Are you one of the millions of Americans that are having a hard time understanding where the money will go? Would a visual help to understand just what the money will be spent on and how much? What about how long this miracle spending package will take to spend out?
The Washington Post has a great visual that was presented by the Congressional Budget Office.
Miscellaneous
General Motors Plan For The Future
Today GM had to present a viable plan to prove that they could sustain themselves in business. Not only did they present their plan, they also presented the idea that they needed more money.
So just what did they present?
HERE is a watered down version that was more or less a press release.
HERE is the actual proposal that was presented to the government.
2009 Economic Stimulus Text
In all its glory, the text of the Porkulus Package is available.
However late as it may be, and however difficult it is to read and understand – because almost all who voted for and against it haven’t and don’t – President Obama looks to approve this Stimulus package and sign it into play on Tuesday, Feb. 17 of 2009.
We Surround Them, Glenn Beck’s Call To Serve
Do you watch the direction that America is being taken in and feel powerless to stop it?
That is one of the problems that plagues many people, in that they do feel powerless. They feel that their voice will never be heard, and that their country is being stolen from them. They feel that there is nothing they can do about it.
Glenn Beck, like many people, feels the same way. That is why he asked this question. But, you see, that isn’t all. He wants to do something about it. He wants to know from the people what they think. So, he came up with what he calls “The Nine Principles.”
1.America is good.
2.I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
3.I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
4.The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
5.If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
6.I have a right to Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
7.I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
8.It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
9.The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.
Then he asked that if you agree with at least seven of these principles, then he wants you to know that you are not alone. And that you should send a digital version of your picture to: wesurroundthem@foxnews.com and that you should stay tuned during the upcoming weeks to see how he intends to pull back the curtain.
Well, that was just the first step. Step two was to introduce what Glenn refers to as “The Twelve Values.”
1.Honesty
2.Reverence
3.Hope
4.Thrift
5.Humility
6.Charity
7.Sincerity
8.Moderation
9.Hard Work
10.Courage
11.Personal Responsibility
12.Friendship
Right he was that you should stay tuned. Hard to tell what Beck has in store for the next step.
It isn’t enough to list out these principles and values, just in the hopes of creating a stir. These principles and values encompass what being a conservative is. These fit into each other, not only for the sake of right now, but as history is understood in the founding documents of America. These principles and virtues have helped shape this nation, or for some the lack there of.
In Common Sense, Thomas Paine says, “The elected might never form to themselves an interest separate from the electors.” Trying as it sounds, that is where our nation has been led over the past days, weeks, months if not years. Those elected are seamlessly operating for the benefit of themselves and themselves only, while the electors are screaming to be heard.
Thomas Paine also said, “The strength of government depends on the happiness of the governed.” And how true that is, not only for his time, but for ours too. Our time shapes tomorrows time, and with the unhappiness of today, it doesn’t look all that hopeful based on all the displeasure. Americans are growing more and more frustrated, and are continuing to distance themselves from the elected.
So, if you agree with the principles and values spoke of by Glenn Beck, and are one of those who are frustrated, then accept Beck’s call to serve and send a digital version of your picture to wesurroundthem@foxnews.com in care of www.thestaffordvoice.com. If you are not completely comfortable with that, feel free to send them to me at daniel@thestaffordvoice.com and I will be sure to they get to him.
Conservative Vidcast – Episode 1
The Great Race Divide
For those left wondering why, time will only tell. After all, those who still feel the effects, say that time is the only thing that will help. Historically speaking, race has long been an issue and will always continue as some look to it as an excuse. Saying that there isn’t a proper level of equality, whether it be educational or in a professional setting.
Thomas Paine says, in Common Sense, that “time makes more converts than reason.” However, it is reason that may help convert more before time. With reason, we are able to draw conclusions with critical thinking before allowing time to take its course. More important, example has more followers than reason.
Example just may be the tool needed to display reason in order to speed up time. For if it is still accepted to speak negatively, even in something that is thought of as nothing like music, the negative effects of example will grab hold and the ideals of progression will never grab hold. Another term that may be acceptable in place of example would be influence. Some level of influence must be displayed.
The best way to influence at times, is by the bottom up approach. Letting things trickle down, in times of today, haven’t worked so well. If the younger generations influence the older generations, their example would do more than simply speed time up, but could stop it in a way.
How would it stop? Simple. By allowing a trickle up approach – all be it if everyone changed- would offer an end to the great race divide that has separated this country for years upon years. After all, it is today youngest generation that will be around for tomorrows youngest generation.
Abortion Torture – The Audacity of Hypocrisy
Newly elected President Barack Obama has recently issued two very controversial executive orders that have some screaming hypocrisy while others are left jumping for joy.
The first controversial executive order was to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp within a year. While some may argue it isn’t controversial on all points, it is what was said that have people in a tizzy. He said they reflected “an understanding that dates back to our Founding Fathers – that we are willing to observe core standards of conduct nut just when it’s easy, but also when it’s hard.”[1]
This order left human rights advocates hailing the steps taken by Obama, and also when he said, “I can say without exception or equivocation that the United States will not torture.”[2]
Garnering a statement like that, left only one option. That is for the endorsing of interrogations to abide by rules that are so eloquently articulated in the Army Field Manual 2-22.3.[3] This Army Manual is laughed at by some, stating that you couldn’t get information out of a child by abiding by the manual. In opposition, President Obama said, “We believe that the Army Field Manual reflects the best judgment of our military; that we can abide by a rule that says we don’t torture, but that we can still effectively obtain the intelligence that we need.”[4]
The audacity of hypocrisy does not end there, but only begins. The National Religious Campaign Against Torture, a coalition of 240 religious groups, said that Mr. Obama’s statement “allowed the United States to again find its moral bearing.”[5]
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council shined a glint light on the hypocrisy, saying “Yesterday, President Obama issued executive orders banning the torture of terrorists but today signed an order that exports the torture of unborn children around the world.”[6]
Issuing an executive order offering monetary support to other countries in support of abortion is audacious in and of itself. When the United States is in one of the harshest economic downturns in history, it might be hypocritical of Obama to give money to other nations when he wants to end funding to some government programs.
In order to move this country to a higher level of “moral bearing,” the idea of stopping the interrogation methods of retrieving information by way of “torture,” must not be accompanied by the order to help fund world-wide abortions. This level of hypocrisy is not conducive to the standards and conduct of our Founding Fathers.
Maybe President Barack Obama would understand his hypocrisy if an Al-Qaeda tape of a pregnant female U.S. soldier being tortured for information by violently ripping out the child she carries by way of abortion.
[1][2] http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-guantanamo23-2009jan23,1,7248076.story
[3][4] http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=52771
[5] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/us/politics/23obama.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1
[6] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012302814.html?hpid=sec-health
Presidents BlackBerry A Hackers Delight
President Barack Obama was granted the use of a new BlackBerry that would allow him to remain in contact with select family and personnel, but will also test the will of hackers world-wide.
As a small victory, President Obama is clinging to his new BlackBerry. Presidents in the past, have not been granted this privilege, even not using e-mail for it could be subpoenaed.
However, the true test is the security that has been encrypted into this phone to ensure its super-secure abilities.
Telecom analyst Roger Entner told the International Herald Tribune, “The moment it becomes known that Barack Obama uses his BlackBerry, you know that a significant share of Russia’s signal intelligence and China’s signal intelligence and cyber intelligence budgets will be targeted to break it.”
This will not be limited to nations, friend or foe, but will be sought after by hackers world-wide to get some piece of information from the President.
N. Korea May Give Up Nukes in Exchange for Ties With U.S.
With the inauguration of now President Barack Obama, North Korea is now taking a position that it would give up nuclear weapons.
North Korea is taking a different stance on its denuclearization now that they will be working with the Obama Administration. N. Korea says that they would be willing to give up their nuclear weapons, in exchange for diplomatic ties and economic assistance from the United States.
During a Senate confirmation hearing, Hillary Clinton said that one goal would be to end the N. Korean nuclear program.
Differing from the Bush Administration, President Obama favors a more direct approach versus a regime change. A regime that the people of North Korea are quite comfortable with.
N. Korea is still waiting to see the position newly sworn in President Barack Obama will take.