TPN—Judson Phillips:  The coming darkness

November 24, 2012

Today is the day after black Friday.  It is really the first day of the American Christmas season.  This should be a season of gladness and joy. 

Unfortunately, as we go into the end of the year and our holiday season, what lurks on the horizon is not glad tidings but instead gloom and more darkness.

What is coming to America and can we do anything about it?

For the next two years, we are going to see the death of the conservative movement in Washington.   The American government, other than some members of the Supreme Court, is going to be a conservative-free zone.

There will still be conservatives in Washington.  There will be conservatives in the Senate and House of Representatives.   However, there will be no conservatives in the leadership and a conservative agenda will not be advanced.  In fact, just the opposite will happen.  A massive liberal agenda will be in full swing, all with the acquiescence of the Republican Party. 

In January, we are going to see massive tax hikes.   First, the Obamacare tax hikes, originally passed in 2010, are going to kick in.    The Bush tax cuts are going to go away.  Obama and the Party of Treason say they want to increase taxes on the rich.  Unfortunately their definition of rich is anyone who is not on Obama’s food stamps. 

Two years ago, when Obama signed the law extending the Bush tax cuts, he pointed out that raising taxes in a soft economy would harm the economy.   That was when he was looking at reelection.  Now that he is a lame duck, he doesn’t care.

Actually, Obama understands tax hikes will push us further into the Great Obama Depression.   This is Obama’s goal.  Remember, Obama is a Marxist who believes America is not the greatest nation in the world but the greatest oppressor nation.

Where are the Republicans?

John Boehner has been busy consolidating power in the House of Representatives.  He now has absolute control over the GOP majority.   Eric Cantor has gone along with Boehner and conservatives who object to Boehner’s surrender first policy and big spending policies are simply out of luck. 

Where are the conservative Republicans in the House?  You will find them in the House.  You won’t find them in the leadership of the House.

Harry Reid’s top priority coming out of this election is “filibuster reform.”  Anytime any idea comes from the Party of Treason with the word reform attached to it, you do not need to read anything beyond the title to know that it is a bad idea. 

Reid wants to eliminate the filibuster, thus making it impossible for Republicans to offer any meaningful resistance in the Senate.  He has already changed the rules in the Senate so that Republicans cannot offer any amendments to bills unless Reid specifically wants the amendment.

In short, he is turning what is supposed to be a deliberative body into little more than his own rubber stamp.

As we go into 2013, John Boehner is going to be raising his freshly laundered white flag of surrender early and often.  He will surrender on taxes.  They are going to go up.   He is going to surrender on the debt ceiling.  He is going to surrender on spending.  The only spending cuts we will see will be in one of the few areas the Constitution specifically mandates a role for the Federal Government.  He will cut the defense budget so that by the time Obama leaves office in 2016, China will be the world’s top military superpower.

Our spending and borrowing will continue to push us on a trajectory towards a Grecian outcome.

We have two choices.

We can surrender or we can fight.

Since I have never been a fan of John Boehner, I say we fight.

Saying we should fight is easy.  Actually doing it is hard.

If we are going fight, we need a plan. 

Here’s a plan. 

CONTINUE READING:

http://www.teapartynation.com/forum/topics/the-coming-darkness?xg_source=activity

Next Week in the U.S. House of Representatives

Text of Bills for the Week of Nov. 26, 2012


First Published: November 20, 2012 at 05:37 PM
Last Updated: November 20, 2012 at 06:03 PM
ems that may be considered under suspension of the rules

H.R. 6025 Mandatory Operational Control Reporting and Performance Measures Act of 2012, To provide for annual reports on the status of operational control of the international land and maritime borders of the United States and unlawful entries, and for other purposes.as amended [PDF]

Sponsor:  Rep. Candice Miller [R-MI10]  (Good bill!)

H.R. 5913 DHS Accountability Act of 2012, as amended [PDF]

To create an independent advisory panel to comprehensively assess the management structure and capabilities related to the Department of Homeland Security and make recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of the Department.
Sponsor:  Rep. Michael McCaul [R-TX10]

H.R. 5997 Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act [PDF] [XML]
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to codify authority under existing grant guidance authorizing use of Urban Area Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Program funding for enhancing medical preparedness, medical surge capacity, and mass prophylaxis capabilities.

Sponsor:  Rep. Gus Bilirakis [R-FL9]

H.R. 3563 Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2012 [PDF]
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to modernize and implement the national integrated public alert and warning system to disseminate homeland security information and other information, and for other purposes.

Sponsor:  Rep. Gus Bilirakis [R-FL9]

H.R. 915 Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act [PDF] [XML]
To establish a Border Enforcement Security Task Force program to enhance border security by fostering coordinated efforts among Federal, State, and local border and law enforcement officials to protect United States border cities and communities from trans-national crime, including violence associated with drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the international borders of the United States, and for other purposes.

Sponsor:  Rep. Henry Cuellar [D-TX28]

H.R. 6328 Clothe a Homeless Hero Act [PDF] [XML]
To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to transfer unclaimed clothing recovered at airport security checkpoints to local veterans organizations and other local charitable organizations, and for other purposes.  Sponsor:  Rep. Kathleen Hochul [D-NY26]

H.R. __ To designate the federal building currently known as Federal Office Building 8, located at 200 C Street Southwest in the District of Columbia, as the "Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Building" [PDF]

H.R. 6374 To designate the facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 180 Martin Drive in Carrollton, Georgia, as the "Trinka Davis Veterans Village" [PDF] [XML]

H.R. 5788 To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 Center Street West in Eatonville, Washington, as the "National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson Post Office" [PDF] [XML]

H.R. 5738 To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15285 Samohin Drive in Macomb, Michigan, as the "Lance Cpl. Anthony A. DiLisio Clinton-Macomb Carrier Annex" [PDF] [XML]

H.R. 3892 To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8771 Auburn Folsom Road in Roseville, California, as the "Private First Class Victor A. Dew Post Office" [PDF]
H.R. 2338 To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida, as the "Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office" [PDF] [XML]

H.R. 3912 To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 110 Mastic Road in Mastic Beach, New York, as the "Brigadier General Nathaniel Woodhull Post Office Building" [PDF] [XML]

H.R. 5954 To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 320 7th Street in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the "Sergeant Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. Post Office Building" [PDF] [XML]
Added 11/20/2012 at 06:03 PM

Items that may be considered pursuant to a rule

H.R. 6429 STEM Jobs Act of 2012 [Rules Committee Print 112-34, showing the text of H.R. 6249, as introduced, as modified]
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote innovation, investment, and research in the United States, to eliminate the diversity immigrant program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor:  Rep. Lamar Smith [R-TX21]  (This bill has 67 Republican cosponsors)

Waiting in the wings is the Farm Bill.....

Waiting in the wings is the Farm Bill; I know, you don't own a farm so why should you be concerned?


Consider what follows:
If the Farm Bill is not passed this session this is what will happen:

The current death/inheritance tax is 35% on property over $5 million.

If nothing is done, it will increase to 55% on property over $1 million.

For those family farms located next to large metropolitan areas such as Charlotte, Raleigh, and Wilmington the property values are MUCH higher then ours, not even taking into account that 1 piece of machinery can cost anywhere from One hundred thousand to upwards of 1 million and several pieces are needed for the entire operations. Then if you look at the acreage these farms must possess to make a profit, one can easily lose their farm altogether! IF something is not done in this lame duck session, all who have worked so hard, some working 365 days a year sun up to sun down planning to leave their way of life to their children, all will be lost. Families are already having a hard time of it with the way it stands now! We will be saying good-bye to the smaller family owned farms once and for all because they will sell the equipment and land to pay the taxes.

All of this is not to mention that taxes were paid when the farms were purchased, taxes were paid when the equipment was purchased, each year property taxes are paid on the equipment and land, out buildings and grain bins, tobacco barns and lean-to's, year after year......then when they die it gets one giant tax again and then to be taxed to the next owner.......this is MORE THEN double taxation....!

Farmers do not set their own pricing, the commodity market does. If prices are down, they run risks of not making ends meet and this happens more often then we ever imagined.

If you were to look at Craven County through Congressional Districts 1 and 3 here are the Agriculture Stats:

Dist.1-
19% of all jobs
6.0 BILLION in impact
23% of District GDP
3rd highest district GDP in the state
4th highest in Ag employment

Dist. 3-
20% of jobs
16% of district GDP
6 BILLION in impact
4th highest district GDP in the state
3rd in Ag employment

Craven county as a whole is tied for 5th place in Ag Economic Impact which is NC's #1 industry and 99% of NC farms are family owned!

The "sale" of these lands turning them into residential areas will require water, sewer, electrical (utility hook-ups), more city and county personnel...(law enforcement etc.) to manage these areas as populations increase. As the government manpower and services increase, SO DOES OUR TAXATION!

Farmland is beneficial in so many ways, the obvious food, fiber and forestry it supplies, the lack of government needed to manage it, and the inclusion it provides for our military in practicing maneuvers & flyovers-(the military is NC's 2nd biggest industry!). Governments think more housing, more taxpayers, ....but the truth is, open spaces save taxpayers!

Finally, Food security is important to national security in many ways.....when we (or a portion of the country) is unable to grow food due to natural disasters, most recently droughts, we depend on other parts of the country supplying us and visa-versa. When no-one is able to meet the demand it puts or dependence once again on other countries, you see how well that is working with oil don't you?!

Lastly, Only 210,000 Americans are responsible for EIGHTY PERCENT of the US Ag Production. By the year 2050 the projected population for the planet is 9 BILLION. These 210,000 people are our only lifeline to feeding the generations to come!

Statistical information is available through the NC Farm Bureau

Source: USDA/NASS and Dr. Mike Walden, NCSU

YOU can make a difference by contacting:

Senator Richard Burr
Ph:  202-224-3154; Fax:  Fax: (202) 228-2981

217 Russell Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC 20510


Senator Kay Hagan
Ph:  202-224-6342; Fax:  202-228-2563

521 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC District 3)
Ph: 202-225-3415; Fax: 202-225-3286

2333 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

G.K. Butterfield (NC District 1)
Ph:  202-225-3101; Fax: (202) 225-3354

2305 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Ask them to pass the FARM BILL!!  Remember phone calls are good, written letters have even more impact!

Obama's Victims: List of Closed Businesses and Layoffs

TANSTAAFL Is About To Become A Common Term


The disintegration of an economy and a society can take two courses. One course is like rust. It is slow and barely perceptible. The other is a sudden collapse. The first course, if left untended, eventually turns into the second.


The US economy is now rusting away. Arguably it has been for decades. For anyone interested in looking, the signs are there. They will soon become unavoidable for even the most disinterested of our citizens.

Dan Amoss correctly described what is happening as a result of Washington’s overbearing involvement in the economy:

All government-directed economic activity grows at the expense of the private sector. And the election suggests that government coercion will drive even more U.S. economic activity in the future. This is a shame, because freely adjusting prices, competition, and innovation elevate living standards. Mandates, price controls, and subsidies — coercive actions — depress living standards. Quality falls. Shortages develop and persist.

Mr. Amoss is correct but does not forcefully convey the reality of a dying economy. These effects are beginning to appear.

Many businessmen hung on, hoping for a change in the madness that passes for economic leadership and policy. These hopes were dashed with the re-election of the ideologue driving the madness. Obama won the electoral college, but not the confidence of business. They are just beginning to cast their votes and it does not bode well for the future. Here is a partial list of the business reactions to the outcome of the election:

LAYOFFS ANNOUNCED SINCE ELECTION:
1.Abbott Labs 700

2.Activision 30
3.Adventist Health 48
4.Airlines SAS 6000
5.AMD 400
6.American Cotton Growers 110
7.ArcelorMittal 20
8.American Independence Museum 4
9.Ameridose 790
10.American Airlines 4400 + 800 leaving voluntarily
11.American Coal 54
12.Atlantic Lottery Corporation 16
13.Assc Milk Producers 130
14.Aveo Oncology 45
15.ATI 172
16.Bankia 5000
17.Bechtel Power Corp 277
18.Bigpoint Games 47
19.Boston Scientific 1200
20.Brake Parts LLC 75
21.Brattleboro Retreat 31
22.Bristol Myers 500
23.Career Education 900 + Closing 23 Campuses
24.Cigna 1300
25.Citigroup 100
26.Commerzbank 6000
27.Consol Energy in W.V. 145
28.Covidien 595
29.Crouse Hospital Syracuse NY 70
30.Cummins 150
31.CVPH 27
32.DEP in Tallahassee FL 15
33.DuPont, Co. 64
34.Eagle-Tribune, Andover 21
35.Emanuel Medical Cente 24
36.Energizer Holdings 1500
37.Ericsson 1550
38.Exide Tech, Laureldale 150
39.City of Findlay, OH 39
40.First Energy 400
41.Gameforge Berlin 20
42.Gamesa Energy 92
43.GenOn Energy Inc 33
44.Glen Falls Hospital 29
45.Groupon 80
46.GT Advanced Tech 165
47.Harris’ Broadcast 17
48.Hawker Beechcraft 400 + Facilities closing
49.Hill Rom 200
50.Hills Holdings 300
51.HMX Group 567
52.Hostess 627
53.Iberia Airlines 4500
54.ICM of Colwich 25
55.ING 2350
56.Judson University 21
57.Juniper Networks 500
58.Kaiser Permanente 84
59.Kinetic Concepts 427
60.Kratos Defense Security 125
61.Lackawanna County PA 11
62.Lightyear Network Solutions 12+
63.Lonza 500
64.Majestic Star Casino/hotel 80
65.Major Wind Company 3000
66.Martha Stewart Living 70
67.Medtronic 1000
68.Mills Manufacturing NC 68
69.Momentive, Inc. 150
70.Monitor Group 235
71.Montco Behavioral Health/Dev 58
72.NBC 500
73.Nebraska Medical Center 38
74.Neovia Logistics Services 52
75.New Energy 40
76.Ormet 200
77.Panasonic 10000
78.PayPal 320
79.Penn Refrigeration 40
80.Penske Logistics 50
81.Pepsi 4000
82.Philips Electronics 218
83.Pierce Mfg 325
84.Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne 100
85.Research in Motion 200
86.Rheem Manufacturing 50
87.Sentry Foods 70
88.Shaw’s Supermarket 700
89.Shawano foundry WI 90
90.Smith & Nephew 770
91.Smithfield Packing Co. 125
92.Solel Solar Systems 140
93.Southeastern Container 15
94.SpaceX 100
95.SRA Intl Inc 222
96.St. Jude Medical 300
97.Stryker 1170
98.Sulake 60
99.Sun Media 500
100.TE Connectivity 620
101.TECO Coal Corporation 90
102.Texas Instruments 1700
103.The Providence Journal Co 23
104.TMX Group Ltd. 100
105.Turbocare 220
106.Turkey Point Nuclear Plant 277
107.Oce North America, Inc. 135
108.Turbocare OCE 220
109.UBS 10000
110.US Cellular 980
111.UtahAmerican Energy Inc 102
112.Volvo Trucks Pulaski County 300
113.Wake Forest Baptist Medical 950
114.Welch Allyn 275
115.West Ridge Mine 102
116.Westinghouse 50
117.World Media Enterprises Inc 105
118.WPS Health Insurance 600
119.Wright Patterson AFB 115
120.Wyodak Coal Mine 11
121.Xerox 2500
122.Yakima Reg Med Ctr Washington 10+
......and the list is growing!

ANNOUNCED BUSINESS CLOSURES SINCE ELECTION:
1.Bakers Footwear closing 150 stores nationwide, including 21 in California
2.The SCA plant in Barton – Plans Staff Reductions
3.Handy Hardware to close its 2-year-old Meridian, Miss. warehouse
4.Caterpillar Inc. will close its plant in Owatonna Minn.
5.Waltz Pharmacy in Waldoboro Maine
6.Zac’s Place in Hinsdale IL
7.Lone Star Steakhouse at 70th and O streets and Ruby Tuesday at 56th Street in
8.Lincoln NE
9.Career Education Corp – Closing 23 Campuses – 900 Jobs Lost
10.Handy Hardware to close its 2-year-old Meridian, Miss. warehouse
11.Shamrock Bar at Payne City’s Rose Avenue. in GA
12.Monitor Company Group LP
13.ThinkEquity LLC
14.Homer City Funding LLC
15.Caterpillar Inc. will close its plant in Owatonna Minn.
16.Mount Pleasant’s Albrecht Sentry Foods
17.The Target store at Manassas Mall Va.
18.Millennium Academy in Wake Forest NC
19.Target Closing Kissimmee FL Location
20.Calgary’s iconic Rideau Music store ( International )
21.The Andover Gift Shop in Andover MA
22.Grand Union Family Markets Closing Storrs Location CT
23.Movie Scene Milford Location NH
24.Update: TE Connectivity Closing Greensboro Plant – 620 Layoffs Expected
25.Gomer’s Fried Chicken in South Kansas City
26.Kmart in Homer Glen
27.Fresh Market on Pine Street in Burlington
28.AGC Glass North America to permanently close its Blue Ridge Plant in Kingsport Tenn.
29.The Target store at Platte and Academy in Colorado Springs
30.Island Colors – A Carolina Beach Clothing Store
31.The Roses store on Reynold Road in Winston-Salem NC
32.Meanders Kitchen losing its West Seattle location at 6032 California Ave
33.Bost Harley-Davidson at 46th Avenue North and Delaware Ave. in West Nashville TN
34.Townsend Booksellers in Oakland
35.The Kmart store in Parkway Plaza off University Drive in Durham NC – 79 Jobs Lost
36.Guarantee Shoe Store in Beaumont Texas
37.Associated Milk Producers Inc. Closing manufacturing facility in Dawson Minn. – 130
38.Jobs Lost
39.FacadeTek Inc Closes Whitestown Facility – 72 Jobs Lost
40.Comet Market in Punxsutawney Pa.
41.JC Penney store in Miracle City Mall Titusville FL
42.TurboCare Inc Closing Manchester CT Facility – 88
43.The United Colors of Benetton store on Armitage Avenue IL
44.Update: Bicycle shop Ten 27 Cycles 1027 Davis St. in Evanston IL
45.Two Sears Product Rebuild Centers in The Woodlands Texas
46.FesslerUSA Clothing Maker Closing in PA
47.Ralph Lauren’s plans to close its 14 stand-alone Rugby locations
48.Nashville Sash & Door Co. Inc Tenn.
49.First Portuguese church in North America in Bedford Mass Closing?
50.International Fashions in Carbondale’s University Mall IL
51.Harper’s Old Army Surplus Store in West Monroe La
52.Nova Financial Holdings
53.The Party Warehouse in West Springfield Mass.
54.TLC Wine and Liquor at 1205 W. Main St in Kent Ohio?
55.The HAPPY Place 1042 N Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA
56.Air Carrier Accessory Services – Chapter 7
57.SOW Inc. shelter on South Broad Street GA?
58.Systemax Inc., Closing Miami County Ohio Computer Plant – 120 Jobs Lost
59.Textbook publisher McGraw-Hill Cos. Closing 2 Distribution Centers – 166 Layoffs
60.First Place Financial Corp
61.Nash Finch Closing Cedar Rapids Iowa Food Distribution Center
62.Johnnie’s Foodmaster MA Closing all 10 Locations
63.Rainbow Foods will be closing its Forest Lake location MN – 59 Layoffs
64.Berry’s Camera Shop Inc. in Downtown Lafayette
65.Schreiber Foods to close their food packaging plant in Ravenna – 70 Jobs Lost
66.Kmart store at 5300 Salem Ave. Trotwood Ohio
67.Mr.Christie plant in Toronto ( International ) 2013 – 550 Jobs Lost
68.Coffee with T cafe in Stevenson Village business MD
69.Minas Basin Pulp and Power are closing a mill in Hantsport ( International ) – 135

ACTUAL LAYOFFS:
1.The Colonial Country Shoppe on Park Street in Adams MA
2.Vestas Wind Systems Closing R&D; Office in Louisville – 60 Jobs Lost
3.Dollar Castle in downtown Ferndale MI
4.Bistro One West in St Charles IL
5.Sun Dog Diner in Neptune Beach FL
6.Jim’s Builders Hardware in Wichita, Kansas
7.Madeleines Bakehouse in Fort Wayne Indiana
8.Barnes & Noble plans to close its doors in Union Station Dec. 31
9.The Semiahmoo Hotel in Blaine Washington
10.Highland Curves CA
11.The Salem Sport Shop in Salem Ohio
12.Navistar International Corp. to Close truck assembly plant in Garland, Texas – 900
13.Jobs Lost
14.Divine Mercy Catholic Books & Gifts Denton Texas
15.Singer Mental Health Center in Rockford IL
16.Garelick Farms Ends Production at Bangor Maine Facility
17.Fashion Tech Window Coverings in Portland?
18.Custom House Tavern Chicago IL.
19.Jim’s Builders Hardware in Delano
20.Lone Star Steakhouse at 1801 22nd St. in West Des Moines
21.Sears to Close Woodlands Product Rebuild Center – 117 Jobs Lost
22.Whitehead Inc Rockford Real Estate Company
23.Robert’s Mens Shop in Downtown New Philadelphia Ohio
24.Fort Tecumseh Olde Fashun Store in Ohio
25.Lakewood Beginnings Child Development Center in Lakewood Ohio
26.Green Fields Seed & Feed in Grand Junction Colo.
27.The Army and Navy Store in Melrose Mass.
28.Vitalistic Therapeutic charter school PA
29.Diamond Foods Inc Closing a plant in Fishers Indiana
30.Old Town Alehouse 5233 Ballard Ave in Seattle
31.Space Aliens restaurants in Minot and Grand Forks ND
32.DeWaay Financial Network LLC
33.Sears at Quail Springs Mall Oklahoma City OK.
34.Fashion Bug in O’Fallon MO is closing in January
35.Kmart Store in Oak Hill W. Va
36.Update: Jett & Hall men’s clothing store in Richmond KY
37.D.C. school List of Possible Schools Closing to Be released Later today
38.Dunkin’ Donuts in Holly Hill FL
39.Hostess Brands Inc Permanently Closing 3 Bakeries Following a Nationwide Strike
40.Philips Electronics subsidiary Lightolier will close its local fluorescent light
41.fixture manufacturing plant in Willington
42.Smithfield Packing Co. will close in 2013, laying off a total of 400 employees
43.SuperFresh outlets in Marlton and Westmont NJ
44.The Bagel Shoppe in Katonah NY
45.Ben Franklin and Homestead House Gifts in the Kimball Ridge Center in Waterloo IA
46.Several West Virginia Suzuki dealerships Being Forced to Close
47.Kowalski Cos Closing All 4 of its Metro Detroit Delis but to Continue Food
48.Production
49.Three Memphis charter schools and one in Nashville Tenn. Could Close Due to Poor
50.Test Scores
51.The Custer School District SD – Closing 2 Rural Schools
52.The Dressing Room, on North Lincoln Avenue IL
53.The Utica office of IBOPE NY

BANKRUPTCIES:
1.AMF Bowling Worldwide Inc
2.Aletheia Research & Management Inc
3.Omtron USA
4.Helmkampf Construction in Olivette
5.Clear Light Publishers
6.Monitor Company Group LP
7.ThinkEquity LLC
8.Homer City Funding LLC
9.US Suzuki Distributor – Chapter 11
10.Revolt Technology

This list should frighten every thinking American. It is a huge warning regarding what lies ahead. These changes are coming to an economy that is already unable to provide jobs or sustain living standards.

Decline is a slow process, until it becomes fast. It is not easy to see at first. It should be obvious to most that our economy is approaching a critical stage. When you have destroyed the trust and confidence of business, there will be no job creation.

Some parting words are in order for those responsible for the decisions reflected above. Shutting down and giving up is anathema to the spirit that built this country and is now only found among our entrepreneurial class. It goes against the very fiber that drives success. It is a last resort for entrepreneurs.

The decision to quit is lonely, involves guilt, self-doubt and remorse. It is the last act for someone that has tried everything to avoid it. Giving up and withdrawing is not an act of retribution. People do not willingly choose to go to Galt’s figurative gulch. They are forced there.

While the masses exult in the continuation of their food stamps, cell phones and other booty, the real story of this election is yet to be told. The nation is about to find out that policies and elections have consequences more important than free stuff.

The war against private enterprise can no longer be denied. President Obama’s re-election ensures that it will continue and likely accelerate. The makers are beginning to give up. The takers don’t have a clue. Soon the country is going to get a real-life lesson in economics. TANSTAAFL (There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch) is about to be learned.

(Click Here To Read & Comment Online At Liberty.com)

Help Chris Support the Salvation Army this Season!

Friends -

Last year, I began an "online red kettle" fund-raising effort for the Salvation Army, and just barely made my goal of $300.

This year I got cocky. I raised my goal to $500 and started the effort three weeks sooner than I did last year.

So far I have been overwhelmed by the response, and have already reached 80% of my goal with a month and a half left of the effort.

If you are so inclined to help me with my effort, please visit http://onlineredkettle.org/chriskling and make a donation of any size. While it seems likely that I will surpass my personal goal, I'm excited by the fact that I'll have to RAISE my goal again next year.

Every penny raised by me for the Salvation Army Online Red Kettle Fund goes directly to the Salvation Army. I do not receive a penny in compensation, there are no incentives or prizes being rewarded for MY effort of begging e-mailbox to e-mailbox.

Just the satisfaction that I was able to do something to help - and I did.

Thank you in advance for your generous and (so far) still tax-deductible gift.

Chris Kling

Rand Paul Amendment to 2013 NDAA Does Nothing

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) is proposing to amend S. 3254, the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Before we get too excited about Senator Rand Paul’s amendment, due diligence must be given as to what it does and doesn’t do.

Senator Paul’s amendment is ineffectual for several reasons including, but not limited to:

1. It only applies to citizens, and ignores the rights of non-citizens, regardless of immigration status.

2. The use of the term “captured” implies full spectrum military operations against U.S. citizens within the United States, yet it is unclear what this authority is based upon. Does Senator Paul accept the pretense that America is part of the “battlefield,” and as such, is under the “law of war” and martial law?   3. Senator Paul’s amendment only references detention of U.S. citizens by the Armed Forces of the United States, but does not apply to

a. “any other foreign country,” or

b. b. “ any other foreign entity,” (See 2012 NDAA, Section 1021(c)(4))

4. By Senator Paul tying his amendment to the AUMF, the amendment only applies to that part of the 2012 NDAA targeting profile that reaffirmed the AUMF, but does not cover the second half of the 2012 NDAA targeting profile, which is the larger of the two.

Senator Paul’s proposed amendment would add the following section to the 2013 NDAA:   CONTINUE READING HERE PLEASE! http://theintolerableacts.org/docs/Rand-Paul-Amendment.pdf

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, NOVEMBER 19, 2012

Congress left town for Thanksgiving recess.

RECENT VOTES

Cybersecurity – Cloture - Vote Rejected (51-47, 2 Not Voting)
In contrast to the brisk movement toward passage of the Sportsmen's Act, cybersecurity legislation once again ran aground in the Senate after a failure to invoke cloture. Despite the entreaties of the bill's sponsors, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs chairman Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Ct. and ranking member Susan Collins, R-Me., Republicans (as well as five Democrats) refused to end debate on the bill. Concerns in the business community remain a major stumbling block. The Chamber of Commerce and its congressional allies are wary that security standards established by the bill could morph from voluntary to mandatory once they become law. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. declared that "cybersecurity is dead for this Congress." The House passed a much less ambitious bill earlier this year that focused on information sharing between the government and private sector entities. President Obama threatened to veto that measure, citing privacy concerns, while endorsing the Senate bill. With the Senate deadlocked, any action in the remainder of the year is likely to come from the White House, which has reportedly drafted an executive order to protect vital computer networks from attack.
Sen. Richard Burr voted NO and Sen. Kay Hagan voted YES.

Sportsmen’s Access to Federal Land – Cloture - Vote Agreed to (84-12, 4 Not Voting)
The Senate moved one step closer last week to passing a bill with a smorgasbord of provisions designed to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, voting affirmatively on both a motion to proceed (Roll Call 201) and later invoking cloture on the bill. Sponsored by Democrat Jon Tester, D-Mont., the Sportsmen's Act of 2012 would exempt ammunition and fishing equipment from EPA regulation; ease a ban on importation of polar bear trophies from Canada; and allow the issuance of permits for individuals carrying bows and crossbows to cross national park land. The bill would reauthorize a number of wildlife conservation measures, as well as a law to facilitate the sale or exchange of federal land with non-federal landowners whose holdings lie within the boundaries of federal tracts. Budget Committee ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. raised a point of order last week regarding spending on duck stamps authorized in the bill. The point of order is expected to be overridden, with final passage coming after the Thanksgiving recess. President Obama supports the bill.
Sen. Richard Burr voted YES and Sen. Kay Hagan voted YES.

Russia Trade Relations, Human Rights Oversight – Passage - Vote Passed (365-43, 25 Not Voting)
In its first week of legislative action since the November 6 elections, the House moved on a measure to establish Permanent Normal Trade Relations with the Russian Federation. By an overwhelming and bipartisan majority, the lower chamber endorsed a measure to essentially repeal 1970s-era restrictions on trade with Russia and Moldova that were originally implemented because the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc nations denied freedom of emigration to their Jewish citizens. The legislation was necessitated by Russia's recent accession to the World Trade Organization, which was finalized in late August. If U.S. trade restrictions are not lifted, American goods could become subject to retaliatory tariffs, closing off a potentially lucrative new market. The Russia trade title includes several requirements for oversight from the U.S. Trade Representative to ensure Russia is living up to its new WTO obligations. Legislators more skeptical of closer ties with Russia fought for the inclusion of human rights provisions in the legislation. These include a sense of Congress statement the U.S. should support democracy and human rights activists in Russia. The teeth of the provisions, however, center on the ordeal of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian attorney who died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody in 2009. The president will be required to compile a list of names of those responsible for Magnitsky's abuse and death. Those individuals will be denied entry to the U.S. and their assets will be frozen. The White House is officially supportive of the combined measure, though the Magnitsky provisions are already causing headaches with Moscow. The bill now moves to the Senate, where the Finance and Foreign Relations panels have already passed similar measures.
Rep. Walter Jones voted NO and G.K. Butterfield voted YES.

LEGISLATION

The Fiscal Cliff: We've all been hearing about the "Fiscal Cliff", which refers to the combined effect a number of policies would have on our economy beginning in January 2013. These policies include the expiration of tax cuts, tax increases, spending cuts and deficit reductions. According to the Congressional Budget Office, lower deficits and debt over time improve long-term economic growth, but there's an increased risk of recession if the deficit is reduced suddenly. There are many pending policies that have been referred to as part of the "Fiscal Cliff", and POPVOX is highlighting a few that have been introduced in the past two years. Check it out on POPVOX: http://www.popvox.com/blog/2012/fiscal-cliff/

Expiring Bush-era Tax Cuts from 2001 and 2003:

• The Middle Class Tax Cut Act (S 3412): to provide tax relief to middle-class families. (Passed the Senate; pending before the House.) - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s3412
• The Tax Hike Prevention Act (S 3413): to temporarily extend tax relief provisions enacted in 2001 and 2003, to provide for temporary alternative minimum tax relief, to extend increased expensing limitations, and to provide instructions for tax reform. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s3413
• The Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act (HR 8): to extend certain tax relief provisions enacted in 2001 and 2003, and to provide for expedited consideration of a bill providing for comprehensive tax reform. (Passed the House; pending before the Senate.) - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr8

Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Not Adjusted to Inflation

• The Permanent AMT Relief Act (HR 3747): to amend the tax code to increase the alternative minimum tax exemption amount and index such amount for inflation. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr3747
• The Permanent Tax Relief Act (S 3420): to permanently extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, to provide for permanent alternative minimum tax relief, and to repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s3420
• The Family and Business Tax Cut Certainty Act (S 3521): to amend the tax code to extend certain expiring provisions. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s3521

2% Social Security Payroll Tax Cut Expiration--Expected to be introduced soon. Would extend a payroll tax holiday for 160 million Americans.

Sequestration: automatic, across-the-board cuts to federal spending to take effect on January 2, 2013 -- if Congress does not act on further deficit reduction. The Sequestration requires $109 billion annually in federal spending cuts, resulting in a 9.4% reduction in defense discretionary funding and an 8.2% reduction in nondefense discretionary funding. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/x41

Expiration of Emergency Unemployment Benefits--Unemployment insurance benefits expected to expire for two million people on Dec. 29. No bill introduced yet.

Medicare Payments to Doctors Reduced

• The Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act (HR 5707): to reform Medicare payment for physicians’ services by eliminating the sustainable growth rate system and providing incentives for the adoption of innovative payment and delivery models to improve quality and efficiency. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr5707
• The Access to Physicians in Medicare Act (S 3337): to provide for the elimination of the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula to ensure access to physicians’ services for Medicare beneficiaries. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s3337

Affordable Care Act Takes Effect

• Provider tax repeal (HR 1370): to repeal the annual fee on health insurance providers enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1370
• The Jobs and Premium Protection Act (S 1880): to repeal the health care law’s job-killing health insurance tax. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s1880
• The Medical Device Access and Innovation Protection Act (S 17): to repeal the job-killing tax on medical devices to ensure continued access to life-saving medical devices for patients and maintain the standing of United States as the world leader in medical device innovation. - https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s17