The Demise of a Nation (cont.), by Murray Regan

It strikes me as wildly hypocritical and utterly reprehensible that our elected officials constantly preach to the American people on any issue of the day, citing the moral high ground on such things as injustice and inequality in America, when they are the one’s promoting it the most. To make matters worse, they fail at every level to practice what they preach and consistently lie, steal and cheat the American people out of billions, and now trillions, of hard earned taxpayer dollars in government waste, fraud, corruption, failed ideas and policies to satisfy their own selfish wants, self aggrandizement, and warped sense of right and wrong. They practice the politics of hate and tear each other down at every opportunity, at the expense of everything else, especially at the expense of doing what is right for the American people and the country, as a whole. The so-called “Liberal” factions in this country are especially practiced at these disingenuous smear campaigns and continually bristle at the idea of, and lash out at, anyone perceived as doing the very same to them. They act like little children whining that they didn’t get a cookie and blame others for their shortcomings never taking responsibility for their own mistakes or misdeeds.

To eliminate this unfortunate consequence of such a flawed system run by the flawed human condition in our leaders (tongue firmly planted in cheek), the system must change, and I don’t mean toward socialism. The control of our resources and money should be redirected into the hands of local governments so we know exactly where our money and resources are going and not rely on politicians in Washington, where the money is out of our control as to where it goes and to whom it is given. The promise of responsible and accountable government, so far from the source of the resources on which it thrives, is a fantasy and a lie, constantly promoted by those who seek to subvert individual liberties and freedoms. In the end, we are a republic of 50 states and it is at the local level where the power should reside where it is much easier to hold people accountable. To be sure, for all its faults, the system our forefathers created is the best in the world and held in high esteem by many. Sadly, however, it is slipping away because of the hubris, greed, and poor judgment of those we elect to represent us. There is a saying, which we should all heed. The saying goes…the government that is big enough to give you what you want, is a government big enough to take everything you have. This truism is closer than you think to becoming reality and to ignore it is to do so at our own peril as a nation.

It has gotten to the point now that other socialist countries are warning the United States against its proclivity to borrow and spend. In fact, there is a back-lash presently underway in Europe against Socialism. In this country, the taxpayers currently work nearly half a year to pay the taxes levied against them. The way things are “progressing,” we will look back on this state of affairs with fondness because to pay for the mounting debt we are now facing will require huge tax increases. The movement toward socialism is happening right under our noses and the Republican Party is bickering over the direction it should take. It seems plainly obvious to me in what direction it should go – to be blunt the “powers that be” should stop worrying about their own power grab and start worrying about the direction the country is taking under democratic rule. If the Republicans focus on their core principles of small government, lower taxation, less government intrusion into our private lives, and more focus on individual freedoms, the Republicans will reach their objectives and regain power in Congress and the White House.

Be forewarned, however, the events of the last few decades, with particular focus on recent history, must be reversed if we are to survive as a nation and remain a beacon of hope for the rest of the world. This fiscal year alone, we are facing a $2 trillion deficit. Also, Congress is currently debating a massive government implemented health care system projected to cost $2 trillion over the next decade alone, as well as a “value added” tax, which will add additional sales taxes on everything we purchase. In one European nation, the value added tax doubles the cost of a vehicle for each consumer. The “cap and trade” energy policy touted by Mr. Obama will cost every household upwards of $2,000 annually to pay for it. We must stop this madness now.

Letter to Secretary Galvin. Where is the Emergency?

September 24, 2009


FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

The Honorable William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
One Ashburton Place, Room 1611
Boston, Massachusetts 02108-1512

Dear Secretary Galvin:

I am writing to urge you to reject Governor Deval Patrick's expected letter attempting to invoke article II of amendment 48, The Referendum, II, declaring an emergency to enact the law allowing for an interim senator to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat. The General Court rejected an emergency preamble; and, the Governor does not have the Constitutional authority to file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth a letter, in accordance with article 48, The referendum, II, declaring that the preservation of the public convenience requires that the law be immediately effective.

This is not a political opinion, this is a legal decision so issued by the Supreme Judicial Court in an Opinion of the Justices to the Governor (368 Mass 889, October 27, 1975). In following said SJC's 1975 opinion, Governor Patrick is not within his constitutional powers, and accordingly, this letter respectfully request that you do not accept said emergency declaration for filing with your office

The Supreme Judicial Court has set forth that the Governor's letter to the Secretary declaring an emergency law can only be used when a law is subject to a referendum; and further, only when the law could be subject to suspension of its operation under The Referendum, III, Section 3. In such an instance, the Governor's letter declaring an emergency law would have the effect of terminating that suspension. No such suspension of law threat is viable in this case. The law, as signed, cannot be subject to a referendum petition or a request for suspension. According to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's web site, submission of original petitions to Attorney General to originate an initiative petition for a constitutional amendment were due August 5, 2009. That date has passed, and with a special election slated for January 19, 2010 a referendum cannot be had.

In the SJC's opinion referenced herein, the Court explained that the Governor's declaration of emergency can only be used to close the threat of a referendum suspension of the law. As that is not the case in this instance, the people of the Commonwealth do not have The Referendum III, section 3 suspension as an option, as was intended by the authors of our constitutional protections and processes. So, no such threat exists.

According to the SJC: "The gubernatorial authority to forestall or undo the suspensive effect of a referendum petition was imported into article 48 as one of the means of providing some check on the power of a small minority of the voters to nullify adopted legislation until the next eligible Statewide election." As stated, there is no circumstance of such a referendum suspension threat regarding the current matter. As explained, this cannot even be in this case; therefore, the Governor is acting outside of his constitutional authority of protecting the citizen's from a "small minority of the voters." Moreover, the Governor is acting outside his authority to unilaterally overrule the will of the General Court, our Commonwealth's representatives.

Therefore, I respectfully implore you to exercise your Constitutional authority and to not accept the Governor's letter. Or, at the least, please seek an SJC advisory opinion regarding the Constitutionality of your accepting a patently unconstitutional letter from the Governor.

Mr. Secretary, you are our Commonwealth's final line of defense in upholding the Constitution on behalf of its citizens. We are grateful for your service to our state.

Respectfully submitted,


Jennifer A. Nassour
Chairman
Massachusetts Republican Party

The Demise of a Republic - The Views of an Ordinary Citizen

by Murray Regan. First in a series.

We as a citizenry have relied far too often and given far too much credit, and power I might add, to the politicians in this country, whether it is our state reps or solons in Washington. We as a people and a nation have veered far off course from the core principals on which this nation was founded. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are chief among them. These principles mean (among other things) that, as human beings and citizens of this republic, we should not be subjected to the whims of a politician or legislator who, at the expense of the many, creates a law or statute that benefits a small minority and treats it as a “special class” with “special protections.” That sentiment goes against the very basic principal of equality.

A case in point is the “hate crime” legislation which is already law and continuously promoted and perverted as a sensible idea. In fact, it is a fallacious argument on its face, in life and in law. Is it not a hateful act to assault, rob, rape or murder anyone regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation or social status? The fact that politicians want to give special status to one group over another is abhorrent to anyone with a sense of true justice and forthrightness in their heart. It also serves to divide one group from another, which, in turn, promotes and creates hostile feelings and unproductive, harmful discourse between those groups. Unfortunately, pitting one group against another is what the “politician” is truly adept at these days.

Take the tax code for instance. Is it fair to have a graduated tax code, so that one group pays more of a percentage of their income than another? The tax code should be flat across the board so everyone pays the same percentage of any income they earn with no more loopholes or write-offs – simple yet effective and, as a result, eliminates, not only, any cause for divisiveness but also the temptation for politicians to play favorites because, by definition, it can not be manipulated to anyone’s advantage if left alone. This idea should also apply to any and all companies, corporations, LLC’s or any other entity that makes money, save perhaps legitimate charitable organizations. Just think of the savings we would realize by getting rid of the IRS. In my humble opinion, we should also look to tax private institutions of higher learning. They should be required to share equally in the burden we all bare, since they benefit from services provided by the town or city in which they reside. Just think of the added revenue realized by adding private institutions to the tax roles.

Conservatism Sweeps the Nation

by Will Hynes

Republicans, Democrats and Independents. Those are the three political groupings into which most Americans identify themselves. The recently heard voices regarding the Government's intervention in areas previously left to the ups and downs of the free enterprise system, and most recently into their personal health plans, seem to go well outside those identities.

People that are being heard loudly and clearly concerning these government infringements have been expressing themselves from a conservative slant rather than from that of any particular party affiliation, as members of all parties are clearly in opposition to any form of government control over their life choices. This has reared up before, when non Republicans, particularly those called "Reagan Democrats" helped sweep Republican Ronald Reagan into office.

Conservatism, the politically opposite of Liberalism, is commonly thought to be the same as Republicanism, but the two are not synonymous. Conservatism, which frowns on Government control and encourages freedom of entrepreneurship and individual decision making and responsibility, has spread through the Nation in our ongoing debate over health care reform. We are witnessing this outpouring of protest from those in the ranks of the so called "Silent Majority" - those who it would normally take much to get involved deeply into a public conversation about legislative doings. The astounding drop in the polls regarding confidence in Obama's handling of health care and other issues indicates that the American populace is keenly aware of the daily variations emanating from the White House.

Liberalism, particularly as expressed by the Far Left, has seemed to have had very little positive influence in this debate and, in fact, has attracted attention to its own basic assault on the traditional American way of life. Conservative Democrats who disagree with the policies of this administration and who find Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's calling dissenters "Nazis", "unruly mob", and "un American" reprehensible, may decide to vote for Republican candidates in the 2010 mid term elections. Conservative Independents who had voted Democratic in 2008 will find it much easier to do likewise.

We want our Country and ourselves to succeed. If we are going to tamper with the successes that have made our country the greatest in the world, we should carefully examine any and all dramatic changes to this system. Our government should proceed slowly, and carefully, with a full consideration of what these major changes would bring. To get a plan through just to get a plan through, particularly one that would be run so completely by the Government, is not only unwise, but is not in line with the efforts we expect from our elected officials.

Letter to the Editor of the Milton Times

The ongoing and general uproar over President Obama's health care reform bill(s) is a real eye opener. The rush to pass his signature bill has enormous ramifications for every one of us. We are all going to be affected and will continue to be affected by whatever passes long after Mr. Obama leaves office.

Few of us, and this, apparently, includes some of those elected officials who will vote on it, have read the bill. My recent telephone conversation with an aide in my congressman's office gave this response when I expressed my concerns about the way Congress was handling the issue. He said "the congressman is still reading the bill". If he was still reading the bill, he would have been unread about its contents if the Speaker had called for a vote before the August recess.

I am a very senior citizen who has always been satisfied with my health insurance coverage. I cannot help but wonder about all those Obama loyalists who are blindly supporting his wishes without stopping to realize that whatever does pass, that they, too, are going to be affected. They are going to help pay the enormous costs related to it, and are going to abide to the changes it will bring to their present coverage. They may not care, but there are many more who do care.

President Obama has clearly stated that in some cases, especially regarding senior citizens, that it may be more cost efficient to by pass necessary surgery and prescribe pain killers instead. It will be easy to project this approach toward human sufferings to include that of the incurably handicapped and disabled. I find this financial benefit approach versus the dignity of life approach to be repulsive and contrary to every thing for which the United States of America stands. For the President of the United States to even consider this aspect of the proposed bill is incomprehensible and should removed from discussion.

President Obama's drive to enforce government control into many functions of the American way of life, and now including how our personal health programs should be changed, is suffocating to those who believe in personal responsibility and decision making. Let's hope and pray that our elected officials can put politics aside - at least on this bill - and vote for what their constituency thinks is best for themselves.

Submitted by Will Hynes