Tyranny

Which is the tyrant - the government that holds citizens responsible for their actions however irrational, or the government that assumes responsibility for its citizens however benevolent? - Janie B. Cheaney

Liberty

Today, both of my state senators (Pennsylvania) effectively voted against the full audit for the Federal Reserve. Their alternative allows the Federal Reserve, a private bank, to remain largely unaccountable for their woeful mismanagement of money and destructive manipulation of the economy – even while they appear to vote for an (incomplete) audit.

If you write to them expressing your displeasure at their decision, please also insist they vote against Senator Dodd's Restoring American Financial Stability Act (S. 3217), which actually increases the Federal Reserve’s powers. Attached is the contact information for both senators as well as the official press release from the Campaign for Liberty, which has rallied support for the Audit the Fed movement.

Sen. Robert Casey
393 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6324

Sen. Arlen Specter
711 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4254

Full Fed Audit Amendment Voted Down in Senate

Washington, D.C., May 11, 2010 - Today, the U.S. Senate voted 62 to 37 against an amendment to allow greater transparency at the Federal Reserve.

This amendment was introduced to counter a weaker amendment that would have required only a one time audit just of Fed emergency programs. The new amendment was similar to the original H.R. 1207 audit bill introduced by Congressman Ron Paul and added to the House financial reform package.

"The Sanders Amendment is no substitute for a complete and thorough audit of the Fed," said John Tate, President of Campaign for Liberty. "With this vote, we now have a record of those who really want transparency and those who only pay lip-service to it while upholding the status quo."

If the entire financial regulation bill makes it out of the Senate, it heads to the House, where House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank will choose which version to move forward on.

“The Dodd bill itself is just another bad piece of legislation, which will benefit no one except the Fed and its friends at big banks,” said Tate. “It institutionalizes bailouts for banks and subsidizes risky financial decisions.”

"Despite what happens with the financial regulation bill, we will continue pushing Congress for an up or down vote on H.R. 1207, which is the only full audit to allow true transparency in our financial system.”

Liberty

Freedom to suffer the consequences of one's actions.

That's what I want. That's why I've joined Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty And I still plan on writing him in when I vote in November.

Why not Obama?

Again, it's been the Baylys who have brought the clarity of God's Revelation to my attention. This article is from one of their readers: "Destruction of Bodies AND Souls"

An excerpt:
"Barack Obama is a figure of carefully crafted modesty. Whether in his nuanced, nebulous "positions," or in his studied, opaque demeanor, Obama's power has been his ability to promise radical change in a cloak of moderation and modesty. And despite the fact that his positions on abortion are actually worse (God forbid) than Clinton's, he has managed to convince Christians (I know many) of his moderation, or at least his overall acceptability. I mean, even if one disagrees with him on abortion, it's not the only issue, right? What about poverty, illiteracy, spiritual insensitivity, education, disenfranchisement, immigration?

Ah, yes, yes. How often I remember Scripture's warnings about the dangers of illegal immigration! How keenly I recall the prophets thundering against illiteracy! How vociferously do the apostles denounce habitat destruction! And how could we forget Paul's enviable sensitivity to the religious traditions of the Athenians?"

Do you support Death?

I've been wondering if all issues boil down to life and death. Certainly some do. As a Christian, I must oppose death - even as I embrace my own. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." or "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." That is why I must speak, in spite of my fear of man, against any that promote death.

The Mordor Party

Hope

Dear friends,

In former times, I had one response to all political conversations: "Don't bother me." I hated politics: the unintelligent arguments, the character attacks, the lack of objectivity; it seemed a hopeless mess, and I was lazy.

This year, I have two things to say about politics:

One, Ron Paul is the only candidate I'm aware of who understands and values the liberty of the American people. His truly conservative position (consistent for more than thirty years) returns the federal government to its limited historic constitutional duties: securing borders, defending the nation, and regulating trade. We, the people, gave it those powers; all others we retain as individuals or sovereign states. However, we've come to expect the government to be our savior; and politicians are quick to promise what "their" government will do for us (play nursemaid, vending machine, or big brother). By accepting their "solutions," we too willingly give up freedoms that others gave everything to get.

Two, the loss of political liberty is only indicative of the slavery embraced by rejecting God's Word. "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint" (Proverbs 29:18). It has been said that a people unable to restrain themselves will not be restrained by any government. The solution cannot be reached by politics, legislation, military strategy, or economic manipulation. The destructive excesses we glimpse now will only increase. Ron Paul's "Hope for America" - based as it is on the Christian principles underlying the Constitution - will not be sufficient to check our descent into black chaos. The only real hope for America (or the world) is the Word of Life held out by the church. What liberating truths have we stifled in fear, embarrassment, or unbelief? What responsibilities (like caring for the needy) have we abdicated to the government? What loving restraints do we neglect to put upon ourselves, our children, our neighbors, our elected officials? Jesus wasn't just a gentle guy who wandered around doing nice things for people; he preached the gospel which means he told the truth about sin - and salvation. And the truth will set us free!

In Hope for America and the world,
Keith D. Knowlden

Back on Blogger

The introductory post:

I am once more "shouting to the void" of cyberspace - not to be confused with "crying in the wilderness" - though my message today calls to repentance and belief.

I read this AP news story on the Federal Reserve after school today and heard the tramp of doom. It seems the federal government is deliberately trying to destroy our nation.

[I have begun imagining Mr. McCain, Mrs. Clinton, and Mr. Obama as competing for the privilege of handing over the keys to the country to the UN - or some other "one-world-government" organization. Perhaps Mr. Bush is even trying to hurry the process, hoping things will collapse before his time in office is done.]

Conspiracy theory aside, giving the Fed more power seems a recipe for disaster. I don't deny things economically are in a fix - more than I know, I'm sure. But giving more power to an organization that controls money cannot be done lightly. If the hope is to shore things up so folks won't feel the consequences of foolish and greedy choices, then it's bound to fail - and better sooner than later. Has top-down manipulation (of anything) ever brought healthy results? Does the free market still exist? Won't those who are ethical and wise eventually prevail against those who are unscrupulous and blind? Call me an idealist...

Repent: turn from hope in big government.
Believe: find hope in the wisdom and justice of Jesus Christ. His rule over individuals is the only remedy for national disaster.