First let me start by saying this is a bad piece of legislation.  We The People are tired of being duped by our legislators.  The spin on issues is out of control and the current mob that runs Maryland has mastered the art of passing legislation under the guise of protecting the people while they are picking our pockets.

In a message from Chief Jim Johnson posted on the Baltimore County web site, the first line reads, “The speed camera has one goal – public safety.”  That statement is a falsehood and this is why:

• If public safety is the ONE goal, wouldn’t we be better off to post police officers at these locations running speed traps?  The revenue from citations could cover the cost and we would have the extra protection of a physical presence against gangs, child molesters, predators and speeding cars as well.
• Tickets are sent to the owner of the vehicle rather than the offender that we are supposedly being threatened by.
• Who pays the ticket when a county vehicle (with a hazardous unsafe driver) receives a ticket?
• The amounts of the fines will increase.
• If cameras prevented crime, why are banks still being robbed?
• Baltimore County alone could receive over $100 million/year in revenue. (Keep in mind that is real dollars from the residents in our county alone.)
• 50% of the take will be going to a private contractor. (I wonder who they are?) I would much rather see that money paid to our police officers to support the local economy.  Keep our $$ here.

These are just some of the issues that were brought to our attention throughout the process and I am reminded of the federal legislation that has been shot through.  When people start reading the bills and deciphering their true intent, a whole new picture emerges.  This legislation is not about public safety; this is a way to pull more of the hard earned dollars out of the citizen’s pockets and use them in the “Father Knows Best” machine that has plagued Annapolis for decades.  In the upcoming elections of 2010 I can only hope we can send a clear message that we know better how to spend our money than they do.

In an effort to derail the money grab for the Maryland slush fund, many efforts have been made to attempt solutions to safety concerns without further damaging We The People’s financial situation, especially in this recession.  One such request centered on placing large speed bumps in rural areas where children are playing or in school.  The cost would be minimal, easily maintained and test areas could be established to monitor their effectiveness without damaging We The People’s wallets or rights.  This also improves the reliability of the safety net, as it is a year round 24-hour solution.  As we all know, once the cameras are in place and people learn to manage them, the speeding drivers will slow down just long enough not to receive a ticket and then continue on there way once they are out of the watchful eye of the camera.

In response to this legislation, We The People have decided to assemble for a Rally to Stop Speed Cameras on the night of the actual vote.  The message is getting out to our elected officials that grass roots efforts have pulled back the curtain and we can see them.  This is the perfect opportunity for We The People to show congruency in our efforts to send a clear message.  So when I next hear the question, “But what can I do?” my answer will be easy, join We The People in rallies and demonstrations, write your representatives, call and e-mail your legislators and VOTE to show our disapproval of the way they are spending our hard earned money.  We know who has to pay the bills they have created and we are shutting down their line of credit!  WE THE PEOPLE!

September 8, 2009 at 6PM

Rally to Stop Speed Cameras

See you there!

First allow me to address one of the top controversial issues, which is the “yelling and name calling” at Town Hall meetings touted as unnecessary by the proponents of the current health care bill.  While I do not condone anyone name calling, whether it is people referring to concerned citizens as “The Mob” or politicians being referred to as Nazi’s, I will say I can find cause for their outrage.

That being said, we have to remember that concerned citizens didn’t start protesting in the streets in January when there were executive orders being signed  faster than any President in history.  People weren’t hanging Congress members in effigy when the Stimulus Bill was passed without the opportunity to read it or understand what ramifications (or the lack thereof) it may have.  You wouldn’t have found a group of citizens clamoring at the state house stairs when a monstrous Omnibus Bill was passed with the speed of lightening.  Citizens finally realized that Congress had gone plum deaf and  started practicing “Father Knows Best” politics and that is when the first of the citizens started demonstrating in the streets in April.  Why? No one seems to be listening.  Does it make all of the techniques OK?  No, but Congress tabled one of the most controversial and potentially damaging bills in the history of the USA in HB3200.    They did it because concerned citizens, every day people made enough noise. I am sorry some felt the need to shout inappropriate things, but in the end, we will all need to thank them at some point.

Just today I was reading an article where the President used the term “all wee- weed up” in referring to opponents of HR 3200.  His dismissive tone was offensive when he addressed the honest concerns of the citizens regarding HR 3200.  Gibbs explained this as “wetting the bed or getting nervous for no reason.”  I disagree; there is reason for alarm.  While no one, even Obama himself can seem to tell us what IS in the bill, what we are certain of is that we do not want this important piece of legislation shot through the cannon of a bastardized version of the legislative process.

There is no one out there who thinks our health care system cannot be improved.  The questions I am looking at are the following.

• Why is Torte Reform not included in the bill?
• Should we try and formulate systems to stem out billions in fraud in our current systems (Medicare/Medicaid)  before we take the plunge into the even bigger unknown of socialized medicine? (While some are squeamish about the word socialism, what they are trying to pass cannot be denied as socialized.)  How can we possibly manage a system 7 times as large without the obvious realization that fraud will only increase?

• Where is the legislation that permits tax-free dollars to be applied to health care savings accounts that roll over indefinitely?  Is there room for discussion on allowing some sort of medical “401K” and could that have an application for lifetime learning and self-responsibility?

These are only a few of the questions that are being raised.  While people say these issues may not be the solution, they do not have huge over reaching negative implications on the system of government that we have fought for centuries to maintain.  If we pass a bill that reforms these areas, we would be able to integrate them nearly immediately without creating any more huge bureaucratic agencies.  I wonder what kind of opposition we would see to such a proposal.

Obviously, I am not a proponent of HR3200 or any other socialized medicine program.  Law should be fair and equitable for all and should not usurp the rights of others.  I am unequivocally opposed to some of the language in this bill as it seems to single out certain people who will or will not receive coverage or have an option to join it.  I am absolutely opposed to any program which systematically allows some groups to “opt out” of the proposed plan.  I am opposed to funding new projects that are touted as being ” deficit neutral” when there isn’t one of us who believes that.  If the bill is so good, why do I keep hearing that everyone else is lying about the negatives but no one is willing to sit down and explain to us how the “good” parts work.  If it walks like a duck my friends…

Let’s hope there will be a reform bill that actually reforms the system instead of dismantling it.  The American people deserve that; they have worked hard for it.  Listen up DC, we are all watching and we are not fooled by the spin.  Shoot it straight or expect that we will call you out if we find cause.  Let us define a bill by its merit, not by its expediency.

The attendees of tonight’s meeting were people from every walk of life.  I stood in line next to a woman whose husband is a physician.  Her concerns were very different from another senior citizen who was sitting not far from me, but they both had one thing in common… NO NATIONALIZED HEALTH CARE.

While the media has been representing these meetings as trumped up fringe GOPers, this meeting was filled with every day regular citizens who are wondering why our government has taken the “father knows best” approach to legislation;  I have a feeling they will keep yelling until they feel like someone is listening.

For me, the meeting was very exciting for no more reason than to see that many citizens have become  engaged in the workings of government.  While I still believe we are citizens of the greatest nation in the world, we have seen a reawakening of our history.  The founding documents have been searched more, the Founding Fathers are being quoted in conversation and the American people are engaged in conversation every day that leads to better understanding of how we became a nation of patriots.

At the end of the day, Ben Cardin will still vote the party line.  He can stand there and tell us that he will not sign a bill that rations care for our seniors, that he will not sign a bill that includes “non-residents” in the health care coverage, but if the screws are put to Senator Cardin, the voice of his constituents will be drowned out by the promise of Democratic PAC money to support his next run for office, which I think he is going to need.

When it comes to hope and change, I hope we have the fortitude to change our legislature into one that is held accountable to the people, by the people and for the people… with liberty and justice FOR ALL!

Towson Town Hall

Benjamin Franklin was first, well…  just an all around good man.  He practiced tolerance, temperance, resolution, justice and many more virtues.  In fact, if you look close enough, there were 13 virtues that he regularly practiced, one a week and then repeated them when he was through.  He was an inventor, philosopher, philanthropist and patriot who believed in the true good of human kind.  We would do well to have more men like him today as I am afraid than many of those virtues are nearly lost in our society.

Why all the wonderful words to tell the story of Benjamin Franklin?  Today was spent visiting good, honest, hard working, patriotic citizens who have tried to take full advantage of the American dream.  In my travels I met business owners and their employees (which sometimes speak more about the character of the employer than the employer can himself.)

After a long day I came home, sent out a few e-mails and had 2 beautiful boys wake up from their nap.  They were ready to play and it was quite nice out side, so we ventured into the neighborhood to see what we could find.  Many of the neighborhood children were playing and my oldest son AJ was running in front of our house and accidentally knocked open the mailbox with his hand.   He pulled out a plain white envelope and handed it to me.  When I opened it  I found a small note that simply said…

Any society that would give up a little

Liberty to gain a little security will

Deserve neither and lose both.

Ben F.

In the envelope with the note was a money order worth $50 addressed to Friends of Rani Merryman, signed by none other than Benjamin Franklin (in a penmanship not unlike what I might think his hand actually looked like.)  After a hard day, this was exactly the message I needed.  Someone got me.  Someone heard what I am truly interested in conveying.  While I can only hope to achieve a fraction of what Mr. Franklin did, I was at least successful in conveying my message to 1 other person.  It is true, 10 people who speak make more noise than 10,000 who are silent – Napoleon Bonaparte.

To you, Mr. Franklin, whoever you are… I cannot tell you how reaffirming your contribution was.  It was quite the highlight of my day, but here is where I am going to ask that you break your anonymity.   The campaign finance laws are clear; every bit of money that is brought in must be documented.  There must be a name and address attached to every bit of it.  I absolutely appreciate your sentiment, but I am afraid, though I considered it long and hard, that I cannot break the very laws that you are willing to hire me to protect.

I thought of saying nothing and framing it for motivation, which also would be a waste.  There is someone out there who has worked hard for that $50; if I cannot use it in this form, I would like to return it.   I have always said that I must hold onto my moral fiber through the political quagmire and this in some ways was a test for me.  I have done what I see as the right thing and I hope that you understand.  I would be most happy if you would contact me and allow me to straighten out the matter.

He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money. – Ben Franklin

Some will say that I should be careful about the conversations that I have on this Blog… that words can be used against me.  Here is what I will say to that….There are a few among us that will say that our nation is being pulled apart by the issues that are being legislated on a daily basis.  There are no good solutions that are coming out of legislation being passed.  It is personal agenda after personal agenda being shoved through without thought of consequence or future harm versus good.

The argument being made tonight was in large part the argument that the GOP was full of old white haired paid off big Whigs whose main goal was to line their pockets.  I wish I could whole heartily disagree but unfortunately, I cannot.  There is indeed a faction of those among us.  What was not discussed in length, nor admitted to was the fact that those degenerates exist in both major parties.

Where do the American people stand?  They stand in a place, right now, today where trust has been so misused and betrayal runs so deep that none can seem to be trusted.  What is the answer?  Is the answer to throw them all out and start over?  If we take all of them out of play, can we dismantle the machine?  In some cases, we would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.  As a side note, that is truly the perfect expression.  It comes from a place long ago when there was no running water.  When they would boil hot water for a bath, the whole family would bathe in the same water… you must keep in mind that this was not a daily or weekly occurrence, but in many cases a monthly occurrence.  They would bathe from eldest to youngest, and by the time it was time for the baby, the water was often so muddy and murky, the baby could get lost in it.  So is that where we are?  Has it become so dirty in our legislatures that we can no longer distinguish if the baby is even in there?

My major grievance with the most current legislation, the Cap and Trade, is that it will hurt those whom the Democratic Party professes to be helping.  For those in the middle or upper income bracket, we will cut out date nights or dinner out once a month.  For those who the Democratic Party champions, it could indeed mean the difference between food or heat.  For me, this is the most abhorrent of betrayals.

In the current Cap and Trade Bill, there is no option.  You pay the tax.  There is no option offered to erect a wind mill in your back yard to avoid the taxes even if you would choose to go green if you could, you must simply pay them.  There is no option given.  What will this do?  Drive people who may be just above the line of making it into a position where they must now rely on government subsidy to exist, creating yet more dependence.  Is this the idea of the ones who profess to want to help those who are just barely making it?  It makes we wonder what sinister plan is in the works to create people who need you.  Our government is suffering from Munchhausen by Proxy.  We have come to a state where we are purposefully creating dependence in an effort to fund our personal agendas, make them sick, help them get “better” and look like the hero.

While I sit and look at this, I can only think that the American people must shake off our current regime like a bad case of fleas.  The only way that I see to combat this kind of folly is to cut them out of the equation.  Teach a man to fish.  Private enterprise can do many of the jobs that are done by government while giving pride and meaningful assistance to it’s beneficiaries.  Is there a void that can be filled with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity ?  People are helped without detriment.  People donate their time to help and the recipients are dually engaged in their own benefit.  These are the directions our legislature should be headed.  If you want to help, than help a man help himself.  Our forefathers did not write the Declaration of Dependence, but rather the Declaration of Independence that championed the American Spirit, which today is still echoed in every corner of our union.

Perhaps we have lost the muscle memory of that Independence.  We may be rusty and once again have the need to re-involve ourselves in our communities, because it is the right thing to do, not because it is mandated by some “Father Knows Best” politician.  We are the American people.  We can heal our nation and create, yet again the spirit of a people who are proud and capable.  Yes, we can… not yes, we can profess to.

As I looked around I saw good family people who were there saying enough is enough.  The line up of speakers ranged from your everyday citizen who has researched local tax issues and informed us of their consequence to seasoned politicians who disagree with the bills that were passed in Annapolis this year.

The Baltimore TEA Party was just as lively, with about the same number of participants.  Again the speakers ranged from concerned patriots to politicians and candidates.  The overtones were more about awareness and understanding the path we are forging as a nation than hate and bashing of current legislators.  No one seemed to care about how we got here or who was to blame, but instead we were focused on the reality that we are faced with and righting the listing spendthrift governments in both Annapolis and Washington, D.C.

This is a call to action.  The TEA party for me is the best way to express that we all must become educated and involved in the workings of our government.  We must know what our candidates stand for.  There is not one citizen who’s voice is not important.  There is not one citizen who doesn’t care what happens to our country.  They may echo sentiments of apathy, but in truth I find they are simply overwhelmed.  Who is it that has time to follow the 700 bills introduced in Annapolis in just this session?  Who can listen to enough talk radio to understand the bills that our congress doesn’t even read?  No one that I know.  It is not that our citizens are apathetic, they are simply overwhelmed.  What is it that we could possibly find to write 700 bills on? With what conscious do legislators in Washington pass bills that they have not read?  What party loyalty could be more important than a loyalty to protect the citizens you have taken an oath to protect?

There are a lot of questions about what will happen in the next election, regarding state, local and federal candidates.  I can personally tell you that my crystal ball has been in the shop since the 70′s and can offer no help in that arena.  I can tell you what I would like to see.  I would like to see every bureaucrat who sells out his constituents for an invitation to the governors mansion or the promise of campaign donations kicked to the curb.  I am an eternal optimist.  I will always have hope that the worse it gets, the more people wake up, though it is sad that it has come to that.    You simply cannot continue on the path that we have before the bump in the road becomes a sink hole we cannot dig our selves out of.  While I will not speak for others, I refuse to be the cause of enlisting my children to dig me out of a hole that I didn’t fight to fill in myself.

If you would like to read the speech I gave at the TEA Parties, you can find it here.