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POPSApproved by White House ~ Reform Media.Transform Democracy
Is Dissent ‘Legitimate’? Not According to Campaign Finance Laws by Bert Gall and Robert Frommer -- Pajamas Media After the administration decreed that Fox is not a “legitimate news organization” and that people shouldn’t watch it, more people than ever are tuning in to see Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly fight back. Fundamentally, it’s because the administration’s media war against Fox is but a minor display of the tremendous power the government has to stifle speech it views as illegitimate. Much of this power is the result of long-standing “campaign finance” laws. These laws impose all sorts of restrictions on political speech, and it’s no coincidence that the most draconian of these restrictions are targeted at those who can speak the most effectively against a politician’s reelection. The most effective speakers tend to be those who can spend the most money. Corporations, many of which have lots of money, receive particularly harsh treatment under
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POPSGov't. Largely Responsible For Hi Insrnce.Costs
This has several negative effects. One is that it decreases both competition and supply, both of which raise prices for consumers. This also means that states have the power to grant licenses to insurance companies, meaning that any new insurance company from its beginnings has to meet state-mandated standards. This is a huge barrier to entry, keeping newcomers out of what would otherwise be a highly competitive market and once again increasing prices for consumers. In a free market, profits are a signal telling more entrepreneurs to enter a market. More and more firms will enter the market until the profits have dropped low enough to discourage market entry. ............ Obama has said that under his current proposal, he would eliminate these state barriers.......... This completely ignores the fact that, under the necessary and proper clause, the government is only allowed to regulate those industries that it must to carry out its stated function.
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POPS30 GOP Senators Vote to Defend Gang Rape
Cornyn (R-TX) Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) Gregg (R-NH) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Kyl (R-AZ) McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Wicker (R-MS) In the debate, Senator Sessions maintained that Franken's amendment overreached into the private sector and suggested that it violated the due process clause of the Constitution. To which, Senator Franken fired back quoting the Constitution. "Article 1 Section 8 of our Constitution gives Congress the right to spend money for the welfare of our citizens. Because of this, Chief Justice Rehnquist wrote, 'Congress may attach conditions on the receipt of federal funds and has repeatedly employed that power to further broad policy objectives,'" Franken said. "That is why Congress could pass laws cutting off highway funds to states that didn't raise their drinking age to 21. That's why this who
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POPS Enraged by Fascist Insurrection It is TREASON and INSURRECTION when Usurpers routinely enact and enforce Unconstitutional laws and otherwise commit criminal acts that loot and destroy our Republic while depriving us of our constitutional rights. For their ill gotten gains, they have made war on the people, and for that there is a sure and certain retribution in common law and in hell. Every Monetary and Financial action taken, or proposed by this government, excluding parts of the recurring budget, are unconstitutional, and will facilitate the looting of this country by traitors resulting in total economic collapse, third world status and Fascism. There is no possibe upside to be found in the history of Economic Theory and Practice; every action taken is designed to destroy and loot our economy. As an Economist, I read 10-15 articles a day by other Economists I respect, and they all reinforce what I just said.
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POPSLegalized Bribery in American Politics Just one in a thousand adult Americans contributed $1,000 or more to any candidate in the last election, yet candidates for the 2004 presidential nomination raised more than 80 percent of their individual investments from these elites. In other words, with regard to using money to influence presidential candidates, 0.1% of Americans account for 80% of the influence. 2300 energy companies lobbied Congress between 1998 and 2004, with $984 million paid for lobbyists. Why pay a lobbyist $300,000? Because it’s a great investment, of course. Does anyone believe the legal fiction that the purpose of a lobbyist is to educate politicians on the issues? Of course not. Those huge bucks are paid out for skilled middle-men and women to discreetly (or not so discreetly) convey the message that a politician will be handsomely rewarded for screwing over his or her constituents in favor of the lobbyist’s employer.
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POPSFreedom missing in government health laws I can see vaccinating foreigners against some diseases, but shoving a brand new vaccine, that doesn't even give real protection, is unreal. What the heck has happened to us America? Since when do people that are paid by pharmaceutical companies have enough power to force us to be their guinea pigs? Why don't we care about the girls murdered by this vaccine? Insanity at its finest
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POPSFile 87 Obama's Socialist Appointees-Where is the Spotlight? Our goal as socialists is to abolish private ownership of the means of production. Our immediate task is to limit the capitalist class’s prerogatives in the workplace... In the short run we must at least minimize the degree of exploitation of workers by capitalists. We can accomplish this by promoting full employment policies, passing local living wage laws, but most of all by increasing the union movement’s power... DSA has some cross membership with the Communist Party and considerable cross-membership with the the equally militant Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. DSA has close ties to many Congressman, including John Conyers, Danny Davis, Jan Schakowsky (all close Obama supporters) Jerrold Nadler and Bob Filner. DSA has key personnel or allies at the top of AFL-CIO, SEIU, United Auto Workers, United Steelworkers of America and other major unions. DSA has considerable influence in ACORN, Working Families Party, Green Party, Democratic Party . . .
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POPSJUST SAY : "I don't think so!" Therefore, there is in truth no such thing as a compulsory vaccination law in this country. They are ALL, in essence, voluntary. The problem is that practically no one in authority will let you know this fact.
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POPSProtests Resume In Iran With The Government-Backed Quds Day Ceremony 11.57am: At least 10 protesters have been arrested, according to Reuters. "Supporters of Ahmadinejad are beating supporters of Mousavi near the Vali-ye Asr street. At least two protesters were injured," it quoted a witness as saying. 12.02pm: Al Jazeera's Alireza Ronaghi, reporting from Tehran, said the security forces were out in force, attempting to keep opposition demonstrators away from Tehran University where Ahmadinejad was speaking earlier. "I didn't expect the protests to be as big," he said Another video appears to confirm that thousands have been involved in the protests today. It also seems to show attempts to prevent filming taking place. 12.57pm: NBC has released more of its interview with Ahmadinejad. In the latest segment, he defended the detention of three Americans, who have been held for more than seven weeks. They "trampled the law, and in accordance with the laws, they need to be punished," he said. The full interview will be broadcast on Sunday.
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POPSToltec: Don Miguel Ruiz 'Fortunately, the esoteric Toltec knowledge was embodied and passed on through generations by different lineages of Naguals. Though it remained veiled in secrecy for hundreds of years, ancient prophecies foretold the coming of an age when it would be necessary to return the wisdom to the people. Now, don Miguel has been guided to share with us the powerful teachings of the Toltec."
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POPSIgnore the Feds! Tenth Amendment Center Pledge for the Constitution
The Constitution of the United States was a revolutionary document. "Before it, no government in history had seen its duties and restrictions so clearly and carefully defined" When it was being considered for ratification, there was strong opposition from famous American figures that included George Mason and Patrick Henry. "One major reason for this was a fear of too much power The founding generation spent their lives toiling under a tyranny - a government without limits. When the Constitution was written, it was done to limit the power of government. It was created under the principle of popular sovereignty - that 'We the People of the Several States' created the government, and all powers not delegated to it, were retained." Depending on how you count them, the People delegated approximately 35 powers to the federal government and not included in those powers are national health care, the creation of free speech zones, federal gun regulations, the war on drugs, and more.
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POPSWay To Go Montana ! The state of Montana has signed into power a revolutionary gun law. I mean REVOLUTIONARY . Important Points - If guns and ammunition are manufactured inside the State of Montana for sale and use inside that state then the federal firearms laws have no applicability since the federal government only has the power to control commerce across state lines. Montana has the law on their side. Since when did the USA start following their own laws especially the constitution of the USA , the very document that empowers the USA . To view Alamo Tea Party link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbRr-wCH6Rc&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freerepublic.com%2Ffocus%2Ff-news%2F2245330%2Fposts&feature=player_embedded
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POPSBye-bye USA, and the NEO-CONS win. Let us pray! Click here for the five editorials that will explain the current Supreme Court case Citizens v. The Federal Election Committee ================================== http://loyalresistance.blogspot.com/2009/09/five-editorialscitizens-united-v.html ================================== George W Bush is gone, but not forgotten! The Roberts Supreme Court is about to prove the old adage that the Court lives on beyond the President. Get ready for a real win for Bush &Company, and a real loss for the American political system. If you love multinational corporations and the power of money then you will just love what this "Activist" Supreme Court is about to do!
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POPSClean Water Laws Are Neglected, at the Cost in Suffering
“How can we get digital cable and Internet in our homes, but not clean water?” asked one resident. When the source of the pollutants were found, state regulators never fined or punished the offending companies. The Clean Water Act was passed nearly four decades ago to force polluters to disclose what they dump and to give regulators the power to fine or jail offenders. So why haven’t these offenders been fined or jailed? And more importantly, why is this allowed to continue? The federal govt is big on writing legislation that ‘proves to its citizens’ that they are ‘concerned for our safety’ but are sorely lacking on follow-through. The new EPA administrator says that she intends to strengthen water protections, but, given their track record what good is strengthening a regulation that does not get enforced? This is just more BS to keep her job. Meanwhile residents who have the misfortune of living downstream from well-known, blatant polluters know they will not be protected
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POPSBill O'Rielly and Fox (News?) Screwing You? You Bet!
This dialog came from this site: http://letters.mobile.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/06/29/family_values/view/index.html It says it all concerning conservative wingnuts such as Fox (You Call That News?)! Q: How many conservative wingnuts does it take to screw in a lightbulb? A: There will be no screwing ...unless their name is Craig, Vitter, Sanford, Foley or Ensign:eek: ...Perhaps (right) wingnuts should try being human... That's the core issue here, conservative policies are INHUMANE, war, plundered economy and constitutional rights, laws that let corp. scam artists run amok... (pro-choice hate mongering) If the question was asked ... what kind of policy do Americans support without context to politics, the majority of people's answers would be "liberal" and "moderate" on issues such as job security, regulations of financial institutions, universal health coverage, education and social security. F**k (Right) wingnuts...and I don't mean screw or sex.:mad:
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POPSProposed Power Corridor Raises Eminent Domain Concerns in Six States In addition to concerns expressed by farmers, local businesses relying on eco-tourism are opposed to the lines, which they fear would permanently blight places of significance like Harriet Tubman's birthplace and the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Landowners, environmentalists and businesses that oppose the power line are urging representatives to consider alternatives, such as wind power or burying the lines. If the project is rejected at the State level, PHI could invoke federal eminent domain powers, under the Energy Policy Act of 2005: In the event that the Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway is not approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, PHI would be able use the power of eminent domain under Federal authority. Section 1221 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides authority for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review and override state siting decisions as well as other federal and state laws and policy and . . . .
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POPSGoodness! Evolution and the War between Fundamentalist Atheism and Religion
This will settle nothing, but it is a good read. The clip is a 'taster'' of an article focused on debates around evoulution and moral motivation. It ends: <<< Of course, religion doesn’t have a monopoly on awe and inspiration. The story that science tells, the story of nature, is awesome, and some people get plenty of inspiration from it, without needing the religious kind. What’s more, science has its own role to play in knitting the world together. The scientific enterprise has long been on the frontiers of international community, fostering an inclusive, cosmopolitan ethic — the kind of ethic that any religion worthy of this moment in history must also foster. William James said that religious belief is “the belief that there is an unseen order, and that our supreme good lies in harmoniously adjusting ourselves thereto.” Science has its own version of the unseen order, the laws of nature. In principle, the two kinds of order can themselves be put into harmony ...(more follows)
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POPSThe emergent danger to personal liberty More: (Unfortunately, the use of government as a tool to enhance liberty is anathema to conservatives, focused as they are on the eighteenth-century threat alone.) If we lose this health insurance battle—or even if we win it—I’m still a progressive. I’ll still be pushing to right the balance. I expect to work on it all my life. …3. I worked for a while with a sister of one of the McLibel defendants. I know how bad it can get. Click through to read the whole thing, including footnotes 1 & 2.
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POPSCIA used mercenaries for assassination program
It's practically a full-time job keeping up with the war lies, war crimes and war ugliness, more revealed everyday. Assassination, btw, is officially against current USA law --- but the CIA, with the encouragement of Bush and Cheney, just decided to ignore this law --- and others laws as well: from torture to protection of civil rights: they felt, apparently, the law did not apply to them. That's always very dangerous, a dark road to fascism. Just 'restoring adherence to the law," by President Obama, has already made things better....better if you believe in human decency. Bounty hunting is not new, btw. The British, the Spanish, the Mexicans and the Americans all gave bounty for Indian scalps. Fascist also can 'hire,' folks from prison for a cartoon of cigarettes and TV privileges to ax murder people, - and, like murder for scalps, it's done. So we can't let warmongering Republicans, neo-cons, racist and right-wing nut jobs back in power. Defeat them remains hig
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POPSYou say that like it's a bad thing – looking at anti-union misinformation More: I don't know to what extent union laws need to be revised to address abuses. I can't tell, because the information pool is so polluted by propaganda‡. But to blame the unions every time that union-corporate interactions go wrong? That's like blaming the wife in every divorce.… ‡ And that in itself is a significant piece of information.
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POPSGOP balk at Kennedy proposal to change sucession law So Sen. Kennedy wants a re-do on the Mass. law now that it *might* affect the political dynamics in the Senate. I know he carries a lot of weight and influence but what was good in 2004 should be good enough for 2009. I'm sorry for the Senator's terminal illness. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. However, trying to change the Mass. laws to allow for unfair manipulation of the process (NOW) and supply a link for his health care legacy is pretty low. It's good to see the Dem. Governor balking. I hope he allows the process to take it's course and the outcome be lawful.
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POPSThe three branches of US government More: The executive branch of government makes sure that the laws of the United States are obeyed. Article II, section 1, of the Constitution vests the President of the United States the head of the executive branch.… The role of the judicial branch is to interpret the nation's laws. It consists of two separate levels of courts: state courts and federal courts. The type of court that a case is tried in depends on the law that was allegedly violated.
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