What is on our minds...
  • We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Equality.  This concept lies at the core of modern democracies.  Regrettably, “created equal” has taken on a whole new meaning in modern society.  Two events reminded me of the nature of equality: Downton Abbey and the Hindu caste system BBC’s Masterpiece Theater has begun run the second season of Downton Abbey.  In the first season one of the main plot lines centered around the death of the original heir to the abbey, shifting the line of inheritance to a relative outside the immediate family line.  Down Abbey chronicles the intricacies of the British aristocracy. Interestingly enough, in the U.S. Constitution, both Congress and the States are forbidden from granting titles of nobility. No Title of...

    Equality in Modern Parlance

    Posted on January 28, 2012 | No Comments
    We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Equality.  This concept lies at the core of modern democracies.  Regrettably, “created equal” has taken on a whole new meaning in modern society.  Two events reminded me of the nature of equality: Downton Abbey and the Hindu caste system BBC’s Masterpiece Theater has begun run the second season of Downton Abbey.  In the first season one of the main plot lines centered around the death of the original heir to the abbey, shifting the line of inheritance to a relative outside the immediate family line.  Down Abbey chronicles the intricacies of the British aristocracy. Interestingly enough, in the U.S. Constitution, both Congress and the States are forbidden from granting titles of nobility. No Title of...

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  • I recently finished Throw Them All Out by Peter Schweizer after watching the clip from the corresponding 60 Minutes expose shown at the December 2012 Tea Party meeting.  Warning: this book will (or should) upset you. Mr. Schweizer highlights three areas where politicians are heavily engaged in activities that would be considered unethical in almost every other area of professional life. Stock Market:  Mr. Schweizer shows how politicians actively trade while they are involved with legislation that has a significant impact on the stock prices. Land Deals:  There are two ways to make money: legislate roads to be built near your property or buy property were roads may be built. Cronyism: This is were politicians shove money, contracts, and jobs to friends and family. Schweizer’s research is excellent and he is able to address a high information subject in a concise and precise manner which prevents the reader from getting...

    Book Review: Throw Them All Out by Peter Schweizer

    Posted on January 13, 2012 | No Comments
    I recently finished Throw Them All Out by Peter Schweizer after watching the clip from the corresponding 60 Minutes expose shown at the December 2012 Tea Party meeting.  Warning: this book will (or should) upset you. Mr. Schweizer highlights three areas where politicians are heavily engaged in activities that would be considered unethical in almost every other area of professional life. Stock Market:  Mr. Schweizer shows how politicians actively trade while they are involved with legislation that has a significant impact on the stock prices. Land Deals:  There are two ways to make money: legislate roads to be built near your property or buy property were roads may be built. Cronyism: This is were politicians shove money, contracts, and jobs to friends and family. Schweizer’s research is excellent and he is able to address a high information subject in a concise and precise manner which prevents the reader from getting...

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  • Lex Rex. The Law is King. This philosophy of government is expounded upon in Samuel Rutherford’s book of the same title which was written in opposition to a “seditious pamphlet”  titled Sacro-Sacta Regum Majestas, translated as “The Sacred and Royal Prerogative of Christian Kings.” Rutherford stood against the long tradition of the “divine right of kings” where rulers claimed because they were providentially appointed to their earthly realms by sovereign hand of God, they had the right to do whatever they wanted.  The rulers developed this paradigm from Romans 13.  Before I go any further I will just say that the Tea Party is focused on the following three areas. Fiscal Responsibility Limited Government Free Markets The Tea Party is not a proponent of a theocracy.  The reason I am going to be analyzing and discussing the Christian Bible is because the issue flows from the Bible.  Anyway, Cornelius Van...

    Will We Witness the Twilight of Lex Rex?

    Posted on January 7, 2012 | No Comments
    Lex Rex. The Law is King. This philosophy of government is expounded upon in Samuel Rutherford’s book of the same title which was written in opposition to a “seditious pamphlet”  titled Sacro-Sacta Regum Majestas, translated as “The Sacred and Royal Prerogative of Christian Kings.” Rutherford stood against the long tradition of the “divine right of kings” where rulers claimed because they were providentially appointed to their earthly realms by sovereign hand of God, they had the right to do whatever they wanted.  The rulers developed this paradigm from Romans 13.  Before I go any further I will just say that the Tea Party is focused on the following three areas. Fiscal Responsibility Limited Government Free Markets The Tea Party is not a proponent of a theocracy.  The reason I am going to be analyzing and discussing the Christian Bible is because the issue flows from the Bible.  Anyway, Cornelius Van...

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  • At the meeting tonight, Duke Energy provided an overview of their smart grid campaign within the tri-state area. This is a summary from the Duke site: “Smart grid” refers to the digital modernization of energy delivery. By adding digital, two-way communication capabilities to our  [Duke Energy] power lines, we can boost efficiency, help reduce demand, and improve reliability and customer service. For example, smart grid technologies: Allow us [Duke Energy] to read meters and fulfill requests for service connections and disconnections remotely Help reduce outages through new “self-healing networks” made up of digital sensors and switches that automatically reroute power when a problem occurs Provide customers with additional information that may help them use energy more efficiently, save money and reduce their carbon footprint. After the overview of the campaign, a Duke customer with a background in electrical operations, provided a simple list of the pros and cons of the...

    A Response to Smart Meters

    Posted on January 4, 2012 | No Comments
    At the meeting tonight, Duke Energy provided an overview of their smart grid campaign within the tri-state area. This is a summary from the Duke site: “Smart grid” refers to the digital modernization of energy delivery. By adding digital, two-way communication capabilities to our  [Duke Energy] power lines, we can boost efficiency, help reduce demand, and improve reliability and customer service. For example, smart grid technologies: Allow us [Duke Energy] to read meters and fulfill requests for service connections and disconnections remotely Help reduce outages through new “self-healing networks” made up of digital sensors and switches that automatically reroute power when a problem occurs Provide customers with additional information that may help them use energy more efficiently, save money and reduce their carbon footprint. After the overview of the campaign, a Duke customer with a background in electrical operations, provided a simple list of the pros and cons of the...

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  • Happy New Year! At this time of the year many people establish resolutions for accomplishing goal for their life.  Many of these resolutions are at focused on fitness, building relationships, or just appreciating life more.  These goals are good and we should endeavor to accomplish the objectives that we set before ourselves. Everyone needs to set goals in the realm of civil government. Recommended Objectives Vote! Vote! Vote! At the primaries and the big one in November, As an American citizen you have a privilege that people have died to provide you with, don’t waste it. Read at least one non-fiction book a month.  I would be glad to give you suggestions for almost any topic. Read at least one news article a week…and not from the sports section. Sign a few petitions or even better collect signatures for a liberty minded cause. Attend Clermont County Tea Party meetings.  We...

    Set Goals for Freedom!

    Posted on January 2, 2012 | No Comments
    Happy New Year! At this time of the year many people establish resolutions for accomplishing goal for their life.  Many of these resolutions are at focused on fitness, building relationships, or just appreciating life more.  These goals are good and we should endeavor to accomplish the objectives that we set before ourselves. Everyone needs to set goals in the realm of civil government. Recommended Objectives Vote! Vote! Vote! At the primaries and the big one in November, As an American citizen you have a privilege that people have died to provide you with, don’t waste it. Read at least one non-fiction book a month.  I would be glad to give you suggestions for almost any topic. Read at least one news article a week…and not from the sports section. Sign a few petitions or even better collect signatures for a liberty minded cause. Attend Clermont County Tea Party meetings.  We...

    Continue Reading...

  • Before, during, and after the American War for Independence the Green Dragon Tavern was a favorite meeting place of the Sons of Liberty, Boston Committee of Correspondence, and the North End Caucus, catalyst groups for colonial patriots.  From within these walls the original Boston Tea Party was planned, Paul Revere’s ride was commissioned, and, after the War, resolutions were made urging the drafting of a federal constitution.  These meetings were critical in bringing about the great experiment in freedom called the United States of America. Tonight at Eastgate Starbucks was like a throwback to the days of the Founding Fathers.  Over the course of one hour Clermont County patriots dropped in to take action and literally sign their name to the cause of freedom.  I will have to admit that for all of the marketing hype that I am typically associate Starbucks with, the atmosphere or “ambiance” was very conducive...

    From the Green Dragon Tavern to Starbucks

    Posted on December 29, 2011 | No Comments
    Before, during, and after the American War for Independence the Green Dragon Tavern was a favorite meeting place of the Sons of Liberty, Boston Committee of Correspondence, and the North End Caucus, catalyst groups for colonial patriots.  From within these walls the original Boston Tea Party was planned, Paul Revere’s ride was commissioned, and, after the War, resolutions were made urging the drafting of a federal constitution.  These meetings were critical in bringing about the great experiment in freedom called the United States of America. Tonight at Eastgate Starbucks was like a throwback to the days of the Founding Fathers.  Over the course of one hour Clermont County patriots dropped in to take action and literally sign their name to the cause of freedom.  I will have to admit that for all of the marketing hype that I am typically associate Starbucks with, the atmosphere or “ambiance” was very conducive...

    Continue Reading...

  • The world is slowly coming up on a dangerous trend in population demographics as many European countries are failing to reach the necessary replacement ratio of 2.1 children per couple required to maintain a static population.  Many financially focused individual see reproductive movements merely as an irrelevant social issue.  However, fertility rates have a significant long term impact on an economy especially when the civil government, e.g. Greece, strives to become a piñata republic where citizens are offered as many opportunities as possible to take a whack at getting candy (money) from the exhausted government coffers.  Greece has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world at 1.37 children per female (Wolfram Alpha, 2009) creating a scenario where there will soon be one hundred grandparents per forty-two grand children.  This crafts an upside down welfare state where an ever shrinking workforce is “legally plundered”  to provide for an ever...

    Piñata Republics Without Birthdays

    Posted on December 28, 2011 | No Comments
    The world is slowly coming up on a dangerous trend in population demographics as many European countries are failing to reach the necessary replacement ratio of 2.1 children per couple required to maintain a static population.  Many financially focused individual see reproductive movements merely as an irrelevant social issue.  However, fertility rates have a significant long term impact on an economy especially when the civil government, e.g. Greece, strives to become a piñata republic where citizens are offered as many opportunities as possible to take a whack at getting candy (money) from the exhausted government coffers.  Greece has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world at 1.37 children per female (Wolfram Alpha, 2009) creating a scenario where there will soon be one hundred grandparents per forty-two grand children.  This crafts an upside down welfare state where an ever shrinking workforce is “legally plundered”  to provide for an ever...

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  • In the latest issue of Imprimis, Hillsdale College’s newsletter , Larry P. Arnn was interviewed regarding his passion for the Founding documents and the the principles espoused within.  He recommends the following four pillars for guiding a country back to the core ideas behind a constitutional republic.   The Four Pillars Pillar 1: Protecting the equal and inalienable rights of individuals is the government’s primary responsibility. Pillar 2: Economic liberty is inversely proportional to government intrusion in the lives of citizens. Pillar 3: To accomplish its primary duty of protecting individual liberty, the government must uphold national security. Pillar 4: The restoration of a high stand of public morality is essential to the revival of constitutionalism.   The fourth pillar rings resonates with me because morality is key if we want to maintain our freedom. Many times we complain about the state meddling with every details of our lives.  This...

    Four Pillars to Restore a Consitutional Republic

    Posted on December 23, 2011 | No Comments
    In the latest issue of Imprimis, Hillsdale College’s newsletter , Larry P. Arnn was interviewed regarding his passion for the Founding documents and the the principles espoused within.  He recommends the following four pillars for guiding a country back to the core ideas behind a constitutional republic.   The Four Pillars Pillar 1: Protecting the equal and inalienable rights of individuals is the government’s primary responsibility. Pillar 2: Economic liberty is inversely proportional to government intrusion in the lives of citizens. Pillar 3: To accomplish its primary duty of protecting individual liberty, the government must uphold national security. Pillar 4: The restoration of a high stand of public morality is essential to the revival of constitutionalism.   The fourth pillar rings resonates with me because morality is key if we want to maintain our freedom. Many times we complain about the state meddling with every details of our lives.  This...

    Continue Reading...

  • It is all for the betterment of society.  The greater good.  Social justice. Don’t let any of the above phrases or variations of those phrases tempt you into giving up even an inch of your freedom.  The “greater good” is bad for all.  By giving up freedom for safety, you get neither.  When citizens of the United States begin to give up their Constitutional freedoms for the “safety”, “regulation” or something new, they take one step, skip, jump, toward a tyrannical government.  By giving up the responsibility to take care of ourselves with COMMON SENSE for a regulation that the government now watches over, we become a “Nanny State”.  We become subservient to the people we put into office.   The government can not level the playing field for everyone, self-determination is the only thing that takes a person from the back of the pack to the front of the pack....

    Collectivism Will Destroy the United States

    Posted on December 13, 2011 | No Comments
    It is all for the betterment of society.  The greater good.  Social justice. Don’t let any of the above phrases or variations of those phrases tempt you into giving up even an inch of your freedom.  The “greater good” is bad for all.  By giving up freedom for safety, you get neither.  When citizens of the United States begin to give up their Constitutional freedoms for the “safety”, “regulation” or something new, they take one step, skip, jump, toward a tyrannical government.  By giving up the responsibility to take care of ourselves with COMMON SENSE for a regulation that the government now watches over, we become a “Nanny State”.  We become subservient to the people we put into office.   The government can not level the playing field for everyone, self-determination is the only thing that takes a person from the back of the pack to the front of the pack....

    Continue Reading...

  • We’ve all seen it and we’ve all heard about it, political extremism is everywhere.  Whether or not we choose to listen to what those people have to say is what really guides our country.  Lately, I would say our government and our media has been more open to the discussions of extremist than listening to those who preach the founder’s message.  Why is this?  Is this new change due to people being disconnected from the past because of bad teachers or is it because we are looking to change something that the “experts” say is outdated?  Whatever the reason is, there is history to show us what happens when we let those who want to radically change get power.  Just to name a few radicals that have gotten power; Mao, Che Guevara, Adolf Hitler, Mussolini, and Joseph Stalin. All names we’ve heard, all names we try to distinguish ourselves from....

    The Problem of Extremists

    Posted on December 13, 2011 | No Comments
    We’ve all seen it and we’ve all heard about it, political extremism is everywhere.  Whether or not we choose to listen to what those people have to say is what really guides our country.  Lately, I would say our government and our media has been more open to the discussions of extremist than listening to those who preach the founder’s message.  Why is this?  Is this new change due to people being disconnected from the past because of bad teachers or is it because we are looking to change something that the “experts” say is outdated?  Whatever the reason is, there is history to show us what happens when we let those who want to radically change get power.  Just to name a few radicals that have gotten power; Mao, Che Guevara, Adolf Hitler, Mussolini, and Joseph Stalin. All names we’ve heard, all names we try to distinguish ourselves from....

    Continue Reading...

  • Thomas Jefferson wanted to promote primitive institutions to govern on the new continent that we have come to know as the United States of America.  Jefferson said that the American Revolution was the “Reclamation of which the colonists had been deprived by a a ‘long trend of abuses’”.  (Thomas Jefferson: The Apostle of Americanism) People’s Law – a system of government where the government is kept under the control of the people and political power is maintained at the balanced center with enough government to maintain security, justice, and good order, but not enough government to abuse the people.  (The 5000 Year Leap) People’s law provides for the common welfare of the people through individual accomplishment and local governance.  This concept is something that today’s government officials and political lobbyist constantly fail to grasp.  Problems are not solved from the national level down to the individual people, but the individuals solve the problems...

    People’s Law, the Solution for America

    Posted on December 13, 2011 | No Comments
    Thomas Jefferson wanted to promote primitive institutions to govern on the new continent that we have come to know as the United States of America.  Jefferson said that the American Revolution was the “Reclamation of which the colonists had been deprived by a a ‘long trend of abuses’”.  (Thomas Jefferson: The Apostle of Americanism) People’s Law – a system of government where the government is kept under the control of the people and political power is maintained at the balanced center with enough government to maintain security, justice, and good order, but not enough government to abuse the people.  (The 5000 Year Leap) People’s law provides for the common welfare of the people through individual accomplishment and local governance.  This concept is something that today’s government officials and political lobbyist constantly fail to grasp.  Problems are not solved from the national level down to the individual people, but the individuals solve the problems...

    Continue Reading...

  • Ruler’s Law – Law making, execution, and overseeing completely dominated by a ruling class, family, or organization (such as a government or corporation). Many of us today are slightly hesitant to be giving our government and civic leaders more power than they should have.  Sadly though, it seems that we have little to no control over the amount allotted to them. It seems like every year or two, government officials get one more law or one more perk that seems to keep the average American citizen from becoming a part of the decision making process of government or takes away a little piece of freedom. Now, one of the biggest problems that I have been able to come up with is the question of, when do our freedoms go away and when has the government taken total control? Some will say it happened a long time ago, others will say it won’t happen for...

    Ruler’s Law (Total Government Control)

    Posted on December 13, 2011 | No Comments
    Ruler’s Law – Law making, execution, and overseeing completely dominated by a ruling class, family, or organization (such as a government or corporation). Many of us today are slightly hesitant to be giving our government and civic leaders more power than they should have.  Sadly though, it seems that we have little to no control over the amount allotted to them. It seems like every year or two, government officials get one more law or one more perk that seems to keep the average American citizen from becoming a part of the decision making process of government or takes away a little piece of freedom. Now, one of the biggest problems that I have been able to come up with is the question of, when do our freedoms go away and when has the government taken total control? Some will say it happened a long time ago, others will say it won’t happen for...

    Continue Reading...

  • Today’s political philosophy writers have taken it upon themselves to create this “spectrum” that encompasses all the parties within the United States. No one is left out, and everyone has a particular place among the spectrum that they fall. If asked where you fall, could you say without hesitation? I know for a fact, I would be completely hesitant to say I fall here or I fall there.  The reason being is because today’s political spectrum relies too much on the “party” and not enough on the “power” which government is given. When the Founders were writing the Constitution, there was a spectrum that they all agreed on and all used.  It looked like this. The 5000 Year Leap Instead of the spectrum we have today, where Communism is on the far left and Fascism is on the far right, the Founders set up their spectrum with 100% government on...

    Today’s Political Spectrum VS The Founder’s Political Spectrum

    Posted on December 13, 2011 | No Comments
    Today’s political philosophy writers have taken it upon themselves to create this “spectrum” that encompasses all the parties within the United States. No one is left out, and everyone has a particular place among the spectrum that they fall. If asked where you fall, could you say without hesitation? I know for a fact, I would be completely hesitant to say I fall here or I fall there.  The reason being is because today’s political spectrum relies too much on the “party” and not enough on the “power” which government is given. When the Founders were writing the Constitution, there was a spectrum that they all agreed on and all used.  It looked like this. The 5000 Year Leap Instead of the spectrum we have today, where Communism is on the far left and Fascism is on the far right, the Founders set up their spectrum with 100% government on...

    Continue Reading...