Freedom

Funny thing is: You can't believe in it, yet try to control what everyone else does.

The Loss of Freedom and Education

I am concerned about the idiots who could not care less about the loss of freedom. "As long as I am getting a free ride and the rich are being punished, I'm happy. Now, that's social justice!" is their belief.

Who are these guys uninspired by rugged individualism, non lovers of freedom, courage, risk taking and all that has made America great? Where are they being manufactured?

The left has seized the education of our kids from kindergarten through college; distorting and/or simply not teaching the enormous price America has paid for freedom. Disgracefully, many of our youths consider their individual freedom to be no more valuable than a bowl of beans.

In his 1989 farewell speech, President Ronald Reagan saw and warned of the growing trend toward non patriotism and disrespect for freedom.

In schools across America, liberals continue to infect the minds of our children with the virus of anti-Americanism while indoctrinating them with their secular progressive agenda. Decades of the Left's stealth warfare against America via public education has created an epidemic of apathy about freedom, entitlement mindsets and a warped value system where government controlled outcomes equal fairness.

As tea party patriots, it is our duty to inoculate our children with the truth about America which is the antidote to the virus anti-Americanism.

ObamaCare Unconstitutional.......Again

I feel like I am repeating myself ... ObamaCare is unconstitutional? Whodathunkit? How many of you were shocked by yesterday's decision by a judge in Florida, declaring the individual mandate to be "invalid"? Not only that, but da judge says that because of the way the law was drafted (no severability option) the entire law must be voided. Isn't it nice to have a federal court ruling once in a while that actually gives us hope that the Constitution counts for something? This is a ruling that protected liberty. What liberty? Our freedom NOT to do something we don't wish to do. That's right ... the freedom to be inactive. Here's what Judge Vinson had to say on page 42 of his 78-page ruling:

"It would be a radical departure from existing case law to hold that Congress can regulate inactivity under the Commerce Clause. If it has the power to compel an otherwise passive individual into a commercial transaction with a third party merely by asserting - as was done in the Act - that compelling the actual transaction is itself 'commercial and economic in nature and substantially affects interstate commerce', it is not hyper bolizing to suggest that Congress could do almost anything it wanted."

Well that is EXACTLY the point! We DO have a congress that believes that it can do almost anything it wants. Nancy Pelosi does not believe that questions regarding the Constitutionality of legislation should be given serious consideraton. Former Democrat Congressman Phil Hare from Ohio was a bit more blunt when he blurted out "I don't CARE about the Constitution."
This judge down in Florida has reminded us that we are not a country governed by one man or Congress of men, but by the law. That, unfortunately, is a lesson that simply is not taught in our government schools. Go ahead ... ask your government school student to tell you what "rule of law" means. Ask them to explain the difference between the rule of law and a rule of men. I don't think you're going to be thrilled with what you hear. YOU won't be ... but politicians would love it.

Is Kristy Hickman Untouchable ? Great Thread Of Comments Repost

It seems like Kristy Hickman will receive no repercussions for any of The actions that occurred in the Somerset County States Attorneys Office the Weekend before Dan Powell was sworn in.

Allegedly Kristy was seen on surveillance going into the office alone and so far the Somerset County Commissioners have taken zero action, and the only thing that may occur is an investigation by the Bar association.

The public should be outraged at this and at least ask for an official statement on what reasons they have not pursued this any further.

Bill Maher Does not know Football

Bill Maher, the Hollywood Jesus-hater who receives talking points from Playboy Bunnies, is at it again. In a recent article, he claims that the National Football League owes its success to "socialism," that it thrives, not because of capitalism but due to redistribution of revenue amongst teams. A critique of his theory -- that the sharing of TV revenue between large and small markets is socialistic -- however, concludes otherwise.

Socialism, by definition, is the control of industry by government (the State), which in its quest for power, "levels" income privately produced. Leveling, or "redistribution of wealth," is done through coercion -- via progressive taxation, property seizure, etc., -- such that private wealth is "capped" for the "collective good."

Now it may be news to bill, but upon last check, the NFL wasn't being forced to level anything. Socialism is a political philosophy, and as such requires liberal rants, if they are to avoid sophistry, to assess it in this manner.

The owners voted to share revenue, practicing volitional democracy, quite different than "central planning." TV revenue, moreover, isn't tax money, seized by government to engineer outcomes (state-run health care, statist schools), it's money generated by private business (networks) which receive it from other businesses, so that the latter can win customers. maher, in his rant, fails, as usual.

How would you grade this offseason?

With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in two weeks, the 25 man roster is starting to shape up.

First, let's take a look at the short term solutions for this year. The Orioles signed veteran first baseman Derrek Lee to a 1 year deal worth around 8 million. While this is not a long term solution for first, the Orioles have a true legitimate first baseman for the first time since Palmeiro. You really can't call Huff a first baseman, he is more like a Johnny Cash of baseball positions. He's been everywhere. Lee needs to rebound a bit from an injury plagued 2010 season, but the talent and power is still there. He will be playing with a chip on his shoulder this year because he feels like he has something to prove so that he can land that last multi-year contract of his career. I like this move because it sets up a run at free agent first baseman Prince Fielder for next year. The Orioles are known to be interested in him. I wouldn't mind signing him because he can straight up MASH the ball.

J.J. Hardy. The Orioles traded some minor league fodder arms away to Minnesota to land this guy. He was injury plagued a bit the last 2 seasons. While his defense has been stellar, even better than Izturis actually, his power has taken a leave of absence the last 2 seasons. Remember, this is a guy that can put up 25 home runs a seasons and he, like Lee, needs to rebound and stay healthy. This is only a 1 year solution but Hardy has mentioned that he is willing to negotiate an extension. He has ties to this area as I believe has has family in Virginia or he wen't to college in Virginia. I'm too lazy to look it up. I think if he puts up a good first half, the Orioles look to trade him or extend him around the all-star break. They have a backup plan in Izturis if Hardy fails to stay healthy.

Now let's look into the long term solution of Mark Reynolds. They have him for 3 years at third base. He has a chance to put up 40+ homeruns while playing above average defense at 3rd base. I think O's fans are gonna love this guy and hate him. They are going to love his raw power and defense on the hot corner, but they will be frustrated at times with the strikeouts.

The Orioles have confirmed that they are in negotiations with slugger Vladimir Guerrero. Vlad brings a bit of age with him, but he is also coming off a season where this old man hit 30 homeruns and batted .300. If Baltimore signs him, look for them to move Luke Scott to left field and send Reimold to AAA and Pie to the bench or a trade.

This is how the lineup looks now without Vlad.

C- Wieters
1b- Lee
2b- Roberts
3b- Reynolds
ss- Hardy
DH- Scott
OF- Markakis
OF- Jones
OF- Reimold/Pie

Could you imagine that lineup if you slot Scott into left and put Vlad at DH? That is a mashing lineup. On paper atleast. I would definitely be excited about that lineup. Even without Vlad it's looking VERY good. Again, it is contingent on some luck and rebounds but it is very possible.

I will have another post later on with the rest of the bench and the pitching moves. I will also give my offseason grade then.

Sprinkler Tyranny and Government Idiots

It is easy to cry safety or children to try and stifle any real discussion or keep those who disagree quiet. Those days are long gone. This sprinkler subject has nothing to do with safety. What it has to do with is licenses, fee's, government intrusion into private property, new government agencies, and the destruction of competition.

Who will oversee this intrusion into our privately owned homes? It will have to be a new government agency that has to be paid for by the people somehow. Most likely the implementation of new licenses and fee's would not only pay for this new government agency, but also destroy the smaller construction and insurance companies.

How many times per year will our local government force themselves into our homes to inspect something they forced upon us? What kind of fines will they come up with? What happens if the sprinklers malfunction and destroy your electronic equipment? Will your insurance cover it? What happens if you have a fire and the sprinklers do not work?

This is ripe for corruption and like so many things government does, will be counter productive for our freedom. Maybe what Salisbury needs, as does most of the nation, is a little bit of individual responsibility. The person best able to protect my family, is not the government, but me and my family.

While Egypt burns and our President parties, we are allowing people who protested for freedom be hung in Iranian prisons while we sit back and debate our local government forcing themselves into our homes. While many in the world strive for freedom; we seem to be trying to throw ours away. Shameful.

Internet Kill Switch

There has been a lot of talk lately about this Internet kill switch that is being proposed in Congress. The legislation proposed by Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins would give the President of the United States the power to shut down the Internet. This would supposedly only be used in the event of a great cyber emergency. Now I use the word "supposedly" because I think we all know of the concept of unintended consequences from bad legislation. I'm not questioning the motives of Susan Collins or Joe Lieberman, but I am questioning the possible bad intentions of people who would have their hands on the switch in the future. Let's take Barack Obama, for instance. There is not a doubt in my mind that Obama would come up with some reason to use the Internet kill switch. If it suited a political purpose of hits. Despots, and I do consider Barack Obama to be a despot, will always look for an excuse to interrupt the free flow of information and communication. I'm sorry if my opinion, my low opinion, of Barack Obama offends you; but that's just the way it's. And actually, I'm not sorry. You should wake up as well.