Well, it has been a very interesting week.  With the advent of the termination, excuse me, resignation of Van Jones, the stepping aside of the NEA executive due to propagandizing for Obama, the termination of the census relationship to ACORN, the Senate vote to terminate funding for ACORN for housing consulting and the videos showing how ACORN supports tax evasion, prostitution, pimping, human trafficking and underage sex workers (whew - another week like this and I won’t be able to write about it) AND a million plus showing upin Washington to protest his policies and spending actions, the Obama administration has found itself in deep difficulty.   We might ask ourselves that proverbial question: if a tree (oak of course) falls on the White House, does Obama hear it?

And what is the president’s response?  Obama-vision, all day, every day – 24 hours and weekends too!  Yes, we get another Obamathon whenever this president is in trouble.  He makes Chavez and Castro look like pikers when it comes to using the media to hide the problems he has caused himself.  Remember, the mighty oak tree grows from the little acorn, or in this case, the president’s mighty problems have grown from the crooked ACORN.  Yes, community organizing is a great business – you can teach people how to launder money, avoid taxes, take illicit deductions, get a “business loan”, open a brothel, get free legal advice and gain access to the president of the United States of America. 

The truth of the matter is that the relationships that Obama has nurtured throughout his life and his career have now come back to haunt him.  As my father always used to say, you may be a perfectly fine person, but you will be judged by those with whom you associate.  From his earliest days in Hawaii, he has associated with known communists, Marxists, the likes of Ayers and Dohrn, Reverend Wright, Tony Rezko, former Governor Rod Blagojevich, Rashid Khalidi, Van Jones, Cass Sunstein, Mark Lloyd and of course the mighty ACORN. 

Now, with the advent of their criminal activities coming to light and calls for a special investigation, we will see if his Attorney General, the ever responsible Mr. Eric Holder, will be as erstwhile in his pursuit of justice with this criminal group under the RICO act as he is about prosecuting the CIA!  Of course, if his dismissal of the Black Panther voter intimidation charges during election 2008 are any indication, we shouldn't hold our breath.  So, we ask ourselves, is this administration not only associating itself with some of the most radical elements in our society but also the most corrupt?  Will Obama begin to address the constant drumbeat of radicalism coming out of his administration and now, a corrupt and morally derelict group of community organizers like ACORN?
                                                                                 
I would suggest not, for if Obama rejects ACORN, he rejects the entirety of his persona and the narrative that has filled his resume’ to date.  No, in fact Obama has not produced the kind of people that we would normally associate with in developing his administration or his policies.  Most of us would not imagine having relationships with two or three of these people with whom he has built his adult experience.  And based on the continued support of the likes of ACORN and the unprecedented access he has provided them and the likes of the SEIU to his administration, we can only imagine the destructive impact they are having in crafting some of the legislation coming out of his administration. 

So, will this group of community organizers become the “acorn around his neck” or will he finally do the right thing and initiate the appropriate investigation into this group’s activities and criminal actions.  As long as Obama continues down the current path, the American people will reject his policies and be suspicious of his motives.  No amount of rhetoric will be able to overcome the facts and with the illegitimacy of the MSM, he will no longer have the blind eye of his propaganda machine to help him.  We need to keep the pressure on him and our legislators and make our voices heard!  Remember that other old adage from our fathers; “the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree”.

The current healthcare debate seemed to first center on healthcare reform.  As the details and the “weight” of the bills as drafted became known, the administration began to discuss health insurance reform.  The thinking here was that by changing the terminology the electorate would settle down.

Of course, we know the result – further degradation in the numbers and an angrier electorate.  And now, we find the Democrats calling for reform in context of  “Teddy Kennedy” – the new rallying cry.  Can you imagine, the very guy that used all of his money and power to stay alive is now going to be the posthumous sponsor of a bill that would limit choice, limit treatment and limit life!  In fact, Kennedy loved life so much that he sacrificed a young woman’s life by leaving her in a car in the water, later discovering she had ripped the liner of the car while likely surviving the accident – that is until her air bubble collapsed.  Maybe the Kennedy association would be appropriate for those it would leave “behind” through rationing and allocation of resources.

However, I have a different view that I would offer.  It is essentially based on “five pillars” of health insurance reform – and socialists need not apply.  These pillars or regulatory changes incorporate the best of our private insurance with existing programs and reform that is working.  The key elements are: 

• Transportability
• Pre-Existing Conditions
• Pooling
• Cafeteria Selection
• Tort Reform 

So let’s look at why these regulatory reforms would help solve much of the problem. 

First, transportability is a requirement that will allow anyone with a policy to retain that policy should they change jobs, move to a new market or suffer a job loss over time.  Transportability would ensure that those people who purchase their own policy can retain that policy whether they work for another company or entity that may or may not provide health insurance.

Second, pre-existing conditions must be covered by any newpolicy holder, period.  The idea is that most corporate plans allow for pre-existing conditions to be covered, such as high blood pressure, pregnancy, etc.  This model could be applied through the same reform and ensure that all people who desire to be covered can be covered. Critical to this effort is the need for pooling.

Third, pooling will allow for the further spreading of risk across a larger group of insured.  Texas does this in the state and is looking for the ability to do pooling across state lines.  This is currently limited by federal law.  In addition, pooling is one way the Federal government is able to balance its risk for Federal employee benefits.  If it works for the government plan it should be allowed for the privately insured.

Fourth, a “cafeteria” approach to insurance would allow for selection of different levels of benefits, much as auto insurance or homeowners insurance does today.  The approach would further allow for people who prefer a minimum level of insurance to make that decision, taking this out of the government’s hands.  Further, a cafeteria option would allow for selective insurance based on gender or family situation – essentially reducing the expense for those people who today may be paying for a “blended” policy.

Finally, tort reform must be part of an overall reform package.  Tort reform has been proven to enhance medical care through improved delivery and a reduction of costs related to lawsuits, generally.  It is instructive that the administration has done little to advance this option and has ignored the results in Texas which have clearly demonstrated its success.  It is importantl to note that capping non-economic damages does NOT reduce the payment for economic damages relating to the inability of the affected patient to work or make a living.

And given the scant discussion of tort reform, the Texas model provides an instructive review of its actual benefits to a patient community, those practicing medicine, those manufacturing pharmaceuticals and medical devices and finally the actual cost of insurance generally. The discussion below, presented by Governor Rick Perry of Texas, provides a remarkable picture: 

The state of Texas capped non-economic damages at $250,000 per defendant, or up to $750,000 per incident, while placing no cap on more easily determined economic damages, such as lost wages or cost of medical care due to injury. This ended the practice of allowing baseless, but expensive, lawsuits to drag on indefinitely, requiring plaintiffsto provide expert witness reports to support their claims within four months of filing suit or drop the case. 

These measures were supported by the people of Texas, who in September of 2003 approved a ballot measure, Proposition 12, authorizing all of these changes. Changes were seen immediately, and continue to be felt. All major liability insurers cut their rates upon passage of these reforms, with most of those cuts ranging in the double digits. 

More than 10 new insurance carriers entered the Texas market, increasing competition and further lowering costs. As a result, Texas doctors have seen their insurance rates decline by, on average, 27 percent. 

The number of doctors applying to practice medicine in Texas has skyrocketed by 57 percent. In 2008, the Texas Medical Board received 4,023 licensure applications and issued a record 3,621 new licenses. 

In all, in just the first five years after reforms passed, 14,498 doctors either returned to practice in Texas or began practicing there for the first time. And the reforms finally brought critical specialties to underserved areas. The number of obstetricians practicing in rural Texas is up by 27 percent, and 12 counties that previously had no obstetricians now have at least one.  The statistics show major gains in fields like orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, neurosurgery and emergency medicine. 

The Rio Grande Valley has seen an 18 percent growth in applications to practice medicine, adding about 200 doctors to this critically underserved area. 

And what about the money that used to go to defending all those frivolous lawsuits?  You can find it in budgets for upgraded equipment, expanded emergency rooms, patient safety programs and improved primary and charity care.

Success stories like Texas need to be told and need to be remembered as we continue this national debate. Instead of handing down "one size fits all" mandates on how it's going to be, Washington should be enabling states to set their own agendas, and solve their own problems when it comes to health care.  And of course, these “pillars of reform” do not require the wholesale takeover of our healthcare system by an administration that has been unable to gain the trust of the people by promoting its current agenda.  Again, Socialists need not apply!

Reflectingon the current healthcare and health insurance debate in Congress and the Senate, I am struck by the lack of appreciation for the people in the industry who serve us, provide care to us and pay the bills that are incurred by us.  The vilification of an industry and the people who work in it, representing 1/6^th of the US economy is beyond belief.  This administration has grown so arrogant as to despise the people it is called to serve.  

Can you imagine any other time in history where this has occurred?  The anger and frustration of the supporters of this failed House bill would suggest that as a people, who inform themselves and find they do not like the direction being taken, are rubes, foolish, being wrongly influenced, etc.  The reality is that they have lied to us, purposely obfuscated the issues and have pursued a personal agenda that is anathema to the US Constitution and the people’s rights.  And nowhere is this better illustrated than by Speaker Pelosi, who exemplifies this animosity toward the people and those who work in the industry that serves them.  The following report was filed today from The Hill news service: 

Dem memo plotsmessage war on insurers

ByMike Soraghan

HouseDemocratic leaders have developed a coordinated strategy for attackinginsurance companies to ward off attacks from opponents of their health careoverhaul during the August break, according to a strategy memo obtained by TheHill.  “Our message is simple. It is nowbeing echoed by the White House,” said the memo sent to all Democratic members.“And it counters the Republican ‘government takeover’ message.”

Themessage in the memo, though, won't fit on a bumper sticker:

“Removethe insurance companies from between you and your doctor— capping what they canforce you to pay in out of pocket expenses, co-pays and deductibles, and givingyou the peace of mind you will be covered for the care you need, if get sick,or if you change or lose your job.”

HouseSpeaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) brought out the new message in an exchange withreporters in the Capitol, when she said, “They are the villains in this.”  The attack comes even though the healthinsurance industry hasn’t attacked President Obama’s plan or the legislationbeing hammered out in Congress.

ButDemocrats who’d pushed for a vote before the break are dreading an onslaught ofadvertisements funded by business. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is putting $2million toward fighting a Democratic proposal to create a government-run“public plan” to compete with private insurers. To counter that, Democraticleaders will be coordinating media strategies and grassroots efforts withadvocacy groups such as Health Care for America Now, Families USA and AARP,along with unions such as AFSCME and the Service Employees International Union.

In abriefing with reporters Thursday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)acknowledged that Democrats have been losing the message war "a littlebit" to Republicans. He said Democrats have had problems communicatingwith the bill as it changed in the legislative process.

“We’reresponsible for putting together a plan. We've been focused on that,” Hoyersaid. "Republicans have been free to conjure up whatever they want.” Butnow, he noted, some industry groups like the American Medical Association andthe pharmaceutical industry who derailed reform in the 90s are on the side ofDemocrats who want to overhaul the system. “Harry and Louise are going to besaying this is a good thing,” Hoyer said. “We're going to be on the air, we'regoing to be in the neighborhoods.”

Inaddition to noting presidential events, the three-page strategy document laysout a detailed campaign of district events, rapid response, and conferencecalls with lawmakers to update them on strategy. The web plan includes aFacebook page, a Twitter campaign, and even a “Hidden Tax Clock” modeled afterthe National Debt Clock. It will push the Democratic talking point thatAmerican's are already paying a hidden tax by subsidizing the uninsured. 

You need to be aware that the Democrat congress has a plan to vilify and attack private enterprise in a way that we have never seen before in this government.  The outright and illicit useof government resources for such an act along with the likes of ACORN and the SEIU (both of which collude against us with US tax funds) is simply un-American.  Understand that this is a concerted effort to create a conflict between the insured and the insurers where none exists today. 

Can we improve our healthcare and health insurance – of course!  We need create economies of scale through cross-state pooling, transportability of coverage, elimination of denial based on existing conditions and tort reform eliminating the “casino” approach to lawsuits and their resulting defensive medicine approach by doctors.  But this is not about changing the entirety of our healthcare or health insurance system. 

The problem with our government today is that it no longer considers legislation incontext of moderation or moderate behavior.  Every single action seems to be oriented to the “big bang” theory of spending.  When a representative like John Conyers can state that reading bills is useless because they are too complex and require a couple lawyers to help you interpret them, then we have an absolute abrogation of duty and responsibility by our elected officials.  Understand, these bills, including the current incarnation of the healthcare reform act are written to confuse and confound you.  After reading most of the 1,018 pages of the current proposal, I can say that I agree with Conyers on the lack of clarity in the bill. 

However, a reading of that bill is sufficient to understand that this bill is an assault on our current system and the process by which healthcare is delivered to people in this country.  It isimportant to consider the statistical side of the equation when evaluating our health insurance and health care in this country. 

The following details are extracted from the US Census Bureau’s 2009 Statistical Abstract and reflect their 2006 tables (latest available): 

•  First, of the 297 million US population, 201 are covered by private insurance.  When you include Medicare andMedicaid, the total covered population increases to 249 million, or nearly 85% of the population. 

•  Of the remaining 47 million not covered by insurance, further analysis must be undertaken to get at the root of the problem.  We need to reduce the number by approximately 12 million illegals in the country; those who earn over $50,000 annually and who could afford catastrophic or full insurance - 17 million; and those who are often referred to as the “invincibles” in the 18-24 year old demographic and who typically don’t buy or want insurance as they are often not consumers of major healthcare services -  a further 8million.  The total of these three groups is 36 million. 

•  In this context, the real problem involves the remaining 9 million people.  Without splitting hairs, as a number of these people are eligible for government insurance but do not apply, we now find that approximately 3%, yes that’s right – 3% are not covered within the current system and are really the problematic demographic that needs to be helped through some mechanism. 

The last three percent are indeed in need of a solution, however, do we change 1/6^thof our economy for 3% of its citizens? The answer should be a resounding no! Do we need to control the costs of Medicare and Medicaid – or course!  But these efforts to control expense will not be successful without the reform of tort law and the implications that the practice of defensive medicine has on overall costs.  To be sure, Medicare recipients need to contribute more over time as the services provided have been expanded and improved.  And as I have argued, the ability to pool and provide transportability are key to the private sector insurance improvement.

But in the end, the government appears intent on attacking the private sector and vilifying everyone from corporate CEO’s to bankers to our financial institutions to doctors and now insurance companies.  You need to be armed and prepared with your defense of your own healthcare insurer and provider community.  For in the end, there exists no law or “right” that requires a doctor, nurse or other allied healthcare professional to educate themselves over many years at great personal and financial expense and provide you with healthcare.  The government cannot place these professionals in service as indentured servants to you or your family.  And that is exactly what the liberals and Democrats in this administration would propose by suggesting that healthcare is a “right” enumerated by the Constitution. Simply stated, the prescription for change that is currently before us has side effects so vile as to likely kill the patient!

A number of patriots showed up today at the Memphis offices of Senator Lamar Alexander to express their displeasure with the status of healthcare legislation being considered by our legislators.  Forty people gathered at the CliffordDavis-Odell Horton Federal Building on Main Street, including an 8 month old and a 3 year old toddler.  It was more people showing up at the Memphis offices of the Senator on a given day then possibly ever before.  However, and more importantly, these people, average men and women who are concerned about their country and the out of control spending, learned a few things about their government.

However, before discussing the turn of events and the most polite office representative, Mr. Evan Freeman, Rasmussen Reports published the following polling:

By a 50 to 35 percent margin, Americans believe it's a bad idea to create a government health-insurance company to compete with private insurers. A Rasmussen Reports poll released Friday also shows that voters aren't buying promises that middle-class Americans won't eventually see tax hikes as a consequence of covering an estimated 45 million uninsured Americans.

Fifty-six percent of those surveyed consider a tax increase for the middle class to be "very likely," and another 22 percent say it is "somewhat likely." Only 4 percent consider a tax hike on the middle class "not at all likely." President Obama has repeatedly insisted that no one earning less than $250,000 would get hit with an additional tax

The Rasmussen poll, based on interviews with 1,000 likely voters, is one in a series of recent surveys suggesting Americans are profoundly skeptical about the health-care plans that are currently making their way through Congress.

Returning to the gathering at Senator Alexander’s office, we were met by security.  It was apparent that they were expecting people to arrive as a Memphis police car was positioned across the street from the building, several security people were walking the perimeter of the building and one, Inspector Mason, seemed to be incharge.

As we assembled outside of the building and held signs while discussing our opposition to the healthcare bill now moving through Congress, it was apparent that these security people were not happy with us being at the office.  As we had gathered together, we entered by the street level doors, were asked to leave our signs and then were put through the standard security, x-ray and metal detector.  However, as we were going to go to the elevators to go up to the offices of Senator Alexander, we were told by Inspector Mason that he would have no protesters here!  I was a bit incredulous and indicated that we were simply going to the office to meet with Senator Alexander’s staff.  He indicated that Alexander was not there and that he would only allow one person at a time to go up to the offices.  We had twenty-one people in our group alone and it was most frustrating. 

The fact is that this security effort was both unnecessary and confrontational.  They were prepared to impair our efforts and to restrict our access but not to assist us in meeting our objective of seeing the Senator’s representative.  Ultimately, I was able to go to the office on the 10^th floor and notified the group that they should heed the directive but that I had hoped they would indeed remain to take a meeting.  Subsequently, we were able to go up in groups of four and held a productive and courteous meeting with Mr. Evann Freeman, the Constituent Services Representative, after being ushered in by two US Marshalls! 

The entire experience allowed the group to discover how making one’s opinion known can be difficult and challenging.  As conservatives begin to recognize that they must be engaged in the process of government, they will also realize the challenges to that access.  In fact, one member, a 63 year old grandfather who attended with his daughter and the aforementioned children was asked to leave after he became frustrated with the one person/one elevator rule.  Not to mention that his grandchildren weren’t too happy either! 

Ultimately, we were able to meet, tender our letters and share our perspectives on the healthcare debacle.  Without question, this nascent TEA Party effort is beginning to generate the interest of more people and their participation in the process of government.  No longer are conservatives relegated to the sidelines in the political debate.  And as each of these people begin to experience the freshness of the winds of liberty, they want more and are making their voices heard.  As such, America will be a better country and the people, who for too long have worked hard, paid their taxes, took care of their families and stayed silent are silent no more.  The hope and change that Obama has promised may indeed be the hope of the conservative masses while changing the dialogue of Washington and our representatives. 

Oh, and as for Inspector Mason, well, he might do well to think about how he can better treat former 63 year old marines who fear for their family and their grandchildren.  It would reflect better on Senator Alexander and our Federal Government.  But that’s another battle we’ll fight later – with the rest of those “right wing extremists” Obama keeps talking about!

P.S.  Senator Alexander published his newsletter as I was writing this Blog and indicated the following:

Scrap the Kennedy Bill and Start Overon Health Care

The Kennedy health care bill is so flawed and expensive that it cannot be fixed.  It is so expensive it will literally bankrupt states.  And also, it’s completely partisan. Republicans have offered health care plans that would give low-income Americansthe same opportunities and choices that most Americans already have—plans that wouldn’t make it harder for American businesses to compete in the world marketplace by adding to their costs, plans that our grandchildren can afford that wouldn’t heap trillions of dollars of new debt upon them, devaluing their dollars and the quality of their lives, but they are not being considered.

As President Obama has said, the best way to do health care reform is in a bipartisan way—but in order to do that, we need to put aside the Kennedy bill and start over again.

It has been nine months since the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States and six months since he took the oath of office.  From the moment of his election, Barack Obama displayed a level of narcissism unparalleled in the history of the presidency.  His assuredness was on display from the Chicago celebration to the creation of the “Office of the President Elect” along with his quasi-presidential elect seal.  Never mind that this was a purely fictitious creation out a Hollywood script – meant to enhance his position while downplaying his obvious lack of credentials. 

And we were told that he would hit the ground running and that he had assembled his transition team after the election and well before his inauguration.  This we were also told was to ensure that he and his team would be prepared to handle the challenges of the office on day one!  

The press was in love with the idea of the man Obama, if not the actual person.  You see, we knew little about him except those things that were published in his two books.  No actual person came to the fore to describe his childhood, his college years, his international life and as many have commented, his supposed birth in Hawaii.  No, this was a man created for the purpose of running for president of the United States and was a blank canvas upon which any and all could paint their own picture of who they thought Barack Obama might be as the leader of this country. 

The press was brimming with facts of his extraordinary approval ratings, his personal “like” factor and the strong wife and wonderful daughters.  Comparisons were quick to show that no one had come out of the gate so strongly by virtue of his pre-inauguration preparedness.  And all were amazed by the quality of the picks for his cabinet and advisors.  Expectations were high and the left and the press assumed that the man would deliver.  

However, within his short tenure, he has no less taken over the ownerships of banks, manufacturing companies, pushed a nearly $800 billion stimulus package, passed a $3.6 trillion budget, pressed for cap and trade legislation and now wants to socialize healthcare.  The most interesting point of these key events is that each and every one of them was preceded by the campaign of “now” by this president.  You see, each and every action noted above was positioned as if there were no alternatives – that we must do this to ensure our economy or our financial system or employment or overcome the inertia of “decades of inaction”.  And yet all of this fast track legislation has resulted in little to show except the fact that we are now at nearly a 10% unemployment rate with little likelihood of improvement in the near term, deficits approaching $100 billion a month and nearly $2 trillion in the current calendar year, trillions of dollars being printed and debt being issued resulting in a desire by the international community to move off the dollar as the reserve currency of the world and finally, a frozen business environment, unsure of how or what additional legislation will impact the ability to operate in the US. 

Of course, this fast track to nowhere is not going unnoticed.  We are tiring of the 24 hour Obama channel, the fact that our magazines only seem to have him on the cover and the prime time “infomercials” that never really meet the quality of the pitchmen like the recently deceased Billy Mays.  And unlike Obama’s ideas, I found OxiClean and Mighty Putty did what they said they would do.  On the otherhand, the payoffs to supporters and the lack of transparency are striking when considering the president’s actions and those of the Democrat Congress.  Our legislative process has become so broken as to allow for a vote on bills without reading them or even having them written.  And through all this you must ask yourself why the hurry and why the need to take these decisions without counsel, consideration and the sense of duty and responsibility that the rest of us must undertake in our own jobs and lives? 

But the truth of the matter is that this fast track is deliberate.  One only needs to look at the current approval ratings and find that in the short six months he has been in office, he is now below even George Bush and other presidents at the same time in their tenure.  “Shock & Awe” was supposed to be used in Iraq and while the president has derided Bush for his actions, it would appear that he and his cabinet have taken a page out of that playbook and decided to deploy it within the legislative process of the US Congress and Senate.  And as it becomes more apparent to “we the people”, they begin to awaken to the reality that his actions are not in the best interest of the United States or a representative government.  No, this is arrogance beyond the pale in recent history.  And today, we find ourselves debating the need for socialized healthcare and taxes approaching 60% of income for the rich to pay for all of this spending! 

So how did we get here?  The people of the United States were badly hurt by the implosion of the global financial system.  They believed that it could be traced to one administration and that it was the fault of President Bush and his war actions.  However, the truth is that we sowed our seeds of destruction over the last twenty years as we piled up debt, created a never ending expectation of growth and increasing economic prosperity and allowed all of this to go on with the wink and the nod of administration after administration.  And as we sit here today, we are being asked once again to trust this government to take action on the most personal of issues, our healthcare! 

In his June 13 weekly address, Barack Obama stated that the “healthcare status quo is unsustainable”.  In fact, the entirety of his actions to date is indeed unsustainable. The Congressional Budget Office stated in its weekly blog: 

“The current recession and policy responses have little effect on long-term projections of non interest spending and revenues. But CBO estimates that in fiscal years 2009 and 2010, the federal government will record its largest budget deficits as a share of GDP since shortly after World War II. As a result of those deficits, federal debt held by the public will soar from 41 percent of GDP at the end of fiscal year 2008 to 60 percent at the end of fiscal year 2010. This higher debt results in permanently higher spending to pay interest on that debt. Federal interest payments already amount to more than 1 percentof GDP; unless current law changes, that share would rise to 2.5 percent by 2020.”

To put this into perspective, the federal debt ofthe United States will increase by nearly 50% in two short years.  Add the cost of the healthcare legislation and go beyond the 10 year projections that we hear about today and you have the makings of a catastrophic failure of the US economy.  More simply, our economy will need to grow by 2.5% in GDP just to pay the interest on our debt.  This is before a single social security payment is made, Medicare bill paid, soldier deployed or road built.  Even with the best scenarios for growth, nearly 3.5% in GDP, the federal debt would consume over 70% of the growth in the economy!  The repercussions should be clear – exorbitant tax rates and a moribund economy with little job creation and insufficient revenues to pay out the entitlements that are being envisioned today! 

So where do we go from here?  The reality is that we have created an over regulated economy where the current legislative environment has generated too many unknowns as it relates to the cost of doing business in the US.  Can you believe that any reasonable business person would build a factory today without knowing the impact of tax legislation, cap & trade, healthcare, card check and other “To Be Named Later” actions of this administration? 

What we are seeing is the spending of the nation’s future.  The arrogance of power and the belief that all of this is warranted by an economic situation that is “the worst since the Great Depression” seems to animate the behaviors of this President.  He truly believes that he has the chance to remake America into a new nation.  And of course, like any liberal ideology, good intentions outweigh the consequences of those actions.  It is instructive to consider that the people have begun to realize that this ideology is far and away damaging their ownself interest.  For even simple arithmetic can illuminate the fact that there are simply an insufficient number of “rich” people to pay that 60 percent tax rate and make government's ends meet.  Eventually, the rich move their money elsewhere and the rest of us are left holding the proverbial “tax” bag! 

As I reflect on the current circumstances of our nation, I am reminded of a verse in Scripture: 

Ezekiel7:10 (NIV)  ¹⁰ "The day is here! It has come! Doom has burst forth, the rod has budded, arrogance has blossomed!

It is arrogance that prescribes the actions of the moment without regard to the peoples’ will or desires.  For how else can you continue such efforts without truthfully considering the implications for the future of America and our children? And for we the people, is it not time that we move beyond our stupor, raise our voices and peacefully assemble before the thrones of power to take back our liberty?  If we are unwilling to do so, then we shall be enslaved by the shackles of crushing debt and the loss of that liberty.  As our first Commander In Chief stated:

For if Men are to be precluded from offering their Sentiments on a matter, which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences, that can invite the consideration of Mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of Speech may be taken away, and, dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the Slaughter.

GEORGE WASHINGTON, address to the officers of the army, Mar. 15, 1783

As Washington believed, when reason is not apparent, then we must take action that demonstrates our resolve, not in fits of violence but in organization and protest that overwhelm the ideas of those that would relegate our liberty to the slaughter.  Much has been lost over the past year and much fear remains, yet we are Americans and our freedoms and liberties are derived not from the government but from our Creator.  Of this fact I am certain, the pride and arrogance of the moment will be overcome by men and women everywhere as we are awakened to this reality.  Let us reject the fast track to nowhere and thoughtfully consider and debate the issues before our country, not by a few elites, but through participation of the people together with our elected representatives.

“Origins of Our Liberty”

Speech by Mark A. Skoda

The Memphis TEA Party

July 2, 2009

Declaration of Independence:

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Skoda’s Remarks:

This founding document and the people who signed it set a course of action that resulted in the creation of a new nation and system of government.  They recognized first and foremost that their rights came not from the dominion of man but through the grace of God and were therefore immutable. The signers of the Declaration of Independence were a profoundly intelligent, religious and ethically-minded group. Four of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were current or former full-time preachers, and many more were the sons of clergymen. Other professions held by the signers included lawyers, merchants, doctors and educators. These individuals, too, were for the most part active churchgoers and many contributed significantly to their churches both with contributions as well as their service as lay leaders. The signers were members of religious denominations at a rate that was significantly higher than average for the American Colonies during the late 1700’s.

Founded on the principles set forth by these men, whose views while colored by their time in history, the new nation took its first uncertain steps forward in the history of mankind.  These principles and the men who penned them have often been discussed and debated.  Recently, we have seen a great deal of effort to expunge the relationship of these men to their Creator from the historical record.

Of course, we can dismiss the notion that the relationship between God, this nation and that of the founding fathers was simply a reflection of a time when people were animated by their Biblically based culture.  It was, as some would have us believe, a time when these writings reflected the former persecution of their own faith and therefore was not a true representation of their secular intent.  However, the truth of the matter is that these same men recognized the unalienable rights ordained by God to man and for which man was responsible.  They thought it necessary to reflect these same ideas in the charter of this new country and its government, that of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  They understood that it is not in the rule of law that civility can be found but in the law of God upon which all of man’s rights have been enumerated.

It is instructive to look at current events and consider the context of our own liberty.  Two weeks ago, I sat in Baku, Azerbaijan and watched the news coverage of the Iranian protests. I wondered about the nearly 500,000 Iranian protesters who were angry about the results of the recent election. To put this into US terms, that would equate to nearly 2 million people turning out in the streets!  To be sure, I have no illusions about the election itself.  That election can best be understood as a proxy challenge to the orthodoxy of the ruling clerics and their power.

And in fact, the daily protests were even less about the selection of a particular leader as both Mousavi and Ahmidenijad represent the traditional politics of Iran.   No, the outcome of the election while interesting is really instructive in context of the protests ongoing in the country. You see, the people of Iran know that their rights to expression are restricted by the Islamic regime and they can see that even Iraq enjoys a greater level of freedom than the people of their country.  It will be interesting to evaluate the impact of Bush’s legacy in Iraq in context of the model of Arab democracy that is evolving in that region and the impact of that policy on the Persian people of Iran. To be sure, Twitter and other social networking technologies have made the youth of Iran acutely aware of the benefits of freedom that are now enjoyed by the Iraqi people.  

The reality is that these protesters had simply had enough and are looking to express themselves in context of a leadership that has for too long suppressed these desires.  And of course, we see the resulting crackdown on these people which includes beatings, arrests and even killings as a result of the government’s actions.  Now we should think about this conflagration not in context of our international interests but in context of our domestic situation.  You see, these people, knowing the odds of success and the reprisals to come were willing to put themselves and their lives on the line for something they believed in.  The fact that Mousavi represented the alternative to Ahmidenijad was only part of the logic.  More importantly, these people understood the politics of their country and the lack of freedoms they were experiencing in that country.

As such, these protests were spectacular in their scale and in the likely outcome of repression and violence that was inevitable when the ruling mullahs are challenged by the people.  So as I consider the US, I am bemused by our own lack of enthusiasm for issues that this nation faces.  I wonder if we are willing to put ourselves on the line given the implications of the budget deficits and the likely impact of those deficits on our way of life and that of our children and grandchildren.  We see our own government issuing reports identifying protesters as possible terrorists, although cooler heads prevailed and the report was “corrected”.  I am struck by the fact that as our liberty is eroded, few are willing to stand firm for the principles of this nation and the God given rights of its people that the founding fathers understood.  All too often we shrug and expect someone else to correct the injustice. 

Think about it.  People have barely whimpered as the administration has fired CEO’s, placed incompetent or people of questionable ethics into key roles, hired inexperienced kids to manage huge government rescue plans, spent trillions of dollars with little to show, created new Czars to oversee actions in the private sector, proposed new super agency powers for the Federal Reserve, passed legislation that will impact 90% of the energy production of this nation and now wants to control eighteen percent of our economy through healthcare reform.  And where are the protestors?  Silence!  

Instead we get an infomercial from the Main Stream Media and prime time “crisis” speeches from this president that are meant to urge actions that will correct the injustice without paying for the consequences of those actions. In fact, we seem to be relegated to a people who are to be lorded over by a government that tells us they know what is good for us without examining the likely outcomes.

As I watched those images in Iran, I was impressed by a people who are willing to fight the fight, put their lives on the line and make their wishes known to a group of clerics who literally control every aspect of that society.  And yet, there they were, in the streets taking action and stating their case.  All the while recognizing the likely outcome – more repression and retaliation while exacting little substantive change.  And yet they marched.

Meanwhile, at home we are seeing the future of our children being mortgaged through crushing debt and the growing power and pervasiveness of a government that wants us to believe that all of this regulation is for our own good!  Our liberty is eroded by the collective nature of a central government intent on legislating our lives.  So far, those arguments seem to be accepted as pabulum by the masses.  Yet the reality will be starkly understood by those same people as the jobs do not materialize, taxes rise, quality of life decreases and more and more people become dependent on all aspects of government for their daily lives.  No, we don’t have mullahs but we do have an administration that has “not let a good crisis go”.  I wonder whether we will finally rise up and make our own voices heard or have we lost so much that we are playing a “prevent defense” hoping to keep what we have left.  In this context, I am reminded of my own father’s views about this football analogy – the prevent defense prevents you from winning!

Yet in spite of what seems overwhelming challenge to our liberty,  I feel compelled to share a perspective which motivates my own actions and that of many of the people who consider this nation and its rich history.  To be sure, the work has only begun and the need for assistance and service is clear.  And like our founding fathers, I go to one of my favorite Scripture verses from the book of Matthew;

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

It is my unrelenting faith in God and the incredible people of this nation that has allowed me to persevere in the belief that we can overcome the challenges facing this nation through our choices and our actions!  Without question our forefathers called upon God repeatedly to direct their actions, animate their behaviors and guide the principles upon which they set this nation’s course.

Today, our country no longer finds that God is convenient to that motivation and our leadership relies upon their aptitude and their own pride in making decisions that affect the people of this country.  That is not to say that one must believe in God to be an American, however, the historical context of how and why we came to be as a country was supremely guided by His hand in the minds and hearts of those founders.  Indeed, every state in the nation has a constitution that honors the Creator or God directly in the formation of that state.

I offer these remarks not as a treatise on God and faith but on what seems to be man’s inability to govern himself absent the acknowledgement of God in that society.  In fact, the great Pennsylvania leader and orator William Penn noted;

"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants."

So as we go about our business and once again renew our liberty, I ask, whatever your beliefs, to reflect on the founding fathers of this nation, our states and our own actions and I request that you pray for guidance in all we undertake.  I fully respect one’s right to believe otherwise, but for me, I pray that God will guide my words, my actions and our efforts towards a result that honors His will and that of the people of this nation.  Our liberty is not given to us by men, but is assured by our actions.  May each of us, today, make the decision to be silent no more!  And may God bless this nation, its people and guide our future.

Thank you.

“Not Just A Party”

Speech by Anne Grosvenor

The Memphis TEA Party

July 2, 2009

Opening:

July 4^th 2005 my life changed forever.  Every since that day, my outlook and my priorities  have changed.  That is the day I became a mom for the first time. 

As we prepare for my son’s fourth birthday I am fearful of what the future will look like for my kids.  As a mom, I feel like it is my obligation to get involved and work to help reverse the course of this country.  I am doing it for my family.

I think it is imperative that women participate in this fight. 

Women are affected by the decisions of our government.  Taxes and the burden of debt affect our family budgets.  We are concerned about educations for our kids and for ourselves, because we understand that a good education is vital to success.  Punitive taxes on small business affect us because we may patronize one, we may work for one or we may own one.  When government takes a dollar from us to give to someone else, it affects our choices too.

A government that is powerful enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have (Gerald Ford, 1974).  My mother told me this, and I intend to share this wisdom with my kids.

I have had some experience with debt in my household.  I don’t like it.  Most of what we pay goes to interest anyway, not even paying down the principal.  My family would live in a bigger house without debt.  We would probably drive better cars, and we might even be able to send our kids to private schools.  Debt takes away your choices.  It is a burden that affects every facet of a family budget.

While my husband and I are working to bring our family out of debt, the government is putting us deeper into debt.  They are spending your money, our kids’ money, their kids’ money all in the name of saving the economy, but is that really what they are doing.   Their using our money to invest in companies we wouldn’t choose to invest in.  They are spending our money to exert power over state governments, weakening their authority.  They are spending our money to force new regulations in private sector. 

All of this spending of money will have consequences.   The money will have to be paid back in the form of higher taxes.  The interest payments alone will be crippling for the economy.  It will affect the lifestyles of our kids, and their kids.   I don’t know about you, but I want something better for the next generation.  I want something better for my kids.

As a parent I spend a lot of time thinking about education.  I was saddened when I learned that earlier this year our government decided to deny the parents of students in Washington DC the option of using vouchers to provide private education for their children.  These parents cannot afford to send their kids to private schools without the vouchers and are now forced to send them to failing government schools.  Some might see this as a small issue, but I believe it is symptomatic of a larger problem.

Imagine struggling parents wanting to build a better future for their kids, having this program taken away from them?  We hear so much about problems in schools because of poor home environments, but not all kids come from these environments.  We should applaud parents that care enough about their kids education to push for something better.  What kind of message does this send to all parents about the value of education?  At no point in our history has education been regarded so lightly.  I think you could also argue that at no point in our history has our education system been so broken.

So why take away this program from parents and their kids!   Why not promote choice?  What purpose does this serve?   Why do our leaders want less for the citizens of DC, than they choose for themselves?   What does this tell us about the mindset in Washington?  What does this tell us about the people making our laws?  The people that now want to overhaul our healthcare system?

Where is the hope for a better tomorrow?   They took hope away from those parents in DC.  Instead we hear about taxing our health plans, taxing our business related cell phones, increasing government regulation of industry through FDA, government mandating the type of cars that are produced, and even the government telling private companies how much they can pay their employees. 

This is not about governing, this is controlling.  This is a bureaucracy that is analyzing our lives and deciding what we should and should not have. 

It is all about choice.  Whether we choose for ourselves, or the government commands.  I am tired of this intrusion in my family and am distressed over the theft of my kids. 

Yes as a mother, I believe in protecting the environment, energy independence, affordable healthcare, a sound financial system, and a strong job market.  I want all these things.  I support policies to achieve these goals that preserve our liberty, prosperity and the free market tradition that made this country great.  The entrepreneurial spirit of individual Americans should not be put down by the heavy hand of government. 

The fight for liberty did not end July 4, 1776, it began on that date.  Did you know that it has been less than 90 years since the passage of the 19^th amendment allowing women the right to vote?   How did it happen you may ask?  It started with grassroots organization and determination.  The fight was taken to individual state legislatures to make changes in their state constitutions, and finally was brought to the national level. 

The phrase “all politics is local” has some truth to it.  Working together in our own community and our own state we can bring awareness to our concerns.   Women can play a key role in this fight.  We did it before and we can do it again.

I have for too long taken the freedoms of this country for granted.   I have been busy pursuing my career, raising my family and enjoying my life.   I am unwilling to sit back and wait and hope that someone will save us from Washington’s interference in our lives.  I hope you join me.

One of the criticisms I hear about the tea party movement, is that the original tea party wasn’t just a protest, but it was followed up with real action – not paying taxes on tea.  Interesting now when you hear them talking about taxing soda.

We do need to abide by laws and pay our taxes, but we can and must follow up with real action.  We have to be more active.  We have to contact our representatives on a local, state and federal level.  We have to make our voices heard throughout the year and not just on election day.

The challenges we face in reversing governments creep into our lives is great.  This is a marathon not a sprint, but the tide can be turned with the awareness, and participation of many.  This does not have to be a cause that consumes our lives, but if we all give a little something of our time to reach out and participate in the decisions affecting our country, it will make a difference.   If we all shoulder some of the burden, we can make so much more progress than if we just rely on the heroic efforts of a few brave souls.  There is power in numbers. 

I urge you to look for ways to participate.  There are several organizations that share our concerns.  The Memphis Tea Party organization will be bringing you a different perspective on local, state and federal policy than what you will see in the media.  You can register here for that group or check out the website.  If you support fiscal responsibility and smaller government, you now have a place to go. 

Regardless of whether you join the Memphis Tea Party or another organization, get involve and make your voices heard.  We don’t have a voice in Washington.  We don’t have a voice in the media.  We have to rely on ourselves much like our forefathers.

Have a great time, but remember if we don’t follow up with real action, than this is just a part