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This Web site is dedicated to those great men and women who had the foresight to author the Constitution for these United States of America and to establish it as the supreme law of our land. It is also dedicated to all loyal servants of the American People who have sworn an oath to uphold that Constitution and who serve in various capacities--in public office, in our armed forces and in various agencies of the federal and state governments. May the information presented here encourage those dedicated to preserving our freedoms, and may it reawaken the consciences of those who have forgotten what freedom is.
Our Constitution is under attack today, both from within and from without. It is our hope that with increased awareness of constitutional issues, We the People will choose to affirm our sovereignty as free individuals and preserve the liberty our forefathers sought to guarantee all future generations.
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May neither cold nor hunger nor pain, nor fear of them, neither the bristling teeth of danger nor the very jaws of death itself, prevent you from doing any good thing. Lakota Prayer
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget ye were our countrymen. Samuel Adams, American Patriot and Journalist ((1722-1803)
* MEMORABLE QUOTES ...Update July 11, 1998
Here you will find many quotes, some of which appear in articles posted elsewhere in this Website. These quotes are authored by heroes and villains alike; what they share in common is the ability to illuminate and reveal essential aspects of the human struggle for liberty.
* REPRESENTATIVE BOB BARR PRESS RELEASE ON EXPANDED POLICE POWERS...New September 30, 1998
During these last few days of the 105th Congress, the Department of Justice is attempting to attach its wish list for expanded police powers to a House of Representatives appropriations bill. The Department of Justice is taking a stealth approach to incorporate these expanded police powers in a spending measure, since civil libertarians of all stripes fought to eliminate direct incorporation of the same police powers in the 1996 Anti-Terrorism Bill.
The appropriations bill in question is H.R. 4276,"Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, and Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999."
Today we present, in its entirety, a press release from Congressman Bob Barr's office.
September 29, 1998
BARR EXPOSES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE POWER GRAB
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Representative Bob Barr (Georgia, Republican 7th District) released today information exposing an effort by the Department of Justice to obtain massive new enforcement powers in the closing days of the 105th Congress. Barr obtained the information from a confidential source within federal law enforcement. Among other things, the Department's "wish list" for new authority includes (among others):
"These requests belong in some bizarre conspiracy novel, not in serious legislative documents being circulated at the top levels of federal law enforcement. These proposals represent a sneak attack on the most cherished principles of our democracy. If they become a part of our law, freedom and privacy in America will be permanently and severely diminished," said Barr.
Barr also noted the Department and the FBI are "shopping" this wish list in an effort to get the items placed in a spending measure without hearings or debate.
* AMERICAN JUDGES ACCUSED OF JURY TAMPERING...New August 8, 1998
The Winds has published an excellent piece, American Judges Accused of Jury Tampering, which reinforces the traditional right of jurors to decide cases based on their consciences, not on a judge's instructions. The Framers of our Constitution established this right for Americans after living through a time when English judges tyrannized American colonists; they saw our jury system as the last defense against judicial tyranny.
"It is not only (the juror's) right, but his duty...to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment, and conscience even though in direct opposition to the direction of the court." --John Adams,
"I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution." --Thomas Jefferson
WARNING: There is only one disadvantage to reading this article. If you become cognizant of your rights as a juror, you will almost certainly be eliminated from any prospective jury pool. And if you do somehow make it through the voir dire process, exercising your rights will likely result in your being fined and/or imprisoned.
* H.R. 4197 STATE SOVEREIGNTY ACT OF 1998...New July 26, 1998
More good news on Executive Order 13083. Last week Representative Bob Barr (R., Georgia) introduced House of Representatives Bill 4197, titled the "State Sovereignty Act of 1998," which reaffirms the broad array of rights guaranteed to the States and to the People under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. H.R. 4197 states in part:
Executive order 13083, issued May 14, 1998, shall have no force or effect.
In addition, seven organizations representing state and local government have come together to demand that President Clinton withdraw Executive Order 13083. These organizations, sometimes referred to as "The Big Seven," are:
This is the beginning of a great battle for sovereign rights, because no Executive Order has ever been overturned by the Congress or by the People. If you support Representative Barr's bill and the action taken by "The Big Seven," please extend your full support.
* EXECUTIVE ORDERS...New July 21, 1998
We may be close to overturning Clinton's Executive Order 13083. This would be a significant victory, because Executive Order 13083, signed by Clinton at Birmingham, England on May 14, 1998, would do no less than establish President Clinton as a dictator.
"Dictator"...strong language that. But hardly too strong. Please read Neal Boortz's July 10, 1998 Executive Orders along with his July 16, 1998 update. We have seen no better explanation than that presented in Boortz's essay of the dire consequences that would attend implementation of Executive Order 13083.
The White House is on the defensive in this matter, and the Clinton administration has been forced to call Executive Order 13083 a "mistake." More important, they have been forced to delay implementation for 90 days.
Please keep the pressure up! If we continue to insist on the integrity of our Constitution, for the first time in the history of the United States an Executive Order will have been overturned by the People. Our sovereign power (expressed through phone calls, faxes, e-mails, and letters, please see contact information) can establish a limit that precludes a Clinton Dictatorship under Executive Order 13083. Posted in "Preserving Individual Liberty."
*CLINTON PREPARING TO GIVE MEDICAL I.D. TO EVERY AMERICAN...New July 20, 1998
Today's New York Times article, "Clinton Preparing to Give Medical I.D. to Every American," is sure to intensify debate regarding the issue of National Identification Systems. It is interesting that defenders always cite "efficiency" as a primary benefit of such systems, ignoring the intended inefficiency of the systems designed by the Framers of our Constitution. Whether it is the efficient governance of a dictator or the efficient numbering at Auschwitz and Dachau, history teaches us to beware too much efficiency. Limited government, appropriately saddled with time-consuming checks and balances, gives Citizens their best chance for maintaining hard-won sovereignty.
THE PAUL/BARR "FREEDOM AND PRIVACY RESTORATION ACT" New July 14, 1998
Last month we introduced our readers to the particulars of the proposed National Identification System. If you are unfamiliar with this issue, please refer to the general information regarding implementation of this system as well as to our specific analysis of how the proposed system will affect individual Americans.
Fortunately some true heroes have appeared on the national scene in the persons of Representative Ron Paul of Texas and Bob Barr of Georgia. These two Congressmen, both Republicans, have staked their careers on this issue--they have "pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor." Here is an excerpt from Ron Paul's commentary on the proposed National Identification System:
The establishment of a "national" drivers' license and birth certificate makes a mockery of the 10th amendment and the principles of federalism. While no state is "forced" to accept the federal standards, is it unlikely they will refuse to comply when such action would mean none of their residents could get a job, receive Social Security, leave the state by plane, or have access to medical care. So rather than imposing a direct mandate on the states, the federal government is blackmailing them into complying with federal dictates.
It is for this reason that I am introducing the "Freedom and Privacy Restoration Act," with Representative Bob Barr of Georgia as a cosponsor. As the law stands now, the government is in a position to inappropriately monitor the movements and transactions of every citizen.
History shows that when government gains the power to monitor the actions of the people, it eventually uses that power to impose totalitarian controls on the populace.
Provided we choose to join Representatives Ron Paul and Bob Barr in support of the "Freedom and Privacy Restoration Act," we still stand a fighting chance of cutting off the head of the federal snake that constricts our lives and denies Americans sovereign rights guaranteed by our Constitution.
If there was ever a time to take a stand on an issue, this is that time. Please pull out all the stops, contact the President, contact your Representatives and your Senators, and insist they support the Paul/Barr "Freedom and Privacy Restoration Act."
The simplest way to make your voice heard is to call the Capitol Switchboard in Washington D.C., (202) 225-3121. The switchboard is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The Capitol operators respond to requests for individual FAX numbers, and they will transfer you to the Washington office of any Representative or Senator--or, after hours, to their voicemail. For more information (e-mail addresses, presidential numbers and so on) please refer to our summary of contact information.
You may also wish to review Representative Bob Barr's article, The Camel's Nose Under the Tent.
While unlikely to be as effective as supporting the passage of the "Freedom and Privacy Restoration Act," it will also be useful to voice our objections to the enabling regulation, proposed by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration on June 17, 1998. If you wish to voice your objections, you must do so in writing prior to August 3, 1998. Please refer to contact information for addresses and to review the text of the proposed regulation. Also included is Lowell H. Becraft Jr.'s sample letter and legal analysis to aid in the clear expression of your own objections.
We conclude with the words of Winston Churchill, spoken on the eve of Britain's entry into World War II:
If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may be even a worse fate. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.
* WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT A NATIONAL I.D.? ...New June 28, 1998
Scan This News has published an excellent discussion piece that explains why a National I.D. System is such a bad idea. This chilling analysis of our covert activities abroad, complete with excerpts from CIA training manuals, explains how the "shadow government" of the United States has discredited Americans worldwide. Although Americans remain largely unaware of its activities, for the past 50 years, our shadow government has championed systematic surveillance, subversion of democratic political processes, oppression, harrassment, torture, assassination and murder. Is it possible, with the proposed implementation of a National I.D. System, that we are seeing our own dogs return home to hunt us?
MORE ON PROPOSED NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM...New June 19, 1998
ITEM ONE... Although most Americans hate the IRS, and this week our House of Representatives voted to abolish the agency, its efficiency is admired by governments worldwide. The IRS achieves, through its draconian "voluntary compliance" system, a higher level of tax collection than any similar foreign agency.
Now it looks as though IRS doublespeak (how can "compliance," which involves force, be "voluntary?") may become one our most significant exports. Last year several of the republics of the former Soviet Union, among them Russia and the Ukraine, invited IRS officials to help them set up systems like our own, and at the heart of those systems is the issuance of national identification numbers. On May 29, 1998, the following story was published in the Birmingham News:
Friday, May 29, 1998 RELIGION In Brief
ID System Denounced as Mark of Antichrist
KIEV, Ukraine – The Ukrainian branch of the Russian Orthodox Church has denounced a new national ID system as "the mark of the Antichrist."
The system introduced last fall is similar to U.S. Social Security numbers and has become more widespread in recent weeks.
The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine appealed to President Leonid Kuchma, the government and parliament to change it.
According to the appeal, many Orthodox Christians regard the system "as the fulfillment of the apocalyptic prophecy about the mark of the Antichrist and regard the identification numbers as... ‘the number of the beast.’"
The Bible’s Book of Revelation cites 666 as the number of the Antichrist, but some Christians believe it could be any identifying number required to transact business.
Would that our own religious leaders might be so clearly outspoken.
ITEM TWO... Next Thursday, June 25, 1998, at 4 PM Eastern Standard Time, the Center for Technology Policy at the Free Congress Foundation will be hosting a conference call to discuss how we might oppose the extension the IRS social security numbering system into every area of American life. If you would like to participate in this discussion, please send an RSVP to ppoole@fcref.org to reserve a telephone line. Then on 5/25 at 4 PM (EST), you may call toll-free (888) 422-7128 and enter the code: 420046. We will be discussing strategy and what points to raise in submitting objections to the U.S. National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has been charged with implementing the national I.D. system. We only have until August 3, 1998 to submit our objections.
In brief, here are the outlines for the new national I.D. system for Americans:
Please remember that most aspects of the proposed national identification system are in place NOW. The chief difference is that under a fully-implemented national I.D. system all information will be co-ordinated and fully accessible to any bureaucrat who wishes to snoop. Furthermore, the encoding imbedded in the card will enable direct tracking of any individual. Privacy will become a thing of the past.
We have come to the point in the United States where federal and state systems fall little short of the interference and control characterized by the system employed in the former Soviet Union. For nearly fifty years Americans fought hard to resist the tyranny of Soviet-style systems, yet in our post-Cold War complacency we have allowed similar systems to take root in our own land.
We need to be moving in the opposite direction, folks. We need to roll back systems that compromise our privacy and direct our lives, rather than expanding such systems. Government needs to be put in its rightful place as our servant, not our master. To quote George Washington:
Government is not reason. It is not eloquence. It is force. And, like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.
As always, silence amounts to acquiescence. You have the ability to empower your representatives in Congress by telling them what you think. Your sovereign power, once expressed, becomes their political power. We have had two clear wins of late, the recent repeal of Section 1520, Chapter 32 of the United States Code (which allowed Department of Defense testing of biological and chemical weapons on civilian populations without their consent) and last month's bipartisan vote by the House of Representatives to ban the export of sensitive technology to China. You can do something.
President Clinton's e-mail address is: president@whitehouse.gov. President Clinton's phone number is (202) 456-1414. His fax number is (202) 456-2461.
All U.S. Senators and Representatives have e-mail addresses, which are often listed in the front of your local telephone directory under "Government Officials." The House Web Site is www.house.gov and the Senate Web Site is www.senate.gov.
The number for the Capitol Switchboard is (202) 225-3121; they will connect you to the Washington office of any Senator or Representative.
If you know your senator's last name, it can be inserted according to the following format: "senator@last name.senate.gov (i.e. senator@feinstein.senate.gov).
If you know your representative's first and last name, they can be inserted in the following format: first name.last name.@mail.house.gov (i.e. lynn.woolsey@mail.house.gov).
* NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM...New June 18, 1998
A common feature of most totalitarian states is a national identification system. Every person in such a state is "numbered" to facilitate monitoring, tracking, and categorizing in accord with that state's purposes. When our current Social Security system was implemented in 1936, concerned lawmakers objected that it could someday be used as a national identification system--a concept consistently rejected by our forefathers as unAmerican.
Members of Congress at that time were aware of the dangers inherent in a system that could be used to subjugate sovereign Citizens at the whim of the state. As a safeguard, and to make their intent clear, they insisted that every Social Security card be imprinted with the disclaimer, "Not to be used for identification purposes."
We have now come full circle, and unless we put a stop to it our government will mandate that all American Citizens, including children, be numbered. The controlling regulation is scheduled to go into effect any time after August 3, 1998, and it would be fully implemented by October 1, 2000. The web of federally mandated requirements includes the linking of numbers issued by the Social SecurityAdministration to:
Yesterday, Wednesday, June 17, 1998, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), published proposed "Driver's License/SSN/National Identification Document" guidelines with which all states must comply over the next two years. States which do not comply will find that their citizens will not be allowed to participate in routine, life-essential functions after the imposed federal deadline of October 1, 2000. This regulation mandates the use of the Social Security number for all drivers' licenses nationwide; in concert with existing law, a de facto national identification system will have become a reality.
You may wish to review the text of the proposed regulation as published in the Federal Register, Volume 63, No. 116, June 17, 1998, pp 33219-33225.
When this editor traveled to the Soviet Union during the mid-1980's, one of the most disturbing facets of that society was that any citizen could be required to present papers on demand. Indeed, movies about Hitler's Third Reich are always characterized by the barked demand, "Papers please!" And it used to be enough to chill the blood of any freedom-loving American.
If we do not make our objections known by August 3, 1998, our right to live unnumbered, unquestioned, unharrassed, unchallenged--so long as we break no laws--will have been surrendered to those who value security over liberty. Perhaps it is worth repeating the oft-quoted lines of that great patriot and journalist Samuel Adams (1722-1803), whose impassioned writing fueled the actions of our Founding Fathers:
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget ye were our countrymen.
It is important to remember that most Soviet citizens circa 1984 did not object to the overarching security measures imposed by their government. On the contrary, they found such measures--the constant checking of papers, the aggressive search of foreign visitors, the constant surveillance--reassuring, and they submitted willingly to the incursions of the Soviet police state. Like those who were the object of Samuel Adams' scorn, they valued security over liberty.
To quote another famous American, Benjamin Franklin:
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
And yet another, Edmund Burke:
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing!
If we value our liberty, we must mount an effective e-mail, letter, and telephone campaign to prevent this final surrender of our liberty. It is certainly true that the proposed legislation could catch a few cheats, track down a few dead-beat dads, and perhaps even apprehend a few criminals. But at what cost? Do we want our very own police state?!
To quote Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman:
There are severe limits to the good that the government can do...but there are almost no limits to the harm it can do.
In order to make your voice heard, you must contact your Senators and Representatives immediately, because unless strong objections are raised, the proposed regulation will assume the force of law. The deadline for submitting written comments is August 3, 1998--a mere six weeks away!
You must refer to Docket No. NHTSA-98-3945 DOCID:fr17jn98-28 23 CFR Part 1331 Proposed Rule--State-Issued Driver's Licenses and Comparable Identification Documents. Public Law 104-208, which serves as the impetus for this proposed regulation, was enacted by Congress in 1996 .
Written comments (fifteen page limit) may be submitted to:
Docket Management, Room PL-401 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Nassif Building 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590.
You may also contact:
Mr. William Holden, Chief, Driver Register and Traffic Records Division, NTS-32, NHTSA 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590, Telephone (202) 366-4800.
For more details please refer to the alert sounded yesterday by "Scan This News."
* SOME LESSONS FROM CALIFORNIA ...New June 1, 1998
In his May 29, 1998 column, Some Lessons From California, Alan Keyes comments on our Founding Fathers' reliance on the wisdom of the American People. Keyes cites four recent examples from California's initiative balloting process that confirm the ability of the common person to understand the high ideals that are the foundation of our liberty.
* CIVILIAN GUINEA PIGS REGAIN SOME RIGHTS...New May 14, 1998
Until this year, the Department of Defense was authorized by the United States Code, Title 50, Chapter 32, Section 1520 to conduct biological or chemical experiments on civilian populations without their informed consent. This is a success story that tells how Captain Joyce Riley worked to achieve the repeal 50U.S.C.1520.
* SOLZHENITSYN'S ANTS ...New April 10, 1998
Jack Wheeler's article in the current Strategic Investment Magazine is sure to spark controversy. Wheeler refers to recent research that indicates a possible biological basis for differences in receptivity among males and females to the trade-offs in personal liberty demanded by contemporary welfare states.
* SWITZERLAND AND ITS ARMED CITIZENRY ...New April 10, 1998
In this discussion Stephen P. Halbrook starts with the fact that every Swiss male is required to keep a loaded "assault" rifle in his home, along with sufficient ammunition, and stand ready to use it to defend to the death his home or country. Halbrook argues that armed readiness, and not Swiss finanicial complicity with the Nazis, was primarily responsible for keeping Hitler at bay during the Second World War. Halbrook's argument makes it clear that we Americans disarm ourselves at our own peril. The importance of our right to bear arms, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to our Constitution, must not be ignored, even in the wake of recent tragedies. Within the past few years, Australian and British citizens have surrendered their right to bear arms after similar shootings led to massive pressure from anti-gun lobbies. Just as France and many other disarmed European countries were unable to defend themselves from Hitler during the Second World War, the lack of an armed citizenry in contemporary Europe (and Australia) may leave them unable to resist armed assault from without, or, more likely, surrender by their own governments to anti-democratic forces that may yet come to the fore under the auspices of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. Halbrook will discuss in more detail the relevance of Swiss reliance on a citizen militia, a tradition that dates from the thirteenth century, in his soon-to-be-published book, Target Switzerland: Swiss Armed Neutrality in World War II.
* PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT OF 1998 ...New March 5, 1998
On March 3, 1998 Congressman Ron Paul (Republican, Texas) spoke before the House of Representatives in support of his bill, H.R.3261. This bill would curtail permissive provisions in federal law that allow the use of one's social security number for a wide variety of purposes. Many people cannot even get a state driver's license without providing a social security number, clearly an overextension of federal power. Thus Americans are incrementally conditioned to accept a de facto national identification number, a direct violation of the original enacting statutes for the social security system. Every authoritarian regime that has come down the pike (Nazi Germany, for example) has relied on "numbering." Will we be next, or will we thank Ron Paul by contacting our representatives to make sure this bill becomes law?
* FLYING WITHOUT IDENTIFICATION ...New January 20, 1998
Ever wonder if they can make you show picture I.D. when you travel by air? Well, they can't, and this article will teach you how to exercise your right to travel without "showing your papers."
* EYE SCANNING ATM'S READY TO FACE PUBLIC ...New January 20, 1998
Do you have an ATM card? If so, you should be aware that banks are testing iris identification systems right now without your knowledge. Sensar is arming standard ATM videocameras with "IrisIdent" software , and the system is expected to be in nationwide use by the end of 1998. If you don't want your personal information to become part of an emerging worldwide data base, make sure your bank is not using these systems.
* RESOURCES FOR FRIENDS ...Update January 16, 1997
Some invaluable resources at reasonable prices--the best place I have found to purchase these materials. They even carry the new "Waco: Rules of Engagement" video for only twenty dollars.
* CURRENT HOT NEWS...Read the latest on current events
* TIME FOR CONGRESS TO SHOW COURAGE ...New April 25,1998
Today's column by Alan Keyes discusses the duty of Republicans to exert their political will in the impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton. Keyes clarifies that, given the independent nature of the executive branch, impeachment will always be a political--not a criminal--matter.
* A TRUE PATRIOT SPEAKS OUT ...New January 16, 1997
Texas Congressman Ron Paul, elected to the House of Representatives in 1996, speaks out on the true meaning of liberty as intended by the Framers. He contrasts the liberty that is our birthright to the excesses and crimes of our current federal government. Wherever you live, please help keep Ron Paul in office! New...Check out Ron Paul's legislative update hotline at (800) 322-1414. Great commentary!
* TAKING A STAND FOR INTEGRITY IN LEADERSHIP ...New October 24, 1997
A call for the initiation of impeachment proceedings against President William Jefferson Clinton under Article II. Section 4. of the Constitution for the United States of America. Links to Mark Helprin's October 10, 1997 editorial in the Wall Street Journal, Impeach, which called upon members of Congress to find the courage to initiate impeachment proceedings.
* HOUSE RESOLUTION 304 ...New November 12, 1997
On November 5, 1997 during the 1st Session of the 105th Congress of the United States of America, Congressman Bob Barr (R.GA), joined by seventeen other Congresspeople, filed House Resolution 304 calling on the House Judiciary Comittee to investigate whether grounds exist to impeach William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States. If approved by a majority in the full House, Representative Barr's resolution would force the House Judiciary to conduct a formal investigation to determine if it should draw up articles of impeachment against President Clinton.
* INTERVIEW WITH REPRESENTATIVE BOB BARR ...New November 12, 1997
In this March 11, 1997 article, Representative Bob Barr (R-GA), member of the House Judiciary Committee, discussed the impeachment process and why initiation of the process is justified with respect to President Clinton.
* SOLOMON CALL FOR IMPEACHMENT ...New November 12, 1997
On July 22, 1997, Representative Gerald B. Solomon (R-NY), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, called for initiation of impeachment proceedings against President Clinton, condemning the manipulation of the United States by the People's Republic of China. Chairman Solomon read A.M. Rosenthal's July 22, 1997 article from the New York Times into the Congressional Record.
* IS THERE NOTHING SACRED? ...Update November 30, 1997
This story by Paul Rodriguez, which appeared in last week's December 8, 1997 edition of Insight magazine, alleged that in addition to Lincoln Bedroom sleepovers and kaffeeklatsches, burial sites at Arlington National Cemetery may have been traded in exchange for large donations to the Clinton/Gore campaign. The Army Times, an official publication of the U.S. Army, originally raised this issue in a June, 1997 story after someone noticed that Secretary of the Army Togo West had granted an unusual number of burial waivers for non-veterans.
Arlington National Cemetery is hallowed ground, reserved for our nation's greatest heros, so Rodriquez's story caused outrage among all honest citizens, especially veterans.
The Clinton administration had steadfastly refused to release the list of those who received waivers, fueling the controversy. When the uproar finally caused them to relent, an examination of the names revealed that, although many of the waivers are questionable, only one recipient of a waiver made a large donation to the Clinton/Gore war chest. In the December 15, 1997 issue of Insight magazine, Paul Rodriguez answers his critics.
* New October 13, 1998...Most of us have come to accept the potential for significant computer-related problems come January 1, 2000. What is less well known is that testing of power plant computer controls and other critical systems will begin on October 15, 1998, and there are in fact nine milestone millennial dates that bear watching between now and March, 2000. In yesterday's Westergaard Year 2000 article, Y2K: It's Closer Than You Think, Michael S. Hyatt gives us the rundown:
Hyatt concludes:
The bottom line is that you have much less time to prepare than you think. As these dates come and go, the chaos will increase, increasing public awareness and, possibly, even public panic. Supplies will become more scarce and prices will escalate. You cannot afford to wait. You must begin making contingency plans now, before things start unraveling.
* New September 9, 1998...Yesterday's Associated Press article, Russians Rely on Survival Skills, documents that Russians, once again, are finding it necessary to become farmers just to put a little food on the table. Russians typically have access to garden plots on the outskirts of Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities; after working all day, many people travel by car, or by bus, to work their garden plots, returning home after dark.
`I work all the time,'' said Inna Muranova, a doctor in a Moscow clinic. ``I don't have time to be a farmer. We're in a trance...We all work. We can't save, and now they want us to be farmers.''
North Koreans would certainly envy Russian hardships, since as many as 3 million North Koreans (out of a population of 24 million) have died of starvation during the past two years. North Korea never recovered from the massive floods, and subsequent crop failures, of 1995 and 1996. In August, 1997 tidal waves devastated crop-growing regions and flooded rice paddies with salt water along North Korea's west coast. 1998 has brought the worst drought in a century, which has decimated agriculture and animal husbandry.
Former top propogandist, defector Hwang Jong Yop, testifies in a September 7, 1998 Time magazine interview that even North Korea's living are badly malnourished, their children's growth stunted. And Hwang Jong Yop fears the ultimate political repercussion--"Glorious Leader" Kim Jong Il's obsession with a sudden nuclear attack and invasion of South Korea, fueled by the desperation of his people.
If the experts are right about Y2K, Americans might do well to cultivate Russian-style survival skills--seed, garden tools, watering systems--perhaps a revival of World War II "Victory Gardens."
Speaking of which, this week a Reuters story surfaced detailing U.S. government plans for military imposition of marshall law if Y2K hits hard. Interestingly, the story disappeared after only a few hours. Mustn't startle the sheeple? Will post ASAP, if we can find a copy.
* New June 13, 1998...This MSNBC News article, Will We Have Power on January 1, 2000, has moved Y2K into the mainstream with a prediction that if today were January 1, 2000 there is a 100% chance the entire U.S. electrical grid would fail.
* New June 6, 1998...William Raspberry's column brings Y2K down to earth.
* New June 4, 1998...Day by day, it becomes more apparent that the "Millenium Bug," or "Y2K," will be a major world event. Yes, there are billions of lines of code to rewrite so that computers will not think "2000" means "1900," but the real problem may be the twelve billion or so chips that are imbedded in computers, automobiles, the electrical grid, off-shore drilling stations, water treatment plants, airport control towers, and so on. Accessing these chips and physically replacing each and every one will not be possible.
On June 2, 1998 CNN broadcast a three-hour discussion of Y2K. A federal spokesperson highlighted problems with our Department of Defense, Social Security, Medicare and the Internal Revenue Service. Financial experts on the CNN panel predicted major devaluation of every stock market in the world and paralysis of national and international banking. Indeed every system that makes modern life possible will experience major problems--among them the electrical power grid, food distribution systems, and fuel delivery systems. Even "Y2K compliant" systems will be affected, since global interdependence will require interfacing with the "non-compliant."
Chicken Little? Perhaps, but before you decide to ignore all the fuss, please listen to the Real Audio file recorded on May 25, 1998 during Art Bell's comprehensive interview with Gary North. Most impressive is the way Mr. North fields unscreened questions from callers who challenge his assertions.
* New May 26, 1998...Dr. Gary North has been among the most vocal of the "Millennium Bug" doomsayers, and he has moved to a rural homestead with its own natural gas wells in order to become more self-sufficient. Perhaps his concerns are exaggerated, yet it is difficult entirely to dismiss them. Here is an introduction to Dr. North's thinking, as well as a summary sheet of over 1600 documents that support his contention that a lot will go wrong come January 1, 2000--such as the recent February 4, 1998 Executive Order, signed by President Clinton, which sets up a commission to coordinate "Millennium Bug" repairs to federal computer systems.
Another document that Dr. North refers to is "Why the Year 2000 Problem Poses a Risk to the Public Health and Safety, and Continuity of Critical Infrastructure and Services", a comprehensive and concise reference written with the lay person in mind.
The constitutional implications of the "Millennium Bug" are serious. If Dr. North is correct, disruptions in banking, transportation, electricity and natural gas supplies, food distribution and other essential services will necessitate federal imposition of martial law. In fact economic disruptions are likely to spur authoritarian reactions worldwide, perhaps by early 1999.
We do not wish to be alarmist, and we would welcome any cohesive argument that the "Millennium Bug" is nothing to worry about. If you discover such an argument please contact founders@earthlink.net.
* New May 25, 1998...So you think talk of the dreaded "Millenium Bug"--also known as "YK2000"--that computer glitch that threatens to shut everything down just after midnight, January 1, 2000, is just so much hot air? Well, the CIA doesn't think so. And neither do most of the world's top computer experts. And then there are more technical discussions of the matter. Read all about it. Posted in "Agricultural, Economic, Political Crises Looming?"
* New May 20, 1998...This spring's fires in Mexico and Guatemala are emerging as a serious side effect of "El Nino." Although shifts in wind currents are dissipating the smoke over Texas and much of the Southwest, the fires in Central America continue to rage out of control. Both the enormous tonnage of smoke produced by these fires, and the reach of the emerging cloud, are unprecedented; air traffic in Guatemala has been interrupted, and an increase in particulates has been noted as far away as Chicago, Illinois.
The fires have been variously blamed on farmers clearing their land, on drug cartel vendettas and on volcanic activity. What we know for sure is that during the past year Central America has received much less rainfall than usual, the land is parched and temperatures are soaring.
There are strong indicators that new volcanic activity is emerging in Central America, as well as in western Pacific sectors of the Ring of Fire--Stan Deyo and other experts believe this increased volcanic activity may account for some of the increase in ocean temperatures associated with "El Nino." Please refer to our May 6, 1998 article, which discusses the larger implications of the so-called "El Nino" phenomenon....New May 20, 1998
* Last autumn's September 28, 1997 article discussed the constitutional implications of climatic change resulting from the worldwide "El Nino" phenomenon.
* Our current May 6, 1998 article presents new information which indicates that increased solar activity may be responsible for both last year's "El Nino" phenomenon and for anomalous sea temperature changes worldwide. Many scientists fear increasingly severe disruption of global weather patterns, with attendant crop failures and disruptions in our food supply. Dramatic political changes are the probable result.
* THE GULF WAR SYNDROME --WHAT YOU MUST KNOW ...New September 1, 1997
All Americans need to be aware that laboratory produced biological pathogens, some of which are quite contagious, are likely responsible for "Gulf War Syndrome."
* CONGRESS PASSES AMERICANS WITH NO ABILITIES ACT...New July 29, 1998
On Tuesday, Congress passed the Americans With No Abilities Act, sweeping new legislation that provides benefits and protection for more than 135 million Americans. This act, signed into law by President Clinton shortly after its passage, is being hailed as a major victory for the millions of U.S. citizens who lack any real skill or talent.
* JUSTICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: ASSET FORFEITURE...New October 19, 1998
Are we living in a police state? With the increasing use of asset forfeiture by local police, state police and federal police, many people would say "Yes."
One of those people is Sarah Thompson M.D. , who has written this excellent piece on asset forfeiture. Dr. Thompson begins her essay by quoting Lewis Carroll from Alice in Wonderland:
"No! No! Sentence first--verdict afterwards!"
You may think Sarah Thompson is exaggerating, but that is exactly how asset forfeiture works--assets are seized first, and a verdict is rendered afterwards, if at all. The only reason life is still bearable in these United States of America is that we have a tradition of due process, a tradition of justice, a tradition of honoring constitutionally guaranteed individual rights.
But mere tradition is not something citizens can bank on--only real due process, real justice, and a real commitment to actively defend individual rights provide citizens with sufficient security to live their lives from a position of power and strength.
Our Constitution is supposed to guarantee and protect our inalienable rights as individuals, since our Creator endowed us with those rights. A fading tradition of honoring inalienable rights is but a pale, inadequate substitute for actively guaranteeing and protecting those rights.
* BILLS OF ATTAINDER-A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE
* PERSONIFICATION OF OBJECTS AND BILLS OF ATTAINDER
Ever wonder how a car, a house, or even a pile of dollar bills can be accused of a crime? Are we experiencing a modern Inquisition?
* FORFEITURE ENDANGERS AMERICAN RIGHTS , a non-profit organization dedicated to the reform of federal and state forfeiture laws
For serious scholars who wish to deepen their understanding of the historical and philosophical issues that informed the thinking of the Framers. The Constitution Society also provides exhaustive up-to-the minute data regarding contemporary abuses and efforts to correct them. Full text of The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, The Federalist Papers, and many other resources.
* THE DOWNING OF TWA FLIGHT 800 by James Sanders
* EMERGING VIRUSES: AIDS & EBOLA by Leonard G. Horowitz, D.M.D
New October 2, 1997....JUST RELEASED! Dr. Len Horowitz has just released a new videotape, which is called "Emerging Viruses & Vaccinations Update: The True Origins of AIDS, Ebola, and Contaminated Vaccines." For those who may find the technical depth of Dr. Horowitz's book too daunting, this video provides an excellent introduction to a subject that affects every American. Dr. Horowitz has worked closely with Joyce Riley and her investigation of the Gulf War Syndrome, and what he has found correlates with her work. Please call (800) 336-9266 to order this videotape. The price is $29.95, and all proceeds help finance further research.
* WACO: RULES OF ENGAGEMENT Update February 10, 1998
NEWS FLASH! Congratulations to Dan Gifford and Amy Sommer, co-producers of Waco: The Rules of Engagement. Today, February 10, 1998, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominated this powerful documentary for the Best Documentary Feature Award.
This 1997 documentary film proves massive abuse of federal police power through independent analysis of infrared film and testimony by FBI special agents. The Waco Web site features reviews from the Sundance Film Festival and major news publications as well as show times at theaters nationwide. JUST RELEASED ON VIDEO. Order on-line through the Web site or or call (800) 771-2147, Extension 19. $25.00 including shipping.
Recently SISKELL AND EBERT reviewed this film and gave it TWO THUMBS UP! Pressure is building to get WACO: THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT into mainstream national distribution, and you can add to that pressure. On August 9 and 10, 1997, Founders sponsored the showing of Waco: The Rules of Engagement at the Lark Theater in Larkspur, California. The movie was very well attended, as has been the case wherever it has been shown nationwide. If you have an interest in sponsoring this film in your locale, please contact the Fifth Estate through this link , then go to e-mail. Once arrangements are made, Fifth Estate will ship the film to your neighborhood theater, and more Americans can become aware of the facts surrounding the 1993 assault by federal police against the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas.
