Bernanke’s press conference announcement again booted the stock and bond markets, but did nothing to boost employment.

At his January 25, 2012, press conference, Federal Reserve Bank chairman Ben Bernanke stated that he expects the Fed to continue imposing near-zero interest rates well into 2014 on short-term Treasury securities. In response, the stock market surged, despite expectations of generally lower corporate earnings and reduced consumer spending. Loose credit and low interest rates usually facilitate stock market speculation.

However gratifying this may to individual investors and pension fund managers, it does little if anything to restore production of goods and services or to raise employment. It also continues to penalize increased savings, which alone provides a stable, long-term platform for economic growth. People living on fixed incomes have had their rates of income on saving chopped around 75% since the Fed first cut interest rates.

As Austrian school economists long have observed, central bank manipulation of interest rates and government deficit spending have an uneven impact on sectors of the economy. When unemployment is high and people are yet freighted with excessive personal debt, consumer spending will be among the last sectors to increase.

Instead, deficit spending and loose money lead businessmen to over-invest in long term capital goods, because low interest cost for borrowed money makes even marginal investment projects appear profitable. When business finally revives and costs, including interest rates, increase, those marginal projects collapse and push the economy into recession.

Such was the genesis and progress of the housing bubble and subprime mortgage securities.

Contrary to the aggregate computer models of Keynesian economics, the economy as a whole never has been controllable via government stimulus spending. In fact, as reported recently, the 31% increase in business long-term investment over recent months has been largely concentrated in labor-saving equipment, which ironically adds to unemployment or postpones new hiring.

This article was originally posted in The View Form 1776 blog.

http://www.thomasbrewton.com/index.php/weblog/fed_feeds_distortion/

Responsibility & Effectiveness of Government

The care of human life and happiness, not their destruction, is the legitimate responsibility of a good government.

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned – this is the sum of good government.

That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves.

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.

Yes, we did produce a near-perfect republic. But will they keep it? Or will they, in the enjoyment of plenty, lose the memory of freedom? Material abundance without character is the path of destruction.

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government

Right to Bare Arms

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes… Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man. (quoting Cesare Beccaria)

Those who hammer their guns into plows, will plow for those who do not.

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.

Banks

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.

Courts

One single object … [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.

Press

The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary, to keep the waters pure.

Liberty

When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.

What county can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time that its people preserve the spirit of resistance.

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.

I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add “within the limits of the law,” because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Prosperity

Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

Religion

No nation has ever existed or been governed without religion. Nor can be. The Christian religion is the best religion that has been given to man and I, as Chief Magistrate of this nation, am bound to give it the sanction of my example.

There are many reasons the academic elites offer for our inability to live peacefully with each other. It doesn’t seem to matter if the conflict is with people at work, in our neighborhood, or even in our church. We see the same conflicts in our government and among nations. It seems that each of us judges ourselves by our own good intentions… and we judge others by their actions.

We see the president self-righteously declaring his concern for downtrodden. What person with a concern for his fellow man cannot help but feel for those less fortunate. Assuming the purity of his motivation, one can almost understand his recent speech where he declared that if congress would not bend to his will, he would move toward the realization of his ideal society with out them. It doesn’t seem to matter that there are other opinions, other approaches and even other directions that the country could be moving in. More importantly, it doesn’t seem to matter that the Constitution does not grant him that power.

He sees the recalcitrant Republicans – at least those with the courage to stand up to him – as morally depraved in their efforts to keep the poor in his constituency from experiencing the good things our country has to offer. He is assured of the virtue of his course which means, obviously, that those opposed to his schemes are selfishly wanting to use these same constituents for their own evil purposes or, at the least, push them aside and out of the way.

To Barack Hussein Obama, achievement of equality of all Americans… even equality of our country with the rest of the world, is his primary purpose in life. It does not matter to him, nor does it matter to his socialistic groupies, that many people will necessarily be hurt and suffer loss to achieve his concept of heaven on earth.

For those of us who find ourselves on the other side of the issue, not seeing eye to eye with the exalted one with a questionable pedigree, we are up against someone with no concept of the idea that reasonable people can have a different view point than his. Opposition could only come from selfishness, the desire for political gain, or, worst of all… because of his race. For someone with an ethnocentric view of the world, it is not possible to understand that attempts to save the country from his destructive government come from anything other than hatred for people of color.

On the other hand, those of us who value liberty over equality, see the president’s actions in the worst possible light. We take it personally when he says we should be willing to give up more of the fruit of our labor so his powerful government can give it to others to create some sort of fairness in the world. There is evidence of some lack of purity in this pursuit of fairness, as his writings give us fair warning of his desire for retribution for some real and imagined wrongs on a collective basis.

Today our country is a house divided. There are those among us who are working, or wanting to work, to achieve some goal. Then, there are those who are more than willing to take what the workers have created and use it to buy votes and inflict their will on the rest of the country. There are two distinct directions we see for our land. One goes to the right and one to the left. Where is the difference that can be worked out? Where is the room for compromise?

We can follow path A or path B, We can go down one path or the other. One method of working things out, since we don’t want to go in one direction and the other side refuses to go down our path, involves staying where we are as one form of compromise. Whether this option appeals to us or not, that fact that our system is not working should be enough to convince us this choice would not be beneficial.

So we have two competing visions for our country that are really mutually exclusive. If we follow one, we will have a big government taking as much as it can from each of us, creating dependencies where none ever existed and controlling an ever increasing portion of our lives. If we follow the other vision, we will reduce the influence of a self serving government in our lives. Somehow, we can’t have a government increasingly controlling our lives while we reduce its influence on the way we live. It just doesn’t work that way.

One or the other side will win out. Often the builders and producers are concerned about others and try to work amicably with everyone. The takers have no such concern for the niceties of human relations. It may be our desire to get along that ultimately leads to the downfall of our nation. We need to rid ourselves of the illusion that we can have freedom by compromising with those who want to control us.

II Corinthians 6:14b asks, “For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” Freedom and dependence on a government cannot exist in the same space.

As much as we would like to be liked by all, and as much as we like the idea of compromise, in practice these concepts to not really work in this part of the world. The late comedian George Carlin understood what happens when we see two incompatible sides working together “for our good”, “Bipartisan usually means that a larger-than-usual deception is being carried out.”

The answer, then, should be obvious. We need to recognize that these domestic enemies of liberty are just as dangerous, if not more so, than those overseas who would destroy us… and they need to be treated, and defeated, as such.

Local Activists Call for Air Jordan Changes: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

A group of pastors and community activists from the Houston area have taken to the airwaves to complain about the irresponsibility of Nike and Michael Jordan. What have they done that is so terrible? It seems that they created a product that people want to buy. While I am not sure why people would go to such extremes to get overpriced footwear, these shoes are, indeed, valued by many people who will do most anything to get them.

It is an American success story of a man who worked at perfecting his craft to the point where he was one of the best to ever walk onto a basketball court. It is also a story about a company who produced a quality product in association with this athlete that people want to buy. As one of the critics, Malik Ingram, commented, “These shoes have always had a place of value in Black life.”

In some ways, the shoes may be the symbolic contact with someone who achieved excellence to those who see little in their own lives and the world around them. They have come to represent status to those who are willing to settle for the symbol rather than the substance of excellence.

The mobs that descended on the retailers believed that by acquiring these shoes, they would somehow elevate themselves in their circle of friends and become happier people. It is easy to look down on the foolishness of this thinking when the object is just a pair of shoes. Yet, we have no problem with the things many of us do for a bigger home, a nicer car, a fur coat or any other material possession. The actions our circle of friends take may not be as blatantly obnoxious or violent, but they can be even more insidious and harmful to the people, including ourselves, who are impacted.

The solution proposed by the critics is for the company to increase production and reduce the price to the point where it would be easier for more young people to afford them. What they do not realize is that the actions they propose would destroy the product and the mystique in the market place. They would no longer be unique and no one would care who had them and who didn’t.

It is sad that those who hold themselves out to be spiritual leaders have so little understanding of the nature of the flock they are attempting to serve. The fact is that these shoes elicit such strong response from those who covet their ownership. They covet them to the point where they will actual attack and steal them from someone who is fortunate enough to already have them.

Ben Mendez, a Latino business leader noted this when he said, “The people that can least afford these shoes are buying them, and what happens as a result of that? Well there’s more crime” He is correct. However the same could be said about lottery tickets, and even street drugs… only in the case of the Air Jordans, they are at least getting a quality product that can be beneficial to them. And in the case of street drugs, standing against the dealers could result in a hollow point in the head.

Bishop James Dixon showed a complete grasp of the liberal progressive position on this and most every other issue when he added, “We’re not trying to make it logical. We’re simply saying it’s going to take all of us collectively to take responsibility for making a change.” Considering the success of other problems solved by this approach, perhaps the good Bishop should be looking in another direction.

The fact that members of his flock have such lack of restraint and respect for those around them shows that there is a great deal of work to be done on individual values and responsibility. Sure there are things a community can do, and there are things a retailer can do, like posting armed guards in their stores, but ultimately it is the individual who makes the decisions that govern their behavior.

The book of James describes the process:

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15 NIV)

While some things could be done differently, it is still comes down individual decisions to respect our fellow man as another creation of a loving God. This is where we have to look to turn the tide from senseless cravings and violence to living a life of contentment, and is where these supposed leaders should look to save their people and their world. Whining about corporate irresponsibility may make these so-called community leaders feel good that they are deflecting blame from the true source which allows them to ignore the individual responsibility that would really resolve this issue and most of the others we are facing.

It’s not that people were not giving gifts. I have not seen “official” figures, but I have done a little observation. Wal-Mart and K-Mart parking lots were packed. Perhaps many people were realizing that they need to get the most for their hard earned or redistributed dollar. Dollar Stores and other discount merchants seemed to be doing well.

Not too far from my home there is an “upscale” shopping area featuring all sorts of stores that people love to show their labels or shopping bags to impress their neighbors who, mostly, don’t care anyway. My wife and I strolled around the area two nights before Christmas. It was easy to find a place to park as the lot was only half full… a big difference from just a few years ago.

When we went into Tiffany’s, we were greeted by a well dressed gentleman. I wondered if they got the idea from Wal-Mart. As we looked around, they had the same beautiful merchandise that built their reputation for years. There was a yuppie couple looking at engagement rings and someone over in a far corner checking out some kind of ear rings. And that was about it. In fact, there were twice as many clerks as there were customers.

As I looked over the diamonds and gold jewelry I got the feeling that this type of conspicuous consumption seemed a bit out of place when 401(K)s were cratering and unemployment numbers were dropping primarily because so many people were just giving up the quest for gainful employment. While our government is more concerned with extending jobless benefits than in actually increasing jobs, such spending seemed foolish, even if the funds were available. Besides, these “benefits” don’t exactly go too far when looking at Tiffany diamonds or Brooks Brothers suits.

This feeling was confirmed as we walked past other stores that already were touting 50% off sales to move merchandise in this Obama economy. And walking by the stores was definitely unChristmasy as the crowds were over at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet where you can get “good stuff cheap”.

In one way, it was kind of sad, seeing the beautifully lit and decorated stores that seemed to be fit for another, happier, more prosperous, era. On the other hand, perhaps this is a lesson we Americans need to learn: that prosperity is not assured. It’s not something that just happens. It’s not something the government can provide for us. It’s something we have to work for.

Another lesson, is that we don’t require $1000 ankle bracelets to be happy. Many families were happy just to be able to get together, even though there were not tons of presents for everyone. Some I know of were looking primarily to get something for the children… which may well be the best way to celebrate the season.

Taking our eyes off ourselves is the key to happiness, at Christmas, and any other time of the year. Stories of people paying off layaways at K-Marts illustrate another way Americans are looking out for each other. We hear about the takers in our world, and their enablers in government, but there is another side of our country. The side that cares about their neighbors… without compulsion from our “betters”.

Valuing time with the family, helping people in distress – that is the American way. Going to church and actually remembering why we celebrate Christmas helps keep things in perspective. These things have been slipping away over many years. Yet, this is what many of us had this year. In spite of, or perhaps because of, the dysfunctional government policies, our values appear to be returning, at least in some quarters. This was our Obama Christmas. For many, it was pretty good, for some it wasn’t. Until we get our country back on track, we just can’t stop seeking better days for all of us.

[This came to me yesterday and it had so much common sense about government regulations and their enforcement that I felt I had to share it.]

Perhaps you have experienced a similar situation: walking into your living room to find your spouse sitting on the floor, the vacuum cleaner flipped upside down, the bag sitting across the room, the bottom cover removed, and screws strewn about. Around your spouse is a collection of small devices – a pencil, a screw driver, scissors, a paper clip – clearly the tools of choice in unearthing whatever they are looking for. Older vacuum cleaners in particular have an affinity for catching string in the rotating brush in such a way that it becomes so tightly wound, causing the whole thing to stop working. The tightly wrapped string has the strength of steel. No tool can clear it in one easy swoop, testing the patience of even the most even-keeled individuals. It takes intention, precision, and a whole lot of persistence to unwind it.

Regulatory red tape in Washington is a little bit like that. It has become so tightly wound around American businesses that it is inhibiting business owners and entrepreneurs from focusing on the operation of their businesses. And its steel-like strength leaves many business owners feeling frustrated or helpless.

Not all regulations are bad, nor are all regulations completely inconsistent with free-market principles. The ability of the federal government to set parameters for the basic protection of American citizens is important – this is true in areas of fraud protection, prescription drug safety, preservation of natural resources, among many others. But the lack of accountability in the regulation process has allowed the red tape to begin to choke seeds of innovation and competition that are so vital to business success. Americans from small business owners, to manufacturers, to farmers, to property owners are affected.

There has been a 23% drop in the rate of new business creation since 2007, resulting in as many as 1.8 million fewer jobs for Americans. Why? The National Federation of Independent Business believes the increasing role of government in the lives of businesses is partly to blame. A 2010 report by the Small Business Administration found that, American businesses paid, on average, $8,086 per employee to comply with federal regulations.

Businesses are forced to comply with new standards at an increasing rate, causing some plants to shut-down because of the cost of the new rules. Just a couple of months ago, Dominion Power announced it was closing its Chesapeake, VA plant and laying off employees due to excessive costs to upgrade the plant to meet new federal environmental standards. Whether it’s the Department of Energy reviewing urinal efficiency, the federal government’s lawsuit against Boeing for moving into right-to-work state South Carolina, or the phase-out of non-toxic incandescent light bulbs to a government-preferred compact fluorescent bulb, federal heavy-handedness trickles down from the largest to the smallest of companies.

With these regulations come inconsistent and unpredictable changes. The result is uncertainty for business owners and stalling job creation for Americans Without consistency, businesses cannot safely invest, because they cannot tell whether new regulations will make their investments unprofitable. Without new investment, we cannot expect new jobs for our economy.

At a time of record high unemployment, bureaucrats are focused on the wrong problems. Instead of focusing on creating a regulation nation, we need to be focused on creating a prosperous nation. The federal government was not intended to be a barrier to economic growth and I believe we must closely examine federal regulations to identify and address those that hurt economic growth.

While regulation reform alone will not rebound our economy from the current state – we have a whole host of other issues that we must address alongside regulations – regulatory reform would put us on a positive track forward. I have joined with my colleagues in the House over the past couple of weeks in passing several key bills to reform the legislation process:

Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny Act (HR 10)

The REINS Act requires that Congress take an up-or-down vote on every new major rule (i.e., those having an economic effect of at least $100 million) before it could be enforced on businesses and the American people.
Read the bill.
Passed the House by a vote of 241 to 184.

Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act (HR 527)

In 1980, Congress passed the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which mandated that federal agencies examine the impact of their proposed rules on small businesses. However, the law did not require that they choose the least burdensome choice.  The Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act improves the examination process by requiring consideration of “indirect costs, grants the Small Business Association authority to intervene in agency rulemaking, and improves the ability of small businesses and other small entities impacted by an agency’s regulations to challenges to those rules in court. Essentially, the bill forces agencies to consider how their actions affect small businesses and other small entities.
Read the bill.
Passed the House by a vote of 263 to 159.

Regulatory Accountability Act (HR 3010)

In 1946, the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) was enacted. Its purpose was to place restrictions on the federal rulemaking process. However, the APA only places a handful of light restrictions. Since that point, the current regulatory state has gained an expensive and overwhelming reach. The APA is out of date, encourages regulatory overreach, and is in strong need of reform. The Regulatory Accountability Act brings the APA up to date, requiring that agencies assess the costs and benefits of regulatory alternatives.  Unless interests of public health, safety or welfare require otherwise, agencies must adopt the least-cost alternative that achieves the regulatory objectives Congress has established.
Read the bill.
Passed the House by a vote of 253 to 167.

These bills improve the regulatory process. At the same time, we have to work at removing the regulatory burden that already exists for American businesses. To that end, I have also supported several pieces of legislation that repeal or improve onerous existing regulations. You can read about those bills on my website.

Addressing federal regulations is no simple task. The red tape has become so tightly wound that it will take intention and precision to unwind it. But our goals are clear: create a predictable economic environment for businesses to invest and grow, encourage job growth, increase competitiveness, and create more accountability in Washington.  Each of these improvements brings us one step closer to those goals.

It appears that we don’t really have an economic problem… but a confidence problem. It’s not that we lack cash… the Fed is printing paper just as fast as the virtual presses will run – but it’s not filtering down to the average taxpaying American. We have a president with no lack of confidence in his ability to do everything short of walking on water, although I’m not sure he hasn’t tried. At this point though, his extreme confidence in himself is not shared by Wall St. or Main St. People have begun saving what money they have and stopped buying much that they really don’t need. The economy is slowly winding down.

One would think that all the people who voted for, and supported, Barack Hussein Obama would have the confidence to move the economy forward, yet even they… the bankers who received bailout money… and contributed to his campaign… don’t have the confidence to start the credit flowing again. For the bankers, it’s not a cash shortage, they received billions of our money from the government, but an unwillingness to lend it out. It’s hard blame them too much as they’ve made a habit of bad choices in recent years… it wasn’t all their fault though…some was because of government rules and community organized intimidation.

We are told that the banks are the key to freeing up the credit that keeps our economy moving. Individuals and companies in debt up to their eyeballs don’t necessarily need more debt to get them out of debt. The same could be said for governments. Somehow many in our population know this instinctively, but it somehow escapes the thinkerbrains in Washington who have no other answers for us. They tell us to have confidence in them… however more and more people are out on the streets with no job. The want us to have confidence in their answers… but they cost us money… they cost our children money… they cost our grandchildren money – AND THEY DON’T WORK! Telling us that expanding credit is the key to prosperity when excessive debt is what brought us to our knees is utter foolishness… and the low interest rates they are touting are the death knell to savers. The elites have foreclosed on the solutions to our problems.

The truth of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s statement, “Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It’s irresponsible…” cannot be overemphasized… and even the progressives understand this, but they will never admit it publicly. Our kids money is the source of their power.

We are in the midst of a crisis of confidence in our financial markets, our businesses, our government, in America… even in ourselves. This may be the worst crime the administration has committed against the American people.

What can we believe in, that will get us moving? Perhaps it is the Christians who have confidence that goes beyond the financial institutions and government to listen to the wisdom of God and lead us forward. We are attempting to follow people who have no idea what they are doing. Watching the current DC drama reminds me of a political consultant who is fond of saying, “Never assume malice when incompetence will do.” Although, I am not completely ready to rule out malice. If ever there was a time for a calm word of common sense, it is now.

The solutions we are offered are massively more of the same thing that got us into this mess. Of course, they won’t listen to us, just like they ignore conservative objections because, “I won!”. Perhaps we can show our fellow Americans the way out by taking care of our families and refusing to take part in the “sky is falling” rhetoric, while still making preparations for the worst. Where there are problems, there are also opportunities. The only way to find them is to lose the panic mode and logically assess the situation. Seeking wisdom could go a long to insuring a happy outcome for us, individually, and for our families in spite of everything going on around us. Psalm 37:25 tells us, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” This is the confidence we need.

Someone has to lead our country out of the fix we’re in. We are preparing for an election in the coming year, yet in spite of the dire threat to our country we are a fragmented mob more concerned about our parochial interests than winning the big victory. The people in charge don’t have the sense to know that when you find yourself in a hole… STOP DIGGING! And they need to be replaced.

What are these issues? Here are some that are critical to our survival as a nation. I make no claim to omniscience, so there are probably others. However, we shall start with these for your consideration:

One of the most pressing problems our country is facing is the economic doldrums where the Federal Reserve and members of the banking community seem to be profiting nicely while the rest of the country is struggling for survival. They are continuously throwing new money in to the system as production plummets. Anyone with an understanding of non-Keynesian economics knows this will never work. The banks, even foreign banks and governments, are bailed out and the American citizen sees his dollars devalued as inflation depletes their purchasing power, and loans are still difficult to get.

There seems to be agreement on the need to rid the nation of ObamaCare. It is a threat to both our health and our wealth. It is modeled after ineffective European plans that have been shortening lives, while increasing pain and suffering for years. The difference in the candidates is how aggressively they would pursue killing off this threat to our freedoms.

Many progressives would like to paint conservatives as unconcerned about the environment. The is a complete misrepresentation of the freedom fighters mindset. Some of the most enthusiastic conservationists are gun loving hunters who have a longstanding appreciation for our wildlife and woodlands. It’s just that we don’t jump every time a pseudo-scientist comes up with a “could happen” speculative article. We also respect our hard working brothers and sisters more than academic posers and pretenders. This determines our interpretation of the size and power of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The restrictive EPA is only one aspect of the quest for jobs badly needed by so many. Evironmental regulations are not the only rules restricting the growth of employment in our great land. Unions currently are tying up various job producers, and are poised to grow even more powerful. The administrations solution to the high unemployment rate is to simply increase unemployment benefits. Jobs, including manufacturing jobs, are the long term answer. A shrinking working population simply cannot support a growing non-working population.

There are various views on the most productive foreign policy. We currently have members of our armed forces all around the the world with a price our struggling economy cannot afford. Some see it as a pride inducing projection of American power throughout the world. In some ways this is not necessarily a bad thing, considering all the bad guys running countries around the world. The problem is, we just and afford to throw our power around indiscriminately as the world’s police force anymore and must focus where dangers really exist.

On one end of the spectrum we have a view that the says we have nothing to fear from a religion whose holy book says things like:

“O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he among you that turns to them for friendship is of them.” Sura 5:51

“O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination.” Sura 9:73

“Believers! wage war against such of the infidels as are your neighbors, and let them find you rigorous: and know that God is with those who fear him.” Sura 9:123

The Muslim Brotherhood that has recently increased its power throughout the middle east makes it clear that jihad is their life. The other end of the spectrum recognizes that there are people out to conquer the world… not because we attacked them first… not because they are treated badly in our country, but because we are the infidels that must be defeated or destroyed in the name of Allah. Foreign policy must be based on real threats… not just feel good policies.

The border seems to be one area that generates general agreement among average Americans, but seems to scare most politicians. While I realize we need more courageous politicians, we don’t have time for these beltway insiders to develop backbone. Someone needs to take a stand to close the border, and figure out how to stop the flow of illegal aliens and drugs. Then work out a plan to deal with those that are already among us.

Then we always have to deal with courts who have this nasty habit of throwing a monkey wrench in attempts to deal with these problems. They represent a law unto themselves taking the United States in a direction only acceptable to politicians, academics and those seeking to live off the efforts of others. If we do not deal with the judiciary, they will short circuit almost every attempt we make at fixing the country.

I realize I have not touched on the social issues to this point.  Most of those running have indicated that they believe killing babies is wrong.  The verbal support is good, but it is their character that will determine how far we see this support go.  As for homosexual marriage, that is an open question to some.  The thought of making it a state issue has some merit except for the reciprocal recognition that would eventually be required by some judge who has his own sense of right and there-is-no-wrong.  These issues do not get a lot of attention, but may speak more to the nature of the country under their leadership.  The formerly main stream media treats these issues as settled and deviation from their norm as anti-social behavior, so we probably won’t see them addressed often except in a derogatory sense.

The last thing we will consider is the character of the man or woman seeking the office. It is a vital element in the selection of a candidate. Even the best of promises are meaningless unless the candidate has the determination to live up to their promises. However, character alone, without understanding and ability won’t get the job done.

So, I’ve come to the conclusion that, despite what some supporters will tell us, that there is no perfect candidate. They all have good points and most have some failings.

Forget the names, look at your favorite man or woman, not just rhetoric. Look at their records and positions. Compare them to the issues that are most important to you. Perhaps then we can come together and defeat the abomination in the White House without destroying each other in the process.

If it was a mom and pop business, it often is the death of a dream. It could also result in major financial loss, family breakdown and evaporation of retirement security. When someone opens a small business, they often put everything they have, financially and emotionally, into it. Then government at all levels comes along and pokes, prods, tweaks and controls them to the point where operating decisions are no longer theirs… and they are still struggling to make a profit to keep things going.

However, perhaps the most damaging thing that governments, particularly the national government, are doing to small businesses is the destruction of the economy where people are loosing jobs and having to cut their spending… with both small and large businesses. It’s difficult to operate a business when your potential customers simply do not have the money to buy your wares.

It’s not just business owners who are feeling the pain of businesses closing their doors. Small retailers also employ local residents. Many of whom are single mothers working to support their families or students trying to work their way through college. In any case, these are not the evil rich, as small business owners are sometimes characterized, but they citizens trying to make their way in this world without the aid of government. Put another way, they would rather work and earn their living rather than have the resources they need, taken from their friends and neighbors.

With the current regime, inside the beltway, that pals around with big business honchos, like GE’s Jeffrey Immelt, who are benefiting from growth in government in various ways. The President has no time for the little guys who believe in themselves and their dreams… not the benevolence goodwill of an overly powerful government.

This is just one indication of the impact of the current administration on our economy we witness every day… and the damage is not just statistical… it’s human. We need to do two things to remedy the situation.

First, these are our friends and neighbors who are hurting, and Christian charity demands that we reach out to help them. This can be done through our churches, local charities and individually. It can be as simple as dropping off a bag of groceries. We cannot just palm them off on the government as the progressives would love us to do. They need to experience the concern of a real person, not the cold hand of a professional do-gooder giving away taxpayer provided funds.

Second, we really need to get government at all levels to lift it’s iron hand off small business and, more importantly, get all businesses hiring and putting money back into local economies. Unemployment “benefits”, welfare payments and EIC  just won’t make our country prosperous. Working people are happier and more productive.

We just can’t continue to follow a president more interested in expanding welfare and in expanding jobs. People are more important than protecting and expanding the power of government. We need to keep this in mind when selecting leaders and planning our own lives.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (NIV)

In our present day society, the politically correct keepers of proper thought are on constant guard lest the truth get out and expose the lies of the ruling class. We saw the impact of this at the last Republican debate where so many participants, even good conservatives, were scandalized that Newt Gingrich had the audacity to tell the world that the Palestinians were an “invented” people group. It was a people group invented to lay claim to land possessed by a legitimate people group, the Israelis.

Many said, in essence, this is right, but we shouldn’t talk about it because it will make the people perpetuating the lie, and their fellow travelers, angry. Apparently some would rather be a slave to deception than stand on the solid ground of truth.

Others have told the truth. For years, Ron Paul has been telling us of the damage done to our country and our economy by the Federal Reserve System. For those who may have doubts, consider how ineffective the monetary manipulation and ridiculous below market interest rates have been in correcting out economic malaise.

He has been trying to warn us of the inflation caused by the uncontrolled injection of new money into the system. He, almost alone, stood against bailing out the same banks that made risky investments and helped generate the inflated real estate prices that are still destroying the equity people thought they had in their homes. He could almost be described as the anti-Barney Frank.

Generally, because of this unconventional wisdom and some of his other views, Dr. Paul is marginalized like a sort of crazy uncle that everyone smiles at, but never takes seriously. Those with vested interests in the current unconstitutional monetary system, or those who have never really looked into the Fed or such practices as fractional reserve banking, are happy to keep this complex subject behind the wizards curtain and out of sight of the public.

Many governors believe the best thing they can do for their state is to play nice with the national government to keep the money flowing for projects and activities that are actually sometimes needed by their citizens. Under fire for attempting to protect her citizens from the crime and fiscal dissipation of illegal aliens, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer spoke the truth when she declared, “We Have an out of control, arrogant federal government.”

We can listen to people like these, who are under constant attack by the formerly main stream media and those who believe they are simply too sophisticated, or perhaps too unimaginative, to deviate from conventional wisdom. Yet our well being depends on rejecting the lies that abound in our government and pursue the truth.

What kind of lies do we have to reject? DNC Chair, and Florida Congresswoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz is telling us that unemployment has been coming down during the Obama administration. Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid wants us to believe that no jobs are created by millionaires. This makes it easier to vilify and rape them financially.

This is the other side of the truth coin. If we follow the lies, they will enslave us… not set us free. The choice is ours. We can make a stand of what is true and right, or we can keep our eyes closed and let those in power continue to pull the wool over our eyes.

When faced with the choice of accepting the temporary comfort of the status quo or fighting for freedom, Patrick Henry knew which path he would take when he told the Virginia leaders, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.” To him freedom and justice were more important than life itself.

Unfortunately, for most Americans, it is too much trouble to even make such a statement, let alone live it.

Henry’s cry for freedom echoes the words of Joshua, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15 NIV)

Joshua’s declaration arose out of a passion for the God of the universe. Henry’s came from a passion for our God given freedoms. My question is, do we have a passion for anything beyond our own comfort and convenience? I sincerely hope the answer is “Yes!”