The Rev. Dr. Tommy Davis has a good article up on the D&C Blog about spending less, and NY State fees, etc. It's simple, clear and logical... that's why we love having Tommy speak at our events.

Here's a sample:

The current situation in Albany should serve as confirmation. The expansion of government with the ability to tax utilities and hike Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) rates in the form of “fees” is a direct tax on citizens who are attempting to brave this economic storm. Do we want in Monroe County what we have in Washington and Albany? If we elect Democrats who will vote with their colleagues to “tax our way into recovery” we have no one to blame but ourselves.

If your monthly household expenses total $5,000.00 and your monthly income is $4,270.00, would you continue to spend and suffer overdraft charges to your account because you are borrowing money from fellow depositors? Would you continue to purchase items you cannot afford? A wise decision would be to stop spending, cut costs by eliminating non essential items and services from your budget, and build up savings. The same principle should apply in Albany and Washington. The literal meaning of “economics” is “home management.”


Full Article HERE.  Discuss it HERE on WeSurroundRochester.com

For those of you that missed the meeting on Saturday 10/24/09 or wanted contact information for our speakers:

Our 1st speaker, Don, was speaking to us on the phone from Virginia from REACT (Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams). More information can be found athttp://www.reactintl.org/public. If you are interested in forming a team please contact Member Dean Morgan through the We Surround Rochester website.

Our 2nd speaker was Joe Indelicato, talking about general Preparedness Planning, including which telephones will and won't work when the power goes out. Joe has a lot of valuable information and gives presentations in the Rochester area. He can be reached (Join the group for this info please)

Our 3rd group of speakers was from the Rochester Amateur Radio Association (RARA): 
Bill K, Peter Fournia and Bill Marinucci. They were very knowledgeable, and will set up licensing classes for group members is we want. They can be contact through the local website (www.rochesterham.org) or Phone (585) 671-2424. If you are interested in the classes please contact Lori at (Join the group for this info please)

Some local meetings that may be of interest:

Rochester Amateur Radio Association, Inc.
First Friday of each month, 7:30 PM at the Henrietta Fire House, corner of Lehigh Station Rd and East Henrietta Rd (15A)

Also, the next meeting of the Monroe County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) will be held on Wednesday morning, November 18, 2009 at the Public Safety Training Facility, 1190 Scottsville Rd, Suite 200 (Emergency Operations Center). LEPC meetings are federally mandated to prepare for and respond to hazardous material spills and related emergencies. The LEPC is open to the public and all are welcome. Please sign in as a guest; coffee and doughnuts are available.

Local Website:
Rochester Amateur Radio Association (RARA)
www.rochesterham.org
111 Westfall Rd
Rochester, NY 14620-4647
(585) 671-2424

The National site is www.arrl.org.




(Thanks to Lisa G for the info... discuss it HERE on our main site)

The idea that the Federal Government should do very little and only what the Constitution says is being discussed at the Tenth Amendment Center.

Check out this letter from Tennessee to the other 49 State Legislatures.

One key part:
There are clear limits to the power of the federal government and clear realms of power for the states.  However, the simple and clear expression of purpose, to secure our natural rights, has evolved into the modern expectation that the national government has an obligation to ensure our life, to create our liberty, and fund our pursuit of happiness.


Read and learn more HERE 

From July... great summary of the free market, small government view of the Health Care Takeover (thanks to John for posting it to the group!)

The Senate Finance Committee will be voting on this plan 10/13/09. PDF of the Congressional Budget Office info I mention is HERE. The members of the Committee and easy contact info is (including e-mail) HERE.

FYI for anyone that cares, here's my (way to long, but I'm mad) message to Senator Schumer:  
Dear Sir, As a registered and active voter in your district, I want to strongly tell you to NOT vote for the 'America's Health Future Act 2009'.  

FIrst, I believe the Federal government has no Constitutional authority to undertake such sweeping changes to such a critical area of my life.  

Second, the only way this bill is even remotely 'revenue neutral' (as per my reading of the CBO information on your web site), is through TAXATION and FINES of our citizens.  

Third, the idea that fines and taxes on high-rate plans will fund the expensive program is fatally flawed. Once fined, a person will then switch to your system... causing a double negative effect to the budget: The costs increase with their addition, the revenue decreases by losing their fines. Finally Sir, I am outraged that you are even considering such fines and taxes.  

What gives the Federal government of the United States the right to charge an individual money FOR NOT DOING WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WISHES. 

Sir, this is a tyrannical act that will not stand with citizens.  

If a person is wealthy and choses to self-insure, how can you tax them for that? If a person chooses to belong to a private co-op that is faith based, how can you fine them, and essentially drive these sort of ideas out of business?? Forcing less health insurance options will not serve anyone. Please think beyond the details of this or that program and look at the big picture.  

Americans can figure this issue out themselves. It is NOT a crisis. If Medicare is in crisis, fix that, but DO NOT meddle in my health care in this way.  

Or at least consider that in such a crisis time in our country, there is no reason to experiment with such a key area and one that even the most positive polls show 40% support. We may have trouble voting you out of office for acts like this Sir, but you may wish to consider how many of your associates are not so well seated and will be affected by the nationally strong feeling against these plans.  

This is a new era in American politics, as evidenced by the millions of attendees at Tea Parties and Town Hall Meetings. You are acting in a way that will create a wave of votes against anyone that supports you.  

Please err on the side of caution and vote against ANY additonal Federal Government involvement in the health care system.  


And to the Republicans (with variations for Sir/Madam Senator, etc):

Dear Senator Ensign,

As a registered Republican and active voter, I want to strongly tell you to NOT vote for the 'America's Health Future Act 2009'.  

FIrst, I believe the Federal government has no Constitutional authority to undertake such sweeping changes to such a critical area of my life.  

Second, the only way this bill is even remotely 'revenue neutral' (as per my reading of the CBO information on a Senate web site), is through TAXATION and FINES of our citizens. Third, the idea that fines and taxes on high-rate plans will fund the expensive program is fatally flawed.  

Once fined, a person will then switch to your system... causing a double negative effect to the budget: The costs increase with their addition, the revenue decreases by losing their fines. Finally Sir, I am outraged that they are even considering such fines and taxes. What gives the Federal government of the United States the right to charge an individual money FOR NOT DOING WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WISHES. This is a tyrannical act that will not stand with citizens.  

If a person is wealthy and choses to self-insure, how can you tax them for that? If a person chooses to belong to a private co-op that is faith based, how can you fine them, and essentially drive these sort of ideas out of business?? Forcing less health insurance options will not serve anyone.  

Please think beyond the details of this or that program and look at the big picture. Americans can figure this issue out themselves. It is NOT a crisis. If Medicare is in crisis, fix that, but DO NOT meddle in my health care in this way.  

Or at least consider that in such a crisis time in our country, there is no reason to experiment with such a key area and one that even the most positive polls show 40% support.  

This is a new era in American politics, as evidenced by the millions of attendees at Tea Parties and Town Hall Meetings.  

IF the Republican party has any interest in my considering their candidates in the future, this is a key issue I will be watching to see if they are strongly AGAINST.  

I am in no way loyal to the Republican party. Their liberal, big-government actions over the last 20 years have made that so. Does your party want my vote again? I am watching to see who will stand up against these plans on principle, not just for Party.  

Please err on the side of caution and vote against ANY additonal Federal Government involvement in the health care system.

In Glenn Beck's new Book 'Arguing with Idiots', he notes a terrific quote from The Economist:

"[France has] and archaic socialism that fails to understand, or at least explain that wealth needs to be created before it can be shared." (emphasis mine)

I think that is a stunning summary of many of America's current problems as well.

With as much discussion about redistribution of wealth and how it's unfair for so and so to make 'too much money', or that taxes should be raised,  people are forgetting that at some point the money has to be earned by someone taking risks, with ideas and skills. What the liberal world is planning would kill the incentive for people to create wealth in the first place.

It sounds great to want to help people, but once everyone is 'equal', where does the money to do that come from?  After you've driven all of the Tom Golisano's out of town with the NY State millionaire's tax... who will have the money to give (charitably, like Mr. Golisano... or forcibly by taxation) to anyone??

Of course, on an even more fundamental level, the real 'Key Misunderstanding' is deeper than a financial one... it's misunderstanding human nature...

It is over. The American people are beginning to shine the light of truth on your contempt and complete disregard for the Constitution. Your voice is wavering and ours is growing stronger.

I am part of a movement of freedom-loving Americans who have never before been politically active and who are now devoting nearly all of our spare time to thwart you and your and your corrupt colleagues from causing any more harm to this great nation. We will work hard to ensure that you and your comrades will be defeated in the next elections that you are up for office. Of course, if you all are convicted of participating in illegal activities and removed prior, all the better.

Before you write me off as an uneducated, white/racist party hack. Know that I hold a Ph.D., am an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe, and recently left the Republican party to register as independent because too many party leaders had become a watered down version of you.

While I believe the two-party system is salvageable, we must rid both the Democratic and Republican parties of the disease which now sickens our great country. This means you.

You are now quarantined. Your voice is irrelevant and lost upon us. Whatever noble aspiration you once had of doing great things is over. We will seek out and speak out about your misdeeds and your career as a politician will end in the shame of your own making.

We will do this with our voices and our will, not with the violence you appear to be fantasizing about. I am led to believe that in a sick way, you may actually desire violence to erupt in order to justify your continued power grab. I have no plans or desire to oblige this notion, but know also that as a veteran of the U.S. Army, I, unlike yourself, took seriously my oath to defend the Constitution of the United States of America.

I have now done my duty to notify you of our demands, which in summary, is that you take responsibility for your actions which have caused great harm to our Country and depart your office post-haste so we can occupy it with an honest, Constitution loving American Patriot.

I offer you my mobile telephone number and address, not in any anticipation of you wanting to speak with me, but so that if desired, you can verify that I am a real citizen, not beholden to anybody but my creator and my family.

With utmost sincerity,

Paul S., Ph.D.

Let them know we mean business!
Here is a message that I just sent to Nancy Pelosi. In addition to sending electronic messages, I am also sending signed hard copies of my letters.

I'll give it a try, but I'm really not the most organized person in the world. Some days I feel like a whirling dirvish.

I'd say the most important thing I do is keep an eye glued to Fox, and my ear glued to the various news outlets on the radio while zipping around doing my "mom's taxi service" thing. Now that I have a car with satellite radio, I can really go nuts. I also keep an eye on our boards, because even with my obsession with the news, I miss important things that other folks have picked up on.

When I see or hear something that sets my blood to boil, I'll usually send an e-mail to each of my senators & to my congressman (just google the word "contact" and the reps name). Cut and paste is a great feature & saves a lot of time. If I have the time, I'll also send the e-mail to the members of whatever committee might be working on a bill. Of course, I'll often send "love letters" to the white house, along with Nancy and Harry.

If it's a really important, hot topic (like shoving through health care by next Thursday), I'll also call - I have my reps' numbers on my cell phone.

If it's something that doesn't appear to be passed right away, I'll drop some post cards in the mail from time to time with simple messages like "Our family says no to public option." (Buy the pre-stamped cards from the post office and have a stack on hand.)

When the Blue Dog Dems were the hot ticket, I called their offices (someone forwarded me a list of their names & numbers, which was posted on the Denver 9-12 site - ain't networking grand?!), and I spent a couple of hours over the weekend leaving messages (free cell phone minutes).

I work part-time, get the kids off to work & school, kiss the husband and walk the puppy, and try to get to church every Sunday. What else do I do? Pretty much what I've outlined above. I don't expect everyone to spend so much time on this endeavor, but every little bit counts. I like to refer to it as "needling" our reps, to constantly remind them of where we stand and what we expect of them. - So it's family, faith and freedom (or working hard to preserve it) for me, unless or until we get this country turned back around in the right direction.

-From Wendy A., after being asked to chronicle how she manages to get so much done for the cause. Read the thread HERE.

Media coverage of ACORN and that organization's illegal activities in New York, California and elsewhere has largely ignored one of ACORN's most successful projects; New York's Working Families Party (WFP).

Because of the unique nature of New York State election law, candidates are allowed to be endorsed and appear on the voting machine ballot as the candidate of multiple parties, winning the cumulative total of all votes cast for that candidate on multiple party lines. Minor parties such as the Conservative, Liberal and Right to Life Party have played significant roles in New York politics.

The Working Families Party is not about working people or families and it isn't really a party. The WFP is a wholly owned subsidiary of ACORN. Bertha Lewis co-chair of the Working Families Party is the Executive Director of New York ACORN. New York ACORN leader, Steven Kest was the moving force in forming the party and WFP headquarters are located at the same address as ACORN's national and New York office at 88 Third Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.

WFP is essentially a money funnel which pays for an aggressive door to door canvas. Largely funded by unions, the WFP is ACORN's "political arm" in New York State. Candidates supported by the Working Families Party and issues supported by ACORN are both advocated on the door steps of target voter homes as they share one major voter canvas.

The Working Families Party has no county organizations or county committee men or women and no local structure beyond its top leadership and an army of paid canvassers. Since the major parties no longer have the man power to organize an effective voter canvas, Democrats have turned to the WFP for their door to door campaign activities.

But more importantly, the Working Families Party is a criminal enterprise utilizing a for-profit political consulting firm, Data and Field Services (DFS) to skirt New York City election laws regarding public finance and campaign spending limits.
CONTINUE READING HERE

Outrageous claims abounded among anti-gun senators as well. Sen. (Charles) Schumer (D-NY)claimed that if the amendment became law, a juvenile gang member from New York could obtain a permit in Vermont, buy handguns there, shove them in a backpack, walk the streets of New York City trafficking the guns to criminals, and use the carry permit to satisfy the curiousity of any NYPD officer who might notice.

The author of the piece, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox, properly noted that Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) pointed out "that Vermont does not issue carry permits, that juveniles are generally prohibited from buying and possessing handguns, and that no police officer could be fooled in the way Schumer suggested". To this I would add that Senator Media Hound also forgot that New York City already has a handgun ban, and that knowingly selling firearms to a criminal is a violation of federal law.

This is the kind of representation in Washington that makes New York Republicans wince. Oh, Al D'Amato, why couldn't you have run a better campaign in 1998?

I'd like to end with a great quote from P.J. O'Rourke -- "I'm not a liberal, so I have a poor grasp of subjects I know nothing about".