Republicans – DNC-Consulting

Contentious Voices – Exerting Control

A colleague of mine mentioned something in passing that has me thinking about the contentious voices surrounding our lives. Consider with me for a moment; when the last time you heard just the news was? No commentary, no hidden bias, no reporting for emotional reaction, simply a description of the events of the day, news? I cannot remember when I last heard a news report. It seems that to get the local news, I have to question the motives on the stories, compare news broadcasts for opinions and biases, tune into three or four different radio stations and compare them to the TV, and those to the newspapers, and even then, 90% of what is reported still has to be discounted.

My colleague mentioned that the efforts of contentious voices are to exert emotional control over the audience, for if the audience is emotionally controlled, they are physically controlled. If they are physically controlled, they can be bent, shaped, and molded into weapons of self-destruction for the entertainment of those controlling the contentious voices. This insight has me thinking—self-destruction through contentious voices exerting control, all through unbridled emotional understanding.

When emotional intelligence was first coming out, feel free to read the early papers and books on this topic if you doubt what I am reporting. Emotional intelligence was declared as the ability to read the emotions in a room and then control the people through their emotions. For which I have adamantly opposed emotional intelligence as a concept since inception. I have always felt that trying to control others through their emotions is wrong, in poor taste, and can easily backfire when those being controlled wake up and realize what has been happening to them. Yet, emotional intelligence has grown as a concept, has broadened in scope, and no one is asking why anymore. Well, I am, and so are a few others, but the media is working hard to keep us silenced and sidelined as “aluminum hat-wearing non-conformists.”

Yet, contentious voices continue to prey upon people’s emotions nightly and call this “learned commentary,” “democracy dying in darkness,” “in-depth reporting,” and “fair and balanced news,” among many other things. Republicans against Democrats, Liberals against conservatives, eco-Nazis from both extremes of the planet is going to hell debate, and the list of contentious voices is long and formidable. Yet, they all have the same playbook, use emotional hooks, sink the emotional hook deeply, and keep pulling that emotional hook every time a person tries to think for themselves.

Well, I would see you escape the hook, wake up mentally, and arise as a powerful individual. Capable of independent thought and able to reason and think using your own instinct, talents, skills, and innate reasoning. I am not making a plea to your emotions, and if you ever think I am playing to your emotions, feel free to call me out! I am not here to enslave your mind, but to free your soul and empower your spirit, to support your goodness, and justify you being the free-thinking person you already are!

Thus, the following reminders regarding emotions. These are not my thoughts; they originate from Robert Solomon’s incredible book “Not Passion’s Slave: Emotions and Choice,” which you can purchase from any reputable bookseller for a minimal fee or find in a local library. If you are close to New Mexico, send me an email to lend you my copy.

Solomon begins his book with a quote from Jean-Paul Sartre:
- “For the idea which I have never ceased to develop is that in the end, one is always responsible for what is made of one. Even if one can do nothing else besides assume this responsibility. For I believe that a man can always make something out of what is made of him. This is the limit I would today accord to freedom: the small movement which makes of a totally conditioned social being someone who does not render back completely what his conditions has given him.”
“Emotions involve social narratives as well as physical responses, and an analysis of emotions is an account of our way of being-in-the-world.”
- Emotions are not occurrences and do not happen to us.
  - “Emotions are rational and purposive rather than irrational and disruptive, are very much like actions, and that we choose an emotion much as we choose a course of action.”
- Emotions are intentional: that is, emotions are “about” something.
  - All emotions are ultimately “about” the world and never simply “about” something particular.
  - Feelings do not have “directions.” The relationship between my being angry and what I am angry about is not contingent between a feeling and an object.
- Emotions change with our opinions, and so are “rational” in a very important sense.
  - But the rationality of the emotion is time-sensitive, socially sensitive, and environmentally contingent. Unless our societal makeup allows this emotional crossover, emotions cannot often cross between social situations, peer groups, and environments.
  - The cause of an emotion is a function in a certain kind of explanation.
    - Contentious voices know this as a truth and use their contention to drive the emotional functionality of the arguments to spur emotional growth to your detriment!
  - The line between emotions and beliefs is often negligible and non-existent.
    - Another truth contentious voices use to spur emotional hooking in the audience to the audience’s detriment and destruction.
  - Emotions are a normative judgment.
    - We decide the correctness of emoting, based upon the social, environmental, and peer aspects at the time the information is provided.
    - Emotions are cognitive judgments of socially wired animals (humans) who use the lightning reflexes of the brain to make these judgments for personal benefits in a social situation, advancing peer associations, or to survive in a specific environment.
    - Emotions change with our knowledge of the causes of those emotions.

On this last point, consider Joe Biden and his words to different audiences on the campaign trail. To one audience, he pledged to put oil company officers in jail for unspecified environmental crimes. To another audience, he promised not to kill coal. Both declarations were later denounced as verbal gaffes, miss spoken words taken out of a larger context, and phrases that did not mean anything on the campaign trail. Yet, the words fit the emotion being witnessed, and the crowd forming the environment and peer group being addressed. All politicians do this, and it is referred to as “politicking” or “playing to the audience’s emotions.”

Finally, consider something with me, a thought, those controlling the contentious voices believe you, the audience, their slaves, for they can control your emotions, like 2-year-olds control play-dough. Are you a slave? Will you master your emotional judgments to protect yourself and your family? The choice is yours, and yours alone to make. All I can do is offer information and ask for your consideration. But I will make a promise; if you refuse to master your emotions, you will be destroyed by the contentious voices clamoring for your attention. These breeders of contention will pull you apart emotionally, creating depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and other self-destruction options.

Those terrorists rioting over the spring and summer of 2020 were pawns and self-destructive actors to the contentious voices. We are all living in a time where social influencers play the most extensive role in the lives of people than ever before, and they can play this role because we have unbridled our emotions and refuse to believe that emotions are a choice, a judgment, and a tool for social integration. While the masses are not taught these things, those controlling the contentious voices know these truths, but they also practice hiding this information to destroy the groups they enslave. Please, free yourself from bondage, take control of your emotions, and never allow anyone to control them ever again!

© 2021 M. Dave Salisbury
All Rights Reserved
The images used herein were obtained in the public domain; this author holds no copyright to the images displayed.

NO MORE BS: Clearing up the confusion! – Understanding the Government of America

Representative Deb Haaland (D) sent out an email while a US House of Representatives member claimed America is a “Constitutional Democracy.” I will endeavor to correct this confusion using simple terms; for Representative Haaland’s benefit, please allow me to elaborate. Along the way, let us explore a few connected topics, including the plasticization of words and how that breeds tyranny.

A Republic finds its history lodged in the writings of Plato, who called a republic “possessing the structure and composition of the ideal state.” James Madison provides America with the only definition needed for America to be a republic, “We may define a republic to be … a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people; and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure, for a limited period, or during good behaviour [Emphasis added].” A republic is a government system where the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them. Finally, a republic is recognized by the head of the government, not being a monarch or other hereditary head of state.

America has a Constitution that leaves all the power of the government in the hands of its legal citizens. Legal citizens are not impostor aliens or terrorists captured on a battlefield; thus, US Constitutional Rights do not apply or cover these entities. A Republic is formed around the principle that through property ownership, freedom is generated. A Republic requires time, majorities that clearly surpass a simple majority, and when personal property is threatened or removed from individual citizens, that Republic slips into a democracy. A Democracy cannot climb into being a Republic, but the Republic can be reduced to a democracy.

Democracy is associated with the “rule by the people,” or a simple majority wins. The associations of democracy have become more twisted since the mid-1930s. Therein lies the problem, democracies have existed under the feudal system of government, the communists have tried to instill democratic changes, and dictators like Maduro in Venezuela have employed democracy for personal enrichment and citizen enslavement. Democracy, other than being dangerous, is the belief that simple majority rules for everyone. Winston Churchill is correct, “No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” The reason democracy is dangerous is the belief that people control the rule when they have nothing to do with the ruling. The “Rule of Law does not bind rulers of a democracy”; they are only restricted by statistics reported in opinion polls, which Mark Twain aptly called “Damned lies.”

Consider the United Kingdom, which is a “Democratic Polyarchy” as they have a hereditary monarch ruler, and a democratic parliament; when the people demanded an exit from the European Union, the supposedly democratic parliament stymied and thwarted the people’s will to keep the United Kingdom in the European Union. Venezuela is a democracy where the constitution was destroyed for personal power. The country was bankrupted for the enrichment of the few, and the people are now left starving, wondering where their country went.

America’s founders were interested in creating a representative democracy under a republican form of government to protect the property rights of individuals that generate the most freedom for the most people. Under a republican form of government, everyone is first bound by the rule of law; in America’s case, the code we are all united under is the US Constitution. Even the government must answer to the lowest of citizens. Important to note, a Republican form of government does not mean that the Political Party “Republicans” are the party to rule exclusively. The plasticization of words and terms continues to create confusion where politics is concerned.

America was never expected to be a direct democracy, where Representative Haaland (D) is basing her erroneous statement regarding America being a “Constitutional Democracy.” Here is where the fallacy resides, a constitutional democracy would only require a simple majority to enact new clauses in the constitution. America’s Constitution requires ¾’s of the individual US States to ratify a Constitutional Amendment after the Constitutional Amendment has won supermajorities in the US House of Representatives and the Senate. Thus, any fourth-grade student who has passed American history can tell how and why America is NOT a “Constitutional Democracy,” as stated by Representative Haaland. “Constitutional Democracy” is fallacious, deceiving, and meant to create confusion in the populace. Since Representative Haaland (D) and Senator Udall (D) continue to disregard their constituents, I expect more but have come to realize they will not adhere to providing a higher level of respect for the offices they individually hold, representing their constituents across the political spectrum.

Property – It’s Not What you Think!

Since we discuss the rule of law, republics, and other related topics, let us dig a little into an item that is killing America and her freedom, the loss of private property. Charles Reich, an American legal and social scholar as well as an author who was a Professor at Yale Law School, writes a paper every American citizen needs to read and be concerned over, this paper is referenced below, and the link is active.

Starting in the 1930s, during the “Great Depression,” changes were made to America’s methods of governance by the President, a willing media, and sycophants in the Senate and House. Establishing the Federal and State Government’s ability to rule by largess; picking winners and losers based upon obeisance to a bureaucrat’s whims, wishes, and will. Reich lays out this history, walks the reader through the laws, and makes the case that because of democratic rule America’s Republic has been reduced to a feudal system where the government decides who gets the largess and who does not. With the Federal and State Governments making these decisions, businesses do not compete fairly upon their own merits but upon how much taxpayer money they can bamboozle from Uncle Sam. Unfortunately, the entire system hinges upon reducing private property ownership and the freedoms private property allow to feed the ever-hungry beast of Government consumption.

A perfect example is found in K-12 Schools. When a school insists they need more money from the taxpayer, they blame poverty and race as to why their students cannot learn unless more money is poured into a failing school to purchase a “magic bullet,” e.g., an expensive new toy, technology, or program—providing three lies in one, and excusing designed incompetence for the failure of students who the teachers have abused. Race governing ability is the first lie. Poverty dictating intellect forms the second lie. More money needed in K-12 Education is the third lie. The designed incompetence that allows or encourages a teacher to pass a student that does not meet the standards of learning is an abuse of students, not a problem of funding, and not a problem of the teacher, but a lack of parental involvement and student engagement.

Here is government largess in action; if the school board does not adhere to the lies of race and poverty affecting intellectual ability, that school does not get more money. Repeatedly, we see these lies vociferously declared in the media that poverty and race are holding a school/student back, and the government needs to spend more money. In reality, leadership in the school, reinstating the teacher’s authority, and respect is required for those schools, not more government largess. Indeed not another program or technology that no one can afford will fail to achieve the sales pitch.

Thus, America needs to demand change through the ballot box, insist that freedom and private property are returned to the people. Those representatives who have no moral center, or cannot serve their constituents from both parties equally, are removed from politics; indefinitely! Since America is a Republic and not a democracy (yet!), the problems in representation can be solved.

Plastic Language is Tyranny!

Shakespeare (2016) used Hamlet to relate a line that frequently applies, especially when communicating online, “… thou doth protest too much, methinks.” Too often, those intent on misusing words are protesting too much about something. On social media, every communication, every interaction, and every person is a threat to the intellect of the one protesting and must be lorded over, trolled, and publicly shamed. A recent example of this the world witnessed during Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation process, where the judge’s children were physically and verbally assaulted—using a warping of legal rights, guaranteed justification for the assault. A careful review of any newspaper, news broadcast, and many politicians speaking will evidence the plasticization of words to justify actions, e.g., President Clinton, “Depends on what your definition of “is” is.” Words to couch a threat while seeming to be helpful and friendly, or worst of all hide abuses of others through twisted logic. Every time words become disconnected from standard meanings, society crumbles, language becomes useless, and the consequences are multi-generational, which is precisely what transpired in recovering Germany after Hitler’s demise.

I had the great personal pleasure of speaking to a senior citizen from Germany who lived through Hitler’s oppression and the recovery of Germany post-WWII, and the person I spoke with affirmed the most challenging social problem was relearning words and definitions to communicate without the taint of Hitler’s Germanic Language. Hence, we can draw several lessons from this experience; language is trained. It can be retrained; relearning language is a social problem fixed through social interactions and personal knowledge, and personal responsibility and accountability remain pre-eminent in communicating correctly. Another lesson from my experience, history repeats itself, and those with dastardly designs will always corrupt language to gain the advantage before showing their true colors as tyrants. Every single despot in recorded history has employed plastic language to lull the population into acquiescence before demanding loyalty and destroying that civilization, society, or culture.

Word Plasticity is LIC!

I cannot stress this point enough; LIC (Low-Intensity Conflict) is a type and style of warfare hosted by a wealthy or politically protected party for the demise of a population through “diplomatic, economic, and psychological pressures.” Language is a social construct. As discussed above, where Germany had to rid itself of twisted words and phrases from the Nazis, the social construct of language is generally the first step in advancing psychological warfare against a population. Recognizing the plasticization of language is the first problem in fighting LIC. How was Maduro able to lull the entire population of Venezuela into false security while he destroyed their constitution? He employed psychological warfare through the plasticization of language. Cuba, China, USSR, and every other tin-pot dictatorship employ the same strategy, twist the language, and conquer the people.

Representative Haaland (D), now Interior Secretary, was employing plastic words to hide her tyrannical ambitions, calling America a “Constitutional Democracy.” The United States of America is a Constitutional Republic with democratically elected representatives. If America is to survive as a Republic; the citizens need to understand where plastic language is employed, understand their government form, and insist that the democratically elected representatives will realize the same. Recognizing LIC is the first step, and the depth of LIC being enacted against America has been allowed to grow until America is in dire straits and dangerous waters! The American Republic must re-embrace private property and refuse what has been done since the 1900s by presidential fiat and complicit Congresses under the heading of “progressivism.”

Reference

Charles A. Reich, The New Property, 73 Yale L.J. (1964). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/ylj/vol73/iss5/1

© 2021 M. Dave Salisbury
All Rights Reserved
The images used herein were obtained in the public domain; this author holds no copyright to the images displayed.

NO MORE BS: M.I.C.E – The Driving Force for Politicians

Apathy M.I.C.E is an acronym I first discovered by reading Tom Clancy and representing Money, Ideology, Compromise, and Ego (MICE). Tom Clancy used this acronym for the reasons why spies become spies, I find MICE equally describes those seeking political office in democratically elected societies. Frankly, I think it is time to shift the paradigm on how and why we select politicians to represent us.

Money

There is a lot of money buying influence in politics. Interestingly, the money earned by a political representative is not the main reason for getting elected. The money these representatives are looking for and desiring is the purchase of influence. Consider Speaker Pelosi (D), 2018 she had assets of $257 Million, with $97 Million in liabilities, meaning that she has $1600 Million in assets. Speaker Pelosi (D) makes $223,500 annually. Pres. Biden has similar disparities between income and assets after liabilities. Many of America’s most infamous politicians have the same disparity between income and assets after liabilities. Purchasing influence is a massive business in politics. Does anyone still remember all the influence-peddling the Clinton’s did and continue to do? Even before they came to the White House, their influence-peddling was infamous! quote-mans-inhumanity-2

Ideology

Ideology, according to Webster, is “a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.” What ideological processes define a Republican? What ideological processes define a Democrat? Are these ideological beliefs stable, or are they changing like dirty socks for clean socks? What can you observe about how ideology predicts behavior in the politician?

These are serious questions, as too often we, the American Citizen voting, cannot tell the difference between a Republican and a Democrat. Worse, how often is what is said on the campaign trail thrown away the second the vote totals indicate a win? Sen. McCain (R) is a perfect example of this; his ideology and spinelessness led many of his constituents to ask why the difference between actions on the campaign trail and actions in political office.

Want to know how someone will act long-term; ask them to define their ideologies, for there is nothing better to predict behavior than ideology. How do you spot a thief in a crowd; ask them where they stand on taking a pen from a cashier after signing a check. Ideology is the penultimate method for predicting behavior, and not enough ideological emphasis is being placed upon politicians seeking office! Government Largess

Compromise

Speaking of Sen. McCain (R), he was a legend on compromising. Unfortunately, Sen. McCain’s definition of a compromise included throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Compromise officially is defined by Webster as a method of settling a dispute through mutual concession [emphasis mine]! Each side makes concessions to reach an agreement that benefits both parties equally. As a point of reference, it is often said that a good compromise leaves everyone mad and disappointed. Yet, politicians continually abuse this word, manipulate their voters, and chaos ensues in the name of “compromise.”

Next time you hear a politician discussing compromising with the opposites on the side of the aisle, ask them what was given up reaching a compromise; if the giving was one-sided, it was NOT a compromise! Take any recent legislation, and you will find no compromise, lots of hands getting greased to purchase influence, and a ton of abused and injured voters! Life Valued

Ego

The official psychological definition of ego is “the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity.” However, the only people using this definition are missing the point. For the rest of the population, our definition of ego is much easier to understand. The ego is a person’s image of their own self-importance, and where politicians are concerned, narcissism (a thoroughly overinflated ego) describes a politician perfectly! Ego has been synonymous with self-conceit forever, and herein lies the problem where political leaders have been selected for too long.

Detective 4 Canada’s President Justin Trudeau, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President’s Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy, and so many other world politicians fill the ego bucket with self-conceit and narcissism that we could run out of ink trying to print a complete list! Therein lies the answer, those desiring to hold public office should understand that ego plays a role in defining ideology, and ideology predicts future behavior. The natural order contains natural consequences, for these bitter self-conceited people hold onto power long after their ideas have turned to destruction, the harm they cause has reached epic proportions. The citizenry is numb from all the problems created by the egotistic politician.

While the book, authored by John Steinbeck, “Of Mice and Men,” has little to do with this post, it does proclaim this post’s sentiment. There are MICE, and there are Men. MICE who desire to be controllers of their fellow men and men and women who resist and continue to strive to see justice done in their name by elected representatives. None of those for whom MICE applies should be allowed to hold elected office. The only way to ensure a change occurs is for voters to demand more information on character, ideology, and ego and watch carefully for selling influence.

Millstone of Designed Incompetence It is past time for people to gather, stand, and insist upon better government representatives, including improved behavior from current sitting representatives. I weep for Germany’s neighborhoods destroyed by Merkle’s policies. Canada not only deserves better representation but cannot afford the government blight thrust upon her. France, Greece, you will have to change, fundamentally change, or your countries will be lost to history as failed experiments. America, what can I say that has not been said before; you need to understand what a Republic is, why a Republic is better than a Democracy, and you need citizens to awake and arise to the power they possess in cutting the strings to the millstone about your neck. The millstone of government is killing you, and if you die, the world will be lost!

© 2021 M. Dave Salisbury
All Rights Reserved
The images used herein were obtained in the public domain; this author holds no copyright to the images displayed.

NO MORE BS: “Which Way Are You Going?”

Difficult Times Jim Croce is responsible for the title of this article; he sings a song by the same name, with the following lyrics:

Which way are you goin’?
Which side will you be on?
Will you stand and watch while
All the seeds of hate are sown?
Will you stand with those who say
Let his will be done?

One hand on the bible
One hand on the gun
One hand on the bible
One hand on the gun

Which way are you looking?
Is it hard to see?
Do you say what’s wrong for him
Is not wrong for me?
You walk the streets, righteousness
But you refuse to understand

You say, you love the baby
Then you crucify the man
You say, you love the baby
Then you crucify the man

Every day, things are changing
Words once honored turned to lies
People wondering, can you blame them
It’s too far to run, and too late to hide
Now you turn your back on
All the things that you used to preach

Now it’s let him live in freedom
If he lives like me
Well, your light has changed, confusion reigns
What have you become?

All your olive branches turned to spears
When your flowers turned to guns
Your olive branches turned to spears
When your flowers turned to guns

My parents are hippies; that is the simplest way to describe them. A lesson learned from my youth is the essence of this song from Jim Croce; we all have to make a choice. One of my parent’s favorite sayings, “You made your bed, now lie in it.” Meaning, I made choices, and the consequences are now mine to enjoy or suffer depending upon how I choose to evaluate the consequences.

Detective 4 For example, on my birthday in sixth grade, a school bully pushed me into the mud and called it my birthday present. I was holding a math book and a borrowed clipboard; the mud ruined my book and clipboard. I stood up and made a choice; in my right hand were the clipboard and book were used as a balance to swing stronger with my left and began beating the tar out of the bully. I earned a seven-day vacation from school for fighting; the bully got a three-day vacation for pushing me, a bruised cheek, two black eyes, and a really fat lip. All of which were still healing when I returned to school.

To this day, I do not regret beating that bully. I had spent a year being bullied and was done. No, I am not proud of the beating I gave him, but I was done being pushed at that exact moment. I made a choice, and life has been significantly different ever since.

That is the point, the point we each need to understand and accept. Carefully consider the words of the song above. We each have a choice to make. In making that choice, we have natural consequences, and how we evaluate those consequences determines our destiny. Hence, which way are [we] going?

Patriotism We have a fraudulent president, a congress that refuses to listen to the American people; we have legislatures, governors, mayors, and so much more working against the citizenry for political power and personal gain. Well, America, which way are you going? Will we step up and resist, or will we sit and lose?

Will we choose to see and understand the truth of this stanza:
Every day, things are changing
Words once honored turned to lies
People wondering, can you blame them
No, I cannot blame people for wondering, the world has been turned on its ear things are changing, words are being turned into lies, and the worst thing about it, is too few are willing to choose to see and not decide to do, and in failing to choose, they are choosing and the consequences are dire.

Grit - Defined Do you understand the complex truth hidden in this stanza?
Now it’s let him live in freedom
If he lives like me
Well, your light has changed, confusion reigns
What have you become?
If a person chooses to allow the COVID vaccine, like a lab rat, we can now live in a “new freedom.” But, in choosing that path, confusion reigns, freedom is lost, and the American light is shadowed. What has America become? Why did we allow freedom to be lost?

The Duty of Americans Hold one; why not shift the paradigm and change the questions?
Which way are you goin’?
Which side will you be on?
Will you stand and watch while
All the seeds of hate are sown?
Will you stand with those who say
Let his will be done?
Whose “will be done?” The enemies of freedom and liberty or someone else? I am not speaking theologically, philosophically, or metaphysically; I am speaking as a person who is observing, desiring a new set of consequences, and knowing that a different set of choices is required to make a change.

Therein is the problem, how does an entire population become motivated to make different decisions? It is not just marketing at this moment in time; we must lose the political divisions and other divisive elements that have been falsely employed to create divisions and sow chaos. I am talking about making a new conscious choice, logically deciding what we want, need, and desire. The question spreads the spectrum from politics and government to media and food consumption and employment and shopping.

Theres more I am done with both the Republicans and the Democrats; neither party is aware nor even listening to the citizens. The extreme elements in the Democratic Party, the environmentalists, the LGBTQ+ community, the Communist Party, the Socialist Party, etc., all have made their choices and must live with the consequences. However, this does not mean the rest of the country has to take the same path to death and destruction.

The Republicans have chosen to act without spine, reason, or even cohesion in thinking and doing. Yet too often, all the political choices come down to Republican or Democrat, and there is less and less difference between them from day to day. Why have we settled for just two political parties in America? America has been through changes in the dominant political parties before, and we must do so again for the good of the Republic. We, the citizens, must force a change by refusing the Kool-Aid, refusing the political madness, and refusing to lose the Republic. Which way are you going?

Non Sequitur - Decisions Which way are you going? How will you choose to move forward? Do you realize that your emotions are your own choice? That by taking control over your emotions, you become empowered to choose more powerfully and more logically. The media, the politicians, and the bureaucrats all want to control your emotions, and they want you to be controlled by the marketing hype, the big pharma, big-tech, and big-box retail. Do you realize that your privacy is invaded 24/7 by people tracking the products you buy, the websites you visit, and so many other methods and means, including your cellphone? Why did we give up our privacy?

Which way are we going to choose? As each of us makes an individual decision, our country will begin to change. I offer the first choice, choose a “Liberty FIRST Culture!”

© 2021 M. Dave Salisbury
All Rights Reserved
The images used herein were obtained in the public domain; this author holds no copyright to the images displayed.

A Failure to Listen – The Hinge Upon Which Governments Fail or Thrive

Padmé in “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” makes a powerful statement about the galactic war being fought, “This war represents a failure to listen.” While Padmé insists that diplomacy is required, this is incorrect. Diplomacy is the political game of charades, with smoke and mirrors of intelligence games. Diplomacy fails because each sides agenda is more important than the words being spoken, which is why so much of the work done in diplomatic circles is done in “informal settings.” Diplomacy fails to listen.

America is a Republic, rather America is a Constitutional Republic, where the rule of law as written is the supreme law of the land to which every citizen is bond. In the world there are democracies, where the mob rules. There are socialist governments where the fat of government is forcibly taken through taxation and doled out by the micro-ounce to those selected to win or lose. There are still communist governments and monarchies where the leaders are pampered to the detriment of the citizenry. Unfortunately, between these extremes are a host of other government types who borrow pieces from many government theories thinking they can escape the negative consequences of those government methodologies.

Yet again we find Padmé’s counsel appropriate and timely. Before war begins, there is always a refusal to listen. For example, it is historically accurate that the US Government had signs and warnings of the impending Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, but the US Government had stopped listening to adverse advice, and America paid dearly for that failure to listen. Worse, war came, and hundreds of thousands paid in blood for that failure to listen.

The Russians thought diplomacy was the appropriate approach to Nazi Germany; and Nazi Germany made the Russians pay in blood for the failure of the government to listen. Even though history has regularly taught the Russians not to engage in diplomatic solutions with Germans. This was hardly the first fight between Germany and Russian troops and governments. Failure to listen, and the citizens suffered tremendously to overthrow both Nazi Germany and then the chains of Communism.

Consider again the relationship between Mexico and the United States, the Mexican Government has never been an ally or friend to the United States; yet, the governments refuse to listen to common sense, and throughout history, those people hellbent on destroying America have always found safe passage and refuge in Mexican borders. History relates that the failure of governments to listen, is the root of the United States and Mexican sour relationship.

Cuba has suffered under Communism and Castro’s poor ideas because government leaders refused to listen. Venezuela fell because the governments in power refused to listen to each other, bribed the electorate, stole elections, and now a once mighty nation is starving while their government leaders sit in luxury. How many times will this story have to repeat before the citizens of governments learn, we must be able to speak freely, and listen appreciatively, if we are to survive, grow, and prosper.

For too long, the powers of the world who consider themselves above the law have worked to keep the citizens separated into fighting factions. Every conceivable line that can be drawn to distract, separate, denigrate, and deride has been drawn, and the only people winning in this are those drawing the lines. Republicans against Democrats, Homosexuals against Heterosexuals, religions aplenty all against each other, state to state, NFL/NHL/NBA/NASCAR and so much more adding confusion and noise to the problem and further separating people along ambiguous lines to keep them from talking and listening appreciatively to each other.

How many families cannot have a meal without choices of lifestyle and hostility ending conversation over a failure to listen? Can a Chicago Bears Family survive long with a fan from Minnesota or Wisconsin? What about the other choices people make in their lives, religious flavor versus another religious flavor; this simple line has been destroying nations since history began being recorded. What do we see in the Old Testament; governments repeatedly failing because they stopped listening.

Please note, this is not a call to drop standards, accepting everything, and singing “Kumbaya,” while Rome burns, and society dies an ignominious death. This is a call to cease destroying society and begin listening first! Why were the riots this past summer so brutal and destructive; first the mob stopped listening, then they stopped talking, and then they started fires and terrorizing society. Why did they stop listening; because they assumed no one heard them and cared enough to shift the paradigm, (patterns of thought and action all based upon selfishness and pride).

Why did Anakin stop being a Jedi; he stopped listening, then he selectively listened, he began acting as a terrorist, and then he became Darth Vader. This plot line of refusing to listen is so prevalent and obvious because humans continue to make the same mistake. When we stop listening to each other, we stop talking; when we stop talking, we become overwhelmed by our own echo-chambers, and create the chaos that ultimately destroys our lives, our dreams, and our futures until we begin to lay aside petty differences and listen to each other again.

Listening has four distinct levels:

- Inactive listening – Hearing words, seeing written communication, zero impact mentally. Mostly because your internal voices drown out the possibility for communication.
- Selective listening – Hearing only that which confirms your own voices, opinions, and biases. While others are speaking, you are already forming your response.
- Active listening – Show the other person you are paying attention, engage with meaning in a reply. Focused upon removing barriers to get your point across.
- Reflective listening – Paying attention to intent and content, reducing emotion, two-direction as both parties are engaged in achieving mutual understanding.

Listening appreciatively is reflective listening, where we commit to listening with the intent to achieve mutual understanding. Essentially, to improve government we must listen first with the intent to reach mutual understanding, before we ever open our mouths to speak.

The following are some launch points for improving listening in society:

1. 1. Understand your desire. Know that your desire choices are determining your destiny. If your destiny is not one you appreciate, return to desire, make different choices.
  2. Practice mental preparation based upon previous situations, to make different choices. Listening is a voyage of discovery to reach a mutual understanding, but mental preparation is key to safely reach the destination. Prepare, use a mirror, practice until what currently feels alien becomes familiar.
  3. Reduce emotion. The principle of empathy and sympathy are destroying listening and only reflect the internal voices. The volume of internal voices is silencing the ability to reflectively listen, necessitating the need to fake actively listening.
  4. Listen as you would have others listen to you. This is an adaptation of the “Golden Rule” and remains applicable as a personal choice. How you choose to listen will determine your destiny.
  5. Listening remains the number one tool you control and has application to written communication and verbal communication channels. Body language is a non-verbal communication channel that can be heard as well as seen. How are you communicating non-verbally which is interfering with your written and verbal communication attempts?

Listening is a choice. Listening is hard. Yet, many people have pointed out that we have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as often as we speak. Choose to reflectively listen, choose to reach a mutual understanding, watch society change. It has been said that the US Constitution will hang by a thread, rule of law and the American Republic hang upon our decisions to listen appreciatively to each other and to stop allowing petty divisions to destroy ourselves, our families, and our American society.

© Copyright 2020 – M. Dave Salisbury
The author holds no claims for the art used herein, the pictures were obtained in the public domain, and the intellectual property belongs to those who created the pictures.
All rights reserved. For copies, reprints, or sharing, please contact through LinkedIn:
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Democracy vs. Republic – American Governance

Please note: A republican method of governance does not mean everyone belongs to and votes the “Republican Party” ticket. Nor, does the democratic governance method mean everyone adhering belongs to the “Democratic Party” ticket. The political party is not the style of governance, and this is the first distinction that must be realized. No political party deserves your support, unless they espouse, and live, what you want them to espouse and live. America has had good and poor elected officials from both major political parties. America has even changed major political parties; and this is a good thing!

The Duty of Americans Too often people are confusing democracy, democratic governance, and the American Republic. Talking heads in the media get this wrong all the time. Hollywood has never gotten the distinction correct, ever. But, this ignorance might be by design as Hollywood has always been a breeding ground for disinformation, propaganda, and elitist posturing. Regardless of the political party, or lack of political party, every American citizen should be able to recognize Democracy from Republican styles of governance. The following uses real events to help distinguish the line.

A democracy, at its most basic level, can be described and defined by the control of an organization by the majority of its members. A simple majority is all it takes to gain the high ground and punish the loser. A simple majority is if 100 people gather in a room, they need 51 to agree to support a single idea. Democracies are full of simple majorities who then try to proclaim a moral high ground, and then attempt to extrapolate the single simple majority into a system of keeping the simple majority.

A republic begins with the philosophy and doctrine that embraces equality between its members as the ideal in governance. Recognizing that today’s majority is tomorrow’s minority, rules provide equality between people, and all titles are transitory. A republic is messy; equality in treatment under the law allows for every person to have the same opportunity because their inalienable rights have provided them with eternal potential to become anything they desire. This is especially true when a person desires through their actions, attitudes, and behaviors, which is not desired by the rest of the society, provided the individual does not break the law. However, laws are not changed to outlaw behaviors, curb ideas, or infringe upon inalienable rights as laid out and codified in the Bill of Rights.

Lady Justice For example, The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), recently sent a report regarding an investigation of Peter Shelby, the previous VA Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration (HR&A), who steered a $5 million contract for the benefit of individuals with whom he had a personal relationship. This is a prime example of democracy in action. The person in charge had to pay for the simple majority that kept him in power. Consider the following direct consequences of Mr. Shelby’s actions.

“The contract … included talent assessment services for evaluating whether to hire or promote candidates. When the contract concluded in August 2019, it became evident that VA had purchased services far in excess of what it could use. VA used only 232 of the 17,000 one-year training licenses it purchased for $3.8 million and VA received no value whatsoever for the talent assessment services because required privacy and security certifications were not obtained.”

Mr. Shelby was allowed to resign when he discovered he was about to be fired from Government service. Thus, he keeps all his retirement, all his Federal benefits, and the money gained from his ill-gotten ventures. In many countries around the world, these actions are considered, “Realpolitik.” Realpolitik is politics or diplomacy based primarily on considerations of given circumstances and factors, rather than explicit ideological notions or moral and ethical premises. In America, Mr. Shelby’s actions are illegal and should have been punished accordingly.

Government Largess 3 The American Public has witnessed the same political gamesmanship (realpolitik) in the US House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Presidency, for a long time. All because, the line between a Republic and a Democracy has been intentionally blurred by those in power, to stay in power. Never does realpolitik benefit the rule of law, or provide equality as a basic and fundamental position of governance. Bringing into the conversation the critical quality of genetic behavior and the exponential growth of behavior from one generation to the next. If Mr. Shelby’s actions can be traced upwards through the behavior of elected officials; how many more unethical behaviors are hiding inside the government workforce waiting for their opportunity to practice realpolitik at the expense of the veterans, taxpayers, and citizenry of America?

Genetic behavioral growth is witnessed when a congressional member is allowed to bend an ethical rule in the name of politics so the simple majority can be sustained. The next generations are the governors and state legislatures who then replicate and advance that unethical behavior to one that is blatantly illegal, but not “really bad.” Extramarital affairs, drug use or abuse, alcohol abuse, spouse abuse, homosexuality, etc., are all not “really bad,” laws that are regularly shattered and overlooked to maintain the simple majority. This then leads employees of governments to act in a looser and more illegal or unethical manner, stealing the public money, misusing government tools and supplies, or in the case of Peter Shelby, forming a relationship and then steering a $5 Million-dollar contract to the entity that most benefits him.

Behavior-Change In a republic, those in power recognize the genetic nature of their behavior, understand that any lapses in good judgment are dangerous, and work to live in a manner that first allows for equality among all. Even if they must tell another person no. Consider how much corruption is in Washington, D.C., and every state capital in America, all because the simple majority has lured good people into acting against their principles, against the Republican form of American governance, and against the law established and maintained by the people, for the people, and of the people. The simple majority will always, to maintain power, refuse to say no, set boundaries, and live by rules and laws. The republican form of government lives by nothing else but the rules and the laws because equality only occurs under the rule of law.

Notice something important, the first rule of realpolitik is to disconnect the equality of everyone for the power of ruling. Just as in the book “1984” we see some are more equal than others; which is an extension of democracy. Then, realpolitik disconnects explicit notions of morality and ethics from actions and behaviors. Thus, equality is the first casualty in the hostile takeover of democracy.

Consider labor unions for a moment. Disney produced the movie, “Invincible,” or the story of Vince Papale and the NFL Eagles. In the movie, there is a union striking, and one sign is made clear, “Striking is DEMOCRACY IN ACTION” [emphasis in original]. The truth in this lie is that strikes are selfish, and represents democracy perfectly. But, the strike is not democracy in action, the labor union is democracy in action as a legal “pyramid scheme.” The strike of a labor union, along with all the other work slowdowns, bureaucracies, and other silly games played to thwart republic governance are but tools of democratic leaders to exercise their power.

Religious Thought The labor union spouts a lot of good democratic styled speeches; but acts like thugs, for the benefit of the elected few, at the cost of the dues-paying members. Proving that democracy is the last thing a labor union wants as the labor union remains a Marxist method of governance. Take any labor union, anywhere in the world, and you will find the elected officials living large on the backs, sweat, and labor of the dues-paying members. The fewest of the few long-term dues-paying members will be provided benefits and a lifestyle to be desired, but never obtained, even though the dues have been paid, the labor performed, and the sacrifices made. The Wall Street Journal has covered the loss of benefits paid for through dues payments, and while the Wall Street Journal does it’s best to keep the union out of the picture, it is not the company’s filing lawsuits, but the unions.

Always, the same principle determines the separation between democracy and republican governance, equality under the law. The solution is not found in more government programs to “level the playing field,” which is a democratic principle that has never worked! The solution is found in less government. Equality under the law is not found in government force; but, in less government potential to exercise that force. In the 1980s President Reagan was heralded for his nationalizing of the air traffic controllers; thus, ending a strike of the national air traffic controllers. But, the air traffic controllers still have the same inequalities, same problems, and the same issues as experienced under the air traffic control unions. Nothing changed fundamentally, and this overreach of government, “for public safety,” has kept the air traffic controller in bondage. Sure, the cage is nicer, but the cage is still a cage; only now, there is no possible way of escaping the cage. The same is true of railroad workers, teachers, and so many other employees kept under a labor union’s thumb, or government mandate.

In a democracy, it is perfectly acceptable to maintain the simple majority through nefarious means and ends. Whereas in a republic, the equality that keeps everyone equally refuses the nefarious types every society produces from having a purchase hold to establish themselves. Consider the violence that has rocked America since May 2020. Consider also, all the violence that has shocked and dismayed America since the Watts Riots in 1965. The Watts Riots are a perfect template reflecting the problems of democracy.

The media, and many people in government including most of the judicial branch, allowed personal anger over issues to become a violent outpouring, where the victim was the community and not the actual target of the violence. People acted in a selfish manner, with a total lack of self-control, and the community of Watts burned to the ground. The land is barren, dreams destroyed and lives ruined. Since the Watts Riots, the community has reached out for more democratic solutions, as if this was not the reason the Watts Riots happened in the first place. Fast forward from 1965, and every riot since has been glorified for their anger levels, because this helps feed the democratic solutions, keeping people unequal, refusing people their eternal potential, and denying inalienable rights to maintain power and authority.

America, we need to stop the lies that democracy is the “American Way.” Superman was correct, “Truth and Justice” are the American Way, which is the Republican manner of governance. America was established upon the fundamental principle that ALL are first equal under the law. Sure, we have not always lived up to the ideal; but, we are human. Our humanness is allowing us to falter, not fail. We fail the great American Republic every time we allow a democratic solution that forces people onto unequal terms. We stumble, we fall, when we forget that equality is precious and considering all to have the same equality means allowing people to suffer consequences of attitudes and behaviors.

President Adams When one person can be supported in their immorality because of their money (Jackson, Kennedy, Epstein, Clinton, Weinstein, etc.) when others are punished for the same crimes (pedophiles, murderers, thieves, rapists, etc.) we have a democracy. When all, regardless of money, titles, political power, etc. are held to the same laws and legal standards the great American Republic survives and gains strength. To rebuild the American Republic, we must first cleanse the inward vessel, removing from public office all those who refuse the blessings and work of a republic for the ease and captivity of a democracy.

The author holds no claims for the art used herein, the pictures were obtained in the public domain, and the intellectual property belongs to those who created the pictures.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesalisbury/

Farmers, Ranchers, and Dairymen – An Open Letter Regarding Food Safety #COOL

To the Elected Officials Across America:

I write by way of admonishment and with a plea. You must cease capitulating to BIG farm, ranch, dairy corporations immediately. You must forthwith and without any delay, come forward and show true support and allegiance for America’s independent farmers, ranchers, and dairymen, upholding the heritage of agronomy in America. Most importantly, legislation must begin forthwith to protect America’s food safety through the country of origin labeling (#COOL). The sleight of hand, backroom deal that ended country of origin labeling on a “must-pass” piece of legislation, was the purest form of chicanery and political skullduggery in the Obama administration; sadly, this was not the only piece of legislation to be affected in this manner!

I am calling out both parties (Republican and Democrat), the national food safety councils, the national ranching/farming/dairy associations, and every other political hack, political action committee (PAC), and lobbyists. I am calling out the staff members of the elected officials who write the laws and perform the skullduggery that allowed country of origin labeling to cease. I am calling out and upon every single one of you to listen and act without delay!

National Councils are supposed to represent the independent rancher, farmer, and dairymen, whose membership pays for the political dinners and political action committees in capitals across America. People who make money off association and membership dues, then forget their members and associates at the drop of a hat for political expediency. I have been on your websites and am thoroughly embarrassed at your performance where the country of origin labeling is concerned. Big Farm/Ranch/Dairy, your actions continue to be the purest and most detestable acts of tyranny ever recorded in American history. I have been on your websites, I have seen the lawfare you unscrupulously pursue against independent farmers, ranchers, and dairymen, and I will cheer the day you are brought to the bar of justice. The disregard for independent farmers, ranchers, and dairymen remains inexcusable!

When was the last time you visited a farm, a ranch, or a dairy and asked what the government (or council) can be doing to improve their businesses? You want these people’s votes, association, membership, mostly you want their money. Then you proceed to demean, denigrate, and plot to actively undercut and abuse the independents, all while capitulating to the demands of the BIG representatives. This byzantine behavior is beyond despicable and remains abhorrent!

Where are the monies promised from the CARES Act that was supposed to go directly to the farmers, ranchers, and dairymen who are unable to sell their products because of the government shutdown of the economy? The local farmer, dairymen, and ranchers, their families, and their communities are precious to the American soul. Each loss of an independent farmer, rancher, and dairymen needs to be mourned, but instead, all I observe are parties celebrating, paid for by PAC’s working to undercut America’s food safety. Your actions to withhold monies and support is reprehensible chutzpah at best!

Fact: General George Washington, first President of America wanted to be, and worked hard to be, America’s first farmer. He worked in the fields with his people, he did farm duties and got his hands dirty. Except for photoshoots can you claim any type of work, let alone that done by a farmer, rancher, or dairymen?

Fact: Thomas Jefferson was a farmer who got his hands dirty. Both Jefferson and Washington were researchers in agronomy, piloting many of the techniques still used today to grow crops. What useful activity are you performing? I guarantee it is not productive!

Fact: President General Washington, said the following: “Agriculture [is] the proper source of American wealth and happiness;” and predicted Americans would continue to be “an agricultural people…for ages to come.” Yet, too often since the 1980s, the politicians of America have turned a blind eye to the agricultural heritage of America. Stooping to actively bring foreign products into America even when those products, too often, are unsafe, poor quality, or worse actively harmful to America’s citizenry and the farmers, ranchers, and dairymen who can, and DO, produce better than their foreign counterparts. You have bankrupted the agriculture legacy of America and you need to begin to make amends!

Fact: When I expressed interest in being a farmer or a rancher as a child, I was encouraged to stay away from those “dying professions” by teachers, guidance counselors, and regrettably even some farmers and ranchers. People who, after a life of working at a job they loved, were getting out and selling out because it had just become too much, too political, and too expensive. A sheepherder in Utah, been in the business for multiple generations, could not find a market and had to sell his animals for glue and parts, losing his job at 70, with nothing from social security. A dairyman in Maine, on the same plot of land since before America was a country, bankrupted by a corporation, then purchased by the same corporation, at a bankruptcy sell. I have seen too many of these tales personally. Good, honest, hardworking people, betrayed by their government at the local, county, state, and federal levels, disavowed by their associations and councils and left to destitution and poverty.

Fact: The founding fathers in America all wrote extensively and worked diligently on farms, ranches, and dairies. What politician, lobbyist, staff member, or other political hacks, can say the same? Which of you can relate business topics, having met a customer face-to-face? Can you still say you have met a customer face-to-face? I know some of you were doctors, are you still a practicing doctor seeing patients? What about lawyers, are you still seeing clients? What about farmers or ranchers, how is your farm or ranch doing? Are the laws you are passing, that are killing your constituents, being felt personally? What about you presidents and political activists of farming, ranching, dairy, or food safety councils and associations, have you been on a farm recently, to work?

Fact: Jefferson wrote that “those who [labor] in the earth…are the chosen people of God if ever he had a chosen people, whose breasts he had made his peculiar deposit for substantial and genuine virtue.” In December 1778, John Adams wrote to a Massachusetts friend from France that “it is some comfort to me to think that I shall be soon a private Farmer.” Two incredible people who saw their work in politics as a hindrance to being a farmer. They knew productive work and did productive work, they knew the struggles of the everyman and could temper their political actions against the consequences. Of President Adams it is related, “Adams occasionally dug ditches, shoveled and transported manure, spread fertilizer, slaughtered livestock, and worked under the hot sun in his fields both at harvest time in the early autumn and in May, July, and September, when the hay was stacked following the mowing of the meadows.” Can any of you say the same?

Fact: In 1769, Benjamin Franklin wrote Henry Home: “There seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering their conquered [neighbors]; this is robbery. The second by commerce, which is generally cheating. The third by agriculture, the only honest way…wrought by the hand of God in His [favor], as a reward for his innocent life and his virtuous industry.” Biographer Carl Van Doren observed that “Franklin was one of the earliest Americans to perceive that the agricultural resources of the country should not be wasted and that farming must be something of a business and a science as well as a way of life.” Your actions are killing the American way of life and I demand to know why!

Since the 1980’s America has seen the death of too many independent farmers, ranchers, and dairymen, compounded and multiplied by first losing the farm, ranch, or dairy, then again to suicide. Time Magazine has written about the death, neigh almost extinction, of America’s independent farmers, ranchers, and dairymen, as recently as November 2019. Check your offices, you might still have this issue sitting on the low table in your outer office. I know my first magazine article on this topic (1991) was seen in a dentist’s office, in Belfast Maine. I had to see the dentist as I broke a tooth working as a farmer, a fruit picker, and dairy hand.

Let me help you out with a few more facts, sourced from the Time Magazine article mentioned above, and these numbers could be much higher.

Fact: “Farm debt, [is] at $416 billion (2019), an all-time high. More than half of all farmers have lost money every year since 2013 and lost more than $1,644 this year. Farm loan delinquencies are rising.”

Fact: “Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies were up 12 percent in the Midwest from July of 2018 to June of 2019; they’re up 50 percent in the Northwest. Tens of thousands have simply stopped farming, knowing that reorganization through bankruptcy won’t save them.”

Fact: “The nation lost more than 100,000 farms between 2011 and 2018; 12,000 of those between 2017 and 2018 alone.”

Here’s an interesting correlational fact: “Congress included #COOL repeal in the $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled Canada and Mexico could begin imposing more than $1 billion in tariffs on U.S. products to punish it for the [undue] harm the labeling requirements were doing to them.” Answer me this, when Either country has to put labels on their products for trade with the European Union (EU), those labels are not considered “undue hardship,” but the cost of doing business with the EU, the cost is then passed along to the EU consumer. Why is trade with America on food safety, all of a sudden an “undue hardship” to label where the food is originating? It seems to me, if you are not trying to poison Americans, you should be proud to be labeling your country on your products.

#COOL labeling was considered onerous and was despised by Congress, even though #COOL labeling was on such a tiny number of agricultural products. Yet, the US Congress caved and a weak-kneed president signed off on this omnibus spending legislative fiasco. So, let us discuss labeling legislation for a moment.

Fact: Feel free to look this one up. 49 U.S. Code § 32304. Passenger motor vehicle country of origin labeling. Prominent placing is critical to the country of origin labeling on all vehicles, and this labeling is not considered “undue hardship” by the WTO. Even small assembly parts can be included in the vehicle country of origin, not considered an “undue hardship” by the WTO, and falls under the vehicle mandated country of origin labeling. In fact, the manufacturing of foreign parts can be hidden, provided proper labels are designed, and the country of origin masked, and this is not considered an “undue hardship” by the WTO. No one ever saw Congress cave on vehicle country of origin labeling, and the auto industry has been slammed in America by foreign vehicles and foreign trade. Closing the rust belt and extinguishing America’s manufacturing jobs without a single cry from Congress, about “undue hardship.” No staff member tried sneaking in a repeal of the country of origin labeling into a “must-pass” piece of legislation. How many lobbyists and political action committees are dedicated to removing the labeling requirements on vehicles?

Fact: Page 76 of the “Overview and Compilation of U.S. Trade Statutes” lists pipes and pipe fittings as requiring country of origin labeling, not considered an “undue hardship” by the WTO. Failure to comply with all pipe types and fittings having the country of origin labeling is punishable by hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines to the manufacturer, the retailer, and the potential for lengthy prison sentences. Best of all, there are “no exceptions” [emphasis mine] allowed to the country of origin labeling requirements for pipes and pipe fittings, manhole covers, gas cylinders, and more.

Fact: Mushrooms must have a country of origin label per the “Overview and Compilation of U.S. Trade Statutes” manual. Native American Jewelry, computers, phones, monitors, rugs, floor mats, and practically every single item in an American home must-have, under penalty of law, no exceptions, labels demanding where that product originates. Also, not considered “undue hardship for labeling are specifics on sizes, volumes, and much more. Yet, for food country of origin labeling, is considered an “undue hardship” for other countries to comply with, and thus, American food producers, the ranchers, farmers, and dairymen, are unfairly able to compete. What about the complaints of America’s manufacturers, restaurants, and others who got nailed by the incredible labeling costs under Obama’s FDA mandate for nutritional labels? A simple rule change at the FDA condemned hundreds of small businesses, eateries, café’s, and food producers to bankruptcy; yet, none of the political activists, staff members, committees, PAC’s, etc. even cared. In fact, many of them cheered and helped waste a lot of reporter ink on this topic.

Let me see if I fully understand this problem, and I fully anticipate your full and transparent commentary, as well as your forthright action to correct this problem. American chicken companies can purchase foreign-born and raised, chickens, have them shipped to the US, killed in a US factory, and do not need to tell anyone that chicken came from overseas. Why? Isn’t this the same as a car manufacturer, having all the parts for a car made in Vietnam, shipped to America, and sold as an American car, and just as illegal? What about Brazilian beef that caused Americans to become sick, that miraculously now is available for retail again, while American ranchers cannot get their products to market at all?

What about all that romaine lettuce that has been causing E.coli across America for multiple years? The growers are Mexican and others south of the border, the seller is an American company, and Americans are still suffering from this disease madness. Yet, if a pipe manufacturer did exactly the same thing, with sewers exploding from poor pipes not bearing the proper country of origin labeling, that retailer, manufacturer, and the entire supply chain can be held liable for the harm, accountable for legal penalties and every class action lawyer in America would be dreaming dollar signs for injuries, damage, and mental harm caused. But where food is concerned there is no problem, no foul, nothing to see here.

What about the Chinese Melamine Pet Food fiasco? How is the purchase of melamine-contaminated food which was then processed into foods for pets and humans, not requiring country of origin labeling, different from a computer? If the computer fails because a chip made in Ireland was poorly manufactured, there would be significant problems, legal interventions, trade embargoes, and a political rant for years. Yet, because China was contaminating the source ingredients, there were no problems to be seen here. Israel manufactures many phenomenal products for technology; let one of those products cause a tiny amount of inconvenience and the news reporters will try to run out of ink reporting Israeli manufacturing problems and defects of that product. Lots of political pandering from 2007 saw China poisoning with melamine story die very quickly. Why? Are pets somehow less important than people; if America’s spending on pets is any indicator, that answer is a resounding NO! Yet, not only did you pander to China, you killed the US Media reporting this issue, and then repealed a law that should have been useful in preventing this fiasco from ever happening in the first place.

Forget pets and melamine for a moment, do your political brains have sufficient room to remember when melamine was found in baby formula and killed infants? Melamine tainted food is a hallmark of China, and yet somehow China is now able to send “safe” food to America all without a country of origin label. I find this fascinating and demand to know why the country of origin labels are required by law on every other tradable good or product, but not foods!

Fact: Research published in February [2011] claimed that up to 10 percent of rice sold in China was contaminated with heavy metals, including cadmium. Data collected by Nanjing Agricultural University found that the problem was most acute in Southern provinces, wherein some areas 60 percent of samples were contaminated, some with up to five times the legal limit of heavy metals. Where is the demand for the country of origin labels? When you plant a seed in the ground with contamination, that contamination grows into the seed and will be found in the fruit that seed produces. This was a fourth-grade science product where we changed the color of celery by contaminating the water with food dye. How many rice producers in America cannot compete for shelf space in their local supermarket, even though they have a superior product, all because of heavy metal rice from China? The same China who has a multi-year deadly hog disease that has killed millions of pigs and raised meat prices in China. You cannot grow safe food or animals in contaminated environments without getting that contamination into the food!

China, the same country where fake water was sold, where machinery oil has been used to cook food, rotten meat has been used to create oils to cook food, and so many more food safety violations. Yet, importers can import all sorts of meat that “meet proper regulations” and not have to declare where the meat was raised, what the meat actually is, and when that meat was slaughtered. Importers can sell all types of vegetables and fruits grown in unknown ground conditions, which infect the fruit with the same ground and water contaminants without ever identifying sources and origins.

Does anyone else remember the DARK (Denying Americans the Right to Know) Act (July, 2016)? a GMO labeling bill that allows companies and producers to use QR codes, 1-800 numbers and other difficult to access technology to label food products that contain GMOs, instead of clear, on-package text.

Fact: “Over 90% of Americans support clear mandatory GMO labeling, but President Obama signed [legislation] giving way to the Big Food industry to continue to hide GMO contaminants in American sold products. Even though these same companies must declare GMO contamination clearly on the package for products sold elsewhere in the world. The DARK Act, supported by Senators Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), as well as trade groups representing the Big Food industry like the Grocery Manufacturers Association and biotech companies such as Monsanto, is an unfortunate example of how powerful corporations and moneyed interests have taken over our democracy.” Have you noticed the rise in farms, ranches, and dairies failing to correlate with the labeling legislation? It appears that every time Congress changes the labeling laws allowing more inferior fruits, nuts, veggies, meat, etc. come into America, and more independent American farms, ranches, and dairies fail!

Your actions to adopt country of origin labeling requirements on the most important items in a person’s home is beyond despicable. The following is a statement from Andy Kimbrell, executive director at the Center for Food Safety:

“I don’t know what kind of legacy [President Obama] hopes to leave, but denying one-third of Americans the right to know what is in the food they feed their families isn’t one to be proud of. This law is a sham and a shame, a rushed backroom deal … the law also represents a major assault on the democratic decision making of several states and erases their laws with a vague multi-year bureaucratic process specifically designed to provide less transparency to consumers.”

I unequivocally and absolutely support the country of origin labeling (#COOL) for all foods imported into America. If the WTO does not like this, let them eat cake from China; preferably, made from fake flour, and melamine-contaminated milk, with eggs from hens raised in a heavy metal contaminated environment and manufactured from an environment that has been shut down for violating the cheesy food safety rules of China.

The time has come for America to cease bowing to every global interest body, large food growing corporation, and return to supporting her local farmer, rancher, and dairymen. Take pride in those who do this work and demand #COOL! Choose, do you want your food from an unknown environment and a big corporation that doesn’t care, or the local guy; I know my choice #COOL!

By way of praise, I want to thank the Lehrman Institute for their excellent work in documenting historical resources on the founding fathers that improved this letter.

The author holds no claims for the art used herein, the pictures were obtained in the public domain, and the intellectual property belongs to those who created the pictures.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesalisbury/

In Defense of the Rule of Law – Restoring “… Liberty and Justice for All”

This letter is pertinent to every American citizen as well as those currently holding public office and those seeking to become politicians. Politics has always been an American passion; we talk politics at work with co-workers, across the fence with neighbors, around the kitchen table with family and trusted friends, and almost everywhere else without exception…including public restrooms. Yes, Americans even discuss politics in public restrooms. Conversations overheard and notes written on walls provide plenty of evidence. This is apt; much of the political theater currently thrust into America’s attention is fit only for flushing.

President Lincoln is quoted thus: “Let every American, every lover of Liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their abuse by others. As the Patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and Laws, let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor; let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear [down] the character of his own, and his children’s liberty. Let reverence for the [Constitutional] laws [of America]… become the political religion of the nation.”

President Lincoln continued on to proclaim, “When I so pressingly urge a strict observance of all the laws, let me not be understood as saying there are no bad laws, nor that grievances may not arise, for the redress of which, no legal provisions have been made, I mean to say no such thing. But I do mean to say, that, although bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible, still while they continue in force, for the sake of example, they should be religiously observed.” The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume I, “Address Before the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois” (January 27, 1838), p. 112.

Americans inherently seem to know right from wrong. Living in a Republic is messy and loud. Yet, from the clamoring on two extreme points, fairness, justice, and mercy continue to stand in the common argument for the regulation of society to ultimately benefit all. Since Americans inherently know right from wrong and are generally just and merciful, the most contemptible actions a politician can make is to forget, upon election, he/she must serve all his/her constituents, not only the political party he/she personally adheres to and represents. This contemptible action, witnessed in many past and current political scandals, simultaneously displayed the actions taken at every level of government from the dogcatcher and school board locally to the president’s office federally. For example, President Obama’s decision to hire Arne Duncan as United States Secretary of Education, the multiplicity of “Czar” appointments, the VA scandal across America, the IRS debacle and the continuing saga this represents, and much more, on both sides of the political aisle, all find their roots in the failure to adhere to the rule of law. Supporting a personal political party’s leanings over the rule of law causes all of America to suffer grievously.

Districts elect their politicians, and an elected politician has only one job, which is to represent the citizens, all citizens of this great Republic, at the level of office elected. This means that the higher in political office, the broader the constituent base, and the higher the public’s trust, and hence the more closely the politician must walk in honoring, obeying, and upholding the laws of the land. If the politician’s first waking breath is not commitment to equality under the law and obedience to America’s Constitutional Law, as described by President Lincoln above, he/she is a charlatan, a hoax, a fraudster, and needs removal from holding a position of public trust. More to the point, failure to honor the elected responsibility to constituents is, by law, criminal negligence and warrants a court of action convened in the form of a public hearing held forthwith to determine status of guilt and accountability under the law for failure to uphold the public trust.

Rugged individuals founded America for people who love Liberty. To love Liberty means fair play and equality under the law as the basic and fundamental building block of society. If an individual personally is unable to tolerate individual liberty, that individual remains free to leave America’s shores and find a more suitable place to live among the other nations on Earth.

Too many people in America have failed to embrace personal liberty for their neighbors; thus, compromising personal liberty for themselves and fundamentally jeopardizing liberty for every American. President Lincoln could not have been plainer on this point, and the extreme examples of the last 20+ years on the Federal, State, and Local government levels are obvious. America is in danger not from without, e.g. terrorism, war, etc., but from within, e.g. politicians, who fail to uphold equality under American Constitutional Law and honor the rule of America’s law. The axiom continues to verify itself, “The wise man in the storm does not pray for deliverance from the storms without, but the storms within.” Direct application of hope, faith, and trust dispels fear as a storm within. If a politician holds a position of public trust, people have placed upon him/her their hope and faith that he/she will honor the rule of law for the benefit of all peoples, not simply those who helped him/her become elected.

A particular point of contention generates with “Special Interest Groups.” Special interest groups do not the full population represent; hence, the reason and label of “Special Interests.” Special interest groups are not capable of representing all the population or they would be called “General Interest Groups,” and not every person in America can be represented by such narrow thinking on any issue, let alone the big issues, e.g. abortion rights, religion, immigration, education, etc. Because “Special Interest Groups” do not represent the full population, limiting special interests, disclosing fully special interest funding sources, and issuing complete disclosure of the reason that particular special interest is pushing a specific legislative agenda are key factors. During the Obamacare debates, in full spectacle of the world, America learned a valuable lesson on the need for full disclosure on special interests. Special interest groups intensely supported, as political favors for the benefit of one political group over all others, software that never lived up to the hype and wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. This decision represented a deleterious action full of contempt for the rule of law rather than equal opportunity under the law for all persons. Anytime public money is used to issue a political favor, public trust is breached, the rule of law flouted, and the need for removal from office necessitated; then such persons are held accountable, along with those politically rewarded, in a court of law, and the public’s money is recovered.

The use of public funds in issuing political favors includes employment. Since public employees necessarily receive their wages from public money, politicians breach the public trust should they hire, as a reward for political favors and the public deserves their money back. Kevin Jennings is a specific example; President Obama, through Arne Duncan while in the office of Secretary of Education, hired Jennings as a “Safe Schools Czar.” Duncan knew Jennings would remain a prominent and outspoken member of the LGBTQ agenda through Jennings’ history with GLSEN, as well as a previous executive director for the group and an admirer of Harry Hays of NAMBLA. It seems particularly ironic that to achieve greater public support, under the leadership of Jennings the group GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) changed its name (1997) from the Gay & Lesbian Independent School Teacher Network (GLISTN). His hire represents a significant breach of public trust as a pusher of the LGBTQ agenda. His role in government put him squarely into a position to coerce America’s Public Schools into becoming breeding grounds for the homosexual agenda instead of bastions for learning. Americans felt abhorred that someone who peddles in pedophilia was now in charge of making schools safer. For the record, anytime a legally recognized adult promotes sex with children under the age of legal majority is committing, or aiding in, the crime of pedophilia. By promoting books on adult/children sex, creating book lists and learning platforms promoting this deviant behavior, Jennings has aided and abetted, at the very least, pedophilia in America’s schools. While claiming success due to President Obama’s assistance, the LGBTQ Agenda became “anti-bullying” at a conference hosted by the White House with President Obama being the keynote speaker.

An investment of public money through employment for the political reward of a constituent is what landed Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois in prison. What put him in prison is and continues to be called, “Pay-to-Play.” Investing in a politician that leads to a reward, e.g. employment, with the ability to “play” with the laws of the land remains despicable and worthy of criminal charges with a public trial for all persons in the chain of decision-making; yes, this includes President Obama.

Rest assured politicians can hire whom they choose, but they must do so ever cognizant of the moral fiber and ethical standards of those hired, and the public trust invested through both the voting booth and tax dollars. Kevin Jennings never showed the slightest inclination to support the rule of law or equality under the law for all people. In fact, many of his friends and associates continue to believe that if a person does not think in a similar manner to themselves, that person needs to be destroyed politically, personally, and professionally, this is also referred to as being “Bork[ed].” Represented and exemplified through the actions of such supporters in the removal of Inspector Generals in the Federal Government at large, the changes specifically within the Department of Education, and the cover-ups in the IRS and VA scandals were all designed to hide truth from the American public. This is dangerous ground for America and represents terrorism at the most fundamental level, the terrorism of thought leading to action while holding a position of public trust paid for by public funds. By using the threat of government action to intimidate, coerce, and force societal change, many in government, like Jennings, are committing terrorist acts.

As the elections of 2016 draw near, this missive belongs to the politicians currently holding office as well as those hoping to hold public office: please uphold the rule of law. Please come out in full and unequivocal support of the rule of law and the liberty of all as the only hope for saving America, even if this means people suffer from the consequences of their poor individual decisions. Embrace the rule of America’s Constitutional law. Taxpayers, as represented by their collective elected officials colloquially known as government, cannot and should never be forced to pay for bad personal decisions with public money. Government is not a charitable organization. Hence, government cannot and should not be investing public money in abortion clinics, drug rehab clinics, and other consequences for poor personal decisions. Charitable and religious organizations are sufficient to this task and public money needs investing elsewhere, e.g. providing for the common defense, ensuring free trade among the states, reducing the debt, or lowering taxes, etc.

Stand for the absolute rule of law and America wins. Failure to stand for the rule of law and America loses, utterly and completely. With the failure to stand for the rule of law, politicians elected and trusted by their constituents, who transform themselves into being inadequate to the task to perform according to law. Their names are thence cast upon the dung heaps of history as charlatans and unpitied betrayers of the struggle to keep America the “…shining city on a hill,” full of “…liberty and justice for all.”

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