"Content Neutral"...The Obliteration of Free Speech

Recently, a group of students visiting Washington, D.C. went to the Lincoln Memorial. In a moment of patriotism, they began to sing the national anthem, something most people would surely not object to, even if the students were not professional singers. They were shouted down by a uniformed security guard, who told them they had to stop singing. They thankfully resumed their singing and completed the national anthem. (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/08/09/students-lincoln-memorial-told-stop-singing-national-anthem)

“The area they were standing in and singing is an area that is restricted for this type of activity,” said Sgt. David Schlosser. “The United States Park Police is absolutely content-neutral when it comes to any sort of demonstrations in these areas.”

Schlosser explained that performances

, regardless of content, are banned to “maintain a contemplative and reverent area for the Lincoln Memorial, for the other guests and visitors.”

Schlosser, who commended the students on their musical ability, said the students were not cited and to his knowledge no report was filed.

“We need to make certain that all other visitors that don’t want to be a part of that or just choose to be tourists are able to do so in the same light that probably President Lincoln wanted – which is completely content neutral,” he said.

"Content neutral"?  Have we literally stepped into an Orwellian state of Newspeak? No speech is content neutral, otherwise it is not truly speech. Speech is meant to convey something; namely...content.  The thought behind this particular phrase is more ludicrous than the phrase itself, if that were possible, a product of the PC Police.

Political correctness has spread its tentacles into every part of our lives; people are afraid to speak to one another for fear of offending someone, bosses are afraid to discipline employees for fear of being called an "ist" of some sort, with a corresponding lawsuit, communications between different groups of people is so scrubbed of any possibly offensive comments for fear of being labeled an "ist" that it becomes meaningless, parents are afraid to discipline their children in a non-politically correct way for fear of being reported to Child Protective Services, teachers are afraid to communicate views for fear ot complaints against them and loss of their jobs....are we seeing a pattern here?

Fear is now what drives our communications and interactions, or lack of them, with others. We have truly lost our freedom of speech, whether we like to think so or not. It is because we are afraid of the PC Police coming after us, our money, our jobs, our kids....because we do not speak Newspeak-content neutral speech that offends no one and means nothing. We are afraid to be Americans anymore, because apparently, to the PC Police (or Thought Police), that "disturbs" other people. Since when did the singing of the National Anthem become a "demonstration"? Apparently, when the PC Police decide it is one. 

What is most chilling to me is this gradual creep against our freedom of speech. It is now reaching critical mass; soon, it will stifle any voice of dissent against the PC Police, who only support freedom of speech when it agrees with their views. From cries of "isms" to threats against jobs and future employment, the PC Police have turned us into tiptoeing creatures, always fearful of saying the wrong things. These kids were brave enough to continue their "demonstration". How many adults would do the same? We now voluntarily self censor out of fear; how long before we have no choice in the matter? If it is up to the PC Police, the time is now.

Watch the Obama administration. Watch the lies and the doublespeak; telling you things that are outright falsehoods, even when they know you are aware it is a falsehood. Sure, that five day, half a million dollar trip to Spain at the expense of the taxpayers was an "official visit" by the First Lady.  Sure, the economy is better and the stimulus bills created numerous jobs. Yes, the government needs more control over industry, the financial world, your health care decisions, your privacy, the Internet...sure it does. Read "1984" by George Orwell...one would think he had met the Obama administration already when writing it.

Then start fighting against the PC Police...while you still can.

Why Eliminating the Death Tax Matters to You

Most of us think the death tax is a burden only for wealthy people who get left exorbitant amounts of money. The following article from the Heritage Foundation explains how it affects everyone, as wealthy people invest less (which means less businesses and jobs) and inherited businesses are often sold or closed, because the people inheriting it don't have the outright money to pay the death tax...it is all tied up in the business.

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/07/the-economic-case-against-the-death-tax

Dear Hypocrites of the NAACP

Once upon a time, you were a respected organization whose members risked everything, including their lives, to promote equality and the advancement of blacks. What happened to that organization? When did you not only lose your way, but your soul? For years, I and others who were not black contributed to the NAACP, but today, it will be a cold day in Al Gore’s globally warmed world before I give you another penny. I only give to worthy organizations that actually work for good, not pontificate nonsense.

Political correctness has dominated relations between the races for the past few decades. It is my firm belief that it has done much more damage than good. People from different races and cultures are afraid to speak to one another for fear of saying something offensive. Groups like yours hid behind the guise of political correctness and used it as a sledgehammer; instead of knocking down walls between people, you pummeled the people themselves. People lost their careers, their livelihoods, and the respect of others as the label “racist” was used more frequently and ever more inaccurately, for saying and doing things that were not racist, but “deemed” so by groups like yours in ever-narrowing ways. Yet, you continued on, not worrying that real racism was not being addressed and using political correctness to get your way. You grew drunk with the power it gave you. As with most drunks, you got what you wanted in the short term….and ruined yourself with others in the long term.

In years past, to be accused of being a racist was a real insult; it made you seem less of a human being. Now, the word is tossed out so often and with such inaccuracy that people merely laugh. You jumped on the political correctness bandwagon and sprayed an entire organization with a false label of racism, not realizing you brought your once-fine organization down to its knees. You have become a laughingstock. Now, once revered leaders like Congressman Lewis have smeared themselves with their lies, all to advance an agenda.

I hate to tell you this…nah, no I don’t…but your agenda is dead. The final insult of releasing a statement against Tea Party members (and yes, we know you backpedaled on the original “racist” designation for the Party), while ignoring voter intimidation at its worst, has shown you to be the cads you have become. Your founding members fought and sometimes died not to be intimidated at the polls.

You should be ashamed.

A Former Supporter

Al Gore: Called on Global Warming Hypocrisy

All we did was welcome Al Gore to his new home. Why are people so upset?

NY Candidates against Schumer, Hinchey and for Governor

Tea Party meetings are a great way to meet your local candidates. They are faced with a smaller group, direct questions and a chance for people to see how they walk, talk and react to the people who are going to hire them. Below is a link to a synopsis of NY candidates (for the NY Assembly 22nd district), US Congress and NY Governor, taken from a recent meet and greet in the tiny town of Plattekill, NY.

http://tinyurl.com/29colz6

Who is Obama's New Head of Medicare/Medicaid?

President Obama’s latest end run around Congress was to appoint Dr. Donald Berwick, a non-practicing pediatrician and head of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, to the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by utilizing a recess appointment. Once again, someone who is not vetted by Congress slips through to a major post, in this case overseeing the 800 billion dollar budgets of Medicare and Medicaid. Not much is known about Dr. Berwick, although some reporters actually appear to be doing some investigative journalism and are questioning his numerous “positions” listed on his resume.

His full time job is listed as the head of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Below are two paragraphs taken from the website (http://www.ihi.org/ihi/about), describing the Institute:

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is an independent not-for-profit organization helping to lead the improvement of health care throughout the world. Founded in 1991 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, IHI works to accelerate improvement by building the will for change, cultivating promising concepts for improving patient care, and helping health care systems put those ideas into action.

IHI has a staff of about 110 people. We also have partnerships with hundreds of faculty members from around the world who share what they know and learn from each other under a philosophy of “all teach, all learn.” Our programs and activities are designed to enable committed individuals and organizations to innovate together, share knowledge, and collaborate on the difficult, rewarding work of improving health care.

According to the Washington Times, Dr. Berwick “received a base salary of $509,600, a $88,200 bonus and $275,849 in deferred compensation through a contribution by the institute to a special supplemental executive retirement plan. IHI has approximately 130 employees, according to IRS filings.”

Now, taking aside the fact that President Obama did a complete run around Congress and placed a totally unvetted candidate in charge of an almost trillion dollar government program, one must ask the following questions:

Why is someone who is working for a non-profit agency that basically is doing research and teaching making almost $900,000 a year in salary and monetary benefits? Why is it that my former Chief of Police, who supervised an agency with more people than Dr. Berwick and with certainly more responsibility, including life and death decisions, got paid only around $90,000 per year, while Dr. Berwick was collecting about ten times more for much less work? Who is funding this “Institute” and paying this insane salary? What is this “Institute” really about? Reading through the website, it appears to be an Institute with a legitimate purpose, including ways to cut health care costs, but when one hears that obscene salary paid for very little responsibility, one begins to wonder about the program overall.

And now, he is in charge of an almost trillion dollar program. Why is he so highly qualified for this position and what was the purpose of placing him without vetting? What is it about Dr. Berwick and his background that President Obama did not want us to know?

Al Gore's Profits from Cap and Trade

The following article breaks down the money trail. Gore's crusade against global warming apparently also coincides with some cash for him, interestingly enough.

http://www.blnz.com/news/2008/05/13/Money_Connections_Behind_Gores_Carbon_8700.html