NOTICE: Brookfieldnow bloggers are being switched to a new software today between 9am - 5pm, so no new posts today here. Check brookfield7 for a post on upcoming meetings and events. 

Secretary Janet Napolitano ruffled a lot of conservative feathers when she released her Homeland Security report on taxpayer protest Tea Party day. It certainly got my attention. It also brought attention to the other security alerts regarding right wing ideas.

In her April 15th Homeland Security Report on right-wing extremists, she warned law enforcement about the possibility of military veterans committing acts of violence. So I should have put George Washington's picture first. Because he was a veteran of 2 wars: The French and Indian War and Revolutionary War, he would be suspect.  He is pictured later.

The intelligence assessment issued to law enforcement last week said some military veterans could be susceptible to extremist recruiters or commit lone acts of violence. 

If Janet were around in 1776, we might include the following people as well. 

Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents [it mentions hate groups--not Jefferson or conservatives I know], and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority... It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or [illegal] immigration.

p2 (U//FOUO) The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.

 

p5 (U//FOUO) Many rightwing extremist groups perceive recent gun control legislation as a threat to their right to bear arms and in response have increased weapons and ammunition stockpiling, as well as renewed participation in paramilitary training exercises.

These are the signers of the Constitution; George Washington is standing at the desk. Bet these guys were pro-life, better watch them too.

In the report, right-wing extremism was defined as hate-motivated groups and movements, such as hatred of certain religions, racial or ethnic groups. "It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration," the report said.

...The same definition was included in the agency's March 26 report on domestic extremism. Both reports were marked "For Official Use Only."

Other groups targeted would be those who believe in end times prophecy (that would be Christians who believe the Bible), those who worry about economic collapse (that would include those who don't believe we can tax and spend our way to prosperity). Pretty much this p 4 (U) Economic Hardship and Extremism section group would include most of the thousands of peaceful Tea Party attendees from April 15th.

(U//FOUO) Historically, domestic rightwing extremists have feared, predicted, and anticipated a cataclysmic economic collapse in the United States. ... Antigovernment conspiracy theories and “end times” prophecies could motivate extremist individuals and groups to stockpile food, ammunition, and weapons.

Well, I don't pack a pistol (but I do have a few extra cans of tuna in the pantry), more than one banker has told me they don't know how to advise me or their clients about future investments, and I do believe in the Bible and the book of Revelation. Guess I am in good company though if I include our Founding Fathers and the other Tea Party attendees. For the record, I believe the founding documents of our country should still apply today.

I think it would be good to read through the entire Homeland Security report on Rightwing Extremism. You just might find some of your concerns tagged as being extremist.  

Links: 

All over the nation yesterday, average people gathered to peacefully protest taxation without representation at the local, state, and federal level! By all accounts, it seems the Tea Parties were a great success.

Now the challenge is to keep the momentum going. People tend to have very short memories and if the economy improves by 2010, they are likely to be even shorter. A website, AfterTheTeaParty.com has been set up to keep the momentum going by encouraging running for office, learning about how government works and becoming active instead of passive.

I was at the Red Arrow Park location in Downtown Milwaukee. JSOnline has a video clip of both the Federal Building and Red Arrow Milwaukee groups and an article on the Madison and Milwaukee rallies. About 100 people attended the Red Arrow rally. I think it is important to note that these Tea Party protests are not just about President Obama. Taxpayers are fed up with out of control spending regardless of which party or segment of government is responsible: (Photo is of Journal reporter interviewing an attendee.)

"They're all guilty, not just one person or party," said Jim Schmitz of Milwaukee, a retired salesman.

"Instead of raising taxes, maybe we should be tightening our belts," he [O.J. Merrell] said.

Some in the crowd were critical of Obama, but others said government spending also was out of control during the previous administration. Many said the overall burden would boost inflation and burden their children with taxes for decades.

I watched the In Focus report on the Madison rally last night. Click here to watch the video. Congressman Paul Ryan was fired up! I think everyone there agreed with him that, "America is an exceptional nation...We want to keep it that way."

Julaine  Appling, of Wisconsin Family Action, told Gov. Doyle to "Back off!" His and the Wisconsin legislature's tax policy makes it more difficult for Wisconsin families:

It is absolutely true that when Wisconsin’s families are strong, Wisconsin is strong. When our families are weak, Wisconsin is weak. So, back off –back off on your incredibly bad plans to increase taxes, fees and regulations that will make it harder for our families. Harder for our families to make a reasonable living

Superior's Mayor Doug Ross spoke briefly asking, How much of our money do you want, Doyle? All of it! He is a prime example of what AfterTheTeaParty hopes will be a result of the Tea Party day: greater citizen involvement in government. He ran for mayor of Superior as a result of a proposed tax increase some years ago. When he called city hall to complain, they told him more or less, if you don't like the tax increase, why don't you run for mayor. He did! I spoke to Doug Ross at the Americans for Prosperity American Dream summit in March. He is contemplating a run for Lt. Governor. We need more people like Doug Ross.

A young homeschooled lady, Melika Willoughby, spoke passionately about the need to stop the reckless spending and to stop spending her future. (She made this homeschool mom proud of the homeschool movement.)

Here is a bit of trivia about Madison's Tea Party: There were a few brave souls who WALKED 80 miles to Madison from Fond du Lac. The trip took them 4 days. Unlike President Obama's Inauguration, the Madison crowd left the Capitol in an orderly fashion. No heaps of garbage left behind. 

Some media coverage assumed that these rallies were organized by the Republican party. Nope. They were truly grassroots, not fake grassroots as Nancy Pelosi accused. She claimed our efforts were "Astroturf", not grassroots, a campaign by "some of the wealthiest people in America." Look at the photos, do these people look like the wealthiest in Milwaukee? Couldn't be, I was there ;-)

For one, the signs were obviously homemade! 

The people in attendance were a cross section of taxpayers--young, old, rich, average, fiscally challenged, professionals, retirees, grandmothers, housewives, etc.--Americans. Nary a Right Wing extremist terrorist in the group. (We'll have to save that Homeland Security accusation for another post.)

Catch the following photos and commentary from our state and nation.

My Milwaukee Red Arrow Park Tea Party photos

Milwaukee Red Arrow Park Tea Party photos 

Heritage Foundation: Morning Bell: Big Government Backlash Brewing  (Includes great links to other Tea Parites)

Massive: Tax Day Tea Party USA, photos from Tea Parties all around the country.

From Representative Rich Zipperer:

In order to turn back the tide of taxes threatening the prosperity of our state, however, we will need to convince some on the other side to vote against the Governor's plan, either during the Finance Committee process or in the full Assembly or Senate. Even in the legislative minority, we can make a difference in the legislative process, as can the folks who journeyed to Madison today and everyone back in Waukesha County unable to attend the rally. Pick up the phone or write an email. Call the Governor. Call the Democratic leadership. Call your family in other parts of the state and tell them to contact their representatives to make sure they too will stand against the tax increases.

Important Phone Numbers
Governor Doyle: 608 266-1212
Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan: 608 266-3387
Senate Leader Russ Decker: 608 266-2502
Find Your Representative and Senator Here
Members of the Joint Committee on Finance

Links: 

UPDATE: See bottom of post for Milwaukee's Tea Party location.

I received a comment request to post a link from Nobailoutsforgrasshoppers.com today. It came from a couple in Connecticut who have a blog and business making mugs, bumper stickers etc. (Cute stuff) They liked my Ant and the Grasshopper & Tea Parties post. Here is their latest: It's Time For Tea.

After a few emails back and forth I found the wife of the husband/wife team was attending a tea party tomorrow in New Haven, Connecticut. She was impressed that our Madison Tea Party was anticipating a huge crowd. She reported that their organizer would be on Fox News tonight. It is estimated there are between 1,500 and 2,015 Tea Parties scheduled for April 15th. These Tea Parties are catching on!

If you are going to our Madison rally, take your camera. If you take some pictures, send them to me and I will try to post them. Any interesting comments would be welcome as well. I doubt that we will get much in the way of news coverage on the rally. Americans for Prosperity has photos from Tea Parties that have already taken place at Taxpayer Tea Party.

In case you haven't made up your mind yet about attending a Tea Party, here is the info for the Madison's. You DO NOT need to register to attend if you are going on your own. There is a parking lot and free shuttle, courtesy of the Republicans.

Fight Back Wisconsin! Remember, The Wisconsin Tea Party Tax Rally is April 15th, 11:30 am on the steps of the Capitol on the King Street side, in Madison. You do NOT need to register to attend. There is a shuttle service if you are driving, or you can opt to take a bus, which you MUST register for, check the locations then click here for Bus Registration

If Madison's Tea Party seems a bit too much, there is a local man who is organizing a Downtown Milwaukee Tea Party, but please note it is NOT at the Federal Building as noted on Fairly Conservative, but at RED ARROW PARK at 920 N. Water Street at noon. I believe this change was made because the Red Arrow location was given on the Official Tax Day TEA Party site (Click the push pin to the right next to Milwaukee on page 30.)  Milwaukee is certainly is more manageable than Madison. Click the Downtown Milwaukee link for a lot of good protest sign ideas.

UPDATE: There was a bit of confusion this morning regarding Milwaukee's Tea Party location. Jay Weber announced it was at the Federal Building, but later corrected and stated it was at RED ARROW. It is at RED ARROW PARK and Johnathan will be there with his signs.

Don't forget to tell the Joint Finance Committee what you think of Doyle's budget.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, BetterBrookfield, Vicki McKenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Randy Melchert, Mark Levin, The Heritage Foundation, CNS News

Or I could title this post: Of MULES AND MEN

Often we hear figures of speech used to portray a character trait but don't understand the full meaning behind the expressions. Lately, I've heard the trait of stubbornness being associated with the Republicans' resistance to buying into Obama's spending plans and agenda.

We usually think of stubbornness as a bad thing. The expressions stubborn as a mule or being mule-headed pop up when speaking of someone who will not budge on an issue. We even say sometimes that they balk at an idea--balk meaning a refusal to move forward.

But is balking or being stubborn always a bad thing? No. We want our children to stubbornly resist the temptation to do drugs or engage in premarital sex, don't we? I want my legislators to be just as resolute in protecting my freedoms and resisting wasteful spending too.

Here is how I found out first hand why being stubborn as a mule can be a good thing--even a lifesaver.

The humble mule suffers from an image problem. The hero in cowboy movies and lore always rides a horse, but the comical sidekick often rides a mule. Because of that, I used to think the mule was inferior to the horse. It wasn't until my family and I took a trail ride a few years ago up the John Muir trail in Yosemite and down into the Grand Canyon on another trip that we learned the truth about mules. (That's me with Justin, who carried me safely up and down the trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls in Yosemite.)

One wrangler informed us that the mule's smoother gait and narrower width make them much more comfortable to ride, earning them the nickname "The Cowboy's Cadillac."

True, mules are stubborn. But they are stubborn for a reason. They will not move into situations they see as being dangerous. No amount of coaxing or bribing will make them change their minds. A horse, on the other hand, can be coerced into going onto dangerous ground. They are more susceptible to the rider's opinion.

Mules are more aware of their surroundings. They can see their hind feet whereas a horse cannot; they also have smaller, more sure footed feet. This makes them much more able to turn around on those switchback turns that are sometimes no bigger than a card table. I wouldn't want to do that on a horse.

(That smooth narrow ridge about 2/3 down the right cliff in the photo is the trail at the Grand Canyon!)

Whenever we have told other park visitors that we had or were about to take a National Park mule ride on the trails, people invariably thought we were taking our lives into our own hands. They assumed it was a death defying act. But in truth, no tourist has ever suffered a fatality riding a mule down into the canyon or up a mountain trail in the parks. This is because mules have a strong sense of self preservation, making the stubborn mule a trusty steed in contrast to hikers who suffer fatalities, trusting in their own ability and get too close to the edge.

So next time you hear the Republicans (and some Democrats too) being described as stubborn when they won't arrive at consensus, think about the humble mule and its reputation for superiority and safety. When I am putting my life on the line, or my country's future is at stake, I don't want compromise!

Congressman Sensenbrenner recently was the only Wisconsin Representative to NOT vote for taxing AIG bonus money at 90%. He voted no because it was unconstitutional. That is what I call stubbornness with a purpose.

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday, April 7th!

Links: 

Do you want a Supreme Court Justice to apply the law, not make it? To in effect umpire the baseball game by calling the balls, strikes, outs, and plays, not make up new rules as the game progresses?

Making up the rules as you go along in a game isn't fair. If we are talking about a judge ruling on a case, it is dangerous. Unfortunately, legislating from the bench is the trend with many judges these days. I'm looking for judges who simply carry out the rule of law. That is why I am voting for Judge Randy Koschnick in April's election.

Judge Koschnick's pledge says it well: “The role of a justice is to apply the law; not make it. I pledge to not legislate from the bench."

Most people are pretty unaware there even is a Wisconsin Supreme Court race on the April ballot. There has not been all that much in the news about this contest. It will be up to conservatives and those voters who care enough to look at the ballot races to ferret out any information about the candidates. 

Our current sitting Wisconsin Supreme Court Judge, Shirley Abrahamson, has a much larger campaign war chest--with over $30,000 of it coming from attorneys who have cases pending before her! Think that is right?

According to "a recent survey of 600 Wisconsin residents show[ing] that 78% of those polled believe that [campaign] contributions have a 'great deal' or 'some' influence on Wisconsin judges' decisions."

You can keep up with Koschnick's campaign though on his website, koschnickforjustice.com  There is a convenient link to news stories there as well as video of his interviews and debate. His list of endorsements includes familiar names such as former Waukesha County D.A. Paul Bucher, our current D.A. Brad Schimel, and Sheriff Daniel Trawicki.

Blogger Randy Melchert has been following his campaign too at randallmelchert.com, filed under Randy Koschnick - Supreme Court. 

I heard Judge Randy Koschnick speak at the Defending the American Dream Summit on March 7th.  As a staunch supporter of the Constitution, he emphasized that judges should respect the Constitution and apply it as written. 

Judge Koschnick told the audience an interesting bit about his opponent, Shirley Abrahamson (appointed by Governor Lucy in 1976). When President Clinton was contemplating a pick for the United States Supreme Court, he considered Judge Abrahamson but decided she was TOO LIBERAL. Clinton picked Ruth Bader Ginsburg INSTEAD!  You can catch Judge Koschnick's speech by clicking here, thanks to Badger Blogger.

Respecting the Constitution means respecting all of it, including 2nd Amendment rights; Koschnick is endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund.

One of Shirley Abrahamson's more famous cases was the 2005 lead paint liability case. The plaintiff,

"Steven Thomas, had suffered lead paint* injury from living in two houses built, respectively, in 1900 and 1905, that had lead paint on their walls. ...he sued a variety of companies...known collectively as the Pigment Manufacturers. Thomas wanted financial damages from the manufacturers on the grounds that one of them had produced a product that caused his injury. The plaintiff had already successfully sued his landlords, obtaining a financial settlement from them..."

The ruling, written by Louis Butler (who Wisconsin voters ousted last year) prevailed in a 4-2 vote. Shirley Abrahamson was one of the 4 in favor of this absurd ruling. According to Justice Wilcox, a dissenter: (My emphasis)

"The end result of the majority opinion is that the defendants, lead pigment manufacturers, can be held liable for a product they may or may not have produced, which may or may not have caused the plaintiff's injuries, based on conduct that may have occurred over 100 years ago when some of the defendants were not even part of the relevant market." 

For me, the choice is easy; the differences are stark. Don't let Shirley's TV ads fool you into thinking she is a conservative. Obviously she is not.

As always, research the candidates for yourself and be an informed voter. If you agree Judge Randy Koschnick is the better choice, spread the word.

*I have lived in many houses with lead paint on the walls and woodwork. Practically every house in Wisconsin built before 1978 has been painted with lead based paint at some time in its life.

Links: 

This one nearly slipped by me. It is a boycott of Pepsi and Pepsico products because of Pepsico's sponsorship of the homosexual lifestyle.

"Pepsi produces another TV ad promoting gay lifestyle, Company combines promotion of Pepsi and homosexual lifestyle":

 

Pepsi has produced another TV ad not only promoting Pepsi but also promoting the gay lifestyle. Click here to see the new ad.

 

Pepsi had released a similar ad before. The ads serve two purposes for Pepsi: to sell Pepsi and to promote the homosexual lifestyle. AFA asked Pepsi to remain neutral in the culture war, but the company refused - choosing to support the homosexual activists.

 

Pepsi has made no effort to hide their support for the homosexual agenda:

• Pepsi gave a total of $1,000,000 to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) to promote the homosexual lifestyle in the workplace.

• Both HRC and PFLAG supported efforts in California to defeat Proposition 8 which defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. HRC, which received $500,000 from Pepsi, gave $2.3 million to defeat Proposition 8.

• Pepsi forces employees to attend sexual orientation and gender diversity training where the employees are taught to accept homosexuality.

• Pepsi is a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

True to form, American Family Association makes it VERY EASY to "Take Action" if you do not agree with promoting homosexuality:

Sign the Boycott Pepsi Pledge. After signing the pledge, please call Pepsi (914-253-2000 or 1-800-433-2652) and tell the company you will boycott their products until they stop promoting the homosexual agenda.

 

They also urge that you call your local distributor and call other Pepsico companies and ask that they stop supporting the homosexual agenda. "Pepsi’s products include Pepsi soft drinks, Frito-Lay chips and snacks (800-352-4477), Quaker Oats (800-367-6287), Tropicana (800-237-7799) and Gatorade (800-884-2867)."

To be honest, a boycott of Pepsi products is easy for me. We are staunch Coca-Cola fans at our house. We don't consume Frito-Lay snacks, Quaker Oats, Tropicana, or Gatorade either. If you are an avid Pepsi fan but feel a boycott is important, you might try RC Cola as an acceptable alternative.

(Hopefully, Pepsi, like McDonald's will see the light and end their sponsorship of the homosexual agenda, and then you can switch back to your favorite.)

If the new logo of Pepsi reminds you of something else (Obama's logo), you are not alone. Pepsi insists this is not the case, but both the logo and new company slogans seem similar: Yes You Can, Optimism, Choose Change! Can't say I ever remember a commercial company doing that before. But why not? Obama also supports the homosexual lifestyle.

More reading: Obama Backs Health Benefits for Same-Sex Partners of Federal Employees

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, BetterBrookfield, Vicki McKenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Randy Melchert, Mark Levin, The Heritage Foundation, CNS News

Last Saturday, I attended the Americans for Prosperity  Defending the American Dream Summit. (Thanks for the invitation, John Block--AFP State Director.)

It was a great opportunity to hear a message all Americans need to hear. We are constantly bombarded with, "They are telling us the principles of Free Markets and Capitalism have failed,*" but the speakers at the AFP Defending the Dream summit encouraged us To Dream the ImPossible Dream!

It is possible to take back our country from the clutches of high taxes and socialism. But it will take effort.

I had a prior commitment Saturday morning, so unfortunately, I missed Joe the Plumber and a few others early in the lineup.            (Joe was popular. The line out in the hall to purchase books was l-o-n-g. all day!)

But I did hear most of the speakers and stayed until closing. I will try to post a few photos and comments from each speaker I heard later today.

For now, it is just a quick look at the day. 

The room at the Midwest Airlines Center was PACKED! Literally, standing room only. When I finally managed to get into the room, they were playing a clip of every conservative's favorite, Ronald Reagan.

I estimated there were about 600 people in there. Later I was told there were about 700 attendees.

Not everyone at the Midwest Center were happy we were there, the SEIU, Service Employees International Union, protested outside at noon. (Maybe a rainy day wasn't all that bad?)

Back inside at the summit, there were many standing ovations for the various speakers and ideas espoused. The RECALL of Governor Doyle received huge support. Orv Seymor from Citizens for Responsible Government got the crowd fired up with the idea that we can affect change.

We recalled Tom Ament,  Seymor said, then he went on to encourage us that we could recall Jim Doyle too! This won't be easy. He said, We need your help!

Seymor told us we will need around 10,000 petition circulators and must collect 500,000 signatures in a very short time. The effort might be launched by mid April. Stay tuned for that one.

A recall is a huge undertaking, but even if unsuccessful, the effort will raise awareness of the failings of Doyle's governorship and create a base of support for his challenger.

The Defending the American Dream Summit was important in that it helps us channel the anger and disappointment in our government and the direction our state and nation is going in, and put that emotion into positive action.

Yes we can take back our nation!

*Quote came from Steven Lonegan, candidate for New Jersey Governor. He spoke in the last session and told his compelling story of how this is NOT TRUE--not even in New Jersey!

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, BetterBrookfield, Vicki McKenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, The Heritage Foundation, CNS News

Ever notice how you can never totally kill a bad idea? No matter how many people contact their representatives requesting a NO vote, and the measure is defeated, the bad idea never goes away. It may lie dormant for awhile, but almost always it comes back.

Well, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is one of those bad ideas set to make a comeback. Do you remember it? It was a U.N. measure seemingly designed to protect children. In reality, it took children out of the jurisdiction of their parents and constitution of their home country and put them under the authority of the United Nations! Because of the outpouring of negative calls to our Senators, the measure failed to pass back in 1989.

This [UNCRC, also called CRC] poses a serious threat both to parental rights and to U.S. sovereignty, as the UNCRC dictates not only that the federal government must intrude into the family sphere to an unprecedented degree, but also how the federal government is to monitor and govern the actions of our families. Parental rights would be replaced by "the best interests of the child" as defined, ultimately, by an international committee of 18 people in Switzerland.

The Convention was adopted by the UN in 1989. It has since been signed or ratified by 193 countries in the WORLD and every member of the United Nations, EXCEPT the United States and Somalia. Treaties or Conventions are ratified by the Senate. A 2/3 majority is required for passage. Senator Barbara Boxer is now pushing for the UNCRC to be ratified. (FoxNews, Feb. 25, 2009)

U.N. Treaty Might Weaken Families

Due to the recent election, however, there are rumblings from Capitol Hill that there will be an effort to seek ratification of the CRC during the next congressional cycle. Hillary Rodham Clinton is a strong supporter of the treaty, and as secretary of state, would have direct control over the submission of treaties to the Senate.

Why should passage of the CRC be of concern? It likely would have a negative impact on domestic law and practice in the United States. Article VI of our Constitution makes treaties—and remember, conventions are viewed as treaties—“the supreme law of the land.” The CRC would be treated as superior to laws in every state regarding the parent-child relationship. This would include issues regarding education, health care, family discipline, the child’s role in family decision-making, and a host of other subjects.

What can you do? ParentalRights.org is urging the adoption of a Parental Rights Amendment: "The only solution to the attack on the child-parent relationship is the Parental Rights Amendment -- securing the rights of parents to raise their children."

So you can sign the petiton.

ParentalRights.org is also urging that we keep the issue in the public eye. They are asking that concerned Americans email conservative talk show host Glenn Beck and ask he talk about the UNCRC. Email him at me@glennbeck.com and request that he cover the Parental Rights Amendment, talk about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and invite Michel Farris on his show. (Michael Farris is both the President of Parental Rights and Chairman of HSLDA, a homeschool legal defense organization.)

You could also contact our Senators Herb Kohl (202) 224-5653 and Russ Feingold (202) 224-5323. I know, I get tired of calling and contacting too, but the alternative is too unthinkable for me to just sit back and let things fly under the radar to passage.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Vicki McKenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, The Heritage Foundation, CNS News

I don't know if the Aesop fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper is still being taught in school as it was in my school days. It wouldn't seem so based on who most younger voters chose in the last election.

In the original story, basically the grasshopper character plays all summer while the dutiful, responsible, self reliant ant works all summer, storing up food and prepares his ant hole for winter.

When the snows come, the ant is snug beneath the earth in his home, with plenty of food to carry him through until spring. Now the grasshopper who played all summer, didn't build a home, and didn't store food is cold. He knows he will perish unless he gets help. He knocks at Mr. Ant's door and pleads for a handout.

In the original story, the grasshopper receives a rebuke--no handout--for being irresponsible.

Disney made a cartoon of the Ants and Grasshopper in 1934, and in that version, the grasshopper is allowed to stay in the ant colony with the provision that he play his violin to entertain the colony. He presumably learns that he must make himself useful. Keep in mind that 1934 was during the throws of the Great Depression. Possibly this was Disney's commentary on the RFC and WPA (public works projects), or that Walt felt it was insensitive to tell the starving to freeze to death?

A modern twist on the story was the Disney Pixar movie A Bug's Life. That very popular movie showed how the mooching grasshoppers caused great hardship on the ants, who had to work not only to store food for themselves, but also to give to the raiding grasshoppers.

Flik, an unconventional, outside the box thinking ant stars in the movie. When the colony cannot fulfill the grasshopper's demands for their food quota because of Filk's blunder, Flik has an epiphany : the grasshoppers need the ants and there are more ants than grasshoppers! If the ants outnumber the grasshoppers, why are they being bullied into being the grasshoppers servants?

"Flik is...able to...rally the other ants, saying that the grasshoppers depend on the extorted food for their own survival. The entire colony swarms against the gang, driving away all but Hopper [the grasshoppers leader], now obsessed with killing Flik."

In the end, Hopper, the leader of the ant's oppression, gets eaten by a bird!

A Bug's Life has a happy ending. The industrious ants are freed from their mooching, tyrannical  grasshoppers. Their lives are made easier because now they only have to work for themselves!

But what are we ants, the hard working Americans who pay the taxes, going to do when the grasshoppers, those receiving some sort of handout from the government or those dependent on a make-work stimulus job, outnumber us? What are we going to do as Obama's programs reward citizens who exhibit irresponsible behavior and penalize those who are responsible?

President Obama and the Democrats are trying to get as many people dependent or beholding to the government as possible. Why? It keeps them in power.

The ants are starting to make noises like they are fighting back. The ant population is finding out more about these extravagant spending plans and they are not happy.(Obama's disapproval numbers doubled from 12 to 24 in his first month. I would suspect that number will grow as people find out just what is in these spending bills.)

Events like Rick Santelli's Chicago Tea Party might be a good place to start rallying ants.

 "Government is promoting bad behavior. . . . Do we really want to subsidize the losers' mortgages? This is America! How many of you people want to pay for your neighbor's mortgage? President Obama, are you listening? How about we all stop paying our mortgages! It's a moral hazard."

All this took place on the air to the cheers of traders. Santelli called for a new tea party [ Chicago Tea Party petition ] in support of capitalism. He's right. 

Wisconsin ants (taxpayers) are also planning their own Tea Party on April 15th. I will post more about that when specifics are known. For now, just know that taxpayers are waking up. We had better do it quickly, because the grasshoppers are gaining on us! 

Check this out: Nobailoutsforgrasshoppers, for cute bumper stickers, mugs, etc. and blog

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Vicki McKenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, The Heritage Foundation, CNS News

Americans for Prosperity is holding their 2nd Annual Defending the American Dream Summit on Saturday, March 7th at the Midwest Airlines Center, from 8:30 AM - 6 PM. Among the list of invited speakers for the event is Joe the Plumber!

Check out the agenda. The theme of this summit is the "Year of Accountability", main topics being: Climate Change, Property Rights, Choice in Education and the Death Tax.

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Randy Koschnick and State Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Rose Fernandez are on the confirmed speakers list, as are U.S. Congressmen Paul Ryan and Jim Sensenbrenner. There are other familiar names on the confirmed list and a few new ones too.

So consider going to hear, "Wisconsin’s foremost free-market voices, top experts on grassroots mobilization, and Wisconsin’s largest gathering of grassroots leaders from across our great state in a massive show of force for our shared belief in lower taxes and more limited government." The cost is $36 per person/ $19 for students. You may register online. 

UPDATE: American's for Prosperity, the group that delivered over 430,000 signatures on their NoStimulus.com petition to the Congress in Washington, just informed me that they also delivered that same message to Madison.

The liberals in Madison passed a 1.2 billion dollar tax increase with little input from the taxpayers of Wisconsin.

The misnamed "stimulus bill" that greatly increases taxes ... was signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle on Thursday, just three days after the bill was introduced. There were no hearings. So much for transparency.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Vicki Mckenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, CNS News

Just this week, we have 2 more stories in the news about stem cells used in human trials. In one case, a Parkinson's disease sufferer was helped, and in another case, a child with a brain disease, stem cells made the situation worse. 

If you just listened to the campaign ads from past elections, you might be led to believe that only the embryonic or fetal stem cells held the promise of cures and relief from serious diseases. You might be led to believe that Republicans are heartless people, refusing to offer any relief to sufferers, such as actor Michael J. Fox, because of some moral hang up* with harvesting the unborn stem cells to help the living.

But once again, the facts prove otherwise. It is the ADULT stem cells that have shown promise and the EMBRYONIC stem cells that are fraught with problems.

First, the stem cell success: Adult Stem Cell Research Reverses Effects of Parkinson's Disease in Human Trial: (My emphasis throughout posting)

Los Angeles, CA (LifeNews.com) -- Scientists have published a paper in a medical journal describing the results of the world's first clinical trial using autologous neural stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

 

A leading bioethics watchdog says the results show more money should be put behind adult stem cells. UCLA researchers published their results in February issue of the Bentham Open Stem Cell Journal which outlines the long term results of the trial.

"We have documented the first successful adult neural stem cell transplantation to reverse the effects of Parkinson's disease and demonstrated the long term safety and therapeutic effects of this approach," says lead author Dr. Michel Levesque

...The team was able to inject the adult stem cells without the need for immunosuppressants. Unlike embryonic stem cells, adult stem cell injections don't cause a patient's immune system to reject the cells.

..."Of particular note are the striking results this study yielded -- for the five years following the procedure the patient's motor scales improved by over 80% for at least 36 months," Levesque wrote.

..."While the data show that the technique needs refinement, this patient went for several years with little to no symptoms of his disease, even with only half of the brain treated with his own adult stem cells," [said Dr. David Prentice of Family Research Council.]

Prentice says the results continue to prove that adult stem cells outpace their embryonic counterparts.

That indeed is good news! Do read the entire article.

Now contrast that success with this stem cell failure:  Report: Fetal stem cells trigger tumors in ill boy

WASHINGTON (AP) - A family desperate to save a child from a lethal brain disease sought highly experimental injections of fetal stem cells—injections that triggered tumors in the boy's brain and spinal cord, Israeli scientists reported Tuesday.

Scientists are furiously trying to harness different types of stem cells—the building blocks for other cells in the body—to regrow damaged tissues and thus treat devastating diseases. But for all the promise, researchers have long warned that they must learn to control newly injected stem cells so they don't grow where they shouldn't, and small studies in people are only just beginning.

Tuesday's report in the journal PLoS Medicine is the first documented case of a human brain tumor—albeit a benign, slow-growing one—after fetal stem cell therapy, and hammers home the need for careful research. The journal is published by the Public Library of Science.

But was the boy prone to tumors anyway or were the fetal stem cells to blame? A Tel Aviv University team extensively tested the tumor tissue and concluded it was the fetal cells. Among other evidence, some of the cells were female and had two normal copies of the gene that causes A-T—although that boy's underlying poor immune function could have allowed the growths to take hold.

And which kind of stem cell research do President Obama and the Democrats support giving government funding to?  The kind of stem cells that DON'T work, the EMBRYONIC ones.

Why? I believe because they are desperate to prove that we need to consider the embryo nothing more than a piece of tissue. It fits into their agenda to promote abortion.

There are more than 70 beneficial treatments already being used on human beings that come from using ADULT stem cells. You can read more about current treatments at Stemcellresearch.org It is pretty exciting.

*I don't expect a person without religious convictions to understand this, but if you are a person of faith, I ask you to consider this: I believe God is a benevolent God. He created everything. He knows what works and what doesn't.

Do you really think He would make the only cure to a disease be at the expense of another living being? I don't. If it were true, that would be a cruel choice indeed. Thankfully, we don't have to make that choice. In fact, the opposite is true. As it stands now, the promise of cure is coming from ADULT stem cells, not those obtained from destroying an embryo. 

Sampling of positive ADULT stem cell results: Treating MS Symptoms With Stem Cells, Stem-cell transplant wipes out HIV, The miracle teabag: Stem cells in a pack help stroke victim to talk again

Investor' Business Daily: Stem Cells: Ideology or Science?  

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Vicki McKenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, The Heritage Foundation, CNS News

(Originally posted yesterday. I reposting today to try to improve the spacing and type face.)

You know how that expression, put your money where your mouth is, means that if you believe in something, you are willing to invest in it?

Well, the stock market is one place people put their money if they believe a company will do well. It's an indicator of investor confidence. The market as a whole has been steadily going down since it appeared Obama would win the presidency and bailout fever hit. (UPDATE: Fairly Conservative has a great post today about this very subject, including a chart. Do look at the drop in October. It coincides with the TARP bailout.)

Today Obama signed his porcine "stimulus" bill--the one that is estimated to really cost Americans 3.27$Trillion when all is said and done--the one that economists and think-tanks lose sleep over.

Is the market responding with glee? Hardly. The Dow lost nearly 300 points today and closed at 7,552.

I recently met with my banker to discuss our IRAs. Just looking at the ever shrinking size of our meager attempt to prepare for retirement was depressing enough. Inflation will swallow up what is left. Discussing what next steps should be taken was more discouraging.

Knowing we are facing increasing taxes, I won't have much to invest in future IRAs. But even if I did have a surplus of cash, what would I put it in? Socks? Stocks? Bonds? CDs? Annuities? All of these investments require confidence in our future economy. I have none.

Just as an experiment, wouldn't it be great if President Obama announced he was cutting business taxes and reducing the Federal income tax rate on individuals? I bet that the market would respond favorably...immediately.

Why? Because investors know what works!  

From The Heritage Foundation: An Open Letter to the Congress and the President of the United States,  Friday the Thirteenth 

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Vicki McKenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, The Heritage Foundation, CNS News

You know how that expression, put your money where your mouth is, means that if you believe in something, you are willing to invest in it?

Well, the stock market is one place people put their money if they believe a company will do well. It's an indicator of investor confidence. The market as a whole has been steadily going down since it appeared Obama would win the presidency and bailout fever hit. (UPDATE: Fairly Conservative has a great post today about this very subject, including a chart. Do look at the drop in October. It coincides with the TARP bailout.)

Today Obama signed his porcine "stimulus" bill--the one that is estimated to really cost Americans 3.27$Trillion when all is said and done--the one that economists and think-tanks lose sleep over.

Is the market responding with glee? Hardly. The Dow lost nearly 300 points today and closed at 7,552.

I recently met with my banker to discuss our IRAs. Just looking at the ever shrinking size of our meager attempt to prepare for retirement was depressing enough. Inflation will swallow up what is left. Discussing what next steps should be taken was more discouraging.

Knowing we are facing increasing taxes, I won't have much to invest in future IRAs. But even if I did have a surplus of cash, what would I put it in? Socks? Stocks? Bonds? CDs? Annuities? All of these investments require confidence in our future economy. I have none.

Just as an experiment, wouldn't it be great if President Obama announced he was cutting business taxes and reducing the Federal income tax rate on individuals? I bet that the market would respond favorably...immediately.

Why? Because investors know what works!  

From The Heritage Foundation: An Open Letter to the Congress and the President of the United States,  Friday the Thirteenth 

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Vicki McKenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, The Heritage Foundation, CNS News

UPDATE: Rep. Vukmir informed me that Rep. Rich Zipperer and Sen. Ted Kanavas will also be at the Brookfield Town Hall meeting on Sunday. Sen. Jim Sullivan, 5th District, was invited but has not confirmed. 

Coming to a municipal building near you, a Town Hall meeting with U.S. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner and State Representative Leah Vukmir. The first opportunity is tonight, at the Elm Grove Village Hall at 7pm [Map].

If you planned on attending the Elmbrook School Board candidate forum tonight, you still can. There are other Town Hall meetings scheduled:

• Brookfield Public Safety Building: Feb. 8, 7:00 PM [Map]
• West Allis Library: March 7, 9:00 AM [Map]
• Wauwatosa Library: March 28, 9:00 AM [Map]

Congressman Sensenbrenner will be hosting additional Town Hall Meetings throughout the Congressional District. To find additional dates and locations click here.

I attended a Town Hall last spring with Congressman Sensenbrenner and Rep. Rich Zipperer and found it a worthwhile experience. The representatives give an overview of the most pressing issues in the House and Assembly. Then there is time for attendees to ask questions. 

Along with the Town Hall schedule, Rep. Vukmir also included an invitation to participate in an Issues Survey in her email newsletter.

The legislature will be considering a broad range of issues from taxes and spending to the long-term fiscal impact of the federal economic stimulus bill.

These issues will have a significant impact on all of us.

Governor Doyle will be delivering his budget address very soon. We will be preparing our first legislative survey based on the agenda that the governor delivers in his Executive Budget.

Your input is essential as we debate the issues and challenges facing Wisconsin.

I have set up a confidential, online survey system that will provide you with the opportunity to share your views. Sign up Today!

Congressman Sensenbrenner's contact info , Telephone: (262) 784-1111, (202) 225-5101  

State Representative Leah Vukmir, Republican, 14th District
Rep.Vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov  608-266-9180

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Vicki Mckenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, CNS News

You cannot make this stuff up. Attorney David W. Ogden is President Obama's choice for 2nd in command in the U.S. office of the Attorney General. So what?

Attorney David W. Ogden is pro-gays in the military, pro-p*orn, pro-abortion, and pro-children's access to unfiltered internet at libraries.

American Family Association is urging those that find Ogden's positions unacceptable to call their senators to vote against David W. Ogden's nomination. From the AFA:

Call your two senators and tell them to vote against the Ogden nomination. Ogden is no friend of the family.

• As an attorney in private practice, David W. Ogden has filed briefs pushing for gays in the military.
• He has litigated numerous obscenity and pornography cases on behalf of clients like Playboy, Penthouse, the ACLU and the largest distributor of hardcore pornographic movies.

In various cases, he has filed briefs opposing:
• parental notification before a minor’s abortion
• spousal notification before an abortion
• the military’s policy against public homosexuals serving in uniform
• the Children’s Internet Protection Act and the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act.

Take Action!

Make your phone call today! Get others to call. Tell your senators to vote against the nomination of David Ogden to the second position at the attorney general’s office. You can reach both of your senators at this number: 202-224-3121.

This is not the kind of "change" I "hope"d for.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Vicki Mckenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, CNS News

UPDATES at bottom of post.

It is easy for conservatives to become discouraged. What looked like glimmer of hope last week, with all of the House Republicans and 11 Blue-Dog Democrats soundly rejecting the pork-filled "stimulus" bill in the House, quickly faded on Monday.

Senator Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader, sounded like he was going to follow the House Republicans' lead and urge his fellow Senators to vote against this swine of a "stimulus" bill in the Senate. But somehow yesterday, he started talking about adding some tax cuts to make the distasteful bill more palatable. Sickening.

No matter how much tax cut frosting you put on a barnyard pile, it is still a barnyard pile. You cannot sweeten it up enough to make it taste any differently. It is unpalatable to anyone who understands economics. It is even more unpalatable to those who understand that once a government program is funded, it is nearly impossible to defund. Plus, the encouragement of mortgage loans to those who aren't a good risk are what got us into trouble in the first place!

If you are against the current "stimulus" bill, the only thing we can do is contact our Senators, and more importantly, Mitch McConnell.

I know, I hate doing it too. But public pressure did avert Cap and Trade and the immigration bill last year. Public pressure and scrutiny got Tom Daschle to withdraw his name. Don't underestimate the power of public opinion.

Contact Mitch McConnell at McConnell.Senate.gov (You must then click Contact on the left list of links and then fill out a contact page.) Phone: (202) 224-2541,Fax: (202) 224-2499

Senate contact page: You can scroll down for each senator's contact info.

The public is waking up to what is in these extravagant spending bills, and public opinion is shifting away from support.

Speak up LOUDLY; it is our only weapon at this time.

UPDATES:

Americans for Prosperity sent this email message this afternoon:

You fought back even when so many folks said we had no chance of winning.  You joined tens of thousands of freedom-loving Americans for Prosperity members across the country who signed the NoStimulus.com petition.  You said NO to heaving trillions of dollars of debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren in the name of economic “stimulus.”

The pundits and talking heads predicted the ‘stimulus’ bill would sail through Congress without a hitch.  But, thanks to your action - and the actions of tens of thousands of fellow taxpayers - we’ve turned the tide and shown these folks the power and popularity of our free enterprise values.

Last week, clear thinking legislators in the House of Representatives (the entire Republican caucus and 11 courageous Democrats) made a strong statement that you and I weren’t going to roll over and accept this Big-Government sham as reality.   

The bill passed the House and moves on to the Senate...but severely weakened...and now we have a chance to win the fight to defeat this so-called stimulus. You and I can make a difference for the future of our country.  But we can’t do it without your continued help.

They then ask for monetary help: Will you make a special investment today to help put this effort over the top?  

MoveOn.org also sent an email about the stimulus bill, but from the pro-spending prospective: (My emphasis)

...But right now, the stimulus doesn't have the votes to pass.¹ Republicans and conservative Democrats are teaming up to strip out the good stuff—college loan assistance, health research, tax cuts for poor folks, and more—in favor of more tax cuts for corporations.² If they don't get their way, they'll block the plan.

They too want to run an ad, but to promote the spending bill. I would be happy if MoveOn was right, that the Senate does not have enough votes to pass!

And not to be left out, John McCain sent out an email with his petition against the stimulus bill as proposed:

...I believe we need to evaluate every bit of spending in this stimulus proposal with one important criteria - does it really stimulate the economy and help create jobs - if the answer is no, it does not belong in a so-called stimulus package. Furthermore, the stimulus must include significant direct relief to American workers in the form of payroll tax cuts and programs to help homeowners keep their homes. Finally, we need an end game to this stimulus so that when our economy recovers, these spending programs do not remain permanent and saddle our children with a skyrocketing national debt...

...I have long been a fighter against wasteful spending in Washington and long an advocate for a balanced budget -- that will never change. I realize we face extraordinary challenges with our economy today, but that is not an excuse for more irresponsibly from Washington. I hope you will join me in saying no to this stimulus package as it currently exists by signing this petition.

Sincerely,

John McCain
Chair, Country First PAC

I emailed back that I did not want Republicans to support a weak attempt at compromise. I did like his idea to include an end game.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Vicki Mckenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, CNS News

Just heard this on WISN radio, Michael Steele was elected the new RNC Chairman: GOP elects first African American chairman, Steele of Maryland.

That news, along with the House Repulicans' rejection of the "stimulus" package gives a conservative like me a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Although Blackwell was considered the more conservative, Steele is said to be able to explain complicated concepts in simple, easy to understand way. (Something that was very lacking with say, a John McCain.)

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: 

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Vicki Mckenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, Mark Levin, CNS News

Last Thursday, I posted Ad celebrates Obama's mother's choice. That very afternoon, I received an email from Focus on the Family Action urging Christians to "pray for a change of heart for President Obama" regarding his pro-abortion and pro Freedom of Choice Act positions

If you recall, during the 3rd debate with John McCain, Obama made an effort to appear that he too was against partial-birth abortion.  Obama stated, "With respect to partial-birth abortion, I am completely supportive of a ban on late-term abortions, partial-birth or otherwise, as long as there's an exception for the mother's health and life..." That statement sounded somewhat conservative.

Yet Candidate Obama also promised Planned Parenthood that he would make signing the Freedom of Choice Act, which would reinstate Partial Birth Abortion, among other changes, his TOP PRIORITY. And so, Christians in the United States are urging that believers pray that President Obama would have a change of heart.

I have not heard anything specific about the Freedom of Choice Act yet, but since Obama wasted no time in ending President Bush's executive order to ban Federal funding to groups that promote abortion internationally, I would expect Obama to fulfill his promise to Planned Parenthood too.

I am grateful that the Catholic Church spoke out against Obama's executive order: Vatican criticizes Obama on abortion issue.  The head of the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life summed up Obama's actions, "Among the many good things that he could have done, Barack Obama instead chose the worst."

And now we get to pay for it.

As for The Freedom of Choice Act. It sounds so innocent. If you are unfamiliar with the Freedom of Choice Act, FOCA, will no doubt be coming our way. Here are just a few things that law would change: 

 This would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

• Bans on Partial Birth Abortion
• Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion
• Only licensed physicians can perform abortions
• Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter's abortion

FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

 A group called FightFOCA is collecting signatures of those opposed to the Freedom of Choice Act. You may sign the petition here. The "petition will be sent to key Members of Congress upon the re-introduction of the Freedom of Choice Act in the 111th Congress", and to the president.

If you are opposed, let your voice be heard, and don't forget to pray. With political leaders like Nancy Pelosi promoting the idea that adding "birth control funding to the new economic "stimulus" package ...will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government", implying "babies are somehow a burden on the treasury" we need all the help we can get.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: 

January 18 - 25th is Sanctity of Human Life week. It also marks "the 36th anniversary of the 1972 U.S. Supreme Court Roe vs. Wade opinion that struck down state restrictions on abortion, essentially installing that "right" in the Constitution."

WorldNetDaily posted a very thought provoking pro-life ad* from CatholicVote.org that celebrates "President Barack Obama's mother's decision not to abort the first black American president"  Click to watch. (It is very short and tastefully done.)

The promotion is sponsored by CatholicVote.org, a faith-based educational program. The organization website states that it launched its "Life: Imagine the Potential" campaign "to reach Americans who are either indifferent, or who have not yet thought about the great potential of every human life."

President Obama's agenda regarding "reproductive choice" has been posted on the White House website.

It states, Obama "has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Administration."

Remember, Obama promised Planned Parenthood during the campaign to make signing the Freedom of Choice Act, that reinstates Partial Birth Abortion his TOP PRIORITY. (See Obama, are you for or against Partial Birth Abortion? Yes for more information.)

I am glad CatholicVote** is speaking out on this issue and promoting their Life: Imagine the Potential campaign. Like the bumper sticker states, "You cannot be Catholic & Pro-abortion".  I hope these efforts cause people to really think about what it means to be pro-choice and embolden other Christians to speak out more against it too.

*Heard about the ad on Vicki McKenna's show Thursday. 

**Although I am not a Catholic, this is an area of common belief. 

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: 

Conservatives were not pleased with President Bush's spending habits. Liberals criticized Bush for expanding the deficit too. So why is it, now that the Democrats are in charge of everything, they are making Bush look like a penny pincher? Why is it that these proposed unprecedented deficits are winked at as not having devastating consequences for us, our children, grand children, and great grandchildren?

The Heritage Foundation, one of the few, truly conservative voices left, posted an excellent piece today: Morning Bell: The Borrowing Bailout Parade Must End. (My emphasis added)

Before President Bush took office, the federal government took in $2 trillion in revenue in 2000. As Bush leaves office, the federal government is expected to take in $2.4 trillion in 2009. In other words, after eight years under President bush, the federal government is taking in $400 billion more a year in revenue. So why did Congressional Budget Office project a $1.4 trillion deficit for the 2009 budget? Massive spending increases. In 2000, the federal government spent just $1.8 trillion. Now the CBO estimates that the feds will spend almost double that, $3.5 trillion, in 2009. Oh, and by the way, these figures do not include the nearly $1 trillion in new deficit spending that President-elect Barack Obama wants to throw at our struggling economy.

Yesterday House Democrats unveiled their first economic stimulus package bid. Current price tag: $825 billion. Everybody in Washington expects that total will go up quickly when the Senate adds its wish list sometime next week. But Democrats in the House are already making it clear that even this soon to be trillion dollar package is just a down payment. The Hill reports: “House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) said the massive bill ‘may undershoot the mark’ and suggested Congress may have to spend more money to stimulate the economy.”

As a nation, we cannot borrow and spend our way to prosperity any more than individuals can create personal prosperity by maxing out their several credit cards. Spending beyond one's means never works. Not for individuals, America, or any other nation...ever.

So adding in the $160 billion stimulus package President Bush signed this spring, the federal government has already pumped $510 billion into the economy and now wants to add another, at minimum, $1.2 trillion. Is any of this working? Is there any science or history that suggests it will? No. As Heritage Senior Policy Analyst Bian Riedl points out: (My emphasis)

Policymakers are basing the “stimulus” bill on economic models that wrongly assume every $1 of government spending increases the economy by approximately $1.60. Is it really that simple? By that logic, debt-ridden, big-government countries like Italy, France and Germany should be wealthier than America. And why stop at $800 billion? Such logic suggests unlimited prosperity could be guaranteed by the government borrowing and spending $800 trillion. Should America be basing such costly decisions on these types of economic models?

The economy sank because people over-borrowed for houses they couldn’t afford, and financial institutions over-borrowed for investments they badly misjudged. Washington’s solution is to borrow $800 billion that it cannot afford. How will adding $800 billion to the national debt solve a recession created by imprudent borrowing? There is an alternative. Long term tax cuts coupled with long term spending cuts. The borrowing bailout parade is what got us into this mess. It is time for a new direction.

Government is on a spending spree bender. It is time to sober up! Bush's billions in deficit are fast becoming Obama's trillions. Where is the alarm and criticism now?

Contacts: Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner,  House Appropriations Chairman Congressman Dave Obey, Senator Herb Kohl, 800-247-5645 or 414-297-4451, Senator_kohl@knol.senate.gov , Senator Russ Feingold, 414-276-7282, Russ_Feingold@feingold.senate.gov , The President, comments@whitehouse.gov or president@whitehouse.gov

P.S. Fairly Conservative posted this link to a petition against the stimulus plan if you care to let the Congress know.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: