Georgia Republican Wants National Guard to Shoot To Kill Border Crossers

Slavery By Another name: Some States Bring Back "Debtors' Prisons"

There have been two recent publications that have noted a resuscitation of history in America. The first called Criminal Justice Debt: A Barrier to Reentry, published by the NYU's Brennan Center for Justice documents that states have begun to mandate “user fees” on individuals with criminal convic¬tions. These fees have a negative impact on communities traditionally burdened with high incarceration rates by the criminal justice system by making new routes to prison for people unable to pay their debts.This report looked at practices in fifteen states with the highest prison populations and examined mostly the proliferation of “user fees.” These are financial obligations imposed not for any traditional criminal justice purpose but rather to fund tight state budgets. Eight of the fif¬teen states suspend driving privileges for missed debt payments and seven require individuals to pay off criminal justice debt be¬fore they can regain their eligibility to vote. In all fifteen states, criminal justice debt and associated collection practices can damage an individuals credit.

Fourteen also utilize “poverty penalties” – piling on additional late fees and interest when individuals are unable to pay their debts. The state of Alabama charges a 30 percent collection fee and Florida allows for private debt collectors to tack on a 40 percent surcharge to collect underlying debt.

The second report, released by the American Civil Liberties Union is called In For a Penny: The Rise of America's New Debtors' Prisons. It presents the findings of a year long investigation into modern-day debtors' prisons. In essence the practice of incarcerating people because they cannot afford to pay their legal debts.

Although such practices are unconstitutional, the practice of debtors' prisons is growing across the country although the Supreme Court prohibited imprisoning those who are too poor to pay their legal debts more than twenty years ago.

In some states, people, mainly men and women whom are poor, being unable to pay their legal fees such as charges for use of public defenders, which is a guaranteed right in the United States - becomes a criminal act. Meaning that their only crime is being poor or living in poverty. Debtor prisons are most popular in the states with the largest prison populations like California, Michigan and Alabama.

The ACLU report cites several startling examples. Gregory White, a homeless man in Louisiana, was arrested for stealing $39 worth of food from a grocery store. He was billed $339 in legal fees. When he could not pay, he was arrested and spent 198 days in jail, which cost the city $35,000.

Percy Dear, of New Orleans suffers from epilepsy and schizophrenia. He was arrested for begging in 2007 and was sentenced with either paying an immediate fine of $200 or spending 20 days in jail. In Georgia, Ora Lee Hurley owed $705 in fines from a 1990 drug possession conviction. She stayed in jail for eight months for failing to pay.

These are examples of how the economy and justice systems are seeking ways to criminalize being poor. Although in Bearden v. Georgia, the Supreme Court ruled that such practices violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, states all across the country use debtor prisons to impart unequal justice on the poor, in particular African Americans, under the guise of making money.

Black councilman told he should work in a cotton field

New Internet Censorship Law Introduced in U.S. Senate

Senator Patrick Leahy has introduced S.3804 or the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA). Although this bill is in the first step in the legislative process, if signed into law, it would allow the attorney general and the Department of Justice to require domain registrars and registries, ISPs, DNS providers, and others to block Internet users from reaching certain websites.

In addition, it would also create a set of Internet blacklists. One would be a list of all of the government-selected Web sites served with a “censorship court order” from the attorney general’s office. The second would be a list of domain names that the Department of Justice determines singularly and subjectively without judicial review that are described as or determined to be "dedicated to infringing activities" — whatever the heck that is. The bill will block domains on both lists, with the latter requesting that service providers do so with legal immunity when they block the sites listed.

This is a censorship bill that could have an extremely dangerous impact on freedom of speech and the Internet. Moreover, it is in contradiction to the tenets of democracy espoused in the Bill of Rights. Last I read, no law shall be made that restricts limits or suppresses speech, meaning that blocking an entire domain over a portion of a single Web site is just dumb.

The Senate needs to seriously reconsider this bill. I would like to believe that the public will make the effort to oppose such idiocy, but the reality is that many do not know and would not know because reading is a lost art and most spend too much time on the Internet following gossip and celebrity than the laws of our great nation and the practices of our politicians.

Are you at all bothered by the government's quiet attempts to infringe upon or do away with our rights? Could you live without Facebook, Twitter or some of the other sites that occupy your time if they happened to make the list?

helmet to helmet - humbug

America has been increasingly falling down the global ladder of intellectual sophistication and astuteness. From our schools to our politics, this is a self evident truth. No more real is this observation than the aforementioned is what is observed in the world of Professional sports.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love sports, but I must admit, it is more than apparent that from the new proposed rule changes in professional basketball to the attempt to change the contact ethos in football, that these organizations are run by imbeciles who do not have any knowledge or understanding of science math, physics or physiology, or worse, that they themselves ma have skipped a few too many classes while in school or had the old noggin cracked one too many times.

I state this for two reasons albeit the latter will be my main focus. In summary, you cannot legislate obviate natural occurrences via technical fouls (as in the case of emotions and fouls in the NBA) or the mechanics of physics or physiology (as in the case of the NFL with respect to helmet to helmet contact).

It appears unbeknownst to those in professional football any knowledge of the Potassium Argon Theory of Bilateral symmetry. This defines why the human body of Homo sapiens sapiens is the way it is, or in other words why what we have on one side is on the other as well as why we walk up right, lead with our head and walk on our feet. Yes, Homo sapiens sapiens, which translated means “man wise wise”. But you cannot tell these from idiots who think they can make rules that are contra to human anatomy, physiology or the natural laws of physics.

As a creature with bilateral symmetry, the fact is that man, when using his complete body as a projectile, will always leads from his head, for force originates from acceleration from our feet in relation to the ground and gravity. This is proven factual from the entire known math in the world as postulated from Euclid, to Pythagoras to Einstein. Since perpendicularity originates with the understanding of right triangles, when mass and force are added, we end up with corresponding positions with motion – these are called vectors. Vectors are mathematical objects best explained by physics; however I will attempt to simplify it for the commoner.

A vector is characterized by a direction in space like a Safety on a football field hey are They begin at an Origin “O” which is a starting point like the feet of a Safety on the field. It leads from that initial origin “O” to another point “P” in space. “P” is the end point. This is why vectors are symbolized by an arrow, because al force from an origin is targeted to the end point f the head just as an arrow from the string of a bow. All vectors eventually intersect the target plane (Ball Carrier) and are called projections. Projections end up translating all of the force obtained by the mass of the particles push from the ground to an end point (Ball carrier).

This is why we have the concepts of momentum, energy and elasticity – since the velocity of a particle in motion has direction and magnitude. Plainly stated, the momentum of a particle with velocity and mass is a vector. The elasticity of these resulting forces acting between colliding particles (ball players) is reinforced in Newton’s laws of mechanics. Otherwise we would have inelastic impact, or where the two particles hit each other and stick together.

The point is if men play football in our gravity and they start on the ground, and project with mass and acceleration, it is both physically and mathematically impossible for the human body not to lead with the opposite end where the energy transfer started (the head). No matter what we do, humans by anatomy and symmetry will always lead from the head whether it is walking forward or standing up. The only way to change this I football is if you allow folks to drop kick each other because all the rules in the world they come up will never refute the laws of mechanics.

Islamic Fundamentalism: Puritanism and Evangelicalism Revisited

They say that America was founded upon many tenants, of which the escape from religious persecution in Europe was one. As a result, where we live today has become the most religious diverse nation in the world. But insofar that this is historic truth, the query remains, is such our strength or weakness?

I make this assertion as a form of observation rooted both in historic accuracy and human action. The latter in many respects being feculent and absurd, in particular if what people display reflects what they actually think and feel. Especially as it regards the practice of Islam in modern America.

Personally, modern day Islam, or really I should state Islamic fundamentalism is equal too or the same as the Christianity that was presented that found and established this nation. This is why I am confused by protesting against an Islamic community center in NYC near or around ground zero, or anywhere in America to the proposed burning of books by zealots. This to me reaffirms the selfish edict, that we alone, are the chosen people of God – a lesson refuted via the practice of slavery and cemented via the blood of many before, and during the civil war.

The simple summary is that Islam is no more or less violent than Christianity. Just like some in Islam believe all outside of their belief are infidels, so was the view of the Spanish, who came to the new world, and forced with the Bible and threat of death the native Americans to accept Christianity (Catholicism) without question. But this lead to war and they eventually left New Mexico in 1680. This is one reason Pope Alexander VI in 1493, decreed that it was alright for Europeans to use non-whites in the name of God. Which was good for Bartolome de Las Casas, a Christian who came to the conclusion that African slaves were needed in Hispaniola after he had killed many of the indigenous people.

The lesson learned was that we cannot use political machinery to force our beliefs on others. A lesson the puritans would learn, albeit in theory it is purported that they left Europe to save Christianity from the politics of the European Church. Another reason for them as now. I can not discern any difference between Christianity during the founding of America for a group of people who saw themselves as the chosen people of God, or the fervor that arose out of the protestant reformation or evangelicals, or fundamentalist Islam and its predilection for Shari law.
Yep, the actions of John Winthrop are just like those of Osama Bin Laden. They both say the same thing: that if we are good by our God, that God will bless us. Just Like Billy Graham, for it was the Reverend Billy Graham and other white ministers who told Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights bus boycott that his actions were “not Christian and ungodly.”

The aforementioned examples tell me that all, regardless of religious affiliation are off base – for intolerance and absolute conformity is never good or godly. Unfortunately, this is what defines both Islam and Christianity historically globally. Yes the intolerance of Islam by American Christians and fundamentalist Muslims hatred of the West are the same. Just as slavery showed that whites perceived themselves selfishly as the chosen people of God, I see the same today. How the perspicacity of scripture is used to suggest how some selected few, if different is less than others. Unfortunately regardless of what men say, no God would assert such a premise. The bottom line is that truth fears no light and no man can love God yet orate hate for his brother at the same time, for it is written that he that lives by the sword, shall die by the sword, and both Christianity and Islam should take note.

Congress Wants to Make Private Farming Illegal

There is some new legslation on Capitol Hill that is worthy of serious attention. Senate Bill S 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010, may be the most dangerous and over reaching bill ever proposed in the history of the United States of America. If passed, the Food Safety Modernization Act would be a serious and far reaching extension of the federal government's regulation of the food industry.

The Bill which was proposed by U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois would preclude any person’s right to grow, own, trade, transport, share, feed and eat each and every food that is not grown by a government approved agency or organization. This means it would be illegal to grow, share, trade or sell homegrown food. It will also come with an expected price tag of $825 billion for this year alone, if passed .

Although there is no such authority in the Constitution with respect to the control of food, it notes that products not grown according to designated standards of the the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be considered adulterated. As such, individuals found guilty would be subject to warrantless searches by inspectors from the government. There is a complimentary bill to S 510 in the House (H.R. 2749) that even provides the National Guard and other Federal authorities the right to impose martial law in order to “prohibit or restrict the movement of food." The exact language of the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 can be found in Section 133b of the House Bill which is sponsored by Congressman John Dingell of Michigan.

This bill reflects both what is wrong with Washigton and how big and expansive government has become. In summary the bill will manage and control each person's individual right to produce, distribute, and consume the foods they desire. It is scary that something like this would even be proposed. But it is not suprising, since money speaks louder than the citizens of this country. So be careful, the apples or tomatoes you grow in your back yard may be a federal offense soon .

In fact they have alread started raiding farms under the guise of law. In in June, agents of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, armed with search warrants, raided and shut down Traditional Foods Warehouse, a food club in Minneapolis specializing in locally-produced foods. Rawesome Foods, a Venice, California, the the FBI and the FDA agents seized several thousand dollars worth of raw honey and raw dairy products. In Nashville, federal agents seized food valued at more than $1 million from the Won Feng Trading Co, claiming the products had been contaminated by rodents, insects and other filth although State health officials refuted such a claim. And just this past week, the FDA - armed with guns, raided a Missouri Dariy (Moringland dairy) farm and destroyed 50,000 pounds of cheese.

The Obama administration is placing its full support and advocacy for this bill, especially since the Egg recall of the summer. It is just a mater of time I figure before people realize that government is no longer for the People and by the people.

Slavery By Another name: Some States Bring Back "Debtors' Prisons"

There have been two recent publications that have noted a resuscitation of history in America. The first called Criminal Justice Debt: A Barrier to Reentry, published by the NYU's Brennan Center for Justice documents that states have begun to mandate “user fees” on individuals with criminal convic­tions. These fees have a negative impact on communities traditionally burdened with high incarceration rates by the criminal justice system by making new routes to prison for people unable to pay their debts.This report looked at practices in fifteen states with the highest prison populations and examined mostly the proliferation of “user fees.” These are financial obligations imposed not for any traditional criminal justice purpose but rather to fund tight state budgets. Eight of the fif­teen states suspend driving privileges for missed debt payments and seven require individuals to pay off criminal justice debt be­fore they can regain their eligibility to vote. In all fifteen states, criminal justice debt and associated collection practices can damage an individuals credit.

Fourteen also utilize “poverty penalties” – piling on additional late fees and interest when individuals are unable to pay their debts. The state of Alabama charges a 30 percent collection fee and Florida allows for private debt collectors to tack on a 40 percent surcharge to collect underlying debt.

The second report, released by the American Civil Liberties Union is called In For a Penny: The Rise of America's New Debtors' Prisons. It presents the findings of a year long investigation into modern-day debtors' prisons. In essence the practice of incarcerating people because they cannot afford to pay their legal debts.

Although such practices are unconstitutional, the practice of debtors' prisons is growing across the country although the Supreme Court prohibited imprisoning those who are too poor to pay their legal debts more than twenty years ago.

In some states, people, mainly men and women whom are poor, being unable to pay their legal fees such as charges for use of public defenders, which is a guaranteed right in the United States - becomes a criminal act. Meaning that their only crime is being poor or living in poverty. Debtor prisons are most popular in the states with the largest prison populations like California, Michigan and Alabama.

The ACLU report cites several startling examples. Gregory White, a homeless man in Louisiana, was arrested for stealing $39 worth of food from a grocery store. He was billed $339 in legal fees. When he could not pay, he was arrested and spent 198 days in jail, which cost the city $35,000.

Percy Dear, of New Orleans suffers from epilepsy and schizophrenia. He was arrested for begging in 2007 and was sentenced with either paying an immediate fine of $200 or spending 20 days in jail. In Georgia, Ora Lee Hurley owed $705 in fines from a 1990 drug possession conviction. She stayed in jail for eight months for failing to pay.

These are examples of how the economy and justice systems are seeking ways to criminalize being poor. Although in Bearden v. Georgia, the Supreme Court ruled that such practices violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, states all across the country use debtor prisons to impart unequal justice on the poor, in particular African Americans, under the guise of making money.

United States of Idiots

Work, Bread and Honor: America Wants A Hitler

If I am not mistaken, it seems as if the past, that horrible past that once draped America as a Nation based on race has returned. Maybe it has never left; maybe it has just been cloaked behind the smiles and eyes of its citizenry.

So much attention is directed toward anti-immigration, ant-Muslim and even anti-black that it is just ridiculous. I just wish folk were able to man up and say how they feel. The fact is that fear is a function of not understanding what is different. And as long as we have had people from Europe living in this great nation we have seen fear. Fear against the Native Americans which they infected with disease and stole their land to the fear against African slaves, who they felt inherently would seek revenge for their cruel and unusual treatment of humans they selected to perceived to be less than such.

There was even the fear of their own kind, when the first anti-immigrant fervor hit the nation in the 1840s. Then under the guise of nativism, vehement protest was rampant as immigration from Europe increased. The simple fact is that the Tea Party is no different than the Order of United Americans and the Order of the Star-Spangled Banner organizations that arose more than 160 years ago due to the unfounded fear that the country was being overwhelmed by German and Irish Catholic immigrants, who were perceived to be contrary to Anglo-Saxon values.

Now just as then, felt resentment at the new arrivals and became known as nativists. Through violent protest and clashes were the result occurring cities across the nation. Their rhetoric, as is the rhetoric of the Tea Party was used to inflame and for the abutment of division. For the assertion that the Tea Party is diverse or seeks diversity is just PR and like saying the Council of Conservative Citizens wants to have some black folk under their sheets.

So what is it that makes racism appealing to some on the extreme right and some in the Tea party? What is that would make the common person support a GOP congressional candidate like Rich Lott, who intentionally wears and poses in a Nazi uniform? Is this what the Tea Party endorses, for if it is, I can see no difference in Lott wearing this than a white robe and hood, regardless of the reason?

I mean why would a man want to dress up or be associated with participating in historical re-enactments that promulgate a racial crusade to rid the world of subhuman’s, which is both the historical truth that the Germans then and the Klan today purport.

As opposed to fighting bigotry and hatred it seems retro chic to support it. But then again what could one expect, since most do not know that Neo-Nazis started the Tea-Party movement. Yes they in concert with the Limbaugh’s and the Glenn Becks of the world have taken Hitler’s message well because the way I see it, the Republican Party is building its political future on the bigotry and divisiveness of the Tea Party movement. Just as in Hitler’s time, when the German economy was stalled and saddled with the debt of World War I and Bismarck, new American like Nazis are now taking advantage of Americans economic woes and high unemployment, so it is easier to by scape- goat African, immigrants, Muslims, gays and Jews, thus their appeal with white supremacists, the Christian identity movement and white nationalists.

The sad reality is that white supremacists sees Tea Parties as an entry into mainstream American politics and their best way to get what they really want, a Hitler-like nationalistic racist leader that places the good of white Anglo Saxon protestants first above all people. They desire an American for whites and people of European descent only and preferably only Christians with no integration and mixing of the race. The want what Hitler said he would promise the true and pure Nordic Germanic races – Work, Bread and Honor.