Today is a holiday. One of the reasons we celebrate holidays is to remember, see our drift and adjust our course.
On Christmas my family reads through the sections of Matthew and Luke that tell of the birth of Jesus. At Easter we review the accounts of the resurrection of Jesus. Although our founding documents are not on the same level as the Bible they remind us of who we are as a people, where we came from and what our dream still is as a nation.
If you still have not read through the Declaration of Independence, do it. You have all day.
I can only hope that the Supreme Court will remind themselves of who we are supposed to be. I dream of a Congress that takes the time to read this. The president? I really think it is too late for him. He already knows what the Declaration and the Constitution say. He uses it the way I use the recommendations of the California Teachers’ Association at election time. I read their recommendations and do the opposite.
Our coins say “Liberty”. Too bad our leaders don’t.
homo unius libri
Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship
Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship
This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.
Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.
This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.
Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.
Opus 2014-169: A Little Heavy Reading
Today you should not be on the internet until you have read the Declaration of Independence. In case you don’t have a copy, here it is.
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
A DECLARATION
By the REPRESENTATIVES of the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
In GENERAL CONGRESS assembled
When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People, unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyrants only.
He has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable , and distant from the Depository of their Public Records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.
He has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the Population of these States; for that Purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither, and raising the Conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and the Amount and payment of their Salaries.
He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance.
He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of, and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by out Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For Cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended Offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary Government, and enlarging its Boundaries, so as to render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our Seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.
He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their Friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic Insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.
Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common Kindred to disavow these Usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our Connections and Correspondence. They too have been deaf to the Voice of Justice and of Consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
JOHN HANCOCK, President
Attest.
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
SIGNERS
Adams, John MA Lawyer
Adams, Samuel MA Political leader
Bartlett, Josiah NH Physician, Judge
Braxton, Carter VA Farmer
Carroll, Charles of Carrollton MD Lawyer
Chase, Samuel MD Judge
Clark, Abraham NJ Surveyor
Clymer, George PA Merchant
Ellery, William RI Lawyer
Floyd, William NY Soldier
Franklin, Benjamin PA Printer, Publisher
Gerry, Elbridge MA Merchant
Gwinnett, Button GA Merchant
Hall, Lyman GA Physician
Hancock, John MA Merchant
Harrison, Benjamin VA Farmer
Hart, John NJ Farmer
Hewes, Joseph NC Merchant
Heyward, Thomas Jr. SC Lawyer, Farmer
Hooper, William NC Lawyer
Hopkins, Stephen RI Judge, Educator
Hopkinson, Francis NJ Judge, Author
Huntington, Samuel CT Judge
Jefferson, Thomas VA Lawyer
Lee, Francis Lightfoot VA Farmer
Lee, Richard Henry VA Farmer
Lewis, Francis NY Merchant
Livingston, Philip NY Merchant
Lynch, Thomas Jr. SC Farmer
McKean, Thomas DE Lawyer
Middleton, Arthur SC Farmer
Morris, Lewis NY Farmer
Morris, Robert PA Merchant
Morton, John PA Judge
Nelson, Thomas Jr. VA Farmer
Paca, William MD Judge
Paine, Robert Treat MA Judge
Penn, John NC Lawyer
Read, George DE Judge
Rodney, Caesar DE Judge
Ross, George PA Judge
Rush, Benjamin PA Physician
Rutledge, Edward SC Lawyer
Sherman, Roger CT Lawyer
Smith, James PA Lawyer
Stockton, Richard NJ Lawyer
Stone, Thomas MD Lawyer
Taylor, George PA Ironmaster
Thornton, Matthew NH Physician
Walter, George GA Judge
Whipple, William NH Merchant, Judge
Williams, William CT Merchant
Wilson, James PA Judge
Witherspoon, John NJ Educator
Wolcott, Oliver CT Judge
Wythe, George VA Lawyer
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
A DECLARATION
By the REPRESENTATIVES of the
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
In GENERAL CONGRESS assembled
When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People, unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyrants only.
He has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable , and distant from the Depository of their Public Records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.
He has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the Population of these States; for that Purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their Migrations hither, and raising the Conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and the Amount and payment of their Salaries.
He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance.
He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of, and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by out Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For Cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended Offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary Government, and enlarging its Boundaries, so as to render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our Seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People.
He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their Friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic Insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated Injury. A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.
Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to their native Justice and Magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the Ties of our common Kindred to disavow these Usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our Connections and Correspondence. They too have been deaf to the Voice of Justice and of Consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
JOHN HANCOCK, President
Attest.
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
SIGNERS
Adams, John MA Lawyer
Adams, Samuel MA Political leader
Bartlett, Josiah NH Physician, Judge
Braxton, Carter VA Farmer
Carroll, Charles of Carrollton MD Lawyer
Chase, Samuel MD Judge
Clark, Abraham NJ Surveyor
Clymer, George PA Merchant
Ellery, William RI Lawyer
Floyd, William NY Soldier
Franklin, Benjamin PA Printer, Publisher
Gerry, Elbridge MA Merchant
Gwinnett, Button GA Merchant
Hall, Lyman GA Physician
Hancock, John MA Merchant
Harrison, Benjamin VA Farmer
Hart, John NJ Farmer
Hewes, Joseph NC Merchant
Heyward, Thomas Jr. SC Lawyer, Farmer
Hooper, William NC Lawyer
Hopkins, Stephen RI Judge, Educator
Hopkinson, Francis NJ Judge, Author
Huntington, Samuel CT Judge
Jefferson, Thomas VA Lawyer
Lee, Francis Lightfoot VA Farmer
Lee, Richard Henry VA Farmer
Lewis, Francis NY Merchant
Livingston, Philip NY Merchant
Lynch, Thomas Jr. SC Farmer
McKean, Thomas DE Lawyer
Middleton, Arthur SC Farmer
Morris, Lewis NY Farmer
Morris, Robert PA Merchant
Morton, John PA Judge
Nelson, Thomas Jr. VA Farmer
Paca, William MD Judge
Paine, Robert Treat MA Judge
Penn, John NC Lawyer
Read, George DE Judge
Rodney, Caesar DE Judge
Ross, George PA Judge
Rush, Benjamin PA Physician
Rutledge, Edward SC Lawyer
Sherman, Roger CT Lawyer
Smith, James PA Lawyer
Stockton, Richard NJ Lawyer
Stone, Thomas MD Lawyer
Taylor, George PA Ironmaster
Thornton, Matthew NH Physician
Walter, George GA Judge
Whipple, William NH Merchant, Judge
Williams, William CT Merchant
Wilson, James PA Judge
Witherspoon, John NJ Educator
Wolcott, Oliver CT Judge
Wythe, George VA Lawyer
Opus 2014-168: Plow and Crown: Someone Writes a Book
He didn’t steal my idea but since he is a famous professor and I am an unknown blogger he gets a book and I get a few posts.
I don’t know if you ever go to Powerline. It is one of the big boys on the internet. They had a post that caught my eye called, “Is administrative law unlawful? A word from the author.” As I read it I found that it was a review of a book coming out dealing with something I am writing an ongoing series about called “Plow and Crown.” I enjoyed it. The promise is that Powerline will have a series of articles reviewing the book. You might also enjoy it. You might buy it.
His thesis, which he calls “administrative law”, is that the presidential branch is turning back the clock to the days of the divine right of kings. My take is on the historical and contemporary struggle between the common man behind the plow and the small elites supporting the crown. We are currently in a time when the pendulum is swinging away from the liberty of the individual toward the power of the monarch.
It is worth a read and important to think about.
homo unius libri
I don’t know if you ever go to Powerline. It is one of the big boys on the internet. They had a post that caught my eye called, “Is administrative law unlawful? A word from the author.” As I read it I found that it was a review of a book coming out dealing with something I am writing an ongoing series about called “Plow and Crown.” I enjoyed it. The promise is that Powerline will have a series of articles reviewing the book. You might also enjoy it. You might buy it.
His thesis, which he calls “administrative law”, is that the presidential branch is turning back the clock to the days of the divine right of kings. My take is on the historical and contemporary struggle between the common man behind the plow and the small elites supporting the crown. We are currently in a time when the pendulum is swinging away from the liberty of the individual toward the power of the monarch.
It is worth a read and important to think about.
homo unius libri
Opus 2014-167: Smarter Than a Button
I have figured out the problem. My wife thinks that the bottons are as smart as I am.
For the longest time I thought it was the opposite, that I was as dumb as the buttons. Today as I was trying to figure out an electronic device she had been poking I realized that she thought the buttons would do what she wanted even if she pushed the wrong one. She thought it would be like telling me to bring her an orange and I would bring her a banana because she can’t eat oranges and all we have are bananas.
Buttons don’t work that way. If you get on the elevator and press floor 5 instead of 6 it will not take you to six. A voice won’t ask you, “Did you really mean 5?” An all knowing computer won’t override your choice and quietly take you to the right floor. The day may come when the door key you carry will make it automatic but until then, accuracy matters.
Husbands do work that way, at least they do if they plan on staying married. Remember gentlemen, they need us. Today it was the motel A/C. At home it is the digital TV. Everywhere it is computers. We don’t need to discuss maps.
Relax. You are needed.
homo unius libri
For the longest time I thought it was the opposite, that I was as dumb as the buttons. Today as I was trying to figure out an electronic device she had been poking I realized that she thought the buttons would do what she wanted even if she pushed the wrong one. She thought it would be like telling me to bring her an orange and I would bring her a banana because she can’t eat oranges and all we have are bananas.
Buttons don’t work that way. If you get on the elevator and press floor 5 instead of 6 it will not take you to six. A voice won’t ask you, “Did you really mean 5?” An all knowing computer won’t override your choice and quietly take you to the right floor. The day may come when the door key you carry will make it automatic but until then, accuracy matters.
Husbands do work that way, at least they do if they plan on staying married. Remember gentlemen, they need us. Today it was the motel A/C. At home it is the digital TV. Everywhere it is computers. We don’t need to discuss maps.
Relax. You are needed.
homo unius libri
Opus 2014-166: Headlines: Good Reporting for a Change
Don’t get too excited about the so called “slap down” of the Obama administration.
I like good reporting. Good reporting does a little digging and give us the ability to analyze a situation because we have more facts. Good reporting gives us the information we need to think and come to our own conclusions. The Washington Times did that.
Much has been made of the twenty times that the Supreme Court has ruled unanimously to protect our freedoms during this administration. What the Times (of Washington, not L.A. or N.Y.) points out is that we had these decisions fifteen times during George W. Bush’s presidency and twenty three times during Clinton’s service. I would suggest that the difference is not statistically significant.
Also, the Times (of Washington, not L.A. or N.Y.) points out that many of these unanimous decisions had nothing to do with the abuse of presidential power.
A major role of the court is a check to the legislative and executive branches. It’s greatest power is to say “no” to government overreach. I personally am glad to see it when it happens.
Also note that many of the decisions that limit government power are 5-4, not 9-0. We are one justice away from a total loss of everything that makes America special.
Remember that when you consider not voting in 2016 because neither candidate is conservative enough. If Mitt were president do you think we would have people as left wing as Kagan and Sotomayor masquerading as champions of law and justice? Better a Kennedy than a Kagan. Better 50% than 0.
Elections matter.
homo unius libri
I like good reporting. Good reporting does a little digging and give us the ability to analyze a situation because we have more facts. Good reporting gives us the information we need to think and come to our own conclusions. The Washington Times did that.
Much has been made of the twenty times that the Supreme Court has ruled unanimously to protect our freedoms during this administration. What the Times (of Washington, not L.A. or N.Y.) points out is that we had these decisions fifteen times during George W. Bush’s presidency and twenty three times during Clinton’s service. I would suggest that the difference is not statistically significant.
Also, the Times (of Washington, not L.A. or N.Y.) points out that many of these unanimous decisions had nothing to do with the abuse of presidential power.
A major role of the court is a check to the legislative and executive branches. It’s greatest power is to say “no” to government overreach. I personally am glad to see it when it happens.
Also note that many of the decisions that limit government power are 5-4, not 9-0. We are one justice away from a total loss of everything that makes America special.
Remember that when you consider not voting in 2016 because neither candidate is conservative enough. If Mitt were president do you think we would have people as left wing as Kagan and Sotomayor masquerading as champions of law and justice? Better a Kennedy than a Kagan. Better 50% than 0.
Elections matter.
homo unius libri
Opus 2014-165: Headlines: More Fun with Labor Statistics
On Drudge you saw the question of why Democrats claim to be poor. It was reported by the New York Post. In the middle of a discussion of all the millionaire Democrats you find this comment which I found funny, maybe because it is true.
Maybe that is part of the reason for the war on drugs, the drug lords are making the Democrats look bad.
homo unius libri
“Drug dealers create more middle-class jobs than these people do.”In light of recent comments about Gates, Soros and Gore and the statistic that all the new jobs are going to immigrants, it is good to know that one sector of the economy is providing economic growth.
Maybe that is part of the reason for the war on drugs, the drug lords are making the Democrats look bad.
homo unius libri
Opus 2014-164: Headlines: Fun with Labor Statistics
I heard about this on Rush and saw a headline on Drudge. This article is found at National Review.
It seems that there are 127,000 fewer native born Americans working today than were working in 2000. At the same time the number of immigrants employed has increased by 5.7 million. The article says that these numbers of immigrants employed are not just at the bottom of the food chain but in mid-level and high level jobs.
On Rush the point being made was that the increase in employment and jobs was not for the citizens of America but for the immigrants, legal and illegal.
Notice the years though. This is not a hit piece on Obama. This goes back to the beginning of the George W. Bush administration. This is a bi-partisan effort to keep Americans from working.
Good job guys. A pox on both your houses.
homo unius libri
It seems that there are 127,000 fewer native born Americans working today than were working in 2000. At the same time the number of immigrants employed has increased by 5.7 million. The article says that these numbers of immigrants employed are not just at the bottom of the food chain but in mid-level and high level jobs.
On Rush the point being made was that the increase in employment and jobs was not for the citizens of America but for the immigrants, legal and illegal.
Notice the years though. This is not a hit piece on Obama. This goes back to the beginning of the George W. Bush administration. This is a bi-partisan effort to keep Americans from working.
Good job guys. A pox on both your houses.
homo unius libri
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