Saturday, March 28, 2009

Tracking Bills on Govtrack

If you want to see what type of bills are making their way through Congress, or see what your favorite (or least favorite) Senator/Congressman is up to http://www.govtrack.us/ is a great way to do it. You can get email alerts on topics that you want to follow (abortion, cpsia...), etc.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Gambling in Alabama

I have more on this in my Economics blog, but I wanted to mention it here as well: There are some trying to get the "Sweet Home Alabama Plan" through our legislative body right now. It is not good for Alabama, and we do not need or want more gambling in this state. This YouTube video "The Truth About Illegal Gambling" is a short, quick reminder of why not!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Gateway Pundit: House Passes Hitler Youth Bill

Gateway Pundit: House Passes Hitler Youth Bill

Very disturbing indeed! These are not the principles this country was founded on! And not at all constitutional. This is not the change we need.

Senator DeMint (one of my CPSIA heroes) spoke out against the "good intentions" of this law. I watched his speech on this legislation.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Speech: "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death"

Today, March 23, is the 234th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death speech". I've been to Colonial Williamsburg recently, where I listened to an actor's rendition of that awe-inspiring speech. Even after 234 years, it is easy to hear the power in Henry's words and imagine the ripples it would have caused throughout the colonies, colonies that even then were in the struggle to decide whether they would or should declare independence from Great Britain. (In fact, only weeks later, the fighting of the American Revolution would begin, further north, in Massachusetts.)

The speech ends with the powerful words: "...It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace, but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

The rest of his powerful speech can be found many places on the web, including on the Colonial Williamsburg website: http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm

2 Chronicles 7:14

2 Chronicles 7:14 (King James Version)

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Abort73 Website

Several of my students told me about this website: http://www.abort73.com/ It is a great resource for information on abortion!
Including:
* The Case Against Abortion
o -- WHY ABORTION IS WRONG
o Medical Testimony
o Prenatal Development
* WHY THE LAW SHOULD PROTECT UNBORN CHILDREN
o The Role of Law
o Competing Rights
* Abortion Risks
* Abortion Alternatives
* Facts About Abortion

Red Envelope Day

Here's a Great Idea From a Choose Life Group -- 50 Million Red Envelopes:

http://www.RedEnvelopeDay.com Please visit today and tell your friends!

What:
Get red envelopes or postcards and mail them on March 31st to the White House

When:
March 31st, 2009

Get a red envelope. You can buy them at party supply stores (we hope to have some at CLC soon). On the front, address it to

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington , D.C. 20500

On the back, write the following message.

This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion.
It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world.

We will mail the envelopes out March 31st, 2009.

Put it in the mail, and send it. Then forward this event to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died [in the U.S.] before having a chance to live.

It may seem that those who believe abortion is wrong are in a minority. It may seem like we have no voice and it's shameful to even bring it up. Let us show our President and the world that the voices of those of us who do not believe abortion is acceptable are not silent and must be heard.

Together we can change the heart of The President and save the lives of millions of children.

Barack Obama spoke at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event, uttering the now infamous line, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. [Applause.] That's the first thing that I'd do."

An empty red envelope will send a message to President Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue [The Freedom of Choice Act, which will essentially “undo” every law currently in place to limit abortion in the U.S. (i.e., parental consent laws, parental notification, waiting periods, prohibition of transporting a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion, etc.)]. It will be quiet, but clear.

Please read more about The Freedom of Choice Act here: http://www.lifenews.com/nat4359.html

Friday, March 20, 2009

The secret ballot is Absolutely Necessary

Here's a current bill you may be interested in researching, from the Workforce Fairness Institute about the EFCA (Employee Forced Choice Act):

"Dear Friend,

We need you to act today. Please contact your Congressman as soon as you can to help fight EFCA.. As you know, this bill would be the most monumental change in labor laws in half a century.

By eliminating the right to a secret ballot, EFCA invites intimidation, coercion and unfair organizing tactics into the workplace, in addition to depriving workers of the fundamental right to a Secret Ballot vote. And by imposing binding arbitration, this bill would remove the rights of workers to vote on a contract before it is imposed.

Please contact your member of Congress today, and urge them not to co-sponsor this bill! Go to www.house.gov to find your representative and email or call him/her now! Then forward this message to your family, friends, and co-workers to get the word out."

*****

"How to Deny Employees Free Choice", an article today in the National Journal explains the problem more:

"There is a reason, in the political realm, that secret ballots are used in genuinely democratic elections all over the world. For the same reason, 'the secret ballot is absolutely necessary in order to ensure that workers are not intimidated into voting for a union they might not otherwise choose.'

These are not the words of some business lobbyist. They come from a letter sent eight years ago to officials in Mexico by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., and 15 other House members, including Democrats Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, and Zoe Lofgren of California. These members have since embraced the free-choice act's attack on the secret-ballot requirement."

Homeschool Patriot

A friend just shared this website with me: www.homeschoolpatriot.com. It looks like it has all sorts of great information.

They say it well there: "Be Part of American History – Understand The Battle We Fight! We must always remain vigilant in defense of our freedoms." Amen!

I like their list of famous homeschooled patriots, and patriotic holidays.

This was also where I learned about The American's Creed: The American's Creed

"I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the people, by the people, for the people, whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a Republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my Country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies." ~Written by William Tyler Page in 1917, adopted by the US House of Representatives in 1918.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Time for a Second American Revolution?

While I might have used a few less "choice words", and don't agree with every suggestion he makes, this you tube video: We the People Stimulus Package with "Thomas Paine" makes some great arguments.

"Mr. Paine" also argues for Common Sense in the you tube video of The Second American Revolution

Monday, March 16, 2009

Freedom and Liberty Quotes -- please add more!

"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."

—Thomas Jefferson

Presidential Election Bill in Washington D.C.

Our Congressmen and Senators can't seem to find the time or energy to fix CPSIA, but they have plenty of time for other interesting legislation.

Here's one of the newest laws being proposed:
Bill # H.R.1503: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require proof of citizenship for presidential candidates.

Original Sponsor: Bill Posey (R-FL 15th)

About This Legislation:
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require the principal campaign committee of a candidate for election to the office of President to include with the committee's statement of organization a copy of the candidate's birth certificate, together with such other documentation as may be necessary to establish that the candidate meets the qualifications for eligibility to the Office of President under the Constitution.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

CPSIA Meets the Food Industry

First there was CPSIA -- to tell us what children's products we could and could not make, sell, or buy. Now Congress is going after our food supply...All in the name of "protecting us", of course!

The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, House Bill 875, has 40 co-sponsors and was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Agriculture on February 4, 2009.

It has such a "safe sounding" title:
Title: To establish the Food Safety Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services to protect the public health by preventing food-borne illness, ensuring the safety of food, improving research on contaminants leading to food-borne illness, and improving security of food from intentional contamination, and for other purposes. (emphasis mine!)

Just like "any" became a big problem in CPSIA -- this section "and for other purposes" should concern us.

There are two portions of the first directions that jumped out at me right away were: Directs the Administrator to: (1) administer a national food safety program; and (6) establishing a national traceability system for food.

I don't believe a national food safety program would be one of the constitutionally granted roles of the federal government. And a tracing system for our food? I'm not liking that idea.

I believe there are some other issues with the law, those are just the ones I know of right now. Definitely a good law to contact our representatives about voting against!