The Law

All congressmen should be required to read "The Law," by Frederic Bastiat. This 70-page book explains, like no other, what the role of the law and government should be. Having been written about one hundred and fifty years ago, it is amazing how relevant this book is today.

Today, the law has many purposes. If we think something is wrong or not as it should be, we are very quick to suggest a law that will fix the problem. We use the law for things for which it was not intended.

The law, Bastiat explains, is a collective force made up of individuals. Because of this, it should not be allowed to do what an individual himself should not be allowed to do. Legal Plunder, as Bastiat calls it, is an example of something that would be illegal for an individual to do, but it is considered legal when done by the government. This is a great example of how the law has been corrupted and it is being used to try to make everything that we might consider wrong, right. What is legal plunder? Here's a great quote by Bastiat:

"...how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime."

So what should The Law be allowed to do? It should be allowed to do only what an individual should be allowed to do. For example, everyone would agree that an individual should be allowed to defend himself and his property. In this case, you can think of the collective force that is the government, as a group of individuals who are helping you defend yourself against someone trying to take your life or property. There is nothing wrong with a group of individuals helping you defend yourself, but there is something wrong with a group of people robbing someone, just as it is wrong for an individual to rob someone. Once one starts viewing the government as a collective force made up of individuals, it is easy to realize that we have made certain crimes legal, as long as they are committed by the collective force that is the government. The law's purpose should be to protect the natural rights of individuals. These natural rights are the right to life, liberty, and property; nothing more.

One very important point that Bastiat makes in his book is that the law is supposed to play a negative role, not a positive one. What he means by this is that so often politicians use the law for what they consider to be justice, but justice cannot be created. Justice is only present in the absence of injustice. For example, The law should be used to protect me from the injustice of having my property taken away from me by someone else. This is an example of how the law makes sure justice reigns; by making sure the injustice of having my property stolen, doesn't take place. On the other hand, when politicians try to help those less fortunate by taking money from others, they are trying to create what they think is justice, when in reality they are violating the natural rights of the people they are taking the money from, and are thus creating an injustice, which is the opposite of what the law should do. If I cannot get five of my friends to legally rob someone, why is the government allowed to do it for me?

The law's role should be limited to one of protector; protector of our natural rights. If all Americans understood this, we would be well on our way to solving our problems, since most of our problems originate from the law being used for the wrong purpose. So how can we fix this corruption of the law? Quite simply. Make the same rules that apply to individuals, apply to the government

Pedro Garcia is a Software Engineer and a libertarian writer at TruthInExile.BlogSpot.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pedro_Garcia The Law http://www.pippoproducts.com/products.html

Winston Churchill on Dictators

"Dictators ride to and fro upon tigers which they dare not dismount. And the tigers are getting hungry." -- Sir Winston Spencer Churchill, from Bartlett's Familiar Quotations

Humility, Honesty, Integrity Are Scarce Commodities and Cannot Be Bought in the Commodities Market

By Sandy Shaw

There are times when we need to do more than just say that we are going to return to basics. We need to return to basics. I write this article one year on from the collapse of Lehman's bank which had so many international tentacles resulting in various international disasters.

Many were hurt. Some were ruined. Jobs were lost. Sin is ugly when we view its consequences.

A few made a lot of money, but who would want to make so much money at such an immense price when considering the lives of others?

In the United Kingdom we are reading of a car company where there has been financial ruination but four men have each made around nine million pounds, with some six thousand people no longer having a job.

Writing as a Christian, it is essential that mankind realises that God's ways and God's laws cannot be broken, and neither can we improve upon God's methods.

One thing God says to man is that godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. However, it is true that we can send it on ahead and Jesus Christ makes that very clear.

Invest in the poor. Invest among the poor. Invest in those ministries which minister to the poor. Invest wisely where there are no moths, and no thieves and no corruption, and where pride and arrogance play no part. That calls for honesty, humility and integrity, and these are scarce commodities in the financial world. These cannot be bought on the commodities markets!

Some people live with the thought that they are going to live forever, and to reach their goals they will use almost any tactics available. Such sowing reaps a horrendous harvest.

Lehman's Bank wanted to be the number one and it really did not matter all that much as to how that position and status was reached. A fundamental knowledge of the Word of God would have taught those at the top just how wrong that type of thinking was. Of course, they can be rescued.

Man can be forgiven and restored and reconciled with God following repentance and faith. That is the good news and that news requires to be proclaimed far and wide and particularly in the business world and also in government circles.

Does The White House and Downing Street London know this?

Honesty, humility and integrity reap a very different type of harvest.

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary athttp://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column. His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandy_Shaw http://www.pippoproducts.com

Politics As Usual and the Move Towards Socialism

Politics is like a drug for society as it is the catalyst, as well as the sound and fury of mankind and his slow progression. Some say that politics is no way to run the human race or our civilization, yet others swear by their leaders, who often enough turn out to be complete hypocrites. Just when you think you have found an honest politician, low and behold we learn that they are not what they purport or the media allows us to believe.

Still, whether you like the idea of the political process or not, and yes, admittedly it has a lot to be desired; it is how we do things here. And so, it makes sense to be informed about our leaders and know what's really going on behind the publicity stunts, political strategists and barrage of mass media advertising. It is for this very reason that I feel compelled to offer you a recommendation for a very good book to help you sort things out and not be fooled by the façade:

"Do As I Say, Not as I Do; Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy" by Peter Schweizer; 2005 by Random House New York.

This author also wrote the bestselling book; "The Bushes and Reagan's War." This book has chapters of some of the leading Democrats that are involved in modern day US politics. People such as the Clintons, George Soros, Nancy Peloci, Barbara Streisand, Edward Kennedy, Al Franken, Michael Moore, Noam Chomsky, Gloria Steinem, and Cornel West. Once you read about some of the reality behind these larger than life celebrities and their true exploits it will leave you shaking your heads and running for higher ground.

"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance;http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow http://www.pippoproducts.com/products.html

What Barack Obama has Accomplished So Far

1. Offended the Queen of England. Actually, that one doesn’t bother me, the Queen is not on MY personal list of priorities. But the stupidity exhibited BY Obama was incredible.

2. Bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia. But in ALL fairness,Bush kissed the bastard.

3. Praised the Marxist Daniel Ortega.

4. Kissed Socialist Hugo Chavez on the cheek.

5. Endorsed the Socialist Evo Morales of Bolivia.

6. Sided with Hugo Chavez and Communist Fidel Castro against Honduras.

7. Announced we would meet with Iranians with no preconditions while they’re building their nuclear weapons.

8. Gave away billions to AIG also without preconditions.

9. Expanded the bailouts.

10. Insulted everyone who has ever loved a Special Olympian.

11. Nearly tripled our national debt.

12. Announced the termination of our new missile defense system the day after North Korea launched an ICBM.

13. Released information on U.S. intelligence gathering despite urgings of his own CIA director and the prior four CIA directors.

14. Accepted without comment that five of his cabinet members cheated on their taxes and two other nominees withdrew after they couldn’t take the heat.

15. Appointed a Homeland Security Chief who identified military veterans and abortion opponents as “dangers to the nation.”

16. Ordered that the word “terrorism” no longer be used and instead refers to such acts as “man made disasters.”

17. Circled the globe to publicly apologize for America ’s world leadership.

18. Told the Mexican president that the violence in their country was because of us.

19. Politicized the census by moving it into the White Housefrom the Department of Commerce.

20. Appointed as Attorney General the man who orchestrated the forced removal and expulsion to Cuba of a 9-year-old whose mother died trying to bring him to freedom in the United States.

21. Salutes as heroes three Navy SEALS that took down three terrorists that threatened one American life and the next day announces members of the Bush administration may stand trial for “torturing” three 9/11 terrorists by pouring water up their noses.

22. Low altitude photo shoot of Air Force One over New York City that frightened thousands of New Yorkers. Obama *claims* he knew nothing of this and was, supposedly, outraged.

23. Sent his National Defense Advisor to Europe to assure them that the US will no longer treat Israel in a special manner and they might be on their own with the Muslims.

24. Praised Jimmy Carter’s trip to Gaza where he sided with terrorist Hamas against Israel. (Obama and Carter, closely related perhaps?)

25. Nationalized General Motors and Chrysler while turning shareholder control over to the unions and freezing out retired investors who owned their bonds. Committed unlimited taxpayer billions in the process.

26. Passed a huge energy tax in the House that will make American industry even less competitive while costing homeowners thousands per year.

27. Announced nationalized health care “reform” that will strip seniors of their Medicare, cut pay of physicians, increase taxes yet another $1 trillion, and put everyone on rationed care with government bureaucrats deciding who gets care and who doesn’t.

28. Is trying to push his socialist agenda on our school children by making direct addresses to ALL American school children. The beginning of The Obama Youth perhaps?

Bloomberg: Daschle says, “Health care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them,” while former Colorado Governor Dick Lamm says seniors have “a duty to die.”

If this does not sufficiently raise your ire, just remember that the President, Senators and Congressmen have their own special Gold Plated Health Care Plan which is Guaranteed the remainder of their lives and they are not subject to this new law if they pass it.

Please use the power of the Internet to get this message out. Talk it up at the grassroots level. We have an election coming up in 2010 and we can reverse the dangerous direction of the Obama administration and its allies. In the interim, we can make their lives miserable. Lets do it!

I got this via email and wanted to share it with all of you. Please, feel free to use it, add to it as you see fit, just keep it real. WE don’t want to become like the loons of the left, we want to post the TRUTH, and nothing but the truth!

http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/the-patriot-1

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Our Country's Integrity Gap

By Sebastian I Font

They say that profitability hides a multitude of sins. Yes, they have only recently started saying that; right after the economy crumbled. It can also be said that profitability hides a multitude of integrity gaps.

I have said many times that one of the most important qualities of a good leader is integrity. It can certainly be debated that the troubles with the current state of leadership in our country is rooted in a lack of integrity. Consider the newsworthy events over the last year or two that involved CEOs and elected officials. Those who were at the helm of our government and our corporations and institutions saw their reputations and credibility self-destruct.

Consider the following:

• We have seen issues with tainted lettuce, pet food, beef, peanut butter, and toys. City Mayors, state Governors, and US senators involved in ethics problems ranging from inappropriate campaign procedures to bribery and prostitution.
• The CEOs of the Big Three automakers flew to Washington in their separate Big Three luxury jets to beg for bailout money. This was a telling example of the entitlement that has pervaded this country's leaders. In the midst of all that, union leaders from the United Auto Workers vowed there would be no givebacks even while their ship was sinking. Many decades of poor practices now costing us dearly.
• We have seen record levels of pillaging and plundering by Somali pirates this year. But then again, we've also seen record levels of pillaging by the executives at Bear Stearns, Fannie-Mae, Freddie-Mac, Lehman Brothers, Wachovia, Merrill Lynch, Washington Mutual, and AIG. At least the Somali pirates ran a profitable enterprise and improved the economies of a few Somali villages. In contrast, the leaders of these fallen organizations were major contributors to the downfall of the global economy. Sadly, the incompetence of those leaders did not prevent them from collecting large bonuses or golden parachutes.
• The world record for pillaging and plundering must go to Bernie Madoff of course. And I tend to wonder if our leaders at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Ratings agencies who oversaw (overlooked) Madoff's dealings should share in that world record. Rather than stepping up for accountability, all of the overseers ran for cover.
• The leaders at the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Reserve, the Treasure Department, and the Financial Ratings agencies, and all members of Congress and the Cabinet are falling all over themselves avoiding responsibility for the sub-prime mortgage mess, and for the Madoff mess as well. Not a single soul stepped up to assume accountability.

Many of our country's highly placed and trusted leaders fell short on integrity in a big way. The harm is deep enough that the American financial system and economy will be impacted forever. The same cannot be said for our political system, as that will probably continue in its current status quo. The public trust is not always a priority for our elected leaders unfortunately.

Yes, a booming economy indeed hides many sins. However, the boom is now behind us and now the sins are exposed and out in the open. The arrogance, entitlement, selfishness, and greed in the corporate and government cultures underscore the integrity issues. An ever widening integrity gap in our country undermines the public trust and the public morale. These times of crisis are when the real leaders step up and provide hope and optimism. We are in a desperate state for leaders with integrity, humility, and a selfless commitment to the greater good. The great leaders are out there. Please show yourselves.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sebastian_I_Font

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Attack on the Defence of Marriage Act

URGENT ALERT: DOMA Repeal Introduced in Congress!

September 15, 2009

Dear Friends,

The attack on DOMA has begun.

Today, Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) will introduce a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act-- the only federal law protecting the marriage statutes of 44 states. Reports indicate he has at least 69 co-sponsors in this effort to undercut state marriage laws.

We've known this day would come. President Obama has been advocating the repeal of DOMA since his first day in office. Gay marriage activists have debated the strategy and timing for pushing the bill in Congress.

And we're ready. Already, we are more than 500,000 strong as Americans from every walk of life have joined our ranks to stand firm against radical efforts to force same-sex marriage in every state. Our goal is 2 million Americans by the end of 2010. If each of us were to tell just three friends about TwoMillionforMarriage.com, we'd reach our goal in mere days.

Now it's time to speak truth to power! Gay marriage advocates are divided on DOMA -- evenRep. Barney Frank thinks the DOMA repeal bill is overreaching and has refused to support it. Now is our chance to send a clear message to Congress that will galvanize opposition to the DOMA repeal, and help sway those who are on the fence. The message is simple: Don't mess with marriage.

Just a few years ago, gay marriage advocates spoke of "state's rights" and a "gay marriage experiment" in a handful of states. Obviously, they didn't believe a word of it, and today they want to force same-sex marriage on every state in the nation, "like it or not."

Marriage isn't about inside-the-Beltway opportunism, or scoring political points. It's about honesty and integrity. Protecting children and religious liberty.

The need is urgent. I'm asking you to do three things right now:

1) Visit www.TwoMillionforMarriage.com and send a message to Washington. Use our online form to contact your Senators, Congressman, as well as congressional leadership, and tell them "Don't Mess with Marriage." Even if you've emailed before, let's flood the Capitol with phone calls and emails today, urging our congressmen to oppose Rep. Nadler's DOMA repeal bill.

2) Tell three friends about this new threat to DOMA, and ask them to join us atTwoMillionforMarriage.com today! Or just forward this email to people in your address book -- it's simple, fast, and amazingly effective. We're already 500,000 strong, and together we can stop this bill in its tracks!

3) Help support our TwoMillionforMarriage campaign today. Over the next six months, we need to raise another $1.5 million to fully fund our multi-faceted campaign to recruit 2 million Americans to join us in protecting DOMA. Using TV, radio, internet, telephone, email and direct mail efforts, we are identifying tens of thousands of new marriage activists who have never before been politically involved, but who care about marriage and are willing to do what it takes to stop courts and politicians from trampling the will of the American people. Your gift of $25, $50, or even $1000 if you're able, will help ensure that we reach our goal. Click here to make a secure online donation today.

I'm simply in awe at the outpouring of encouragement and new supporters we keep seeing every day. To those of you who have been with us for a long time -- thank you! And keep up the good work. Together we're getting the message out and making a difference all across the country. And for those of you new to our efforts -- Welcome! We're so glad you've joined us, and look forward to working together in this fight for marriage.

The threat is real, and increasingly urgent. Please take action right now. Don't put it off. Let's make sure Congress gets our message loud and clear today.

Blessings,

Brian S. Brown
Executive Director
National Organization for Marriage
20 Nassau Street, Suite 242
Princeton, NJ 08542
bbrown@nationformarriage.org

©2009 National Organization for Marriage.