Should I Get That in Writing?

When my husband first mentioned to me that Congress wanted to pass a law taking away 90% of the bonuses paid by AIG, "I thought that won't happen, it's not legal."

Apparently, the majority of the House of Representatives doesn't care about legality. Yesterday, they trampled the constitution by passing legislation taxing 90% of this group of people's income. This is government taking aim at a group of people they don't like and confiscating their money, the income they had contractually earned.

These bonuses were no surprise. The payout of these AIG bonuses were even provided for by Chris Dodd inserting a loophole for "contractually obligated bonuses agreed on before Feb. 11, 2009" in the stimulus package. The outrage by Congress is a sham. Now it is evident that contracts and words spoken mean absolutely nothing to Congress and Timothy Geithner.

Who will be the next target of Congress? Who else will be targeted because the government doesn't like them, their income, their job, their political beliefs, their religion? Will you only say something if the target is you? Just because you don't like someone doesn't mean you can punish them at will.

So much for private property and the pursuit of happiness.

Is it really a Stimulus Package?

President Obama says spending is stimulus. I believe sustained spending is stimulus. Spending that business owners can continue to count on will, in return, encourage investment and more hiring. Temporary influx of money is just that: nothing long term. Who do you think is wiser in how to spend? Do you think it is government which does not have a balanced budget and is known for wasteful spending or you who knows there is a limit to spending and prioritizes? Will it think there is stimulus when inflation skyrockets because of our government printing all this extra money and our dollar's value drops?

When the government takes less away from hard-working, business-owning, investing Americans, we will have more of our own hard-earned money to invest in the economy in ways that benefit other businesses and local economy. When the government takes more from the achievers, i.e. business owners and entrepreneurs, there is less incentive to work so hard and to succeed since you are "punished" for your success.

This is an interesting website where you can see exactly to where and on what this stimulus bill has designated money. http://www.stimuluswatch.org/ You can vote on what you think is critical or not. I would suggest you consider whether that project truly will stimulate the economy or whether it is just a pet project or social program put into the bill while "the spending is good." Some projects listed seem like good ideas but don't seem to belong in this bill and probably should be paid by their own states or municipalities.

Our Constitution begins with "We the People of the United States" not "Those who govern the masses". We must take responsibility for our lives and our nation. Government is not supposed to manage our lives or our companies but to secure these rights: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

If you believe this stimulus package is not what they call it, you can sign this petition.

The Economy

Some think that you can't vote based on a single issue. I believe that if that issue is protecting the lives of innocent people, it's a powerful enough issue to stand alone; however, if you read my first post, you'll see that I've addressed several issues.

Most economists, including democrats, agree that if you raise taxes in a struggling economy it could grind that economy to a stop. So it goes to follow, even if the economy is strong a raise in taxes makes it less so. The liberal democrats in Congress are already drooling over the taxes they want to raise.

Senator Obama says he wants to give tax cuts to 95% of people but that math doesn't work. 45% of people don't even pay income tax. Despite of what Obama claims, it's on record that he voted to raise taxes on people making $42,000 by repealing the tax cuts they already have. Now giving money to people that don't pay taxes is wealth redistribution or as Obama shared, "spread the wealth around."

Obama has said that because things are the way they are, he won't be able to do all that he has said he'll do. I have yet to hear what he's cutting back on. Which programs won't happen? They only thing I've heard change is the income amount that he plans to tax.

Barack Obama wants to raise taxes on people making $250,000 (or $200,000 or $150,000 or $120,000) a year. Most of these people are the people with small businesses, working hard and supplying jobs for others. If they are only able to keep 38 cents on the dollar, how many people do you think they will be able to continue to employ?

Energy independence is of utmost importance to our economy and our national security. Barack Obama claims that "We can't drill our way out of this.", "they can build their coal powered plants but they will be bankrupted by the fees I will impose on their greenhouse gas" "under my plan, electricity prices will necessarily skyrocket". This summer, Obama said he wished the gas prices hadn't risen so quickly but there wasn't any indication that he was against the price being $4.00 a gallon. Don't drill, stop using coal, electricity prices will skyrocket -- just what does Obama want to do? Tax us more on energy, that's what. Meanwhile, we're still dependent on oil from foreign countries instead of lessening that dependence by using our own oil, natural gas and coal with which our land is so richly blessed.

So when Obama bankrupts the coal industry, job losses explode because of massive taxes on "the rich", how will our economy be? With more people out of work, more unemployment benefits will have to be paid. How will so many more unemployment benefits be paid for? I guess he'll have to raise taxes again which of course will result in less jobs and more costs passed on to the consumers.

When people in government want to raise any costs and/or taxes on companies, those companies make up the difference by passing the costs on to the consumers. When minimum wage goes, every thing in the store or restaurant goes up by at least a dime. For those making minimum wage, the "raise" they just got is spent on higher prices. When businesses' electricity bills skyrocket as Obama has stated they will under his plan, business will pass the cost on to you. You will already be struggling to pay your own electricity bill.

There are so many aspects as to why Barack Obama's policies are bad for our economy that I can't list them all here.

I think government should be responsible in its spending habits, cut back on excesses. When government leaves Americans with more of their own income, people grow the economy, create business and jobs that in turn allow more Americans to better themselves and grow the economy. Americans are generous! We love to give. Americans have ingenuity! We love to come up with new ways to make things work better. Let's not suppress the American spirit to work hard.

On the Issues

These issues are important to me:

Life
School Reform
Defense
Taxes
Government
Guns
Energy
Experience and Character

Life:
Life is a gift. God created mankind in His image. As we are designed to be a reflection of our Creator, we must treat others as God would have us do – in love.
“What is the most loving thing?”[1]

Life should be protected at all stages: pre-born, newborn, children, adults and senior citizens, healthy, disabled and mentally-challenged alike.

Abortion:
I believe that God knows us and has a destiny for us before we are even conceived. I believe abortion cuts a life grievously short. I believe it endangers the health of women. It protects abusers because of cases where incest is hidden and not reported. I believe men and women alike suffer tremendously mentally and spiritually knowing they didn’t stop the abortion or were responsible for it. The “what if’s” torture.
I know women and men who suffer nightmares. I know women who battle depression those times of the year when their child was aborted and when that child would have been born. I know women who were not able to ever again carry a child to term and long for a child to hold in their empty arms.
God loves each of us more than we can ever imagine. When we are harmed, when we cause harm, God grieves. He desires the absolute best for us. He provided a way, Jesus Christ, for us to be forgiven and restored. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”[2] When we mess up and we all do,[3] the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.[4] If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.[5] Forgiveness and a full life have been provided for us, we need only to accept God’s free gift.
Death Penalty:
In contrast to abortion which kills the innocent and causes harm to women and men alike, the death penalty saves lives by putting to death a person who has viciously murdered and will most likely do so again. Countless lives are saved when we hold murderers accountable for their actions. I believe we can be forgiven for anything and everything. I also believe there are consequences for actions taken. A person on death row may very well repent but the consequences/punishment of their action should be carried out. I believe if we were tougher on crime, there would be less crime.
War:
I believe there is a time for war. When I was in third grade, a neighbor boy grabbed me by the throat. My brother quickly came to my aid and put a stop to it. I believe when a ruler, regime, or nation abuses its power and kills, tortures or terrorizes its own people or other people groups, we have the responsibility to come to the aid of those in need. By fighting, removing and killing the enemy in battle, defenseless and innocent civilians can once again have the freedom to live their lives.
Assisted Suicide:
God gives life. We are created for relationship – relationship with God and relationships with other people. Suicide is the taking of a God-given life because of depression and desperation. Anytime we deem a life not worth living, we cheapen the lives of others in similar situations.
A friend of mine saw her uncle battle cancer when she was a youth. Her uncle was in great pain and one day shot himself. This made a deep impact on her. When she struggled through abuse, she remembered her uncle and wanting to end her own pain, attempted suicide several times. She was institutionalized – where she suffered further abuse. It wasn’t until she was introduced to Jesus that she was restored. She realized that she has a God-given purpose and destiny. She was healed and is being healed.
Depression and desperation skew our vision. We think all is lost. Why not end it? Suicide kills the body. It causes grief to all around. It cheapens the lives of others. Suicide does not kill the spirit. Are you ready for eternity? If you say yes, are you ready for the consequences and effects of your actions on others? Difficulties come and go. Some are harder and longer and maybe even more frequent but they will pass. God is love and he desires the absolute best for us. When we give our lives to Him, He forgives, He heals, He restores.
When we approach the slippery slope of assisted suicide, euthanasia is just a heartbeat away. Then it becomes the duty to die when you are no longer a “productive member of society.”

School Reform:
By removing “God” from our schools we have caused great harm to our youth. Our youth have no reason/purpose to treat others well. The schools tell them that they came from animals by teaching a defunct theory as a fact. Why not act like animals? If we are all here by accident, why should I treat anyone else with any kind of respect when, according to the theory of evolution, we are equivalent with a rat or even a rotten tomato? Without God there is no moral compass.
Schools cannot be a Constitution-free zone. It is outrageous that schools try to silence our youth when they want to speak of their deeply held convictions. It is a gross infringement on freedom when student are told they are not allowed to pray or even to read their Bible during their free time.
So much is done in the name of tolerance. Tolerance used to mean treating others with respect, now it seems to have been redefined as accepting every notion as equal. Now those who are not tolerated are those who would speak up for their own convictions. There is right and wrong. Apparently, it’s wrong to say when things are wrong.
Teach the students. Show them their potential. Don’t indoctrinate them. Let them reason. Let them soar.

Defense:
I believe our nation is strong and should be strong. “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” To weaken our Armed Forces is to invite attacks, hinder our ability to come to the aid of allies and/or victims of genocide, and dangerously stretch our ability to respond to disasters.

Taxes and Government:
I believe that we should pay taxes to the government. I believe the government should use that money wisely. I do not believe that the taxes should be excessive especially since the government has shown over and over its inability to budget and spend wisely. Infrastructure, Armed Forces, Police, Firefighters are all examples of right and wise spending. When the government wastes money, refuses to give accountability for how it spends and won’t listen to the moral values of the people, it is wrong and needs reformed.
When “We the People of the United States” are ignored and looked down upon, dismissed or demeaned, we need to hold our representatives responsible and elect new ones if need be.
As a republic, we are represented be our senators and congressmen. Therefore, we should be aware of issues in our nation and government and let our views be made known to our representatives. As Christians, we should pray for our nation, our leaders and our representatives. We should pray for good government that we may “live peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.”[6]
“Good government maintains law and order, it keeps communications open, preserves civil liberty, and protects freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.” [7]
Good government does not tell us how much to eat and at what temperature we should keep our house. Good government should not try to micro-manage people. It should provide us the freedom to work hard and succeed.

Guns:
In the Bill of Rights, the second amendment guarantees our right to keep and bear arms. I believe that when people have the means to defend themselves and their families, there is less violent crime committed or the crime is effectively stopped.
When I was a youth, my home was invaded by at 3 men intent on robbing everything of value. I awoke to see them in my room. After not responding to their questioning of where my father kept the money, I screamed and screamed again for help, for my dad, for my brother. Instead of slicing my throat with a machete at they had told me they would do, they made a quick exit, leaving me alone. My parents woke up. My dad and a young man staying with us went downstairs to see what was going on. When the thieves saw that my dad didn’t have a gun, they returned upstairs and questioned, struck and stabbed my parents. They did not leave until my dad said, “In the name of Jesus, we have nothing more to give you.” When they heard the authority of the name of Jesus, they immediately left and did not come back. Thank God that He gives us authority, that Jesus’ name is more powerful than any weapon. What would have been better? If we had had a gun, perhaps the murderous thieves wouldn’t have returned. Perhaps if they had not returned, I would not have the understanding of the power of God in my life that I now have.
Just because we have a right to something doesn’t necessarily mean we should go out and buy a gun. We need to be responsible with our rights. If we purchase a gun, we should make sure we know how to use it, how to clean it, and most importantly know the gravity of its use. A gun can take a life. A gun can defend a life. A gun can be used recreationally and even as a way to provide meat for our families. With rights come responsibilities. With actions come consequences. If you kill someone in defense of your life or your family, will that fact haunt you? It is your right. Are you ready for the responsibility?
Jim Elliot, a missionary to Ecuador, was martyred because he was willing give up his life rather than take a life which may not be ready for eternity. He said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” He gave his life and in so doing, a people group was changed.
I believe that if we choose not to exercise our right, that is our choice; but we should not presume to remove someone else’s right guaranteed by our Constitution.

Energy:
Obviously, our nation needs energy.
I think it is wise not to be dependent on oil from countries who do not like us. I believe we should use the resources we have within our own borders. I believe we should drill for more oil. When we can buy more American oil, we won’t need to buy as much foreign oil. I believe we should have nuclear energy, clean coal and natural gas. Do it all. Start now.
We need to take care of our country and environment but at the expense of our people. We have the ability both to use our resources and preserve the beauty of our nation. We have always been a resourceful, hardworking, generous people. We are Americans.

Experience and Character:
Experience is good. Ability is a necessity. Character a must.
If you’ve been in public office and haven’t been effective, I don’t consider that experience. Working is experience. Accomplishments are experience. Character is defined as moral force; integrity; a good reputation.

Our choices as I see them:
The McCain/Palin team is pro-life. They want to keep taxes low and cut spending. They want reform to make the government work for the people again instead of people working to pay their taxes to the government. McCain wants to appoint judges that will rule according to the Constitution instead of legislating from the bench, thereby, protecting our Constitutional rights. They are pro-active and will seek energy and protect our country.
Senator John McCain has experience representing people, first as a congressman, then as a senator. He has experience defending freedom and fighting for his country. He has experience in leading. Senator John McCain has the ability to get things accomplished, make tough decisions, stand by his choices, and still learn and apply new knowledge. His character shines brightly through his life and family.

Governor Sarah Palin has the experience of running a town and a state and doing it well. She has shown she has the ability to get the job done, stand up for what is right, balance a budget and plan for the future of her state and nation. Palin’s character is lived out loud in the choices she makes. With an 80% approval rating, there is a state full of people that will testify to her character and abilities.

Senator Barrack Obama has a legacy of death. He voted against the Born Alive Act. He wants to make abortion legal in all instances at anytime overriding the voice of the people and the states that have set restrictions in place. He says that “if my daughters make a mistake then I wouldn’t want them punished with a baby”. Senator Obama says he will “lower taxes on the middle class” but raise taxes on businesses and “the rich”. When business taxes are raised, prices go up and we all end up paying for these new taxes. He wants to cut defense, wants to leave Iraq without finishing the job when the end is in sight. Obama wants to manage our lives by telling us how much to eat and what temperature our houses should be. The Senator thinks government is the solution to the problem instead of needing reformed and reduced. Barrack Obama thinks we “cling to our guns and our religion” because “we have no hope”. His energy plan? All I’ve heard is, “We can’t drill our way out of this.” And we should inflate our tires and tune-up our cars. Senator Obama was an Illinois state senator from Chicago before he was elected a U.S. senator. He was in the Senate for 143 days before running for president. His associations make his character extremely questionable. What has he accomplished? His own career.

Senator Joe Biden wants to serve his country and even seems a nice man. He has experience. He is also pro-abortion. Has he overcome his need to plagiarize?

[1] Deonn McDowell
[2] John 14:6
[3] Romans 3:23
[4] Romans 6:23
[5] Romans 10:9-10
[6] I Timothy 2:1-4
[7] Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting by Derek Prince