While watching my regular round of news shows, on one a politician was describing his fear of lost freedoms should the current bills in Congress and some recently passed. When asked hat freedoms have you lost or do you think you will lose, the reply was a dance around a direct answer. It seems the answer was so obvious that he hadn’t adequately thought of it.
We all live in the land of the free, right? Or do we?
The concept of freedom when the founders wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution they were very clear. They were so clear that when it was suggested that an amendment should be added to enumerate them, it was argued that the specific description would empower the courts to further define the meaning thereby diminishing the freedoms that were held so dear.
To better understand the freedoms and what they meant to the founders I suggest that you read not only the Federalist Papers but the Anti-Federalist Papers as well.
Why is it so muddy now and how is it that things that we held dear have been just taken for granted and then traded in for government payments.
Some of the original settlers had different views than were permitted by the Church of England and wanted the opportunity to try to advance themselves commercially, own their own property and perhaps become socially prominent without being born to it. Essentially, they wanted to make their own choices in life without seeking the approval of the local lord or other government official as was often the case in the nanny states in Europe where the Royalty made and enforced the rules.
This resulted in the first “Tea Party” and the birth of a new nation.
Based on the idea:
“That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
We are afforded the right to pursue happiness without permission of an overlord as was previously the case. This idea was carried on in the following:
“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
Two of the first reasons for this action were:
“For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:”
“and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.”

In some cases our rulers have moved the policies of government of even these sacred freedoms out of the hands of “We the people”. This is now indeed the case.
We must now think for ourselves, not blindly accept when the government says we are not smart enough to understand. Have we not been told that, only government folks, with “College letters after their name”, are the only ones that know what is right?
I can certainly think of things that I learned in high school and college such as the interpretation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, has changed but not to help “We he people” pursue happiness.
The meaning of the Bill of Rights has been substantially changed by the federal government to benefit some at the expense of other supposedly equal people, to make them more equal.
It was the intention that only the rights specified in the Constitution were permitted to the national government and all others were to be reserved to the states. The state constitution would specify what powers that government had, and then on down the ladder powers went, with the majority of freedoms reserved to the individual. This is no longer the case!
In the early days of our nation it was common for family members to watch out for and help their family. Sometimes there was a contributing labor or kind to build a barn or a new home for the newly married couple. Helping neighbors when there was illness was common even in my youth. In fact only one family I knew took public assistance. Communities took care of their own problems and in reality the neighbors knew best what was needed. Also it was a rarity that someone misused those that helped.
I also wonder how the government knows better than the neighbors in the community what need exists and how it should be fulfilled.
A bigger issue involves what the government extracts from the people it helps.
The government always makes conditiones that must be satisfied before a neighbor’s tax money in the form of assistance is given, but there is no understanding that efforts should be made to repay the largess or even be charitable to another neighbor, perhaps by babysitting while the single mom next door works. More important to our survival, however, is what else the government requires for its assistance.
So many of our freedoms have been eroded that there is only space to briefly focus on the one issue that supports all of what our future is; education.
Money is confiscated from each of us by the federal income tax some of which is given to the states and then the local schools; but at what a cost.
In order to get the money there are a myriad of requirements that must be met to get that money back in our schools, it does not come back equally, either. Perhaps the ‘No Child Left Behind Act’ will ring a bell!
The federal government determines what is taught, by whom and how; or the school loses the public dole.
We the people have no control of what is taught and how it is presented in our schools, as well as what cannot be taught there. We do not even have input in choosing the books to be used.
Currently the worst school system in the U.S. “Washington, D.C., spends around $20,000 of our hard earned dollars per student and has the poorest record of success. Locally, many of our schools are spending many thousands of dollars per student and large numbers never finish successfully. Further, we are not permitted an alternative.
Education here in Texas is something special and cherished. One of the reasons given at the time of the revolution from Mexico, was that the government of that time did not provide a public education.
The Texas Declaration of Independence states:
“It has failed to establish any public system of education, although possessed of almost boundless resources, (the public domain,) and although it is an axiom in political science, that unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idle to expect the continuance of civil liberty, or the capacity for self government. “
When one considers the importance our early Texans place on education, I find it difficult to accept the cavalier attitude our rulers have in accepting the direction from the federal government in how our children are educated . Perhaps it is just the money that falls loose!
In my early years I went to a two room school with grades one through three in one room with one teacher and grades four through six in the other. When my brother and I went to a bigger school in a bigger village with one grade or subject per classroom, we were scholastically ahead of our peers.
Should we choose to join together as a neighborhood and teach our children, we can’t get our money back to even buy materials! Nor can we get refund of the amount being spent per student to find a better school, even when our school is not competent. The rational is that the money would take away from a school that is not doing its job. This could well result in poor performance being perpetuated and the continuation of policies that are better for the politicos than the students.
I always believed that parents working in the communities were to determine what is to be instilled in our children’s minds, now our schools don’t even tell the parents what is going on in school and frequently withholds or abridges records.
When were any of us allowed to say how funds are being spent by the school system or the College and still we pay through income tax to the federal government that it gives to the state if it does things the way the administration wants. Then the state passes some on if the local schools do what they say.
It just goes on and on with laws that: limit who we can trade with and under what conditions; who can do what job; how you build your store, what can be sold , when and how and what must be reported to the government.
The worst of it is it doesn’t get better, only worse.
We only need to watch the news to see the lawsuits to find where other freedoms are being lost.
Two of the three major parties support big nanny governments that seek to control more and more of life’s choices so no one can fail and learn to be better all the while seeking happiness. Remember the insurance company, car makers and bank bailouts. Could it be that the nanny laws are the reasons why our industries have failed and disappeared? Even more freedoms are lost, the freedom to learn what works best.
There is always a third choice for less government interference, more freedom, and less tax. Vote your conscience not what the tv comedian says.

As time goes on the ridiculousness of the antics of what are supposed to be our representatives in the administration of our nation. These folks are supposed to be working in our best interests. Instead our Congressman cowers to the Congressperson from that bastion of “sensibility?” San Francisco. He votes for more spending that we don’t have money for, policies that enslave us even more and to take away what few choices we have left.
It is sad that I have to say that as I once had a high opinion of him and even contributed to his campaign. His staff, especially here in Brownsville, has always been more than courteous and helpful to the folks here, several of whom I have personal knowledge.
Most recently, I e-mailed the office to ask about firearms control and health care issues and did not even receive the perfunctory “I’ll get back to you” response. Then he voted for the government take over of health care. Further, the recent splash of veteran’s health care complaints, ‘poor care and lack of timely care for local vets in San Antonio center as well as inaction with regard of the VA determination that Navy veterans weren’t combat veterans during the Vietnam War.
Congress originally passed a law that would provide health care for Vietnam Vets in certain circumatances.
Who is a Vietnam Vet? The answer is vitally important to Navy personnel who served in Vietnam’s territorial waters. For now, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ definition of a Vietnam veteran does not include these men and women.
This was vitally important to me as I served there during my service from 1963 to 1969. I received the Vietnam Service Medal with three stars and was awarded combat pay, flight deck pay as well as other commendations.
I met the criteria that was in effect before 2002 when the VA changed its policy, saying that Navy personnel didn’t qualify. Previously, sailors with the Vietnam Service Medal — given to those who served in the theater of war on land or on a vessel automatically got benefits, whether they were assigned as ground troops or in the Navy. Seems like they don’t think sailors sometimes went ashore on unrecorded attempts to recover sensitive recon equipment and pilots from downed aircraft or patrolled the rivers and coast lines. The Navy was in the war as well!
I and many like me have the similar symptoms as the “real” Vets. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, followed shortly by kidney problems and strange and rare skin disease. I filed an application and did not even receive a receipt much less a response after more than six months. I have been later told by other Vets, responses often take many months. In the mean time hospital bills keep adding up.
Fortunately, I was blessed to find Dr. Pelly and the wound care folks at Valley Baptist Hospital in Brownsville. For the last year and a half, they have tolerated my shortness of temper when I hurt and helped me through the periodic infections in the wounds that once covered most of my legs.
Now the numbers of open wounds have diminished substantially and the very few that remain are less serious when one considers that at one time I was close to losing one leg. Several months wait while the VA considers the situation would surely have been more costly; I wonder how costly it would have been had I not had Blue Cross, and the nurse case worker they assigned for me to act as an advocate, due to the complexity. I cannot conceive trusting the government with final decisions like this.
In the meantime rather than to require the VA to comply with the intent of the law the Congress is trying to pass another one. Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, has introduced legislation to include Navy veterans and he has more than 40 co-sponsors. The likelihood of passage however is very unsure, so the Vets still suffer and perhaps die.
It seems that if the VA is the best example of what Government Health Care is like (they decide if you are worth treating and that it won’t cost too much) we are much better off as we are; especially if the agency entrusted doesn’t believe you fit all of the criteria for treatment.
It all makes me mad!
On Tuesday February 9, I watched the movie Network, a 1976 a satirical film that has continued to receive recognition, decades after its initial release.
In the movie, a long time Newscaster, Howard Beale, attracted the attention of the world and became the spokesman of the country. In one impassioned diatribe, Beale galvanizes the nation with his rant, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” and persuades Americans to shout out their windows during a lightning storm.
We must remember from the movie when Howard asked, “who owns this country” when a group of Arab investors purchased controlling interest in the “Network”.
I ask; who owns us now?? The Chinese – the Europeans – or the Oil Potentates or others! Who holds our Trillions in debt?
It seems to me that the “Tea Party” groups are doing that in our time. They see the current government causing more problems and solving none. In past years the mix of various sentiments in Congress would at least stop bad things from being done. Now it seems that little short of a Political Revolution will save us. The “Tea Parties” articulate the needs now we need representatives that will follow this guidance and replace those that have not shown us the strength to do the job. Words will no longer work.
Every one eligible must vote or we will fall even deeper into slavery to the government.
Like in the movie; “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”
The Cameron County Libertarian Convention will be held on March 13 at 3pm at the Denney’s Restaurant on Paredes Line Rd. If you haven’t voted in a primary you can vote for a delegate to the conventions to elect a Congressman from the 27th and 15th Districts depending on where you live. I will be there!

Our leaders must be told that the economy must be the number one priority at every level of public administration. Our neighbors need to get back to work and the government must pay its debt.
In our area most work is substantially related to farm products, twin plant manufacturing, and small businesses.
An enormous number of jobs are in the transportation and logistics industry and nearly all of the others depend on it to survive.
To get products to market, to get those things we need for survival and to supply the businesses, we need trucking but that is only part of the system.
In South Texas to take advantage of our resources and overcome the long distances we must deal with we also must have a viable mix of transportation systems to reach more suppliers and customers.
That means a well planed rail facility as well as inexpensive bus service and air services for time sensitive needs.
We also have a plus that many others do not have and that is our nearness to the sea and Mexico. We are fortunate to have port facilities to take advantage of the sea resource but we need to do a lot better in coordinating the planning of our facilities with our neighbors.
Each facility spends a lot of time and resources competing with their neighbors – McAllen, Harlingen, Corpus Christi and Brownsville; competing that could be better spent working with each other and improving the potential afforded by the undeveloped Mexican port of El Mesquital in the city of Matamoros.
Cooperation could bring wonders but it must not be done in secret and care must be taken that opportunities not be compromised by individual avarice. Crucial to this, is that planning and oversight needs to be done with the joint advantages in mind. The past losses due to the irrational competitiveness and misuse of resources must be avoided.
There are growing markets and sources of products and services in Central America that could be supplied and acquired utilizing our special talents and similar languages.
The developing oil production just offshore, that has used all of Port Isabel’s port facilities will demand new transport facilities and support. The coming availability of a former Navy port facility could also provide the advantage of quick in and out to the open sea to vessel operations that need it.
In Brownsville, facilities that afford a shorter arrival and departure time to port will be necessary to reduce vessel costs and time in port and allow for better use of facilities for more security or less time sensitive cargos.
Just three years ago a team from the National Ports & Waterways Institute in Washington came to Brownsville to study the viability of an extension of the transportation corridor through Texas to Central America by sea. The resulting project would be called the Pan American Maritime Highway. I have been informed that many considered the project eminently feasible.
Had action been taken then, transportation difficulties through Mexico would have been reduced and new markets and material sources would be nearer.

In the lead to advance the maritime resources are the Propeller clubs around the World. They are comprised of professionals in the industry and those with similar interests.
The Brownsville membership has been prominently involved in improving maritime opportunities and thereby improving opportunities for their neighbors as well. Not long ago they attracted a number of representatives of the Tamaulipas State government to a regular meeting, to explore the opportunities of a developed port facility at El Mesquital, as a way of providing an alternative to the bridges for very heavy and or hazardous trailers. It is expected that it would also afford additional commercial opportunities in both countries as well.
This month the Brownsville Propeller Club has begun the political season by inviting the unopposed Libertarian Candidate for Congress Ed Mishou to introduce himself and share his ideas for a better future than our current crop of politicians have done. Contact one of the members to invite you to their dinner meeting on February 18. It will be held at the Las Palmas Restaurant on Palm Blvd. Enjoy the good food and the opportunity to meet the candidate and hear what these community leaders are thinking about that, could well provide a better future for us all.
The election this year may be one of the most important in our lifetime. All of the folks that determine how much of our hard earned resources are confiscated to be given to someone else and how much is spent by the government and for what purpose. If the House of Representatives doesn’t initiate the bill to spend nothing is spent. Believe it or not there is no Obama-money it all comes from Congress and then is signed by the President. If the President doesn’t sign it but rejects or veto’s it Congress can still pass it if enough of the Congress wants.
The forefathers of the Nation planned that Members of the House of Representatives would be citizen statespersons who would leave there farms and businesses for a short time (2 years) to consider the issues of the government in light of the ideas, needs and priorities that were important to the constituency. It was thought that members could leave their farms and business for that period of time without serious loss. It was not considered that there would be a professional Congressperson so they could be relied to bring the sentiments of the people to the seat of government. That part of the system of controls is definitely broke. Perhaps a term limit is needed to correct this but maybe just eliminating access to a retirement program other than social security might cure more than that one ill.
Most of all “We the people” need to vote and let these rulers know what is really important – don’t let the “politiqueras” decide for you.
New political players are needed to recognize these opportunities and not squander our limited resources as in the past.
The 2010 election is coming and one side you have the Republicans of the administration that brought us the poor economy and a lot of the government debt and you also have the Democrat Congress that controlled the spending in Congress during the last of the Republican period and is still in control as the debt gets bigger and we get poorer.
There needs to be a real change and the only major party left on the ballot that has always been for low taxes and small government are the Libertarians.
Learn what is really going on by listening to all the candidates, then decide which candidate you can trust with your future. Then vote!

The election of 2010 is shaping up. The Democrats had a good majority in the Congress, the country in their hands, the Republicans blamed for the problems, and the potential of building a new version of Camelot. The folks really felt good about President Obama.
Then on Jan. 14, President Obama was in full battle mode as he rallied House Democrats behind his health care reform. He said “If Republicans want to campaign against what we’ve done by standing up for the status quo and for insurance companies over American families and businesses, that is a fight I want to have.”
The administration’s view of what “We the people” wanted was forced on the country even though the “We the people” spoke up by starting the Tea Party Movement.
That lasted just three days! When the President campaigned in Boston on the 17’th for health care supporter Martha Coakley, not once did he mention the health care bill.
After Coakley’s defeat, Obama pretended that the real cause was a generalized anger and frustration “not just because of what’s happened in the last year or two years, but what’s happened over the last eight years.”
Can it be that the ill feeling for George W. Bush is so enduring and powerful that it just elected a Republican senator in Massachusetts? Truly amazing!

Scott Brown won by running against the arrogant dealings of the Administration and Congress passing law with no consideration for “We the people”, or the transparency he touted.
Mr Brown won by brilliantly nationalizing the race, running hard against the Obama agenda, most notably Obamacare. Killing it was his No. 1 campaign promise.
An astonishing 56 percent of Massachusetts voters, according to the Rasmussen poll, called health care their top issue. In other polls, 78 percent of Brown voters said their vote was intended to stop Obamacare. Only a quarter of all voters in the Rasmussen poll cited the economy as their top issue. Massachusetts was not just the usual anti-incumbent resentment you expect in bad economic times.
Brown ran on a very clear agenda.
Stop health care; don’t Mirandize terrorists; don’t raise taxes – cut them; and no more secret deals with special interests.
The “Louisiana purchase” and the “Cornhusker kickback” had started a national disgust with the corruption and arrogance of one party rule. The final straw was the union payoff where the labor bosses got a five-year exemption from a the “Cadillac” health insurance tax that Democrats were imposing on those private-sector workers who are not unionized.
Does that sound familiar? Could we see some of that in our local politicians?
The leadership ignored the tea-party movement, the first clear early sign of trouble. They contemptuously dismissed the protests as the mere noise. Then Virginia and New Jersey turned Republican in the two gubernatorial elections.
The evidence was unmistakable: Independents, who in 2008 had elected Obama, swung massively against the Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey. On the fateful Tuesday, it was even worse: Independents went 3-to-1 Independent-Republican in the Democrat bastion of Massachusetts. Not only that – the turnout on Tuesday was the highest for any nonpresidential Massachusetts election in 20 years.
Massachusetts, the most liberal state in the country with there own version of universal health care, had an election.
Independent – Republican Scott Brown won a remarkable victory in the most liberal state in the country. It appears that the party emphasis is on the Independent!
A Washington Post described the big upset, “Voters have been drawn to Brown’s energetic demeanor and populist message of cutting taxes and reining in the federal government. They interact with him as if he were an old friend trying to get them out of a financial jam.”
Then the a number of the loyal followers started abandoning ship. A number of Democrat Congressmen in moderate areas that had avoided town meetings and voted for Health Care against the wishes of the constituency have announced that they will not run for reelection.
It appears that there will be big changes in the Congress, in the coming election.
In order to not have a complete loss, the administration must adjust the priorities to be a bit more centrist and perhaps follow the pattern that President Clinton took by encouraging more cooperation with the Republicans and accomplish reforms and economic actions that have bi-partisan support.
The Republicans don’t seem to be in such great shape either as there doesn’t seem to be a consistent concept as to what they are for, nor a view as to who they are and who speaks for the party. The chair speaks in ideals and conservative values and Presidential Candidate McCain advocates some of the social reforms that were found wanting in the most liberal sate in the Country.
We must remember the “Independent” in Scott Browns win.
Let us consider where we are now!
The U.S. House & Senate voted to withhold our S.S. cost of living raise in 2010 and 2011.Our Medicaid premiums will go up $285.60 for the 2-years and we will not get the 3% COLA: $660/yr.
Our total 2-yr loss and cost is around $1,600 or $3,200 for a husband and wife. The Rulers still voted themselves $4,700 and $5,300 raises! Over 2-yrs they each get $10,000.
Do you think these rulers of ours will have our benefits for the cost of drugs, doctor fees, local taxes, food, etc. increased? Not likely!
They have their raise and better benefits. Why care about us? We never did anything about it in the past.
We must obviously be too stupid or just don’t care.
Do you really think that Salomon, Nancy, Harry, Charlie, Barnie, etc. care about us? We need to SEND THE MESSAGE—YOU’RE FIRED!
This year we will have a chance to get rid of all the House of Representatives and up to 1/3 of the Senators.

On Wednesday President Obama gave his State of the Union speech. I had a difficult time following it; for some reason it seemed more like a campaign stump. He did however say that the national economy needs to have priority.
Apparently, the President missed the massive dissatisfaction of the electorate when he renewed his call for government takeover of the health program.
At another he pointed out that there were two million people working who otherwise wouldn’t be; then described them as government workers. To me the economy is primarily our local businesses which do not seem to be improving very fast.
The President again mentioned the Bank fees which I don’t quite get. I understand that all banks had to pay fees even though many have already paid the loans with interest and others are paying with interest but all must pay the fee. Now the President proposes a $30 billion inflow to community banks – will they now have to pay a fee too?
In the whole speech his references to business, where most of the real jobs are, were that exports must be advanced and the proposal of a tax benefit. Then he went on to propose a Freeze Gov’t Spending in 2011 and to retain a larger tax on those making over $250,000 py.
On the positive side he claimed that he cut taxes – I will reserve judgment until I finish my tax return.
I must say that the speech gave me increased confidence in our national security nor was it increased that the economy would improve soon without further political change.
We must remain angry in November and remind the replacements not to screw up.
Let’s take back our Country. Get involved in the coming elections!

In the last week “Tea Parties” the Populist grassroots movement has been described by “progressives” and liberals as Republican minions, Nazis and other derogative descriptions. This is evidence positive that the ideals they espouse are finding agreement everywhere.
The Republican leadership recognized early on that the concepts were traditional and would catch on widely. That said, I find it difficult for the elephant to change colors so drastically and advocate a smaller government that lives within its means when it has been gorging on the “fruit” for so long.
This movement towards socialism and the imperial nanny government began with President Wilson, professor of political economy at Princeton, and the Federal Reserve Act, which created the Federal Reserve system, and the first federal income tax after the passage of the 16th Amendment. Every administration, Republican and Democrat, since has expanded government power over its citizens.
The Tea Party folks believe this imperial expansion must stop and the Federal Government be contracted to its intended function the servant of the people not their ruler.
The “Tea Party Patriots” issued a statement on January 6 the following is an excerpt:
“This country does not belong to any one party, nor does it belong to the career politicians. This country belongs to the citizens. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “We have given you a republic madam, if you can keep it.” The founders knew that it would be our sacred obligation as citizens to get involved, and to work hard to hold on to this great nation. We have much work to do, and future generations will look back in judgment. We hope you will join us in preserving the republic.”
As opposed to the demonstrated activities of both Republicans and Democrats in the last century, we Libertarians consistently believe in these same sentiments.
What of the public!
Most of the folks around the country get their news from comedians, people in their social environment that they agree with however more increasingly many are visiting blogs on the internet. Locally, there three very popular and socially active websites, that I follow with regularity.
The following comments, related to the ‘Tea Party’ movement, and the economy were noted:
“ the opinions of the Teabaggers on the economy, and regulations is about as valuable as the opinion of 5 year old playing doctor is to a brain surgeon.”
“Are the Teabaggers against the new credit card regulations or are they in favor of 50% interests rates and endless hidden fees. Let’s see how long their movement lasts they day they come out against the regulation of credit card fees and interest rates.”
“The people love to complain about regulations while also complaining about how corporations screw them.”
It would appear that most folks are unsure where regulations come from.
During my career with U.S. Customs, I participated in the process.
Though Congress originates the law and the President issues final approval the appropriate agency of the government is responsible for issuing the rules that describe exactly how the law will be enforced.
Usually this will be the issuance of regulations that describe specifically what the law means, who must comply, what reporting to the agency will be needed, what fees are required and how the enforcing office will accomplish the job.
This information is first published as a proposed rule and the public has the opportunity to comment during a period of time. Subsequently, the agency will respond to the comment possibly adopting some and the issue the regulation as a final rule.
Most people affected, don’t even know about the proposals much less express interest in the regulation, even though it is really up to everyone affected to help shape the regulation by commenting and writing to your representative to secure action. How many do? Has our Congressman involved himself in regulation? I don’t see any evidence other than the 12 bills he put forward in all these years and votes that place his constituents more under the control of the political masters like the hideous health plan that we are required to pay for years before we see any benefits. That is except for special folks who don’t pay at all; guess who must pay – yep us.
As you can see some regulation is necessary but must be watched carefully and Libertarians are against excess regulation and some do take the time yo comment and secure necessary change.
The Cato Institute, a prominent Libertarian think tank examines these policies.
As many have commented about the position on drug regulation I suggest http://www.cato.org/fda-drug-regulation as a place to find a rational point of view.
The mission of the Cato Institute is to increase the understanding of public policies based on the principles of limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and peace. The Institute uses the most effective means to originate, advocate, promote, and disseminate applicable policy proposals that create free, open, and civil societies.
Currently our rulers are trying to pervert the Constitution without amending it by creating rights not recognized in the constitution. According to the Declaration ‘inalienable rights” are given by creator others are specified in the Constitution not created by congress. The only way to add rights is by amending constitution. We have a one Bill of Rights now the rulers want to enslave us with a Second that they control access to and can change or take away.
The Tea Party folks just want to relieve the oppression of too much taxation and oppression just as they did a bit over 200 years ago. They were right then and they are right now. The Libertarians have always supported individual choice, the Republicans are just more of the same as we have seen from the previous administration; they only realized earlier how much they could get away with. Stop the game and vote for the candidate not the perty or it really is just a game and we all lose.

My inspiration, Thomas Paine, once said of government in his book Common Sense “We furnish the means by which we suffer”.
The vote and acceptance of the “party line” are where we furnish that means. In looking back at 200 plus years of bureaucracy; what our public leaders have told us, and the observation that what they told us and have done, are frequently in the best interest of the politician rather than the folks.
Now we have a crisis where the fine machinations of government control of banking and social engineering of housing and production have gone haywire. The response has been to identify a few crooks and keep them in the media to divert interest in the governmental screw-up. Then they borrow astronomical sums to spend and socially engineer even more. Then the rulars promise to raise taxes ever higher to confiscate even more from the folks that would provide the jobs that we need. Their majisties then seize control of banks and the means of production (cars) with the stimulus program. Worse yet China and the UN accuse our government of being a deadbeat.
After witnessing the disgusting political machinations of the past year, I am in real fear that our Nation of optimism and opportunity are nearly lost.
On Christmas Eve morning, the Senate held its vote for final passage of H.R. 3590, the $2.5 trillion government takeover of the health care industry.  Democrats passed the bill on a 60 vote straight party-line vote that many believe, that the Constitution did not give Congress the authority to establish. Perhaps we should consider the future Amendment 28,  that is rapidly becoming a battle cry;
 ”Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United
 States that does not apply equally to the Senators or Representatives,
 and Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators or
 Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the
 United States.”
Senator Coburn, a physician for over 25 years, described Medicare rationing that takes place here and the rationing by other governments who have adopted measures like the Senate proposes:
“This vote is indeed historic,” Coburn said.  “This Congress will be remembered for its arrogance, corruption and stupidity.  In the year of 2009, a Congress ignored the coming economic storm and impending bankruptcy of our entitlement programs and embarked on an ideological crusade to bring our nation as close to single-payer, government-run health care as possible. This bill will ration care, cut Medicare, increase premiums, fund abortion and bury our children in debt.”
“This process was not compromise,” Coburn continued.  “This process was corruption.  This bill passed because votes were bought and sold using the issue of abortion as a bargaining chip.  The abortion provision alone makes this bill the most arrogant piece of legislation I have seen in Congress.  Only the most condescending politician can believe it is appropriate to force Americans to pay for other people’s abortions and to coerce medical professional to take the lives of unborn children.”
The recently passed law authorized an increase in the debt limit which as of this writing stands at 12.4 trillion dollars.
This Congress has usurped more freedom from ‘we the people’ than at any time in history, in spite of the great public dissatisfaction.
It seems that whenever we are told there is a crisis we give the government more authority to increase control to confiscate money and resources from some to pay support of others. It now seems that folks are willing to give up their liberties to entrust that government with unlimited power to dictate how we should think and act in return for money that is confiscated from others. Just a few short years ago folks would go to great lengths to become self sufficient and in times of need the neighbors and religious communities would discretely help them through the rough times. I am saddened when I see people use the resources given to them to become successful,, have the benefits of their successes confiscated by the government to give to others with little or no input. I know many families that take pleasure in discretely helping those in need through donations, through the church which is more aware of the needs and is much more efficient than the government.
These actions may have cracked the foundations of the premise that our Nation was founded.
Earlier this year Texas Gov. Perry may have been prophetic when he commented about withdrawing from the Union. It may even be as legitimate as when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania withdrew from the USSR.
Those of us that are followers of classic movies were treated to a double feature of timely thought on Monday 21 December when Turner Classic Movies posted:
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) with: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains where An idealistic Senate replacement takes on political corruption – someone we need today.
Meet John Doe (1941) with: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward Arnold. 
This appeal for grass roots interest in the government and your fellow neighbors, was released in 1940, when Nazi sympathizers were gaining a potent voice in America, just prior to our involvement in WWII. Could it be we now have a home induced leaning for National Socialism.
In a scene John Doe says “They’ve started a lot of talk about free people goin’ soft, that we can’t take it. That’s a lot of hooey! A free people can beat the world at anything, from war to tiddlywinks, if we all pull in the same direction.
I know a lot of you are saying, ‘What can I do? I’m just a little punk. I don’t count. Well, you’re dead wrong. The little punks have always counted because in the long run, the character of a country is the sum total of the character of its little punks.
But we’ve all got to get in there and pitch. We can’t win the old ball game unless we have teamwork. And that’s where every John Doe comes in. It’s up to him to get together with his teammate, and your teammate, my friends, is the guy next door to ya. Your neighbor – he’s a terribly important guy, that guy next door. You’re gonna need him and he’s gonna need you, so look him up. If he’s sick, call on him. If he’s hungry, feed him. If he’s out of a job, find him one. To most of you, your neighbor is a stranger, a guy with a barkin’ dog and a high fence around him. Now you can’t be a stranger to any guy that’s on your own team. So tear down the fence that separates you. Tear down the fence and you’ll tear down a lot of hates and prejudices. Tear down all the fences in the country and you’ll really have teamwork.. Wake up, John Doe, you’re the hope of the world.”What we really need in the here and now as we are faced with serious infringement on our liberty and way of life, is work as a team like our John Doe. Is that not what the Tea Parties are espousing? The situations are similar.
We need a completely new Congress. This is the year! Anyone but the same old party robots.
Locally, a genuine war hero and ‘Tea Party’ sympathizer, has been moved to return to the service of his country. Ed Mishou has filed with the Libertarian Party to run for the office of U.S. Representative from the 27th Congressional District.
Filings close on January 4, so there is still time to file for office. Filings for County offices are to be made with the Libertarian County Chair who can also help you meet the close deadline for State and Federal offices.

The Holiday Season is on us now the turkey is a warm feeling in the tummy and strains of Christmas music are just arriving. That warmth and optimism that only this season can engender seems to be slow to arrive. The realities of the New Year portending little improvement for the unemployed, the economy or the daily grind, are becoming stronger. Still to come is the New Year’s celebration and the look back at what has gone into the past and the resolutions to improve ourselves for 2010.
The War in Iraq seems to be slowing but the War in Afghanistan is becoming more tentative and touchy. The pressures in the area are creating stability problems in Pakistan which has overflowed into India. The fact that both countries have nuclear weapons, and also have social and religious passions that make the concept of mutual destruction an effective deterrent, much less valid. The likelihood that Iran may also join the nuclear club as well makes “the end of days” even more possible.
Closer to our daily lives the loss of the optimism and confidence we normally have in the future, has led to a weakening of the economy of the world. This was seen first in the lack of confidence the banks have in future business which has shown itself in the retreating from extending credit. The result has been that business that depends on credit such as larger valued transactions like houses, cars and appliances have declined.
Businesses now must do more to just survive day to day. This has resulted in laying off employees to save on wages and payroll taxes. The remaining employees have produced more with less enabling some business to survive. Some of the surviving businesses are in danger and are delaying any new recruiting or expansion because the specter of new and more expensive regulations and government requirements, as well as new and higher taxes to pay for the increasing government debt, continues to rise and deepen.
We can look forward to even more difficult times and I expect that others will be watching their money just as our family will, to assure we get good value for the fewer resources we have.
If we look back to the depression, the War put everyone back to work and ended it. The several recessions were lessened by reducing taxes on business and relieving them of expensive requirements and providing a stable outlook with less government interference with business and especially “we the people”.
For the foreseeable future all we see is higher taxation, more government interference with our health care, as well as the places we work for now.
In a letter to the editor entitled “Blame Republicans for milking taxpayers”, Celso Garcia would have you believe that The Republicans led by Reagan, Bush, Karl Rove and Tom DeLay gave “the goahead to milk the taxpayers for what they could bear”. I am not a Republican fan but I seem to remember serious tax reductions during the Regan years and a substantial drop in unemployment, particularly in the Valley from the 20% area down to 6% and I also believe it is still holding. I also seem to remember a few Democrats following along since such as those controlling Congress and a President. He goes on to point out that so many companies enriched themselves. I wonder who benefitted – could it be us retirees who hold the 401k’s that own them or the Government Employees’ pension that also depends on many as well?
Now we here the Obama administration promise us change and we got it. We still see that those who are supposed to help us continue to be too important to do it. They are only interested in the masses! Soon we may well be indistinguishable among the world masses. Will we be helped then?
There is some help on the horizon. The “Tea parties”, started by some Libertarians to bring focus on the need to reduce the tax burden, have caused a renewed interest and a grass roots movement.
This reminds me of a movie I saw last year that described the same problem and the solution. “Meet John Doe” – a1941 movie starring a bashful Gary Cooper with that famous, unassuming attitude, and Barbara Stanwyck.
Infuriated at being laid off from her job as a newspaper columnist from The New Bulletin, Ann Mitchell prints a fake letter from the unemployed “John Doe,” threatening suicide in protest of society’s ills. When the note causes a sensation, the newspaper is forced to rehire Mitchell. After reviewing a number of derelicts who have shown up at the paper claiming to have penned the original suicide letter, Ann and Henry Connell decide to hire John Willoughby (Gary Cooper), a former baseball player and tramp who is in need of money to repair his injured arm, to play John Doe.
The Doe philosophy spreads across the country, developing into a grass roots political movement, with financial support from the newspaper’s publisher, D.B. Norton (Edward Arnold), who plans to channel the support for Doe into support for his own political ambitions.
This movie focuses on the idea that most people are decent idealists who actually want to help the neighbor, but don’t want to admit it. They want to appear cool with whatever the popular thoughts are being advanced by their friends not what they have thought for themselves.
The bottom line was that we “the folks” are the powerful and are the only ones who know what is good for us “John Does”.
When we get tired of being mis-used by those that are supposed to work for us, we will start electing competent representatives to government and avoid wars and other crises. We need to start in the local elections as we already have too many less than greats there now.
The “Tea Parties” are gaining in size and popularity and some are referring to them as a potential third party.
Apparently there is some validity to this as many of the TV “talking heads” and other commentators that “owe” the two party system their livelihood are attempting to dissuade voters from such consideration with the assessment that the third party can’t win but only take votes away from the more favorable of the “chosen two”. To accept this concept is to limit the choices of “we the people”.
We need only look at an election, back a century and a ‘half ago. If only he two major parties were considered the Republicans would not be in existence, Lincoln would not have been elected, and slavery may have existed years longer.
I believe it is necessary to vote your conscience not just who your associates think is attractive or nice but that person who will represent you honestly and in good faith.
There is a party in existence that represents the ideals of less – more responsible government and lower taxes. The Libertarians are that party.
I wonder if the Libertarians will be the Party to revolutionize the United States to a better nation more responsive to its citizens like that other party a century and a half ago

In the last several months there has been a growing interest in a political choice with goals other than expanding the power of the government. The “Tea Party” and “9-12” meetings have stirred new life in small government, responsible spending and an economy based on free trade and enterprise.
In the spate of new discussion the Libertarian Party has been discussed at length and frequently with many inaccuracies.
Most frequently, Libertarians are identified with Republicans by the Democrats and Republicans identify them as liberal because of our goals of more freedoms of choice that should be in the hands of “We the people”.
I want to point out that I am an avid Libertarian and Chairman of the local County Party. I am also very practical, not necessarily conservative as some of my colleagues suggest, in my approach to the different policies.
The party is made up segments as extreme as the anarchists and others that are quite liberal in their policy views but all are welcome as long as they debate rationally and respectfully, in advocating their views.
This is nearly always the case. In evidence I will describe a debate at the National Convention in Oregon several years ago where the rights of those with alternate lifestyles was an issue for consideration as a plank in the platform.
Everyone, regardless of position had the same opportunity to advance their positions and at no time was there name calling or other disturbances.
This, I believe, is the result of a strict adherence to Robert’s Rules of Order at all meetings and respect for each other, not just conventions. Another facility to assure that each view gets an equal opportunity is that when a vote is taken, not only can you vote for the different candidates or policy choices but you can vote for “none of the above” to start over with a totally different slate.
The following excerpt from the Libertarian National Platform demonstrates what Libertarians are working for:
“we defend each person’s right to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity that freedom brings. The world we seek to build is one where individuals are free to follow their own dreams in their own ways, without interference from government or any authoritarian power.”
…….. Our goal is nothing more nor less than a world set free in our lifetime, and it is to this end that we take these 9stands.”
Some of the principles that describe the detail of stated policies are:
Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle, -than individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives- that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States, all political parties other than Libertarians, grant to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor without their consent ( tax).
Just look at the recent seizure of several banks, auto manufacturing companies and the proposal to take over the health care industries where rewards are made to those with political influence rather than those that work harder. Not only that but the federal government also tells our local schools what to teach our children and how; not even allowing the parents to even know what is going on in the schools. Politicos hire and fire based on “what is in it for me” not the benefit of the children. In fact the more money that is confiscated in taxes, the worse things get for the regular folks.
Just look around today and everywhere problems seem to be getting worse. Over the last eight years the economy in South Texas has gotten so good that that a rate of unemployment that for decades was in the double digits dropped to in the 6 to 8% and remains lower than many other places. Other states with higher taxes and more government control like California, have seriously declining economies.
Libertarians advocate a real difference that would bring about a government more responsive to the regular folks and are not conservative even though they are frequently referred to on Fox news.
This fall, representatives from the State and National Libertarian Party were in Brownsville to help raise interest in running for office, in the third largest political party. We expect to be able to announce some exceptional candidates that will provide a real change from the unchecked spending of our hard earned tax money.As we approach the 2010 election season remember that there is the opportunity to make a substantial change in the Congress and thereby, taxes and spending. Such a person is Independent, Ed Mishou who has chosen to fight with us Libertarians against those who are trying to take our freedoms from us. He has accepted the call to serve his country by seeking election as the next Member of Congress from the 27th Congressional District. Ed is a genuine War hero, having served in Vietnam as a flight officer. He was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, four Air Medals, and the Meritorious Service Medal for his service. After his retirement from the Airforce he worked in executive positions in private industry and provided consulting services until retiring a last time.The same attempts by the government to take our freedoms from us, that motivated the “Tea Parties” and the 9-12 meetings. called him to serve again. He pledges to represent us and not try to rule us.
I would also like to mention that the ownership of The Brownsville Herald follow the Libertarian philosophy and have launched a Libertarian area on the Web to provide more insight. To find it, you can go to my Web site www.TodaysCommonSense.com and click on the Link Freedom Politics located on the right side of the page. There are Libertarian oriented columnists and an “Ask a Libertarian” section to mention just a little.

Thursday, December 31 2009

Chuck Berry will be playing 2 shows at BB Kings Blues Club in New York  8 and  12pm

Thursday, January 28th 2010

The Ventures will be playing at BB Kings Blues Club in New York

The Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 23rd annual induction dinner on March 10, 2008.

This comment in the Brownsville Herald’s November 8 edition relative to the results of the November 3 constitutional amendment referendum related to Veterans health care.

“Our vets deserve this and this is great news! Our vets need the support.
I am a veteran and I can tell you we desperately need a hospital in the Valley.
When I returned to the Valley after military service I had to go to San Antonio just to get registered and checked for the VA. No travel expenses were reimbursed. After that I could seek medical care in McAllen, where it literally takes six months to get an appointment.
Now with the Harlingen clinic I have to wait two to three months to see a doctor..………….”
What you are hearing about is the future – this is what National Health care will be like. This is how the government runs things… Because of the way government does things “the things that are good for the politician becomes law” not the things that are good for us folks.
I have been watching the reports in the media about government reforms that would give everyone what they need and would be paid for with savings or additional taxation on the “rich”. The first problem comes with deciding who is rich or middle class – plateaus as low as $200,000 per year and lower have been mentioned. The other source would be the mysterious corporations. Strangely enough when the media refers to the “mean old corporations” they are actually referring to all of us – federal, state, city and company employees who participate in retirement funds as well as individual investors and small business persons and “S Corporations” so small that the owners are taxed as though they are individuals.
One only need look at how many of us “baby boomers” have had to return to the workforce or delayed retirement because of the poor corporate stock response in our 401k or other plans. If the corporations were doing better, thousands of us would retire and make many new job openings, then using our retirement funds to buy more products and services. This would make thousands more jobs in all sectors of the economy.
Our government rulers know this, but they still focus on corporations to tax – denigrating them- to exert more control. Why would our “representatives” do this to us?
The government rulers have been spending resources to bailout companies! These banks, insurance companies, and giant factories are now controlled by the government that can now control credit even more than before and control the means of product production in the largest segment of the United States – and a large part of the world. “Control being the operative word.” Why would our “representatives” do this to us?
Our congressmen had been reforming the housing that is available to the less affluent of us, by forcing Freddy Mac, Fannie Mae and the banks they influenced or directed with government incentives and mandates, to make larger amounts credit available, using terms like balloon payments or variable loans, to those who otherwise would not be able to qualify. This was designed to make better housing available. It appears that little thought was given to the time when the costs returned to the norm and notes became due. The important thing was to make a certain group of voters feel indebted to a specific group of politicos and hostile towards another. Why would our “representatives” do this to us?
Now we are witnessing a concentrated effort to blame different groups of folks for our problems. The politicos are blaming those on Wall Street for our financial problems (that our politicos had a big responsibility for). More blame is placed on our intelligence community for doing a good job (do you remember the Carter era that brought us a period of no human intelligence to identify our enemies and future ones – we are still paying for that in the Middle East and Asia). New requirements and criteria are being created by the minute to enable hostility.  Why would our “representatives” do this to us?
More and more every day, critiques are being devised to separate certain groups from one another. Consider the thoughts now being advanced: If you are a member of one national group, you are racist if you are critical for any reason of a member of another. It seems that if you take pride in who you are, your national origin or sense of patriotic duty, educational background, social organizations, sexual nature vrs sexual preferences, or even the personal appearance you may be disparaged. This seems like bigotry.
People who weigh more than the average, whatever the reason are being determined as a lower-class than others; those otherwise not the same as the average are being focused on by the government and the media, as somehow less valuable and needing some help. People of different colors such as our original Americans and African Americans have been separated for special needs assuming that only the government can improve how they live. The government told the Native Americans once that they would be taken care of on the reservations! They have been separated out, focused on and helped nearly out of existence. Why would our “representatives” do this to us?
So long as we don’t stick together we will all sink separately.
Perhaps this process of the government alienating one group or segment to blame ills on and attempts to take action on – attempts to control access to resources and income – attempts to control those who have access to health benefits (who can live or die), – or even control who can possess firearms or the means of individual protection (remember our native Americans) sounds familiar – yes it is government promoted bigotry.
This is the same methodology that the National Socialist Party used when it came into power in Germany in the early twentieth century.
This all may seem very conspiratorial to many of you, as it did when I wrote an earlier article entitled Perspective on Life in the Philippines and discovered the relationships and goals of the prominent organization “United for Peace and Justice” and its affiliates such as the Socialist Party USA and others.
This rapid movement towards more and more government control of all the most important factors of our life such as education, work and health is leading us to a disastrous trend towards fragmenting society and all the power centralized in the government.
We need more freedom to make choices for ourselves not less.
The government must cease the attempt to control of the banks, factories and not gain control of our health care.
We can not continue to blindly believe our traditional political loyalties as both the Republicans and Democrats have eaten of the apple and know the pleasures of power. This pleasure is so intoxicating the rulers will do anything to keep it. They both now work to build a government to control all aspects of life.
We need to advocate a stop to the amassing of power now! We must work to elect a new government with new congresspersons in 2010 and ensure that they are replaced perhaps every two terms, so that the power remains in the hands of the people.
Lets bring back that part of the 60’s –“Power to the People”

The 23rd Congressional Dist – is in Northern New York along the Canadian Border. It includes mostly rural areas, known for dairy farms, potatoes, a Mohawk Indian Reservation, and is interspersed with small cities and communities.
It is a beautiful area of severe winters and moderate but short summers.
The only industries are summer and winter based recreational areas with ski resorts and cool fresh lakes for summer water sports and provide a home for snowmobiling.
In spite of the differences, the demographics of the area are similar to our area in South Texas. It adjoins a foreign country where the language is different (French)
The area is made up of less than well to do people who are independent folks of modest means and traditional political and social views.
It is also where I grew up.
My dad worked as a maintenance manager at the local school and my mom also worked at a number of jobs to keep our heads above water.
Our school district didn’t like the controls that came with Federal money, so they refused it and the community controlled the system. We still had good classes, and a great football, basket ball and hockey sports programs.
We got a great education with a majority of us going on to college, frequently by way of military service and scholarships; I made use of both.
According to the press, the area has never supported a Democrat in the Congressional District since the Civil War. However, one must look at the flavor of Republican that has been voted for.
The most popular politician during my youth was the very liberal Senator Jacob Javitts. Further, we must look at the candidate that was backed by the County leaders another very liberal Republican Ms. Scozzafava, who when she saw that she was losing, withdrew in favor of the Democrat candidate. Mr. Doug Hoffman who was supported financially by Citizens United, a group that seeks to reassert the traditional American values of limited government, freedom of enterprise, strong families, and national sovereignty and security, ran as a 3rd party, independent Conservative.
A large part of the folks in the area have determined not to support the Republican choice, but supported the one that most represents the views of “We the people”.The independent nature of the area reasserted itself with a little help from the “9-12″ Tea Party meeting demonstrations.
The Republican found she was going to lose big, in spite of her National and labor backing, withdrew giving her support to the Democrat.
This really gives me hope that our nation might just recover by listening to the folks! A third party candidate seems to really have a chance and it makes a difference.
It is interesting to note that the “9/12 – tax day tea party meetings” were started by the Illinois Libertarians. Of course, for the Libertarian Party every day is a Tea Party.
The “We the people” are rapidly becoming frustrated with the perceived self-seeking corruption in politics at all levels and the “Tea Party” groups are attracting large crowds.
Here in Cameron County, the local Libertarians had an overflow meeting recently that was directed at locating quality candidates for office in the 2010 elections. Several were identified that may have real possibilities for federal and state offices and are now evaluating those opportunities.
As many of the attendees were “seasoned citizens”, who most regularly vote, there can be a real expectation of a revolution similar to the one taking place in the Northern Border Area and many other areas across the country.
We all just want to use our talents to earn a living wage, without paying suffocating taxes and have the opportunity to seek happiness.
We are also interested in educating our children, helping our neighbors in need, and preserving our surroundings, so as to remain healthful and continue to show us the majesty of nature.
 We want to be allowed to follow our beliefs without the interference from others, in particular from a strong armed imperial government. We want to do all this without interfering with others.
The imperial government is currently spending our future down the drain and taxing us more and more into poverty. This has to change!
In fact it is changing as we can see from the telling elections in Virginia, New Jersey and the opportunity for the “Third Party Candidate” in the 23rd Congressional District in Northern New York.
Lastly, if you know someone in your family or a neighbor that could make an honest difference as a leader in the community, encourage him or her.