Showing posts with label #ERO. Show all posts

Friday, October 26, 2018

What's the Republican voter to do?

By Bob Livingston

The United States was founded on the republican principles of federalism (states' rights) and representative government. Today's government is "constitutional" in name only.

National politicians and the federal judiciary have no fealty to the Constitution. They give it lip service. Some — Republicans, at least — claim to support it and run on it, but then when elected immediately vote to cede congress' lawmaking authority to the imperial president and the myriad alphabet soup agencies of government. Now we have the IRS, the FCC, the EPA, HHS, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, the FDA, the USDA, etc., writing and enforcing laws under the guise of "regulatory authority." The result is a contemptible abuse of the people by agents of the federal government, rising taxes and fees, closed businesses, stifled innovation, and depressed economic growth.

But few are those in government who consider the Constitution at all. That's because politics and government attract psychopaths, liars and thieves. It attracts people who are parasitic in nature, greedy and without conscience. In short, these are people who have the born mentality to live off of other people.

They are selfish and attracted to money and power. Therefore, they are easily swayed and even bought by the corporatists and banksters; and their every act is to increase their and their agency's power and sphere of influence.

The masses of people have been propagandized by the state-controlled media and the public (non)education system into believing that government is designed and tasked with looking out for the best interests of the people. But nothing could be further from the truth. They have little knowledge of the Constitution and little concept of limited government, and they believe government can and should be all things to all people… particularly if a check to them from the federal Treasury is involved.

The so-called regulatory agencies of government are typically staffed at the top by crony capitalists and lobbyists for the industries they supposedly regulate. As such, they write rules and regulations that benefit preferred large multinational corporations and government at the expense of the people.

As Benito Mussolini stated, "Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power" and "The definition of fascism is the marriage of corporation and state." That exactly explains what our former constitutional republic has become. It is benevolent totalitarianism, tyranny under the guise of democracy. But the truth is democracy = socialism = fascism = communism. They are one in the same.

Mussolini also said of his fascism, "We have buried the putrid corpse of liberty," and that is likewise the goal of the American fascist politician and federal bureaucrat. Liberty necessarily perishes under collectivism, egalitarianism and government altruism.

Republican voters are well-versed in having the party's elite slap them around. Like a battered spouse who continues to return home, Republican voters believe tomorrow will be different. "He loves me, after all," they tell themselves.

Republican voters vote — or at least think they vote — for small government, fiscal responsibility and safety at home but get massive spending bills more government bureaucracy and more wars abroad.

True conservatives reject statism, embrace small government and abhor confiscatory taxes. Conservatives believe in a strong military for the Nation's defense (not military adventurism). Conservatives advocate liberty and personal responsibility.

The Republican Party is now ruled by CINOs (conservatives in name only). I have been telling you this for a long time.

We must come to terms with the fact that voting for more Republicans to send to Washington will not change the status quo. Who remembers how big and how fast government grew under the "compassionate conservative" George W. Bush when he had a Republican Congress? In seven years under Bush, federal spending jumped from $1.86 trillion in 2001 to $2.98 trillion in 2008, a jump of 60 percent or a growth rate of 7 percent.

Bush and Republicans gave us No Child Left Behind, the USA Patriot Act, the Department of Homeland Security, perpetual war and bailouts. Those measures are certainly not conservative by any stretch of the imagination.

The current crop of Republicans are giving us massive spending bills that would make Barack Obama blush. His 8-year spending barrage pales in comparison to what the Republicans have unleashed on the American people. It is a bad day for America's economic house when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (Communist-New York) cheers that America's "era of austerity" has "come to an end," as he did last March. The Republican spending barrage has continued into the fall.

So what is the good Republican voter to do — especially with the midterm elections looming?

Though it is certainly no guarantee for success, Republican voters should concentrate on finding candidates for state and local elections who will uphold the Constitution they swear to uphold and who are willing to take a bold stand for state's rights and against federal tyranny. It's at the state level that nullification of unconstitutional federal laws is to take place, as outlined by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions in 1789.

If you feel you must take on national issues, push for term limits and the repeal of the 16th and 17th Amendments which would end the unconstitutional income tax system and necessarily end the Federal Reserve, and restore selection of senators to the states where the Founders intended. A return to sound money and republicanism is what will save the nation.

Gradualism — the glacial move away from federalism led by national politicians who used and continue to use the Federal Treasury to buy votes and reward crony corporations and intrude into state issues, and used by an activist federal judiciary — has turned republicanism on its head and into a fascist system of tyranny and oppression. To peacefully restore constitutional governance will be a gradual and difficult process, and its probability of success remains in doubt.

But it starts with you. No national politicians will do this for you.

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Maxine Waters hit with 3 ethics violation charges

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Personal Liberty News Desk

Radical leftist Representative Maxine Waters, of California, has been hit with three charges of ethical violations by the House Committee on Ethics.

CBS News reports that the charges related to whether Waters gave inappropriate assistance to a bank that got federal bail-out money and to which she had personal connections. The ethics committee charged that Waters organized a meeting in 2008 between Treasury officials and executives from OneUnited Bank, where her husband was once a board member and had large investments. The bank received $12 million from the federal government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Waters serves on the House Financial Services Committee, and there have been rumors for some time that she had acted inappropriately regarding the bailout funds.

According to CBS, Waters has defended her request for the meeting between Treasury officials and OneUnited executives as part of her efforts to advocate on behalf of minority-owned businesses. She maintains she is innocent of any wrongdoing.

The charges are that she violated a House rule that members must “behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House;” that she violated the “spirit” of the House rule that prohibits a member from receiving compensation for exerting improper influence from her position in Congress; and that she violated the Code of Ethics for Government Service.

She will face a public trail before the Ethics Committee in the fall.

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Why even Republicans embrace socialism

By Bob Livingston

Why even Republicans embrace socialism

The more government takes an interest in private affairs, the less individual freedom there is. The greater the government's involvement in regulation, the greater the threat to your life. Massive government spending on social programs designed to "improve" people's lives or correct ailments created by government intervention corresponds directly to loss of individual freedoms.

Always remember that personal freedom is inversely proportional to governmental freedom. In other words, in whatever interest or matters one chooses not to self-govern, others will govern for you. But individuals are often happy to relinquish this responsibility for themselves in order to seem altruistic. It might even make them feel patriotic. What they don't realize is that they are making a terrifying trade-off. Once an individual sacrifices himself to the collective, the collective can then sacrifice the individual to further its own ends.

Freedom does not exist in a vacuum; it does not exist for those who do not exercise it. Seemingly convenient at first, rule by others quickly becomes arbitrary, descends into slavery and ultimately becomes murderous. Much has been said and written about the supposed checks and balances of the Constitution, but the only reliable check and balance against tyranny is self-government.

Freedom is like a precious commodity to be mined from life. The politicians and global elite deceive the masses into believing that freedom exists mystically and ethereally, to be breathed in like air or enjoyed at one's leisure. They want us to think of freedom like that, as some nebulous, pretty thing to be unwrapped from pretty packages, tangible only when it is a meager privilege bestowed by other men playing God.

Freedom is a black-or-white, yes-or-no, either/or, zero-sum proposition. There are no gray areas or lukewarmness when it comes to freedom.

But the concept of freedom of the individual, or individual liberty, has been shoved down the memory hole and replaced by a popular mentality of diminishing the individual and independent thinker to a collectivist mind (mentality) which can be esoterically swayed, directed and channeled against his own best interest. The virtue and sanctity of the individual person and ego is no more, and anathema to the state.

What does it all mean? It means that a state of mind is developed and nurtured that freely gives oneself and one's production to the state. Each individual, in order to be a good citizen of the state, must contribute most of his means and be grateful for the services the state returns — whether they are necessary or useful or not.

The result is that even so-called conservatives have come to not only accept socialism but to embrace it in many forms. Oh, they'll reject it when it's called what it is, as conservatives have chimed in to reject and ridicule proposals by self-avowed socialists like Bernie Sanders and the new communist darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But they readily accept socialism in its many forms, especially when it's proposed by socialists masquerading as Republicans.

Republicans claim to have the corner on genuine conservatism. But there is nothing conservative about the welfare state, the warfare state or the police state. All are big government programs and are used to steal liberties — particularly the liberties of free association, free assembly, free speech, free markets, religious liberty and control over one's own health and body.

With nary a peep out of the so-called conservative voter, Republican politicians just passed an $854 billion spending bill to fund the departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Labor and Education which, as The Hill notes, "make up the lions share of total government spending." All but six of the 51 Senate Republicans joined all the Democrats (save Sanders) to vote for the bill. House Republicans have successfully marginalized the House Freedom Caucus and are getting set to pass the bill or something similar enough that it will be settled in conference.

Republican politicians and voters embrace Social Security, Medicare and its expansions, Medicaid, No Child Left Behind, a greater regulatory state and most parts of Obamacare. There is little effort beyond show to cut government spending by the statist Republican politicians, and "conservative" Americans call for spending cuts only until their favorite social or corporate welfare program becomes part of the discussion.

How can government socialism of Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez be bad but the socialism of big government Republicans be good?

There is no such thing as a little socialism. As Ron Paul wrote this week:

Many Republican politicians — and even conservative intellectuals — will say they are being pragmatic by not fighting progressives on first principles, but instead limiting the damage done by the welfare state. The problem with this line is that, by accepting the premise that government can and should solve all of life's problems, conservatives and Republicans will inevitably get into a "bidding war" with progressives and Democrats. The only way Republicans can then win is to join Democrats in continually increasing spending and creating new programs. This is why the so-called "conservative welfare state" ends up as bloated and expansive as the progressive welfare state. Refusing to question the premises of the welfarists and socialists is not a pragmatic way to advance liberty.

While progressives blame social crises on the free market, Republicans and conservatives are unwilling to admit the problems were caused by prior government interventions… Until a popular intellectual movement arises that is able and willing to challenge the premises of Keynesianism, welfarism, and democratic socialism, while putting forth a positive vision of a free society, government will continue to expand. Fortunately, such a movement exists and is growing as more Americans — particularly young Americans — are studying the ideas of Liberty and working to spread those ideas. If the new liberty movement grows and stays true to its principles, it will be able to defeat the socialists of all parties, including those who call themselves conservative.

When someone is spiritually deceived into faithfully believing in a system, it becomes impossible for that person to think logically, rationally, coherently and consistently about the true nature and problems associated with that system. It took thousands of years for the elite and their spiritual descendants to put over this spiritually-based deception and system on a truly global scale. By perpetuating it, the elite remain in charge — a plutocracy masked by the usual labels: democracy, social democracy, socialism, global capitalism, free trade, etc.

Lovers of self-government and freedom always question consensus authority. A good rule of thumb that has always served me well is to believe the opposite of what the politicians and the media tell you. Remember that government has nothing good to give you. The government is in the business of shrinking freedom (and wealth), not expanding it; and in the business of expanding itself, not shrinking itself.

Socialism and its evil twin, democratic socialism, are disguised systems of stealing the wealth and production of the producers of wealth with spurious laws under the legitimacy of the vote. Stealing or taking from producers and transferring it to nonproducers is very sophisticated and concealed class warfare. It is a philosophy of envy, racism, weakness, ineptitude and collectivism. It is groupism, the hidden strategy to get the masses to give their minds over to the state.

This, my friends, is the politics of authoritarianism. Socialism = communism = fascism = democracy = tyranny. Things that are equal to each other are the same. All political power is derived from this. This must be understood or there is no understanding at all.

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Exposing the Mechanics of the Chicago Machine

“You’re being manipulated in a cynical, hateful way.”

Chicago, Illinois - September 19, 2018 - How is it that the people who have led Illinois into one of the largest fiscal and moral crises in the nation have managed to hold on to power?

Yesterday, Deputy Governor Leslie Munger, State Representatives Peter Breen (R-Lombard), Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), Margo McDermed (R-Frankfort) and Tom Morrison (R-Plainfield), and state legislative candidates Alyssia Benford (Will County), Tonia Khouri (DuPage County), Ammie Kessem (Northwest Chicago), Marilyn Smolenski (Park Ridge / Des Plaines) and Dan Ugaste (Kane County) answered that question during a joint press conference.

House Minority Floor Leader Peter Breen discussed the money poured into the Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) by unions, trial lawyers and other powerful special interest groups in exchange for favorable votes and legislation in the State House.
“All money, messages and members of the majority party are controlled by Madigan,” said Breen. “The people who have been in charge of this state for decades have failed you. But each cycle, they are re-elected... They use the same methods over and over. They lie about what’s happening, because if you knew what they were actually doing, you would ride them out on a rail. They think you won’t figure it out, that you will never connect the dots. That is who they are, that's the character of the people who hold all the power in Illinois. We need to change out the people in Springfield, if we are ever going change anything in Illinois.”

State Representative Margo McDermed addressed the DPI's method of attacking opponents. She presented some of the lies told about her and other Republican candidates using women’s issues and other identity-based attacks. Speaking directly to Illinois voters, McDermed said, “You are being manipulated in a cynical, hateful way that you need to stop.”

“I have been on the receiving end of the most ironic mail campaign of this election-cycle,” said State Representative Mark Batinick, referring to the DPI’s “No Budget, No Pay” message.
In 2015, Batinick filed “No Budget, No Pay” legislation. Speaker Madigan refused to call his bill for a vote. When then-Comptroller Leslie Munger moved legislator pay in line with state vendor pay, she was sued by Speaker Madigan’s lawyers on behalf of Democrat legislators. In 2016, Democrat Susana Mendoza ran for Comptroller on the promise of “No Budget, No Pay” and defeated Munger. Once in office, Mendoza moved state legislator paychecks back to the front of the line, and ignored advice from Batinick and others on how to enact “No Budget, No Pay.”

Batinick called using “No Budget, No Pay” just to get elected “disgusting and dishonest.” He called on Democrat leaders to pass his legislation immediately.

State Representative Tom Morrison exposed the method by which Illinois Democrats abuse their power in the state legislature to win elections: Not only do Democrat legislators vote through bills favorable to the unions and special interests that fund the DPI, but each cycle Michael Madigan, Speaker of the House and Chair of the Democrat Party of Illinois, calls bills to the floor that he has no intention of seeing signed into law (ie. Martwick’s Elected School Board, Concealed Carry bills in 2013; eighteen votes on a property tax freeze in 2016).
Morrison revealed that Democrat legislators then use their offices to send out legislative updates and other communications that echo the messaging on DPI’s campaign mailers. “It is a con,” said Morrison. “And it needs to stop.”

“There are a lot of words on these mailers,” said Deputy Governor Leslie Munger. In addition to her work on “No Budget, No Pay, when Munger ran against State Representative Carol Sente in 2014. She was subjected of one of the dirtiest, most dishonest campaigns in the state.
“These words mean nothing if we don’t have people willing to stand up and do what they say they will do… We have to be choosy voters… We need to vote for people who will not support the status quo; who will not continue the empty promises that we’ve had in the past from the leader of the Illinois House - and, frankly, the leadership that we’ve had in the General Assembly altogether. We need to vote for people who will stand up for the taxpayers… Be choosy voters.”

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For more information contact Kathleen Murphy at 630-329-4680 orkathleenemurphy26@gmail.com.

Monday, October 1, 2018

A Call For Freedom Nominated for Five Chicago Midwest Emmy Awards

A CALL FOR FREEDOM will be rebroadcast on TLN on October 18^th at 8:00PM CST. You can also view the documentary in its entirety on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-l4mx0b6sY

Chicago – September 28, 2018 –

In a powerful collaboration between NRBTV, FOUR:2 Media, and Moody Church Media, a documentary on the life and legacy of the provocative monk Martin Luther, A CALL FOR FREEDOM, has received five Emmy® Award nominations from the Chicago Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS).

A CALL FOR FREEDOM, shot in Germany, is no dry history lesson, but delves into the passion and heart of Martin Luther. Hosted by best-selling author Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, it presents eye-opening insights into how the Reformation still influences us today.

Troy Miller, NRBTV Present/CEO and Executive

Producer of A CALL FOR FREEDOM, said, “This was an incredible project that started off with

Dr. Lutzer’s passion for the reformation, and

more importantly the Gospel. I’m very indebted to the teams at FOUR:2 Media and Moody for exceptional production work, writing, and editing. This was an outstanding project to be part of.”

President and CEO of TLN, Debra Fraser said, “We were privileged to work with two tremendous organizations in such a creative way. The fact that the documentary was transformed from an idea to a masterpiece in less than a year is remarkable and a reflection on the talent of our team.”

TLN was nominated for awards in the following categories:

Outstanding Achievement for Documentary Programs – Historical (Award to Producer)

A Call for Freedom: Greg Bogdan, Erwin Lutzer, Troy Miller, Executive Producers;

Joel Mains, Producer; Nicholas Alyinovich, Jeff De Vries, Pam Zelek, Associate Producers

Outstanding Crafts Achievement Off-Air – Directing

Joel Mains - A Call for Freedom

Outstanding Crafts Achievement Off-Air – Lighting

Jeff De Vries - A Call for Freedom

Outstanding Crafts Achievement Off-Air: Editor - Program (Non-News)

Joel Mains - A Call for Freedom

Outstanding Crafts Achievement Off-Air: Photographer - Program (Non-News)

Nicholas Alyinovich, Dennis J. Burgin, Jeff De Vries, Clayton Horsfall, Joel Mains, Scott Parker - A Call for Freedom

A CALL FOR FREEDOM Producer/Director Joel Mains said, “Last summer, a small group of us set off on a massively challenging adventure to turn a daunting topic, the Protestant Reformation, into an engaging and fast-moving special about how it has impacted our modern culture. We’re gratified that the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of NATAS has recognized this important project.”

“These nominations are a great encouragement to me,” said Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, Pastor Emeritus at The Moody

Church “and more importantly, emphasize the need for the message of the Reformation to be heard anew in a world that is short on good news. Joel Mains and his team from TLN deserve credit for making this period of history come alive with stimulating interaction and relevance.”

As part of the National Academy of Television Arts and

Sciences, the Chicago/Midwest Chapter is the standard bearer for excellence in the television broadcasting industry and the gatekeepers of the prestigious Emmy ® Awards in the Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin region. It is one of the largest and most senior local chapters in the nation, with a proud history of innovation and excellence in the field of broadcast television and beyond.

The 2018 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown.

FOUR:2 Media is the production division for Total Living Network. TLN is a lifestyle channel serving the greater Chicagoland region for over forty years. TLN produces original programming serving the Chicagoland faith community and has received numerous Midwest Emmy awards over its history. TLN airs on Xfinity by Comcast on Channel 138 and streams programming live at www.tln.com.