shopify analytics tool

The AlterNet Tea Party article

Demonstrating that certain modern liberals don't understand economics

Read More...
Comments

Measure your freedom

Automation, yeah, that's the ticket!

Read More...
Comments

My version of campaign finance reform

Works like a charm.

Read More...
Comments

Memorial or political rally?

This is a page from the original version of Pagan Vigil. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.paganvigil.com/C127135145/E20110113130905

Memorial or political rally?

No shame
This was the thing that put me off blogging for more than two years.

I'm angry right now.

No, strike that. I'm pissed.

There is absolutely NO REASON to turn a memorial into pep rally.

Every single time I've commented on a mass killing, I've been flamed. So this time, I thought I would stay out of it.

And then I see the President turn a tragedy into a bloody political event. Complete with slogan. T-shirts. Bumper stickers!

This goes beyond double standards.

So what good does it do to follow the rules of propriety if the "other guys" break every single one?

How is this different from what Bush 43 did? Or for that matter, what that diseased Westboro Baptist Church keeps trying to do?

They've got no shame. And they try to use YOUR SHAME as a weapon against you.

Fuck them.

They have not the right or the power. I'm not going to give it to them anymore. No matter what I say, they'll turn it political. They will demand that I give up my thoughts for the ones they dictate. They try to turn my acts of respect into silent acquiescement to THEIR agenda.

Just like they do now.

I'll say it loud and clear.

Obama has no class. He turned something that should have healed into politics. T-shirts? By all the gods, the man's a coward and an opportunist.

Death is too important for politics.

Posted: Thu - January 13, 2011 at 01:09 PM

A class="pvc" HREF="http://www.paganvigil.com
Comments

I answer the Neighborhood Game round 2

Are you ready to think about these neighbors? What would you do?

Read More...
Comments

Neighborhood Game Round Two

Headlines that don't merit their own entry

Read More...
Comments

My thoughts on the neighborhood

Critics of my criticism

Read More...
Comments

Introducing the Neighborhood Game

These older blog entries have been reformatted and entered into the current directories.

Read More...
Comments

Response to my Ebert entry

Roundup of the headline links

Read More...
Comments

Four amendments

We’re at the point where the American republic may fall.

At this point, I’m honestly not sure it can be saved.

I’m not sure it should be saved.

There are some ideas I have been playing with the last few years or so. I’ve tried to talk these out with people I trust. And now I am putting them here. All are Constitutional amendments.

Remember that the Constitution was designed to restrain the actions of government, not citizens. Remember too that many of the checks and balances have been removed over the years. And finally, the Federal government was never intended to run smoothly and efficiently. The checks and balances were designed to protect freedom.

Liberty is the goal, not democracy.

• Repeal the 16th Amendment

The income tax is one of the biggest threats to freedom ever enacted. With it, the Federal government assumes you are guilty unless you can prove that you are not. This is a complete reversal of the rule of law prior to the amendment.

With the 16th, the Federal government is not restrained by the need for a warrant. Your employer, your bank, any financial company that you do business with, all are required by law to report transactions over a specific amount or any “suspicious activity.” There are “rewards” if other citizens turn you in. Effectively, everyone around you is required to spy on you and penalized if they do not.

Tax cases are heard in an administrative court run by the Internal Revenue Service with it’s own rules of evidence. Your money and property can be seized and the only way you can get it back (less interest) is to prove that the IRS is wrong by it’s own regulations. Regulations that are so complex that it is literally beyond the ability of any one person to understand.

The “progressive” tax system is designed to foster envy and “class” disruption. The income tax is one of the most despised Federal laws in American history. The only thing that keeps Americans from hanging IRS agents is that citizens think the “system” hits someone else worse. It fosters scapegoats so it seems “fair.”

An income tax system inevitably leads to political corruption. Unpopular groups find themselves under extra scrutiny. Politicos use it to keep their enemies and rivals in line.

There are technicalities that I could spend pages and pages examining. For example, if there is a “standard deduction,” then by definition taxes are too high.

The income tax took away your freedom. You have to acknowledge this every year by signing a Federal form. Under penalty of law.

• Repeal the 17th Amendment

Brought to you by the same merry madcaps who gave us the 16th, the 17th Amendment reduces freedom in the name of popular democracy. The 17th has made Senators political bosses in their own states, with control of the Federal money spigot and a guaranteed spot high up in the political parties.

The popular election of Senators took away some of the oversight the state legislatures were supposed to have on Congress. But since Senators no longer answer to their state legislature, they have become tools of their party.

This does not serve freedom.

This part of popular democracy destroys freedom. It’s an illusion designed to expand the major political parties while fooling the voter into thinking that they have influence.

There’s a place for popular democracy, but not unrestrained popular democracy. The Bill of Rights is the best example.

• None of the Above and Alternative Voting

Every election should have a None of the Above choice. If NOTA won, then those candidates on the ballot would be barred from serving in that office for that term.

One choice that people should always have is the choice to walk away.

We should never assume that the default is to elect someone. Especially if the voters aren’t picking who gets to run.

Alternative voting just means ranking the candidates in order of your favorites. The biggest advantage is that the minority candidates have a better chance of being elected and major parties are forced to pay closer attention to all the voters. Instead of voting against a bad candidate, voters could choose someone closer to their beliefs and priorities.

• Laws and Regulations

As things stand now, there will always be more laws and regulations unless Congress takes direct action. Think about that carefully.

The default state of the American Federal government is more government.

That is not freedom.

I suggest a three pronged attack.

First, ALL government regulations would sunset within three years unless made law by Congress and the President.

Second, state legislatures would approve Federal regulation before it applies in that state. This approval could be withdrawn at any time. Congress has the power and authority to pass laws for the nation, but it can’t delegate that power. Every single Federal regulation that governs individuals and states is unconstitutional.

This would reduce Federal regulation to it’s proper scope and shift coercive power away from millions of unelected technocrats.

I know this seems excessive, but it is actually well within Constitutional principles. There’s nothing in the Constitution that provides for regulatory agencies except the much abused and overused commerce clause. Certainly there is nothing that provides for administrative court systems outside the Federal courts.

Third, each state legislature could choose one Federal law annually for referendum at the next Congressional election. Each Congressional election, there could be up to 100 Federal laws on the ballot. And if a law does not get a national majority voting to retain it, it would be gone.

Practically, this would effectively be automatic repeal. Unless it was a very good idea, I can’t see a majority voting to keep a law. But the possibility is there. The automatic repeal means that Congress would have to convince voters of the worth of each and every law. And if the state legislatures are canny, one carefully chosen law could defang dozens of others.

In other words, this proposal gives the states direct oversight of Congress.

There are other things that I would love to see done. But these four would do wonders. I welcome your comments and ideas.

Comment from discussion Four amendments.

Comments

NeoNotes - I'm not the smartest guy in the room

Since I just spent forty-five minutes writing it as a post, you’re damn right I’m going to put it here.

Read More...
Comments

Abundantly clear

The free market doesn’t have government regulation.

Read More...
Comments

That time of year again

Certain fundamentalists trot out the scare tactics again

Read More...
Comments

The real reason behind Prohibition

Nothing to do with morality and everything to do with vote pandering

Read More...
Comments

Celebrity Psudeoscience - Updated

Sacrificing rationality to sound vaguely important

Read More...
Comments

Almost the last advocate

It's not a right unless everyone else has it too. Otherwise it's a privilege taken at someone else's expense.

Read More...
Comments

Blogs and information channels

Bloggers can be legitimate journalists too

Read More...
Comments

Same thing only better with new management

Looks like it is the GOP's turn to celebrate Big Government solutions


Read More...
Comments

Judging a book by it's cover

Pagan and magick books do not a terrorist make

Read More...
Comments

Private sector or public sector?

The public sector isn't free

Read More...
Comments

Victims and paying for bad choices

How a benevolent and socially progressive government drags people down

Read More...
Comments

Individual or collectivist?

Is the society or culture more important than the individual?

Read More...
Comments

Liberty, the internet, and the free market

The last, best hope for freedom

Read More...
Comments

Law for the little guy

The real problem with "progressive" laws

Read More...
Comments

Should we waste money from your pocket or mine?

Because of the G8 summit, here are a few of my thoughts on global warming

Read More...
Comments

Why does your enlightenment demand that I sacrifice?

Was the United States really founded as a Christian nation?

Read More...
Comments

Dreaming of liberty

What does the call for a "progressive judge" on the United States Supreme Court really mean?

Read More...
Comments

Global Warming

Because of the G8 summit, here are a few of my thoughts on global warming

Read More...
Comments

Christian America Redux
The Ten Commandments Controversy

Does religion really define public morality? Should government control religion?

Read More...
Comments

And justice for all?

What does the call for a "progressive judge" on the United States Supreme Court really mean?

Read More...
Comments

Who decides?

"Lessons" I don't agree with from a progressive list

Read More...
Comments

Why I MARGINALLY prefer
conservatives over liberals

Despite the "push for impeachment," it is not one individual or party we should be worried about

Read More...
Comments

Some things I have learned

The only worthy faiths and beliefs are those freely chosen

Read More...
Comments

Presumed guilty until proven innocent

Does the secret Downing Street memo really tell us anything new?

Read More...
Comments

The many headed hydra of the government

Complaints show that public schools are insulated from the forces that would force improvement

Read More...
Comments

Faith worthy of freedom

The only worthy faiths and beliefs are those freely chosen

Read More...
Comments

Fresh meat or dry bone shards?

Does the secret Downing Street memo really tell us anything new?

Read More...
Comments

Public School Monopoly

Competition breeds progress and encourages honesty

Read More...
Comments

The devil is in the details

The delayed examination of why Real ID threatens freedom

Read More...
Comments

Freedom of speech

Some people want freedom without accepting responsibility

Read More...
Comments

Competition

Competition breeds progress and encourages honesty

Read More...
Comments

A Pagan looks at “Christian America”

My take on true believers of all stripes.

Read More...
Comments

True Believer Rant

My take on true believers of all stripes.

Read More...
Comments

Common sense global warming FAQ

Just the FAQs about my Vigil

Read More...
Comments
2019       2018       2017       2016       2015       2014       2011       2010       2009       2008       2007       2006       2005