Ron observes IDL (irrational destructive leadership.)

Ron observes IDL (irrational destructive leadership.)
Ron Boat

This week we saw the continuing transformation of America. We saw the installation of a failed incompetent whose mission is social justice for some, overbearance on others. Will he become even more dictatorial? More tyrannical? Will we continue down this road of government and private interconnection whose intertwining control and support was never meant to be? What anti-American, anti-privacy, anti-rights, “anti-freedom” sort of actions will take the place in an unrestricted and open society where our only concern should be those enemies abroad, or who's coming for the neighborhood BBQ on Saturday night?

I'm not a conspiracy guy but there are undeniable actions and trends that are affecting the long term course on which this country is set…contrary to that envisioned by our founding fathers. My previous post gave testament to the founder’s desire for the moral direction of our country and we’re wavering more and more every day from these standards, led by irrational actions and deliberate destructive misguidance.

There are irrefutable facts regarding the insanity that is leading this country toward destruction. I’ve said for several years now that our president has an agenda, desires and goals that are NOT for our best interest. His own father’s hatred for America as a purveyor of colonialism, stealing wealth and impressing its will on countries around the world, started this president on his road of anti-Americanism.

Add to that the mentoring of such influences as racist, pro-Soviet Frank Marshal Davis (an admitted Communist who wrote “Are you with me in my determination to wipe out white supremacy?"), and his early political years with the Socialist organizations of the SDS and the New Party of Chicago all leading to his desire to work with the “social organizing” ACORN. Associations with others such as terrorist William Ayers and Communist connected individuals such as David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett added to his disdain. All fueled further by the fires of 20 years under the Black Separatist teachings of Rev. Wright.

There have been numerous comparisons of Obama and Hitler and I won’t tender or argue them here but the similarities of their rise to power, public acceptance, timing, the taking of liberties and infiltration of industries and development of social intrusions through the youth and more are undeniable.

The insanity and irrational mindset of this country’s governance is exhibited in virtually every action being undertaken by this administration including the Congress in many areas. I would encourage your consideration of the following:

·        How logical financially to continue to drive national debt past $16 Trillion to 17, 19 and $20 Trillion plus, unless you have an agenda to “overwhelm the system,” a dictate of Cloward & Piven, two Socialist Columbia University professors. They sought to hasten the fall of capitalism by overloading the government bureaucracy with a flood of impossible demands, thus pushing society into crisis and economic collapse. Would any reasonable caring family breadwinner already in debt continue to put new TVs, stereos, a car and fancy trips on a credit card already tens of thousands over limit?

·        How logical is it to completely, irrevocably alter the world’s best medical care system by forcing people to pay for others’ care (even against their own moral and religious convictions), by driving profits down (the basis of American capitalism) and forcing doctors and hospitals out of their business while “creating impossible demands” adding millions to the list of those needing to be served by those shrinking resources?

·        How logical is it to demand that law abiding citizens who never broke anything other than an occasional speeding law, now register guns and restrict their Constitutional rights in favor of trying to control those who couldn’t care less about such laws and will get a gun anytime/anywhere they choose and kill whomever they want? Putting up “Gun Free Zone” signs at schools does as much good as filling Walmart with “No Shoplifting” banners.

·        How logical is it for Congress to NOT meet the immediate needs of desperate people after a major natural disaster in favor of adding millions and millions of unneeded wasteful pork projects to a relief bill strictly for personal political gain?

·        How logical is it to raise taxes and take even more money away from working people during dire economic times when they need it for food, rent and daily necessities? You wouldn’t unless again, you have agenda that forces more and more people into dependency on the government which, of course, needs more and more money from those working which again reduces available money for spending which drives the whole economy which helps everyone…instead of few. You can see where this cycle of madness is heading.

·        How logical for security to be denied ambassadors and personnel when warnings were issued and signs were present that trouble was brewing which resulted in the loss of life and property? And we must remember it was not one but 20 of our embassies and consulates that were attacked in September. Our leaders have advocated all sense and responsibility for their actions to….. I give up, who?

·        How logical is it for our “leaders” (and I use that term VERY loosely) to not only lie to the America public about the violence perpetrated on our diplomatic personnel but to NOT ask the right questions? To allow lies of web videos, and statements of “I don’t know” to dominate when real accounts and facts are swept under a Persian carpet somewhere? Where are the dedicated experienced leaders, the patriots that should be getting to the truth, demanding answers and assigning responsibility?

·        How logical is it for a president whose job it is to protect us, to be a uniter/a leader of all people, to continually divide us by race and by class? To demonize those who are successful and in fact ultimately make better lives for everyone? To drive social wedges of hate, envy and condemnation and pit one group against another? Again unless… there are other agendas.

·        How logical is it for a president, and the chief law enforcement officer to give weapons to foreign drugs dealers and murderers, allow the killing of thousands of Mexicans, including a US Border Patrol officer, and then deny responsibility and truths by covering and protecting each other and then… an executive order?

This list of irrational behavioral traits and actions could fill many pages but the point being… we have people running the country that for whatever reasons are NOT operating with the country’s best interest at heart. They are NOT making decisions based on logic and reason. They are NOT looking out for our future when national security is at risk from within our own borders to our overseas operations.

At what point do we start to stand and be counted? Should we contribute and make a difference vs. leading lives of acceptance and passive indifference? If we as Americans truly want to live free and enjoy what I term as “life, liberty and the happiness of pursuit”, when do we take up peaceful arms of resistance and opposition to battle a growing tyranny seeking total control?

Yes I said “happiness of pursuit” because there is a happiness in pursuing accomplishments, personal goals, and achievements which are part of leading productive lives – something which is becoming harder and harder because of an irrational destructive leadership. And then, having done such, we find, enjoy and appreciate the happiness we have pursued.

This week saw the ushering in of a more arrogant, divisive, defensive president, a man who warned us four years ago, is leading the transformation of America. But why transform the greatest country on earth? And, why think you’re the one to do it? For when you attempt to transform this established and proven governing structure, you only succeed to destroy it. This county has weathered many storms in 200 plus years and can only be made better through quality concerned dedicated leadership in concert with its citizenry– not independent irrational and destructive actions.

We’re being led by people who hide the actualities of Fast & Furious, who deny knowledge of Benghazi, who pass blame for economic times and mistakes. They forsake the responsibilities of their posts creating fiscal gymnastics while obfuscating their pecuniary duties. They promote illogical and unconstitutional changes to our lives, and who attempt to make equal that which is not guaranteed nor intended. We have foxes hiding behind wolves protected by lions who are ignored by ignorant blind farmers while the chickens suffer.

Everyone needs to ask themselves what they are willing to do to save our country. What part do they play in the recovery of freedoms, rights and their own personal pursuit of happiness? What is their contribution to a better way of life and a freer society? I hope mine is writing a small article with fun, facts and foolery and your feedback is always appreciated.

God help us through the next week, month and upcoming four years of potential oppression, racism, distrust and control.

In our next visits, we’re going to be looking at taxes, the oppressive factor, and the “Real State of the Union”: What normal people think about where we are in our daily lives and individual pursuits  - not the meandering creative proliferation of Washington based political pontifications of positively pretentious pomposity.

Not In the Best Frame of Mind

Not In the Best Frame of Mind

Al Ritter 

I must admit the last few weeks I have not been in the best frame of mind. January should be a time of renewal and rebirth but to me it seems like more of the same and retreating four years back in time. I feel like I’m playing some small part in the movie “Groundhog Day.” 

As Yogi Berra once said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” I find myself unable to accept my dear old departed grandmother’s advice of “And this too shall pass.” I felt that November the 6^th would have been the day that pulled us back from destruction, but that wasn’t the case for whatever reason. We have plunged into the abyss knowing full well what the result will be. 

The President has become arrogantly aggressive with his reelection and shows no sign at all of trying to even learn the basic principles of compromise. He feels that the majority reelected him and ALL his policies. He is clearly the leader of the Democratic Party and not the American People. 

Almost all past Presidents have learned the transition from candidate to world leader except Barack Obama. This President will go down in history for being one of the most polarizing figures if not the most polarizing Presidents in this century. 

Not since Abraham Lincoln (maybe this is why Obama sees himself as his reincarnation) has America become so divided over not one or two issues, but almost every single issue this President has signed into law. 

Obama sees his time as limited to push his progressive agenda and he wants to accomplish as much change as he can in his 8 years. 8 years………what a horrible ring that has. Our forefathers never envisioned the America we have now vs. what they had 235 years ago. The fundamental change that Obama never hid in his election campaign has come to fruition. 

The sad part is that 52% of the voters in America are willing to accept whatever change Obama wants and will blindly follow him into this countries’ destruction. We became a great nation because our founders weren’t acceptant of the results of a monarchy. Ironically America is becoming the same type of monarchy we escaped two centuries ago. 

Our people totally ignore history and repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Even successful corrections to problems of just 10 years prior are being ignored for “new and improved” solutions that are not only untried, but contrary to logic and destined to failure. 

Progressives ignore past successful fixes for difficult problems if those fixes came from the “other side of the isle,” and flat out deny their success regardless whether or not those successes are logged into the annals of history. 

I feel for the first time in my life, (right or wrongly) that the President we have now is directly responsible for my own wellbeing and mental status, and I truly fear the next four years.

 

Dear Patriots;

Dear Patriots;

William G Burmer 

 Having suffered some business and health problems the last few months I have taken myself off the list of pontificators of domestic and world events.   I read with interest those however  who have pressed on and  have concluding, even long ago,  that we are "preaching to the quire;" leaving what Rush Limbaugh  refers to as the "Low Information" reader, If there are any, in the dust.  

     If I lived now in the days prior to and during the American Revolution,  given  present circumstances that face us as patriots of America, her ideals and traditions being threatened as they are, I picture myself defending my country, not with words only but,  with the sword of righteousness.   My indignation for those who seek power over service to country and honoring their Oath of Office exceeds comprehension, or my limits of tolerance.

     Talking to my friend Jim this past Saturday about the events of our day, he shared some profound insight with regard to the adversity we face in the world today.  Solutions are not easy nor  are some acceptable  juxtaposed against human nature  being what it is and the reality of our times.  In essence,  Said he, we need to "be grateful  for what we know,  be true to our Faith in God and share it, and to encourage others about us to do the same." 

     We must of necessity leave the rest to our Lord and Savior to sort out, and know this, He is  sifting those who would follow after him, the" wheat,"  from those who are following after Satan, the "Chaff".   It is left to each of us of all faiths, in the interim, to do our very best to improve the moral fabric of our communities , our nations, and the world, to protect our religious freedoms. This will best be accomplished within our own homes, families and communities. 

     We all share equally a love and appreciation for Our Constitution and about those  efforts currently underway  to diminish it, the Bill of Rights' guaranteeing our freedom of religion,  and  our ability to defend ourselves against tyranny in Government.   It is all important that we share our concerns with those elected to serve with as much force as possible, to be relentless in our quest for redress and real justice, and to support those organizations which would help in our quest to support  the  moral fabric of our society amongst all people, and especially in Government. 

     Perhaps even such efforts might strike a chord with even those "low information" voters and readers to do more.  God Knows, after all we can do we must exercise our faith He will in the end, prevail.    

The REAL Zombie Apocalypse

The REAL Zombie Apocalypse

Kevin Bryant

I learned today there is a real Kansas Zombie Militia, formed by concerned individuals about an inevitable (according to them) coming Zombie Apocalypse. One of their beliefs is the apocalypse will be caused by the accidental release of some bio-engineered germ or something. What they have yet to realize is there is a small but growing zombie like apocalypse happening right now.

Every two years most states do their best to send to Washington those whom they feel will best represent them and their state. Each passing year we bear witness to the conversion of those we send to Washington from normal caring individuals who want what is best for their state and our nation as a whole. Each year we watch as many of these public servants convert to a zombie like mentality. Instead of putting the welfare of their states and the nation at the forefront of their thoughts, their brains turn to mush and they enter a zombie like state craving “more government….. more taxes …… more government….. more taxes…..”. This mentality being their only thought and the center of their vocalized speech.

535 members of congress. This so called “fiscal cliff” bill that was passed was anything but relief for the majority of Americans. All the bill did was slightly reduce the “more government….. more taxes…..” mantra but still managed to stick it to every American. Out of the 535 members of congress, about 370 (roughly 70%) of them have succumb to the Washington Zombie Virus or probably better known as the "beltway bug". They tell us they did it to save the middle class……..phooey!!!!!! All they did was allow the middle class to die a slightly slower death. They killed the “tax holiday” which will hit me personally for between $1200 - $1300 more in taxes to go along with all the inflated prices we pay every day for gas, groceries, home repair, auto upkeep, state taxes, county taxes, sales tax, user fees, utilities, home and auto insurance and every other facet of our lives. Add that to Obamacare which already jacked my health insurance cost up roughly 10%. Then add all the other hidden Obamacare taxes which about 12 of the 21 new taxes will hit the middle class in some form or another. All in all, these taxes are not to help reduce our debt or even balance the budget. They are strictly for more government programs and more workers to oversee the operations of those programs.

Obama laid claim to reducing the tax burden of the middle class 17 times during his first term. What we gained in the holiday tax is all I personally saw in the way of tax reductions. I surely didn’t see any gain from those 16 others that he bragged about. Yet whatever I gained from that was absorbed in the rising cost of everything else. With each of the past 3 years, I saw my pay checks grow, the amounts of goods I purchased reduced each year due to rising costs and my savings accounts slowly shrinking.

Obama and the big government zombies in Washington are growing the government and growing the amount of people dependent upon government programs. They are doing it by reducing the middle class. What is considered the “middle class” today is the smallest percentage of the population in over 40 years. At this rate, the percentage of the population in the American middle class will be less than 30% of the population of the United States. Included I the prayers I say every night is a request to God to please shine his light and wisdom upon those that we elected to govern and please kill the virus that causes those we elect to turn into Washington big government zombies. 

PERSONAL NOTE, I will be reducing the number of opinions I write for this site. I have begun to feel I am more useful taking the conservative message directly to the liberals rather than writing for those who don’t always agree with me but who do share many common ideas. With the addition of Ron Boat, there are now 4 other writers here, all of which are FAR much better than I. I have already been suspended from posting on Yahoo for a week and the Washington Times website as well for almost two weeks. What I have discovered by purposely banging heads and seeking confrontation with liberals is almost everyone of them when cornered by truth resort to personal attacks and I don’t turn the other cheek, hence the suspensions. You haven’t gotten rid of me, but on the bright side at least you won’t be putting up with me quite as much. KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!!!!!

Obama Voters Are Upset With New Payroll Taxes

Obama Voters Are Upset With New Payroll Taxes

Al Ritter 

The arrogance of the left knows no bounds, they seem to be surprised and angry at tax increases they voted for! I suppose they thought that Obama would just single out the bible bangers and gun lovers and tax them at a higher rate than the rest of the Democratic voters.

It seems hilarious to me that the denial of the left totally overrides any sense of logic. Did they somehow believe that the 1% could make up the spending deficit? They were told that passing the tax on the rich would only fund the federal government for 8 days and yet they somehow ignored that fact from the CBO.

They have blindly ignored any and all FACTS and voted to continue the failed policies of Barack Obama. They criticized the Bush tax cuts, and cheered for higher tax rates on the “wealthy” even though the Administration kept moving the goal posts on the definition of wealth.

Because Obama couldn’t cover his massive spending problem, he lowered the bar on income and now the middle-class Obama voters are beginning to see the hypocrisy of the man they voted for.

This week Obama reportedly told John Boehner, that America doesn’t have a spending problem. I am curious to ask President Obama what kind of problem do we have?

Read what the whinny Obama voters say here

Ron Boat wonders; To God, or not to God?

Ron Boat wonders; To God, or not to God?
Ron Boat 

It’s not just the past Christmas season that brought these facts to mind, but a consolidation of emotions and thoughts that propel us toward a new year and a seemingly more ungodly America.

We must, or should, admit that America is unique. Conceived in liberty – Born out of revolution – Based on forethought, reason and freedom. A country whose very essence and form of governance is like no other ever developed.

Forgive me while I digress for a moment. The tyrannical oppression of England, the burden of over taxation through the Sugar Act (1764), or the Stamp Act (1765), the controlling monopolistic policies of the Tea Act (1773) and the general concept of taxation without representation (They should see taxation WITH representation) all contributed to the desire for change. More and more regulations and taxes to pay for England’s debt from the French and Indian War (1763)… and the colonists didn’t like it.

These were a spark, the basis for change. It became clear that a separation was needed for many reasons. A new and better country based more on a sense of fairness, good, what’s right, strong religious principles, independence – and a desire for freedom, hence the foundation for our United States.

Our founding fathers were brilliant, thoughtful men of deep religious convictions based in the Bible and their Christian faith in Jesus Christ. Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, nearly half (24) held seminary or Bible school degrees.

Adams and Jefferson, Madison and Hamilton, and many of their colleagues were men of exceptional European learning. They immersed themselves in the Greek and Latin classics, in the history of medieval and modern Europe, in British and French constitutional theory and practice. And they were men of action. They understood mistakes of the past and had a clear, intimate awareness of the special needs for a new America.

While in Turkey (Aug. 2009), President Obama casually rebuked the concept that the United States is a Judeo-Christian nation. "…we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."

How wrong and descriptively demeaning can one be? Where do the best, most solid “ideals and set of values” come from if not a foundation of true inner and religious beliefs – not in social justice ideology. And yes, the basis for our country was a belief and dependence on God and his own wisdom and guidance for us.

God has systematically been reduced, slighted and eliminated from our culture more and more over the last few years. The taking of the words “under God” from our pledge to our flag, the daily practice of even pledging allegiance to this flag and the country has been stripped from acceptance. And forget about prayers in school any more.

“In God we trust” offends people who use our money. The mere presence of a nativity scene or “Christ”mas tree drives many to the local courthouse, the Ten Commandments are removed from view, and in 2007 (and with many maneuvering explanations) the monogram of “IHS” was covered from view behind the president during a speech at Georgetown University. When growing up this was predominant in our church standing for “In His Service” – or the service of God – even though it actually comes from the original Greek for Jesus’ name, being the first three letters of “ihsous.”

The following Christian quotes of the founding fathers stand as testament to their strong moral and spiritual convictions which helped form the fundamentals of our nation and our government. And these represent only a small sampling of their views, beliefs and many writings.

George Washington - 1^st  U.S. President

"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."

John Adams - 2^nd  U.S. President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be."

And Adams wrote in 1813, a letter to Thomas Jefferson, excerpts being:

"The general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the…general Principles of Christianity.” "Now I will avow, that I then believe, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God; and that those Principles of Liberty, are as unalterable as human Nature…”

Thomas Jefferson - 3^rd U.S. President, Drafter & Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ."

John Hancock - 1^st Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. ... Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us."

Benjamin Franklin - Signer of the Declaration of Independence & Unites States Constitution

"Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped."

"As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see.”

Samuel Adams - Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Father of the American Revolution

"And as it is our duty to extend our wishes to the happiness of the great family of man, I conceive that we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world that the rod of tyrants may be broken to pieces, and the oppressed made free again…and speedily bringing on that holy and happy period when the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and all people everywhere willingly bow to the sceptre of Him who is Prince of Peace."

James Madison - 4th U.S. President

"A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest while we are building ideal monuments of Renown and Bliss here we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven."

Rev. John Witherspoon, president of Princeton University when James Madison graduated wrote:

"Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ." [Can you imagine such writings in liberal academia today?]

Add to the above even more words, references and beliefs from:

James Monroe - 5th U.S. President

John Quincy Adams - 6th U.S. President

William Penn - Founder of Pennsylvania

Roger Sherman - Signer of the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution

Alexander Hamilton - Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Ratifier of the U.S. Constitution

Patrick Henry - Ratifier of the U.S. Constitution

These men, while religious in their core beliefs, also knew that a governing body should have no demands on its citizens to worship a particular way other than to hold principles of value that enhance the lives of all men. Principles we have been losing through the social evolution of more recent time.

The 60’s brought its “social freedoms” of drugs, sex and rock and roll. And the “right” to do as we wish personally without regard to punishment or consequences. These are seen in the basic principles and actions of our current president and his selected team of “social sovereigns” – ideals born in the 60’s with views and actions toward man and not God. Even belittling or denying God.

People believe in many paths to God as is their privilege. So much a civil right that our founders established its steadfastness in the First Amendment to the Constitution: Two rights in fact.

The first part being known as the “Establishment Clause” which prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or showing preference of one over another.

The second is the “Free Exercise Clause” which prohibits the government from interfering with a person’s right to practice his or her religion. Religious freedom is an absolute right guaranteed and without government control, however this has been boldly abused lately and with Constitutional disregard.

My reasoning behind this exercise in history is straightforward. To show that we are drifting knowingly and deliberately, dangerously away from the basis of our foundation and the beliefs of our founding fathers which served us well for nearly 200 years – until modern society decided it knew better.

The concept of being a Christian nation is not limiting, not controlling or demanding of anyone to believe in a common path to heaven. Nowhere is it found that our founders expressed a Christian point of view for this purpose but yet, a set of values which guide our lives and actions toward others and… we are losing them. They talked of these principles in the terms of freedom, charity, law, liberty, kindness and duties of good citizenship.

Many will say that our founders were Deists and not Christians, but Deism is a position that God does not intervene in the “natural world” but allows it to run according to the laws of nature. I think one can clearly appreciate that our founders believed that God held the power and set the rules for a life above and beyond our mere existence.

As we embark on a new year, a future of questionable “retainment” of rights, freedoms and ability to live and enjoy in our personal and yes, our religious lives, it’s important to recognize the eroding of these rights; One by one – little by little. When government can dictate to and demand of established religions a change in their belief system to fit “changing social values,” can other more diabolical intentions be far behind for the betterment of a society gone askew from God?

As Thomas Jefferson said, "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God?” I sincerely take this not just as Jefferson’s belief, but a warning lest we remove God from our lives and society. And aren’t we daily doing just this?

America is a unique and well founded country that had everyone’s best interest at heart without need for changing its core beliefs. Unlike a recent rant by CNN’s Piers Morgan, it is not “time for an amendment to the Bible” and “the American Constitution is not inherently flawed.”

Whether Protestant, Jew, Hindu, Catholic, Buddhist, or of any organized religion, there are values and a divine guidance, something bigger and better than ourselves that can enhance our lives. I wish you nothing but happiness and success in this New Year and hope that whatever your religious basis, it brings you peace and contributes to the betterment of yourself, your family and the country we all love as conceived by our founders.

Do Not Blame Caesar

Do Not Blame Caesar

Kevin Bryant 

"Do not blame Caesar, blame the people of Rome who have so enthusiastically acclaimed and adored him and rejoiced in their loss of freedom and danced in his path and given him triumphal processions. Blame the people who hail him when he speaks in the Forum of the new wonderful good society which shall now be Rome's, interpreted to mean more money, more ease, more security, and more living fatly at the expense of the industrious." --Roman philosopher and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) (Quote & picture copied from the Patriot Post) 

There are mornings I wake up and after a cup of coffee and get caught up on the previous nights news shows, I ask myself; “Are We Really That Stupid”. Unfortunately the answer is usually a resounding “yes”.  

As was Rome a few thousand years ago, America today is caught between a struggle of desiring freedom or security. Many Americans believe you can have both and there are politicians who are supported by 1000’s already who stand ready to convince you that all you have to do is trust in them and believe that with your support, you can have freedom and security and the government will provide you all you desire.  

Right before the collapse of Rome, the senate was a useless body. It was a mere rubber stamp to Caesar for not only had the people believed and put their faith in government, government had conceded their power to Caesar. I don’t know if they did it out of fear, out of gratitude, coercion or bribery. Perhaps it was all the above. Or perhaps it rose from their stupidity. Stupidity manifested from years of greed and grandeur. Always wanting more more more.  

Rome was doomed long before it finally collapsed. A society believing that government not only could provide for them but should provide for them. Politicians robbing from the treasury to give to those who believe the lies of government provided freedom and security. It really became the first true welfare state.  

Look at America today. We have politicians promising more from the treasury just to buy votes. We have a President who is demanding the House of Representatives relinquish the authority to borrow money and grant Obama full authorization and total control.  

Hitler in the 1930’s was able to grab total control away from a democracy in roughly 5 years. Obama controls the EPA and dept of HHS. He has Dodd Frank and Obamacare to regulate and control most anything regarding money and every little facet of what makes up healthcare and human behavior. He believes he is entitled to get everything he wants. He has a senate that will do his bidding. He wants more people to be beholden to the government for their livelihood.  

The actions taken by Obama and the democrats over the past 4 years has enabled to get closer and closer to his quest to become like Caesar. Their actions have lead part way to allow Obama to become a 3^rd term president. If not, then the stage is set for Hillary of whoever decides to run for the presidency on the left to circumvent congress at will and pass any law they with just by declaration.  

America is being ripped apart slowly by China, Russia, and the U.N. But mostly, this country is being ripped apart by those in Washington D.C.  

Republics work the way they are designed when those in the positions of power embrace all the people they represent and do what they know is right in their heads and especially in their hearts. Too many of today’s politicians are forced to live up to the expectations of their major campaign contributors first, and then they must remain attractive to their party base. There is no one in the congressional leadership in either party or either body of congress willing to put God first in their decision making, They are unwilling to put the freedoms and liberties that were put in the constitution as placed by our founding fathers in the forefront of their decision making.  

Sadly yet most important, it’s a power grab by the left and the way the rules are written, they will slowly but steadily get to the end game, absolute power. We are destined to destroy ourselves because it seems as though 80% of Americans don’t have clue what the 20% of the history of the world is between 1900 to the present, and 70% could not tell you what Bunker Hill is famous for much less what hill should be famous in place of Bunker Hill.  

We by our own hands we have condemned this country to repeat the mistakes of Egypt and Rome and Italy and Germany and Russia and Greece and Spain and so many more. Who can blame the left for the tragedies we will face as a nation in the coming years but ourselves. We elected those who seek more power. We elected a president knowing full well he is a devout socialist/fascist with Muslim traits and a Muslim background.  

We have the left the power just like those other countries before us. “Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s”.  Little by little we continue to give that which the government believes should be the governments. As a country we made a serious mistake in 2008. In 2012 we all but put the final few nails into America’s coffin. I firmly believe if we do not do the right thing as a nation in 2016, we have fully and completely condemned and forced America down the very road that Rome was destroyed on.

 

More Laws Won’t Stop the Needless Deaths

More Laws Won’t Stop the Needless Deaths

Al Ritter 

One has to use logic to access the recent violence that ended in death at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Yes guns were the vehicle that caused the death of those innocent lives. The 2 questions that beg for logical answers are, “were the guns the sole reason of the deaths?” and, “Do we have enough laws on the books already?” 

Of course they weren’t, guns are inanimate objects, they don’t hold anger, they don’t hold grudges, they don’t care who their operators are. The operator holds the answers and ingredients for the ability to create destruction. The second answer is….of course we have enough laws, the recent shooter violated over 40! 

With all this being said, America seems to be besieged by these social freaks of nature lately, and one has to ask why. We always have had, and will continue to have mentally deficient people in our society, but maybe the treatment of those people should begin to change. We have become a godless society that desensitizes its youth to violence. Through movies and video games, or everyday news shows, we have allowed extreme violence to become part of their everyday life. 

Children who possess the character flaws that manifest themselves as anger, find solace in such games that act out the very their wildest fantasies of death and destruction. They have a hard time separating reality and fiction. The directors of such mayhem constantly strive to sell more movies, sell more video games, or sell a larger TV share through increased violence. 

Our Liberal society wants to hold legal gun holders accountable for the actions of a tiny part of our dysfunctional society. Cars aren’t being taken away from every legal driver in good standing because of the actions of a few drunk drivers, even though those accidents account for more deaths on a daily basis than guns do.  

The words Sunday night by our President, “We can’t tolerate this anymore”, are so thinly veiled, that no American can deny that his intentions are aimed at making American citizens defenseless against the government. His exact path to “the means to an end” hasn’t been shown yet, but the writing is on the wall. 

He can disarm America one of two ways, he can sign on to the UN treaty and then later use them as a “patsy” to place blame at a later time, or he can try to repeal the second amendment through legislative means. Both paths will require him to obtain a 2/3 majority vote. It is my personal feeling that given his past history of setting up sacrificial lambs to take the fall in his place, Obama will try the UN treaty method. He will view this as the path of least resistance. 

But herein the problem lies…….using such a ploy; he will remove America’s Sovereignty and give control to the UN to operate freely in our country to conduct unwarranted searches. 

It seems to me that ratification of the UN Small Arms Treaty opens more of a bag of worms than a repeal of the Second Amendment. The really scary part is that a Treaty Ratification will open our country by precedence to the dreaded New World Order that conspiracy theorists hold so dear to their hearts. 

Either way Obama choses to do this it most certainly will “fundamentally transform America.” Not in a good way, but in a way that America can never return from. “An armed militia” has ALWAYS meant THE PEOPLE and not the military. The second amendment was written to protect the people from the government. If we give up this right “peacefully” there will be no turning back, there will be no future for the people of America…………the “transformation” will be complete…….destroyed by the worst president in America’s history.

 

 

It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Ron Boat

If you're over 45 and you read the title you're probably thinking of Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Ethel Merman, Phil Silvers, Jonathan Winters and one of the best collections of comedic talent ever assembled to hunt for money under a big "W".

But unfortunately our attention these days is not of things funny and relaxing, but of things that disturb us, things unimaginable, things that fill our lives with fear, disappointment and even disbelief.

It was just timing that I started this the beginning of the week and then the tragedy in Connecticut occurred taking the lives of 20 young innocents who now live in heaven, never to see a graduation, enjoy their first car, or revel in the excitement of a first date or wedding. And adults who cared enough to educate these victims so young in years, they too are lost to the world for no good reason. A tragedy caused by a young man gone mad and who of us can even begin to understand. Schoolyards should not be filled with uniformed guns responding to such madness as this.

It was a week ago that another young madman decided to enter a mall in Oregon filled with all the wonderment of Christmas only to bring havoc and death to many whose only thought that day was of presents and Santa Claus and the celebration of the holidays. A maddening experience that shouldn't have been.

The history books of America are quickly filling with tragedies for which there are no real answers. The theater shootings during a movie opening in Aurora, Colorado: The rampant violence on the campuses of Virginia Tech and Columbine: The great loss of so many patriotic Americans at Ft. Hood; The shootings at the Sikh temple. And add to these the growth of deliberate daily violence that seems so stylish among the disturbed masses unashamedly taking lives and causing pain around every street corner and opportunity in America.

It’s unfortunate but it’s not just the violence so pervasively invading us but the lack of common sense that adds such madness to our daily lives we can hardly stand it – and certainly can’t explain it.  It’s as though the government has gone so completely mad with its self-instilled power it can’t stand its new found control.

It was bad enough when the government starts to tell people how to eat taking salt off the tables of restaurants and banning soft drinks larger than 16 ozs. (like you couldn’t buy two 12 oz if you wanted?) But during the recent storms in the northeast, they denied shipments of food to the hungry homeless because of their inability to verify fat and fiber content. Much needed power wasn’t restored to those freezing in the cold New Jersey nights after the storm because electrical workers, having traveled days to help their fellow man, were turned back…because they weren’t union workers.

When your family has mounting debts and declining income, you generally slow or stop spending on things unneeded, but our government? No way. We take in about $2.3 Trillion a year in revenue and yet we continue to borrow money so we can spend about $3.5 Trillion. (Just spending or subversion?)

Much of it on programs like: $100,000 for the DOE to develop an app for smart devices so customers can track and reduce their energy usage. Nice? Sure, but...there’s already 5 apps that do that. (Don’t forget the app to alert you when to take a coffee break – a sure winner for gov’t employees). Pepsi’s $66 Billion in revenue and $4.2 Billion cash on its balance sheet wasn’t enough to build a new yogurt plant in NY without taking $1.3 Million from the taxpayers for a new water system. Mad yet?

UC Davis spent a portion of a $325,000 National Science Foundation grant to construct a robot squirrel to answer the question of why rattlesnakes rarely attack squirrels that wag their tails and a research team in North Carolina used $1.2 Million from a NS Foundation grant to study 39 individuals, aged 60 to 77, to see how their cognitive function responded after playing Activision Blizzard’s World of Warcraft.

Madness? Probably, but even NASA spent nearly $1 million on developing a “Mars menu” in order to stave off food monotony (10 kids from high school could answer that one in a day). Michigan State Police, apportioned $10,000 in federal funds to purchase 400 talking urinal cakes from a Maryland-based company called Wizmark. When activated by a motion sensor, they would encourage users at local bars to consider getting a cab if intoxicated and, of course, remind them to wash their hands! (Have you seen that at your local Applebee’s or steak house yet?) I wonder what women have?

But hey… it’s only money and the government has gone mad spending it like they had it – which they do, if they borrow it. Question is - are you mad yet? It’s your $1,000,000,000 that the Missile Defense Agency spent building interceptor missiles…without first testing them. And Amtrak and the Post Office? They lose money on every meal served and letter delivered.

Besides the insane programs that people in government dream up and spend on, it’s the departments themselves. We talk all the time of eliminating waste but, the Dept of Energy created under Carter has done nothing – NOTHING – to decrease foreign imports and develop local resources. It doesn’t create watt of energy yet continues to employ 116,000 with a budget of nearly $30 BILLION and remember…The Budget Director for Dept of Energy just has no clue how many vehicles they own.

There's a curious line in the summary of President Obama's proposed fiscal 2012 Department of Education budget. "Now more than ever," it reads, "we cannot waste taxpayer dollars on programs that do not work." It's curious because no federal education programs appear to work, yet this administration is proposing to increase DOE spending to $77 billion.

A department that continues to spend more and more money while test scores decline, teachers are paid more for doing less (remember the Chicago teacher’s strike?) and decisions are made like promoting more and more unprepared people to go college to get degrees, yet only 56% of students in 4 year programs complete them in 6. Give the responsibility to the states and save a ton-o-bucks.

The folly encircling us isn’t limited to the U.S. In France a teacher asks students to compose their own suicide notes, and in London, two Muslims, who laughed as they repeatedly raped a 24-year-old woman, had their sentences slashed after politically correct judges ruled that the men were not “dangerous.” And down the street, the BBC dropped the use of Before Christ (BC) and Anno Domini (AD) on their programs, deciding that the terms 'Before Common Era' / 'Common Era' are more appropriate.

We’ve seen a continuing assault on Christianity especially at the holidays where one complaint from an atheist can stop a Charlie Brown Christmas play, or send the long established community nativity scenes back to the storeroom, but a school in Seattle wins the prize by renaming its Easter eggs “spring spheres” to avoid causing offence to people who did not celebrate Easter. 

Santa Clauses in Sydney, Australia, were banned from saying 'Ho Ho Ho'. Their employer, a company that supplies hundreds of Santas across Australia, told trainees that 'ho ho ho' could frighten children, and be derogatory to women. And of course we all know that we now buy holiday trees instead of Christmas trees, and Happy Holidays is the more appropriate “greeting du jour”

Whether an assault on your religion, freedoms, money, or even your life, there’s a mad attempt to take control of your way of life, your possessions and your thinking. You can say that politicians have gone mad but they’ve probably been that way their whole lives – it’s just that now they’re in charge of yours.

Do you sleep better knowing that $700,000 was spent to find that "dairy cows emit most of their methane through belching, not flatulence? And with the recent elections, it’s good to know The National Science Foundation spent $216,000 to study "ambiguous" statements by politicians, to find if candidates, "gain or lose support by taking ambiguous positions." And that “fish could show the nation how to overcome political polarization and promote democracy.”

And if you’re in that “soon-to-be-broke” state of California, you can rest well knowing your long gone grandparents are benefiting from the $11 million being distributed to providers of care or patients– that were deceased. 

If you’re not mad you should be. We’re slowing revolving down the financial toilet toward an accumulative sewer of waste and corruption, political payback, and more pork than would dismay all the world’s Muslims. Rights are being questioned, the Constitution marginalized, and watch now for a new round of anti-gun talks, rhetoric and pressed legislations.

It’s incumbent on all of us to watch out for ourselves, be aware of our surroundings, things and people around us and protect ourselves, our families and friends from situations… and even the government. I would normally add here to protect our country but even that is less than possible. The popular rephrasing of Maj. General Leonard Wood’s comment says that the purpose our own military is to kill people and break things – something that must happen to win a war, which should be the real purpose of our great military. However it’s not happening for in their politically correct madness, our leaders have established such restrictive ROE (Rules of Engagement) that to do so invites the wrath of a court martial. Even to the extent of disallowing bad “speech” against the enemy lest we evoke a hated of America. Shame shame.

This is my chance to step away from being mad for a bit, say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or if you insist, Happy Holidays to everyone who loves America and the country we all cherish. We do indeed live in “interesting times” and I can only hope that the madness we’ve seen over the last few years disappears into a atmosphere of reason, understanding, trust and caring for each other. But somehow I doubt it, and we’ll have to keep fighting for the rights and freedoms afforded us by our now “politically incorrect” forefathers and founders. But, more on that next year.

Make it a fun, fun, fun, fun world for yourselves. Be safe and God bless America.

 

Old Lies – New Lies

Old Lies – New Lies

Kevin Bryant

"It is a matter of record that in the German Election of 1933, the Communist Party was ordered by its leaders to vote for the Nazis -- with the explanation that they could later fight the Nazis for power, but first they had to help destroy their common enemy: capitalism and its parliamentary form of government." --author and philosopher Ayn Rand (1905-1982) (Copied from The Patriot Post) 

There was a book written in the 1970’s titled “New Lies Of Old”. This book was written by the former #3 guy in the KGB. The book is officially considered a work of fiction because it was a forecasted blue print of a plan to be executed by the KGB and the old Soviet Empire. The book describes how the Soviet Union would tear itself apart and put itself back together to be even stronger than before and how they were going to influence and use the United States to accomplish their goals. To date, many who actually continue to study the old Soviet Union and Russia claim just over 70% of this book has come true, it has just taken a longer time to accomplish their goals than what was predicted.  

In the past 100+ years, there has not been a single nation that has experienced a revolution, a revolt or a major political shift where the middle class has outnumbered the lower class of a capitalistic type country.  

Communism and Fascism are still alive here in America. If you look between the years 1945 - 1960, these two factions had small but steady growth in membership and influencing ideology here in the United States. Both basically came out of the woodwork so to speak in the middle and later 60’s and early 70’s. It was also around that time their influence in America really took hold and it started showing up on college campuses, in worker’s unions, in the “peace” protests and even in the fringes of our federal government. If you closely study the statements made by those self-proclaimed communist of that era, you can hear the same statements today being made by the “progressives” of the Democratic Party.  

I actually give credit to Bernie Sanders, former Representative and now Senator of Vermont. He proudly boasts that he is a member of the Liberty Union Party, an offshoot of the Communist Party of America. Yet those others who call themselves “progressives” within the Democrat Party reject the notion they are anything like the communist and fascist parties of the 60’s and 70’s yet they talk the same talk and with witnessed in their voting records, they walk the same walk. Those include but are not limited to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, James Clyburn, Harry Reid, Dick Durbin, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Claire McCaskill, Mark Pryor, Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell, Al Franken, Tom Harkin, Jesse Jackson Jr, Sheila Jackson Lee, John Kerry ……… That is only some “progressives” that claim to be patriotic to America and believe in the vision of our Founding Fathers but vote to tear that vision apart. 

Democrats aren’t the only ones who embellish some fascist and communistic ideas. We always have the ever present RINO’s John McCain, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Olympia Snowe, Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell and others who believe in big government, at least according to the way they vote, yet wrap themselves up in the flag so to speak to impress everyone who believes in liberty and freedoms.  

The Republicans listed above look, speak and vote like the 60’s and 70’s democrats. The democrats listed above sound and vote like they were listening to early speeches of Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin when they would whip up and captivate their audience with visions of grandeur for the country and the people, all the while wanting nothing more than centralized control of everything and everyone.   

Today it is easy to buy a vote in congress. The old rule, he who has the most gold makes the rules is hard at work in congress and the white house today. BILLIONS of dollars back the lobbyist in congress, the union leaders who frequent the white house and they all contribute heavily to those politicians who vote their way. There are at least 5 lobbyist businesses right now doing work in the capital building which are backed and financed by George Soros, the King of Capitalist Manipulation. The Union Leaders, The Heads of the Communist and Fascist Parties demand their members to support and vote for these bought and paid for politicians.  

The democrats want America not to just fall off the fiscal cliff they want America to crash and burn when it hits the ground. Is this the “emergency” for which Obama wrote all those Executive Orders dictating when Marshall Law can be declared and what agency of the federal government gains control of what in America? Is this the Fundamental Transformation of America Obama promised in 2008?  

It has been a little over 20 years now since I read “New Lies Of Old”. Like I said, it was written by the former #3 man of the KGB who defected to the United States. The former head of the KGB again sits in the presidential chair in Russia and we have a president who declared in his own book his friends and those who influenced him and he admired growing up were socialist and communist. It has been all but confirmed known communist and underground weather terrorist Bill Ayers was more than just a neighbor to the Obama’s. Perhaps I should read it again and possibly see what happens next.

And Now a Word From Our Sponsors - The Lenders

And Now a Word From Our Sponsors - The Lenders

Ron Boat

"Never a borrower nor a lender be." Remember those words? Polonius had it right. But seems like someone in government forgot because over the years they lent money to unstable situations which later defaulted or the US forgave the debt. AND... as we are all more painfully aware, they continue to borrow without any sense of responsibility, restraint or remorse.

Without the ability to create debt, no one would own a house or in some cases even a car. Debt is a part of business allowing it to grow sensibly and responsibly. Governments routinely borrow - even though they probably shouldn't - in order to make it through slow times or they issue bonds (which are in fact a debt) to get money so they can build stadiums, schools and new monoliths to their own self-believing government efficiencies. Unfortunately, borrowing has become looked at like taxes... "there's an endless supply of money so... let's spend it."

What irresponsible people and governments seem to forget is that 1) debts are to be repaid, 2) you need to plan and make sure there's a means of paying it back (like a job or tax revenues) and 3) there's a cost associated with the debt - the interest.

When you have too much debt, you should cut spending in order to pay it back. Something current lawmakers seem unwilling to do or are unknowledgeable about how. Let's see how the government's numbers translate to ordinary people:

* U.S. Tax revenue: $2,380,000,000,000

* Fed budget: $3,793,000,000,000

* New debt: $ 1,650,000,000,000

* National debt: $16,330,000,000,000

* Recent budget cuts: $ 38,500,000,000

Let's now remove 8 zeros and pretend it's a household budget:

* Annual family income: $23,800

* Money the family spent: $37,930

* New debt on the credit card: $16,500

* Outstanding balance on the credit card: $163,300 (how high is your personal "debt ceiling?")

* Total budget cuts: $385

Got It?

If a husband or wife truly love their spouse and family, they don't make financial decisions that will cost them their futures and everything they own. I look at the country the same way. If the man (and men) in charge really cared about America, they would act responsibly in their duties and not overburden its citizens with ever growing piles of unrepayable, unsustainable obligations. And remember that the senate has not passed a budget in three and a half years and even the president’s own submission some years back was rejected… even by Democrats.

As a taxpayer and while reading this, you now owe, thanks to the government, about $150,000 – some have put it over $220K (about $8,000 to the Chinese). That's for the current national debt which stands at about $16,330,130,500,284 and is growing at the rate of about $179,000 every 4 seconds. (almost $4 Billion / day)

And who are our financial benefactors?

 

China (the biggest foreign lender), Japan, UK, Caribbean Banking Centers, Oil Exporters, Brazil, Russia, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Taiwan, Switzerland - and on down to the $128 we individually owe Chile, the $113 we owe Malaysia and the $108 we each owe the Philippines ending up at each other's aging grandmother because the America public holds the majority of the national debt.

What people keep forgetting and don't want to even think about is the scary little thing known as "unfunded liabilities (debts)." Those pesky little future payments for things like Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, and other very real obligations that have no current predictable and steady revenue stream but will come due at some point. Sit down and grab your martini because they make our current $16 Trillion dollar debt look like a car payment. Consider that number is now nearly $90,000,000,000,000 - Yes $90 Trillion. And some have even estimated upwards of $120 Trillion or more. (The numbers in all this keep moving)

The National Debt will grow an additional $9 trillion over the next decade, to around $25 trillion, as Congress tacks on trillions for health care, cap and trade, new federal stimulus programs, and other yet to be identified spending programs. The most recent Trustees' report puts unfunded Medicare liability at around $42.8 Trillion and Social Security around $20.5 trillion. In theory, the Medicare and Social Security trust funds have at least some money to pay a portion of the bills that are coming due. In actuality.... the cupboard is bare: 100% of the payroll taxes for these programs were spent in the same year they were collected. In other words, the money in the S.S. bank is Zero, Zip, Zilch, Nada.

And what happens when they're short to pay the bills? Normally, in exchange for the payroll taxes that aren't paid out in benefits to current retirees in any given year, the trust funds got nonmarketable Treasury debt. But now, as the baby boomers' promised benefits swamp the payroll-tax collections from today's workers, the government has to swap the trust funds' nonmarketable securities for marketable Treasury debt. The Treasury will then have to sell not only this debt, but far more, in order to pay all benefits and debts as they come due.

And the disappointing fact for taxpayers? To collect enough tax revenue just to avoid going deeper into debt would require over $8 trillion in tax collections annually. In 2011, we collected about $2.3 Trillion in taxes but of course spent over $3 Trillion hence.... we borrowed AND are still behind.

To pay the debt liberals are always willing to invoke the "tax those mean old rich people" mantra. But consider: The Gov't costs about $9.69 Billion a day to run and if we taxed Barbra Streisand, George Clooney, Michael Jordon and all the other rich at 100%... it raises $82.4 Billion a year or… resulting in only about 9 days of operating capital. Hummmm short again.

So the bottom line to this exercise? We're under a huge gun and the bullet is aimed at the America public. I could pull out my conspiratorial hat and say that any president that not only allows this to happen but facilitates it has an agenda which is not pro-American (Remember “overwhelm the system?”). But I'll save that for another time. We MUST cut spending, waste, fraud, abuse, loss, misappropriation, oh how I could go on but... without changes, the current mythical fiscal cliff in January is just a momentary diversion from the real fate that awaits America. And it's not a cliff, it's a chasm, a gulf, a canyon… an abyss beyond belief.

I ask myself where are all those real changes the newly elected conservative congressional members were to make when elected in 2010? Guess they missed that memo.

Romeo Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Cometh hither to me and bring thy checkbook.

Your own feedback is always invited, and God bless and help us.

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And just FYI:

•Our national debt, in hundred dollar bills, would carpet Washington DC eight times, and you would still have enough left over to carpet Tiananmen Square over 40 times.

•Americans owe an amount equal in value to over twice all the gold in the world, even at today's record high prices.

•If you spent $11 million every day in payment of the national debt for the next 4000 years, you still would not pay off the debt. (forget about the interest)

•If you laid $16.5 trillion in $100 bills end to end on their side at the equator, the line would circle the earth 627 times.

•A child born today starts out life owing about $50,000 - about the price of two years of college, on average.

•How did our parent’s generation leave us? A child born in 1950 was on the hook for about $1700 at birth.