Introduction: This is something I wrote over a year ago, that I felt was worth revisiting...Even at that time, I saw what was before us and what direction we were heading as a nation...I apologize for the length of the write, but I had much to say on the subject, and I believe it should make more sense today, than when I first wrote it...Thank you, Vic Damico

TOO BLIND TO SEE THE OBVIOUS:

A Socialist Agenda!

Let us set aside the American economy, the banking crisis, the unemployment rate, and the automobile crisis for a moment.  I will now direct your thoughts toward a more serious problem, if you are even able to comprehend that thought.  Whether you acknowledge it or not, whether you agree with it or not, we are well on the road to becoming a country that is governed by socialism.  The first phase of the process has been in place for years.  I am speaking of the mentality that those who are successful in life, and have accumulated wealth are responsible for the well being of the rest of the country.  We constantly hear our political leaders commit to taking care of the poor, and how they are determined to reduce the tax burden of the middle class, and tell us in plain words that it is the responsibility of the upper income class to provide everyone below them with all they will need.  That is the true example of trickle down economics, and the Democrats live by that logic.  This is told to us directly by those in Washington, but for those of you who are too blind to see beyond that, you never really consider the fact that your middle class tax dollars are doing the same for those below your income level, so stop thinking that only the upper class are paying for everything. The upper income level is paying for most of what happens in America, but don’t let your government officials brainwash you into thinking that those below are getting a free ride.  Anyone who pays taxes is supporting this drivel that we are promoting as economic stimulation.  Our liberal government officials remind us that it is moral and patriotic for those who have worked so hard to become so successful to take care of those who have not done as well.  First of all, it is only the moral and patriotic thing to do if it is done of our own accord.  For this to be done by government mandate is as close to socialism as we can get.  If you are intelligent enough to comprehend the actual meaning of socialism, and you do not classify this situation as being just that, then you are either an economic idiot, or you are simply following the liberal agenda as a dog would follow its master.  Anyone that holds an office whereas they were voted into that office by the American people who is unable to perceive this as being representative of a socialist government does not deserve to represent the people within our great country.  This way of thinking indicates that many of those who hold political offices do not have a true understanding of the very foundation of our great country, and they are going against the ideas that made America the greatest country in the world.  The suggestion that this is socialism is not the result of a right-wing conspiracy, and it is not simply a view shared by a few people within this country.  It is socialism based on nothing other than the definition of the word socialism.  The Republicans are opposed to this share the wealth mentality because they do not want a socialist government, and are accused of not showing compassion for the middle class, who is along with the upper class taking care of the lower class.  The liberals dismiss it as a Republican scare tactic. 

Now, with the banking system within our country, we are slipping into stage two of the socialism conversion process.  Part of the plan that is being presented before our eyes is that the government has determined that it will tell the banks who they can loan money to, what interest rate they are allowed to charge, and even what they are allowed to pay their employees. Now, with the enormous amount of foreclosures that are taking place, there is talk of suspending future foreclosures, and even government intervention that would ignore, or even change the legal, binding contracts between the lending institution and the buyer.  This will result in legal actions because the government cannot alter a legal contract, but it will happen.  This control was a part of the plan when our government initiated the bailout that was presented as a process that would help the banks to endure our stressful economy, and to help the people of America.  This even smells like socialism, and it will do nothing other than to release money from the banks to help people who are not meeting their financial obligations, prevent some foreclosures, but in the process, will possibly cripple the banking system as we know it.  If the government suspends foreclosures, as they have implied as a possibility, they will in fact be telling homeowners that they can avoid paying their mortgage and not expect any action to be taken by the lending institutions.    What has the federal government ever done that would indicate that they have even a clue as to how to manage money?  The Republicans are opposed to over-regulating and controlling the banks, or the private sector in general, because they are against any form of socialism, and the liberals condemn them for not wanting to help fund the banking crisis in order to stimulate the economy.  These regulations will totally change the meaning of the free enterprise system, and will have the opposite effect on the economy that the liberals are promising. 

The Democrats have made it clear for some time that they want to have a universal healthcare system in place within our country.  The following statement may sound harsh, but it is 100% true.  Healthcare is not a right!  There is nothing in our constitution that states that the government is responsible for this part of our lives.  This is a perfect example of how we, as a country have become blind when trying to determine the difference between a right as an American citizen, and individual responsibility.  We do a pretty good job with the healthcare in America, and if you do not think so, pay close attention to the following, because no one has ever presented this figure, as I will now.  We hear over and over that 47,000,000 Americans do not have healthcare.  Let’s look at that figure in a different way!  In a country of 360,000,000 people whereas 47,000 people do not have healthcare, you are actually stating that in a country without a universal healthcare system in place, there are 313,000,000 people that do have healthcare.  Why would we want to restructure our healthcare system because only 13 % of the population do not have healthcare.  First of all, I do not believe the number 47,000 to be accurate because we have been hearing that same figure over and over for the last four years.  That number also includes the 20 million (no one knows the real number) of illegal aliens within the country who will also be included in the healthcare plan.  I personally do not believe that universal healthcare will ever exist in America, but if it does, it will be the most damaging project in the history of our nation.  In order to do what the liberals want to do, they would have to regulate what doctors would be allowed to charge for their services, and as a result, the doctors would pick and choose patients according to what would allow them to make a profit, or present the least risk for problems.  Malpractice insurance would skyrocket because the medical professionals would work according to government guidelines instead of by their instincts, knowledge, and experience.  The government would then have to tell the pharmaceutical companies what they would be allowed to charge for the drugs, which would cut so much into the profits that they could not afford to do sufficient research on the drugs.  Then we see less quality drugs, because the lack of research would eradicate the value of the drug, itself to the patient who is to receive it.  Then, there is the fact that the liberals think that the insurance companies should accept anyone as a client, even if they have a pre-existing condition.  That is an absolutely ridiculous theory.  If, for instance, an insurance company is obligated to take on a client that had just been diagnosed with lung cancer, the individual may pay only a few premiums, and the insurance company would possibly be responsible for $100,000 to $500,000 in treatments.  Multiply that situation with the thousands that would follow, and you are looking at an insurance company in serious trouble, which would probably lead to another bailout, government takeover, or even the collapse of the insurance industry.  The Republicans are opposed to universal healthcare because it is the ultimate example of socialism, and they are criticized by the liberals for being mean-spirited and not caring for the health of the people.  It is total arrogance for the liberals to think for even a moment that they are intelligent enough to oversee the healthcare of the entire nation, but that is one of their goals.  Within the next four years you will see steps taken that will transform our healthcare system, and whether it works or not, the liberals will view it as a success, even though healthcare quality will obviously suffer as a result of those changes.

Then, there is the enormous amount of social programs that exist within this country.  The programs were initially geared toward those who were truly in need, but are so full of waste and fraud that they are more of a burden than what the initial purpose was to be. Our Government is gradually reaching the point that it will provide for anyone, all that they may want or need, and as a result, we are breeding a generation of lazy people that have no motivation, and do not even understand the meaning of individual responsibility.   The liberals seem to think that it is the job of the government to make our lives easier to live.  What they are doing is to prevent individual responsibility, and to gradually eliminate living our lives by our own terms.  There is a major difference between helping someone, and controlling their lives, and with the liberal agenda, it is all about the control, and if you cannot distinguish between the two, you are truly blind.  I have heard it said quite often that this is the worst economic situation in America since the great depression.  During the great depression, people were standing in lines with hopes of getting something to eat.  Now, people are standing in lines with hopes of saving their $500,000 homes. Have we evolved to the point that we can no longer distinguish between suffering, and going through difficult times.  Is this really the change you were wanting?

Consider the following.  President Obama has just signed the $787 billion economic stimulus plan that will have nothing to do with stimulating the economy.  It is full of pork, even though President Obama, himself denies it, and this pork is not even related to anything that represents stimulating the economy, but gives the appearance that something is being done.  President Obama has determined that it is the purpose and responsibility of the federal government to prevent foreclosures from happening at the expense of the taxpayers.  How do you convince someone who lives in an apartment complex that his or her tax dollars are to be used to pay for someone else to avoid losing their $500,000 home?  If I do not make enough money to purchase a house, why would anyone with an ounce of sense expect me to pay with my tax dollars for someone else to keep their home?  Stop taking money from someone who makes $25,000 to help a family that has an income of $200,000 dollars because they are not being responsible with their personal finances.  Someone needs to tell these idiots we have in Washington that this is unacceptable, and they need to take a few steps back, read the United States Constitution, and use it as a guideline instead of ruling by an overactive imagination along with their ongoing deception.  This whole situation with the economy will result in future loss of jobs, and many of them will be in Washington.  If someone cannot afford to stay in his or her home because of the inability to balance a personal budget, why would the solution to the problem be to dip into the budget of the federal government?  Our tax dollars should not be used to prevent us from going through difficult times, but the liberals seem determined to purchase your future votes by providing everything that may be needed in our lives.  Individual responsibility has been thrown out the window, and it was part of the liberal plan from the beginning.  The liberals are so far into the process of changing our country from a democracy into a socialized government, that the majority of Americans will be totally dependent on the government within the next four years, with the exception of those who choose to live their lives by their own terms without government intervention.  Just look what President Obama has done in his first twenty days in office.  At this pace, can you imagine what he will do within the next four years?  The transparency that was promised is totally non-existent, because with all that President Obama says will be done is being implemented without a real understanding of what will result from the actions that are being thrown at the economy without a real plan of action.  The only thing we know for sure about the ongoing economic strategy, is that at the end of the process, the government will be much more in control of our everyday lives, and we will gradually be unable to live our lives by our own terms, because the government will be in charge of all aspects of our lives.  It is embarrassing for me to watch what is happening within our country at this time.  Almost everyone seems to have their hands out waiting to see what the federal government will give them, next.  This give-me mentality was once mainly concerning the poor, and lower income part of our society, but now includes many that have incomes en excess of $200,000 who are looking for an easy outlet, as opposed to just working harder in order to be responsible for handling their own problems.  There is absolutely no need to be responsible as an individual because the federal government is promising to do everything that is needed to make sure you will get through this economic situation.  The plan that President Obama has begun, whereas you will not have to worry about anything because he will find a way to make your lives easier, can only accomplish one thing.  It will put us so far into the grips of the government, that our very lives will be controlled by them, and the policies that they are daily putting into action will be very hard, if even possible to reverse.  Our finances will be handled by the government, education will be provided by the government, the banks, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, doctors, education, our homes, our food, and all else that is a part of our lives will be controlled by the government if we allow this liberal agenda to continue.  It is happening now, and unless you are blind, you should be able to see that this non-sense we are being fed on a daily basis is geared at doing nothing other than to relinquish you from living your lives in a manner other than that dictated by those who are pushing this agenda.  What we are seeing before our eyes on a daily basis is not a compassionate government.  What we should see, if we are not blinded and brainwashed by those who are pushing this socialist agenda is a government that is in the process of dismissing all that our forefathers set as guidelines for the future of America.  Unless we, as a country take this situation seriously, our country will change forever, because it will be a long, hard task to reverse this process once it has been put into the very structure of our governing process.  All of us, as American citizens need to simply do our own research and understand what socialism is and what it will do to cause a decline in our society like we have never imagined.  We need to stop believing that this is not a movement toward socialism simply because the liberals deny it, and because of our ignorance, just allow it to continue.  Once it is here, you will see it for all it truly is and it will then be too late to simply change our minds.  It will take decades to reverse the damage, and the cost of what is being done now will take even longer.  Do what is right for the country, and the people that make up the country, and stop simply following a party agenda that does not put your true wants and needs as a top priority.  I say that it is time for the American people to grow up and be responsible for their own lives, so that we are not concerned with what the federal government will do to make our lives easier.  It is not the job of the government to make our lives easier to live, and it will only continue to breed a nation of lazy, irresponsible, and needy people.  We, as individuals need to make mistakes, and occasionally go through difficult times.  We learn through this process, and as a result we develop wisdom.  If everyone had done their part in controlling their own lives, we would not need the government to step in to do what we have not done for ourselves in the first place.  Individual responsibility plays a major role in our lives, and if this were the normal for the whole country, many of the problems that we face today, would not exist.  I say to anyone who does not believe this to be true, that you are one of the people that need to look closely at what is happening within our great country, and understand what you are doing to cause it rather than to prevent it.  It is a frightening thought to believe that the liberals are honestly convinced that this economic strategy that has been thrown together will do anything other than to increase government spending in a way that will accomplish nothing other than allowing more government control in all aspects of our lives.  What scares me is the fact that the true goal is to achieve that government control at any cost, because the control that will result from the stimulus plan is the only thing we know for sure to be predictable.  We, the American people had better wake up, and realize that we need to stop assuming that the government has the best interest of the country in mind, when choosing between that and their party agenda.  Our government officials are ignoring too many negative parts of the plan that will result in shooting us as a country into the direction of a society ruled by socialism. I am not opposed to President Obama or the Democrats.  I am opposed to what they are doing to the country, while telling us that they will solve all of our problems.  Stop trying to help us to live a simple, uncomplicated life, where we are to believe that all we want or need will be provided for us.  It is not the job of the government, and with this process, our country will change forever.  We do not need that kind of change.  I say to the true liberals that if you honestly believe what President Obama is doing is in the best interest of the future of America that you are either blind, or you are simply going along with your party agenda.  No one within their right mind, and this includes President Obama, can possibly believe that what is being done to improve the American economy has even a possibility of being successful.  If all of President Obama’s plans are allowed to be implemented, the only sure outcome will be that America will be well on its way to becoming a socialist country.  Our country is being reconstructed, and it is being done while ignoring the United States Constitution, and by doing so, our country will forever be changed.  Vic Damico  

Tags: Politics

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The True Strength Of America

With American society, as it exists today, I find myself quite troubled as I view us as a people, collectively.  We, as a people have always been quite diverse with our overall attitudes and opinions of how our nation began, how far we have come, and how we got to where we are, but in  the present day and time, these attitudes and opinions seem to be based on allowing others to mold our thoughts into their own.  Let me make it clear that I am speaking of the people collectively, and I am certainly not suggesting that there are not individuals that are perfectly capable of thinking on their own and reaching their own conclusions about all that is associated with this great country we call home.  Having said that, there is a vast difference between being of sound mind, and having the will and ability to see with honest eyes what is before us, and to actually do just that.  This writing will not address the issues before us as a nation, the individuals who have been chosen to represent us as a people, or attempt to influence anyone on either side of the political spectrum of this nation into believing they are either right or wrong.  My goal with this writing is to give my view on how each individual plays a major role in the overal makeup of the very foundation of America, as we know it today. 

Consider the following in order to understand how vital the individual is in the total view of the foundation of our nation, and keep it in mind as you read further.  Let us view America as a whole as a construction project that must be built to withstand time and the forces that work against it both today and in the future.  Every single individual citizen of this great country represents a single brick.  The end product is to be a massive brick wall, so large that normal construction and engineering will be obsolete.  These bricks, that represent individuals will be randomly placed as the construction takes place and in the end will result in stable areas of the wall, while some areas of the wall will be weak.  This stability and weakness is determined based on the stability or weakness of the individual as to what they offer or represent to the American society as a whole.  In reality this type of wall could never be built, as it would collapse over and over as the weak areas by the weak individual bricks would not allow for a stable overall project.  This is true representation as to what is wrong with the foundation of America as it is today.  America has the ability to be a strong, stable, resillient structure, but the weak individual entities that are part of the overall process will not allow for stability.  Having a strong foundation has always been the main point of all we do, whether it be a construction project, or our individual lives.  It is just as important for the rest of the structure to be stable or it will crumble and leave you with only the foundation.  The individual bricks must be stable as well.

There is quite a contrast between those who founded our nation and those who have been put into leadership roles today, and I will expand on that as I write.  There is also quite a contrast between the loyalty and devotion to the nation by the individuals today, as it was when our nation was being founded.

I have no intention of making this a religious battle of words, and it should not be viewed as my attempt to force my beliefs or my faith upon anyone.  That is not my place or my right to do so.  The following statement is not an opionion or a theory, but a fact related to the beginning of our nation.  The founding fathers of our nation, and the documents that were put into place to guide the building and survival of our nation were based on faith in God.  Whether you agree with my faith or not, whether you follow my faith or not, or even if you have no faith or religious beliefs, it still does not make this fact any less true.  With God as the foundation, the components that make up America and meant to guide us with the process of growing as a nation was based on good verses bad, and right verses wrong, and it is just that simple.  Today, because those who are either trying to get into public offices, or trying to remain in the offices they now have, they are willing to dismiss God as part of the foundation.  They are willing to dismiss the importance of choosing good verses bad.  They are willing to dismiss the importance of choosing right verses wrong.  This lack of foundation is the major weakness I speak of with the brick wall I mentioned earlier.  In order for the structure to stand, the wall, as a whole must be stable, not just parts of it.  The weak simply cannot withstand the weight of the strong.

Another obvious weakness with the wall is represented by the lack of individual thought and responsibiltiy.  Not as all individuals, but as a people, collectively, our nation has become weak and lazy, and dependent on others for what we should insist upon doing for ourselves.  With our federal government telling us daily that you do not need to worry, because even in failure, they will make sure you are cared for, why would it surprise anyone that individual responsibilty is vanishing as a mindset?  Why would many see the need to work and lead a responsible life when the government is telling you they will supply you with food, shelter, help with your utility bills, you medical care, the education of your children, even if you choose not to work.  That does not represent helping the people or anything resembling leadership.  That respresents government control, and that is the intended agenda.  No one who looks with open, honest eyes cannot truthfully see that.  The result of this agenda is obvious and going just as planned.  Those who have become dependent on the government will vote for those who will continue to allow the behavior that is actually causing the dependency of the people on the government.  I do want to make something very clear to anyone who may read this.  I understand that there are those who need assistance in order to live their daily lives, and I am certainly not suggesting that this assistance in either not needed or justified.  I am addressing those who have made a conscious decision to reap benefits that are by design, destined for those who truly need them.  The dishonesty, fraud, and waste with what the government provides in the name of loyalty to the people is nothing short of simply buying future votes, because they know it to exist, but will not eliminate the fraud and waste because it allows for that dependence on the government they are seeking with all the dedication and efforts they can put together.  

In closing I will say what I truly believe must happen if we are to make forward progress as a nation, or to even survive as a nation.  We must understand as individuals what is good or bad, what is right or wrong, and live our lives accordingly as individuals, not as the design set forth by those who pretend to represent our best interest as a people or a nation.  We, as individuals must understand that our lives are our own, and we are responsible for not only our own lives, but that of our children as well.  Our decisions when it comes to the continued efforts of having a strong and stable nation should be based on the good of us all, and not just an effort to choose a specific political party as being superior and the only way to survive as a nation.  The wall we have built as a nation is vey close to falling.  We need the strength that is represented by each brick that makes up that wall, or we will eventually see it collapse before us.  We simply need to get back to the basic fundaments that started our nation, and ensure that they remain in place.  It is just that simple...vic damico    

Tags: Politics

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Airport Security/Violation Of Rights

Let me start this off by making a simple statement that will put this into perspective.  If someone touches an individual in an inappropriate manner in a shopping mall, they will be arrested for their behavior.  So why should it be legal, or even acceptable for airport personnel to touch someone in that same inappropriate manner because the Federal Government says so?  This is being justified by our government, and by President Obama, himself as a security measure for the safety of all involved with air travel to and from our airports throughout the nation.  You can opt out of the visually invasive full body scan, but you are then subjected to the second security measure.  That is for a full body pat down to ensure you do not have weapons or explosive devices or materials hidden somewhere on your body.  Once you have reached the checkpoint where these security measures are performed, and you opt out of the full body scan, you cannot opt out of the pat down, or you face a fine of $11,000.  You heard me right.  If you do not allow the body scan, you then face a fine for not allowing someone to touch your crotch area.  Let’s return to my statement about being touched in an inappropriate manner in the shopping mall.  If this happens, the individual will be arrested, and if you tell the individual in the mall to not touch you, there is no $11,000 fine to be paid. 

Now, I do understand that we need airport security, especially after some of the past incidents involving activity in airports and on the planes, themselves.  Having said that, the possibility of a plane taking off from an airport should not be determined by whether or not I choose to allow a total stranger to touch my crotch.  It is an invasion of privacy, and a violation of existing laws under any circumstances, whether it happens at a shopping mall, an airport, or anywhere else.  It is estimated that only 20% of the airport traffic will be subjected to a body scan or a pat down, so even with these suggested security measures, 80% are possibly carrying something that they should not be carrying.  Or maybe they are not carrying anything that is not allowed through the airport security checkpoints or on the planes.

I understand that our air travel needs to be guaranteed to be safe from that which could lead to an unwelcome outcome, as has happened in the past.  But I have a problem when I am told by the federal government that I must give up my individual rights to reach that point of safety.  Here is something that we all need to understand fully, and I have been saying this for quite a while.  Our government has developed the mentality that as long as they believe something is being done in our best interest, they will trample on the individual rights to do what they believe should be done.  The United States Constitution is being re-arranged to fit the desires of the select few we have placed into offices in Washington.  The document was designed to guide those we select to represent us, not to be used only when the existing document works hand in hand with their planned agenda.  In addition to the violation of the rights of the individuals who simply wish to fly from one area of the nation to another area, this represents opening the doors for future intrusion and the violations of our individual daily lives.  If the government can tell you that these security measures will be taken because it is in the best interest of all involved, they can also do the following, and it will be done.  The government can then decide that they will be able to monitor our every move on the Internet in order to protect us.  President Obama has already appointed an Internet Czar, so I am sure that is his intended move in that direction.  With the government controlled health care system that may or may not eventually be put into action, all of our medical records will be available for reference to those who wish to see them.  Those in Washington are determining the direction for how we live our daily lives, and the individual responsibility is vanishing as our government decides they know what is best for us.  This airport invasion of our rights is just a stepping-stone, and it will work as an example of what steps the government will take next.  As I said in my earlier blog, this is not leadership.  This is control.  That is not the role of those we have elected to represent us as a people of this great nation…  

Tags: Politics

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Are you really paying attention to some of the actions that are being taken, or have been clearly put into play, as they apply to the future of our nation and the people, directly? 

We need to wake up and see what is before us before it is completely out of our collective hands...Consider the following and what it represents with our future...

It is not an accident with what has happened with My Space.  No one who owns an internet social network would intentionally restructure the world-wide site in a manner that would interupt and confuse communication unless that was actually the goal.  It is just common sense that with a network that is designed for communication, it would not take actions that would limit and even eliminate the ability to effectively communicate.  It is not limited to My Space.  Facebook and even Twitter have reported serious issues with communication and even issues concernng internet privacy.  It is my opinion that the actions and the obvious results were intended.  Nothing else makes any sense at all, especially from a business standpoint.  Our voices are being silenced.  In addition to this, I have a question that I would love to have answered.  Why would President Obama possibly see the need for an internet czar?  That should be a concern for anyone who believes in personal privacy when it comes to the internet.

Another concern I have, that has become very obvious with the current administration is a simple fact associated with all of the plans, programs, and bailouts we have seen in the last two years.  There is a common denominator with all of these ventures.  With each of them, the government gains a little more control of the people, and even entire industries through the rules, regulations, and mandates within the bills.  With the automobile industry bailout, the banking industry bailout, and especially the health care industry restructuring, the government is telling businesses what they are allowed to do, what they are allowed to charge, and even how much they are allowed to pay certain employees within the company.  Our government is using fear to those effected directly by the recession to justify the actions that are coming from Washington.  Just as with the healthcare plan that was pushed through and voted on before those in Washington, even President Obama has actually read the bill. I have personally read the 2000 plus page monster, and anyone who voted for the plan, and the president who signed it should qualify for impeachment, because there are areas that violate the United States Constitution that they all swore to uphold. 

I have said in several blogs on my political profile with My Space that in order to move into the grasps of the New World Order, the economy must either collapse, or reach the point that it cannot support the nation without outside assisance.  President Obama, himself has issued a 25 page document that outlines his intentions and goals for moving us into the holds of the New World Order.  It will give control of decisions that effect the nation and the people, collectively to other areas of the world, and it will void the United States Constitution.  To even suggest this move that will render our Constitution as being obsolete goes against the Oath Of Office that any president takes, and should be viewed as a treasonist action against our great nation.  Those in Washington are gaining control of all of the people, not just certain parts of our society.  The poor are dependent on the government to survive.  All of the new plans to help during the recession have put the lower and middle-class areas of our society in the grasps of the government.  The weathy in this nation, including the large corporations are being regulated and mandated to the point that they must struggle to maintain their status or even survive.  The small businesses are being pulled into the arms of the government with promises that simple do not work in their favor in the first place, but in a weakened economy, they are forced to follow the direction the government has set for them.  Those in Washington are not leading us; they are controlling us.  This control is intentional, and it applies to every area of our society in one way or another.  I feel fear, not relief when I hear the Washington elete say they are going to help us. 

I will post other areas of a direction that are clearly not in the interest of the people or the nation in future blogs, but these are representative of my main concerns with today.  We should pay close attention to what our government represents today verses what it represented only a few decades ago.  The government is meant to represent the people, not to determine what we should do as individuals, and then put forth regulations and mandates that ensure that we follow that agenda.  We, the people are being left out of the picture, except with areas that the govenment has determined is the only way.  That is simply not America as a land of the people, for the people, and by the people.  That is controlling the people... 

Vic Damico  11-16-2010  

Tags: Politics

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True Representation and Inclusion

Our nation is at a turning point, whereas we are close to the border of either changing our direction as an obviously divided people or literally surviving as a republic.  The recent mid-term elections represented not a shift from the left to the right, but a statement that the people, themselves are tired of having their voices silenced, and not being a consideration for the path chosen for America.  Whether the Republicans or the Democrats hold the majority control of our government, the outcome will only serve the people and the nation's best interest if the will of the people and the good of the nation is the top priority.  Those we have placed into office in Washington must come to terms with one simple fact in order for us to move forward in a manner that is good for all of us as a people.  Our leaders must realize that they represent the voices of all people, not just those associated with their represented party, or their personal or political agendas.  YOU CANNOT GOVERN AN ENTIRE NATION WHILE SERVING ONLY HALF OF THE PEOPLE...The whole concept of the right representing the right, and the left representing the left creates a division within this nation that simply will not allow us to have a representative government in the true sense of the word.  The overall understanding of this concept is the reason that the mid-term elections of 2010 represented the largest shift in party representation in over 70 years.  The people spoke, and made thier concerns clear that they do not want the government to just have free reign of our nation with no concern for the will of the people, or to be held accountable for their actions. 

What you will see in Washington is a conscious effort to see a negative side to all that may be the new direction that will be pushed by the new conservative representation within our government.  With every single issue and action that will come in the near future, we all need to ask ourselves two questions to determine if those issues and actions are in the best interest of the people, collectively.  (1)  Do these issues and actions truly represent everyone, and not just those associated by party devotion and affiliation? and (2)  Are these issues and actions in the best interest of the nation, and the people who call it home, or is it based on personal or party agendas of those who are in Washington?  Only if these issues and actions are to represent all of the people, and they are representative of what is best for the nation, will they yeild results that will, in fact move us in the desired direction that will benefit the nation and the people as a whole.  The main point I am trying to make is that we, the people seem to be looking so far ahead at the possible outcome of the issues and actions, that we are ignoring the actual process and representation that will take us to that point.  What I have written here is nothing profound, and it is actually a simple concept that we should all consider with every single step our government takes in order to allow us to exist, proceed, and to improve the very foundation of what has developed and maintained us as the greatest nation in the world.  We should not concentrate on who is behind the governing process, or who gets the credit or the blame, but to actually concentrate on what is best for us as a nation and as a people.  With this first step, and to apply it to all concerned with the future of our nation, it will represent a foundation for all that will come as we strive to get back to the America we once knew to exist.  Vic Damico 11-13-2010 

Tags: Politics

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Step one:  Stop Wasting Our Money...

I have said that in the middle of a recession, the first thing to do was to give the people, themselves a tax cut that would actually start immediately and allow them to see relief with every single paycheck, not a $300 check in the mail...The answer is not to send money to the individual, but to allow them to keep more of their money in the first place.  In order to move in a positive direction to move from this recession, the people must spend money in order to get the economy moving.  Even those in Washington know this, but they will not consider simply allowing we, the people to keep more of our own money, because that means simply that it does not get to them...Allowing an immediate reduction on the tax rate for all Americans (not just those who the government says should receive relief) is only possible if the government reduces their spending.  I am so tired of people asking me, "Where would you cut back on spending?"  I was even told in a comment on one of my blogs that the federal budget really does not have that much waste within it...

READ THE LIST BELOW AND TELL ME THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WASTE MONEY...


1. The federal government made at least $72 billion in improper payments in 2008.
2. Washington spends $92 billion on corporate welfare (excluding TARP) versus $71 billion on homeland security.
3. Washington spends $25 billion annually maintaining unused or vacant federal properties.
4. Government auditors spent the past five years examining all federal programs and found that 22 percent of them–costing taxpayers a total of $123 billion annually–fail to show any positive impact on the populations they serve.
5. The Congressional Budget Office published a “Budget Options” series identifying more than $100 billion in potential spending cuts.
6. Examples from multiple Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports of wasteful duplication include 342 economic development programs; 130 programs serving the disabled; 130 programs serving at-risk youth; 90 early childhood development programs; 75 programs funding international education, cultural, and training exchange activities; and 72 safe water programs.
7. Washington will spend $2.6 million training Chinese prostitutes to drink more responsibly on the job.
8. A GAO audit classified nearly half of all purchases on government credit cards as improper, fraudulent, or embezzled. Examples of taxpayer-funded purchases include gambling, mortgage payments, liquor, lingerie, iPods, Xboxes, jewelry, Internet dating services, and Hawaiian vacations. In one extraordinary example, the Postal Service spent $13,500 on one dinner at a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, including “over 200 appetizers and over $3,000 of alcohol, including more than 40 bottles of wine costing more than $50 each and brand-name liquor such as Courvoisier, Belvedere and Johnny Walker Gold.” The 81 guests consumed an average of $167 worth of food and drink apiece.
9. Federal agencies are delinquent on nearly 20 percent of employee travel charge cards, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
10. The Securities and Exchange Commission spent $3.9 million rearranging desks and offices at its Washington, D.C., headquarters.
11. The Pentagon recently spent $998,798 shipping two 19-cent washers from South Carolina to Texas and $293,451 sending an 89-cent washer from South Carolina to Florida.
12. Over half of all farm subsidies go to commercial farms, which report average household incomes of $200,000.
13. Health care fraud is estimated to cost taxpayers more than $60 billion annually.
14. A GAO audit found that 95 Pentagon weapons systems suffered from a combined $295 billion in cost overruns.
15. The refusal of many federal employees to fly coach costs taxpayers $146 million
16. Washington will spend $126 million in 2009 to enhance the Kennedy family legacy in Massachusetts. Additionally, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) diverted $20 million from the 2010 defense budget to subsidize a new Edward M. Kennedy Institute.
17. Federal investigators have launched more than 20 criminal fraud investigations
18. Despite trillion-dollar deficits, last year’s 10,160 earmarks included $200,000 for a tattoo removal program in Mission Hills, California; $190,000 for the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming; and $75,000 for the Totally Teen Zone in Albany, Georgia.
19. The federal government owns more than 50,000 vacant homes.
20. The Federal Communications Commission spent $350,000 to sponsor NASCAR driver David Gilliland.
21. Members of Congress have spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars
22. More than $13 billion in Iraq aid has been classified as wasted or stolen. Another $7.8 billion cannot be accounted for.
23. Fraud related to Hurricane Katrina spending is estimated to top $2 billion. In addition, debit cards provided to hurricane victims were used to pay for Caribbean vacations, NFL tickets, Dom Perignon champagne, “Girls Gone Wild”
24. Auditors discovered that 900,000 of the 2.5 million recipients of emergency Katrina assistance provided false names, addresses, or Social Security numbers or submitted multiple applications.
25. Congress recently gave Alaska Airlines $500,000 to paint a Chinook salmon on a Boeing 737.
26. The Transportation Department will subsidize up to $2,000 per flight for direct flights between Washington, D.C., and the small hometown of Congressman Hal Rogers (R-KY)–but only on Monday mornings and Friday evenings, when lawmakers, staff, and lobbyists usually fly. Rogers is a member of the Appropriations Committee, which writes the Transportation Department’s budget.
27. Washington has spent $3 billion re-sanding beaches–even as this new sand washes back into the ocean.
28. A Department of Agriculture report concedes that much of the $2.5 billion in “stimulus” funding for broadband Internet will be wasted.
29. The Defense Department wasted $100 million on unused flight tickets and never bothered to collect refunds even though the tickets were refundable.
30. Washington spends $60,000 per hour shooting Air Force One photo-ops in front of national landmarks.
31. Over one recent 18-month period, Air Force and Navy personnel used government-funded credit cards to charge at least $102,400 on admission to entertainment events, $48,250 on gambling, $69,300 on cruises, and $73,950 on exotic dance clubs and prostitutes.
32. Members of Congress are set to pay themselves $90 million to increase their franked mailings for the 2010 election year.
33. Congress has ignored efficiency recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services that would save $9 billion annually.
34. Taxpayers are funding paintings of high-ranking government officials at a cost of up to $50,000 apiece.
35. The state of Washington sent $1 food stamp checks to 250,000 households in order to raise state caseload figures and trigger $43 million in additional federal funds.
36. Suburban families are receiving large farm subsidies for the grass in their backyards–subsidies that many of these families never requested and do not want.
37. Congress appropriated $20 million for “commemoration of success” celebrations related to Iraq and Afghanistan.
38. Homeland Security employee purchases include 63-inch plasma TVs, iPods, and $230 for a beer brewing kit.
39. Two drafting errors in the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act resulted in a $2 billion taxpayer cost.
40. North Ridgeville, Ohio, received $800,000 in “stimulus” funds for a project that its mayor described as “a long way from the top priority.”
41. The National Institutes of Health spends $1.3 million per month to rent a lab that it cannot use.
42. Congress recently spent $2.4 billion on 10 new jets that the Pentagon insists it does not need and will not use.
43. Lawmakers diverted $13 million from Hurricane Katrina relief spending to build a museum celebrating the Army Corps of Engineers–the agency partially responsible for the failed levees that flooded New Orleans.
44. Medicare officials recently mailed $50 million in erroneous refunds to 230,000 Medicare recipients.
45. Audits showed $34 billion worth of Department of Homeland Security contracts contained significant waste, fraud, and abuse.
46. Washington recently spent $1.8 million to help build a private golf course in Atlanta, Georgia.
47. The Advanced Technology Program spends $150 million
48. Congressional investigators were able to receive $55,000 in federal student loan funding for a fictional college they created to test the Department of Education.
49. The Conservation Reserve program pays farmers $2 billion annually not to farm their land.
50. The Commerce Department has lost 1,137 computers annually in flight upgrades. related to the TARP financial bailout. supplying their offices with popcorn machines, plasma televisions, DVD equipment, ionic air fresheners, camcorders, and signature machines–plus $24,730 leasing a Lexus, $1,434 on a digital camera, and $84,000 on personalized calendars. videos, and at least one sex change operation. annually subsidizing private businesses; 40 percent of this funding goes to Fortune 500 companies. since 2001, many containing Americans’ personal data.

Now tell me that going line by line with the federal budget (as Obama promised to do before getting into offfice) would not be a good start to getting a hold on spending...Most of what we need to do is just common sense, and allowing us to look at the facts rather than to agree with whatever is said by those in Washington...What is listed above is just a fraction of the waste that is a normal part of those in Washington.  It is done as a combination of political favors to buy votes on certain issues at hand, and to fill the pockets of those who are involved.  It must stop, and we should not allow it to continue as we blindly follow those we have put into office...This is not related to just the right or just the left...It involves every single representative we have in office...Each is either involved, or they are sitting back and watching it, and keeping their collective mouths shut...Either way, they are guilty...

Tags: Politics

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