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Back in the 60’s, people did things like get together and hammer out shared statements on unifying goals. In 1960, William F. Buckley and a group of likeminded conservatives, put together the Sharon Statement.. Adopted on September 11, 1960, the statement provided a broad, general statement of principles around which conservatives could rally.
The statement has stood the test of time.
Today, fifty years later, conservatives are gathering at Mt. Vernon outside of Washington, D.C. to sign on to the Mt. Vernon Statement. I’m a signer.
This statement is not intended to replace or supplant the Sharon statement, which stands the test of time – including its statement on communism.
The goal of the Mt. Vernon Statement is to provide a central platform around which social, economic, and fiscal conservatives can find common ground for the operation of government and society. The primary points are:
A Constitutional conservatism unites all conservatives through the natural fusion provided by American principles. It reminds economic conservatives that morality is essential to limited government, social conservatives that unlimited government is a threat to moral self-government, and national security conservatives that energetic but responsible government is the key to America’s safety and leadership role in the world.A Constitutional conservatism based on first principles provides the framework for a consistent and meaningful policy agenda.
- It applies the principle of limited government based on the rule of law to every proposal.
- It honors the central place of individual liberty in American politics and life.
- It encourages free enterprise, the individual entrepreneur, and economic reforms grounded in market solutions.
- It supports America’s national interest in advancing freedom and opposing tyranny in the world and prudently considers what we can and should do to that end.
- It informs conservatism’s firm defense of family, neighborhood, community, and faith.
These things seem like a no brainer, but the clarification of the statement should help mend fences on the right between groups who have for so long been natural allies.
Visit Redstate.
By Brad O’Leary
In his State of the Union speech, President Obama tried to offer a mea culpa of sorts for the unraveling of his health care bill. Calling health care “a complex issue,” the president said, “I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people.”
Mr. President, you are correct. We Americans don’t understand.
However, our lack of understanding is not because we’re incapable of deciphering complex
issues. Rather, we don’t understand how Obamacare itself is supposed to make our health care system any better.
Here is a short list of what we specifically don’t understand:
- How will our health care system improve by giving a $300-million payoff to Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu in Louisiana in exchange for her vote?
- Three hundred million was the price tag for Landrieu’s “yes” vote on the 3,000-plus-page
Obamacare bill. This may improve the health of Senator Landrieu’s reelection prospects,
but not the health of our nation.
- What is positive about exempting Nebraska from having to pay future Medicare costs but
making other states foot the bill?
- Democratic Senator Ben Nelson was the final Democratic senator holding out support for
the bill. After closed-door negotiations, Senator Nelson provided his full support. The
reason for Nelson’s sudden change of heart? His state was given a special exemption and
would not have to pay the projected billions of dollars in additional Medicare costs that
Obamacare would create.
- Why are labor unions singled out from all other Americans and given an eight-year pass
on paying taxes, while non-union workers have to pick up the tab?
- In another closed-door negotiation, this time with Big Labor bosses and lobbyists, union
members were exempted from paying the dreaded “Cadillac tax” on premium health care plans
until 2018. In dollar terms, this would save union workers over $60 billion, while the rest
of us have to come up with an additional $90 billion over the same time period.
- Why should taxpayers be forced to pay for elective abortions?
- After being repeatedly reassured by you, Mr. President, that taxpayer-funded abortions would
not be included in your health care bill, why did your Secretary of Health and Human Services
brag to the pro-abortion lobby that the Senate version of Obamacare includes taxpayer-funded
abortion? How does this improve our health care system?
- How does putting the federal government between Americans and their doctors improve anyone’s health?
- The Senate version of Obamacare would make Americans enroll in a “qualified health care plan” and then dictates that doctors may receive compensation under such plans only if they perform procedures allowed by the federal government.
- How does a closed-door legislative process help us understand the complexities of Obamacare?
- If health care is a “complex issue” that requires clear explanation to the American people, then how does it help when all of the explaining is being done to lobbyists behind closed doors?
- Mr. President, what we don’t understand is why a bill that is so good and necessary requires secrecy, bribes, and lies to ensure its passage. Why do you feel the need to hide the bill from us? Why do your biggest supporters need their palms greased before they come on board with your plan? Why do you tell us one thing about the cost of your bill, only for us to find out later that you understated the actual cost by over 300 percent?
In short, Mr. President, why should we believe anything you tell us about health care
anymore?
Brad O’Leary is publisher of “The O’Leary Report,” a bestselling author, and a former NBC
Westwood One talk show host. Tell your senators and congressmen where you stand on Obamacare
at Healthcarevote.com
by Derek Sheriff
www.tenthamendmentcenter.com
Last December, when Tennessee Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mount Juliet, said she would introduce
legislation which would declare null and void any federal law the state deems unconstitutional, some people were horrified. Rep. Lynn was specifically targeting the health-care reform legislation that was pending at that time. But the reaction that many people had to her language was not an expression of their support for Obamacare.
Too many Americans hear the terms “states’ rights” or the word “nullification” and immediately think of racial prejudice, Jim Crow laws and school segregation. Honestly, if all I had to rely on was what I remember being taught in public school, I would probably tell you the history of it all went like this:
The theory of nullification was first invented in the 1800s’ by advocates of slavery. They used nullification of tarrifs as a test run in the 1820s. Of course, what they really had
in mind was maintaining the institution of slavery against any possible attempt by the
federal government to abolish it. Then America fought the Civil War in order to end slavery, but the ideas of states’ rights and nullification were later revived in the
1950s’ by belligerent white southerners in an attempt to block the racial integration of
schools. The Civil Rights Movement started and the feds had to step in and force the
southern states to treat everyone equally. THE END.
That’s a rough, abbreviated version of the narrative that was handed to me, but it gives you an idea of what many Americans think they know about states’ rights and nullification.
Fortunately, thanks to people like Tom Woods, Thomas DiLorenzo, and many others, I know
today that this was a gross misrepresentation of the classical liberal states’ rights tradition. Then again, (and it’s not my intention to be prideful here), I’m not like most Americans. And If you’re reading this, you probably aren’t either.
For the rest of the story…..
Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and
I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She
stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register.
I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed
the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and
cried. Why do I tell you this?
Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s:
- Teaching Math In 1950
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?_____.
- Teaching Math In 1960
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price,
or $80. What is his profit?
- Teaching Math In 1970
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make
a profit? Yes or No
- Teaching Math In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
- Teaching Math In 1990
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares
nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so
he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for
class participation after answering the question : How did the birds and squirrels feel
as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.)
- Teaching Math In 2010
Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80.
Cuanto dinero ha hecho?
With willing one-world accomplices in Washington, D.C., gun-grabbers around the globe
believe they have it made.
In fact, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just announced the Obama Administration would
be working hand in glove with the UN to pass a new “Small Arms Treaty.”
Disguised as legislation to help in the fight against “terrorism,” “insurgency” and
“international crime syndicates,” the UN “Small Arms Treaty” is nothing more than a massive,
GLOBAL gun control scheme.
Ultimately, the UN’s Small Arms Treaty is designed to register, ban and CONFISCATE
firearms owned by private citizens like YOU.
That’s why it’s vital you sign special petition I’ve made up for your signature that
DEMANDS your U.S. Senators vote AGAINST ratification of the UN’s “Small Arms Treaty!”
So far, the gun-grabbers have successfully kept the exact wording of their new scheme
under wraps.
But looking at previous versions of the UN “Small Arms Treaty,” you and I can get a
good idea of what’s likely in the works.
If passed by the UN and ratified by the U.S. Senate, the UN “Small Arms Treaty” would
almost certainly FORCE national governments to:
- Enact tougher licensing requirements, making law-abiding citizens cut through even
more bureaucratic red tape just to own a firearm legally;
- CONFISCATE and DESTROY ALL “unauthorized” civilian firearms (all firearms owned by
the government are excluded, of course);
- BAN the trade, sale and private ownership of ALL semi-automatic weapons;
- Create an INTERNATIONAL gun registry, setting the stage for full-scale gun
CONFISCATION.
So please click here to sign the petition to your U.S. Senators before it’s too late!
The fact is, the last thing the gun-grabbers in the U.N. and in Washington, D.C. want
is for you and me to have time to react and mobilize gun owners to defeat this radical
legislation.
They’ve made that mistake before, and we’ve made them pay, defeating EVERY attempt to
ram the “Treaty on Small Arms” into law since the mid-1990s.
But this time, time won’t be on our side.
In fact, we’re likely to only have a few days or weeks to defeat the treaty.
Worse, there’s no longer a pro-gun Republican Senate to kill ratification of the treaty.
There’s no longer any Republican in the White House who has stated opposition to the
treaty.
And you and I know good and well how Germany, Great Britain, France, Communist China or
the rest of the anti-gun members of the United Nations are going to vote.
So our ONE AND ONLY CHANCE of stopping the UN’s “Small Arms Treaty” is during the
ratification process in the U.S. Senate.
So please Click Here to sign the petition to your U.S. Senators.
Amazing Home Remedies
Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone
else to hold them while you chop.
Avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat by using
the bathroom sink.
For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for
a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember
to use a timer.
A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you
from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze
button.
If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives; then you’ll
be afraid to cough.
You only need two tools in life – WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it
doesn’t move and should, use the WD -40. If it shouldn’t move and
does, use the duct tape.
Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
If you can’t fix it with a hammer, you’ve got an electrical problem.
Daily Thought:
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES; NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT
THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
A little levity never hurt anyone!
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