Shared Presidential Leadership and Immigration

After struggling and enduring much to become nationalized citizens, all new Americans enter the opened door by reciting the Oath of Citizenship. The following words were taken from that document: “I will support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same…” To them, I say welcome home!

Past Presidents, Clinton and Obama openly spoke candidly to camera and history while in office. Both addressed the importance of national security, immigration practices and procedures, rule of law and constructions designed to protect the security of all American citizens. While they now bask in a title and answer to the name Mr. President, neither apparently has the heart, mind, spirit or love of country in their soul to step boldly forward and remind Congress, news media sources and the American public that they still believe what they had said. We need them to step forward now and embrace the role of Patriot and provide strong supporting roll leadership and inspiration precisely at a time when history demands it. Do not tell me this is improper and should not be done for any reason. Failure to solve our open gate security and immigration issues will rapidly relegate us to the ultimate destruction of the great experiment from within. Charles Krauthammer eloquently said, “Some things need to be defended”. Both must join President Trump in front of a televised joint session of Congress with all media sources in attendance and clearly lay out real solutions to our nation’s immigration continued farce and failure.

Sadly, words like cooperation, patriot, leadership, inspiration and citizenship are probably only dream words spoken by those who still believe in archaic truths found in untaught and unremembered documents.

Three Important Considerations for Today

Three Important Considerations for Today

The Cycle of a Nation’s Growth and Collapse

There is much disagreement as to who actually created these cycle stages. That does not matter. This does matter: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

(George Santayana)

“From bondage to spiritual faith

From spiritual faith to great courage

From courage to liberty

From liberty to abundance

From abundance to complacency

From complacency to apathy

From apathy to dependence

From dependence back into bondage”

Each statement line for me is a timeline of 25 to 50 years. I sense that the United States is currently located approximately between apathy and dependence. Where would you place the United States in this cycle today?

The 10^th Amendment, Doe v. Bolton and Roe v. Wade

 I am firmly convinced that one of our nation’s most heart wrenching and divisive issues can be humanely resolved through the application of our 10^th amendment and with wise guidance and support from our Supreme Court. The issue in question is abortion.

 Text of Amendment X in our Bill of Rights:

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,

nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the People.”

“The Tenth Amendment expresses the principle that undergirds the entire plan of the Constitution: the national government possesses only those powers delegated to it, and leaves to the several States a residuary (left with the states after government formed) and inviolable (never to be dishonored) sovereignty over all other objects. The Framers had two purposes in mind when they drafted it. The first was a necessary rule of construction. The second was to reaffirm the nature of the federal system.” Italicized word definitions were added above. Quotation source:  The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, page 479.

It is interesting to note that when the Supreme Court passed the Roe v. Wade language on January 22, 1973, it also struck down, on the same day, the state of Georgia’s position that “only Georgia residents could receive abortions under their statutory scheme. Non-residents could not have an abortion in Georgia under any circumstances.” You can further explore Doe v. Bolton on your favorite search engine.

The ever increasing length of approved times for a legal abortion are destroying us from within, individually and nationally, and an acceptable counter solution appears to be absent. However, by taking advantage of the clear language contained in the 10^th Amendment in our Bill of Rights, I believe that both individuals and states are free to accept or reject abortion at the state and personal levels and both can be satisfied. The course of action by our Supreme Court, which I am suggesting below, is not without historical precedence.  The Court took a similar course of action with Affirmative Action and Charles Krauthammer wrote an article, which appeared in the Washington Post, praising the Supreme Court for “Finally Getting it Right on Affirmative Action” Two points jumped off that article and into my heart. Justice Kennedy was quoted as saying:”The People should decide this case.” He also said “It is not about how racial preference should be resolved. It is about who may resolve it.” Justice Breyer wrote:”The Constitution permits though it does not require race conscious programs.” I believe this philosophy and law interpretation is potentially a powerful, valid and appropriate solution guide to our obvious current abortion issues because the Constitution also permits abortions but it does not require abortions. The people and the states in which they live must be allowed to decide where they need to stand and being different should bear serious consideration. Yes and no approval are merely points of view.

The Supreme Court can clearly enable the beginning of our healing. It simply needs to let the people and not the courts decide what is best for them. Each state must determine if abortion is accepted or rejected by its population. If a state vote approves abortion,  the only consideration is abortion during which trimester. In the event that a state does not support abortion, individual women from that state must be afforded the right to request and receive an abortion in any state that approves abortions based on that states existing abortion rules and regulations. It would be a win/win for states and individuals. I am of the opinion that the states favoring abortion shall financially absorb all related costs incurred by the choosing woman and those states choosing abortion must tax themselves for this purpose. The Federal government will no longer provide economic support to states and agencies for purposes of abortion. I also believe the state must determine its own abortion plan. That process would release the power of liberty in mind and action. All states determine what is best for itself and every woman in each and every state can decide for herself. The destination abortion state chosen by the woman would only be limited by the adopted laws of that state. That limitation will be left in the hands of the state’s inhabitants vote. They must determine which of the trimesters they can and will support.

Personal disclaimer:  In the earliest days of abortion I considered the path we were walking and sided with those who convinced me that the steps to be taken protected the woman who could not carry the child to term without danger to the woman with existing personal health issues. The advocates for abortion in those days also included rape or incest.  Again, I agreed that would be acceptable. That was then and it remains as far as I am willing to go.  What is your personal limit choice? None, 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd trimester? We are all human and not one of us can escape the finality of our decision or avert our eyes. This is none of my business just doesn’t fly.

The Green New Deal movement description contains a crucial and dangerous nation turning, talking point

Before you accept the concepts expressed in the poorly defined “Green New Deal Movement” recently suggested by a first year House of Representatives member you need to at least understand some thoughts to the contrary. The proper place to begin to understand the Deal’s foundations is with a simple comparison of the various faces of socialism which this described advanced position paper carefully and quietly has suggested. You cannot choose wisely unless you understand the basic facts of the hidden concept presence of socialism. Socialism is a quick, radical movement described by some as the only escape from capitalism which is compared to the devil incarnate. I do not accept this rhetoric. Read each described form of socialism shown below until you understand the simple entry level information and can begin to choose wisely. For good measure, return to “The Cycle of a Nation’s Growth and Collapse” above and read again. The changes described in each line are not accidental.

Socialism is a social organization of a political economic theory which advocates the means of production and distribution and exchange of all things. It is always regulated by the community as a whole. By definition the word community in context really means government. While this definition is a logical place to start, much is left unsaid and unexplained.

The Fabian Society is a British socialist organization whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist effort in democracies, rather than by revolutionary overthrow. Do you understand the meaning of the word Progressive?

Syndicalism is a movement for transferring the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution to workers' unions. Syndicalism developed in French labor unions during the late 19th century and was at its most vigorous between 1900 and 1914, particularly in France, Italy, Spain, and the US.

Consumer Socialism is a populist economic and political system based on the public ownership (also known as collective or common ownership) of the means of production. Those means include the machinery, tools and factories used to produce goods that aim to directly satisfy human needs.

Utopian Socialism is socialism achieved by the moral persuasion of capitalists to surrender the means of production peacefully to the people.

Marxist Socialism is a transitional social state between the overthrow of Capitalism and the realization of Communism.

After reading and understanding even these small factual definition lessons, do you really want to choose to turn your back and walk away from Capitalism?  That would be, in my mind, comparable to you choosing to walk into a carnival’s house of mirrors in search of your real image. A search in that place is a search where truth does not even exist. Personal liberty and any form of socialism cannot exist together. Not Ever!

Do you think that I just used liberty incorrectly and that I should have used democracy? Think again. Democracy does not appear in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution or any of the Amendments. It is not merely the replacement of capitalism with socialism that you are trying to balance in your heart and hand. It is your personal liberty.

CNN's Acosta Merely a Symptom

He was clearly trying to dominate the November 7 White House press conference but CNN’s Jim Acosta merely became just another demonstration of our nation’s willingness to turn away from the social binding of interpersonal respect.

The non response by the press during and after Acosta’s staged and performed theatrics, therefore, became the real story lesson for all Americans. This writer observed the entire room remained mute during the Acosta’s charade. It was  an observable fact that not a single member of this seated White House Press Corps chose to actively rise up and speak in deference to a sitting President, our nation, the Bill of Rights, a lowly intern or even themselves. Their silence was deafening!  Was no one appalled? Did no one feel the need to intercede? Did this man speak for the entire gathered press corps? Would you have at least spoken in support of the young White House intern? Why does this man deserve to be one of the men and women seated so closely to the President?  What makes him superior to the rest of the people in that room?  In your presence, what is the maximum disrespect from him you would accept?  The White House Press Corps must pause and reflect on the fact that even if deserved respect is totally subjugated, it will remain forever superior to demonstrated, baseless personal ego. The corps must take a stand.

As this writer turns his own page forward from this news cycle, he honestly admits that he would not have removed Acosta’s press credentials. He would, however, absolutely demand that Acosta must sit or stand behind the least tenured or important man or woman in that gathered body of correspondents or choose to remove himself.

He deserves nothing less.

Brett Kavanaugh's Associate Justice Confirmation Hearing Really Was A Trial

Obviously the news moment which prompted this article has passed on and in the minds of many it is now relegated to better to be forgotten status. However, the actions taken during those now passé events still remain as lessons to be remembered. They remain important to this author and that is why he now shares his thoughts. He pursues this story for the same reason that he pursues his passion to understand and support the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He pursues his own possession of liberty.

The apparent tight lipped party nod of approval toward Brett  Kavanaugh, candidate for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, rapidly deteriorated into a personal and national trial following the release of specifically timed, sexual impropriety accusations. Predictably, Brett Kavanaugh’s well deserved personal image changed from respectable to despicable and the hounds were released by their progressive handlers to harass and destroy the obvious predator monster discovered in their presence. Even as the left was preparing a faux courtroom based on the idea that a person is guilty until proven innocent, they continuously claimed in various voices that “This is not a trial. It is a job interview”. This writer’s work experiences have demonstrated otherwise. Job interviews are never based on harsh accusations leading to the need for a strenuous self defense by the applicant. In addition, the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court should never be portrayed as a job.

Every outrageous choreographed behavior which has since been on display following this divisive faux courtroom is the direct result of the actions taken by elected men and women of the left who chose to sit in judgment and turn away from the Law of the Land which they all swore to support. Ultimately there were no discovered provable qualification issues. There were no constitutional reasons to reject. The final Senate confirmation vote did little to renew and refresh this writer’s spirit and optimism because there remained so much more to observe. Pay attention to the fact that people are trying to take your liberty and protections away from you. As we prepare for November 6 and beyond, pay attention to what is on display daily. You need to understand why we have a Constitution and Bill of Rights and why they should remain important to you or the hounds which have been released will never be recalled.

Wise Voting Will Make A Difference

The 2018 campaign for votes presents only people issues but our Constitution and our Bill of Rights are the real story. All future outcomes for the United States are yet to be determined. All possible outcomes rest squarely in the hands of the people and you and I will ultimately enable the growth or the destruction of our own futures. On November 6, Inalienable Rights and Liberty for all will either be nourished or they will begin to wither and die and Abraham Lincoln’s observation in his 1838 Lyceum Address will be proven correct. “We cannot be destroyed from without. It must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide.”

Now consider the Ten Cannots shown below. It was written in 1916, by William J. H. Boetcker, a German immigrant, a naturalized citizen and Presbyterian minister. His words remain unambiguous and true, even today.

The Ten Cannots: “You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help little men by tearing down big men. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.”

Consider here , the words from the biography of Leonardo DaVinci by Walter Isaacson : "No instant is self contained. Each moment incorporates what came right before and what is coming right after." Our national mid-term elections are scheduled for November 6. Prepare yourself for the instant you cast your vote for this nation's future. Vote with pride and choose wisely.

Impeachment Clearly Spelled Out In Constitution

It is likely that most Americans do not know that our Constitution is the Law of the Land. It is also likely that they have never even read the Constitution and, therefore, don’t have a clue when it comes to who can be impeached and how impeachment was designed to be rightfully implemented. This article was written to demonstrate how our Constitution was and is meant to work.

This writer often turns to his copy of The Heritage Guide to The Constitution to pursue the founders gift of personal liberty the likes of which is not experienced in any other country in the world. This book has opened doors of understanding every single time he has visited it. This activity does not make this writer a scholar by any stretch of imagination, but it has done wonders for his blood pressures especially when he looks to escape the yelling, verbal drums and lighted torches used by those who practice law by public opinion and those who practice law for mass media profit and most certainly those who practice law for personal and party political power.

Constitutional Fact Source (Article I, Section 2, Clause 5) states: “The House of Representatives…shall have sole power of Impeachment.”

Constitutional Fact Source (Article II, Section 4) states: "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” Yes, you read that correctly. This language includes Justices of the Supreme Court and the lesser courts mentioned in the Constitution. Clearly, Supreme Court Justices can be impeached. Members of Congress can be expelled by their own respective body. The House of Representatives initiates the charges of Impeachment and it is the Senate which hears the charges and decides the outcome.

Constitutional Fact Source (Article I, Section 3, Clause 6) states:"The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.”

Constitutional Fact Source (Article I, Section 3, Clause 7) states: “Punishment for Impeachment” “Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to remove from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of Honor, Trust or Profit Under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.”

Constitutional Fact Source ( Article II, Section 4) states: “Standards for Impeachment”  “The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for and Conviction of Treason, Bribery or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

So that there is absolutely no mistake of what is suggested below, please reread Constitutional Fact Source (Article I, Section 2, Clause 5) above and then reread Constitutional Fact Source (Article I, Section 3, Clause 7). The language used in the Constitution is not accidental. Understand clearly that this writer is specifically not talking about the possible Impeachment of the President. He has pointedly led you toward a better understanding of a potential Impeachment of a sitting Justice of the Supreme Court and the fact that an Impeachment in the House of Representatives and a conviction in the Senate opens wide the door to further adjudication in the lesser courts. It is also a fact that the Federal Judges in lesser courts can also be Impeached and Judged.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh has been nominated by our current President of the United States to be a Justice of the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh is, therefore, seeking confirmation for this position and is enduring the most negative and brutal hearing of any candidate in this writer’s life time. In addition to this trial of confirmation Kavanaugh is now facing another trial. It is a trial of accusation. He has become the target of chest beating and cries of anguish because an individual person has stepped from the darkness of his past and made an accusation of sexual impropriety. Act wisely here and now and answer the following two questions. Do you really believe that this accomplished man does not know full well the meaning and the implications of the words this writer has just shared with you? Do you really believe he would stand in front of you personally, or his accuser or his God and deny a truthful accusation? This writer does not. He has already served, with distinction this nation’s second highest court and he deserves this honor and he should be confirmed without further rancor.

Consider how you can step forward and help stop this nation weakening side show immediately. If the accuser has a case it can always be presented through proper channels to the House of Representatives and if it really is a valid case, it should be pursued. We must understand and trust that our Constitution will guide the way to proper resolution for all. We are a nation of Laws. Let our Constitution, our greatest law, do what it was designed to do.

“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can do little.” Sydney Smith

I am

The words “I am” have continued to roll around in my head for several days now. Apparently, I have commenced another walkabout. This particular walkabout began as I watched and listened to a well known conservative spokesman on television. During that program, he spoke a two word sentence that resonated deep within me. The sentence was “I am”. For some reason, which is still not clear, what he said after that did not seem to matter. His voice faded to silence in my head and I turned off the television and turned inward in search of those two words.

Almost immediately I recalled a quotation that ended with those same two words. The Rene Descartes quotation “I think, therefore I am” seemed to be a path to follow and I began to walk. Any further exploration of Descartes is not in the cards for this essay. However, I encourage you to take some time to explore a little of his life and works to remind yourself of what you already know or discover him for the first time.

My daughter listened carefully when I told her I was busy thinking about ‘I am’. She quickly gave me four suggestions and because she has a degree in comparative religion and has published many books, I listened too. Her first suggestion was to read Impermanence and Love written by Elias Amidon. He is an author and has been a student of Sufism for over 40 years. Join me here in watching an image he clearly described. A child runs to “her mother’s waiting arms” and you view the shared communication of parent child love and then you watch as the child returned to what children do. The author, a new name to me, then continued with “That was many years ago. Now the child no longer exists; a grown up person has taken her place. The mother child image no longer exists because the mother also no longer exists.” What happened to the child and mother can be explained in a single word and I will make it a point to remember it clearly. The word is impermanence. Look closely and you will see that “Each moment yields to the next and never returns.” This is impermanence. Impermanence often brings us sadness and a void. It can also be a path to joy. My past image of ‘I am’ has moved forward and yet it can be remembered and experienced even as my future ‘I am’ appears near. You and I can experience what we all recognize as love as it connects us to a reality which no longer exists. Try it out. Let us continue this walkabout together. Presume your parents are no longer alive (mine are not). Simply state I am the son/daughter of (insert the first and last names of your parents). Now then, you do sense their presence and their humanness. Don’t you? Given time you will also recall the existence of many other things that are gone but still remain real and present. So where are they? I really like the idea that they have become part of a whole and they are what we will become.

Her second suggestion was to create a self ‘I am’ list as long as I could and then cross off any of the roles I have played and identities I have given to myself and those given to me by family, society, faith tradition or nationality. Her point was none of the labels answer the question of Who am I? Why? It is because the answer itself is not verbal but a felt sense in your heart center. Anything that can be said about my ‘I am’ is merely symbolic.” Her third suggestion pointed me in the direction of jnana yoga. (See location 1 below) This branch of yoga focuses on using the mind to transcend the mind. Lastly, she introduced me to a past master of self-inquiry named Ramana Maharshi. It was in the words of a brief Maharshi biography See (location 2 below) that I found my walkabout affirmed. “Being is something that all humans share with the creator or ultimate reality.” Remember this and who said it? “I am that I am.” “Being is primary.”

I learned something new at each and every suggested guidepost. Each was worth the visit and I finished this walkabout comfortable and refreshed.

Now would be a good time for you to begin and enjoy your own ‘I am’ walkabout.

1: http://www.yogabasics.com/learn/jnana-yoga-the-yoga-of-wisdom

2: http://www.om-guru.com/html/saints/maharshi.html