Glenn Beck is doing education events across the country in 2010. He's asking to see where he should hold them (The first one will be in Orlando at UCF Arena on March 27th.) 
He'll be using this system to see what other cities to add:

View all Rochester events on Eventful

And this administration thinks the answer to our problems is to grow government and create more programs?

Govt report: Over $98B wasted in improper payments
Nov 17 11:35 PM US/Eastern
By HOPE YEN
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) - More than $98 billion in taxpayer dollars spent by government agencies was wasted, much of it on questionable claims for tax credits and Medicare benefits, representing an increase of $26 billion from the previous year.

In all, about 5 percent of spending in federal programs in fiscal year 2009 was improper, according to new details of a government financial report that were released Tuesday. Saying the overall error rate was similar in 2008, officials attributed the $26 billion jump to some changes in how to define improper spending as well as an increase in overall spending due to the recession.

President Barack Obama is expected to sign an executive order within the next week aimed at cracking down on government waste and fraud, particularly in Medicare and other benefit programs. In the 2009 report, the government officially reported questionable Medicare payments of roughly $36 billion, but that amount will be revised upward to about $48 billion next year as the Health and Human Services Department fully converts to a new methodology that imposes stricter documentation requirements.

"We need to protect taxpayer dollars," Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters. "Every dollar that goes to the wrong recipient or in the wrong amount is a dollar not available to help an unemployed worker, or to invest in education or key priorities of the administration."

Under the executive order, every federal agency would have to maintain a Web site that tracks improper payments, error rates and outstanding payments. If an agency doesn't meet targets for reducing error rates for two years in a row, the agency director and responsible official will have to directly report to OMB to explain the delinquency and new actions they will take.

The Obama administration will also seek to impose penalties on government contractors that receive improper payments so they have incentives to return the money, Orszag said.

Among the reported waste:

_Agriculture: $4.3 billion in improper payments, or 5.9 percent of total department spending. Much of it was in the food stamp, federal crop insurance and school meals programs.

_Defense: $849 million, or 0.5 percent.

_Education: $599 million, or 2.1 percent.

_Health and Human Services: $55.1 billion, or 9.4 percent. That included improper payment rates of 7.8 percent and 15.4 percent in the Medicare fee for service and Advantage programs, respectively.

_Homeland Security: $644.5 million, or 3.7 percent. Much of it was in the Homeland Security grant program as well as Disaster Relief Fund Vendor Payments.

_Housing and Urban Development: $1 billion, or 3.5 percent. All of it was attributed to public housing and rental assistance.

_Labor: $12.3 billion, or 9.9 percent. Almost all of the improper payments were in the unemployment insurance program.

_Treasury: $12.3 billion, or 25.5 percent. All of it was attributed to improper payments in the earned income tax credit.

_Transportation: $1.5 billion, or 3 percent. Much of it was in the Federal Highway Administration planning and construction program.

_Veterans Affairs: $1.2 billion, or 2.7 percent. That included improper payments in the pension and other compensation programs.

_Social Security Administration: $8.0 billion, or 1.2 percent.

Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., who chairs a Senate panel on federal financial management, said he worried that the latest numbers "may still be just the tip of the iceberg" since they don't include estimates for several programs such as the Medicare prescription drug plan.

"It goes without saying that these results would be completely unacceptable in the private sector, as they should be in government, especially at a time of record deficits," Carper said.

http://www.breitbart....


Thanks to Lorene for posting this... discuss it HERE on WeSurroundRochester

Posted at the Tenth Amendment Center. Exactly what we've been talking about... what's our next effective move, since it seems 'write your Congressman' is moot with these non-representing 'Representatives'??


 If only 35% of people *wanted* the Health Care Takeover, and it's such a radical change... it's obvious that we are no longer being heard in Washington.


So, check out this article posted below, and also this one on a great idea... States Nullifying bad Federal laws.

Here's the article:

by Rob Natelson

The recent election results in Virginia and New Jersey – representing in part a strong repudiation of the threats to freedom over the past year – have energized many pro-liberty activists. It is imperative that we keep the pressure on.
But we can be sure the other side will try to trick us into damaging statements in order to discredit us, or lure us into time-wasting strategies.

So here are a few things to remember:

* Let’s keep our eye on the ball. The ultimate goal of most in the Tenth Amendment movement is to restore constitutional limits to the federal government. Our Constitution – not any peripheral or personal causes – is what we are working for.

* Swarm, swarm, swarm. The focus for the short-term has to be continue to “swarm” our elected representatives, get in their faces, and tell them over and over that more deficit spending or tax increases are simply unacceptable. So also is any major expansion of government control, particularly a takeover of heath care.

* Restoring limits on the feds. The focus long-term has to be one or more constitutional amendments to put the federal government’s house back in order and protect future generations from the kinds of assaults on our freedom we have faced over the last year. When a system breaks down, sometimes you have to patch up to set it right — just as our fathers and grandfathers adopted the 22nd Amendment to re-establish the two-term presidential tradition that Franklin Roosevelt had disregarded. That’s our situation now.

* 2010 elections. The focus medium-term is now the 2010 elections – not just for Congress, but particularly on the state level. This is because constitutional amendments to curb Congress’s powers are probably not going to come from Congress. The states will have to use the Constitution’s state-proposal procedure.

* Don’t let the bad guys marginalize you. Talk of actions such as secession suggest that we are the ones willing to destroy our constitutional system – when in fact the opposition has that dubious distinction.

* Work smart. The other side has a lot of people who work full-time in politics or who work for the government, which sometimes amounts to nearly the same thing. That’s in addition to Soros money. So we have to carefully husband our resources – devote your time and energy only to things that make sense in view of our goals.

* Don’t waste your time on stupid or impossible causes. Here are a few causes that are certain time-wasters: (1) impeaching Obama (impossible while the Dems control Congress, even assuming there are grounds to do so), (2) recalling U.S. Senators or Congressmen before their terms are up (there is no recall procedure authorized by the Constitution or federal law), and (3) secession movements (which, besides conceding the Constitution to the other side, overlooks the fact that they have the nuclear weapons).

* Again, keep your eyes on the ball – restore the Constitution. That means letters to the editor, candidate identification, working in the political party of your choice, fundraising, keeping in touch with others in the Tenth Amendment movement, and educating yourself by visiting great websites like the Tenth Amendment Center.


Rob Natelson is a constitutional law professor at the University of Montana, and runner-up in the 2000 “open primary” for Governor of Montana. His opinions are his own, and should not be attributed to any other person or institution.


Discuss it on our main site We Surround Rochester HERE

Fed X vs. UPS Union costs example... funny and makes a great point.  
Gang, this is the paradigm of changing people's minds on the net, fast, funny, makes the point clearly. 


From Reason.tv  

Dear “Representative",

You do not know me, but I know you; for I have been watching your work in Congress very carefully. Unlike my previous letters and phone calls to the so called representatives in Washington DC, this is not a plea for my voice to be heard, and I am not going to ask that you “take my views into consideration” when you vote on legislation that can affectively eliminate my personal liberties. The time for pleas has come and gone, and so has my tolerance for your complete disregard of The Constitution. No, this letter is not coming in the form of a request, but more it should be regarded as a warning of what is to come for you and your colleagues on the Hill.

In August, 2009 thousands of Americans attended town hall meetings to voice their displeasure with the healthcare reform bill; you mocked us. On September 12, 2009, an estimated ONE MILLION patriotic Americans gathered on your front lawn to protest the growing strong arm of the government; you ignored us. On November 5, 2009 an estimated 40,000 Americans left their families and jobs on only days notice to protest the passage of “Pelosi/Obama-Care”; again you ignored and mocked us. We have taken every civilized measure to prevent the American Dream from morphing into a socialized nightmare, and yet we have been ignored.

We are done being ignored, and quite frankly we’re tired of being the only ones that are playing nicely. So we’ve decided to play the game your way; bat in hand and target in site. And who is our target, you may ask? Well…you are. Like our forefathers, the time has come to make war with our oppressors to preserve our freedoms. Unlike them, our weapon will be action, not artillery. Over the span of mere months we have built an army of millions, all willing to sacrifice their time, money and sweat to one cause, and that cause is to remove you from office and regain control of this country. From this day forward we will dedicate ourselves fully to the cause, and we will not stop until you have either agreed to abandon party politics and defend the Constitution with every vote you cast, or until you are removed from your position of power.

After we are finished organizing thousands of impassioned voters in your district to campaign against you, whether that be going door to door delivering handouts, financing commercials or supporting your opponents, we will move on to those entities that have pledged their financial support behind you. Slowly but surely we will expose every corrupt tie you have forged, every lie you have told, and every promise you have made to every special interest that backs you. The downfall of ACORN was just the beginning, and you can rest assured that you and the entities that have pledged their allegiance to your corrupt ways will not only suffer a similar fate, but all of the public humiliation that followed.

Like you, General Cornwallis underestimated the power and wrath of We The People before he was defeated by “mere farmers with pitchforks,” and like your career in politics, this miscalculation will be short-lived. We have put down our pens and picked up our pitchforks, and this is only the beginning.

With a Watchful Eye,

An American Patriot

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

I'd been mulling over what to do next when I received this letter from Heather. This I know: Like Heather, and I think like all of you, if the "Reps" in DC think they've beaten us, they've got another thing coming. I thought that I would go absolutely ballistic if the health care bill was passed, and yet I didn't. I'm disappointed, but more than that, I'm DETERMINED. They're going to have to pry my free America away from my cold, dead hands, if that's what it takes. Thanks to everyone here at WSR, and to folks across the nation like Heather (who is from Ohio), for helping me see that I am not alone! - Wendy A.

From a young mom named Heather in the "As A Mom" group, who has a true gift for writing. She's the author of the following letter, and has said: "Feel free to repost and send this to your reps!!!"

From another Group, but a great overview of the tone of the event. Reports from our group have the size at over 25,000 people... who dropped everything on 5 days notice, during the work week to go to the event. Rochester sent 1 bus and Albany did as well. NJ sent something like 14 busses.

(Posted by Wendy Ann)


I'm soooo exhausted - The bus had a flat on the way back, which delayed our return by nearly two hours, so I didn't get home 'til 6:15 am - just enough time change my clothes and get to work on time (I was the only one in today, so I HAD to be here!) Anyhow - The rally on the Capitol lawn was AWESOME! 


Michele Bachmann rocks - She's a rare politician - says what she means and means what she says. John Voight & John Ratzenberger were the celebrity speakers, as well as Mark Levin, author of "Liberty & Tyrrany." Just in the area where we were standing, we met people from Atlanta, Long Island, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Connecticut, Missouri, California! Also met one of the moms who was on the Glenn Beck show that spawned "As A Mom." The crowd was at least 25,000. Not bad for a short notice. We're getting to be like a patriotic flash mob. At the rally, several times the crowd just started chanting "Nancy, Nancy, Nancy." We figure at that point Pelosi was hiding under her desk, cowering from the "angry mob." "Kill the bill" was also a favorite, and they are asking everyone to fax their congressman today with just "Kill the Bill" written on it. Michele Bachmann says they're going to vote on the bill tomorrow, and that everyone needs to call, call, call, fax, fax, fax, e-mail, e-mail, e-mail until they vote. PS - If you heard of 9 arrests made - According to what I heard on the Laura Ingraham show, the arrests occurred in the morning before the rally even took place, and it was a bunch of Lefties protesting in Joe Lieberman's office, saying things like he was on the insurance company's payroll, and that they were there to keep people from "dying every day." Definitely not tea partiers! After the rally, everyone descended on the Congressional office buildings. People shouted "kill the bill" as they waited to enter. The group I was with visited Eric Massa's & Louise Slaughter's office. Of course, the reps weren't there, but their chiefs of staff met with us. Massa's guy was pleasant enough, but he openly scoffed when the conversation turned to the "stimulus" package and I told him a tax cut for business, especially small businesses, would have stimulated more growth and jobs (too bad the announcement about unemployment hitting 10.2% didn't come out 'til this morning). He did refer to us more than once as "tea bag" people. After about the third time, Mike said, "it's not tea bag, that has some bad connotations, it's the tea party movement." Massa's staffer said, well, I'll just call you the "teas." God forbid, he was NOT going to make a connection between us and the original patriots. He was definitely sending a message that was not unnoticed by us. The good news is that he said Massa was not going to vote for the bill (but only because it DOESN'T have the full public option - what a socialist loser!), and he also said that he attended a staff meeting in the morning, and at that point, the votes weren't there to pass the bill. Slaughter's guy didn't even try to hide his disdain for us. He started right off the bat refering to us as "you people." They were sure to hand out three pages of pro-health care propaganda, and they only wanted to feed us the company (or should I say socialist) line as to why the bill was so great, and how it was really deficit neutral (BULL!). He wanted nothing of what we had to say. He went on this great tout and read a list of all the union groups that "support" the bill, including SEIU. 


One of our guys is a union member, and he said something to the effect of "The union reps don't represent the members when it comes to this political stuff - we're realizing that now. Nobody in my shop voted for Obama, but we know the union supported him in our name. That means nothing to me." (Hurray for our side!) At that point, another member of our group, who works in a hospital, whipped out a petition she circulated the morning before she left, containing over 50 signatures, and she said everyone on staff said that the bill won't work and that it's a joke. Slaughter's rep was not amused (TS!) It's really sickening how openly, sneeringly disdainful this dude was. Yeah, way to treat the taxpayers who are footing the bill for all of your hair-brained schemes. Thanks to everyone back home for their support and prayers. Thanks for calling, e-mailing, faxing, and visiting local offices. Don't know if it will work, but we have to keep trying. This is really catching fire. For example, my sister lives in Orlando, and she e-mailed me first thing this morning: [color=royalblue]"I was looking for you on TV last night. They showed quite a bit on Hannity. Looks like a great turnout. Do you know that Suzanne Kasmas (D) said today that she won’t back the bill “as is”. She knows she’s up for re-election next year in a predominantly Republican district. You guys are making a difference. I’m so proud and excited!"[/color] I know my sister and her hubby are hard-working conservative types, but I've never known them to be politically interested 'til just recently. We are truly connecting, nation-wide - Let's keep the ball rolling, 'til we take back our great nation from our domestic enemies. P.S. A big THANK YOU again to Mike for pulling the bus trip together. I would have not been able to make it otherwise.


(Posted by Wendy Ann) Discuss the message on our main site HERE

Fox is showing this press conference (and hopefully everyone down there protesting... We Surround Rochester send a bus down).

Go to the live fox video, and it's an alternate choice to what's on the TV now.

Here's the direct link.