Political Party affiliations should not determine your vote. Your vote should be determined by your knowledge of the candidates and the platforms they represent. It is difficult today to find people who think for themselves, and who do the research required to choose the best candidate.
I do not pledge allegiance to my party--I pledge allegiance to my country. I will not cast my vote based upon a card I receive in the mail, or an endorsement I hear on television. I am embarrassed for these people and their ignorance:
Please do your research! I challenge you to find a MAJOR difference between the three "front-runners," Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain.
Now I anticipate some flack for this one, but these are just my opinions. Recently, I came across this article, which states that one in ten Ohioans now receives food stamps. If you care to know the specifics, read the article.
I realize gas prices are going up. Groceries are expensive. The economy sucks. I also see help wanted signs EVERYWHERE! I am a stay-at-home mom. My husband has a decent job, but we are by no means upper-class. We make plenty of sacrifices, so that I am able to stay home with our kids. However, if funds became so tight that we had to rely on welfare, I would GET A JOB! People are living beyond their means, and then taking advantage of government programs to support their bad habits.
For example, there's this article. Ohio Lottery profits most in poor neighborhoods. Well, there's a surprise (NOT)! The people in these low-income neighborhoods literally bet their paychecks in hopes of winning the big one. Then, they realize they don't have enough money left to pay for groceries, rent, utilities, etc. I guess my husband will continue working hard to pay taxes that pay for these people to get a free handout from Uncle Sam. Pathetic.
There are numerous reports that state low-income people are more likely to smoke cigarettes than those of other socio-economic status. Let's say Ima Mooch is on welfare. She smokes a pack a day. Her smokes alone cost her about $110/month. Since food stamps don't cover smokes and alcohol, she's only got a couple hundred left per month (at most) to buy herself some lottery tickets to get out of poverty!
All I'm saying is that people need to learn how to take care of themselves. If you rely on the government, you are giving up control of your life. They will take your freedom as collateral. Get a job (or two), and for God's sake stop breeding!
It's becoming more and more apparent that Americans have no idea what their rights are, and therefore, have no idea when their rights are being violated or threatened. Law enforcement and government "officials" are taking advantage of this citizen stupidity and getting away with your civil liberties! It's time to blow the whistle.
Let me give you some examples. A couple months ago in a suburb of Cleveland, police were walking through residential neighborhoods at night, and if homes were unlocked they would walk right in and "remind" the homeowners to lock up at night for safety! Are you kidding me? Imagine sitting in your OWN PRIVATE RESIDENCE--watching a movie, playing with your kids, enjoying your "privacy" when all of a sudden, a cop walks through your front door--no knocking or ringing of the doorbell. "Just a friendly reminder you might want to lock up after dark!" There were people who thanked these officers and there were some who filed complaints .
With big brother, the man, the eye in the sky (whatever you wish to call it) watching us ALL THE TIME (think traffic cams, security cams, parking lot cams, etc), aren't we entitled to our privacy at home? On a side note, my dog would have probably ripped the head off of this intruder, and I probably would have been sent to jail for having home security.
Another recent story you may have read about, the cops in Daytona Beach, Florida who were swabbing the mouths of "persons of interest" during routine traffic stops and in "special operations." For the complete story on this, click here: http://www.local6.com/problemsolvers/15232197/detail.html. So you're strolling down the street (or driving around town), and you're a clean-cut guy with a wife/girlfriend. A cop stops you and hands you a DNA kit to swab your mouth. I'm guessing your first reaction would be, "Huh?" Does the officer then say, "We're searching for a serial killer, and you fit the profile?" And I'm very curious to hear what would happen if a person declined the test! Technically, submitting to the test would be the same as submitting to a search without a warrant (unless, of course, the officer placed you under arrest for another crime).
On a broader scale there's the Patriot Act, Real ID, and VeriChip. These programs are designed to facilitate government tracking of Americans. Every move you make, everything you buy, and every conversation you have will be recorded. Is this an accurate description of a free society?
If you give the government an inch, they won't hesitate to take a mile. Get educated, and stay informed. Be active within your communities. Get involved in the decision making process of electing YOUR government officials.
While I usually do not rely on Wiki too heavily, I found the entries below to be unbiased, factual, and informative:
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” ~Joseph Goebbels (Nazi Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda)
Lies, cover-ups, threats, extortion--this probably sounds like a trailer for a mobster film, however it is also a pretty accurate description of today's Political Mafia. A little to careless and transparent to be called "wise guys," a more suitable term would be "lies guys." The Family roles are loosely defined, but generally look like this:
The Boss: George W. Bush.
The Under Boss: Dick Cheney.
Consigliere: Condoleezza Rice.
The Foot-Soldiers: Congress/Senate etc.
The following is a brief clip of various lies caught on tape: (Bush Administration)
"Didn't matter. It didn't mean anything. When I was broke, I'd go out and rob some more. We ran everything. We paid off cops. We paid off lawyers. We paid off judges. Everybody had their hands out. Everything was for the taking." ~Henry Hill, Goodfellas (1990)
So who do politicians have in their pockets? Big business. Media. Lobbyists. Anyone who can make them a buck, get them elected, or deliver their propaganda. As for everyone having their hands out, does that sound familiar? Like the American People maybe? If we didn't rely on the government so much, it might just prove to them that we can't be bought.
The oath of office for our President reads:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Does upholding the Constitution mean prohibiting students from silent prayer at school? Does it mean placing restrictions on gun ownership? Does it mean an officer of the law conducting unlawful searches on your private property? Does it mean that the IRS can deny your RIGHT to own property because you failed to pay an unconstitutional tax? Does it mean long drawn-out trials that reap money from the State and the persons involved? If so, I guess our elected officials are doing a fine job. If not, are we okay with the fact that our rights are being taken away from us?
In all reality, our government is corrupt. It's not one side or another, just two separate families trying to politically "whack" each other. Politicians, like the mafia, can take anything they want, and no one will question them. What will they take next?
It's time to elect a new face in Washington. A man of honesty, integrity, and a true patriot, Ron Paul is the leading advocate for freedom in our nation’s capital. The following is a brief overview of Congressman Paul's record:
He has never voted to raise taxes. He has never voted for an unbalanced budget. He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership. He has never voted to raise congressional pay. He has never taken a government-paid junket. He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
He voted against the Patriot Act. He voted against regulating the Internet. He voted against the Iraq war.
He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program. He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
Congressman Paul introduces numerous pieces of substantive legislation each year, probably more than any single member of Congress.
I sit back and listen to the world's largest propaganda machine, the mainstream media, and I no longer wonder why so many Americans are just plain ignorant. I read the newspaper daily, and I no longer question the lack of interest in our communities. I catch myself sitting down to relax at night in front of the television, and I am no longer surprised by the actions of my fellow human beings. While I used to believe only certain groups of people (mainly democrats) begged for government hand-outs, I have come to the realization that almost everyone has become dependent upon our current nanny-state. I have also come to the realization that your vote for President, be it for a Democrat or a Republican, makes no difference, and here's why:
It all started back in 1993. The Clinton's had just taken over the White House. Republicans had gotten their thunder taken away, and were far from happy. A rivalry formed--not so much a Democrat vs. Republican rivalry, but more like an "I voted for Bush" vs. "I voted for Clinton" one. Two whole terms passed. The Republicans had been set to simmer for eight years, and without further adieu, America's forty-third President was elected--George W. Bush (whose future would bring the lowest approval ratings in HISTORY). The rivalry continues.
Fast forward eight years to the present. The end of another Bush term is right around the corner. What better way to end it, than to put him in the middle of a Clinton Administration sandwich, right? That would show those Republicans! (Or rather, those Bush supporters)! And the Republican side is cheering for anyone the media says "has momentum," for that person will surely be able to run the country better than Hillary Clinton, right? This is where the media comes in--where they control who you vote for. You think you have a choice, but let's analyze this a little bit. Who does the media talk about? Hillary, Romney, McCain, Huckabee, Barack (when he wins a primary or is on Oprah), and Giuliani and Thompson (who have both dropped their Presidential bids). Believe it or not, there are other candidates running--one in particular that has beaten every single other Republican candidate in at least one primary/caucus! But, we'll talk about him later.
If you think about it, Hillary's policies are not too far removed from George W. Bush's. They both seem to have the same vision of big government. Hillary voted for the war in Iraq and has made no promises to have troops out of Iraq by the end of her first or second term in office. In fact, it was the Clinton's who started this mess of foreign wars and U.S. intervention in Iraq, Bosnia, and Haiti. It was the Clinton administration who left our borders wide open and inflated the federal budget. Bush not only did NOTHING to stop this momentum, but carried it to new heights. Republicans answer each and every HillaryCare proposal with an equally ridiculous No Child Left Behind one. Republicans say socialized medicine is an awful idea, however so is the idea of socialized retirement (Social Security), and NEITHER party has any plan for dismantling it.
I mean, isn't it nice that Hillary wants to rebuild the middle class? Do you think any other candidate, right or left, would say differently? Do you think any of them would say that you shouldn't have accessible health care? Do you think that any of them would say that they don't want to see an improvement in our schools? HELL NO! They won't, because they'd lose your vote! So, if they're all so different, why do they all say the same thing?
The media's involvement in the Presidential race, is self-serving. For instance, NBC, CNBC, MSNBC (among others including the Nightly News) is owned by General Electric. GE donated $1.1 million to George W. Bush's 2000 campaign. Microsoft (the MS in MSNBC) donated $2.4 million to get Bush elected. GE also produces turbines for nuclear reactors and military hardware.
Westinghouse Electric Company, part of the Nuclear Utilities Business Group of British Nuclear Fuels, owns CBS. They also provide services to the nuclear power industry, dispose of nuclear and hazardous wastes, and operate 4 government-owned nuclear power plants in the US.
While I would thoroughly enjoy expanding on this list and telling you firsthand, I'll just give you the link so you can see for yourself: Who Owns the Media. This really is interesting.
So who do they think they're fooling? YOU! And you're letting them. You take what they give you at face value. They'll do anything they can to get you to vote for the best candidate to fit their agenda, and it's been working for years. It's time to take America back! It's time to start taking care of ourselves. It's time to vote for the one that they don't want you to hear. A vote for Ron Paul is a vote for Freedom. Freedom from the media, freedom from government interference in our daily lives, freedom to make our own decisions. Think to yourself, "Why is the media blacking him out?"
For more information on Ron Paul, Hope for America, and the Freedom Revolution visit www.RonPaul2008.com.
and there were some who filed complaints 
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WIDGETIZE