Copyright law as a tool for state censorship of the Internet ~ By Maira Sutton

It’s a norm that is reinforced and exported abroad by dozens of trade agreements that carry provisions that mirror, and further entrench, restrictive interpretations of the DMCA. The South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (aka KORUS) and the Australia-U.S. free trade agreement (aka AUSFTA) are just two examples. The language in those agreements was actually a lot like the DMCA. But the negotiators abstracted the language just enough so that U.S. law could still be compliant with it, while the other countries could be pressured to enact even harsher domestic restrictions. Following their trade agreements with the U.S., South Korea enacted a three-strikes takedown regime, and Australia was pushed into enacting policies requiring intermediaries to terminate the accounts of repeat infringers.

Now we’re seeing a disturbing trend where governments and state-friendly agencies are abusing DMCA takedowns to silence political criticism. Here are the cases we know about where governments have misused U.S. copyright law to censor the Internet [read column].

Nobody is suggesting that the DMCA is not needed to protect the owners of copyright-protected materials, such as movies, music, books, articles, etc. If somebody is uploading pirated movies or music to their website, they deserve to be taken down. But in this column, we find out that the DMCA law is providing an opportunity for governments around the world to limit free speech, including our own. Here is an example that Maira Sutton included in her column:

• United States: The Department of Homeland Security reportedly issued copyright takedowns to YouTube over some conspiracy theory videos, when federal agencies themselves cannot own copyrights — unless it has been assigned to them, which seems unlikely in this case. (August 2012)

Keeping in mind that the internet takedowns are done without due process, you could probably hire lawyers to assist in getting an account reactivated, but that could require a lot of money and time. Those that are actually innocent of breaking any copyright laws, who saw their website taken down or a youtube account terminated, are very unlikely to have the resources to fight their case. You can't defeat the leviathan governments or corporations, let alone fight city hall. They've got you right where they want you: Powerless to protect your rights.

The worst thing about this censorship tool is the knowledge that our own United States government can limit free speech if it is critical of politicians, ObamaCare, or the President and his allies. Isn't that why we have the First Amendment to that "piece of paper" we call the Constitution of the United States of America?

If our government can write laws and create regulations that seem to have a noble purpose to protect us from crooks, destroyers of the environment, and enemies of America, and then use those same laws and regulations to erode our freedom, what has gone wrong? Are our politicians and bureaucrats just too incompetent to be enacting those laws or writing regulations? Or, are they a bunch of control freaks who purposely use vague language in those laws and regulations so that a President can just use his pen and phone to circumvent himself around the laws to do the bidding of his supporters?

What this is about is the ability for governments around the world, including our own, to develop methods to keep their establishments in power, and keep the citizens from being able be able to revolt, let alone, protect our freedom.  Our ability to stay free is being eroded, and our ability to spread the word about the "takedown" of our freedom is being silenced.  Just sayin'...

RELATED STORY:

• December 8, 2014 ~ VIDEO: The end of our freedom? The segment about Operation Choke Point

Copyright law as a tool for state censorship of the Internet

By Maira Sutton

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Electronic Frontier Foundation

From PersonalLiberty.com

This story by global policy analyst Maira Sutton originally
appeared on the website of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

When state officials seek to censor online speech, they’re going to use the quickest and easiest method available. For many, copyright takedown notices do the trick. After years of lobbying and increasing pressure from content industries on policymakers and tech companies, sending copyright notices to take media offline is easier than ever.

The copyright law that state actors most often invoke is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The DMCA was the first major digital copyright law passed in the United States, creating strict procedural rules for how and when a copyright holder can claim that uploaded content infringes on their copyright. U.S.-based tech companies that receive these infringement notices must comply with these rules to receive their safe harbor — the protection they have from being liable for hosting unlawful user content.

The DMCA has become a global tool for censorship, precisely because it was designed to facilitate the removal of online media. The law carries provisions on intermediary liability, among many other strict copyright enforcement rules, which induce websites, Internet service providers and other such “intermediaries” to remove content that is alleged to be a copyright infringement.

~~~ READ MORE on PersonalLiberty.com ~~~

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As an additional feature here on Blogging In Our Time 2 Escape, this blog will be including videos that have been posted on the johnny2k's America Facebook page! Videos can sometimes say more than what can be expressed in text.  Be sure to visit the archive with hundreds of videos to peruse.

*     *     *     *

Don't be afraid!

WE the PEOPLE

are the MOB
ONE NATION UNDER GOD

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear

*     *     *     *

VIDEO: The end of our freedom? The segment about Operation Choke Point

Post by Johnny2k's America.

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As an additional feature here on Blogging In Our Time 2 Escape, this blog will be including videos that have been posted on the johnny2k's America Facebook page! Videos can sometimes say more than what can be expressed in text.  Be sure to visit the archive with hundreds of videos to peruse.

*     *     *     *

Don't be afraid!

WE the PEOPLE

are the MOB
ONE NATION UNDER GOD

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear

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VIDEO: You don't have to work, but you'll feel better if you do

As an additional feature here on Blogging In Our Time 2 Escape, this blog will be including videos that have been posted on the johnny2k's America Facebook page! Videos can sometimes say more than what can be expressed in text.  Be sure to visit the archive with hundreds of videos to peruse!

Post by Johnny2k's America.

But to emphasize the point, take a look at this video created by Alphonzo Rachel, known as Zo:

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Don't be afraid!

WE the PEOPLE

are the MOB
ONE NATION UNDER GOD

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear

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VIDEO: It's not fair!

As an additional feature here on Blogging In Our Time 2 Escape, this blog will be including videos that have been posted on the johnny2k's America Facebook page! Videos can sometimes say more than what can be expressed in text.  Be sure to visit the archive with hundreds of videos to peruse through!

Post by Johnny2k's America.

*     *     *     *

Don't be afraid!

WE the PEOPLE

are the MOB
ONE NATION UNDER GOD

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear

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VIDEO: Stossel's CHILL OUT!

In a new feature here on Blogging In Our Time 2 Escape, this blog will now be including videos that I have recently posted on the johnny2k's America Facebook page!

Post by Johnny2k's America.

*     *     *     *

Don't be afraid!

WE the PEOPLE

are the MOB
ONE NATION UNDER GOD

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear

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Time 2 Escape WIFLI for Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012

It was Glenn Beck that asked the all-important question this morning following Rick Santorum's stunning victories on Tuesday in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri: "Why?" Glenn asked his audience if we've heard any of the GOP candidates say why they are running for President as well as Rick Santorum did Tuesday night.

What we are too used to hearing are a bunch of cliches from candidates when they are asked why they are running for President. Well, not with Santorum, who you will see answer that question with this conclusion to his victory speech he made in Missouri Tuesday night:

Video clip source: Fox News Channel

For Rick Santorum, it is about our Honor to uphold what the Founders gave - their Lives, their fortunes, and their honor - the Freedom granted to us by God, and that this generation, and all future generations, must work hard for to maintain.

FNC, Jan. 3: Rick Santorum

When I voted for Rick Santorum back in early January at the Iowa Caucus, I had no idea that he would have a chance. I was only choosing the one I believed the most like I do among the many GOP candidates initiating their campaigns. Somehow, my candidate eventually won the State of Iowa. And then came the next contests: New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida and Nevada. While Santorum was non-existent in those primaries, all the media attention was centered on the war between Romney and Gingrich.

I think the American people finally grew sick of hearing about negative ads and having to actually listen to them. Newt was supposed to be the Conservative alternative to Mitt, even though he sat on a couch with Nancy Pelosi to discuss global warming. The whole thing was a disaster waiting to happen. I know that I was losing interest in who actually won the GOP nomination, if it were to be Gingrich or Romney; they were both dead meat when it comes time to face Obama head on.

And the question I kept asking myself is why all of the pundits were trying to choose between those two pretenders, while out in the wings were Paul and Santorum. Okay, Paul wasn't going to get any endorsements, but why not Santorum? I was greatly disappointed, admittedly, when Herman Cain endorsed Newt Gingrich last week. Of all people, I thought Herman would be courageous enough to go out on a limb, and endorse Rick Santorum, even if it eventually meant nothing. I felt it was a missed opportunity for Herman Cain to move along a candidate that has true Conservative ideals.

So, now what? Will the establishment GOP team up with the mainstream media to try to keep it to Romney or Gingrich, or will they just get the heck out of the way so that the Tea Party Conservatives can get a true alternative to Barack Obama next November for our Republican nominee? Somebody that is going to fight for our freedom?

Rick Santorum sure looks good to me! Wow! He is the one candidate that I believe is the ONLY conservative alternative to Barack Hussein Obama.  I'm just sayin'...

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The News Stories:

Santorum shakes up GOP race with three-for-three finish
From FoxNews.com ~ Published February 08, 2012

The Republican presidential contest is a two-man race no more.

Rick Santorum proved that the 2012 primary election still has a few surprises left, after he went three for three in Tuesday’s contests and once again shook up the GOP nomination battle.

Santorum, in perhaps the biggest upset of the night, was declared the winner of the Colorado caucuses -- a contest Mitt Romney had been leading in recent polls and won in the 2008 race. The former Pennsylvania senator also won the Minnesota caucuses and the non-binding Missouri GOP primary.

Video provided by freedomsfool2009 on Feb 7, 2012

READ MORE ...

[Editor's note: As of now, when you go to the above story, you can see the Fox News Channel video of Rick Santorum's victory speech in Missouri. I would have embedded that video, since it was much better quality than the youtube video I embedded in the story above, but there was no option to do so at this time. My favorite part of the entire speech can be seen above in my introduction.]

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Columnists and Their Commentaries:

A congressman's Agenda 21 ignorance
Exclusive: Henry Lamb sets California lawmaker straight about impact of U.N. policies
From WND Commentary ~ By Henry Lamb ~ Published Feb 3, 2012

HENRY LAMB

California Rep. Wally Herger offered an article on Agenda 21 that, unfortunately, reflects a lack of knowledge about Agenda 21 shared by far too many elected officials. In the first instance, he said that Agenda 21 is a document developed at a U.N. Conference in 1993.

Wrong!

Agenda 21 was developed over a period of time, traceable from the 1972 U.N. Conference on the Environment, which identified “environmental protection” as the world’s greatest problem and gave the world the U.N. Environmental Programme, followed almost immediately by President Nixon’s executive order that created the EPA.

Then came the 1976 U.N. Conference on Human Settlements, signed by the U.S., which proclaimed that “Public control of land use is … indispensable.” The next major step was the creation of the U.N. World Commission on Environment and Development in 1983, chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland. The commission issued its final report in 1987, called “Our Common Future.” This document produced the concept and defined the term “Sustainable Development” to be: “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

READ MORE ...

RELATED WEBSITES:

• Sovereignty International, Inc. Video Library

• Sovereignty International, Inc. Text Library

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Government can't make us happy
John Stossel: It's freedom, not federal programs, that cultivate well-being
From WND Commentary ~ By John Stossel ~ Published Feb 7, 2012

JOHN STOSSEL

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson called the pursuit of happiness an unalienable right. This was a radical idea. For most of history, most people didn’t think much about pursuing happiness. They were too busy just trying to survive.

Then came the liberal revolution based on the idea of individual freedom. Only then did they start thinking that happiness might be possible on earth.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the right to pursue happiness has been perverted into a government-backed entitlement to happiness.

READ MORE ...

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Israeli 1st strike: Justified for survival
Exclusive: Barry Farber wants Jewish state to disregard Obama vis-à-vis Iranian threat
WND Commentary ~ By Barry Farber ~ Published Feb 7, 2012

BARRY FARBER

Ahh, the wide world of diplomatic nuance!

During the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Prince Metternich’s aide told him the Russian ambassador had died during the night. After a few thoughtful moments, Metternich said, “I wonder what he meant by that?” From Metternich, now, to Leon Panetta!

Panetta told David Ignatius of the Washington Post that he thinks Israel will attack Iran before this June. The more you know about diplomacy, the more precious diplomatic crystal you can see smashed between here and the horizon. America’s top defense official tells the world that an embattled ally is likely to attack a common enemy within months. I wonder what he meant by that!

This could be a clever pro-Israel maneuver in which Panetta signals to Iran, “Those Israelis are hotheads. And we can’t do anything about it. They’re madmen, and we fear they’re going to attack Iran.” That, according to those who cling to this interpretation, might let Iran know Israeli resolve is real, in hopes of goading them into forgetting their atomic ambitions.

READ MORE ...

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From the Blogs:
Santorum Pulls GOP Primary Upset Wins
From The Right Perspective ~ By NewsGuy – Posted Feb 8, 2012

Photo taken during the Rick Santorum victory speech Tuesday, Feb 7, 2012

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum pulled off upset victories in the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses and a nonbinding primary in Missouri on Tuesday, shaking Mitt Romney’s front-runner stance and calling his conservative credentials into question.

The Santorum wins knock former House Speaker Newt Gingrich off as the number two in the race. Santorum has won four elections so far, counting the Iowa caucus that was initially awarded to Romney, while Gingrich has won only the South Carolina primary.

In Colorado, the Denver Post reports the election results as: Santorum – 40.2%; Romney – 34.9%; Gingrich – 12.7%; Paul – 11.7%.

In Minnesota, CNN reports the election results as: Santorum – 45%; Paul – 27%; Romney – 17%; Gingrich – 11%.

In Missouri, STL Today reports the election results as: Santorum – 55%; Romney – 25%; Paul – 12%; Gingrich – not registered.

The Colorado and Minnesota victories come as a severe blow to Romney, as he has won the states’ caucuses in 2008 when running as the conservative alternative to eventual nominee John McCain. The Romney campaign may have expected a strong challenge from Santorum in the Tuesday elections, as CNN reported on Monday that the former Massachusetts governor began to take aim at him instead of Gingrich.

“Conservatism is alive and well in Missouri and Minnesota,” Santorum told supporters in St. Charles, Mo. Tuesday night, before results came in for Colorado. “I don’t stand here to claim to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney,” he later said. “I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama.”

READ MORE ...

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Don't be afraid!

WE the PEOPLE

are the MOB
ONE NATION UNDER GOD

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear

Time 2 Escape WIFLI for Thursday, Jan 19, 2012

It was driving me crazy in the last few days, knowing that there was so much I wanted to get posted on this blog. I thought it was going to be a Tuesday (Jan 17) "WIFLI" issue when I was finally was able to start on this late Monday night. By Tuesday morning, I still had more work to do on this post, but snow was on my driveway that needed to be removed, and I had some paperwork that I needed to get done. I ran out of time. Well, no problem... "I'll get 'er done Wednesday," I was thinking. I found some more compelling stories to add to this post after doing a lot of reading and listening to talk radio, and again, I ran out of time.

So, you see, it wasn't really a case of "when I feel like it" (WIFLI) this week, but more like OPTDW (Other Priorities To Deal With... aren't acronyms awesome?), along with getting the right information that I could find for you to dive into this week.

Here it is, finally; another great WIFLI issue for you to consume. At first, you may not see a relationship between any of the articles/blogs that I've included in this issue. However, there is something that ties it all together. The clue is in the John Stossel column ("Who should stay home Election Day"). I have no doubt that even some of my most loyal readers, many whom are Conservatives and/or Republicans, have not heard anything about a couple of the stories that I included today.

At one time, the fact that there was a great lack of awareness among the American public upset me greatly. I felt it was because people didn't care, and that doesn't ever end well. Apathy and freedom usually don't go hand in hand. Just ask those colonists that felt we needed to declare our independence from the British so that we could be free...

But now, I think I'm beginning to understand. And in my prayers every day, I've asked God to give me the resolve to not only keep learning, but also to give me the ability to bring about more awareness of the dangers this country is facing, and the strength to keep trying to inform people, even when it seemed nobody was listening.

After about five years of writing and working on my blogs, listening to several hours of talk radio every day, I finally prayed that I could forgive those that aren't in tune with all that is facing this country, and the world, for that matter. I had to get used to the fact that the "rest of us have lives. We are busy with things other than politics."

Per John Stossel, as you will read below, very few people take the time to access all of the information that is available. Not that many people even bother to vote. Stossel doesn't feel that is such a bad thing, if the electorate has very little idea about the issues, let alone all of the angles involved in each issue. Some people can't even identify pictures of Newt or Mitt.  (I'm just happy that John Walsh has people that watch AMW and CAN identify people that are on the most wanted lists!)

The part of doing this blog as a top priority in my life was due to wanting to help preserve our freedom. However, my friend Ralph Marston woke me up with his Daily Motivator you will see below, where he writes: "As soon as you let go of the want, you begin to see, to feel and to make positive use of the very real connections between you and whatever you envision." I think that explains everything I'm doing. I'm just sayin'...

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The News Stories:

Keystone XL pipeline to be rejected by Obama administration
From POLITICOPro.com ~ By DARREN GOODE | 1/18/12 11:51 AM EST ~ Via WND
TransCanada's planned route potent symbol in battle over U.S. energy policy

The State Department on Wednesday will reject the Keystone XL pipeline, multiple sources following the project told POLITICO.

The formal announcement is expected at 3 p.m. from Deputy Secretary of State William Burns. Although the permit would be rejected, TransCanada would still be allowed to continue to work on and pitch an alternative route through Nebraska.

Republicans in Congress and on the campaign trail have endlessly attacked President Barack Obama for putting environmental interests and the green lobby ahead of a project that they say would create thousands of jobs. Republicans scored a rare win this Congress by including a 60-day deadline for Obama to make a decision on the pipeline as part of the year-end deal on extending the payroll tax holiday.

But administration officials have been clear from the beginning that forcing a decision within 60 days would not yield enough time to make a final decision and that Republicans were doing so merely to create a new set of political talking points.

READ MORE

Romney put on defense at South Carolina debate, as GOP rivals fight for edge in state primary
From FoxNews.com ~ via WND ~ Published January 16, 2012

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Mitt Romney was put on defense out of the box at Monday night's Republican presidential primary debate -- answering questions about his record at private venture firm, Bain Capital; distancing himself from super PAC ads against fellow candidates; defending his record as Massachusetts governor, and dodging demands that he release his tax records.

But Romney fired back against the onslaught, saying he is proud of his record in business and as governor.

"We were fortunate to have an unemployment rate by the time I left office of 4.7 percent. Sounds pretty good today," Romney said. "And I was also proud of the fact that we balanced the budget every year I was in office. We reduced taxes 19 times, put in place a rainy day fund of over $2 billion by the time I left."

Still, with his rivals running out of time to make the case they are a viable and "conservative" alternative to the front-runner, the attacks were fast and furious.

READ MORE

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Columnists and Their Commentaries:

Prizefight to watch: ‘Obama v. Arpaio’
Exclusive: Jerome Corsi explains Alinsky tactics being used against popular lawman
From WND Commentary ~ By Jerome R. Corsi ~ January 16, 2012

The front lines of the continuing Obama eligibility battle are being fought not in Washington, D.C., or before the U.S. Supreme Court, but in Maricopa County, Ariz.

Jerome R. Corsi

What is shaping up is an epic political battle in which the Obama White House has decided to launch a full-scale assault against local Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

In other words, the national battle on both illegal immigration and on the Obama birth certificate is rapidly coming down to a local duel that can be properly billed much like a heavyweight prizefight, as “Obama v. Arpaio.”

Moreover, it appears the White House has set February as the month Arpaio has either to comply with the Department of Justice demands, or face Eric Holder in federal court.

This is not coincidental.

February is also the month in which Arpaio’s Cold Case Posse will release it’s law enforcement report on Obama’s birth certificate and his eligibility to be president under Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution.

READ MORE

Who should stay home Election Day
John Stossel hopes 'ignorant people' don't bother to cast ballots
From WND Commentary ~ By John Stossel ~ Published Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012

This is one reason I say those “get out the vote” drives are dumb. I take heat for saying that, but Bryan Caplan agrees. He’s a professor of economics at George Mason University and author of “The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies.”

“A lot of bad policies … pass by popular demand,” Caplan told me. “In order to do the right thing, you have to know something.”

The “informed citizen” is the ideal of democratic societies, but Caplan points out that average citizens have no incentive to become informed, while special interests do. The rest of us have lives. We are busy with things other than politics. That’s why our democratic government inflates the price of sugar through trade restrictions, even though American sugar consumers far outnumber American sugar producers.

READ MORE

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From the Blogs:

Stop SOPA and PIPA
From The Right Perspective ~ By NewsGuy ~ Wednesday, Jan 18, 2012

The NewsGuy Show

Pending legislation, Senate 968 (Protect IP -or- PIPA) and HR3261 (SOPA), demand the ability to take down any web site (including craigslist, Wikipedia, or Google) – without prior judicial oversight or due process – in the name of combating “online piracy.”

PIPA and SOPA authors and supporters insist they’re only after foreign piracy sites, but Internet Engineers understand this is an attempt to impose “Big Brother” control over our Internet, complete with DNS hijacking and censoring search results. Sadly, many Congress Members favor this idea.

This double-barrel legislation affects all of our free speech, regardless of political affiliation.

READ MORE

At one time, I used to write on my own blog often. And I will continue to, eventually, but it has been a very long time since I wrote a post for johnny2k Is Home. The following was the last time I posted one of my personal writings, but it is so profoundly accurate, I could not allow you to not know about it.  

By the way, you will soon see a sequel!

This Is How They Do It
From johnny2k Is Home ~ By John Kubicek ~ Monday, September 19, 2011

There will be one thing that will be apparent to you in a very short amount of time: President Obama will find a way to make the bad economy be for his advantage in November of 2012. Obama is in the process of making sure that Republicans and rich people get the blame for how bad things are going, even with all of the stupid ideas the Democrats and progressives have come up with that have failed.

It's Class Warfare 101. It's a trap, and Republicans can hardly avoid falling into it! It really isn't that difficult, is it? Obama's proposals to stimulate the economy with further spending and higher taxes will be a none-starter in the House, controlled by the Republicans. There are doubts that even the Senate will give Obama's plan a chance. When the economy totally fails, as it will pretty soon, Obama's propaganda arm in the media will reiterate the White House claims that it was because the Republicans refused to act on Obama's plan.

There will be anger out there amongst the potential voters in 2012 due to the fact that things are going so bad. The Democrats, especially those occupying the White House, are fully depending on the anger being directed towards wealthier Americans, which then will be extended to mean the Republican Party. It really wouldn't be that difficult for "the masses" to be influenced to direct their disgust toward those that we know as the Capitalists.

READ MORE

Live the richness
From The Daily Motivator ~ By Ralph Marston ~ Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012

Stop focusing your thoughts on wanting things, because whatever you want, by definition, you do not have. Instead, put your thoughts, your energy and your efforts into more fully manifesting and enjoying what you already do have, which is everything.

When your thoughts are focused on want, those thoughts build a wall of separation between you and life’s immense abundance. As soon as you let go of the want, you begin to see, to feel and to make positive use of the very real connections between you and whatever you envision.

Quit telling yourself you don’t have it, and begin realizing that you can already start to experience it. Look at your most treasured dream not as something you hope to achieve someday, but as something that is already unfolding right now as a result of your actions.

READ MORE

*     *     *     *     *

Don't be afraid!

WE the PEOPLE

are the MOB
ONE NATION UNDER GOD

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
johnny2k's Tea Party Gear

Time 2 Escape Daily for Wednesday, Dec 28, 2011

A decision was finally made after months of thoughtful consideration. Of the various options available to me, I believe that I will be making the changes needed to accomplish the main goal of providing a resource of value to you, the reader.

You will no longer see the individual columns that I was commenting on. Because my time has been more limited these days, it was getting overwhelming to get very many blogs posted. As you can see, my monthly productivity began to plummet in this month of December 2012. Hopefully, my new plan will be a way to again produce more posts that will help to keep you informed.

You will see three sections in each new post, and each will contain the links to stories and commentaries that I know you will be interested in.

Since today is the first time I've made this effort, it may mean that additional adjustments to this new endeavor will be made down the road. But the biggest adjustment will be to my attitude about "change." Admittedly, there are times when I tend to shun much variation to the way things are done. 

Gone will be my ability to see the reaction to various columns that I have posted about. It was the realization, though, that made me think that wasn't information that affects what you will gain from the new format. The historical information I have at my fingertips, however, will help me to determine which stories and columns to include that will keep you coming back for more.

Change can be good. We'll find out soon if this is the change you really wanted to see. It might just be better than the "change" you've seen in the last three years under Obama.

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The News Stories:

Old Testament prophecy fulfilled before our eyes?

Americans scrambling to Bible to see previously untold parallels with today

What do sycamore and cedar trees have to do with biblical prophecy, the tragic events of 9/11 and the imminent future of the United States?

Everything, according to a new book which says an obscure text from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah is an urgent wake-up call for all Americans in light of what happened on that fateful day in 2001.

"The Harbinger" by Jonathan Cahn, a messianic rabbi from the Jerusalem Center-Beth Israel Congregation in Wayne, N.J., deciphers stunning connections between what some may think is a cryptic biblical prophecy to the news events happening right now, in our current time.

Sheriff Joe 'suspicious' of motive behind Obama attacks

Is lawman's probe of president creating panic at White House?

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona's Maricopa County has been under fire for his immigration law-enforcement policies from protesters who simply object to what he's doing, in a lawsuit alleging his department profiles on race, and from the federal government which has canceled agreements with his department to check for violators who arrive at his jail.

What does 2012 really hold for the world?

Now's your chance to catch up on the warnings

It's finally here – 2012.

What is the spiritual significance of this year that so many ancient cultures dreaded?

Maybe now is the right moment to examine all the theories and some of the shocking facts.

With all the hype about the ancient Mayan calendar suggesting the demise of human civilization taking place in 2012, one American author wants everyone to know that other calendars predict the same outcome, and he claims a demonic plot bringing about the end date could be hiding in plain sight inside the U.S. Capitol and your wallet right now.

'Anonymous' plans for 'violent revolution'

Hacking group that helped protests warns of 'bloody mess'

The hackers known as "Anonymous," who helped organize and support the Occupy movement's protests, have released an online survivor guide for citizens "in case of a violent revolution in your country."

The guide warns protests can be a "bloody mess." It trains rioters on how to avoid tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition.

The 15-page PDF document claims police will not help protesters and may actually be enemies of the revolution while warning that protest groups may be infiltrated by "fake civilians."

Former SNL Actress Victoria Jackson: ‘Muslim Brotherhood Has Infiltrated Our Highest Positions in Gov’t’

Victoria Jackson

Former “Saturday Nigh Live” actress Victoria Jackson is facing some criticism over recent comments she made on “Politichicks,” a web talk show she co-hosts. During a recent episode, Jackson contended that the Muslim Brotherhood — the same Islamist group that has been winning Middle Eastern elections — has infiltrated the American government at its highest levels.

Uploaded by patriotupdatereport on Dec 20, 2011

Columnists and Their Commentaries:

• Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! And Happy New Year! ~ By Herman Cain

• A Christian nation must defend Christians ~ By Roger Hedgecock

• U.S. Dept. of Defense's war on religion, Part 1 ~ By Chuck Norris

• The U.S. Dept. of Defense's war on religion, Part 2 ~ By Chuck Norris

• I'm going to be a Grinch! ~ By Barbara Simpson
  

I don't know about you, but this was one of the blandest, and quite frankly ugliest, "holiday seasons" I've ever seen.

• A libertarian year ahead? ~ By John Stossel
  

As 2011 draws to a close, I wonder: Is freedom winning? Did America become freer this year? Less free? How about the rest of the world?

From the Blogs:

Want to let the president know what you think of his million dollar Hawaiian vacation? Now you can

As anyone who follows the Drudge Report, Hotair (or “Hot Gas” if you’re Gov. Rick Perry), or The Blaze knows, President Obama’s Hawaiian vacation will cost the American taxpayer quite a chunk of change.

Understandably, some Americans are bothered by the his decision to take such a costly vacation during these economically unstable times.

Perhaps because this irritation is so sharply felt, people are finding new and different ways to vent their frustration. One such outlet is a website called Wasted in Hawaii: President Obama’s Hawaiian Binge. The website includes information on the cost of president‘s trip as well as an interactive tool that allows users to send messages to the president’s @BarackObama Twitter handle.

Governments don't create prosperity ~ By John Stossel

John Stossel weighs in on the "government spending creates jobs" issue. After spending trillions of dollars in order to stimulate our economy, unemployment remains high and the economy remains stagnant. One of the points that Stossel makes here is how uncertainty continues to drag down our economy. Pour all the money you can into improving the infrastructure, in other words, and nothing will change if small business - the engine of the economy - is reluctant to expand. The private sector needs to be expanding in order for our economy to prosper.

Governments don't create prosperity

JOHN STOSSEL

By John Stossel

September 27, 2011 ~ 3:23 pm Eastern

© 2011

Politicians say they create jobs, but they really don't. Or rather, they rarely create productive jobs. Government has no money of its own. All it does is take resources from one group and give them to another. The pharaohs might have claimed they created work when they ordered that pyramids be built, but think how much richer (and freer) the Egyptians would have been if they'd been allowed to pursue their own interests.

It's individuals in the marketplace who create real jobs – when they have the protection of life and property under the rule of law.

Economic freedom is the key. The theory couldn't be more clear, and at this late date in human history, it shouldn't be necessary to rehearse the abundant evidence. Look at the various indexes that correlate economic freedom with economic growth. The healthiest economies are those with the most economic freedom. Unemployment is low in those places – 3 percent in Hong Kong, 2 percent in Singapore, 5 percent in Australia

Alas, the United States places ninth, behind Canada, and those countries with the least economic freedom have few real jobs and no prosperity.

Unfortunately, most politicians still don't understand – or have no incentive to understand – that economic freedom, and therefore less government, creates prosperity. Well, maybe that's changing. This year is first I've heard so many presidential candidates talk about the private sector. Indeed, one candidate, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, told me he created "not one single job. ... Government does not create jobs."

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Don't be afraid!

WE the PEOPLE

are the MOB
ONE NATION UNDER GOD

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
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Ponzi! Ponzi! Ponzi! ~ By John Stossel

In this column, John Stossel starts out with the statement, "People need to hear it." The latest smack-down on the Social Security program is not meant to "scare the old people," but it sure could sway the way people vote in 2012.

The truth may be too severe to have to hear right now, but it is important for people to know it. The Payroll Tax, where employers not only withhold a portion of your paycheck for Social Security (FICA) and Medicare, they must also match that amount of your "contributions" in their payment to the U.S. Treasury, Yes, it's a tax, and as you'll learn in this column by John Stossel, it is not truly a retirement account, nor is it guaranteed for the fact that the plan can be changed at the whim of Congress.

Ponzi! Ponzi! Ponzi!

JOHN STOSSEL

By John Stossel

September 13, 2011 ~ 4:58 pm Eastern

© 2011

Ponzi! Ponzi! Ponzi! There, I said it. To the extent people believe there are trust funds with their names on them, Social Security is absolutely a Ponzi scheme. So is Medicare. People need to hear it.

Many people think that when the government takes payroll tax from their paychecks, it goes to something like a savings account. Seniors who collect Social Security think they're just getting back money that they put into their "account." Or they think it's like an insurance policy – you win if you live long enough to get more than you paid in. Neither is true. Nothing is invested. The money taken from you was spent by government that year. Right away. There's no trust fund. The plan is unsustainable. Medicare is worse.

Mitt Romney and other Republicans who scoff at Rick Perry shamelessly pander to older voters. They should tell people the truth.

Still, I'm not convinced Perry has more than a sound bite. In his USA Today op-ed this week, the most he says is, "We must consider reforms to make Social Security financially viable." He doesn't say what kind of reforms.

READ MORE on WND.com

Don't be afraid!

WE the PEOPLE

are the MOB
ONE NATION UNDER GOD

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
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John Stossel and my pleasure jolts ~ By Barry Farber

And if every member of Congress could see John Stossel's "Freeloaders" on Fox, neither socialism, the Bureau of Indian Affairs nor the U.S. budget would ever be the same, either.

If you talk to Lumbees about "wigwams, tomahawks, squaws, etc." they won't scalp you. But they're more comfortable talking about approved loans, balanced portfolios, expanding equity and a surging Dow.

That gives them a severe pleasure jolt.

There is a definite conduit of "pleasure jolts" going on here. John Stossel generated the "pleasure jolt" with his "Freeloaders" special, which was then transmitted to Barry Farber, who then transferred that amazing energy of "pleasure jolts" to me like I was touching a hot line while standing in salt water.

I had apparently neglected to set my TiVo to get the John Stossel special on Fox News recorded the evening it was on. I was glad to see that somebody else has it uploaded to youtube, which I of course watched, and then inserted in the excerpted text below. But the "pleasure jolt" comes in both finding a video of Stossel's "Freeloaders" special, and in Barry Farber's realization that it's another powerful example of the failure of government assistance, and the success of free enterprise while doing without any kind of subsidy from the Nanny State.

Now, if you are reading this column and watching the video, and you feel more like you are enduring shock treatment, rather than the "pleasure jolt," you may want to start reconsidering the actual source of your misery. And if the current you are receiving is generated by Big Brother, think battery: It will eventually die.

So, never forget the other lesson in Farber's column: Knowledge is power.

John Stossel and my pleasure jolts

BARRY FARBER

By Barry Farber

March 30, 2011 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2011

Occasionally I'm hit with a severe jolt of pleasure; a strange pleasure; a pleasure most profound. You've heard, "Knowledge is power." With me it's also, "Knowledge is pleasure." Example:

Nobody asked me to cover the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. However, I just happen to know that Lillehammer is located in the part of Norway named "Gudbrandsdalen." And I also happen to know that means "The Valley of God's Fire." I'll bet you not one in a hundred of the non-Norwegian press corps knows that; that's all. And that's enough; enough for me, anyhow.

Now here comes John Stossel, fellow WND columnist, over the weekend of March 26 with one of the best pieces in television history: "Freeloaders," a Fox News special delivering stomp-down proof that Indian tribes that are not recognized as tribes by the government and get no federal handouts are more successful than those on the federal dole. Stossel visited the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina, whose members get nothing from the government. They're generally successful in business. Many live in luxury mansions. In contrast, the Indians embraced by the feds live in what look like tar-paper shacks.

(Start watching this video at about 5:46)

Video provided by ThomasPaine4 on Mar 26, 2011

In boxing, John Stossel's interview with Elizabeth Homer, who used to be the government nanny of the recognized tribes, would have been canceled as a mismatch or halted on a TKO early in Round 1. She was pitifully unable to defend government stewardship over Native Americans as anything but the failure of socialism.

I'll never quit thanking Stossel for giving me Part 4 of my standard answer to the question, "How can you flat-out say that capitalism is better for the masses than socialism?" Up to now I've had three examples: free and prosperous Finland, which began its national life simultaneously with its dysfunctional Communist Russian neighbor; West Berlin, delivering mortal embarrassment to Communist East Berlin every day of the latter's existence; and Hong Kong, when it was British and free right next to Communist China. Now I add: the Lumbees, up against all the tribes spoon-fed by Washington.

READ FULL STORY at WorldNetDaily.com

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