Littlestuff Weekender-2-19-2011

Here is our final installment of the enumerated powers from Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not

exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance

of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise

like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in

which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and

other needful Buildings; And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the

foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of

the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

That’s it. For four consecutive Saturdays we have copied short sections of the Constitution that identify what the federal government MUST do, and what its limitations are. You should note that some of the enumerated mandated federal powers are being ignored by the federales (namely controlling the monetary system and border security), and many other powers assumed by the feds are NOT within their Constitution purview. Does the term “out of whack” mean anything to you?

Reminder for all you who are affiliated with Liberty, Patriot, 912, We By For, and Tea Party-type organizations. I am eager to come to your meetings and do a presentation for you. Here are the topics that I speak about most often:

Nullification—VA & KY Resolutions, Tenth Amendment, Ninth Amendment

Principles of Libertarianism—what we share, where we might differ

The Fair Tax-How it changes the dynamic of federal taxation, and how it affects the taxpayers of the U.S.

Liberty-what is it? How did we achieve it? Do we have it? How do we preserve it?

MSRP—the price of Liberty

Off on a business trip today, so everything is posted early. Going to Novi, MI, and other stops.

The snow is nearly gone on the little Pat-Ch of Paradise, but we still have ten days of February and all of March to withstand. I suspect we’ll have some more.

Many of you, I’m certain, have been in a store that has a “You break it. You’ve bought it” sign. Shouldn’t that policy be directed towards our politicians and bureaucrats? Problem is, their “breaking” the country, state, local communities and schools has far exceeded their ability to pay. Moral of this insight: Don’t allow the grandkids to play with the expensive stuff.

The way that our jobs and employment situation is playing out, taxpayers should be placed on the Endangered Species List. Until the snail darter and the spotted owl pay “their fair share,” the taxpayers are becoming rarer.

Speaking of employment: You probably know that when someone stops looking for work, he/she is no longer counted as “unemployed.” So, economic theory (the discredited Keynesian variety) projects that as the economy improves, more people re-enter the job market. The result is that unemployment will go higher as jobs become more prevalent. For me, the bottom line is why not show the TRUE unemployment and underemployment figures all the time so that we don’t have to engage in this silly unrealistic numerical massaging so frequently? As you know, the answer is that the government doesn’t want you to know the truth. If you did, you might take to the streets and disrupt their cushy existences.

I’ve said this many times before. I come from an era when being a patriot meant that you trusted your government…you had faith that they would do the right things, the right way. Personally, I’ve lost that faith, and I DO NOT trust the government at any level about anything. Patriotism has been redefined for me as a passion for liberty, a rededication to Constitutional principles and governance, and a desire for this land to be free…from all threats….domestic, foreign and institutional.

Have a great weekend. Buckeye men’s basketball on CBS at 1:00pm tomorrow vs. Purdue (big game), and the women’s team plays at 5:00pm on ESPN2.

We’ll be back on Monday with more Littlestuff-minoosha as we purge ourselves of our political disgust.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com   or    www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

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Fowl Play

“Birds of a feather flock together” is an old cliché that may not be true. Tweety, the chicken, a buzzard and the eagle are feathered members of our world, but each has its unique qualities that differentiate it from the others. I see the above-mentioned fowl as metaphors for career politicians. It’s uncanny how political behavior (well, human behavior) parrots our fine-feathered friends. I will “wing it” as I attempt to illustrate these striking similarities. I am convinced that it was no coincidence that the longest serving member of the U.S. Senate was named “Byrd.” If my insights seem reasonable, I promise not to crow about my success.

“Tweety” is the model for many of the politicians we know. He is rather cute and seems to have no real purpose in life. He is somewhat clever and manages to escape the clumsy clutches of “Sufferin’ succotash” Sylvester…his earthly nemesis. Tweet ingratiates himself with his elderly mistress by NEVER challenging the fiscal integrity of Medicare and Social Security. He simply goes with the flow and flutters above it all. Tweety is yellow.

The chicken is similar to Tweety in many ways but lacks the little bird’s charm. The chicken appears to spend his political life scratching and grubbing for morsels of sustenance. When confronted by a threat, the chicken joins his peers as they dash for cover, pile in the corner and suffocate one another. The chicken sees his re-election as the pinnacle of his two-, four- or six-year life cycle. He works diligently to feather his nest because his re-election may be unsuccessful. On occasion, he may attempt to hatch a plot to acquire more power, but because of his lack of courage, his plans lay an egg. The chicken’s tiny brain ultimately leads to his downfall as he becomes adorned with eleven herbs and spices while being consumed by the political world.

The buzzard is the most disgusting of the political species. He soars or sits, waiting for an unlucky mammal to lose the battle with an automobile, he swoops to earth to consume the carrion (think of Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin). As the vulture picks at the carcass of a flattened critter (think of taxpayer), his ugly head continues to swivel…looking for more victims to swallow. He has no pride though he is vain. Sometimes he acts as silly as a goose and usually ducks a straightforward discussion of issues. He benefits from the misery of others. He has no shame as he exploits the unfortunate. One count always count on the buzzard to appear when things begin to stink.

The majestic eagle represents the best of our political class. His penetrating gaze sees through deception and pettifogging. His mighty wings, left and right, lift him above the fray and its pettiness. He sits in his lofty aerie surveying his domain and refusing to participate in the grubbiness below. The eagle, a symbol of our nation, reflects strength, dignity and stability. Compare to other types of birds, he is rare and is seldom seen fraternizing with the others. He fiercely attacks any intruder who dares to approach his nest. The eagle represents the best of the political class through his nobility and character. He is uncompromising, and will not adapt to the lifestyles of lesser birds. The eagle, similar to his political counterpart, is a bird and has the brain of one.

It can be said that politicians are “strange birds.” Indeed they are, but I sense a change percolating throughout the land. The people are becoming bird-savvy, and they will no longer be swayed by pretty plumage, graceful flight, or cartoon cuties. The people are growing foxy, and birds should be wary.

The strange birds, the dodo birds and the dirty bird should nervous.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com   or   www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

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Morality-Public and Personal

What is moral? How do we define morality? If these questions make you uncomfortable, or if you’ve never really asked them, we may have an answer about our leaders in this nation. To understand and accept morality as a guiding element is the first step toward moral behavior. If one does not accept the necessity for morality, one cannot be expected to act morally, and if one does not understand the concept of moral behavior, moral life choices become coincidental or accidental. Philosophers and ethicists have grappled with definitions of morality for centuries. Shakespeare, perhaps the most celebrated of all Western writers, seemed to address the issue of an internal moral compass by penning (or quilling) the line, “to thine own self be true,” for Polonius in Hamlet. It seems to me that the first step toward questionable morality is self deception. If one is not honest about one’s motives or justifications, then the purposes of one’s actions will be distorted…divorced from reality. Okay, so how does this little preamble fit into today’s political climate? I’m glad you asked.

The impulse to run for public office seems driven by two primary motivations: self-aggrandizement and the desire to serve. Vanity in politics is as common as hair on a dog, and the politicians’ claims to be wholly dedicated to serving humanity are equally typical. At first glance the two motives would appear to be somewhat contradictory. How can a person serve him/herself and profess to sacrifice for others? I suspect, however, that the motives do not conflict. True morality is rare, but as a goal would require that our actions be noble and good. When we witness public morality, we applaud evidence of goodness and nobility. The self-deceptive aspect for politicians (and entertainers) is that they wrongly identify their desires for acclaim as a public recognition for acting morally. In other words they have calculated that their morally based actions justify their receiving praise and devotion. Their attitudes toward morality and acclaim are similar to an infant who utters a word or a toddler who uses the potty. They believe that they have earned our praises for doing what is right. Clearly, politicians and entertainers are infantile. True morality is expressed when we do what is right no matter the size of the audience, if any, or the desires of the mob. True morality is courageous and not self-conscious. It is self-effacing and extremely rare.

True morality is absolutely vital in a republic. Public morality (or imposed morality if you prefer) is the currency of a democracy. In the republic the representative must fulfill the public trust by doing what is good and what is right. She/he must be guided by moral and ethical principles while navigating the waters. In a democratic system the elected official or appointee is not necessarily influenced by absolute principles but is responsive to the citizens’ demands and whims….even if they are amoral, immoral or moral. If the politician yields to the clamoring crowd that lacks an introspective moral compass, the people will celebrate the politician’s actions. All parties will succumb to the notion that the politician’s behavior is principled and moral because he reflects the will of the citizens…the shallow-thinking, amoral public. The public construct of morality has usurped the notion of true morality. So, the self-aggrandizing vain public “servant” feels justified and moral because he/she does the people’s will, and, in turn, basks in the people’s praise. Meanwhile the republic drifts toward insignificance. The moral dream becomes a paragraph in future histories. The people and the politicians become joyful as they return to wearing skins and living in caves.

Comment:  cearlwritin@hotmail.com   or   www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

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Sheepish Economics

A rhyme with a reason that shatters the norm. Please excuse this departure from the usual.

Mary had a little lamb

Its fleece was white as snow

Everywhere that Mary went,

The lamb was sure to go.

Mary clipped the lamb

And sold the wool in town.

Her customers loved her wool

And came from miles around.

Her fame grew greater.

Her bank account got healthy.

After a few short years,

Mary became quite wealthy.

But the government saw

That Mary was doing well.

It wanted some of the action

Whenever Mary would sell.

The IRS said she must

Share the bucks in taxes

By giving to the government.

 “Cause other people lacksis” (OK, I’m NOT Longfellow)

One day the lamb growled,

Unusual, you see.

The ATF came to Mary.

Said "you’re living dangerously."

Then the EPA came by.

With language so unguarded

They levied a fine on Mary

Cause her little lamb had farted.

The dear lamb’s wool

Had warmed like a hug,

And the FDA told Mary,

“It’s a cold fighting drug.”

Pay a fee to our bureau

And we’ll issue an approval

In ten years or so

You can market in Loo’ville.

But Mary lived in Cleveland,

And Louisville was miles away.

She couldn’t walk so far

With her lamb on market day.

One by one, the agents came

And took their little piece

‘Till Mary’s lamb was almost gone

Including all the fleece.

“We’re here to help you”

Said Nanny State to Mary.

“We’re not a mean old State.

We are the benefit fairy.”

“We do much good for you.

No need for your fears.

Take back what’s left of your lamb.”

Mary only had the ears.

With her fleece gone now,

And the remainder of her lamb.

Mary lost her house and farm,

And no one gave a damn.

She wanders the streets by day

Covered in grime and tears.

No one gives her any time

‘Cause they’re freaked out by the ears.

The ears are all that’s left

Of Mary’s small enterprise.

The State has taken everything

By filling her with lies.

There is a moral here

If you will pay attention

Head for the hills if you can

And avoid benign intervention.

Big Government is a taker

From those who produce so well.

If IT thinks you’re succeeding,

It’ll make your life a hell.

Now those that once knew Mary

Ask about her woe.

“What is it that you have done

That lost you all your dough?”

“The Nanny took my property away

So now I’m merely leasing.

The Government got the lamb,

And  I received the  fleecing.”

Thanks to Ludwig von Mises, Henry Hazlitt, Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman for their inspiration. Charlie Earl

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Happy Feet

So, why call this column “Happy Feet?” As you probably know, I spent last weekend in Washington, D.C. at the CPAC convocation listening to a variety of conservatives lambast the Obama administration and wailing about the condition of our nation on a number of fronts. “Happy Feet” because except for very few exceptions the presenters leapt onto the floor of national policy and proceeded to dance around every conceivable issue. They were adept. They were graceful. They were opportunistic cowards. As an example, to my knowledge, not one speaker suggested that the federal budget be reduced by $1.5 trillion…the amount of the current year’s deficit. Even if the “expert” decided that to employ such a radical cut would be disastrous for the nation, they might have approached the problem with clarity and candor. That did not happen. The massive deficit was mentioned many times, and proscriptions such as “we must cut spending” fell off their lips like silky saliva. But never, never (within the range of my hearing) was a concrete remedy put forward. They danced and danced, the orchestra played and the iceberg destroyed the ship.

Liberals or Progressives love to tax and spend. Their justification is based on the “share the wealth” model…sort of like water seeking its own level. To advance their agenda they promise many benefits to a multitude of special interests and demographic groups. When they have the power, they usually deliver, and their voter base(s) become even more devoted to them. They perform just like we expect. No surprises…when the statists grab power, the taxpaying citizens should grab their ankles and guard their wallets and property. Meanwhile, the conservatives “tsk, tsk” as the wealth of the nation becomes absorbed by the state and personal liberties are violated with impunity. The GOP and their mouthpieces rail against the “tax and spend” Democrats, but overlook their own proclivities for excessive spending. Is there no major unconstitutional function of government that they can cut? Perhaps they are afraid of a special interest or group who would squall in pain if their favored programs were eliminated. Give us something, please, Republicans. Something concrete, something identifiable…give us something that indicates you are serious about cutting government spending and reducing the size of an overly large big government.

When in power, the democrats irresponsibly spend and tax with reckless abandon. The Nanny State grows, and our freedoms are dissolved. When they control the reins of government, the republicans cut taxes, increase subsidies, endorse new programs and pass legislative measures that undermine personal liberty. They dance and dance and dance…blissfully unaware that the music has stopped. Their happy feet tap out the same non-answers to the wondering questions from their constituents. “Yes, spending is too high, and we must cut it.” That’s great, Congressperson, how are you going to cut ONE POINT FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR? For many of us the “where you cut” isn’t nearly as important as the “will you cut?” We don’t believe you…well, I don’t believe you. I do believe that you think the spending should be dramatically reduced, but I do not believe that you have a clue as to how to do it, or if you do have a clue, you lack the courage…the guts…the will to do what must be done.

There is no more time for kicking the can down the road of irresponsibility. Elected officials must step up and make the hard choices to right our ship of state. Every facet of government involvement must be measured against its Constitutional necessity and its drain on the national treasury. Every policy, foreign and domestic, must be reviewed and either eliminated, slashed or tweaked to reconcile its value and need with the overall federal, state or local condition. There can be no sacred cows unless they are mandated by the Constitution…and if so required, they should be thoroughly vetted to assure the citizens that they are getting their money’s worth. Defense spending is an example of the over-bloated constitutional requirement. Is it absolutely necessary that the United States maintain military bases in 140 countries? Remember, Politicians, you volunteered for your job. We did not draft you. Now do it.

We implore you, we beg you…we demand that you discard your ballet slippers or tap shoes, stop dancing, and do the right thing for your country…your state or district…your community and your progeny. Nero fiddled while Rome was burning, but we refuse to allow you to dance away from reality. Face the music and join the band. The dance must end.

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