Houston Area Liberty Campaign

Please read below for a narrative from HALC member Paul Smith regarding his recent correspondences with U S Rep. Michael McCaul’s office. Rep McCaul needs to go back to 7th grade Government class!  What an idiot McCaul is!  Maybe *****Joe Petronis***** will run against him again in the primary–and beat him this time and be elected in the General Election!
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I recently corresponded with Congressman McCaul on the issue of Obama’s ineligibility to be our POTUS and especially on the forged birth certificate which Obama posted to the White House web site (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/birth-certificate-long-form.pdf).  His response (below my sig block) was simply unacceptable.  In his opening paragraph, McCaul said: “As you know, the Constitution requires that the President of the United States be a naturalized citizen.”
WHAT?!?  Are you kidding me?  That’s not what the Constitution says!  He went on to provide four more lies:

“[I]t is my understanding that Federal Election Commission (FEC), the Federal Courts, and the Republican Governor of Hawaii have certified that the President’s Hawaiian birth certificate is genuine and the President is a United States citizen.”

• The FEC has no authority to vet presidential candidates and likely never even saw any documentation.The federal courts have never even heard an eligibility case much less ruled on the merits of the issue.
• As a matter of fact, Chief Justice Roberts admitted (with a grin and a chuckle) that they were avoiding that issue. 
• Hawaii has never verified that any of the three released COLBs were valid documents or contained valid information.
• The fact that Obama is a citizen (unverified so far) does NOT make him a natural born citizen (eligible to be the POTUS.) 

McCaul doesn’t know the definition of ‘natural born citizen’ (see http://naturalborncitizen.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/minor-v-happersett-is-binding-precedent-as-to-the-constitutional-definition-of-a-natural-born-citizen/ and the following article (link at top of that page)).

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By Benito Segovia

Newsweek, the quintessential mainstream media publication (not a compliment) embodying all things globalism and collectivism, recently published an article titled “The Triumphant Return of Hayek” by Ruchir Sharma. When this exciting headline popped up I was tickled but wary – determined to discover what twist, if any, the story held for the Austrian School and its leader Hayek.

To my delight the article correctly described the public’s growing criticism of Keynesian-backed policy and the growing favor of Austrian School ideas. Yet ultimately concluded that it was distortions of Keynesianism and monetarism that lead to the systematic failure of these policies.

“Keynes would probably never have supported big government deficits during boom times, such as those that led to our current debt crisis. Likewise, Friedman would probably not have backed the new Fed use of monetary policy as a tool to engineer expansion rather than merely cushion the pain in a downturns.”

Sharma also continues the national narrative that unchecked free markets and sound money caused the Great Depression. At least he points toward high-tax policy as a contributing factor.

“Faith in the market’s purging power served the U.S. well in the 19th century, when the economy emerged stronger after each recession, but was taken too far in the policy mix of tight money and high taxes that led to the Great Depression and the rise of the Keynesians.”

I’m disappointed that a more candid assessment of the Austrian School wasn’t given a lead role in this article but at least it’s entering into the mainstream discussion. As they say in show business; any publicity is good publicity.

By Benito Segovia

HOUSTON TX – Just days after more than 70 red-light cameras were turned off thanks to a voter mandate, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it will be installing “250 to 300 cameras at downtown intersections in an effort to prevent and fight terrorism and crime.”

Although the timing of this announcement was likely coincidental, it couldn’t look worse for city officials. Almost immediately after a public mandate that such cameras be removed, DHS swoops in to install hundreds more.

While it is still unclear when the original red-light cameras are going to be removed, more than 50 DHS cameras have already been installed, with many more scheduled for installation this summer. The cameras are currently installed around the George R. Brown convention center, Discovery Green Park, the theater district and Minute Maid Park.

Big Brother at Home

The camera footage can be monitored in real-time from multiple locations. This is touted as way to allow police to monitor events remotely instead of staffing events in-person. (It has yet to be seen if this high-tech measure will reduce the cost of city security fees and permits for those holding such events.)

This measure has received opposition from both privacy advocates and budget hawks. Privacy advocates oppose the move because it would give the State an unprecedented look into the daily goings-on of average citizens. While others counter that there is no expectation of privacy in pubic places.

Incrementalism and The New Surveillance Society

Barry Klein, long-time Houston property rights and liberty activist, argued that the cameras would move citizens “deeper into the world of the surveillance society.”  His point is well taken.

In the UK where citizens are accustomed to 24/7 surveillance measures, horrifying levels of privacy invasion are becoming more common. Last July Read the rest of this entry »

By: John Jay Meyers ( recent Libertarian candidate for U.S. Congress, CD 32, Buckingham/Carrollton/Farmers Branch/Richardson/University Park TX area)

With all the naked viewing and groping going on, I wonder if this is the United States of America or the back room of an adult video store.  We have two major problems here, the TSA and their intrusive unconstitutional invasions of our rights, and the bigger question of why are we turning into a police state. 

Let’s start with the TSA.  How many passengers have I seen interviewed on TV who all share the notion that “If it makes us safer then I think it is a good idea. I just want to get to my destination in one piece.”  Not only does this presume that the government is more capable at assuring safety than private citizens, but it also illustrates an alarming trend in this country where we have become willing to so easily trade freedom for the illusion of safety (or prosperity, or charity). 

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[as posted on The Campaign for Liberty website on 10/06/10 4:03 PM, by Debbie McKee]

My letter to the editor published in the Greenville Herald Banner 10.03.10 with additional notes.

I attended the Texas Redistricting committee hearing last week in Richardson.  I testified, saying that although I’m a member or organizer for several different grassroots groups I was there to represent myself and I felt confident that I was speaking for millions of Texans. 

1.  I urged them to be fair, independent and non-partisan, do what is best for Texas.  40% of Texans consider themselves politically independent. 

2.  I urged them to get this worked out before the session starts and to not let this issue bog it down.  There are many vital issues to address and we don’t want valuable time wasted fighting over this.

3.  I urged them to put blindfolds on and do NOTHING to protect ANY seats.  Too many have been in office for far too long, and if their district gets redrawn, they can run for office like anyone else.  I urged them to be open and transparent about the entire process, no back room deals.

I neglected to mention one issue, frankly because I couldn’t imagine that it WAS an issue.  The longer I sat (I was there for over 4 hours) and listened to comments from committee members (half of whom were not present at any given time), and the testimonies, the more I realized that it WAS an issue.  Carving out districts for “communities of interest”.  There are some genuinely racist folks in ALL groups, but I truly believe the vast majority of Texans are color blind.  We look past skin color or last name and judge people based on their character. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Mises Daily: Friday, June 18, 2010 by Aaron Smith

In our society of victims, entrepreneurs are blamed for many of the hardships that ail our economy. Whether it is because of high prices, low wages, or substandard economic conditions, they are often accused of exploitation in their quest for profits.

The real victims in our economy, however, are usually not workers who voluntarily enter contracts to sell their labor nor consumers who voluntarily purchase products and services but instead entrepreneurs who are involuntarily subjected to the not-so-invisible hand of our government caretakers. Somehow, it seems completely reasonable to overtly exploit entrepreneurs for their resources in the name of preventing the potential exploitation of anyone else.

Price floors and price ceilings are two sides of the same coin; both of them are economically irrational and morally unjust.

Legislators often garner popular support for measures that exploit entrepreneurs by citing ostensibly alarming data: Exxon Mobile made $45.2 billion in profits in 2008 when gas prices eclipsed $4.00; they’re price gouging! The average compensation of Fortune 500 companies in 2009 was $9.25 million, yet they’re paying unskilled workers only $7.25; the minimum wage is too low!

While drawing such illogical conclusions wouldn’t score a teenager any critical-reading points on the SAT, it does help legislators get bills passed in Congress.

A recent victim of the government’s crusade against entrepreneurs is American Samoa, where in 2007 Congress dictated a 61% increase in its minimum wage as part of the Fair Minimum Wage Act, despite forceful pleas to the contrary from the island of 65,000. As the Wall Street Journal recently reported, StarKist, one of Samoa’s largest employers, will reduce its Samoan workforce 60% by 2011, which they directly attribute to the new wage floor. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones scaling back in Samoa; Chicken of the Sea closed its operations last September, forcing over 2,000 additional Samoans into unemployment. Read the rest of this entry »

The following article is long but a very informative read that provides a solution to the economic and political issues the are seriously threatening this country.  I recommend you take the time to read this and understand that this may be what we American Citizens must do to correct this wrongful government.
 
Demand Liberty,
Bruce
 
HOW TO FIGHT CONSPIRACIES AND WIN

When someone at last discovers that some conspiracy has taken over this or that institution, he gets into a mentality that sees conspiracies everywhere. Anyone who finally accepts the fact that one or more conspiracies have been operating for one or more centuries to control the affairs of his nation, or even the whole world, has a tendency to see everything in terms of conspiracies. He begins to attribute to this or that conspiracy the ability to forecast the future almost perfectly, to control the future almost perfectly, and to thwart all attempts of critics to deflect the conspiracy from its agenda.

Over 40 years ago, the man who would later be my father-in-law, R. J. Rushdoony, warned me about this attitude. He called these people “gravediggers.” This was before Phyllis Schlafly used the phrase. He called them gravediggers because he equated them with people who are required by their executioners to dig their own graves before the executioners execute them. This saves work for the executioners. Rushdoony’s point was that conservatives tend to dig their own graves, with the result that their enemies have much less trouble disposing of them. I have found over the years that his assessment was accurate. Read the rest of this entry »

[Forwarded to HALC.us editor by Pam of the Brazos Valley Campaign for Liberty.]

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Somehow, the perky Katie Couric missed this.

Stop the Mosque at Ground Zero
Part II

June 16, 2010, New York , N.Y. ,   –  by El Marco

Americans Stand Up Against Radical Islam in New York – We Will Not Submit!

Not one major network sent a satellite truck or camera crew to this event. Without bloggers this newsworthy event would have remained unknown to the public and history

On Sunday, June 6th, a multi-ethnic, multi-racial coalition of Americans opposed to Islamic violence and intolerance rallied at the site of the World Trade Center in New York City.

9/11 families were joined by immigrants from India, Russia, Egypt, Israel, Africa, Iran and Europe to show opposition to the construction of a mega-mosque at Ground Zero. Others flew in from overseas to speak or just to share their particular ethnic communities’ experiences at the hands of Muslims.

These are parents and spouses of firefighters killed on 9/11. The rally took place just a minute’s walk from Ladder 10 Firehouse, where their loved ones were stationed for duty that terrible day. Ladder 10 lost seven firefighters.

Crowd estimates ranged from 5,000 (NYPD) to 10,000. The crowd overflowed the police barrier enclosures that ran the full length of two city blocks. This photo shows the enclosure in front of the stage at the intersection of Liberty and Church Streets. The second enclosure ran the length of the next block and can be seen on the other side of the traffic lights.

Continue reading story and view comments here.

I saw this a few years back… an acquaintance sent this to me again.  Thanks to Tony S, group leader on The Colony Co-Op.
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How to Catch a Wild Hog…
August 15, 2007
By Lowell E. Hedges

wild hog in search of free corn

I can best explain my concern about the new congress’s agenda, by using this analogy given to me by a former student of mine. Several years ago I was supervising a beginning teacher in a city school system.

One day during our end-of-the-day feedback conference, the young man gave a facial grimace and began to rub his back. I asked him if he had strained his back in the school lab.

After a long period of silence, he sat down at his desk and explained that he had immigrated to the United States because of political problems in his native country. The discomfort in his back was caused by a bullet wound he had received while fighting the Communists who were trying to take over his country’s government. He was then a member of the underground nationalist force.

Then he asked me a surprising question: “Dr. Hedges, do you know how to catch a wild hog?”

The question was completely out of context regarding the day’s classroom and lab teaching. I replied, “I’m not sure what you are talking about. Tell me?”

“First,” he said, “you find out where the wild hogs are roaming and feeding and then you put some corn out in the field. Soon they will come to eat the corn. You keep putting out the free corn. More wild hogs keep coming to eat the corn.”

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[From Wallbuilders.com, edited for content]

Two hundred thirty-four years ago, 56 Founding Fathers pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor – putting literally  their lives, their monies, and their reputations on the line – to guarantee freedom for future generations. Because of their sacrifices, America is still the longest on-going constitutional republic in the history of the world. This is a blessing that we too often take for granted.

Typical Fourth of July celebrations include cookouts, firework shows, days at amusement parks, or any other number of frivolous activities. However, when the Founders reflected on what they felt upcoming Fourth of July celebrations might – and should – look like, John Adams said it should also be a day when we remembered God’s hand in deliverance and a day of religious activities when we committed ourselves to Him in “solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”

The importance of remembering God’s Hand in American independence was passed from generation to generation – illustrated by John Quincy Adams’ famous 1837 oration in which he reminded Americans:

The birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. It forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation. The Declaration of Independence . . . laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.

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