Articles tagged as

Freedom

The Liberty Tree? Sorry. That’s not compliant.

Our friend Paul at PunSalad was the first to make us aware of government regulations contained within the Waxman/Markey cap and trade bill (that our Congresscritters didn’t bother to read) dictating rules fror planting a tree. That’s right… PLANTING A TREE! Writes Paul: [C]heck out Section 205, a Federal program to emit grants for tree-planting to … Read more

Guest Post: Don’t misunderstand what’s happening in Honduras. “Mrs. Clinton is lying.”

Zelaya’s Removal: Necessary and Proper

Guest post by Robert Romano

Yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met privately with former president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya. Afterward, she announced that the crisis in that nation would now be mediated by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, saying,

“We hope at the end of this mediation there will be a return of democratic constitutional order that is agreed to by all concerned.”

It’s time to take off the gloves: Mrs. Clinton is lying. “[D]emocratic constitutional order” has in fact already been returned to Honduras, no thanks to her boss, Barack Obama. And then only because Manuel Zelaya was impeached and removed from office by the Honduran Congress, and his attempt at rewriting the nation’s Constitution halted by the Supreme Court.

Zelaya’s removal was in fact the only legal outcome that could occur under law. And it was also necessary in order to maintain the constitutional administration of government in Honduras. What happened?

As ALG News has previously reported, Zelaya was attempting to convene a constitutional convention that would have enabled him to rewrite portions of the Constitution that defined term limits for the office of President.

Zelaya was repeatedly warned—by his own constitutional experts, the Public Prosecutor General, the Attorney General, the presiding judge of the Administrative Law Court, the Office of the State Attorney, the Administrative Law Tribunal, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the National Congress, and the National Commissioner for Human Rights—that his proposed referendum was unconstitutional, but he knowingly proceeded anyway with his unlawful plans.

In Honduras, the President is only allotted one term of office. And, it is unconstitutional for any public servant to even propose extending that term. While that may appear harsh, in Honduras the people have little use for would-be kings, or populist demagogues.

 

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Neda’s Fourth of July Message

Neda

Neda, the young and beautiful freedom-loving Iranian student was slain in cold-blood by the current Islamic regime in Iran. Almost instantly, Neda became, not only the divine call of the Iranian uprising, but, she symbolized the call for liberty around the globe. Here’s the video of Richard Roth’s report which contained the image of Neda.

If either President Ronald Reagan or President John F. Kennedy were alive today, they would stand in solidarity with the Iranian people. In fact, they would declare “Today we all are Iranians.” It appears the Iranian people are showing the world what a revolution looks like and some Americans have started paying close attention and taking notes.

Neda knew the value of freedom. She died for it. Her blood was not wasted and she did not die in vain. Headlines have heralded the young woman as a martyr and some even dubbed her Iran’s Joan of Arc. Not only has she become a “symbol of goodness” battling against her brutal oppressor, her story has laid open a much larger issue, freedom and liberty. There is a site dedicated to Neda proclaiming, “We are all Neda.”

Each year, on the fourth of July, we celebrate America’s birth and independence. This is a day that the heart of every American must glow with pride and appreciation. On this special occasion, the Iranian martyr, Neda, has a special message for all freedom-loving Americans: “Do not take your liberty for granted” “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure,” said Thomas Jefferson. I think Neda would have said, “I have given my blood for the cause of liberty for my country and I hope you don’t have to give yours once again.”

We are going through some troubled times in America. We Americans need to wake up and realize that our liberties and freedoms that we are taking for granted are slowly and inexorably being taken from us. Once we lose it, it is very hard to get it back. Let the blood of the Persian freedom-fighter, Neda, inspires all of us to cherish our liberty. “We are fighting and dying on the streets of Tehran to have what you have had for more than two centuries. You, America, have been an inspiration to millions of us in Iran to become free, free to roam, free to grow, and free to bloom” Neda would have said.

As we celebrate the 4th of July, it is my hope that all freedom-loving Americans remain mindful of how precious that day is to our country’s storied history. On July 4, 1776, America declared its independence from England, the old white grandfather across the sea.  The miracle of America happened, and its dynamic birth rapidly changed the entire world. Neda would have wished her blood would cause the Iranians to gain their freedom and our two countries once again become the staunchest friends.

 

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Fourth of July. Are we even worthy?

New national bird to replace Bald Eagle?

As we prepare to celebrate yet another Fourth of July, I cannot help but feel a bit melancholy as I review and contemplate the Declaration of Independence, and think about the birth of this “great experiment”, known as America. Have we reached the end of the line, as far as our belief in and adherence to the principles upon which this Nation was founded? When reading the beautiful and eloquent words as created and agreed to by the Founding Fathers, how can you not feel a sense of distance and unfamiliarity when comparing them against the realities we see today.

Consider what is unquestionably the most famous part of the Declaration:

“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…”

Are there any “self evident truths” and “unalienable rights” here in the new Age of Obama, or are these things just merely quaint, outdated ideas from a bygone era? Do these words somehow mean the “Creator” gives a woman the right to “terminate” pregnancies? As she exercises “choice,” what about the unborn child’s right to “life?” President Obama has famously declared that that he wouldn’t want his young daughters “punished” with a pregnancy. So much for the unalienable right to life for his grandchildren– Such a fine example set by our “dear leader.” What part of the Fourth does he honor?

In our supposed enlightened age, how many Americans even acknowledge some sort of “Creator,” anyway? While many claim to believe, they willingly turn a blind eye as the rights given us by the Creator are systematically stripped away—even to the point of a knowing chuckle or two at those who suggest that much of what our present government does is immoral. “What old-fashioned notions,” they say. “Don’t be so melodramatic.” One must conclude that if they actually believed in a God as a giver of rights to begin with, they would be more vehement in the defense of such. Think about that—why would a person go to the mat for something he or she doesn’t believe in?

Does “pursuing Happiness” give a person the right to the fruits of the labor of others? I suppose one could be happy with getting an extra “slice of the pie” that somebody else has paid for. But what if you happen to be the person that actually earned the “pie?” How happy will you be at the prospect of watching more and more of your just due taken and distributed to others? Is this not what’s happening on a grand scale all around America today? No matter where you look– whether it’s the federal, state, county, or local government—it’s all the same: all are poised to take an even greater share of the fruits of our labors through taxation. They say money can’t buy happiness, but it sure does help. No matter what consists of “happiness” for a person in 2009, the fact is, it’s going to cost more.

 

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Welcome to the Police States of America. It’s happening and it’s closer to home than you’d think…

.. Regular readers know that the rise of quasi-public "special operations groups" (SWAT teams or "SOG") within the Granite State law enforcement community has caught our attention. In this prior post about a raid in Bristol, NH involving some 20 masked police officers, I mentioned two other events involving overwhelmingly excessive force given the circumstances. One … Read more

Liberty & Demagogues. Oil & Water.

Khomeini.Obama Wright

What is a demagogue? According to the encyclopedia, a demagogue is a politician skilled in oratory, flattery, and invective, evasive in discussing vital issues, promising everything to everybody, appealing to the passions rather than the reason of the public, and arousing racial, religious, and class prejudices.

History tells us that personal liberty is most often the demagogue’s first victim, particularly when popular sentiment is whipped up against some internal or foreign enemy. In other words, liberty and demagogos cannot coexist. The ancient Greek word "demagogos" means simply a spokesman for the people or, more pejoratively, a leader of the mob. “Modern usage implies rhetorical gifts and the ability to arouse an audience, usually with the promise of radical change.”

We have been warned of three kinds of people: charlatans, demagogues, and politicians. And, more often than not, someone will rise up who is all three of these characters wrapped into one. Our liberty is the most precious possession. Many will aim to rob us of it and, by so doing, add to their own power, while trying to force us to become robots. We need to be vigilant and guard our liberty with our very lives.

Desperate situations spawn desperate measures. Not having learned the lessons of history, many people will turn to charlatans, demagogues, and politicians with dire consequences. Just a few old and recent cases of this tragic misstep should warn us not to be victimized in the future by frauds.

From the primitive land of the Arabian Peninsula of over 14 centuries ago rose Muhammad, an illiterate hired hand of a rich widow Khadija, claiming that he was the bearer of a perfect life prescription from God—the Quran. He claimed humanity could do no better than to follow its precepts as well as to emulate Muhammad’s own life example for a guarantee of bliss and salvation. In exchange for this, people must embrace Islam—surrender—by surrendering their Liberty to Muhammad.

Question: Why would the All-Wise Lord choose an illiterate desert-dweller, of all the people in the world, to be his messenger? Why choose a man who couldn’t read or write, a man who, over the course of 20 years, claimed to be receiving periodic revelations from God and had to rely on others who could write to jot down his recollections? These recollections were recorded as the word-for-word literal utterances and commandments of God. Furthermore, a dozen versions of the book of Allah, the Quran, turned up and a fallible Caliph selected one of them and had the rest burned. Burning books has ever since been a companion to Islam’s mission.

To this day, in places where Islam rules, many books are banned, newspapers and magazines are systematically either censored or shut down, and other non-print media are methodically blocked. Then liberty, deeply cherished by democracies, is replaced by submission—unquestioning obedience and adherence to the dictates and precepts of the all-knowing and all-wise Allah.

 

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American Heart: “I’m American made. I got American parts. Got American faith In America’s heart…”

This is a rather interesting story about a new song making the rounds on the Internet. From Andrew Breitbart on the Big Hollywood blog: Jon David, our anonymous Hollywood player known for trolling for liberal starlets and reporting back to his conservative compatriots at Big Hollywood, was inspired to write, perform, finance and record “American … Read more

Death of only TRUE First Amendment rally in America? Is “Live Free or Die” DOA?

LFOD Rally

Got an email from Jean Coutu, organizer of the Live Free or Die Rally:

The Town’s demands for a site plan review subject to all boards and abutters’ approvals drove in the death nail on the LFOD Rally.

Today the ACLU refused to intervene due to firearms being at the rally.

appleseed shoot

We have contacted hundreds of people for help and unless someone is brave enough to come forward soon, it maybe the first case of a true first amendment event squashed in America. What’s next? Porc Fest? The Tea Parties? The Million Man Marijuana March? The article from the Canada Free Press reprinted below is being sent far and wide in order to try and recruit help as a last ditch effort. The event isn’t canceled, but, could be soon.

End of Live Free or Die Rally end of free assembly for America?

By Judi McLeod and Jean Coutu
Saturday, May 30, 2009

Putting it in the vernacular of little people everywhere: “The worst has happened”.

The 4th Annual New Hampshire Live Free or Die Rally is quickly sinking into a quagmire of bureaucratic red tape, and with no 11th hour reprieve on the horizon, chief organizer Jean Coutu may have to cancel.

Billed as the All Free, Only TRUE First Amendment Rally in the U.S., this years Live Free or Die Rally is scheduled for August 21, 22 and 23.

“It looks like it’s finally over.  Not just for us, but for the right to assemble, Coutu wrote Canada Free Press (CFP) in an email today.  “Though I don’t agree with the ACLU on everything, almost every year the ACLU has gone after city hall bureaucrats to get our permits.”

The landscape has changed, dissent is being suppressed in America and now the ACLU is refusing to back the LFDR, in part because of the rally’s Appleseed Project Instructional Shoot Feature–even though it meets all state ordinances.

This is not a good sign for the scores of Tea Parties planned for July 4th. Politically correct and compromised by stimulus money, the bureaucrats of town and city halls decide whether Tea Parties and rallies can be held in their jurisdictions.

Coutu sees it as the death of the right to assemble in President Barack Obama’s USA.

Jean also included the message he is trying to get out to supporters and liberty-loving people everywhere:
 

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Who were those guys, anyway?

We don’t often engage in shameless self-promotion, except when circumstances warrant. Both Skip and I were honored to have been asked to address the Tea Party this past Wednesday in Manchester. All my life I’ve wanted to announce the start of a revolution in front of several thousand people. If only I had brandished my … Read more

A primer on the relationship between spending and taxes

The son of the late great Governor Meldrim Thomson, Jr. gives Manchester Tea Party attendees a reminder that taxes and spending are directly related to each other. He warns the present spending by both the state and federal governments are "unsustainable." He also offers Governor Lynch the use of a special tool used by his … Read more

Aerial Footage of Manchester Tea Party

This is some nice video shot from the parking garage to the rear of the main stage of the rally. It was taken just at the start time of 5:30. The crowd kept growing as the event rolled on…     [H/T Now!Hampshire.com]

State Rep Dan Itse discusses his States’ Rights proposal with Glenn Beck

State Representative Daniel C. Itse appeared on Glenn Beck’s FNC program this week to discuss  HCR6, a resolution affirming States’ rights based on Jeffersonian principles.     Rep Itse appears this morning on our MTNP radio program. Click here for details, or stay tuned for the podcast.

America under assault… from within

trojan horse

This is my "Exercising the First" column as published in this Thursday’s Laconia Daily Sun (page 4):

From Every Direction

No matter where you look, events are taking place that will have a large and direct impact on each and every one of us as we move down the path of life. Be it local, county, state, or federal, the shakers and movers of governments large and small are on the march—spending, taxing, and reducing freedom with every step.

At the local level, there is no better example of an unresponsive government than right here in Laconia. Oh sure, they’ve got their tax cap— passed due to desperation over the fact the city’s “leaders” couldn’t be trusted to spend the people’s money in a frugal fashion. Unfortunately, in the hands of the wrong people, it can be manipulated in such a way as to actually COST the taxpayers money. After all, a cap that LIMITS expenditures and taxes to a fixed increase year after year can be inversely construed as to ALLOW for such as well. Why would Laconia’s budgeters ever shoot for a (gasp!) level funded budget when they are allowed a certain amount of increase per the tax cap?

This is exactly what is happening in the Lake City with this year’s school budget. Consider that in several area school districts, the budgets are for all intents and purposes level funded; with Gilford actually presenting a budget some two hundred-thousand-plus LOWER than last year’s. With declining enrollment and the mindset that the present times demand frugality, elected leaders and administrators know they must deliver. Not so for Laconia. Apparently the taxpayers there are flush with dough, because the school board has turned in a budget that continues on a growth path unabated, seeking an increase of over 7.2 percent, spending every last penny allowed by the tax cap, PLUS nearly a million dollars more in addition state aid monies promised in Gov. Lynch’s proposed budget.

So what you get is that while neighboring Gilford cut over $200,000 from its school budget, Laconia is adding $2,159,949! How can this be? While the “leaders” blame it on matters beyond their control, like health care costs, etcetera, taxpayers should ask why they didn’t tackle these issues, seeking savings whenever possible. Gilford did it. Other towns have as well. Why not Laconia? Of course, the answer is obvious: Why should they? The tax cap allows a certain amount, and the big spending governor and his comrades in the legislature seems poised to take care of yet another group of their unionized friends. Bad economy? Please… these people don’t care. Who’s going to make them pay? The City Council? Don’t make me laugh.

And while I have been generally favorable towards my own town of Gilford, it’s not all peaches and cream there either.

 

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Democrats “ruining” our state… Really?

Today’s Laconia Daily Sun reports on it’s front page that a legislator (a Republican from Hollis) has filed legislation on behalf of the Marine Patrol effectively doubling registration fees (New Hampshireese for "tax") for all boats and vessels in NH. Reporter Michael Kitch notes that the head of the Marine Patrol hastened to stress that … Read more

“By the goodness of God”

Signing the Mayflower Compact The Mayflower Compact has always been one of my personal favorite American documents. I always like to read it around Thanksgiving. It is a short and simple statement that life should be ordered by mutually-agreed to laws. Written by rational, thinking, and consummately civilized persons, The Mayflower Compact is universally considered … Read more

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