Section 1
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the
United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Constitution - Article 1 - Section 1
Preamble to the Constitution
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to
ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Our Way of Life
I've been able to temporarily settle down which has given me some extra time to catch up on my reading. And of course reading is great for encouraging self-reflection and thought of where we are going as a people and a nation.
In the oncoming weeks and months I will attempt to "rewrite" the US Constitution. Yes, somewhat narcissistic to think I could improve upon so great a document that took not one but many of our country's most brilliant founding minds to create, but attempt I will. And with this one huge advantage - hindsight. Unfortunately, like our fore fathers I do not have a crystal ball on hand to tell me what the future will bring so I will do my best to encompass a language that is both easy to understand and easy to apply to the future.
As always I welcome criticism and comments both. When you do, however, I ask that you give a solution to your critiques and clearly state the meaning and direction of your comments. Perhaps together we can create a document worthy of that first great document.
And to start this project off I leave you with two comments, the first a summarization the second a quote.
The Cycle of Democracy has been summarized as:
Good luck to all of us.
In the oncoming weeks and months I will attempt to "rewrite" the US Constitution. Yes, somewhat narcissistic to think I could improve upon so great a document that took not one but many of our country's most brilliant founding minds to create, but attempt I will. And with this one huge advantage - hindsight. Unfortunately, like our fore fathers I do not have a crystal ball on hand to tell me what the future will bring so I will do my best to encompass a language that is both easy to understand and easy to apply to the future.
As always I welcome criticism and comments both. When you do, however, I ask that you give a solution to your critiques and clearly state the meaning and direction of your comments. Perhaps together we can create a document worthy of that first great document.
And to start this project off I leave you with two comments, the first a summarization the second a quote.
The Cycle of Democracy has been summarized as:
- From bondage to spiritual faith;
- From spiritual faith to great courage;
- From courage to liberty (rule of law);
- From liberty to abundance;
- From abundance to complacency;
- From complacency to apathy;
- From apathy to dependence;
- From dependence back into bondage (rule of men).
I believe when are somewhere in midst of apathy and bondage. I pray that "we the people" can reverse that trend back to a land of the "free and the brave".
In 1916, a minister and outspoken advocate for liberty, William J. H. Boetcker, published a pamphlet entitled The Ten Cannots:- You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
- You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
- You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
- You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
- You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence.
- You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
- You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
- You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
- You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
- You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves.
Good luck to all of us.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Government Intervention
"... Nothing is easier than for governments to impose price controls. They have been doing this, off and on, for thousands of years-- repeatedly resulting in (1) shortages, (2) quality deterioration and (3) black markets. Why would anyone want those things when it comes to medical care?" -- Hoover Institute economist Thomas Sowell
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Obamacare
There has been much talk the past few months about Obamacare (government take over of heath care). One aspect that is being heavily debated is the issue of government panels deciding what medical care can be delivered to whom. The idea being that the older one is the less more expensive procedures would be granted. This is triage with a euthanasia bent to it. Well let me tell you it already happens even in today's world only the decision is made by your doctor and/or the insurance companies. And better the doctor than anyone else but I think in most cases I should be the one to decide.
Case in point: I had an appointment today with "my" Orthopedic Surgeon.
Setup: I recently had an MRI that revealed a small tear (what my doctor called it) on the upper bicep tendon (not medical terms but easier to understand). My Ortho called it a build up of scar tissue and other stuff (I can't remember).
What the Ortho basically said went like this: If aged 20-40, we fix the tear if it gets worse; if 40-50, it'll depend on the circumstance (i.e. how rich or famous you are); and if you over 50, forget, they won't perform the surgery. How's that make us old people feel.
His justification is that the lower bicep tendon never tears. If the upper bicep tendon tears it only cause the bicep to bundle up (no longer be elongated) and will only cause cosmetic damage. If you see people who's biceps look like they are balls (not when flexed) and instead are elongated this is what has happened to them. And since it doesn't cause any real damage it would be considered "cosmetic" for those over age 50 and therefore not deemed surgically necessary.
Wow!!! I told him God made me one way and that if He decided the upper bicep tendon should be attached I'll go ahead and agree with Him and have it reattached. he said that is my option but I'm sure he meant if I wanted to pay for it myself. What a load of crap!!
Now I understand the need for triage and when someone is truly on their deathbed the idea of keeping them alive in the hopes of getting one more day with them or some discovery coming through in time to save them is truly I believe a waste of valuable resources that could be going to someone my apt to live a long and productive life. But 50 years old is not "OLD" and most of us 50 years old are still very active and productive.
Again, what a bunch of crap!! What say you?
Case in point: I had an appointment today with "my" Orthopedic Surgeon.
Setup: I recently had an MRI that revealed a small tear (what my doctor called it) on the upper bicep tendon (not medical terms but easier to understand). My Ortho called it a build up of scar tissue and other stuff (I can't remember).
What the Ortho basically said went like this: If aged 20-40, we fix the tear if it gets worse; if 40-50, it'll depend on the circumstance (i.e. how rich or famous you are); and if you over 50, forget, they won't perform the surgery. How's that make us old people feel.
His justification is that the lower bicep tendon never tears. If the upper bicep tendon tears it only cause the bicep to bundle up (no longer be elongated) and will only cause cosmetic damage. If you see people who's biceps look like they are balls (not when flexed) and instead are elongated this is what has happened to them. And since it doesn't cause any real damage it would be considered "cosmetic" for those over age 50 and therefore not deemed surgically necessary.
Wow!!! I told him God made me one way and that if He decided the upper bicep tendon should be attached I'll go ahead and agree with Him and have it reattached. he said that is my option but I'm sure he meant if I wanted to pay for it myself. What a load of crap!!
Now I understand the need for triage and when someone is truly on their deathbed the idea of keeping them alive in the hopes of getting one more day with them or some discovery coming through in time to save them is truly I believe a waste of valuable resources that could be going to someone my apt to live a long and productive life. But 50 years old is not "OLD" and most of us 50 years old are still very active and productive.
Again, what a bunch of crap!! What say you?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Outside the US
I’ve been to two countries outside of the US besides Canada and Mexico. South Korea 30 years ago and now Argentina and the one thing that I have noticed is how very similar they are to the US. Yes, there are uncountable ways in which the US is different and do I day say better but the one real way in which they are similar is we, as in mankind, in general are very much the same. We want to for the most part go about our business with being bothered, first by other people and then by our governments.
Even though South Korea is closer to the US form of a Democratic Republic than Argentina, at least here in Argentina, the people that “work” for a living and earn most of what they get don’t like governmental intrusion into their lives; whereas there is still the contingent of people that seemly live off the government and are happy living their lives as follows getting handouts when and where they are delivered. Tell me what to do and when and they are happy.
As I write this I am reminder of the days before the US Revolutionary War and many of the people were complacent when it came to the British manner of dealing with the American colonies. It was only after shots were fired that more and more colonists themselves took up arms on the American side. And even then many colonists took off for Canada choosing not to fight for freedom and liberty.
Is it not the same today? If it does come to a revolt within our nation against a more and more demanding, intrusive and constraining government how many of our fellow Americas will be at the forefront in bring down a tyrannical government. I guess no one truly knows until they are called upon. My hope is that I am one that will be brave enough to stand up and fight.
Even though South Korea is closer to the US form of a Democratic Republic than Argentina, at least here in Argentina, the people that “work” for a living and earn most of what they get don’t like governmental intrusion into their lives; whereas there is still the contingent of people that seemly live off the government and are happy living their lives as follows getting handouts when and where they are delivered. Tell me what to do and when and they are happy.
As I write this I am reminder of the days before the US Revolutionary War and many of the people were complacent when it came to the British manner of dealing with the American colonies. It was only after shots were fired that more and more colonists themselves took up arms on the American side. And even then many colonists took off for Canada choosing not to fight for freedom and liberty.
Is it not the same today? If it does come to a revolt within our nation against a more and more demanding, intrusive and constraining government how many of our fellow Americas will be at the forefront in bring down a tyrannical government. I guess no one truly knows until they are called upon. My hope is that I am one that will be brave enough to stand up and fight.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Federal Reserve
We will have a ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT someday and I really don't think it is such a bad idea as along as that one world government's policies and procedures where based on some facsimile to the US Constitution.
Ron Paul, I believe, is a great man and thinker. However, I also think he either starts or concludes too many of his arguments with "its not contained within the constitution". Yes, I know this is sacrilege to many people but I also believe that if our Founding Fathers were alive today our constitution wouldn't look exactly like it does. There is a saying that goes" "when the facts change, I'll change my mind." Well, if we try to compare the world today with the world in the years leading up to the constitution I think you'd see a great many differences.
Having said that, I also don't think there would be radical changes in it either. Nothing like what BHO and many of his predecessors have and are trying to do, which is to discard the entirety of it.
My thoughts arise from the comments by Ron Paul, Chuck Norris and others that the Federal Reserve needs to be audited and I couldn't agree more. But then they go further by stating it has no constitutional basis due to its intrusion upon state's rights. So let me get this right, Ron Paul and the like believe we would be better off with 50 different types of currencies? If anyone can help me understand that reasoning please do so. I seem to remember in early US history of a time when there was unknown numbers of different notes floating around which form one state to another was worthless. And we certainly don't and couldn't go back to a barter system of exchange.
So the natural evolution was to go to a single currency within the US and it follows that as we become more and more entangled with the world economy that we turn to a single currency for the world. The defacto currency now is US Dollar as it should be. Aren't we still greater than 25% of the world's economic output? Probably not for long though.
So I'm not really opposed to a "federal or world reserve" what I am opposed to is the non-transparency and ownership of the organization. It should be open to public scrutiny and never, never, never should be under private ownership.
How we get there is antibody's guess.
Ron Paul, I believe, is a great man and thinker. However, I also think he either starts or concludes too many of his arguments with "its not contained within the constitution". Yes, I know this is sacrilege to many people but I also believe that if our Founding Fathers were alive today our constitution wouldn't look exactly like it does. There is a saying that goes" "when the facts change, I'll change my mind." Well, if we try to compare the world today with the world in the years leading up to the constitution I think you'd see a great many differences.
Having said that, I also don't think there would be radical changes in it either. Nothing like what BHO and many of his predecessors have and are trying to do, which is to discard the entirety of it.
My thoughts arise from the comments by Ron Paul, Chuck Norris and others that the Federal Reserve needs to be audited and I couldn't agree more. But then they go further by stating it has no constitutional basis due to its intrusion upon state's rights. So let me get this right, Ron Paul and the like believe we would be better off with 50 different types of currencies? If anyone can help me understand that reasoning please do so. I seem to remember in early US history of a time when there was unknown numbers of different notes floating around which form one state to another was worthless. And we certainly don't and couldn't go back to a barter system of exchange.
So the natural evolution was to go to a single currency within the US and it follows that as we become more and more entangled with the world economy that we turn to a single currency for the world. The defacto currency now is US Dollar as it should be. Aren't we still greater than 25% of the world's economic output? Probably not for long though.
So I'm not really opposed to a "federal or world reserve" what I am opposed to is the non-transparency and ownership of the organization. It should be open to public scrutiny and never, never, never should be under private ownership.
How we get there is antibody's guess.
Friday, July 17, 2009
MLK
Just got out of the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Center on Auburn Street in Atlanta and I must say as a white man that I felt guilty walking through the memorial. maybe its because I was a white dot among many blacks but I think its more because of how whites treated blacks in our history.
And I don't mean to apologize for our history because what happened in the US was no different and in many cases better that that happening in other areas of the world. But its also not to excuse it. I'm sure many, many blacks would take what had happened in the US in past years to what is happening in some of the African countries at present. At least we never had systematic genocide; I'd venture that blacks have done worst against their own race throughout history that whites have done. But that's just a guess.
What all of this boils down to is what is right and wrong. I personally believe right is an eternal principle and not one that changes from age to age, era to era. We live in an era of relativistic morality; selfish desires remaking the world into a world in which the less moral can feel comfortable out in the open. A brave New World if you will?!?!?!?
Thomas Jefferson believed that morality and religion should be taught in the schools. With the Congress and the Courts removing all semblance of religion from our schools it no wonder why we are on the path towards a changing morality.
If anyone knows me I am not a very religious man, more spiritual in my nature than anything else. Thomas Jefferson believed you could find common beliefs in all religions and it was those common precepts that should be taught; not the core tenets of a particular religion. An example would be the Golden Rule. Most if not all religions would agree with this tenet - thus it would be taught. Rights are innate and come from a high power. Okay, atheists may object but you could still state that there are rights that exist naturally and are not governmentally given.
We've moved a far cry from where our Founding Fathers thought we should be; its time for us as a people if we want to remain a free people to start building the bridge back to our Founding Father's constitution's original intent.
And I don't mean to apologize for our history because what happened in the US was no different and in many cases better that that happening in other areas of the world. But its also not to excuse it. I'm sure many, many blacks would take what had happened in the US in past years to what is happening in some of the African countries at present. At least we never had systematic genocide; I'd venture that blacks have done worst against their own race throughout history that whites have done. But that's just a guess.
What all of this boils down to is what is right and wrong. I personally believe right is an eternal principle and not one that changes from age to age, era to era. We live in an era of relativistic morality; selfish desires remaking the world into a world in which the less moral can feel comfortable out in the open. A brave New World if you will?!?!?!?
Thomas Jefferson believed that morality and religion should be taught in the schools. With the Congress and the Courts removing all semblance of religion from our schools it no wonder why we are on the path towards a changing morality.
If anyone knows me I am not a very religious man, more spiritual in my nature than anything else. Thomas Jefferson believed you could find common beliefs in all religions and it was those common precepts that should be taught; not the core tenets of a particular religion. An example would be the Golden Rule. Most if not all religions would agree with this tenet - thus it would be taught. Rights are innate and come from a high power. Okay, atheists may object but you could still state that there are rights that exist naturally and are not governmentally given.
We've moved a far cry from where our Founding Fathers thought we should be; its time for us as a people if we want to remain a free people to start building the bridge back to our Founding Father's constitution's original intent.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Continued Dumbing Down of America
The confirmation hearing for the appointment to the US Supreme Court is now underway for Sonia Sotomayor, special needs case for the supreme court. Yeah, I know that may sound harsh but if one looks into her past you will find several instances of times that she would not be where she were if it were not for the stepping over of more qualified candidates simple for the fact that she was not only female but also Hispanic.
Now I don't wish to imply that I am against neither females nor Hispanics nor any other minority, I am simply for what is right. And what is right is for the best person to get whatever job is applied for. I could care less about what gender or race the most well qualified candidate is from as long as they are well qualified.
Just the fact that one of her most controversial rulings (RICCI ET AL. v. DESTEFANO) just got overturned by the US Supreme Court and that her justification for that original decision be enough to disqualify her.
Now it is complete, from kindergarten all the way up to the US Supreme Court, we pass people into the next grade so as not to hurt someones or some minority groups feelings. If we choose not to allow people, starting with children, to fail then we ultimately take away their innate ability to rise from future failures. Now with the soon-to-be confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor, cases will be decided not based on law but on "how others might feel" about the outcome. Her own words laid out in various statements she has made over the years.
Our only savings grace is that she replaces another liberal. As such, the make up of the court remains the same. Heaven help us if on of the few constitutional scholars on the court retires or dies while BHO is still our president.
Now I don't wish to imply that I am against neither females nor Hispanics nor any other minority, I am simply for what is right. And what is right is for the best person to get whatever job is applied for. I could care less about what gender or race the most well qualified candidate is from as long as they are well qualified.
Just the fact that one of her most controversial rulings (RICCI ET AL. v. DESTEFANO) just got overturned by the US Supreme Court and that her justification for that original decision be enough to disqualify her.
Now it is complete, from kindergarten all the way up to the US Supreme Court, we pass people into the next grade so as not to hurt someones or some minority groups feelings. If we choose not to allow people, starting with children, to fail then we ultimately take away their innate ability to rise from future failures. Now with the soon-to-be confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor, cases will be decided not based on law but on "how others might feel" about the outcome. Her own words laid out in various statements she has made over the years.
Our only savings grace is that she replaces another liberal. As such, the make up of the court remains the same. Heaven help us if on of the few constitutional scholars on the court retires or dies while BHO is still our president.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Comments are always welcome!
Comments on my blogs are always welcome. I just recently received an email commenting n my blog. I can only guess that the commenter was attempting to save face as she slammed stating that I was telling everyone what they thought. Not sure where she got that idea but just so everyone else is clear on the subject; what I write is my own thoughts and mine alone. If I happen to emphasize a point of how I think others may feel or think, it is only that - my best guess.
I don't pretend to know what other people or thinking and I certainly don't want t leave that impression. What I wont do however is guard my words so as not to offend someone or anyone. My blog is here for me to voice my thoughts and opinions and if one doesn't like what is being written, the answer is simple - don't read it.
Enjoy!
I don't pretend to know what other people or thinking and I certainly don't want t leave that impression. What I wont do however is guard my words so as not to offend someone or anyone. My blog is here for me to voice my thoughts and opinions and if one doesn't like what is being written, the answer is simple - don't read it.
Enjoy!
Beginnings
Hello All,
The following political posts will be the simple musings of this Not So Common man ( an oxymoron in that I firmly believe we are all more common than we would all like to believe). I invite all to post their comments as I'm sure I have mush to learn from everyone out there.
First, who am I: I was raised in a family with little monetary means. My youth was spent in the back woods of Salem, Alabama and in Lawton, Oklahoma. What I know of my family we are a mishmash of just about everything: patriotic, conservative, liberal, druggies, hippies, flower child, smokers, non-smokers, drinkers, non-drinkers, deep thinkers and not-so-deep thinkers, agnostics and what some might call religious fanatics. And that's just my four brothers and one sister. So you can see I come from a not-so-stilted rearing. A microcosm of American life and thought. And through it all I would say our family has done quite well as far as families go in the wild and crazy time in which we live.
How I came to be who I am I credit much to the writings of Sterling W. Sill. His compendium on character taught me much of what I know about the word as I don't believe I was raised with much of one - except to cause mischief in my wake. And to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints of which I was an active member much of my adult life.
As to how well I turned out I leave to those who know me best.
Who did I turn out to be - a conservative with a libertarian bent. Now that can mean many things to many people but I can only define it in my own manner and through the many future posting I will be making. Suffice it now to mean these two things: Live by the Golden Rule and Government, stay out of my private life.
And from the above I shall begin....................
The following political posts will be the simple musings of this Not So Common man ( an oxymoron in that I firmly believe we are all more common than we would all like to believe). I invite all to post their comments as I'm sure I have mush to learn from everyone out there.
First, who am I: I was raised in a family with little monetary means. My youth was spent in the back woods of Salem, Alabama and in Lawton, Oklahoma. What I know of my family we are a mishmash of just about everything: patriotic, conservative, liberal, druggies, hippies, flower child, smokers, non-smokers, drinkers, non-drinkers, deep thinkers and not-so-deep thinkers, agnostics and what some might call religious fanatics. And that's just my four brothers and one sister. So you can see I come from a not-so-stilted rearing. A microcosm of American life and thought. And through it all I would say our family has done quite well as far as families go in the wild and crazy time in which we live.
How I came to be who I am I credit much to the writings of Sterling W. Sill. His compendium on character taught me much of what I know about the word as I don't believe I was raised with much of one - except to cause mischief in my wake. And to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints of which I was an active member much of my adult life.
As to how well I turned out I leave to those who know me best.
Who did I turn out to be - a conservative with a libertarian bent. Now that can mean many things to many people but I can only define it in my own manner and through the many future posting I will be making. Suffice it now to mean these two things: Live by the Golden Rule and Government, stay out of my private life.
And from the above I shall begin....................
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