Why the Revolutions and Demonstrations?

We watch with considerable interest the flames of revolt licking across North Africa and elsewhere in the Middle East. We note with interest President Obama's government aiding and abetting public sector unions in their angry demonstrations against the elected Governor of Wisconsin, who is trying to balance his state's budget. We notice that US socialists applauded riots in Egypt. We observed that Andy Stern, then president of the SEIU, was the most frequent visitor to the White House in the early days of Obama's presidency. Stern has bragged that he and his compadres have organizational hubs around the world.

So I ask the question. Are these demonstrations and riots a mere coincidence? I do not believe so. I suspect there is some world-wide orchestration. Why would Marxists and community organizers and fundamentalist Muslims cooperate? Because they all wish to transform the world into their version of global government.

And the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

US pushes for global capital reform

In an article in the online version of London's The Financial Times entitled, "US prepares to push for global capital rules," Tom Braithwaite wrote, "The US is preparing to pivot from domestic regulatory reform to a push for a tough new international capital regime after the weekend’s G20 and International Monetary Fund meetings glossed over differences between leading economies."

Candid Commentator (CC) is concerned that this is just another evidence of Obama's disdain for America's national sovereignty, and is a deliberate effort to subject America to international rules. This tendency, CC fears, will eventually lead our world to a global government.

In an effort to simplify the technical aspects of the article, CC called on guest writer Brian Bartsch (BB) to give his analysis of the developments.

CC: It almost sounds as though the US is pushing for banks to have a bigger capital reserve than they do now - 8% to 25%. That is a HUGE increase. What are your thoughts? What does the government stand to gain from this except more power through the regulatory door? (I don't trust the government.)

BB: Like you, I’m suspicious any time the government wants to increase regulation. I have a couple of thoughts:

First, if they raise the capital reserve requirement that much, there’s a progression that will be hard to stop:

• Banks will be forced to call in loans in order to generate the high amounts of capital needed to meet the new reserve requirement.

• The aggregate amount of liquidity will dry up as banks won’t have any money to lend.

• Interest rates will skyrocket as the demand for financing will drastically outpace supply.

• Businesses will be subjected to intense pressure financially; some will fail as they can’t afford their debt service and/or can’t find the financing they need to stay afloat.

• At best, growth will come to a screeching halt as the creation of new businesses and the expansion/growth of existing businesses are discouraged by the high cost of capital.

• The jobless rate will consistently edge upward as businesses tighten their belts and no new jobs are created.

• Without something to change this equation, a recession seems likely at best.

Second, the schism between the USA/UK coalition on the one hand (pushing for the higher reserve requirement) and the France/Germany coalition on the other hand (against the higher reserve requirement) was very telling. France and Germany don’t have a problem with using public funds as a safety net (read: government bailouts) or are for interventionist policies as a whole. This means they see no need to (additionally) reduce risk because the government will step in if a situation ever gets out of hand.

The USA and UK, on the other hand, are trying to move away from the government intervention we just saw under Bush/Obama. They want to avoid the need for governments to step in by mitigating risk in two ways: by removing the riskiest loans from the table (since banks who can’t lend as much will only keep their safest loans) and by creating the cushion necessary to handle future crises without bailouts.

I guess that of the two, I’m more for the US/UK option, since that is ultimately the option that lets market forces determine financial activity, whereas the idea that the government will always step in (as recently with Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac here in the US) ultimately props up inefficient business practices, leading to bubbles.

However, events like this ultimately drive me to realize that the need for increased regulation (as is true with either option) only exists because of people who attempt to take advantage of others in their drive to satiate themselves. That is, if people instead made an effort to look out for the needs of others in all the arenas of business (rather than just looking out for themselves), they would act not only in their own interests, but also in the interests of their managers, employees, customers, vendors and shareholders; doing so would obviate any need for new regulation as decision-makers (by acting more responsibly) would mitigate their own risk, which would in aggregate, reduce risk as a whole.

A corollary is that rules exist because of rule-breakers, and increased regulation is ultimately a response to increased exploitation. Put another way, legislating morality only works if the people in the system are moral; if immoral people make up a significant enough portion of the system, no amount of increase in the rules will fix the problem.

A second corollary is that rules designed to help fix problems only undermine the freedom of those who don’t need the rules anyway; exploiters will find a way to take advantage of people no matter what rules are in place.

Land of the Free?

The first verse of our national anthem ends with a plaintive question, “O say! Does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” I say “plaintive” because the longer our country exists, it seems, the less freedom we possess.

When I first learned to drive, the daytime speed limit posted everywhere in Kansas outside of cities was seventy miles per hour. When the Kansas Turnpike first opened, the speed limit was eighty. On January 2, 1974 during the administration of President Richard Nixon we lost that freedom everywhere, and it has never been fully restored. If we are to be law-biding citizens, we can only drive fifty-five on many two-lane roads.

When I first began to drive, I was not shackled by a harness that I had to wear. As a small child I stood up in the back seat sometimes so I could see where we were going. No more. That freedom has been taken away from us by a government that treats us as would an over-protective mother. I used to ride in the back of my grandfather’s pickup. We had great fun back there, although I didn’t care for the exhaust smell sometimes. But I can’t offer that treat to my own grandchildren. I hate to think of the fine I would have to pay if a trooper spotted me doing that.


I live here in the vast expanse of the Flint Hills. It’s not hard to imagine a Conestoga wagon or two heading over a distant hill in pursuit of a livelihood out west. Just imagine the freedom the pioneers enjoyed. They didn’t have to pay any income or social security or Medicare or Medicaid tax. They weren’t confined by seat belts or speed limits. They were rugged and hardy. If they survived, it was because they were self-sufficient, self-motivated, and they planned ahead. They had no government safety net to fall back on. They had the freedom to succeed and the freedom to fail. If they failed, they had no one but themselves to blame.

I used to joke that one day the government was going to dictate to me how and when and with what I had to brush my teeth. In the present climate to nationalize healthcare, that joke may become a grim reality.

Which leads me to my point. If you put your trust in man and man’s way of doing things, it will inevitably lead to loss of freedom. Man is not basically good as he was originally created. Something has happened that has seriously corroded his initial goodness. Now, too often, man is a tyrant. He likes to dictate to others how and where and when and if they shall be permitted to live. In short, he likes to control others. The brief history of the Obama administration sadly illustrates my point.

Jesus said, referring to himself, “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Ultimate and complete freedom will never accrue to us humans and our society until we choose to link up with King Jesus. Some day He will return, and I look forward to the freedom that will ensue to all who cast their lot with Him. That’s the only thing that keeps me going as I watch our freedom in this country slip through our collective fingers.

Happy Birthday, America

By Rachel Coleman

Dear America, I hope you receive my best wishes in time for this, your 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. Two and a half centuries of American independence deserve some notice.

I'm so sorry that you won't be getting a party this year.

Hamburgers, ice cream and apple pie are no longer included on the Approved Nutrition List published by Our Leader; too much fat and sugar, which leads to obesity, which is the leading cause of overdrafts in Personal National Health Accounts. For more than a decade, the GovDocs tried time-outs and a sticker chart to motivate the public, but too many citizens were unresponsive to positive reinforcement. Repeated abuses of PNHAs forced Our Leader to outlaw red meat and sugar, along with tobacco, caffeine, high fructose corn syrup, table salt and alcohol.

Health Czar Mary Poppins threatened to limit chili pepper consumption as well; jalapenos and cayennes may cause heart palpitations and passionate outbursts that disrupt the general population's general apathy. However, accusations of discrimination by Citizens Who Like Spicy Food and the Worldwide Food Equity Panel put a halt to that.

But a couple peppers don't make a party.

In spite of our recent alliance with Turko-China, few people purchase fireworks anymore on account of the carbon emissions generated by open flame. Even the old-timers balk at using up three months' worth of their carbon allowance for a few sparkles and booms. We have to budget, even if no one uses air-conditioning much anymore. Summer temperatures around here hardly ever top 80 degrees. I'm talkin' fahrenheit, because I'm just too old to convert every cubic … centimeter of my brain to the Global Measurements.

Global Warming turned out to be a gigantic experiment in mass hypnosis and worldwide propaganda and that shyster Al Gore lost his Prophet's License. Even so, carbon taxes never did roll back. If there's one thing folks won't squander, it's their electricity allowance. Winter's still pretty cold out here in Kansas.

A few renegade cattle ranchers persist in keeping illicit herds. They figure the cow-chip furnace is a better deal than tallying carbon credits. It's a pretty safe bet: the electric cars Government Motors gives the EPA run out of battery power before they reach the farthest corners of cattle country. So you might see a few bottle rockets bursting in air out in the canyon pasturelands. I sure hope so, because I miss a good old-fashioned Fourth of July.

I'm not the only one. Down at the Age Empowerment Center, we talked about trying to organize a Patriotic Parade down Obama Boulevard. A few cantankerous souls flatly and loudly refused, saying "he sold us down the river!" but a group of former librarians, teachers and pastors persisted.

"It's our heritage," we argued. "America is the land of the free —"

"Ha," someone snorted.

"— and the home of the brave." That mention of courage bolstered the timid, especially history buffs. They're still angry about how the Compulsory National School Curriculum changed the description of World War II from "an effort to aid and liberate" Europe to "a conspiracy to raid and obliterate" Europe.

"My grandpa was at Normandy," a tiny, white-haired woman announced, clutching her cane. "I'll march in the parade!"

Only eco-cars are allowed on the toll-roads, even in town, and no person over 50 is issued a permit. That meant our Patriotic Parade would be limited to foot- and cycle traffic. Still, we planned, buoyed by visions of Paul Revere and the horse-riding founders of our country. They didn't need gasoline to rally the people. Some of us still own the old-style flags — Old Glory without the big, blocky fist surrounded by a circle of stars. We knew displaying our outlawed flags in a parade would probably mean confiscation and a fine, maybe even detention, but nostalgia had taken hold.

Our attempts to recruit younger, able-bodied people to push the wheelchairs largely failed. The workers fulfilling their Civil Labor Obligation at the center were not familiar with the Revolutionary War. One agreed with enthusiasm, only to back out when he learned Che Guevara did not take part. We had a brief moment of hope when a nutrition dispenser recognized the name of George Washington.

"Oh, I learned about him at school," she said. "Isn't he the guy who invented wooden teeth?"

To our delight, a 33-year-old man at work in the recycling division volunteered to push a wheelchair.

"I studied to be an engineer," he whispered, "but when I argued with my advisor that the United States was originally a Christian nation, my free university status was terminated. The same thing happened to a lot of my friends. I'll see if they can help."

But it was only when we applied for a Public Gathering Permit that I realized how silly we had been.

"What is the name of your proposed equal-opportunity nonoffensive secular multiperson public event?" asked the clerk.

"A Patriotic Parade," I said. "For Independence Day."

"Date?" she yawned.

"I would think that's obvious," I said.

"Not today's date, Citizen," the clerk said disdainfully. "The date of your proposed —"

"July 4."

"2030?"

"No, this July 4. Next week."

"Government regulations require that organizers of proposed equal-opportunity nonoffensive secular multiperson public events submit DNA samples, a privilege fee of 10 ounces gold and a written request witnessed and signed by two government officials five years in advance," the clerk said in a rapid-fire combination of boredom and glee. Paperwork please."

No one seemed to notice as we left the office. They were watching reruns of Oprah on their tele-spectacles.

I just want you to know I didn't forget it's your day, my country, sweet land of liberty. You make me want to sing. I'll try to do it with pen and ink and less complaining.

Ever since Our Leader suspended postal operations in 2012, right after the Final Election, it's been pretty tricky to get paper documents from place to place. And the Communications Tax Collectors issue hefty fines — a thousand global bucks per paper violation!

It would be cheaper and safer to have the Media Division deduct the usual 10 globals from my 100-a-month pension allowance and send you an ecard. But ecards just don't seem fitting, what with the global holograms embedded in the background and the Restrictions on Language.

I'm pretty sure this sentence would not make it past the Approved Language List: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

Nope. This outdated patriot will take the risk and send my greetings by carrier pigeon. If the message falls into the wrong hands and my name is moved to an unfavorable data base, so be it. You, the symbol of Liberty and Justice, are worthy of personal sacrifice. Thank you for the years of freedom you provided. Forgive me for not doing more to keep you strong.

I regret that I have only this birthday card to offer my country.

A New Year Parable

Sixteen-year-old Jerry Smith came home from his first day at school in the New Year with a perplexed look on his face. “Dad,” he began, “my English teacher gave me this essay assignment, and I don’t have a clue what to write about. I am supposed to write a thousand word essay on what I can do to make the world a better place.”

“Did she give you any ideas?” asked Dad.

“Yeah, she suggested we might want to write something about what we can do to stop climate change.” He rolled his eyes.

His Dad chuckled. “You don’t seem to be too enthused…”

Jerry slouched down in the easy chair. “Not quite. From what I’ve figured out sunspots have a lot more to do with global warming than man-made carbon dioxide ever could. What can I do to reduce sunspots? Not much. What are your ideas, Dad?”

The elder Smith paused and stretched out on the couch. There were a few moments of silence. Finally, he began with a question: “How about writing about prayer?”

“Prayer? How can I write a thousand words on prayer?”

“Let’s try it this way. What are the two or three biggest trouble spots in the world you can think of right now?”

Jerry grew thoughtful. “Well, I suppose our US economy is in rough shape right now. People are losing their jobs and people are losing their homes and their life-savings.”

“Good!” his dad responded. “What else?”

“Well, there’s a war going on between Israel and Hamas. That’s a real trouble spot, especially if a country like Iran gets involved.”

“They’re already involved, son. They are funding and arming the Palestinians in Gaza.”

“OK,” Jerry countered, “but how does prayer fit into all this? That was your suggestion, you know.”

“Here’s my idea, son. You can take it or leave it. There’s not too much you and I can do to fix America’s economy, except pray. There’s not too much you and I can do to bring peace to the middle east, but pray.

“I’ve read in the Bible that ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.’ I figure maybe we are having economic difficulties because God has a thing or two to teach us. Maybe we as a country aren’t living the way He wants us to. Maybe the best thing we could do for our country is to pray God will change Americans’ hearts to turn back to Him.”

“Maybe,” Jerry countered, “but what about the war in the Middle East?”

Jerry’s dad responded, “I read some time ago in one of the psalms that we are supposed to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Our prayer should go something like this: ‘May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.’ I expect only God can bring peace to Jerusalem.”

For the first time, Jerry looked thoughtful. “Hey, that could take more than a thousand words! Thanks, Dad. At least you’ve given me something to think about.”

The Delusion of Relaxed Standards

Our country is in the midst of a credit crisis that Warren Buffet calls “an economic Pearl Harbor.” President Bush recently proposed a $700 billion financial-markets bailout. When you add in the US Government’s take-over of American International Group, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the amount for which we taxpayers initially will be liable will probably exceed $1 trillion.

How did this disaster come about? There are many answers, but one reason is a relaxation of standards. After the Great Depression, Congress, in 1930, passed the Glass-Steagall Act, which barred commercial banks from being "engaged principally" in securities business. In 1986 the Federal Reserve Board re-interpreted the law to mean that banks can have 5 percent of gross revenues from securities. In 1996 that figure rose to 25 percent!

In a related area, many well-meaning politicians began enacting mortgage lending legislation under the presumption that owning one’s own home was an entitlement all Americans should enjoy. Standards were relaxed. They mandated that banks comply. Potential home-owners no longer had to be as credit-worthy, or make a 20 percent deposit, or hold the same job for a lengthy period of time, as before. Welfare checks could count as salary. Predictably, many people purchased homes they could not really afford, especially if the housing market collapsed. When their mortgage rates adjusted upwards, many could no longer make the necessary payments and they defaulted, which sent the housing market into a tailspin. Now, the President and leaders of both parties are asking the taxpayers to pick up the tab for other peoples’ unwise investments. On Monday, Sept. 29, 2008, the US House rejected the proposed bailout and the Dow Jones fell by 700 points.

Not surprisingly, many people operate under the assumption that God, like the US Government, is an Affirmative Action Advocate. If we don’t quite measure up to His standards, it’s OK. He will just drop the bar a little lower so we can qualify. I can have a little dishonesty here, and a smidgen of lust there. I can covet, and under-report my income, but that’s OK – God will still let me into heaven! Sadly, we delude ourselves. With our tendency to relax standards, we have recreated God in our own likeness and image. We have invented a cosmic immortal Santa Claus who hands out forgiveness even to those who don’t think they really need it.

God is not an Affirmative Action God. He is a holy God who never relaxes His standards, not even once! Any sin, even eating forbidden fruit, is deadly, and will alienate us from the Almighty.

Here’s the truth. God loves each person in the world so much He offered up His Son to pay the Death Penalty for all human sinners. God has pre-packaged an incredible gift bailout for all our sins! But it wasn’t free! He paid the entire cost Himself in Jesus! But no gift is worth anything until it is actually opened. Have you embraced Jesus, God’s only remedy for your sin?

Animal Rights Activists Piggy Back on Global Warming

Just when we think we’ve heard the last word in lunacy in the pseudo crisis of global warming, someone comes along to make us shake our heads in disbelief once again. According to Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the left wing United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, if we want to make a personal and effective sacrifice to combat “climate change,” we should all eliminate meat from our diet one day a week. That is true, claim the global-warming fear-mongers, because, according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, meat production and its associated industries account for one fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. We should be especially aware that the flatulence of cows, along with other ruminants, emits methane, which is twenty three times more effective as a global warming mechanism than is carbon dioxide.

Can we conservatives be forgiven for thinking that this might be merely a bait-and-switch ploy to further the agenda of the animal-rights activists? Cry me a river.