AMERICA IS BROKEN

Cross posted from Family Security Matters

From Elections to Shootings: America Is Broken

Christopher G. Adamo

It is noteworthy that the stalled Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act (FISA) renewal effort became a huge controversy, prominently headlined during this past week, as the Northern Illinois University shootings wreaked indescribable horror and tragedy on yet another progressive and enlightened college campus.

Both situations are symptomatic of a twisted modern culture, based on the perverted premised of "political correctness."

Both portend more harm to be visited on innocent Americans. And, instead of real solutions, both will virtually ensure the hasty implementation of "fixes" that invariably offers more of the liberal disease to cure its symptoms.

We are told that Steven Kazmierczak, the latest mass murderer, was not really responsible for the mayhem he caused, since he was off of his medications. Yet nobody seems to be asking why events of this nature were never rampant prior to the advent of these miracle drugs, the usage of which was necessitated in lieu of stern discipline and punishment, the standard method of managing "anti-social behavior," back when it was simply called "evil."

In our modern, open-minded era, grade school children are no longer expected to listen to those in authority, stay in their seats, or restrain their brutish urges. While an abundance of rules exists, young people are rarely punished for failing to submit to them. Instead, they are "diagnosed" as having physiological problems and subsequently drugged into a compliant stupor, never learning that wrong actions reap negative consequences.

Amazingly, the liberal social architects who invented this course of action incessantly tell us that, as a result of their superior approach to child rearing, things have improved. Try walking through a typical mall or sitting outside of your car in front of the local fast-food establishment while watching the current generation in action. See if you really believe such drivel.

Nevertheless, those who have created this mess, from Dr. Spock to the current cadre of "family services experts" who will instantly tear your family apart if you even hint that you might swat your badly behaving child or demand obedience to your directives for proper conduct, are emphatic in their assertions that they have made America a far nicer and less violent place.

Never question those in authority, nor demand any tangible evidence to support their contentions. Instead, accept their superior intellect and expertise or risk being labeled as "abusive," whereupon you will feel the intensity of their self-righteous fury.

Schools are turning out increasingly feral and undisciplined students who cannot read, cannot write, and cannot find the state of Idaho on a map, but who have deeply held opinions (all liberal of course) on every political matter of the day.

And this enlightened generation is willing to tell you so in language that cannot be repeated in polite company. But the problem, we are told, is neither the ideology being instilled in them in those schools, nor the unwillingness of the education establishment to focus on the basic concepts of math, reading, or science. Rather, it is a lack of sufficient funding, inadequate facilities, excessive student/teacher ratios (although such numbers are typically less than half of what they used to be) and, of course, inadequate parental involvement.

Regarding the last element, it is essential, of course, that such parental involvement be conducted in strict accordance with the premises set forth by the liberal establishment. Otherwise, those "family services" experts will need to be brought into the picture to "fix things."

Consequently, a society that once functioned with a great degree of sanity and harmony (even in those so-called "disadvantaged neighborhoods" where, prior to the establishment of the new order, crime rates and scholastic performances were comparable to the rest of the nation), has now degenerated into a jungle of savagery and violence. Moreover, those who created the mess in the first place recognize that they need to perpetuate their positions of authority in the situation by invoking more of the social direction that initially generated all of the problems.

So, in the face of such a seemingly hopeless situation, where do Americans turn for answers? It is indeed tempting, as this protracted election season unfolds, to consider the candidates and their prescriptions for reinvigorating the decaying culture. But that would be a mistake.

Among the top level candidates from both political parties, nobody offers real solutions. Moreover, any close scrutiny of the thinking on either side of the aisle reveals that both sides intend an agenda that will ultimately further empower the state while stifling the ability of the citizenry to seek any recourse.

In truth, far more winking and nodding goes on between these two camps than is ever revealed to the unsuspecting public. Ultimately, their primary goals will be to further entrench themselves, while silencing their critics.

It is no coincidence that the same social and political forces that have rendered adults too impotent to deal effectively with the occasional youthful dreg turned murderer, are hard at work dismantling the nation's ability to forcefully confront the militant Islamists.

Just as we have become too "evolved" as a society to spank the disobedient child, and to our surprise have seen children devolve as a result, so is our government deliberately becoming criminally inept in its efforts to deal decisively with enemy combatants. In the FISA debate, Democrats subordinated the safety of the nation to their own aggrandizement and that of their co-conspirators, the trial lawyers. Likewise, campus shootings are politically exploited as proof of the need to confiscate guns. In both cases, the plight of Americans has taken a back seat to the momentary opportunity for liberals to create political hay from tragedy.

# #

FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer and staff writer for the New Media Alliance. He lives in southeastern Wyoming. He has been active in local and state politics for many years. His contact information and archives can be found at http://www.chrisadamo.com/

If you are a reporter or producer who is interested in receiving more information about this writer or this article, please email your request to PR@FamilySecurityMatters.org.

Note – The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of The Family Security Foundation, Inc

How To Buy An Election

How To Buy An Election – Norman E. Hooben February 21, 2008

As it was in the beginning…the beginning of the Socialist era that is…when the father of the modern socialist party, Franklin D. Roosevelt, proclaimed in his first Inaugural Address (Saturday, March 4, 1933), “Our greatest primary task is to put people to work. This is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously. It can be accomplished in part by direct recruiting by the Government itself…” And indeed the Government recruited…of the government, for the government, and by the government.

Directed by FDR’s OIC (military lingo for, “Officer-In-Charge”) of entitlements Harold Ickes, began the spending billions of dollars on government projects. Ickes was the Secretary of the Interior and also the director of the Public Works Administration (PWA). Under the auspices' of the PWA, he orchestrated a system of patronage that formed the basis of the modern American system of entitlements and special interests groups hoping to reduce the then unemployment rate of over 20 percent.

Ickes was basically an honest man and his intentions were honorable to say the least. However, the jobs created by the PWA now created a sense of security for those who had them. It did not matter to which political party these new found government employees belonged, they were going to give thanks to FDR by voting for the party currently in office…the Democrats!

The Democratic Party very quickly realized that they now had control over a large block of voters…government employees! And the saga continues through to this day where the number of government employees has soared to approximately 20 million workers (19,514,000 in 2005). Although both parties (Democrats and Republicans) contribute to the increase in government jobs, it is the Democrats who do it best. For the most part Republicans would like to do away with many government jobs but for political expediency they are usually expected to re-hire the hacks originally hired by Democrats. The Democrats have invented more non-essential jobs than any other entity…and they know it! It keeps them in power!

Close to 100 percent (98% - 99% see table below.) of all government employees (not counting the military) contribute to the Democratic party. Where they throw their money is where they throw their vote!

In summary, “Gimmee a guv’ment job, I giv ya my vote!”

Top 10 donors: (source: http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/index.asp)

American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees		$39,152,384
AT&T Inc		$38,749,107
National Assn of Realtors		$31,581,156
American Assn for Justice		$28,290,139
Goldman Sachs		$27,365,532
National Education Assn		$27,335,762
Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers		$27,272,206
Laborers Union		$26,186,839
Service Employees International Union		$25,392,043
Carpenters & Joiners Union		$25,384,232

American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is made up of 3,500 local unions representing 1.4 million members who work in public service and health care. In Washington, AFSCME works on everything from improving unemployment benefits to strengthening job security. Among its biggest priorities are raising the minimum wage, battling efforts to privatize public sector jobs and fighting efforts to substitute vacation time for overtime pay for millions of workers. AFSCME strongly supported Democratic nominee John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election, and has actively opposed several of President Bush's second-term initiatives, especially partial privatization of Social Security.

Top of Form

Dems vs. RepubsSource of Funds

Bottom of Form

Election Cycle	Total Contributions	Dems	Repubs	% to Dems	% to Repubs
2008	$1,020,335	$1,009,835	$10,500	99%	1%
2006	$2,387,168	$2,340,170	$27,000	98%	1%
2004	$2,051,598	$2,002,598	$43,500	98%	2%
2002	$9,452,954	$9,363,454	$67,000	99%	1%
2000	$8,949,656	$8,822,056	$118,600	99%	1%
1998	$3,981,620	$3,877,620	$95,500	97%	2%
1996	$3,778,249	$3,725,324	$41,925	99%	1%
1994	$3,333,981	$3,286,361	$40,120	99%	1%
1992	$2,464,153	$2,401,903	$47,250	98%	2%
1990	$1,732,670	$1,696,336	$35,800	98%	2%
TOTAL	$39,152,384	$38,525,657	$527,195	98%	1%

METHODOLOGY: The numbers on this page are based on contributions of $200 or more from PACs and individuals to federal candidates and from PAC, individual and soft money donors to political parties, as reported to the Federal Election Commission. While election cycles are shown in charts as 1996, 1998, 2000 etc. they actually represent two-year periods. For example, the 2002 election cycle runs from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2002. Data for the current election cycle was released by the Federal Election Commission on Monday, January 07, 2008.

(Also note that the table consists of state, county, and municipal employees. The percentages would change very little if the federal employees were added to the mix.)

Are You Proud to be American?

Are You Proud To Be American?
By Susan Duclos

Michelle Obama. - Photo: Obama for America

You can see Michelle Obama's full statement , via Breitbart TV, and you can see a video of Cindy McCain's full statement, via Fox News.

I personally believe each citizen of every country has the right to be proud of their country, without exception, but since this is about American politics and Michelle Obama's statement, whether she meant it to sound that way or not, brings up a good question for Americans.
Are you proud to be an American?
When I was a child I never missed a chance to sing along with our national anthem as well as a few other songs. My singing could and still can make dogs howl and people run, but I simply could not and still cannot resist singing along. I have always been proud to be an American. I have never thought that someone from another country is any "less" than I am simply because they were from a different place, but I feel pride as an American because America has always been a nation of freedom, a nation that helped other countries in need.

I remember as a child hearing a piece from a Canadian, Gordon Sinclair, that undoubtedly affirmed for me how wonderful America is and I will explain who that Canadian is below.

A country to be proud of.

So, for our American readers, are you?

Are you proud to be an American?

It seems to be a silly question, but I find it is one that is important in today's world. Many of our own citizens show nothing but disdain for America, what it has always stood for and what it has always been. They continually wish to change our values that America was founded on.

It is a simple question......can you answer it with a yes or no, or does your answer include a "but" at the end?

Have you ever read the words of “The Star-Spangled Banner”?

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

On Sept. 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key visited the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured after the burning of Washington, DC. He succeeded in getting Beanes released, but Key was detained on ship overnight during the shelling of Fort McHenry, one of the forts defending Baltimore. In the morning, he was so delighted to see the American flag still flying over the fort that he began a poem to commemorate the occasion. First published under the title “Defense of Fort M'Henry,” the poem soon gained wild popularity and was sung to the tune “To Anacreon in Heaven.”

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was officially made the national anthem by Congress in 1931, although it already had been adopted as such by the army and the navy.


--The American Flag

Do you still stand proud every time you see the American flag? Have you ever? These are questions that are easy to ask yourself, but may not be so easy for some to answer honestly.
The first inclination would be to say YES, immediately.....but given time to think before answering, would you say yes and mean it with no "buts" at the end?

You do not have to share your answer, but at least have the self honesty to answer it truthfully to YOURSELF.

How about "God Bless America", any Americans remember the words to that?

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

---The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is yet another monument that always filled me with pride. I have been there many times and it never fails to make me smile.

Land of the Free.

The statue depicts a woman, standing upright, dressed in a flowing robe and a seven point spiked crown representing the Seven Seas, holding a stone tablet close to her body in her left hand and a flaming torch high in her right hand. The statue is made of pure copper on a framework of steel (originally puddled iron) with the exception of the flame of the torch, which is coated in gold leaf. It stands atop a rectangular stonework pedestal, itself on an irregular eleven-pointed star foundation. The statue is 151 feet and one inch tall, with the foundation adding another 154 feet. The tablet contains the text "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI" (July 4, 1776) commemorating the date of the United States Declaration of Independence. The interior of the pedestal contains a bronze plaque inscribed with the poem "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus. (It has never been engraved on the exterior of the pedestal, despite such depictions in editorial cartoons). (Source)

GORDON SINCLAIR.

Gordon Sinclair was a Canadian man that had a radio show called "Let's be personal" in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Radio Station CFBR 1010.

He wrote, in 20 minutes, the words that he read, on air, on June 5, 1973. These words have come to be regarded as one of Canada's greatest public relations feats in the history of our relations with the United States of America.

You can read about Gordon Sinclair here.

No one at CFRB, including Sinclair himself, could have envisioned the reaction of the people of the United States - from presidents - state governors - Congress - the Senate - all media including TV, radio, newspapers, magazines - and from the "ordinary" American on the street.

If you have never heard "The Americans", you have indeed missed one of the best tributes to America from a non American ever written or that will ever BE written.

It stands true to this day. A different war splits the American people, a different decade, in fact, a different century and it goes to show that history repeats itself.

Gordon Sinclair
Radio Station CFBR 1010
2 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

"LET'S BE PERSONAL"
Broadcast June 5, 1973
CFRB, Toronto, Ontario
Topic: "The Americans"

"The United States dollar took another pounding on German, French and British exchanges this morning, hitting the lowest point ever known in West Germany. It has declined there by 41% since 1971 and this Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least-appreciated people in all the world.

As long as sixty years ago, when I first started to read newspapers, I read of floods on the Yellow River and the Yangtse. Who rushed in with men and money to help? The Americans did. Thats who.

They have helped control floods on the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges and the Niger. Today, the rich bottom land of the Misssissippi is under water and no foreign land has sent a dollar to help. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy, were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of those countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. And I was there. I saw that.

When distant cities are hit by earthquakes, it is the United States that hurries into help... Managua Nicaragua is one of the most recent examples. So far this spring, 59 American communities have been flattened by tornadoes. Nobody has helped.

The Marshall Plan .. the Truman Policy .. all pumped billions upon billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now, newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent war-mongering Americans.

Now,I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplanes.

Come on now... you, let's hear it! Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tristar or the Douglas 10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all international lines except Russia fly American planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or a women on the moon?

You talk about Japanese technocracy and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy and you find men on the moon, not once, but several times ... and safely home again. You talk about scandals and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even the draft dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are right here on our streets in Toronto, most of them ... unless they are breaking Canadian laws .. are getting American dollars from Ma and Pa at home to spend up here.

When the Americans get out of this bind ... as they will... who could blame them if they said 'the hell with the rest of the world'. Let someone else buy the bonds, Let someone else build or repair foreign dams or design foreign buildings that won't shake apart in earthquakes.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both of them are still broke. I can name to you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble.

Can you name to me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.

Our neighbours have faced it alone and I am one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their noses at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles.

I hope Canada is not one of these. But there are many smug, self-righteous Canadians. And finally, the American Red Cross was told at its 48th Annual meeting in New Orleans this morning that it was broke.

This year's disasters .. with the year less than half-over… has taken it all and nobody...but nobody... has helped."

Listen to "The Americans" by Gordon Sinclair": Via [url=http://www.bradjones.com]www.bradjones.com.

- RealAudio, .ram, 1.30 mb
- Windows Media, .asf, 256 kb
- Windows Media, .wma, 707 kb
- MPEG Layer 3, .mp3, 811 kb

Why does it seem that it took a man from a different country to understand how great America is?

If you are one of those people he speaks about, SHAME ON YOU.... if you are sitting there after reading and/or hearing his words going "RIGHT ON"... nice to meet you friend isn't it great to be an American?

Get Ready For Your New HMO*

*HMO Hillary's Medical Ordinance
Cross -Posted From http://www.freemarketcure.com/brainsurgery.php

A Short Course in Brain Surgery

(2006) Run Time: 5:36

A Short Course in Brain Surgery highlights the plight of an Ontario man with a cancerous brain tumor who crossed the border to the U.S. to get the medical care that is rationed in his home country.

Written, Directed, Produced, Edited and Narrated By:
Stuart Browning (about)

About the Video:
A Short Course in Brain Surgery is part of the Free Market Cure Video Series created by filmmaker Stuart Browning to inform Americans about the dangers of collectivized medicine and the benefits of free markets in health care.

The filmmaker has received no funding from the health insurance industry or the health care industry.

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