenn Miller and Allison Krause did take part in the protests, which, was their constitutional right. William Knox Schroeder (at Kent on an ROTC scholarship) and Sandra Lee Scheuer were just walking between classes, not protesting.

The undisputed facts are: None of them were armed—none of them posed a threat to the Guardsmen—none of them deserved to be gunned down and none of them deserved to be vilified in death as they were—to cover the brutality of their murder. Nixon in an unguarded moment referred to them as "bums" and indicated, "they had it coming." Other Ultra Right Winged Conservatives called them "commies."

Yet they were the true American Patriots—citizens voicing their dissent of "their governments" actions in an immoral war.

History has vindicated them—as Viet Nam became the most unpopular war in which this country ever been engaged. Their murder marked a turning point and hastened the end of that war.

Personally, it was a great shock that in America—American National Guard troops could be ordered to not only interfere with those rights—and violate the Constitution—but—to murder its citizens without compunction or anyone being brought to justice.

That failure to respect the rights of unarmed citizens changed forever my perception and the perceptions of many others, of a benevolent government that was a watchdog of our cherished freedoms. It was the beginning of my awareness of the ugly reality of repression within my own country by the Ultra Right Wing Conservatives.

It has been a long decline into an America that no longer understands the Constitution that can be violated at will "by the people's" own government.


For more information see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings


Commentary: After the shootings Neil Young wrote the most famous of all the anti-war protest songs of that period in our history. The words speak for themselves.

"Ohio"
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.

1. Series "Letters from Left to Right": Dear Tim

"A house divided against itself cannot stand."

Commentary: I often go into FB political chat-rooms looking for people who I see are sincere in their beliefs but, angry or confused. I start corresponding with them in a sincere effort to establish a reasoned dialog without the vitriol and usual name calling that has become the norm in such places. I have collected a series of those dialogs and want to share them, from time to time on this blog. I call them; "Letters from Left to Right". I hope you enjoy them. Thanks


Timothy W.
How much did you pay in taxes Bob Wagner?
Why do 45% of Americans get to be called taxpayers when they pay no taxes?
And if you are lucky enough to have a job,taxes are taken out (loaned to the gov'mt).
When you file on 4/15 or 18, you get some of it back, unless you have a ton of deductions then you can possibly get it all back or unless you fall in the alternate min tax then you get it all back.
So I ask...why should someone that already pays the bulk of the taxes so the thieves in Washington squander away have to pay more?
I am not rich nor do I fall in that category but I did not get any back in fact had to pay a grand more.
I vote for the Fair Tax and or at least everyone pays a percentage with no deductions.
But that will never happen because the thieves would lose their power!


Dear Tim Three things about money.

One
No one likes paying taxes. I don't, but, the reality is the government of, the people, through "our elected" government—prints the money, distributes the money, and backs the money with the full faith and credit of the Nation. The idea that somehow money is "your money or my money" is a false premise—it is a simplistic campaign slogan of the Right— that is appealing and raises a lot of emotion but, falls apart under scrutiny. Taxes are like a bill that the government sends you for all the services they provide. Streets roads, flood control, national defense, health care, the list is endless.

So unless you print, distribute and back US currency with "your" full faith and credit you like all of us are the "borrowers" of said money. By the way if you are somehow printing your own money, its illegal.

Two
The government takes the money back briefly on "tax day" to pay for all the things that "we elect our government" to do for us. The government in turn pays out all the money it takes in and recirculates the money. It does not hoard the money. It recirculates it. No one is stealing "your" money. Money is meant to circulate—like blood it keeps the economy alive.

Three
DISTRIBUTION: The real problem is the distribution and circulation of money. The treasury gives the money it prints to private bankers that control "the FED" some times at zero percent interest. Those bankers are the real thieves, they skim off the top by charging interest to others. Sometimes as much as thirty percent, on money they have been given at little or no charge. And they are stingy about who they loan it to, so the government regulates them—or did until the Republican right—deregulated them—it took ten years for the banking system out of control to bankrupt this country.
CIRCULATION:
As I said the purpose of money is to circulate it so every body gets to use it to promote the "general welfare". What happens is some people are greedy and will go to any means to accumulate as much money as they can, which is not a problem if they recirculate it, but, many don't they hoard it and refuse to recirculate their money because it gives them power and control. They control the political messages we hear and see they control "our" representatives with bribery— I'm sorry "campaign contributions". They take everything and pay nothing back.

FINALLY:
You are right about the tax code being unfair—which is—but not for the reasons you presume. Its unfair because although the rich are the greatest beneficiaries of the freedoms this nation has provided them. They pay nothing towards its support. Like a deadbeat dads. 400 families control 80% of the money in this country. Now that is not fair, and they are so good at controlling the message—that they have you supporting their agenda. They have the average American fighting over the twenty percent they haven't stolen from us.

I sincerely hope that I don't come across as condescending I don't mean to, I was taken in by them for awhile myself, I was busy raising a family and was not paying attention to the politics of the country for many years, when I did the "Right" were deeply entrenched and almost impossible to eradicate. If you're going to be pissed like I am you may as well know who's to blame. "It helps to all be firing in the same direction" as my old DI would say.

Sincerely Michael