With Congress on their summer break and Town Hall type meetings gearing up around the country, we can’t let the titles given us by the Left deter us.

The double standard is alive and well! The Left/Right battle is on and it’s obvious we, the right, have the upper hand. And how do I conclude this? Just think of all the rhetoric come from the Left. Let’s look at some of their “Catch” phrases – “Right Wing Extremists”, “Manufactured Rage”, “Right Wing Zealots” and “Mobs”. And now, the White House has set up an email address  ( flag@whitehouse.com )so that “Disinformation”, as they call it, about the Health Care Reform bill can be forwarded to them. (I encourage everyone to send off an email to this address with their concerns.) I am a huge believer that information is best gotten right from the horse’s mouth.

My concerns with some attendees of these Town Hall meetings and other rallies have agendas geared to devalue the importance of our participation. There are hundreds of video clips out there showing honest citizens voicing their opinions and asking some tough questions of their elected officials. However, we MUST refrain from violence. To resort to violence would be an enormous slap in the face to those who shed their blood to defend our Freedoms and Liberties.

We must be firm yet respectable. Yes, I do agree that we are shown little or no respect by the administration and many of our elected officials. Violence begets violence. Most of us are very passionate about our beliefs as we support the traditions and values of which this nation was built on. The Founding Documents are close to our hearts. But we must control our passion and conduct ourselves civilly. The 1^st Amendment protects our right to assembly and freedom of speech. However, it does not protect or condone violent acts committed upon another. We MUST be better than that, better than those who wish us harm, better than those how wish to control us.

As I noted above, we have been called “Mobs”. Webster’s dictionary defines Mob:  1. The lower classes of a community; the populace, or the lowest part of it. 2. Hence:  A throng:  a rabble:  esp., an unlawful or riotous assembly; a disorderly crowd. This is what the Political Left is promoting by airing ads which portray us anti-government, anti health care. As one of my daughters regularly writes, “PFFFFTTTTT!

We are only anti-government when our government is anti-citizen. We are only anti health care when our government wants to take control of it, and our personal health and choices. We find it unlawful when OUR government violates the Rule of Law and The Constitution they are sworn to protect. And when we voice our opinions and concerns, we are ignored; we are ridiculed; we are labeled as “Extremists” and “Zealots”. We are accused of being funded by high power, Republican leaders.

WE ARE NONE OF THESE! As our Founding Fathers, we are Patriots, determined in the preservation of our great nation, diligent in our pursuit of a FAIR, REPRESENTITIVE GOVERNMENT, dedicated to returning our country to the fundamental values of a republic. We fight for the good of the nation in whole and not just a few select groups, privileged groups. We are sick of entitlements, handouts and bailouts. We are sick of seeing our hard earned money – our property, our Liberty – go to those who sit at home, without cause, with their hands outstretched. We are sick of seeing OUR government moving into and taking control of private companies. And now, working towards making decisions about who among us live and die based on our individual value to society.

Now, more than ever, is the time to wake up our voices and be heard. Demand from your elected officials their ear; let them know just how important YOUR vote is.

Voice and Vote – Not Violence! Obama is bringing CHANGE. But the CHANGE he is bringing is the awakening of the silent majority, those of us who just wished to be left alone to raise our families in the greatest country on earth, to go about our daily business without our government interfering, dictating how, when and why. Obama has poked his stick, once too often, into the den of “The Sleeping Giant” as many have done before – The British in 1776, the Japanese during WWII, The Taliban, 9/11. He too will fall, as did the others, but by Voice and Vote – Not Violence.

WE ARE AMERICANS! PATRIOTS! We must remember the words as they were written by our Founding Fathers, also Patriots;

“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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Why am I skeptical? Why do I refer to these opportunists ill informed? Let me explain, in my own opinion.

To start off with, the feds are throwing money at a problem once again. As the initial $1 billion has been exhausted, Congress is working to appropriate another $2 billion in additional funding for the program. That’s another $2 billion of YOUR tax dollars. They just love to spend other people’s money. Let’s stop this out of control spending!

Now let’s look at some specifics. The main promotion of this program is to get the older, gas guzzlers off the roads by luring consumers into the dealerships to buy new, more fuel efficient vehicles. This in itself is a good idea. However, there is much more to this program than meets the eye.

The rules are not that difficult and any dealer will help you through the process. You, your vehicle, qualifies for the program if the new vehicle you are purchasing gets better fuel economy than the clunker you’re trading in. If the difference is 10 mpg or greater, you will receive the full $4500. But what if your trade-in is actually worth more? Sorry Charlie, you’re out of luck, it will still be a max of $4500. With this in mind, make sure you know what your vehicle is worth BEFORE deciding to get into the clunkers program.

For example, I headed to GM’s Cash For Clunkers web page to see what I’d get. I put in my vehicle’s details, 2000 Blazer (that’s the smaller one for those of you who don’t know) and put it up against the purchase of a 2009 Canyon Crew Cab 4X4, something comparable. GM’s calculator gave me an estimated voucher vale of $3500. Not in this lifetime, home boy. The NADA (New Automobile Dealers Association) book value for my buggy is $7200 retail, $5500 trade-in. So if I was to take “Advantage” of the CARS program, I would be losing two grand at a minimum. Not a good deal in my eyes seeing as I look at all this “Tree Hugger” global warming hype as bogus babble. Don’t get me wrong here, I do care about the environment but, common sense must be used.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. So much more if this program lurks beneath the icy political waters. Herein lay the harmful details of program. After caving in to the global warming mongers – although more like caving in to their money (campaign donations), our federal government began their quest to push through the “Cap and Trade” legislation. To their surprise, the citizens of this nation were not so excepting of the huge additional tax burden and power grab Congress attempted to hide in the bill. Thanks to the many conservatives who ventured to actually read the language contained within the some fourteen hundred pages of the bill and expose its contents. So, to circumvent some of this proposed legislation the CARS program was initiated.

To begin, CARS takes older vehicles off the road, good. This increases safety and fuel efficiency. These vehicles are destroyed; engines are drained of oil and filled with some type of corrosive material, then run until they fail. The vehicle is then scrapped as a complete unit, not so good. Let’s look at this portion of the plan. So far, 250,000 are in line to be scrapped. What about the salvageable parts from these vehicles? There won’t be any. So now, the millions of backyard mechanics across the country won’t be able to take advantage this great surplus of available parts to make needed repairs on their own vehicles. They will be forced to pay higher prices for salvage parts or purchase new parts at even higher costs. If you are not the backyard mechanic type and rely on your local garage to do the work, you too will have to pay more because the salvage part option will become very limited. For those not in a position to make a new car purchase, or newer car, and now not have the availability of salvage parts or paying higher costs, their vehicle will not be repaired as needed, possibly making it less safe. So now the safety aspect of the program is a wash.

Now, financially the program looks appealing. The problem is with who it is appealing to. American consumers are notably suckers for a “Deal”. Are we recreating our housing and mortgage problem within the automotive sales industry? How many of these new car consumers, utilizing the CARS program can actually, sensibly afford that new car? I know that taking personal responsibility with your finances should be a given, but have we already forgotten the collapse of the housing and mortgage market. Again, I’m afraid, we will see too many people making poor personal finance decisions based on the “Deal” they can get and not thinking long term. I think I night get into the auto repo industry because in a few months it will be booming. There are very few vehicles available in today’s new car market that one can purchase without seeing monthly payments of four hundred a month or more.

You must be responsible and plan ahead, this is a major purchase! Unemployment is still on the increase, is your job safe? Congress is pushing to pass legislation that will cost you more of your hard earned money; can you take an extra two hundred dollars out of your family’s current monthly budget in addition taxes and still afford that new car payment? And if you fall behind and the repo man shows up late one night, in the dark, and separates you from your new car; wouldn’t you have been better keeping your “Clunker” a little longer, or at least until you could truly afford to upgrade your ride? The result; now you’re walking and having to look for another clunker for transportation – which there will be fewer of; and dealing with a questionable used car “Buy Here Pay Here” dealer. Now, how beneficial was the “Cash For Clunkers” program for you?

Washington says that CARS will stimulate the auto industry by creating the need for more manufacturing, generate additional local income and luxury (if you pay this like I have to) tax intake with the sale and boost income in the form of vehicle registration fees. I agree in principle but at what cost. Of course Washington wants to stimulate and increase manufacturing, they own the industry. However, the only winners here will be Obama’s favorite group of people, union workers. They will continue to be overpaid and receive outrageous benefits. Your local governments will benefit by the additional income, but we have already seen that they, like Washington, have no idea of how to be fiscally responsible so the funds will be squandered; “Monkey See, Monkey Do”. As for increased registration fees, I don’t see where the feds are getting that idea. Swapping a car for a car, the numbers remain the same, no increase in registrations.

We fall to easily prey to government “Programs” because we have become naturally shortsighted. The CARS program is not directed to those who CAN AFFORD that new car, rather, those who CANNOT. For those who can afford that new car will go out and make that purchase, regardless. Our government has no business being involved in selling cars. If manufactures want to sell their products, they need to make whatever changes are needed to assure that they can reduce their costs so that the sticker price is affordable.

Will this decrease our energy dependence? Possibly, but minimally. Will this reduce carbon emissions with any impact? NO!

250,000 Americans may have already made what may become a serious mistake by partaking in the CARS program. Don’t be the next victim of federal meddling. Educate yourself before you take that drive to the new car lot. Don’t get taken for the ride of your life.

The deal reached with the “Blue Dog” Democrats of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on its version of the health care reform bill, has driven a wedge into the middle of the party. The Liberal arm of the party is not pleased.

It was a close vote, 31-28. The passing of this bill out of committee has caused some stir and has added to the dissension among the party’s ranks. On Thursday this week, fifty-three lawmakers from the Congressional Black Caucus, the Progressive Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and key committee chairmen formally opposing the deal. Their “opposition” called the agreement “fundamentally unacceptable” and a “large step backwards.” “We’re going to fight this with every effort that we have,” CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said  Thursday. ”We’re not obstructionists. … We’re not here to embarrass or divide our party,” said Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz. But he and other liberal Democrats have said that without a meaningful public plan included in the final bill, they cannot support it.

The threats and the letter Thursday only amplified their criticism and were an indication that the deal with the Blue Dogs could cause more problems than it solves, reported Fox News. All but five Democrats on the committee voted for the plan. The other Democrats, Reps. Charlie Melancon of Louisiana, Bart Stupak of Michigan, Rick Boucher of Virginia, Jim Matheson of Utah and John Barrow of Georgia joined all Republicans in opposing the legislation.

Could this mean good news for me and you? Not yet!

We now have the opportunity to get up close and personal with our representatives. Why? Because, they are all coming home for the summer recess. Now is the time to act. Make it a point to sit down face to face with your Representative and tell them how you feel about the way things are being handled in Washington. Let them know that you will not tolerate the government making life and death decisions about your health. Tell them that we already have the best health care in the world and that if this new bill becomes law it will be a huge step backwards and will jeopardize the lives of millions of American citizens. Demand that Congress subscribe to their own health care plan if indeed it becomes law.

We have little time on our side right now so we must act quickly. Each and every one of us needs to become unofficial lobbyists and get our word out. On our side we have the fact that Obama’s numbers are dropping, this too is good. In about a month’s time, the House will reconvene. We know those looking for handouts and the Liberals will be hard at work building support for the bill, we must be fighting back.

Do we need health care reform? Absolutely! But, the proposed legislation is not the way to go. As a nation, we need to study the causes of our overpriced health care system. The average surgeon pays out as much as two hundred thousand dollars each year in malpractice insurance because of the history of law suits in this nation, most of them frivolous. Even the Paramedic that may have to show up on your doorstep one day pays malpractice premiums. The average cost of education for a medical degree is about three hundred thousand dollars. The health care industry itself is victim to outrageous equipment costs just because they are the health care industry. This, in the same way manufactures and suppliers take advantage by inflating costs for government.  Hey Congress, want to reform health care? Make it cheaper for the industry to operate and costs to the end user will become more affordable, thus bringing down health care costs and reducing health insurance premiums.

Another way to reduce costs is already being realized in the private sector. Retailers like Wal-Mart, Walgreens and CVS have worked it out with the drug companies to sell the most used drugs at costs less than most prescription plan co-pays. Wal-Mart’s $4 drug list saves its customers millions in costs every year and takes some of the burden off insurance companies. I, for one, use this prescription plan because my co-pay starts at twenty dollars. Now, I’m not saying the twenty isn’t a good deal but, if I can save sixteen dollars per script, that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

There are many ways to cut back the cost of health care in this nation. But the government thinking that it can do it better is mind boggling. In six months they have tripled national deficit, have spent well over a trillion dollars trying to reduce the deficit – I still haven’t figured that one out – has taken control of the financial and auto industries and continue to drive up unemployment. Not a stellar record by any means. And now they expect us to trust them with our health? I don’t think so.

Washington needs to get out of the private sector and let Capitalism work its magic as it has in the past. Americans are an industrious bunch, history has proven this. It’s only when government becomes involved does things go downhill. Step back Washington, Americans can do the job of taking care of each other better than you will ever be able too. We care about this great nation more than you give us credit for and we care about each other. If you wish to regulate anything, regulate and limit your own interference into the private lives of the citizens of the great United States of America. Hold true to the founding documents and stop your blatant violations of the Constitution.

So let’s get to it! Party affiliation should mean nothing here, we are all Americans. We will all be affected if Washington takes over health care. We will all be losers in the end. Both parties have members who are fighting for their political lives. Get them on board and hold them to it. If your elected official isn’t representing the people, he or she is representing themselves and the White House. Their jobs are in our hands; make that very clear to them.

We The People have had enough of your meddling. The time is now; we’re taking back our nation.

Just and additional note, every House seat is up in 2010. When looking at who is working to represent you in Washington, ask them where they stand on congressional term limits. Let’s find and elect those candidates who would support term limits and hold them to their promise.

The passing of the Cap & Trade bill through the House was the first step in the continuing effort of the Democrat controlled Congress to tear down this great nation and move us closer to the Fascist Socialist nation they wish us to be, despite the hard work of scores of citizens contacting their representatives in Washington.

There are eight Republicans I wish to personally thank for taking up ranks with the Left and assisting with the passage. You have turned your back on the American People!

The following Republican Representatives voted “Yeah”.

Bono Mack (CA) 202-225-5330

Castle (DE) 202-225-4165

Kirk (IL) 202-225-4835

Lance (NJ) 202-225-5361

Lobiondo (NJ) 202-225-6572

McHugh (NY) 202-225-4611

Reichart (WA) 202-225-7761

Chris Smith (NJ) 202-225-3765

So, what were they promised (bribed) by the administration? I do know that McHugh is at the top of the list to be Obama’s appointment as Secretary of the Army. Tell me Congressman, how does it feel to bought, to turn your back on your constituents, your party, and most of all, your country, just for position and power?

If these are your Representatives, make sure you call them and let them know just how pleased you are with having them represent you (sarcasm) . Tell these traitors that their days are numbered. Tell them that you will be working diligently to make sure that their reelection attempt will go down in flames and that their political career will come to an abrupt halt.

Friends, we must now begin working on our Senators by voicing our opinion. WE MUST DEMAND that this bill does not pass the Senate. The health and welfare of the nation depends on this bill being shot down. We came close with the House, 219 to 212 was the vote. If returned to the House for amendments, a massive push needs to be initiated by “WE THE PEOPLE” to kill it in the House.

We are Americans and as Americans we won’t give up hope, don’t give up the fight!

Obama isn’t just going after the money of the rich and famous, he’s reaching into the wallets, purses and pockets of every single one of us, unless, you happen to fall into one of his favorite groups of people. Oh yes, he threw us the pathetic excuse of a tax break on our payroll withholding of a whole six dollars a week in our paychecks (on average). However, in my case, my insurance premiums went up that exact same time by six dollars a week. No break here. Next he hit on something else partake in, yes I know and I don’t want to hear about it, my cigarettes. BOOM! lets jack the tax on smokes some more. I don’t know about you, but I know many people who struggle to survive from week to week, earning substantially less than $250k, and still buy their smokes. Unlike Obama, who lives in government housing and eats government funded meals while still earning a very comfortable income, can buy his smokes without the extra tax cutting into his household budget, while cutting into ours.

Now Obama is looking to make this cut even deeper and bleed us dry. He is running the national debt up to unimaginable numbers. For this, we will all pay, not to mention our children and their children. His, and his Washington cronies, are pushing through their Cap & Trade bill which will cause us to pay more for any and every energy based product we use. Need to drive to work? Gas will cost you more. Need to heat or cool your house? That fuel oil, natural or propane gas and electricity will cost you more. Why don’t these so called educated, intelligent people see that pushing huge fees onto business, will makes it way to the consumer? ***NOTE: THIS BILL MAY BE VOTED ON THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 26, AND PASS BECAUSE OF THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY IN CONGRESS.***

There are many other cost increases which we will see as a result of this bill. The primary increase that will affect every single American will be the cost of your weekly grocery bill. Transportation is not cheap and increased fuel costs will be passed on to, yup, you guessed it, YOU! Higher energy costs for your local grocery store means higher overhead for them, yup, you guessed right again, the cost will be passed on to you. See, no one is safe, not even if you did earn less than $250k. And by the way, there is also language in there which begins the journey towards nationalizing the energy industry and total government control.

Health care is a Hot Button topic these days. Once again, the push is on to rush through legislation, by the end of the year I might add, for nationalized health care – Obama-Care. If any of you reading this has ever been exposed to a national health care system, you know where I am going with this. However, I’m sure that most of you have no idea how poorly this system operates. Being born and raised in Canada and living there the first thirty years of my life, I believe I can speak honestly when I say, IT SUCKS!

Here’s just a little idea of what we’re in for if Obama gets his way. In Canada, the province (like one of our states) of Ontario was the first to venture into the realm of social medicine.  The Ontario Hospitalization Insurance Program (OHIP) was created and funded through taxpayer dollars without an increase in taxes, kind of. After the first couple of years of social medicine, the system started to get into fiscal financial trouble. There just wasn’t enough money to fund the program. In their infinite wisdom, income taxes were increased to cover the shortfalls. This was not received well by the citizens. Again, after some time, funds ran short and financial troubles plagued the program. The next step was to dictate to the medical community what they would charge for services and what OIHP would reimburse them. Many doctors protested having the idea of the government dictate to them what they could charge. In an attempt to quell the uprising the Ontario Ministry of Health elected to allow doctors to “Opt Out” of the program, thus, not having to accept those whose primary insurance was OHIP. This action created an immediate shortage of doctors available to the general population. The Ministry now had to reevaluate their decision and after working out the details with other provincial office, tacked the burden of funding the program onto every employer in the province that employed more than six people. You can already see where this is going, higher prices for the end user of their products to cover the extra expense to them.

It was shortly after that move, that I did the same and headed south to the US. I do still have family living in Canada and see how social medicine has affected their well being. Several years ago, maybe seven or eight, my father, who is now eighty, broke his shoulder. It was determined that he would need surgery to correct his condition. Because of his age, retired and a non-productive member of society, he had to wait two years, yes I said two, before the surgery would be preformed. He lived in pain and with restricted movement for those two years. Now let me tell you how this hurt me. This man is the most active eighty year old I know. He works around his home, chops wood for the winters, sets and retrieves his crab and shrimp traps, fishes, handles his 28’ sail boat on his own and renovated his home three years ago, by himself. The two year wait stopped all of this for a time. It’s good to know his is still going strong, despite the poor social medicine program he has to rely on.

Social medicine, nationalized health care doesn’t and will not work here in the US. With a population of about 315 million people in the US, our population is much larger than any other populations where the government runs health care.  Let’s get back to your money.

Here’s how Obama wants to fund his Obama-Care. If you are one of the fortunate people who have employer paid health care, good for you. I happen to be one of those people. Obama wants to include what your employer pays on your behalf as income and tax it. Unless, wait for it, YOU ARE MEMBER OF A LABOR UNION! Oh yes, his favorite group of people. Added to this, he wants to cut what doctors can bill to insurance companies by twenty one percent. Sound familiar? There goes our availability of doctors. Obama’s plan will include electronic medical file systems that will cost doctors an average of $25 thousand per office, more expense, and give the government access to YOUR medical records so GOVERNMENT can determine if the treatment your doctor is seeking to provide will be allowed. WHAT THE ****, sorry.

There are many other ways in which Obama will reach into your finances, your family budget. We will all feel the pain as the administration is allowed to forge ahead with their plans. Democrats control the House and the Senate, as well as the White House. But the guy in the White House controls Congress as a puppet master manipulates his puppets. What we have to look forward to is Fascist Socialism, where we will all be forced to become dependent on the federal government.

However, if we want to take control of our futures and turn back the hands of time to when smaller government was a more efficient and honorable establishment, we must act now. Our elected officials serve at the pleasure of “We The People” not at the pleasure of the President. They MUST listen to us, something they have not done for some time.  Get involved, speak your mind, let your elected official now that you have had enough of this out of control government, no representation. And if you elected official snubs the will of the majority, work your butt off to remove him/her in the next election. Some damage may already have been done but, we just might be able to stop the bleeding.

And in the words of Dr. Mark Levin, “Now, thank me!”