By David Pond (May 2009)
Notice: This is a Chain publication. If you believe in its premise, facts and statement, please pay to have a copy or excerpts published in other newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, internet or other media. Mainstream Americans must voice their opinions.
My name is David Pond. I am not a politician, nor a journalist.
My Credentials for writing and publishing this article are as follows:
I am an American citizen. I am a taxpayer.
I am a family man. I am a Christian. I am a small business owner.
Click the link to go to Page 2 - President Barack Hussein Obama's Writings.
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There is a political “Runaway Train” rolling over the American Ideology, Way of Life, Prosperity, and Security of American people and our future generations.
The best way to stop this “Runaway Train” is to quickly build a mountain in front of it. The help of conservative mainstream citizens of the United States of America is needed to build this mountain.
Here is my First Shovel Full of Dirt:
To stabilize the economy and come out of recession, America must create jobs that put money back into our economy rather than jobs that are supported by the Government (TAX DOLLARS). We must focus on PRODUCTION!
American people need the opportunity to cultivate, produce, engineer, manufacture, transport, and sell goods; with the SUPPORT of the American Government rather than its resistance. We must first PRODUCE the wealth before our Government can “Spread the Wealth”.
Americans will always want many of the same items that have been purchased in the past.
Food (our agricultural, fishing & livestock industry). Housing (our construction industry). Household Goods – furnishings and fixtures, electric and electronic devices (our manufacturing industry). Fuels for heating, cooling, transportation, manufacturing and lighting (our oil & gas industry, coal industry, nuclear power, solar & wind generation).
America will buy these items and supporting industry service from some source. If the Government implements policy and procedures to encourage domestic Production and Business, there can be a marked REAL economic growth.
The contrast to this growth is Government policy that drives industry into ruin and jobs and other commerce to other countries….policies that increase Deficit trade practices and importation that strengthens other countries’ economies while our economy weakens.
The Dow Jones average was still above 10,500 in October of 2008.
In October, 2008 news media announced Barack Obama the winner of the Presidential Race. Predictions of congressional race upsets by Democrats and Liberals over Republicans and Conservatives also flooded the airwaves. Talk had already turned to Cabinet choices, which had Liberal, Big Government ideologies.
Business leaders (Small Businesses to the Financial and Manufacturing Giants) must have some foresight to survive in competitive markets. Entrepreneurs use new ideas coupled with prudence to build new enterprises. Investors use their economic judgments and circumspection to make profits for the investor and those that they represent.
The Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs and Investors had a good vision of the future: Big Government, Irresponsible Government spending, unprecedented “pork spending and earmarks”, following a landslide turnover of power from the right to the left and from conservative to ultra-Liberal. They knew that the new administration was going to be anti-business and ready to push the nation toward dramatic change: Liberal Agendas and Higher Taxes. At this point the Fear Factor appears.
The Dow Jones average dropped to near 7,500 by the middle of November, 2008. The tremendous drop in markets would precipitate loss of values, loss of businesses, lost savings, lost retirements, cut-backs, dramatic increase in unemployment and a general economic panic.
There is, perhaps, a correlation between the fact that Financial Stocks suffered their worst day in modern history……on Inauguration Day……Business Leaders do have some foresight.
Note: The Promise was: Higher taxes on the “wealthy” and lower taxes on Lower Income and Middle Income Americans.
Let me point out that low income families pay little or no income tax. Middle income families will pay less in income taxes…..No Job→No Income→No Income Tax.
America, it is time to stop the “Runaway Train”.
“A Second Shovel Full of Dirt - Government Spending Must Be Controlled”
The current budget was written and ratified by Congress. Unprecedented “Pork Spending” and “Earmarks” are in this budget. President Obama, who campaigned that he would NOT sign off on any “Earmarks”, signed the Budget Package.
The already bloated budget was further increased by Bailouts and Stimulus Packages. Many of these Bailouts were and are very unpopular according to public opinion polls, but were pushed through by Congress, Administration and the Federal Reserve with panic driven speed.
According to news media in the past few months, the total spending in the proposed 2010 Federal Budget is 3.6 Trillion Dollars. That is $3,600,000,000,000.00. The projected deficit (paying with plastic) is $1,750,000,000,000.00.
The current and future Budgets and Bailouts, “Pork Spending”, and “Earmarks” are how members of Congress and the Administration ensure their political survival and push their pet agendas. The misdirection and misuse of taxpayer dollars must be recognized and halted.
The news media announced April 26, 2009 as “Debt Day”. This is the day in the year in which the Federal Government is no longer running from funds derived from money it has taken in (taxes, payments, etc.). For the remainder of the year, Federal Programs, the Military, Federal Offices, Welfare Programs, Courts and Prison Systems, and an ever increasing outlay of money for ideological and foreign use are funded by Borrowed Money.
The Borrowed Money is printed money not backed by gold, but by Bond money rendered in large percent by China and Middle Eastern countries. The rest of this debt builds at an alarming rate as a debit (paying with plastic) to future taxation on the American people.
The huge debt allows other countries to leverage power – because we owe them…and our politicians know it. Americans should not be controlled and subject to the wishes and ideologies of countries that own such a stake in our commerce.
Mainstream Americans do not want their children and grandchildren to pay for the squandering of the current administration. Future taxation and regulation remove any chance of prosperity as we have known in the past.
“A Third Shovel Full of Dirt – Congress and Administration and Ethics”
A new word has become popular in the past year – Transparency. This is a fashionable way to say Honesty. Honesty – a word that is more defined and harder to associate with many of our current politicians and administrators. Also less fashionable are the words Honor and Honorable. These words depict motive and character that were a large part of our American Dream. Are they still?
It seems that the American people are now subject to Political Agendas or Scandals that are either largely ignored by the news media or are magnified from a match to an inferno by this same media. The bias or focus of the media (sometimes innocently) is used in political leveraging…………Smoke and Mirrors.
Eight years ago all eyes were focused on Terrorist Attacks and National Security. Now Politicians announce procedures which would give terrorists (at Git Mo) more rights. Politicians want to prosecute members of the last administration for wartime intelligence gathering techniques. (These techniques had no permanent physical harm done to people associated with beheading Americans on Nationalized Television networks.) These same politicians were notified of the interrogations and procedures, but did not raise complaint until it was politically expedient.
The very framework of the Intelligence Agencies and Homeland Security is threatened by political manipulation and accusations. Release these files – don’t release these files. Release these pictures – don’t release these pictures. More Smoke and Mirrors – Smoke covers the partisan politics and power plays in the Congress. Smoke covers the debilitation of our Intelligence Agencies and increases mistrust in our own CIA while Mirrors focus on a campaign promise of closing Guantanamo Bay to enhance our approval rating by European and Middle Eastern countries.
One year ago media and campaign focus was on Energy Independence. Political smoke has covered this subject and mirrors have diverted our attention to the Environment and social programs.
The campaign promises of developing clean coal technology and larger use of natural gas are no longer mentioned by current administration. Domestic oil production is coming to a screeching halt by lower prices and the promise of the leaders of Congress to do away with all tax incentives for drilling (some of which have been in place for more than 80 years) and instead INCREASE taxes and regulations.
Mirrors reveal a current oil glut caused by weakening demand in America…“Two million barrels of oil additional surplus over a few months”. Smoke covers the fact that we import 3.5 billion barrels of oil in a years’ time (up to 13 million barrels per day) from countries we call friends and many countries that are Sworn Enemies. ($1.00 per barrel tax on oil imports would be a nice touch, $3.5 Billion per year.)
Mirrors show a grand announcement of 17 Billion in spending cut by the administration (such as defense spending and money to reimburse states for incarceration of illegal aliens). Smoke covers announcements of trillions in spending while touting the 17 Billion in “cuts”.
Smoke is blown across announcements of increased economic stress. Dire predictions and forecasts overestimate the downturn (mirrors). When the facts come in, they are not as bad as expected. The stock market goes up. But the facts are still Bad – less unemployment increases than expected….But it is still an unemployment increase.
The Greatest Smoke & Mirror trick is yet to come. It is called Cap and Trade Tax.
It is an inconvenient truth that the Congress and Administration are going to use the guise of saving our environment and eco-system to create an unparalled tax burden on the American people and businesses.
The word Bailout conjures up visions of a large ship slowly sinking (our Economy). The bailouts theoretically help bring the Economy back up, to float on its own accord. Cap and Trade Tax will be a cannonball in the side of the ship.
We must protect our eco-system, but we must do so while still competing in trade and commerce with countries that do not and will not play by the same rules of conservation and improved emission standards. It is a safe bet that emerging industrialized nations and Japan, China and Russia – do not have the same visionary beliefs that we do. These countries are more concerned with posturing their economies in the world market and improving their standard of living to compare with the United States citizens’ standard of living.
No conscientious people in the United States would deny that we need to take care of our environment...It would be foolhardy to start a cross country trip in a vehicle that is broken down. It is also foolhardy to believe that the United States can lead the world in environmental cleanup and protection when we have a broken economy. We must be prudent in our actions.
“A Fourth Shovel Full of Dirt – American Ideologies”
“IN GOD WE TRUST”
The founders of our Nation demonstrated their belief in God. They injected this belief into our Constitution as the Right of Freedom of Religion, but also made provision for separation of Church and State.
An overwhelming majority of Americans believe in God. They follow religious teachings, beliefs, and doctrine that are an aid to their ability to get through hardships, overcome loss and persevere during physical or mental stress.
Religious compassion is the backbone of much of the charitable work in our Nation. Religious organizations freely contribute time, wealth and personnel toward food and provisions, medical care, shelter and education to many of the country’s poor, homeless and less fortunate. These organizations also provide tremendous support for emergency relief efforts and foreign aid.
The new Administration has stated intentions to eliminate tax breaks on charitable contributions. This will pull support from these organizations and will also negatively affect thousands of secular charities. The Government, with tax dollars, will then be forced to “pick up the slack” of the discouraged charity work.
There are radical few in America that are undermining our religious freedoms and privileges. They are doing this in the name of “Separation of Church and State” and civil liberties. The “punchline” is that our justice system is letting this happen without opposition befitting such injustice and prejudice.
The prejudiced limitations and challenges against the common religious beliefs overthrow one of the cornerstones on which the United States of America was built. This foundation encourages charity and morality and reduces impoverishment and criminality.
“TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE”
-Our National Security-
The administration and Congress have duties to uphold to the American people, ideologies and heritage. A primary duty is to recognize and manage challenges to our National security.
In military actions, we must use military expertise, not political maneuvering. America must honor and show appreciation to members of our armed forces rather than putting them in a classification of terrorist watch groups. -BY THEIR BLOOD WE ARE FREE-
American politicians must not turn a blind eye to North Korea and Iranian nuclear weapon and missile systems. Now is NOT the time to reduce funding for missile defense systems (-Allotted funding a small percentage of the Bail-Out money given to AIG).
Sanctions are measures to enforce fulfillment of international treaty obligations. Iran and North Korea have made it clear that they do not recognize or want any treaties with the United States of American. Rogue Nations or Nations with rogue leaders or controlling factions cannot be trusted to act in a rational manner.
In this world of unrest the United State must be unified and strong-willed if we shake the hand of Hugo Chavez and promise to negotiate without condition with Iranian President Ahmedinejad. Our past few years of strong-hand dealings with terrorist groups has kept our Nation free of terrorist attacks within our borders. Radical groups must be handled with consistency, diplomatically when possible, but without any capitulation by America when it is necessary to use military force. It is probably not “cool” to quote Winston Churchill, but one of his statements should be closely tied to our current outlook on our National Security; “Solvency is valueless without security and security is impossible to achieve without solvency”.
CAPITALISM
The great freedom of the citizens of the United States to improve their standard of living, wealth and legacy by innovation and hard work has given the United States its tremendous wealth. Our economy is the leader and the envy of the entire world. WHY SHOULD WE CHANGE THIS?
The vision has changed from “make the wealth” to “spread the wealth”.
Our Government now has strong vested interests in Banks, Insurance Groups, Car Companies, Investment Companies (which affect thousands of subsidized companies), and now has its sights on Health Care Industries and Energy Industries.
The administration is firing C.E.O.’s, regulating wages, regulating product, regulating foreign capitalization and regulating mergers of institutions. Many of these actions are imprudent and even unconstitutional.
The calculated and dangerous move toward Socialism is a shift toward unprecedented Government Control. This shift will move us away from basic freedoms and prosperity that our forefathers have fought and died to maintain!
Heritage
The citizens of the United States and their LEADERS must remember their Heritage.
We have been called “The Great Melting Pot”. Immigrants and descendants from all over the Globe have come to America to assimilate into a many faceted society that has created the strongest and most wealthy Nation in history. All of these immigrants, descendants, and Native Americans have a history together.
This Assemblage must be recognized and encouraged, but not at the risk of losing our birthrights and legacies that our ancestors and current armed forces have fought to preserve. We must control our immigration – not discontinue immigration – but control it.
Our weakened economy cannot stand the increased strain caused by Illegal Aliens. Welfare, unemployment benefits, medical benefits, law enforcement cost, imprisonment, unlicensed and uninsured motorist costs, education system drain, voter fraud, public housing and general National security are all causes of concern when dealing with the flood of people that are not naturalized into our population.
There are important differences between Immigrants and Illegal Immigrants. Legal Immigrants are a large part of our workforce and their work ethics and talents are a strong positive factor in our economy. Illegal Immigrants cheat the legal immigrants and our Nation by their disregard of our laws that govern their right to citizenship and their right to residency. Governing laws and procedures are in place…they should be enforced!
Southern and Northern borders must be monitored and controlled, as well as coastal entry points. Federal Government, for economic and security reasons, has constitutional right, and duty to control the influx of Illegal Aliens.
Conclusion
HERE IS YOUR SHOVEL
It is the duty of the American citizens to respect our President and the Presidency. President Obama is an intelligent, thoughtful leader. His oratory skills and popularity have given him the ability to shape the path of our Nation in an unprecedented way. He is NOT a king. He was elected by the People. We must be confident that he will respect and serve the predominant wishes of the American citizens.
The United States Congressional members (majority and minority factions) should also adhere to beliefs, wants, and intentions of the citizens that voted them into office. This representation is the foundation for our democracy.
The main tools of the citizens of the United States, when dealing with political leaders, are our VOICE and our VOTE. The President and Cabinet members and Congressional leaders need to hear our voices, opinions and concerns.
Our votes cannot change Congressional leaders for 1 ½ to 3 ½ years. Our votes will not directly affect the Presidency for 3 ½ years.
If the Administration and Congressional leaders are playing their political “Chess Game”, they will heed a loud voice. As confirmed by the “flip-flop” of Arlen Specter, professional politicians have a keen sense of self-preservation. Politicians will, to some extent, do the will of the people to retain their jobs…there are not that many jobs open in the private sector now.
My greatest hope is that the Administration and Congressional members will listen and act accordingly because:
1. That is their job and purpose.
2. That is their Sworn Duty.
3. That is the only way America, and all it stands for in this world, will survive.