Summer time is just made for families, friends, and various outings. A breeze keeps the heat down, as a pair of young adults picnic by a river bank. Children laugh, as they play on the mega-gym in the playground. Older adults can be seen playing shuffle-board, while others pitch horseshoes. Not far away, there's a old-fashioned drive-in burger joint, and you almost make out the loud speaker as orders are called out. Making their way to a big parking lot, several custom cars, adorned with custom paint and shinny wheels, began arriving for their own car show.
Life goes on for most people in America. When it's not work, it's time with family and friends. Yep, life goes on, in seeming immunity from the cost paid each day by those who put on our nation's military uniforms. In some manner or other, our folks in the military stand at the ready to defend our freedoms. And to those families who suffer the greatest loss for such freedoms, life will never be the same. To those who pay the ultimate sacrifice, life will not go on.
Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and to those who connect the dots, July 4th, are dates which we acknowledge the costs of freedom. To the families of our military losses, it may not seem fair that life goes on ... without their loved one here to go on too.
Even in the hearts and minds of those who do come home, there's an emptiness for those who can't come home again ... ever. I remember vividly, coming home from my own war time experiences, and seeing "life going on". I would see everyday, people doing everyday things, and thought to myself (although near boiling to the surface), "What's wrong with you people? Don't you know that today, someone died so you can do what you're doing? Can't you stop and acknowledge that?"
Some do. Too few, I feel. Even flying our Flag, isn't done as much as it was right after 9-11-2001. It seemed that every house had a Flag out. Today, its maybe one in thirty. Or even less.
It's not that people don't care. I think some just get so wrapped up in their own lives, that it simply doesn't occur to them. Then there are those, with whom it's just too much trouble to even consider our Troops, our Veterans, or anyone else for that matter. And, there are those few who actually are anti-war, and they don't want anything to do with the Military, and that means even to acknowledge them in any way. Powerful freedom they have, isn't it. Agree or not with any military action, the fact such people can choose to be against those who actually help preserve those very freedoms, is actually puzzling to me. From the days at Concord and Lexington, there have been those who decry such acts of violence, yet live under the benefit of it. If they really believed what they protest against, they'd remove themselves from their freedoms, paid for in blood.
To those families with family and friends serving, and dying, for our freedoms, life does go on. Forgive us, as it just does, as it should. But along our way, we OWE it to remember those who have given so much, so we can enjoy the freedoms we have. And we MUST to our part politically, to see that those who stand at the ready with arms, are supported, and that WE will not let our freedoms slip away through the fingers of loose dealing politicians.
God Bless our Troops, their families, and God Bless America.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
My Visit to an IRS Office
I am SURE there are many hard working people within the IRS. But "The IRS" just stirs images of a big bad boogie-men coming to take our money.
Lately, we've learned that the IRS, or at least some within it, have used their positions to stop people and organizations from obtaining tax exempt status, because someone in the IRS doesn't agree them or their cause. So the fear many have had of the IRS, seems to have been born out.
Now, add in two things. It has come to light, that in just one of the many conferences held for some IRS employees, cost the American Taxpayers 4 MILLION DOLLARS. Some of those expenses, were for $3,500 a night motel rooms! And that was just part of some 50 MILLION DOLLARS spent on many conferences.
And the Obama sequester, that has our local Austin office, closed 2 days per month, as part of those cut-backs.
But, I owed the IRS money. We filed our taxes on time, but could only send a partial payment. We have been waiting for a notice of the remainder so we could send it in. This past Friday (the21st), we got our notice of the balance, and a due date of Monday (24th). Wow, not enough time to mail it, so I drove to the only IRS Taxpayer Assistance Office listed for Austin. I "assumed" (bad on me) that they would open at 9 am. I arrived at 8:50, and there was already a line outside. The office had opened at 8:30 am, so I was later than I thought. I soon learned that the inside waiting area was already full, and the outside line was waiting for chairs to open inside, to wait further.
In my case, I just wanted to pay my taxes, in full, and leave. I had the check ready, as well as the form the IRS had provided, so easy enough. Wrong! But I was told there was no way I could do that, without waiting in line.
At about 10:25 am, I finally made it to the inside. And inside, was a line just get to a counter, where I would have to get a number to wait further. So, I waiting in that line. That line was shorter than the outside line, and I reached the receptionist desk after only about 15 minutes, and I asked if they accepted payments. They did. GREAT! But she couldn't. The receptionist said that I'd have to take a number, and see an IRS Customer Service (?) person. "How long?", I asked. I was told it would be another 2-1/2 hrs, at least.
I hate lines. I won't even wait in much of a line for restaurants and movies, and I LIKE those! So I looked at the full waiting area, and then looked at the numbered IRS customer service cubicles. There were 16 cubicles, numbered with a digital light by each. But only 4 had their little numbers lit up. Only 4 people were working, out of the 16 cubicles that could have been serving taxpayers. Now I saw why it would be another 2-1/2 hrs, or so.
No thanks. I'll pay what ever penalty for the payment to be late, but this was just ... stupid. I didn't like "The IRS" before this year. But with the IRS scandals, wasteful spending of OUR money, and now a local office ill equipped to ever serve the taxpayers properly, and I really don't like "The IRS"!
And I suspect, this is just one small example of how our government takes care of us.
With all that's going on - that is, the Benghazi cover-up; the Fast and Furious cover-up; the IRS scandals; the Dept. of (In)Justice and their targeting of a Fox News reporter; the National Security Agency's spying on ALL of our phone calls, texts, emails, and who know what else; Dept. of Homeland Security buying an unexplainable huge amount of ammunition, Armored vehicles, and Assault Rifles; and who knows what else .... let's not allow any of that keep Obama from taking an estimated 100 MILLION DOLLAR vacation trip to Africa!
Lately, we've learned that the IRS, or at least some within it, have used their positions to stop people and organizations from obtaining tax exempt status, because someone in the IRS doesn't agree them or their cause. So the fear many have had of the IRS, seems to have been born out.
Now, add in two things. It has come to light, that in just one of the many conferences held for some IRS employees, cost the American Taxpayers 4 MILLION DOLLARS. Some of those expenses, were for $3,500 a night motel rooms! And that was just part of some 50 MILLION DOLLARS spent on many conferences.
And the Obama sequester, that has our local Austin office, closed 2 days per month, as part of those cut-backs.
But, I owed the IRS money. We filed our taxes on time, but could only send a partial payment. We have been waiting for a notice of the remainder so we could send it in. This past Friday (the21st), we got our notice of the balance, and a due date of Monday (24th). Wow, not enough time to mail it, so I drove to the only IRS Taxpayer Assistance Office listed for Austin. I "assumed" (bad on me) that they would open at 9 am. I arrived at 8:50, and there was already a line outside. The office had opened at 8:30 am, so I was later than I thought. I soon learned that the inside waiting area was already full, and the outside line was waiting for chairs to open inside, to wait further.
In my case, I just wanted to pay my taxes, in full, and leave. I had the check ready, as well as the form the IRS had provided, so easy enough. Wrong! But I was told there was no way I could do that, without waiting in line.
At about 10:25 am, I finally made it to the inside. And inside, was a line just get to a counter, where I would have to get a number to wait further. So, I waiting in that line. That line was shorter than the outside line, and I reached the receptionist desk after only about 15 minutes, and I asked if they accepted payments. They did. GREAT! But she couldn't. The receptionist said that I'd have to take a number, and see an IRS Customer Service (?) person. "How long?", I asked. I was told it would be another 2-1/2 hrs, at least.
I hate lines. I won't even wait in much of a line for restaurants and movies, and I LIKE those! So I looked at the full waiting area, and then looked at the numbered IRS customer service cubicles. There were 16 cubicles, numbered with a digital light by each. But only 4 had their little numbers lit up. Only 4 people were working, out of the 16 cubicles that could have been serving taxpayers. Now I saw why it would be another 2-1/2 hrs, or so.
No thanks. I'll pay what ever penalty for the payment to be late, but this was just ... stupid. I didn't like "The IRS" before this year. But with the IRS scandals, wasteful spending of OUR money, and now a local office ill equipped to ever serve the taxpayers properly, and I really don't like "The IRS"!
And I suspect, this is just one small example of how our government takes care of us.
With all that's going on - that is, the Benghazi cover-up; the Fast and Furious cover-up; the IRS scandals; the Dept. of (In)Justice and their targeting of a Fox News reporter; the National Security Agency's spying on ALL of our phone calls, texts, emails, and who know what else; Dept. of Homeland Security buying an unexplainable huge amount of ammunition, Armored vehicles, and Assault Rifles; and who knows what else .... let's not allow any of that keep Obama from taking an estimated 100 MILLION DOLLAR vacation trip to Africa!
Friday, June 21, 2013
Man's best friend
My wife and I love dogs. Both of us have had a canine pet around most our lives. We have two today, and they live indoors with us, sit with us on the couch, sleep on the bed, and are treated like one of our kids. And non-dog owners, would likely not understand any of that. (I would NEVER just keep a dog outside on a chain!)
DO you get a dog video sent to you? Maybe one of those Soldier comes home to dog" videos? Or a bunch of puppy pictures? I'm a sucker for all of those, and except for those that pull at the heart-strings, bring a smile, even in todays often depressing news.
There are dog rescue groups, many are even breed specific. We've bought puppies (not from a puppy-mill), as well as rescued some from a humane society or animal control. My daughter's dog, was rescued from what was to be euthanasia. he rescued dogs, seem to know they were truly "rescued". They seem to be more lovable, staying close all the time.
Our dogs miss us if we've been gone all day. But if either of us is gone for several days, they just go crazy when we come home. We know we are missed. But I've never been gone a year!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0zMzfegs5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysKAVyXi0J4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD3cgDRsDck
Have you ever felt this loved? There are loads of videos out their like these.
I also follow this Blogger - http://khanrahan.com/ (check him out)
This guy is an Army Veteran, and his blog has true heart warming stories, as well as the sad ones of "man's best friend" giving their all for their Soldier handlers and those around them. Great Job Kevin!
Service Dogs are proving to be a great asset for returning Soldiers dealing with physical disabilities, and growing help to those suffering with PTSD. Any web-search can yield service dogs for most any purpose.
http://www.hero-dogs.org/veterans.html
http://4pawsforability.org/paws-for-veterans/
Last year, we lost our Irish Setter of 13 years. Age got to her, and letting her go was one of the hardest things I could ever go through. I can barely type this, without getting a little teary eyed at seeing her in my mind's eye, and this picture.
I am not a cat lover, but I've been around cats. I know they can be loving (so I've heard), but I've never seen a pet that loves, unconditionally, like a dog does. I've often joked, "If Timmy fell down the well, a cat would just look down at him." Lassie, always ran for help!
I grew up with indoor dogs around. And I loved the TV shows about dogs, like "Rin Tin Tin", or my first puppy love with "Lassie", and then there was Yukon "King". And a great many movies about dogs, like the movies "Hachi" and "Eight Below" (have tissues handy) and "Turner and Hooch" or "Snow Dogs", and my first tear-jerker movie, "Old Yeller".
Our two girls today, greet us every time with wagging tails. They are ALWAYS glad to see us. And we're always glad to see them. Both are great and loving companions. And each has their own personality. Hannah has mellowed over the years. And Sadie .... well, even at 3 years old, she bounces off the walls with greetings and antics!
"Man's best friend" is very true, as far as we are concerned. If WE could be as unconditional as our dogs, we'd have a better world. Somehow, I can't imagine our girls not being in Heaven when I get there, greeting me with wagging tails, and slobbering dog-kisses.
(Adopt a rescue dog today. It just might be YOU who gets rescued!)
DO you get a dog video sent to you? Maybe one of those Soldier comes home to dog" videos? Or a bunch of puppy pictures? I'm a sucker for all of those, and except for those that pull at the heart-strings, bring a smile, even in todays often depressing news.
There are dog rescue groups, many are even breed specific. We've bought puppies (not from a puppy-mill), as well as rescued some from a humane society or animal control. My daughter's dog, was rescued from what was to be euthanasia. he rescued dogs, seem to know they were truly "rescued". They seem to be more lovable, staying close all the time.
Our dogs miss us if we've been gone all day. But if either of us is gone for several days, they just go crazy when we come home. We know we are missed. But I've never been gone a year!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0zMzfegs5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysKAVyXi0J4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD3cgDRsDck
Have you ever felt this loved? There are loads of videos out their like these.
I also follow this Blogger - http://khanrahan.com/ (check him out)
This guy is an Army Veteran, and his blog has true heart warming stories, as well as the sad ones of "man's best friend" giving their all for their Soldier handlers and those around them. Great Job Kevin!
Service Dogs are proving to be a great asset for returning Soldiers dealing with physical disabilities, and growing help to those suffering with PTSD. Any web-search can yield service dogs for most any purpose.
http://www.hero-dogs.org/veterans.html
http://4pawsforability.org/paws-for-veterans/
Last year, we lost our Irish Setter of 13 years. Age got to her, and letting her go was one of the hardest things I could ever go through. I can barely type this, without getting a little teary eyed at seeing her in my mind's eye, and this picture.
I am not a cat lover, but I've been around cats. I know they can be loving (so I've heard), but I've never seen a pet that loves, unconditionally, like a dog does. I've often joked, "If Timmy fell down the well, a cat would just look down at him." Lassie, always ran for help!
I grew up with indoor dogs around. And I loved the TV shows about dogs, like "Rin Tin Tin", or my first puppy love with "Lassie", and then there was Yukon "King". And a great many movies about dogs, like the movies "Hachi" and "Eight Below" (have tissues handy) and "Turner and Hooch" or "Snow Dogs", and my first tear-jerker movie, "Old Yeller".
Our two girls today, greet us every time with wagging tails. They are ALWAYS glad to see us. And we're always glad to see them. Both are great and loving companions. And each has their own personality. Hannah has mellowed over the years. And Sadie .... well, even at 3 years old, she bounces off the walls with greetings and antics!
"Man's best friend" is very true, as far as we are concerned. If WE could be as unconditional as our dogs, we'd have a better world. Somehow, I can't imagine our girls not being in Heaven when I get there, greeting me with wagging tails, and slobbering dog-kisses.
(Adopt a rescue dog today. It just might be YOU who gets rescued!)
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Obama wants us to TRUST government
On June 7th
(2013), in response to the wide-spread complaints about the National Security
Agency’s (NSA) domestic surveillance program, Obama sated: "If people
can't trust not only the executive branch but also don't trust Congress, and
don't trust federal judges, to make sure that we're abiding by the Constitution
with due process and rule of law, then we're going to have some problems
here."
As Lord Acton said in 1887, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Well, I DO
have a problem Mr. President!
We have a
Bill of Rights. Some of those rights, may seem to protect “guilty” people. That
is to say, WHY would anyone need to protect themselves from speaking against
themselves, if they didn’t do anything wrong; or, be protected from unlawful
searches and seizures, if you’ve nothing to hide; or, own firearms, if the
government can protect you from any “enemies, foreign and domestic”?
The Bill of
Rights, aren’t there to protect “guilty” people. The Bill of Rights, are there
to protect ALL people, against a powerful government doing whatever they
wanted. The Bill of Rights are there to
protect us from a government that could use such powers to for all kinds of
nefarious reasons.
Obama
mentioned the trust of “federal judges”. What IF, like in the case of US
Attorney General Eric Holder, law enforcement went judge shopping for a judge that
would allow them to do most anything they wanted. After all, they’re Cops,
right? In the case of the Department of Justice, they went to three judges,
before they found one that would rubber-stamp a really pathetic warrant to search
the records of a reporter’s phone and emails, as well as those of his parents!
Second to
that example, what IF the government, through the massive power to get
information from personal files, phones, emails, etc., found something very
embarrassing against a federal judge or other official? Could THAT be used to
sway someone to go along with things he or she wouldn’t otherwise do? So
there’s my take on federal judges, and unbridled trust.
Trust
Congress? I don’t think so. They are elected to “represent” us. But how many
times have we seen an elected official do things in their own best interest?
How many find themselves getting very rich, while “serving the people”? And WHO
in their right mind, would dare trust an attorney who would recommend a client sign an unread
contract, yet that is exactly what they did on our behalf, with the Obamacare
crap! (and how many more unread bills?) An attorney would be fired, if not brought up before the Bar for malpractice!
And then
there’s Obama. There is NO WAY in hell I trust him. He lied about the
circumstances around the failed DOJ/ATF Fast and Furious gun running operation,
where a couple thousand guns went across to Mexico, and they lost track of them. Then to have at least two show up at a murder scene, where Border Agent Brian
Terry was killed! Obama said he wasn’t involved in that, but ended up saving
Eric Holder’s ass with an “Executive Privedge” order, which if there was no
involvement by Obama, then there shouldn’t have been any communication between
him and Holder for an EP to apply! He abused his power and authority, and/or HE LIED!
He LIED
about the cause of the attack on our Embassy in Benghazi, and what lead to the
deaths of four of our people. He had a
re-election coming up, and he lied to protect his imagine. He’s a lying
bastard in my opinion!
As for the 2nd
amendment - It isn’t about hunting. It’s about protection, and that protection
includes protection from a tyrannical government, which is what our Founding
Fathers experienced with King George. It was added because King George, in
order to avert the growing dissention, tried to take the weapons from “the
people”. Our Founders included, “the right of the people to keep and bear arms,
shall not be infringed”, just because of the actions the British army tried to
take against the Colonials. No sir, I
will NOT surrender my arms. I firmly believe that a government that would disregard
our other “rights” (currently, the 4th amendment), is more than capable of being the tyrannical government our
Founders warned against, and try to disarm us of our means to stop an out-of-control government.
Lastly, the
Bill of Rights are in place to protect all of us from such a government that
would stretch any law they choose, to get the end result they may want, even if
they felt that result was in the best interest of the country. We should NEVER
blindly trust this, or any, government. “Rights” given up, may be impossible to
regain.
As Lord Acton said in 1887, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Big Brother, 2017
March 23, 2017
“Sir, we now
have that break-through we’ve been working on”, said Director Bryan Omar. Omar had
just entered the Oval Office at President Zane Ayman’s request.
“So, tell me
how it will help us make the changes we’ve worked so long for?”, asked
President Ayman.
“The Comprehensive
National Security Agency (the newly expanded NSA) can now pull any name in
America, even those in most industrialized nations, and we can see every piece
of data ever typed onto a keypad of any kind. And with that, we can retrieve
any voice communication, along with whomever that person spoke to. We can do the same with every email, text,
social network, and any digital form of communication. And with the new system
sir, that data is automatically cross checked.”
“We still
have the problem with snail mail, even if it is nearly extinct?”, asked President
Ayman.
“Not really.
We’ve made headway there too sir. We are
now documenting every piece of mail with the new see-thru scanners, and each
piece is coded from each drop-off point, so any piece of mail can be traced
back to the sender, as well as automated cross referencing the sender and receiver
with the Master Data Bank. Sir, it gets even better. With the new digital postal
system tied in with the CNSA, we are tied into each and every public
thoroughfare surveillance camera and we can see who drops that mail off! You
need anything, on anyone, we can get everything you’d ever want to know about
them, and every contact they ever have. Bottom line, there is no more privacy
or unauthorized communications. Sir, we OWN all communication in the country!”
“So all I
need, is to give you a name, and you can get everything Id ever want to know
about that person?”, asked President Ayman.
(Smiling) “Exactly
Sir. Tell me who you want about, and we can pull everything you’d ever need to
know on that person. Every secret they’ve ever said or put into words, we’d
have it for you.”
“Well Mr.
Omar, I think we’re ready to commence Phase I of Operation Round-Up. I will
issue the Executive Order today, and have all my agency heads to begin tomorrow.
It’s time to roundup the dissenters and I WANT those Tea Party leaders locked
up. Oh…and I want that NRA disbanded! Have the ‘list’ ready for each department, and the teams can
get started.”
“Yes sir,
Mr. President. … It’s time sir.”
“Oh thanks Omar, your prayer rug is still here too. Please join me my Brother Omar, and let’s kneel toward Meca.”
March 26, 2017
“Mr.
President…I have an update for you”, said FBI Director Lilly Gafar.
“Okay Ms.
Rachel, that’ll be all”, says the President as his personal secretary leaves
the room. “Go ahead Ms. Gafar.”
“Sir, we
have successfully obtained persuasive background information on those targets
you wanted, and they have all been contacted personally by my Special Agents.
We now have their full cooperation. They’re in a real bind Mr. President, so
they’ll give you no problem. Even a couple of the Supreme Court Justices had
some things they didn’t want out, so they’ll side with the other Justices on
anything you want.”
“I love it.
GW had no idea how that Patriot Act could be fine-tuned to do more than he ever
dared to dream of. Then, with Barry moving that up, and CNSA completing the
system to a full-fledged domestic spying system, we now can find out anything
on anyone”, Ayman went on.
“Yes Sir,
and those Congressmen that gave you so much trouble during your campaign …
well, they have their hands full now putting out their own little fires, so
they’ll be hard pressed to do anything against you.”
“Splendid, Ms.
Gafar”, the President replied. “I called Barry too. He was elated that we have
been able to continue his project. Let’s move forward now with those signed
warrants, and begin Phase II of Operation Round-Up.”
April 19, 1017
“Mr.
President, can we have a word?”, asked Ms. Gafar, standing in the hallway with
CIA Director Alan Rayan. All three enter
the Oval Office.
“Sir, we
have begun executing those arrest warrants on all key people on your newest list”,
said Gafar.
“Any
problems? Anything that could hit the Underground News Corp”, asked President Ayman?
Rayan
stepped in closer, “Not really sir. Most were arrested quietly and without
incident. We did have a few, like that asshole National Rifle Association
president. We had to use a stun gun on him twice. But when he arrived at Bureau
Area 6, Dr. Xavier ordered an injection for him. We’ll not hear anything from
him anytime soon!”
“How have
the black-outs gone?”, asked President Ayman.
“Great sir.
Our people have rolled into a neighborhood, commenced Operation Black Out, and
we’re in and out of the target location before people know we’ve been there”,
said Gafar. “With the build-up of the Department
of Homeland Security, Marco’s people have
simply overwhelmed any attempt of any radicals to form militias. ….(laughingly)….
Sir, it’s been pathetic really. Much of the remaining Tea Party members ran out
of ammo days ago. Some are still holding up in remote areas of the country, but
they’re completely shut off, and surrounded by DHS.”
“What about
the Military?”
“Mr.
President”, responded Saad, “the command structure you put in place, is keeping
all military off-shore and out of the way. And all civilian communications with
them, has been blocked. They are mostly in the dark about what going on, and
the Command and Control will keep them from attempting any interference.”
“Yes sir”,
Rayan chimed in, “The civilians are powerless too. The gun buy-backs of 2013
& 2014, coupled with the confiscation of all personal firearms in 2016, the
civilian population can only stand by and watch if they do see us roll into a neighborhood.”
As the two
were leaving the Oval Office, CIA Dir. Rayan stopped and turned to the
President. “Sir, that situation with Senator Benyamin has been taken care of. Our
office was able to Photoshop some of his family webpage photos, and they’re being
released this afternoon. You can expect a recall election!”
June 20, 2017
WHNA (White
House News Agency) opened their daily all-channel newscast. “My fellow
Americans, it is a great day”, as President Ayman (shown on the screen, with
the former President along his side) announced today, “as America is finally
free of any religious intrusion in any public place. With the exception of
government sponsored sects, all religious signage, symbols, on-air messages,
and so on, are out-lawed, and no American will again be offended by such unwanted
Christian or Jewish messaging and influence. Special thanks to the ACLU for
helping us pin the ears back on some of the stubborn communities.
We are also announcing
the appointment of my dear friend, Salim Hasad, to fill the vacated Senatorial
seat of Senator Benyamin. We are sorry for the sudden loss of Senator Benyamin
in his bout with cancer, and we wish his family well.
My
administration is also announcing today, that certain elements of anti-government
organizations and those outspoken against the many good things we have been
doing, have been effectively dealt with, and the people of America can enjoy
the many benefits we have to offer without the descent that has stalled our
efforts in the past. And with that, we are a safer nation. While many have
complained about the rise in taxes, those taxes have paved the way for a better,
safer America, where more citizens can share in the wealth of the many.
Thank you,
and good day my American friends.”
While complaints go largely unchecked, many
families are upset with federal agents entering their homes with no cause, just
to search for possible contraband. The courts have sided with President Ayman’s
administration, in that warrantless entries are legal under Patriot Act IV, so
long as no arrests result from the search. Federal Law Enforcement continues to
seize property in what used to be “Red States”, and political opposition has
been all but squashed, except for the Rebel State of Texas, who has all but seceded
from the nation. The Rebel State of Texas is the one border area President
Ayman has tried to secure, and DHS is patrolling the borders of New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. DHS has been unable to patrol the Gulf of
Mexico area, as the Rebel State of Texas has developed its own Navy, and has
sunk many DHS patrol boats.
==========================================
While the
above is an obvious piece of fiction, at what point could the gradual giving up
of freedoms and the rule of law, could we see drastic changes to our Constitutional
liberties? Obama said during his first campaign, “We are five days away from
fundamentally transforming the United States of America.” From where I sit, it
looks like he is getting down that road pretty far, and we are losing our grasp
of the freedoms that we’ve known for over 200 years.
How much
more will we accept from a government, that is taking liberties with OUR freedoms? Like
the frog in the pan, are we need to be asking ourselves, “Are WE the frog?”
Monday, June 10, 2013
Our Modern Times, Terrorism, and Our Rights
Admittingly, the world is a dangerous place, with terror incidents
occurring in a number of countries around the world. We’ve been at war against
terror for over 12 years now, and the actors of bombings, mass murders, and
such, have even been in our own country.
Inside the United States, our Law Enforcement, Federal and local, have had to constantly upgrade their training, their exercise of enforcement, and the weapons and tools to counter such threats.
Along with all that, we have technological advancements available to citizens. We have cell phones and smart phones and laptop computers, enabling us to work wirelessly from most anywhere in the country, if not the world. What we hold in our hands today, can do more than the biggest of computers many decades ago. We can conduct business, communicate (voice, text, visual) with friends and family, take and share photos, and search the world of Internet news and information, all while sitting on a park bench thousands of miles away from home.
This also means that any potential “bad guy” has all those same technological advantages. And our Law Enforcement (Fed, State & Local) have their hands full to combat the every growing advantages the “bad guys” have to conduct their evil intentions.
So what do our Law Enforcers do? They use every technological advantage they can, balanced with the constitutional rights of lawful citizens. That’s a tall order, indeed. And with the goal of gaining an advantage, our leaders wrote and passed, The Patriot Act. That act, gives Law Enforcement extended powers to get easier access to communications on potential terrorists. Many thought from the start such an act went too far, and permitted the government to have too easy of an access to private information. And we have learned recently that our National Security Agency (NSA) has gained access to millions of citizens phone calls, internet searches, texts, emails, on-line photos, etc. Of those millions and millions of data bits on ALL OF US, the NSA does not know who might be the “bad guys”, so they cast the big net to gather information on everybody.
So, what of our Fourth Amendment - The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
But the Patriot Act seems now to allow our Law Enforcement (government) to bypass our 4th amendment, for the purpose of national security and to go after the terrorists.
Now, if a citizen has no terrorist ties, and hasn’t anything to hide, the government is saying, “Hey, it’s for the safety of our nation, so it’s okay.” But is it?
What IF, someone who gets access to an innocent citizens data, and because of some unauthorized reason, uses some information to get back at someone? Maybe for revenge on a personal matter? Or for a friend, who wants to use it for a child custody dispute? What about gathering embarrassing information, and use that to extort money from a fellow citizen? And then there’s the potential for using such information for an edge over political enemies?
All it takes is for just ONE person with unbridled power, to be less than a top professional in seeking ONLY terrorists, for the abuse to start. And once it starts, then all bets are off. THAT is why the 4th amendment exists, and it says it “shall not be violated”. But it is. For the sake of finding the “bad guys”, all “good guys” are subject to losing our civil rights.
I’m not okay with that. And sadly, I understand the difficulty our Law Enforcers are having, but I’m still against the seemingly unbridled power the government has taken. So, what is the answer? Where IS the balance?
Part of the answer, in MY view, is for us, and that means YOU and ME, to help be the eyes and ears of Law Enforcement. We need to be more diligent in reporting suspicious people. But be prepared, reporting suspicious people or activities will be more often be a false alarm than not. But from that reporting, those Federal and Local Law Enforcers can then take a closer look to see if THAT information fits the criteria for then going into the privacy of those suspicious people, and a properly documented and sworn-to application for a search warrant can then be obtained. Not obtained for all of us, but obtained by particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized . Having someone report a suspicious person or activity, would be like a National Crimestoppers! (I’ve used Crimestoppers information in the past, to conduct Narcotics Investigations, and it is a good tool.)
Such a call by itself should not be the sole basis for a search warrant, but once alerted, authorities can check against other intel, and then move to the next step. (It called, investigating!)
But if “we, the people” place all of the onus on Law Enforcement to deal with evil, then be prepared for Law Enforcement to find other ways to do their difficult jobs!
Giving up essential freedoms, for the sake of security, is a most dangerous proposition. And freedoms once given up, might not ever be recovered.
God Bless America’s Peace Keepers, Law Enforcers, and the American Citizen!
Inside the United States, our Law Enforcement, Federal and local, have had to constantly upgrade their training, their exercise of enforcement, and the weapons and tools to counter such threats.
Along with all that, we have technological advancements available to citizens. We have cell phones and smart phones and laptop computers, enabling us to work wirelessly from most anywhere in the country, if not the world. What we hold in our hands today, can do more than the biggest of computers many decades ago. We can conduct business, communicate (voice, text, visual) with friends and family, take and share photos, and search the world of Internet news and information, all while sitting on a park bench thousands of miles away from home.
This also means that any potential “bad guy” has all those same technological advantages. And our Law Enforcement (Fed, State & Local) have their hands full to combat the every growing advantages the “bad guys” have to conduct their evil intentions.
So what do our Law Enforcers do? They use every technological advantage they can, balanced with the constitutional rights of lawful citizens. That’s a tall order, indeed. And with the goal of gaining an advantage, our leaders wrote and passed, The Patriot Act. That act, gives Law Enforcement extended powers to get easier access to communications on potential terrorists. Many thought from the start such an act went too far, and permitted the government to have too easy of an access to private information. And we have learned recently that our National Security Agency (NSA) has gained access to millions of citizens phone calls, internet searches, texts, emails, on-line photos, etc. Of those millions and millions of data bits on ALL OF US, the NSA does not know who might be the “bad guys”, so they cast the big net to gather information on everybody.
So, what of our Fourth Amendment - The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
But the Patriot Act seems now to allow our Law Enforcement (government) to bypass our 4th amendment, for the purpose of national security and to go after the terrorists.
Now, if a citizen has no terrorist ties, and hasn’t anything to hide, the government is saying, “Hey, it’s for the safety of our nation, so it’s okay.” But is it?
What IF, someone who gets access to an innocent citizens data, and because of some unauthorized reason, uses some information to get back at someone? Maybe for revenge on a personal matter? Or for a friend, who wants to use it for a child custody dispute? What about gathering embarrassing information, and use that to extort money from a fellow citizen? And then there’s the potential for using such information for an edge over political enemies?
All it takes is for just ONE person with unbridled power, to be less than a top professional in seeking ONLY terrorists, for the abuse to start. And once it starts, then all bets are off. THAT is why the 4th amendment exists, and it says it “shall not be violated”. But it is. For the sake of finding the “bad guys”, all “good guys” are subject to losing our civil rights.
I’m not okay with that. And sadly, I understand the difficulty our Law Enforcers are having, but I’m still against the seemingly unbridled power the government has taken. So, what is the answer? Where IS the balance?
Part of the answer, in MY view, is for us, and that means YOU and ME, to help be the eyes and ears of Law Enforcement. We need to be more diligent in reporting suspicious people. But be prepared, reporting suspicious people or activities will be more often be a false alarm than not. But from that reporting, those Federal and Local Law Enforcers can then take a closer look to see if THAT information fits the criteria for then going into the privacy of those suspicious people, and a properly documented and sworn-to application for a search warrant can then be obtained. Not obtained for all of us, but obtained by particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized . Having someone report a suspicious person or activity, would be like a National Crimestoppers! (I’ve used Crimestoppers information in the past, to conduct Narcotics Investigations, and it is a good tool.)
Such a call by itself should not be the sole basis for a search warrant, but once alerted, authorities can check against other intel, and then move to the next step. (It called, investigating!)
But if “we, the people” place all of the onus on Law Enforcement to deal with evil, then be prepared for Law Enforcement to find other ways to do their difficult jobs!
Giving up essential freedoms, for the sake of security, is a most dangerous proposition. And freedoms once given up, might not ever be recovered.
God Bless America’s Peace Keepers, Law Enforcers, and the American Citizen!
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