NO King in America

    There is a reason for the three branches of government in America. The founders set this up so no branch would have more power than another. The President of the United States is part of the Executive branch which is meant to enforce the laws.The President may sign legislation passed by Congress into law or may veto it, preventing it from becoming law.
     America does not have a king, at least we are not supposed to. It is very frustrating to watch President Obama change laws on his own and ignore others all together. I'm not speaking as a Conservative, I'm speaking as an American. I admit I don't agree with the Presidents policies but even if I did, it would be just as disturbing to watch this unfold. The Obama administration passed his signature healthcare law nearly four years ago, since then the administration has made 20 major changes to the law unilaterally. The President can not change laws. The President has to go through Congress in order to change a law, Obama does not have the power to do this on his own, yet he is getting away with it. President Obama has also refused to enforce immigration laws and has not ruled out an executive fix if Congress fails to pass comprehensive immigration reform. These are the actions of a king.

    I blame Congress for this lawlessness. They allow this to take place and remain quiet. I really don't expect much opposition from Harry Reid and the Democratic run Senate. It is the House of Representatives that I have a problem with. The House has the power of the purse. Which means they can hold out funding for just about anything, why they are not using this as leverage against this activity is beyond me. Not only that, but articles of impeachment also have to start in the House. I realize President Obama will never be impeached, he is too much of an icon and worshipped by many, however that should not stop us from doing all we can to stop his lawless ways. -BDB

Sources-
http://www.galen.org/newsletters/changes-to-obamacare-so-far/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_(government)

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/06/18/King-Obama-Obama-Acting-Imperially-By-Refusing-To-Enforce-Immigration-Laws

Evil Becoming Good

    Thrin Short, 16, and her sister Joan Short, 21, were part of an anti-abortion protest at the University of California, Santa Barbara. They spend time in the "free speech zone" on campus displaying (graphic but true) anti-abortion signs and getting into discussions with students who walk by. The girls claim Associate Professor Mireille Miller-Young, who teachers feminist studies, grabbed the sign from them, and when they attempted to get it back, kicked and pushed them. Joan Short says she believes if people are offended by the images they should take a closer look at the issue of abortion,
     The truths hurts. This is a fact of life that seems to fly over the head of  those on the pro-abortion side. This is also another example of  how nasty and intolerant progressive Liberals can be if we don't agree with them. Professors are no longer there to be importers of wisdom on a younger generation and do not teach students to think for themselves. It is about pushing an emotional based agenda, and forcing conformity. 

   This story highlights the depravity and sickness that is plaguing our society. Good has now become evil and evil is masquerading as good. Why are Christians and the truth so severely attacked in our society today? The answer is simple and be found in the pages of the Bible. 2 Corinthians 4:3  "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers" This verse explains the problem very simply. While our enemy (Satan) works overtime persuading us that all beliefs are the equal – he understands full well that it’s a lie. It is no accident that our society grants “tolerance” to anyone and everyone except Christians. I'm a pro-liberty guy but I believe abortion is nothing but killing a helpless baby. I believe in freedom of choice, however I also believe in a moral law that overrides everything else. If the government can hold murderers responsible for killing another person, shouldn't abortion be under the same umbrella?

Sources- (Google Images)
 http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/03/14/california-sisters-fighting-back-after-professor-steals-graphic-pro-life-sign/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fnational+%28Internal+-+US+Latest+-+Text%29

Evolution of Liberalism

    Classical liberalism was the political philosophy of the Founding Fathers. It permeates the Constitution, the Federalist Papers and many other documents produced by the people who created the American system of government. Modern Liberalism has now become all about equality and welfare which no government can possibly promise to each and every person. It comes down to Individualism vs Collectivism. Do individuals have the right to pursue their own happiness, as Thomas Jefferson thought and as the Declaration of Independence stated? Or do we have an obligation to live our lives for the community or the state, as most societies have claimed throughout history? I will not try to answer this question as each subject should be debated and solved on it's own time and merit. This is also why I don't like political labels, individuals are much more complex than the label that is attached to him/her. If you don't follow party politics, remember the battle is not between Republican or Democrats. The battle will always be freedom and limited government vs big government. 

    The term Liberal has been hijacked by the new progressive movement. The original intent of Liberalism was the belief in limited government and individual freedom. The modern Liberal looks to grow government and the dependence of at every turn. Whether it's the never ending social programs, the welfare state or gun control the modern Liberal seems to believe in everything but individual responsibility. Classical liberals agreed that government had been created by individuals to protect themselves from one another. They thought that individuals should be free to pursue their self-interest without control or restraint by society. In a very broad sense, Classical Liberalism was defined by adherence to free markets, democracy, and civil liberties. Economically, it was very similar to today's Conservatism/ Libertarianism ...... how ironic!- BDB
    
Sources- (Google Images)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_liberalism

The Modern Abolitionist

      Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery, whether formal or informal. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historical movement to end the African slave trade and set slaves free. Unfortunately, as long as humans exist slavery will also exist though it changes form. The African slave trade is no longer a problem in the United States, there is now a new form of slavery that is flourishing, it's known as "Human Sex Trafficking" or "Sex Slavery".
The world today possesses many corrupt and cruel people who kidnap women and children and force them into a life of sex slavery.
     Historically, the most famous of all abolitionist activities was the Underground Railroad, a network of assistance and safe houses for runaway slaves. The Underground Railroad stretched from the Southern states to Canada, and until 1865 provided safety, and guidance for thousands of runaway slaves. When slavery is brought up, we tend to automatically think of 19th century slave traders and owners, however, the levels of slavery and people trafficking today are greater than at any point in history. There is a modern Underground Railroad that may not get the media attention or large funding but is made up of passionate individuals who often quit their careers to work full time on this problem. Here is a list of organizations opposing human trafficking. These organizations are made up of true heroes, modern day abolitionists that may never get recognized for their efforts.

      Not only is human sex trafficking slavery but it is big business. It is the fastest-growing business of organized crime and the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world. Traffickers often take their victims’ identity forms, including birth certificates, passports, and drivers’ licenses. In these cases, even if youths do leave they would have no ability to support themselves and often will return to the trafficker. This form of cruel modern-day slavery occurs more often than many people might think and it is not just an international or a national problem—it also is a local one. It is big business, and it involves a lot of people, criminals and victims. It will take many dedicated men and women willing to work around the clock to rescue these modern-day slaves-BDB

Sources- (Google Images)
http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/march_2011/human_sex_trafficking

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/04/modern-day-slavery-a-problem-that-cant-be-ignored/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_Railroad

The Unknown Soldiers

    Many men died in their huts, and were so quickly buried that adequate records were generally not made of their deaths. A lot of men were buried at Valley Forge that no one really knew about or were accounted for. In our modern times, we couldn't imagine even one soldier not being accounted for after a battle, during the Revolutionary war there were hundreds. These men died for America and for us to be free.

     Health issues had a major impact during the Revolutionary War. A soldier had a two percent probability of dying in combat, but when admitted to a crowded army hospital, the likelihood of death increased to 25 percent. Another source reported that six out of every seven soldier's deaths were due to camp illnesses. Doctors' knowledge of medical issues was very basic (and often flawed) compared to the knowledge of today. The war was long before the discovery of the causes and treatments of common ailments and even simple bacteria. The only operation that could be done to fix a mutilated limb was amputation, and often without painkillers or antiseptic. Though the concept of germs did not exist in the 18th century mind, they did know that diseases could be transferred from one person to another. Towns of civilians would often be subjected to these horrors unsuspectingly.
    
     Who were they? Who were the men that fought and died creating a new nation called America? Forging a nation will most likely be something none of us will ever experience. We are living with the fruitfulness of other's suffering, our liberty was not free. We must never forget how many men suffered agonizing deaths for a new nation that they never got to see. My hope is that one day we will get a chance to thank these men for what they did.

Sources- (Google Images)
http://www.tehistory.org/hqda/pdf/v41/Volume41_N1_025.pdf

http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/history/hospitals.htm

http://maass.nyu.edu/resources/r1/lesson_plans/health.html

No Tolerance Nonsense

      You will hear the term "zero tolerance" everywhere you go in America. This is a bad policy based on conforming the individual to the collective mindset. The goal is for the common good, not the individual. Most schools in America have embraced this policy in cases involving drugs, fighting, cheating and especially guns. In a country that is based on the individual, a policy like "zero tolerance" has no place. It has no place anywhere and especially not America. America was based on individual freedom, not the common good. According to zero tolerance policies, we are supposed to teach our kids not to defend themselves. No matter what someone does or says to you, you are not allowed to fight back physically or verbally. Is this not the wrong message to be sending our kids? You can not treat every situation the same. This has never been so prevalent than today with the anti gun influence of the misguided public. Most schools across the country have adopted a zero tolerance policy with guns. Kids are now being suspended and even expelled from schools for bringing army men to school because they have a half inch plastic gun attached to them.

 Last spring, an 8-year-old Maryland boy got suspended from school for gnawing a Pop-Tart into the shape of a gun.

Last fall an eight-year-old child has been suspended from a Florida elementary school for forming his hand into a gun shape. These are knee jerk overreactions by education officials.

You can no longer make your hand into the shape of a gun because the school will see it as a real threat.  Are we really going to start ruining our children's academic careers because they play cops and robbers? If so, we are truly a sick society. Perhaps it would better suit everyone if we actually kept the "bad" kids in school instead of kicking them out, where they will no doubt get embraced by the street life. Fortunately, some schools are now discovering that "zero tolerance" and other policies that push kids out of school and toward the justice system are ineffective and unfair. Broward County, Florida is among the districts to reject zero tolerance. choosing to keep law breaking students in school, away from trouble on the streets, and offering them counseling and other assistance aimed at changing behavior.-BDB (Google Images)

Sources-
http://www.jlc.org/blog/zero-tolerance-policies-good-bad-and-ugly

http://www.infowars.com/8-year-old-suspended-from-school-for-forming-gun-shape-with-his-hand/

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/boy-suspended-gun-shaped-pop-tart-lifetime-nra-membership-article-1.1359918

A Kind of Intelligence

    Humans like to believe that they are the most intelligent living beings on the planet. In certain areas we are, however what is our definition of intelligence, and who are we comparing ourselves to? Intelligence has been defined in many different ways including logic, abstract thought, understanding, self-awareness, communication and learning. At first glance it seams that humans are the smartest beings on earth, but what if we compare ourselves to the animal world? There are many things we can not do that other living creatures can. I'll use just one example, the bird. Birds are everywhere, the only place on Earth that birds haven't managed to colonize is the deepest ocean. We are definitely smarter than a bird right? If you said yes, the bird may not agree with you. If we were, we should be able to craft a perfectly sealed and water tight nest from a pile of grass, twigs and mud on the first try like a bird...right? Can we find our way home from a thousand miles away with no phone, no map, no GPS unit and without asking directions on the first try like a bird? Birds surely know how to survive in the wild a lot better than humans. They look after their eggs carefully, incubating them at the right temperature until they hatch, and never have to go through parenting classes or hospitals. If you ask me I'd say birds are pretty intelligent. Migratory bird species fly in formation to conserve energy -- much like driving in a larger vehicle's slipstream can reduce the amount of gas you require, some humans don't even know how to conserve energy. Humans have little understanding of this behavior, however migrating birds are thought to navigate using cues from the sun and stars, the earth's magnetic field, and probably also mental maps. Birds have tiny brains, but only in size. Their brains are actually proportionate to their bodies, very similar to humans. These small animals have not be able to get a degree at Harvard but, they definitely have intelligence, a different kind of intelligence. So you might want to think twice next time you call someone a bird brain.-BDB

Sources- (Google Images)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_vocalization

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homing_pigeon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_migration