Success story without affirmative action

LA Times article starting off Black History Month is a whopper of a true story showing that freedom, opportunity, and hard work are much better than a hand out or government support.

Biddy Mason was born a slave in 1818 somewhere in the South, her owner moved a few times before settling in FREE Southern California. In 1855 she was freed to begin her life in Los Angeles where by 1891 when she died as one of the richest women in Southern California.

Read the article from the link above and rejoice in knowing that Bill Cosby is preaching the right message.

Open letter to Governor Schwarzenegger

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

While you are entitled to your belief on this matter and were well within your right to express you opinion during the campaign, as Governor of California you owe the people your support (or at least silence) once the people have expressed their will through a fair election. I was very disappointed to read in the LA Times about your CNN interview where you expressed your "hope that the California Supreme Court would overturn Proposition 8."

Now as the week has progressed I continue to wonder where is your response is to the vigilantism carried out on supporters of Proposition 8 who are only guilty of legally supporting a proposition placed on the ballot as approved by the State's Attorney General and Secretary of State.

Today, again in the LA Times you are quoted as saying about Proposition 8 "that it's unconstitutional," which makes absolutely no sense given Article 18, Sections 3 and 4, of the California Constitution. It is apparent that the people are given the right to "amend the Constitution by initiative" and "if approved by a majority of votes thereon takes effect the day after the election." While I was surprised to learn how easy it is to amend the Constitution, there is no basis for the State Supreme Court to do anything but uphold the Amendment as written.

Are voters stupid?

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, believes the California voters are not able to understand the written election information produced by the Secretary of State and approved by the Attorney General, and make an informed decision. It is disappointing to hear the level on contempt the Speaker has for the voters of California.

Unfortunately, I think people (voters) thought they were making a statement about what their view of same-sex marriage was ("Eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry." see below). I don't know if it was clear that this meant that we are amending the Constitution ("Changes the California Constitution..." see below) to diminish freedom ("...eliminate the right..." see below) in our state.
- Nancy Pelosi, November 7, 2008

Proposition 8 is only 14 words:

Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

Attorney General's official title and summary:

Eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

• Changes the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California.
• Provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

Given the relative simplicity of Proposition 8, obviously the Speaker must question the results of the other 11 proposition voted on during the November 4, 2008, election.

The Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Readability Index puts the information sent to the voters on par with Sports Illustrated and Time Magazine (Grade 11 to 12), which is judged to be significantly simpler than the IRS code (and text of the other propositions).

California voters can change Constitution

There has been some discussion about the ability of the people to change the California Constitution. Well by checking the document it is clearly, YES!

CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 18  AMENDING AND REVISING THE CONSTITUTION

SEC. 3.  The electors may amend the Constitution by initiative.

Hopefully, if Proposition 8 passes, no one challenges the voters decision and if they do, the California Supreme Court follows the writing of the Constitution.

Presidential Qualification and Best Choice

Many have ask weather the current Presidential and Vice President candidates are qualified for the position? The simple answer is "yes."

Article II of the US Constitution provides for the qualifications for President...

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

Constitutional Amendment XX, Section 3, covers the rules for the Presidency when either the President or Vice President are not qualified...

...if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

Given all of the candidates are qualified for the position of President of the United States, are they the "best" people for the position? This is too vague to be a realistic question. "Best" is based upon personal view and "best" takes every possible context of the candidate and the position they are running for.

In the long run, yes, these are the "best" candidates for the positions because these are the people their parties have nominated for the election. The winner of the 2008 electoral college will be the "best" because the country selected that team to become our top executive.

In a few short weeks we'll know our "best" choice of President and Vice President for the next term in office.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

The recent nomination of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and her story reminded me of Frank Capra's classic movie with one of the great American hero, Brigadier General, James (Jimmy) Stewart.

Whoopi Goldberg, Matt Damon, MSNBC, Keith Olberman, and others act similar to the "Taylor Machine" trying to crush and lick the VP nominee. Palin should feel comforted by the words from The Gettysberg Address that inspired Smith to put up his fight

"...that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." - Abraham Lincoln

Hopefully, like "Smith" the VP nominee will continue to speak to the people, not get discuraged by lies (even if it becomes a "hopeless cause"), and outlast the "corruption" trying to control the media.

The Second American Revolution...

While a revolution is not needed since we are lucky enough to live in a country provides the people the power of representation to change the government. Here is an interesting YouTube video clip about their "Second American Revolution." There is some good support for a unifying common language.

Candidate Interviews

Nothing can be more American than exercising the right and fulfilling the responsibility to vote. Here is a great place to learn more...

Saddleback Church and Dr. Rick Warren in their Civil Forum provided a great first look at our upcoming presidential candidates. A series of identical questions were provided to each candidate during their own one hour conversation with Pastor Rick. This telling format gives an excellent glimpse into the the thought process and beliefs of the men wanting to become our next President.

Amendment - Section 5

SECTION 5

United States (US) Citizens shall not possess concurrent citizenship with any foreign entity. Claim of non-citizenship or possession of non-US citizenship documents voids all claims to and revokes US Citizenship.

Only persons voluntarily rescinding their US Citizenship shall be provided with Lawful Permanent Residence status. All others shall be deported once all legal proceedings, incarcerations, and restitutions have been completed.

Multiple citizenship provides no benefit to the US population as a whole, yet it does not place all citizens equally. Those wishing to be citizens and placing the US first in their commitment shall be granted all privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, while those not committed to the US shall continue to be welcomed as residents with the limitations imposed upon all foreign nationals.

Just as important as it is for a common language, all citizens must be as willing as the original signers of the Deceleration of Independence were, to be committed first and foremost to these United States. Our forefathers were committing treason against the British Crown with risk of being executed as traitors, while we on the other hand must only be willing to protect their principals and guidance.

Amendment - Section 4

SECTION 4

Persons born within these United States, territories, and Federal Government controlled land, after December 31, 1999 (local time), shall only obtain citizenship if at the time of their birth at least one parent is a citizen. All others are foreign aliens of their parents' country(ies) and must obtain citizenship through naturalization.

Amendment XIV guaranteed citizenship to former salves and their families. After over 100 years, citizenship has been properly granted to all those it was originally intended to assist. Children of foreign nationals in the USA legally or illegally shall not become US citizens solely based upon the location of their birth.

Simple to Complicated

California Attorney General, Jerry Brown, took the very simple Proposition 8 Amendment language in the proposed law and created his own version with a significant bias.

Here the law is in its entirety...

Section 1. Title

This measure shall be known and may be cited as the "California Marriage Protection Act."

Section 2. Section 7.5 is added to Article I of the California Constitution, to read:

Sec. 7.5. Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

Very simple and straight forward... but Jerry Brown decided to embellish this text in his "Ballot Label" (wording used on the actual ballot) and "Ballot Title and Summary" (wording used on the Sample Ballot). The Ballot Label reads:

ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME-SEX COUPLES TO MARY.
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

Changes California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. Provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Fiscal Impact: Over next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments. In the long run, likely little financial impact on state or local government.

A description of this action can be located in a local news broadcast. The entire text for the ballot and sample ballot for this (and other propositions) can be found on the Secretary of State website.

Casa D' Ice

Bill Balsamico has become a public figure (and presidential candidate) because of his lack of political correctness and his restaurant's Famous Sign. Bill speaks out frequently about current events that lack any common sense and upset him. Many of his statements, while strong, represent the thoughts of many Americans tired of giving away everything (including those paid for by American's lives) trying to relieve our collective "White Guilt" (see Shelby Steele's book).

Chuck Speaks

Chuck Norris speaking out about cleaning up our language, taking us back to our founding philosophy, and move beyond old slanderous discussions.

Case in point is George Carlin's classic early 1970's monologue of the "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television," which seems tame by what is frequently overheard in today's society.

Value of Responsibility

Daniel Flanagan is an American hero not because he is a celebrity, athlete, politician, or business mogul. He was a average high school dropout and as he termed it "looser." That is until in his early twenties, he became a father, looked himself in the mirror and decided to improve his life for his son's sake. Daniel was courageous enough to examine his life and pull himself up by his "boot straps." It would have been easy in today's society to shirk his responsibility but Daniel recognized his families needs and did hard things along the less traveled path. Read or listen to Daniel's essay about his transformation in NPR's This I Believe segment "The Choice To Do It Over Again"

Amendment - Section 3

SECTION 3

Each House Representative shall be elected by a majority of the eligible citizens casting votes within their Congressional District. Each Congressional District boundaries shall follow state, county, city, or postal boundaries, be near rectangular in shape, as square in shape as possible, and consist of a near equal proportion of adult citizens as determined by each Census.

Congressional Districts based upon established boundaries and geographically neutral establishes a consistent method for determining a representative government instead of one that continues to represent those that construct the boundaries to maintain their seats and power.

Amendment - Section 2

SECTION 2

There shall be one common language for the United States of America. It shall be the only language used by citizens in official business and communications with all federal, state, and local governments located within the several States and District of Columbia.

The common language shall be selected by the members of both the Senate and House of Representatives on the first day of business of the second calendar year following passage of this amendment. In the event of a tie, the deciding vote shall be cast by the President of the Senate.

Each subsequent 50 years Congress shall determine if the common language should change. A two-thirds majority is needed to change the common language. If the language changes, the change shall start within five years and be completed within twenty years.

Federal, state, or local government funds shall not be utilized to communicate to the citizens in any language other than the common one.

"...we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor." Declaration of Independence What more can be said? It's for the common good. See U.S. English for 25 years of efforts to achieve one language by the group founded by the late, former California Senator S.I. Hayakawa.

Amendment - Section 1

SECTION 1

No Bill shall become Law that consists of more than 5,000 words.

For years there has been a desire to provide the President with a "line item veto;" however, that is not needed if each bill is limited in its size to accommodate one or a few concepts. Bills that are limited will assist congressmen in becoming statesmen again where their concern are for both their constituents as well as the country as a whole.

The preamble and all seven Articles of The Constitution of the United States has less than 3,700 words. It is inexcusable that any law is longer and more complicated than our country's founding document. The Declaration of Independence has under 1,400 words.

Breaking Ground

Jackie Robinson may be best known for his ground braking efforts on the baseball field but it is not his athletic skills that makes him an American Hero. He is a hero because of his approach to life's difficulties and his ability to leverage his successes to help others.

Celebrate Freedom

If you have never seen the Declaration of Independence (DOI) performed, treat yourself to the awesome production available at DOI Road Trip video.

Make it part of your Independence Day celebration to watch and listen to the words spoken each year. What better way to "mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor" as those Founding Fathers did over 230 years ago.

15-year old mature enough for consensual group sex!

The case of Genarlow Wilson (click name for 2/10/2007 earlier post) is in the news again and ESPN is taking credit for helping to resolve this "injustice." I just want to be sick. How on earth can anyone think a 15-year old has the maturity needed for consensual sex? Given this logic, the driving, voting, and drinking ages should be dropped to 15 too. Maybe 15-year old kids should be allowed to join the military to fight and possibly die in battle too.