The New American Evolution

Monday, November 20, 2006

A True US Patriot

We, the People of the United States of America, finding ourselves repeatedly misled by those charged with the care and governance of our nation, know that partisan politics have resulted in a serious breach of the public trust.

We have suffered attacks against our Constitutional rights and the founding tenets of this Democratic Republic.

We have suffered the infringement of our freedoms.

We have suffered insult to our honor and integrity as proud citizens.

We will no longer suffer in silence this continued assault that has now passed beyond intolerable.

We do hereby now and forever reject the bastardization of this nation's core principles through this proclamation, and define this reminder to our wayward leaders just what it takes to be a True US Patriot:

A True US Patriot realizes if the rights of one are violated, the rights of all are at risk, and objects to any attempt to alter the Constitution in order to specifically undermine the rights and freedoms of others, ensuring that the Constitution will never be amended to endorse discrimination of any kind.

A True US Patriot holds the founding principles of the Declaration of Independence to be self-evident, and defends the Constitutional rights of others even when those rights conflict with personal and religious beliefs; believing that all men are created equal, even in times of war, the basic principles of humanity apply not only to one group of people or nation, but to all.

A True US Patriot supports the checks and balances within the three branches of government and rejects any attempts to circumvent or undermine them.

A True US Patriot exercises the right to openly challenge and hold accountable at all times, even and most particularly in times of war, those who do not honor their oaths of office, who purposely mislead the nation, who abdicate responsibility when those in their employ are caught engaging in criminal and unethical activities, and who fail to serve the nation with integrity.

A True US Patriot recognizes the contributions of the older generation and values the potential of the next, and that in order to promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves, our elders, and our Posterity, we must ensure that the basic rights of those we hold dear to access quality healthcare and education is steadfastly supported, uncompromisingly and without discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, or orientation.

A True US Patriot believes that human rights are inherent to the human condition and should not be given to non-living entities; the rights of corporations should not equal or exceed the rights of any individual, and the right to fair and equal trade as well as fair and equal pay are a vital part of those expectations.

A True US Patriot recalls that our citizens consist of the tired and the poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the ‘wretched refuse’, and homeless, tempest-tossed people, and welcomes fair and balanced immigration with managed borders to ensure an open policy while maintaining and increasing security for both those who would call this land their home as well as those who already dwell within.

A True US Patriot respects the personal religious choices of others, refrains from imposing their own beliefs upon others, refuses to support war in the name of religion, and offers foreign humanitarian aid unconditionally without tying it to religious dogma.

A True US Patriot knows that due process of law and the protections against illegal search and seizure are core principles upon which our nation is founded, and the respect of an individual's right to privacy and security within their own home is critical to the preservation of our freedom.

A True US Patriot respects the diversity and culture of all nations, recognizing that our continued success lay not in spite of other nations but in alliance with them in a uniform approach toward promoting the global general welfare.

These ten basic tenets characterizing a True US Patriot can perhaps best be summed up in the words of Eric Zorn of the Chicago Tribune, paraphrased below:
A True US Patriot loves what his country stands for, not necessarily what his country does, and will not shrink from holding America to her ideals¹.

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¹ Eric Zorn, The Chicago Tribune, "Durbin should have stood up for his opinion", June 23, 2005.
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Our 'leaders' have taken to calling each other 'un-American' and 'un-Patriotic' a lot lately. This list of ten characteristics of 'A True US Patriot' was compiled by a group of US Citizens both here and abroad. Let this list serve to help remind those who serve us that these terms were not meant to be bandied about like a club, bludgeoning opponents into submission.

Write or call the toll-free numbers of all your elected officials— from your local town/city council members to the President of the United States— and tell them about A True US Patriot. Let them know about this blog. Tell them that True US Patriots created this list, together. Ask your newspaper why it hasn't published an article on this subject. Let your friends and neighbors know about it.

Pass it around!
It's time for our elected representatives to be reminded - this is our country, our nation, and they serve both it, and us.

It's time to tell the media that it must live up to the role of champion of the truth, and ask the tough questions.

Thank you.

Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Source: True Patriot

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Democracy at Risk

This has to be the MOST important issue currently facing the future of American Democracy.

Summary:

Princeton Scientists write program to steal votes. In less than ONE MINUTE, someone can compromise a voting machine with NO TRACE.

Please Take action:

1. Go to the YouTube video I posted
2. Write a comment (it will go towards counting for "the most discussed video")
3. Rate it with 5 stars (it will go towards counting for "the most highly rated video")
4. Link it to your blog if you can (it will go towards counting for "the most linked video")
5. Add it to your "favorites" if you have an account (it will go towards counting for "top favorite videos"

Video

Sunday, September 10, 2006

TNAE Music

My favorite B.B. King.



Monday, August 28, 2006

More protest songs

Really nice Flash video of "Lives in the Balance" by Jackson Browne.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

DINOs Ditch the Dems

OK,

On this page, will be a list of Democrats and their positions on Joe Lieberman's independent run for US Senate, against the DULY ELECTED candidate Ned Lamont (52% to 48%).

By Position:

Support Ned

Harry Reid
Hillary Clinton
Joe Biden
Evan Bayh
John Edwards (first to call and congratulate)
Russ Feingold
Charles Schumer
Emmanuel Rahm
Chris Dodd
Wyden (OR)


Support Joe

Ken Salazar - CO

Said support Joe before primary, no confirmation:

Daniel Inouye, HI

Undeclared:

The rest...

Updates to come.

Friday, August 04, 2006

Well, at least they are consistent.

UPDATE:

The Bankruptcy bill "supporters"

The following voted against the following amendment:

To protect servicemembers and veterans from means testing in bankruptcy, to disallow certain claims by lenders charging usurious interest rates to servicemembers, and to allow servicemembers to exempt property based on the law of the State of their premilitary residence.

Baucus (D-MT)
Biden (D-DE)
Bond (R-MO)
Byrd (D-WV)
Carper (D-DE)
Johnson (D-SD)
Nelson (D-NE)


Those that voted to pass it

Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Byrd (D-WV)
Carper (D-DE)
Conrad (D-ND)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Stabenow (D-MI)

Remember these names when their next primary comes up.



DINO list update...

The following democrats voted for cloture on the "min wage + inheritance tax relief" poison pill bill, which no doubt would have passed on the floor.

The bill, which would raise the minimum wage to $7.25 (still below inflation adjusted $5.15 where it has been for 10 years), also included...


The hybrid bill would exempt the first $5 million of an individual's estate from inheritance taxes, and the first $10 million of a couple's estate, by the year 2015.

Estates worth as much as $25 million would be taxed at capital gains rates, which are currently set at 15 percent but are scheduled to increase to 20 percent.

Inheritance tax rates on larger estates would drop to 30 percent.


A clever little trick by the Republicans in the house. They can say they tried to raise minimum wages but the "Dems" wouldn't let them.

Anyway, here are the consistently Republican supporting Democrats.

Byrd (D-W. Va.), Lincoln (D-Ark.), Nelson (D-Fla.), Nelson (D-Neb.)

Nelson of Nebraska and Byrd of West Virginia are really starting to piss me off with their enabling of all things Republican.

At least Salazar (CO) "broke ranks" and actually voted as a democrat this time.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Dr. Seuss and Life Lessons

The Lorax.  


When the once-ler came to a place, it was a lovely place, filled with Truffula Trees of great beauty.  So entranced was the Once-ler that he cut a tree down and knitted a Thneed - "an odd-looking but versatile garment that he insisted "everyone needs."


Eventually, the Once-ler cut down all the trees, leaving only a dark, smoggy, world where nothing grew.


Lesson: Take care of the environment, renewable sources, etc.


The Sneetches:


In a world far away, full of glorious beaches, lived wonderful creatures, known as the Sneetches.


One group of them had stars on their bellies "stars upon thars" and another group did not.  The sneetches with stars on their bellies would not associate with those without stars, believing they were inferior.


A 'fix-it-up chap named Sylvester McMonkey McBean' told the Sneetches without stars upon thars to never fear, that he had a 'star-on' machine and that they could go through for the measly sum of $3.00 each.


Now that everyone had a star, the original star bellied sneetches were angry.  But Mr McBean said that he could remove their star for the paltry sum of $10.00


The sneetches continue to run through both machine until no one knows who is who or who had a star.  Of course, now they are out of money and Mr. McBean leaves them alone.


Moral: People are the same inside, regardless of how they look outside (Man, we need this one now for sure)


The Zax


A story about a South going Zax who meets up with a North going Zax, and both get caught up in their "trax".


"I'm a North going Zax and I always go North, not an inch to the East not an inch to the West.  Now out of my way"


"Well...

Of course the world didn't stand still.  The world grew.

In a couple of years, the new highway came through

And they built it right over those two stubborn Zax

And left them there, standing un-budge in their tracks."


Moral: "stay the course" may not be the best strategy.


The Butter Battle Book


It all starts with a man taking his grandson to see the wall that separates the Yooks (US) and the Zooks (USSR).  A battle that started over which side of the bread should be buttered.


Each side keeps making larger and larger weapons until the "smallest and deadliest" is finally developed (A nuke).  The story ends with both sides threatening to blow the other up and neither side willing to back down.


Moral: Arms races are unwinnable.


Green Eggs and Ham  Moral: Try something before you say you don't like it.


Yertle the Turtle


He is "king of all he sees" so he makes his Turtles build a tower of turtles so he goes higher and higher.


Eventually, the turtle at the bottom says:



"I know, up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights."


When Yertle refuses to listen to him, he demands that the pile go higher and higher, until it finally topples, with a burp by the turtle at the bottom.  And the story ends:


"And the turtles, of course...  all the turtles are free, As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be."


Moral: Everyone (not just the wealthy) deserve rights.  


Well, please add to this, I think Geisel was a genius, and I know he drew quite a few political cartoons in his day as well.

More P,P, & M protest songs

Some more...

The Times they are a Changing.

Music

Peter, Paul and Mary singing Blowing in the Wind.