As the wave approached the coast of Indonesia, it slowed and rose into a wall of water that was 100 feet high is some places.  It then plowed inland like a derailed train, bulldozing villages, flattening forests, drowning, destroying and washing away everything.

The Indonesians never saw it coming, so they weren’t able to act to save themselves. By the time they tried, disaster was upon them.  As a result, nearly 250,000 men, women and children who might have been saved—if only they had taken action in time—were killed.

Today in the United States, just as in Indonesia, too many Americans don’t see–or don’t recognize—the tidal wave that’s bearing down on our nation and our freedoms. If we don’t warn our fellow Americans in time, disaster will be upon us on Election Day. That’s why last week’s commentary and today’s commentary call on you to help alert, educate and mobilize the American people to defeat Barrack Obama before he dismantles completely the Bill of Rights—and all of our freedoms as Americans—disappear forever.  It might sound like a stretch to compare an election to one of the deadliest disasters in modern history but, this year’s election could prove the most disastrous  in the history of the United States. 

Why ?  …Because this election will decide whether Americans remain free.  There is no simpler way to say it—it’s all or nothing.   Either we defeat Barack Obama and retain all of our rights—or we lose this election and lose it all.

Everything you and I have fought for over the years could be lost in one presidential election. All of our freedoms guaranteed under the Bill of Rights are on the line.

This year’s election will literally be a struggle for the survival of freedom in America. You say I’m exaggerating, that it can’t happen here.   Friends, take this to the bank, Obama has spent his entire career seeking to effectively eliminate your Right to Keep and Bear Arms.   History proves it.   Within a week of his election to the White House in 2008, Obama’s “transition team” posted several elements of his gun-ban agenda on the Internet, but then abruptly deleted the web page.  Since then, whenever the Obama administration has dropped its guard and revealed its true intent to ban firearms, it backed down to restore a facade of sanity. 

In 2011 the Department of Interior announced bans on target shooting on public lands.   Then it quickly backed off.  The motive is clear, lull gun owners into a false sense of security while moving ahead with his silent agenda of deception.   If he wins a second term he will be free to wage his war on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms openly and with impunity.  Within the next four years the President will, most likely, appoint three new justices to the Supreme Court.  If three left wing liberals are appointed, the balance of power is there to over rule the current Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  If Obama wins re-election, expect gun-banning freedom-destroying treaties coming from the United Nations with Obama’s full support.

He has already asked the Senate to ratify the Organization of American States firearms treaty which would force you to register every firearm and round of ammunition you own. And don’t forget, Hillary Clinton and the UN Arms Treaty where Obama has changed the US position to support the treaty.  Make no mistake about it, another term in office for Obama and ALL OF OUR RIGHTS will be gone— forever.

Remember:  All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men and women to stand by and do nothing.

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION

In the decade since 11 September 2001, the United States has comprehensively reduced civil liberties in the name of an expanded security state.  The most recent example of this of these reductions was the National Defense Authorization Act, signed by President Obama on December 31, 2011. This act authorizes the indefinite detention of citizens without due process that was clearly outlined in the Constitution.  While each new power has been embraced by Washington, together they form what could be considered an authoritarian government.

Americans often site our nation as the symbol of freedom in the world while dismissing other nations such as Cuba and China as categorically “unfree”.  We may be only half right. While other countries do lack basic individual rights the United States now has more in common with such regimes than anyone might like to think.

These other countries also have constitutions that guarantee freedoms and rights.  But their governments have broad discretion in denying those rights and few real avenues for challenges by citizens.  The new powers in the following list could be troubling:

Assassination of U S. citizens — Indefinite detention – Arbitrary justice  –Warrant-less searches — Secret evidence - -Ignoring war crimes — The secret foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court — Immunity from judicial review — Continual monitoring of citizens

These new laws have come with an infusion of money which allows widespread usage at the state and federal levels.  Some politicians say that these increased powers are merely a response to the times we live in.  Senator Lindsey Graham stated: “free speech is a great idea, but we’re in a war.”  Other politicians rationalize that, while the powers may exist, it really comes down to how they are used.  This is a common response by liberals who cannot bring themselves to denounce Obama as they did Bush.

Congress has insisted that they have left the use of these powers where they belong, in the executive branch.  And in signing the defense authorization bill, Obama said he does not intend to use the latest power to indefinitely imprison citizens.  If a president can take away your freedom or your life on his own authority, all rights become little more than a discretionary grant subject to executive will.

The framers of our constitution lived under autocratic rule and understood this danger better than we do.  James Madison famously warned that we needed a system that did not depend on the good intentions or motivations of our rulers. 

Since 9/11 we have created the very government Madison waned of.  Dishonesty from politicians from all levels of government is nothing new to Americans.   The real question is whether we are lying to ourselves when we call this country the “Land of the Free”         

Remember:  All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men and women to stand by and do nothing. 

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION

Here’s the story. Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all of them is $100.00

If they paid the bill the way we pay our taxes, it would be something like this:

            The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.

            The fifth would pay $1

            The sixth would pay $3

            The seventh would pay $7

            The eighth would pay $12

            The ninth would pay $18

            The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59

So that’s what was done.  The ten men drank every day in the bar, until one day, the owner gave them a discount of $20.  Drinks for the 10 were now $80 instead of $100.  The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected (still free).   What about the others? How could they divide the $20 so that everyone would get his “fair share”?  They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33.  But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth and sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.  So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so: The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings )

The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 ( 33% savings).

 The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28% savings).

The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings ).

The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings ).

The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings ).

Each of the six was better off than before.  And the first four continued to drink for free.  But then they began to compare their savings.  “I only got a dollar out of the $20″, declared the sixth man.  “I only saved a dollar, too.  It’s unfair that he got ten times more that I.  The wealthy get all the breaks!”  “Wait a minute” yelled the first four men. ”We didn’t get anything at all.

The system exploits the poor”.  The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beer without him.  But when it came time to pay, they discovered something important.  They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit in a tax reduction.  Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore.

David R. Kamerschen, PhD. Professor of Economics, University of Georgia, refutes that he ever wrote this article.  Could it really be that simple to understand and fix or is our economic system that broken that we cannot understand it, let alone fix it. 

Here is my bottom line: When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them; and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.  Friends, get involved before it is too late.

Remember:  All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men and women to stand by and do nothing. 

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION

#1.  The Justice Department’s “Fast and Furious” operation. This operation facilitated the delivery of American firearms into Mexico to violent drug cartels, later used in the murder of hundreds, including a U. S. Border Patrol agent.  Two guns found at the scene of the agents’ murder were traced to guns the ATF deliberately allowed to be sold to known cartel straw buyers in American shops in violation of federal gun laws.  Justice records turned over to congressional investigators also showed Immigration and Customs agent Jaime Zapata was gunned down by cartel killers using a pistol purchased in Texas.  AFT agents did nothing to prevent the sale or the shipment of the gun to Mexico.  Now here’s the important part.  CBS News, the only establishment news agency to investigate the scandal, uncovered emails showing the Attorney General Eric Holder’s Justice Department has used the proliferation of cartel weapons to call for expanded gun control regulations. And to cover up the situation, Mr. Holder lashed out at Congress members holding him accountable for the scandal, calling them “irresponsible” and guilty of “inflammatory rhetoric”

#2.  More U.S. soldiers committed suicide than died in combat in 2010. (the latest year for which there are statistics)   During that time, 462 American soldiers were killed  in combat while 468 soldiers (counting all officer, enlisted and veterans) took their own lives.  This was the second consecutive year that more soldiers died by their own hands than in combat.  And these figures were released at the same time that military authorities announced that psychological screening programs seemed to be stemming the suicide rate.

#3.  Eased citizenship requirements:  A courtship of Latinos.  President Obama aims to keep  families with illegal immigrants together.  By executive order, the President has side-stepped Congress and this action is calculated to boost  his standing among Latinos.  What is lost in this story is the fact that this order will probably result in votes for the President in an election year.

#4.  Members of Congress continue to mention Christians as a threat to national security. During Congressional hearings, U.S,, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee warned that “Christian militants” might try to “bring down the country” and that such groups need to be investigated. Are our representatives suggesting investigations like the ones at Waco Texas and Ruby Ridge where, without proper legal authority, excessive force resulted in the deaths of many at Waco and the outright murder of a 13 year old boy and his unarmed mother at Ruby Ridge?

#5.  The “real” unemployment rate.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the “Official unemployment rate” by counting everyone who had no job, was able to work, and actively sought work in the past four weeks.  This yields a rate of 9%.  If, however, the listing of  so-called “discouraged workers” is added (according to the BLS web-site, the actual rate is close to 15.9 percent.  A fact not lost to the voter “IF” they knew about it.  Well, that’s my abbreviated list; many other news items of interest are out there if you want to look for them. 

Become personally involved in our government, let those who represent us know how you feel. 

Remember:  All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men and women to  stand by and do nothing. 

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION

What is all of this you ask?  In 2008 we went to the polls and voted for a new President. Many voted for “the Message of Change” that was promised by the Democratic Candidate, but they didn’t hear or didn’t want to hear what kind of “Change” he was really talking about.   The “Change” has included: taking over GM and “firing” the CEO with absolutely no authority to do so, passing a Health Care Reform Act that most Congressmen admit that they did not read,   or hiring thirty some “Czar’s to over-see many Executive Orders that supersede the supervision and approval of Congress.  He has increased the National Debt faster than any President, including the previous, George Bush.

The economy is in the tank.  In plain words, this man cannot lead.  He must be a one term president or the United States as we know it will cease to exist.

The process to elect a new president begins tomorrow 3 January 2012 in Iowa… Many candidates want, to the person, to challenge Obama.  There is Texas Representative Ron Paul, there is Texas Governor Rick Perry.  There is former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.  Congress woman Michele Bachman and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.  An NBC poll released on Friday showed Romney and Ron Paul virtually tied for the lead among likely caucus goers.  Last week Bachmann’s Iowa campaign lost its chairman and director.  She has compared herself to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.  “I am the Iron Lady” she said at a family restaurant in Marshalltown, Iowa… “I love her and her message, but I am going to go with a winner”, said Irv Vaske. “Maybe Santorum”, he said. Mark McQueen, a farmer who went to a Gingrich event, was won over to Santorum. “He’s the real deal”, said McQueen.  While voters like his experience, his elect ability is a problem in many Iowa voters’ minds. “They are gravitating to Romney”, said Lara Brown, an expert of presidential elections at Villanova University.   Voters are looking towards a steady candidate and Romney fits that slot.

So it begins again on Tuesday when Iowa voters, in over 800 locations, become the nations’ first state-by-state nominations to challenge President Obama.

The state has nine candidates that will be reported on and include those already named plus: Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Herman Cain and Buddy Roemer. Pick a candidate, get involved, find out what you can do this election.  We must turn this country around now or it will be lost forever to us, our children and our grandchildren.   

Remember:  All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men and women to stand by and do nothing.  THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION

Additionally, all sorts of mail crosses my desk each day and sometimes one of these items becomes “my topic “for today’s commentary.  Today is such a day. Do you think that American Sovereignty is under attack?  And if so, who is causing/leading this situation and what can we do about it?

Are you aware that the President of the United Nations is working in conjunction with some leaders in the United States to bring about a “One-World U. N. Government” that would supersede our constitution and take away many of our rights and freedoms?

And who are the leaders of our government that are placing our rights and freedoms at stake?  None other than our own President, Barack Obama, and his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.   And how is this being accomplished you ask? One step at a time.

The most direct assault on our freedoms is the promise of the Secretary of State to sign the U. N. Small Arms Ban Treaty, which every President until now has refused to do. This treaty not only applies to military arms but to all civilian arms as well.  This means your old shotgun and Junior’s new .22 rifle he or she got for Christmas.  Remember, the first step in taking over any country is to disarm the people.

A second strategy involves the world money market and overloading our country’s financial system with gigantic debt that causes the market to collapse.  Predictions include rioting for equal distribution of wealth and more give-away programs.  Does the phrase “Occupy Wall Street” sound familiar?

Many new laws and programs are being put into effect by executive order instead of the “normal” process of going thru the Congress.  This method of superseding the Congress is going against the will of the people and is exactly why our fore fathers enacted the Bill of Rights to the constitution.  This president has certainly learned well how to push through his own agenda and supersede the normal Congress actions for voting on bills.

Additionally, illegal immigration is costing the American tax payer a fortune.  At no time in our nation’s history has there been an influx of illegal immigration like we are experiencing today.  The estimated 850,000 new LEGAL immigrant arrivals each year is about as large as the highest level of legal immigrant admissions in our history.   When added to current illegal admissions the level jumps to about 1,750,000 per year.  Because of the 12 to 20 million illegal aliens already here the cost to tax payers is a net expense of at least 100 billion dollars.

Indirect costs, especially during this period of rising unemployment, add another 10 billion for a staggering total of 113 billion dollars a year for you and me to pick up. Now add to all of that the costs associated with United Nations support from the United States   which totals an additional 4 billion dollars.

All of this seems to be above our level to do anything about it.  Not true I say, but it will take action on your part to stop this madness.  Write or fax your Federal Senator, tell him not to support the Small Arms Treaty.  Get involved.

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men and women to stand by and do nothing.

 THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION

The first story is about a college professor in New England who says that “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” should not be played or shown to children because it “promotes bullying”.  Let me simply state that we all have challenges to deal with as we go through life.  How we meet those situations and whether or not we overcome those situations is what makes up our character and our destiny.  This story is, in my opinion, just one more example of “political correctness” gone a-muk.   

The second story that got my attention is the Mayor of Ellwood City, Anthony Court, and his firm stance on the Nativity Scene displayed on the grounds of the Ellwood City Municipal Building and the demand from the Freedom From Religion Foundation that challenges religious beliefs that is should include a banner stating that: “At this Season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail.  There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell.  There is only our natural world.  Religion is but myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds”…  Mayor Court stated “The Nativity scene is up; the banner isn’t.” Our forefathers included the Separation of Church and State in the Constitution because the Church of England was the “official church” and was supported by the government forcing people to worship as the state dictated.

A nativity scene on the grounds of the Municipal Building, in my opinion, IS NOT an official recognition of a particular religious sect and therefore is not in violation of the constitution   This separation of Church and State thing has gotten way out of hand and although appearing to be politically correct is helping to turn our country from the principles it was founded on.  

Are these two stories attacks on Christmas?  I think they are, in fact, combined with the use of “Holiday Season” in place of Christmas Season and the greeting “Happy Holidays”  in place of “Merry Christmas” this is not only an attack on Christmas but on Christians and Christianity as a whole.

In the words of Ben Stein: Quote “It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house.  If people want a crèche, it’s just fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. “Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world’s going to hell.  Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.  Funny how you can send “jokes” through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.  Funny how the Ten Commandments have been removed from many public places and we keep asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don’t know right from wrong, and why it doesn’t bother them to kill strangers or classmates.

So, what do you think, is there an attack on Christmas, I think so.

Remember, all that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men and women to stand by and do nothing.

 THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION

The United Nations is forever producing experts who, in the name of the international organization, condemn Israel for “colonialism and apartheid” while continually defending Palestine.  They don’t really care all that much about human rights in the first place.

A perfect example of this lack of caring is in the handling (or lack of it) in the situation in Zimbabwe. Now what, you say, does all of this have to do with the United States?  It is quite simple really; the U.S. is footing the bill for most of these countries at a huge cost to the American taxpayer.  Additionally, the U. N. has become an apologist (sound familiar?) and defender of terrorist organizations and their agents.  Billions of dollars intended for humanitarian aid went to pay families of Palestinian terrorists and to buy weapons for Iraq-based terrorists.  Millions more went to bribe journalists and  officials in countries opposing Operation Iraqi Freedom– France, Germany and Russia, the most vocal critics of the war.   What a coincidence.

So, what does all of this cost the U. S. in actual dollars per year for the UN budget?   Let’s look:

1.  The US share (25%) of the admin budget equals:  298 million 

2.  The US share (31.7%) of the peacekeeping budget equals: 1.2 billion

3.  US contributions to specialized UN Agencies: 368 million

The total contribution of the US to the UN is almost 2 billion dollars a year.  And this does not include the value of goods and services that the US contributes voluntarily which amounts to staggering 1.7 billion.  The grand total approaches 4 billion dollars annually. Aside from the fact that this is a huge waste of money (which of course we don’t have) where’s the danger ?

As a member of the United Nations the Obama Administration is about to sign the world small arms ban treaty.  This will effectively abolish the 2^nd Amendment to our Constitution. 

Here’s the problem, our economy is tanking, the euro is in big trouble, and civil unrest worldwide is just around the corner.  The first and last line of defense in our nation is the right of the individual to keep and bear arms.  The 2^nd Amendment recognizes the value of a well armed citizenry, and today’s politicians (or courts) shouldn’t be allowed to weaken or destroy that fundamental freedom.

When seconds count, the police are only a few minutes away.  And since the evidence is overwhelming that gun ownership reduces crime, this is a powerful argument for the second amendment.  We must have the ability to resist government oppression.  Totalitarian governments invariably seek to disarm the populace.  Personal protection against social breakdown of those who would plunder and pillage may become necessary for the individual.  If Europe does collapse, as predicted, which people do you think will be in better shape to preserve civilization – the well-armed Swiss or the disarmed Brits?

I hope we never have to find out, but I know which society has a better chance surviving. Contact your US Senator, respectfully request he or she vote against ratification of the UN Small Arms Ban Treaty or we will be in the same boat as the Brit’s. All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men and women to stand  by and do nothing.

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION.

I think of Tuesday and Becky and Lori on the Morning Show, we just “clicked”. Wednesday I had lunch with my best friend, Nolan Raraigh.  He is recovering from back surgery and is doing well.  We have always gotten along well for over 50 years now.

I stopped to talk with Mr. I Buy Gold Himself, Howard Gordon.  He always has a kind word for everyone, it’s relaxing to sit in his store.  I also visited Jordan’s Paint and Glass.  It’s always fun to rattle John’s cage and get him going, John and Bill are great people.

Somewhere along the line I stopped in F&M Bank to a greeting from the “Girls” in the office.  They are all nice.  A quick stop in TLC., Bob’s Variety, and St Vincent De Paul and my shopping is done for the day.   Whoops, have to go in the Dollar Store and get some cat food and the Tourist Bureau to see what’s new. Thursday I played “man’s day out” as I traveled to Brookville, Brockway, St. Mary’s, Clearfield and Punxsutawney with a couple of my old Army buddies.  It was a nice day and we reminisced a lot.

Friday brings the Morning Show with John Buffone and Lu.  Just a little fun as we couldn’t get the station on line and had to get the “old pro” Becky to fix the board.

A meeting at Senator White’s office was next.   Jeremy and Tammie are always so helpful.  Then off to McCrea’s Gun Shop to haul “birds” for the Pony Farm Trap & Gun Club.  One call and Dan and Hunter Szymanski are waiting for me to help unload.

Saturday is spent in my Train shop as it is Customer Appreciation Day for 2011 and also this season is 40 years of sales and service to the community.  I close the shop at 9 PM and head for the station as the “Family Life TV Auction” is going on.  As I eased into one of the host positions describing the items for bid, I begin to think about all of the businesses that have provided goods or services for the auction.  This is small town America at its best.  I help you, you help me.  Isn’t that what it’s all about?

That’s how my Radio Show was named.  “30 Minutes of the Pony Farm” It’s a nostalgic place in time.  It is a kinder, gentler place where we all gathered.  It’s who we are; it’s where we are from. 

We’re from Western Pennsylvania and we hold onto our guns and our religion and we’re proud of it.

Why have I told you all this?  I’m a little late, but this is my Thanksgiving message.

I’m thankful for my community and all those within, even if your name was not mentioned above, you ARE included.    It’s why we live here, it’s our home. 

God Bless Us Every One.  And it’s OK to say Merry Christmas   Keep Christ is your Christmas.

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men and women to stand by and do nothing.

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION.

Two areas of interest have surfaced in the time since I last talked about the county. One is the proposed renovation project for Market Street in Kittanning and the grant for one million dollars that must be matched by local funds in the same amount or the grant is lost.  A future commentary will utilize this topic.

The other item that caught my attention and is the subject of today’s commentary is the developments of the intersection of Route 268 and Business 422.   

We got the “old” intersection back for the winter because it will be safer for travel we were told.  I believe my comment then was: “With the back-ups I see daily, it really took a genius to figure that one out”.

Well friends, “they” topped it. I can’t believe it, but “they “have topped it.   Who is the “They”?  I really don’t know.  Is it the Construction Engineer, the Project Inspector-in-Charge, the Consultant Firm, or the Prime Contractor?  Whoever the “they” is in this project, you have got to be kidding.  Safer?  You can’t be serious!

Let’s take a little trip around the intersection.  Imagine if you will, traveling from Franklin Village to Kittanning.  We proceed down the hill and bare to the right, all seems to be going well until we get the rowley coaster just before the “old” pavement.   Now, this “bump” is a mild one, let’s reverse our direction of travel and drive from  Kittanning to Franklin Village.  As we put our turn signal on for the left “up the hill” all is going well as we start around the turn but suddenly as we get to the “old” road again, we are practically launched onto the next lane.  That ought to be safer for us to travel with a little snow or ice added to the mix. 

Now, let’s alter our trip to the Village from Kittanning by cutting up the old hill and thru West Kittanning on Northern Avenue to the stop sign.  Look around, you’re headed directly into the opposing traffic lane.  Add to this another “bump” and we have a prescription for a “head on collision”.

Let’s continue our highway trek from Kittanning, but this time alter the destination toward East Brady (North on 268).   We get to play dodge’m around the traffic from Northern Avenue as well as from the Village hill and the traffic coming from Brady with the reverse travel direction having the same obstacles to overcome.

All of this was brought about because it will be safer for the winter travel.  And of course this change back required that lanes be restored and re-paving done.

The only improvement in the intersection as it exists now, that I see is that the long line of vehicles up the hill to the light at Hilltop Plaza is gone.  And that is only temporary until spring when construction begins all over again. Safer ?  You have got to be kidding me, surely we can do better than this? 

All that is necessary for evil (or stupidity) to succeed is for good men and women to stand  by and do nothing. 

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION .