Sound Off!: September 2004

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Rutherford Argument Neglects History

Subject: Rutherford Institute Attorneys Agree to Defend School Board Members from Potential ACLU Threat

Dear Sirs:

I am writing in response to the email I received from the Rutherford Institute entitled, "Help Fight the ACLU!" and which addresses the issue of religion and government at local levels.

While prayer before civic meetings may seem only beneficial and even innocuous, the issue of the separation of church and state was written into the Constitution of the United States by the Framers because it is very important at higher levels of government.

I would never go up against the ACLU on this issue.

The best solution, in my opinion, is for every civic meeting to begin with a moment of silence. People are free to attribute any meaning they wish to that time. Perhaps the majority of people will use the time to pray to God. I think that's beautiful. But I'm not so foolish as to believe that men with power in the church are less susceptible to corruption than the men with power in government. Like attracts like. This shared influence among a handful of fallible, mortal men with power over millions of people, many with poorer educations, is to be conscientiously avoided. I find the idealism in the argument issued by the Rutherford Institute neglectful of this aspect of history.

Thank you.

Jessica Froiland

Has Our Government Been Hijacked?

Subject: The Thought Police and the American Community Survey, by John W. Whitehead

"Please, watch your step getting into the cattle car. Move to the back so that people behind you can get in, too..."

How bad does it have to get before “We The People” finally wake up and realize that our government has been hijacked? This article just makes me sick to my stomach! I predict that we have just a matter of months before Martial Law is declared in a Southern State (probably Texas). This survey will probably be the tool that "they" will use to incite the people to rebel. The resulting conflict will outrage citizens in other States, thereby instigating a nation-wide declaration of Martial Law in the name of "Public Peace." The pressure cooker is about to come undone.

I hope I am wrong!

Regards,

Don V. Bangert, III

Friday, September 17, 2004

America's New Minutemen Turn Their Neighbors in Within 60 Seconds

Subject: The Thought Police and the American Community Survey, by John W. Whitehead

John has every right to be concerned about the new census. Every bureaucratic burden we have today began as innocuously as, well, income tax. Perhaps that's not a good example. Let's say as innocuously as Social Security. Hmmm, that' probably not a good one to use, either. Can't use judicial review, the general welfare clause of the Constitution or a national bank. How about Executive Orders? Er, no.

The truth is, everything begins small and turns big. A few innocent questions now with stiff penalties for failing to disclose and who knows? A few years from now they'll be asking you how many firearms you have, what models and what the serial numbers are. Then they'll ask you whether your neighbors or friends have any guns.

Suddenly it doesn't sound so innocuous anymore, does it?

Campaign finance "reform" and restrictions against a Christian-Judaic moral code by unelected judges already have drawn first blood on the First Amendment. The federal government has been whittlin' away at the Second Amendment for years and will soon be able to nullify it with a majority vote. The Ninth and Tenth Amendments were written in invisible ink and finally repealed by Abraham Lincoln in 1861. Don't believe me? Check out Roe v. Wade for a recent example. I can't find a reference to abortion anywhere in the Constitution. So why is it a federal matter if life isn't going to be protected?

California has a law allowing terminally ill patients to use marijuana for pain relief. And some 34+ states allow their citizens to carry concealed weapons and even more allow hunting. But critically ill patients are being arrested in California every day by federal agents. And what if the federal government bans the weapons the states have given its citizens a permit to carry? Will the Ninth and Tenth Amendments come into play and state laws trump the federal? Ha!

Readers, mark John's words and mine, and read what the founding fathers had to say about government. Simply put: Don't trust the government unless you plan to serve the government. Remember, the Jews of 1933 refused to take Hitler seriously, even though the Austrian-born founder of the German Nazi Party and chancellor of the Third Reich had already laid out his plans in his best selling little opus, Mein Kampf. Imagine, he tells people what he has in store for them and they ignore him! Still, some believed and were undoubtedly called paranoid. The ones who left, however, I call something else: "Outta there!"

Sic semper tyrannis!

John Iler
Arlington, VA

Thursday, September 16, 2004

What can one do?

Subject: The Thought Police and the American Community Survey, by John W. Whitehead

Mr. Whitehead,

Read your commentary today on this survey. I've never heard about this survey. What can one do if they get this survey? I for one am TIRED of the government snooping on every aspect of my life! Even when I got the census survey I only gave number of people in my family and that's IT! Keep up the great work of blowing the whistle on these idiotic things our government does.

Sincerely,

Michael E. Lewis
Honolulu

Friday, September 10, 2004

No Kerry Bias Here?

Subject: TV Ads and the Selling of the President, by John W. Whitehead

John,

I have been a supporter of the Rutherford Institute, as I am of all organizations that represent our traditional values and those in particular that are advocates for our Christian principles of living. I believe in the work you are doing defending our religious freedoms and greatly respect you and your staff for the service you render to those of the Christian faith in particular. I am, however, concerned with your apparent bias for Kerry, who is one of the most LIBERAL politicians in history. This was expressed in your recent article “TV ads and Selling of the President”.

I am not by any means a sold out Bush fan, however, as a Christian and a conservative I am not impressed with Kerry’s ‘character’ and qualifications. Just what has he done for the last 20 years of his political life of substance that qualifies him to be President or God help us, the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces?

You criticize Bush’s ads yet make no mention of the hours of vicious and sometimes libelous ads run by Kerry’s supporters in previous months. You imply that it was Bush’s ads attacking Kerry’s war record that were responsible for his ratings drop. Bush has never questioned Kerry’s war record to my knowledge. Sounds to me like you’re getting your background from the major liberal biased media propaganda outlets. It was 200 of his fellow swift boat vets whose conscientious efforts to expose the fabrications of his record, which were fashioned as you put it, in Madison Avenue style, which caused the decline.

I agree we need more substantive information about ALL the candidates from all the parties who should ALL participate in the official Presidential candidates’ debates. I personally use FOX News, and many Internet news and information sources such as WorldNet Daily to get the nitty-gritty on today’s issues and players. All of the big television networks, including NPR, are so far to the left and pro-Kerry in their reporting it’s a sham, and a shame as well.

John, what really concerns me is that the American people are being fed a news view that’s as much a ‘Madison Avenue’ spin in content as the commercials they air. We are being fed a ‘party-line’ of liberal ideology and it is infecting our culture and threatening our stability as a nation. A nation that is divided against itself cannot stand. We’re becoming too multi-cultural and tolerant, being overrun by minorities and special interest groups. As our ‘Core Values’ continue to be dissolved by our judiciary and our legislatures all for the sake of ‘equal rights’ and the entitlement mentality, ours will no longer be a nation Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All, much less Of the People, By the People and For the People.

Regards,

John L. Gress
Charlottesville, Virginia

If you're not doing anything wrong, what's your worry?

Gotta tell you, John…

I read your article about the U.S. becoming a police state and have to tell you that I think you're completely off base. Yes, there is much you said that is true and makes "some" sense, but the picture you've painted is rather exaggerated, wouldn't you say? I'm an American and I have yet to be impacted by the passage of The Patriot Act, or anyother example you mentioned. If you're not doing anything wrong, what's your worry?

Jim KirkendallSan
Jose, CA

Wednesday, September 01, 2004

Impressed With Your Column Today

Subject: Moving Toward A Fascist State, by John W. Whitehead

Dear Mr. Whitehead,

I was very impressed with the content of your column today. I'm a former poli-sci professor (PhD from UNC-Chapel Hill), work mostly in epidemiology/public health research. I disagree with the opinions in your columns as often as not, but Peter Zenger happens to be one of my personal heroes. I will "defend to the death" your right to express them. That same right applies to the people enclosed in a "concentration camp" one block away from the site of the Democratic Convention, as you noted. It also applies to the middle-aged couple arrested in Charleston WV for quietly-wearing T-shirts with a "Stop Bush" symbol. Why leave that constitutional-issue to the ACLU? It's worth the attention of the Rutherford Institute as well, for all the same reasons.

Harriet Imrey
Charlottesville, Va.

Maybe If We Actually DID Something About The Situation...

Subject: The Rich Who Rule Us, by John W. Whitehead

Dear Mr. Whitehead,

I live in San Francisco. I am 52 and as I've aged have become more interested in those who rule us. I will point out that we passively vote for those willing to put themselves in front of us. To a great extent we vote for those who offer us the most. In the last few Supervisor elections here in SF the candidates invariably offered to get us "Our Share" of the money from the Cities revenue. They also made various promises to nursemaid us. Those candidates who made the best offers, or most believable offers, usually won. I think that pretty much sums up why we have the corrupt system we are living in.

Until the citizens can wean themselves away from the false teat of OTHER PEOPLES MONEY, and "I'm too busy to deal with that so the government should do it for me", it isn't going to get any better.

I also know a number of apparently reasonable people who balk when you talk about actually DOING something about the situation. You know, like, being a candidate, supporting someone we believe in, working in the campaigns... Nope, not gonna happen.

I have hopes that there are other people who are actually doing something about this situation. Right now I am headed for 1.5 year deployment through the California Army National Guard. When I get back I believe I will try hooking up with one of the groups in my area through Townhall.com. Maybe enough of us can make a difference.

PS: The government schools appear to be miseducating our children in how to let others run our government. It is probably the first issue we need to work on.

Vernon Kuhns

A Prayer For The Fate Of Our Democracy

Subject: The Rich Who Rule Us, by John W. Whitehead

Dear Mr. Whitehead,

You're right! It seems hopeless. What is it up to now? Around a billion spent on political races? No wonder there's voter apathy. I don't care for any of the presidential candidates because there's no constitutional basis for most of what the president and our Congress and the Senate are doing. I have no idea what we can do at this point. We can pray!

Pastor Dan Bruce

Appalled At Demonstration Cage

Subject: Moving Toward a Fascist State, by John W. Whitehead

Mr. Whitehead,

I read with great interest your column in today's Crossville Chronicle titled, “Moving Toward a Fascist State.”

I must say, as the convention unfolded in Boston, I was quite appalled at what I viewed as the Demonstration Cage. This, in the United States of America, where each and every day our Fearless Leader proclaims to fight to let freedom ring all over the world?

But enough of my ranting. I just wanted to thank you for echoing my thoughts, thoughts I could never express quite as eloquently as you did. Let’s hope New York City is a little bit more humane.

Thanks for the great article.

Artie Bernt
Crossville, TN

Corruption At The Top Starts With Corruption At The Bottom.

Subject: The Rich Who Rule Us, by John W. Whitehead

Mr. Whitehead,

If there is any complaint that "the rich rule," it must be temperedwith the realization that the President and all members of Congress (includingthe Senate, courtesy Amendment XVII) are elected by the people.

Corruption at the top starts with corruption at the bottom. Too manypeople are ignorant of politics. Too many who are eligible to register tovote, don't register. Too many who are registered to vote, don't vote. Andtoo many of those who vote, vote ignorantly.

Campaign money is not the evil that the dominant media make it out tobe. As I wrote in a letter to the San Jose Mercury News in 1999 (to whichthat liberal paper awarded a Silver Pen), campaign money is useful only ifit can be used to influence voters. The problem is that voters allow campaignadvertising to do so. If voters used their brains rather than theiremotions, and attached enough importance to voting that they did theirown homework, so as to inoculate themselves from ads, the effect -- andthus the importance -- of campaign money would be reduced. But too much of the public is too lazy and too foolish. Further, too many people allow themselves to be bought off by government programs -- then they hypocritically complain about politicians being bought.

Your complaint that this election "is simply a decision to cast aballot for one rich man over another" ignores that neither Mr. Bush nor Mr. Kerrywould be on the ballot except that people voted for them in primaries orcaucuses. Alexander Tyler's 200-year-old description of the decline of a cultureis being followed to the letter. It will be reversed only if the heartsof the people are changed.

Larry Bickford

Don't Expect Help From The Government!

Subject: The Rich Who Rule Us, by John W. Whitehead

John,

I must point out that what draws the very rich to government(meaning Federal government) "service" is the access to perks, privileges, andcontrol over "government" money. If the U.S. government went back to itsconstitutional functions (establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure liberty) and was not involved in so much that it rightfully shouldn't be involved in (wealth transfer, providing health care, providing incentives on how to spend or invest via the tax code, etc), then the average man who was truly interested in serving his fellow country men would have a chance to serve. Those very rich would be out looking for better ways to makemore money. However, as long as enough average men are willing to backpoliticians who promise government largess for a vote (and think the largessis free), then the government will continue to be involved in things it hasno business being involved in and the very rich will be drawn to "serve" (themselves).

This is sad because no one needs governmental help more than those whowork for a living. The governmental help that those who work for a living need is for thegovernment to get out of their lives (reduce/eliminate regulation,taxation, etc) and just provide the foundation for a free market system thatenforces property rights and contracts. Anytime the working man expects helpfrom the government, it’s going to cost him a lot more than he gets back inhelp!Regards,David McNarney

A Texas Man's Perspective on "The Rich Who Rule Us"

Subject: The Rich Who Rule Us, by John W. Whitehead

Mr. Whitehead,

Thank you for your thoughtful article. I have been thinking aboutyour article and reflecting on the history of our nation.

As you discuss, it does seem that offices in national politics have become a domain of the very rich. However, my general recollection from my earlier schooling is thatmany (most?) of our presidents were from rich or aristocratic families. I recalllearning about the involvement of wealthy men in politics dating back to thefounding of our country. I remember being taught in American History that a philosophy of "noblis oblige"(nobility obligates) was an altruistic motivation for our wealthyforefathers to become involved in the political process. I still think "noblis oblige" is a key motivation of many of our wealthy politicians today.

I am not very wealthy by American standards. However, I do participate inthe political process beyond just voting. My wife and I participated as delegatesto the Texas Republican State Convention this year. We used the opportunities toinfluence our state platform and sent emails on issues of concern.

I do not feel excluded because I am not "rich." Sure, maybe I am notrich enough to be President -- but I can make a difference in the grassroots ofAmerican politics. In the Texas Republican party at least, we have a very activeparticipation by the "common man." It seems that we "common men" (and women) herehave a great opportunity to participate in our democracy, and by God's grace, makea difference for good. Perhaps that's why I don't have the same sense of urgent concern about this issue that you evidently do. I suspect that I might share your concern morestrongly if I lived elsewhere in our land.

Thanks again,

John B Lochridge
Dallas, Texas