Read the Declaration of Independence

An Act of Treason; Not a Law

The Declaration of Independence was more a process than a moment in history. This act of treason against an empire sparked the Revolutionary War and, eventually, the United States of America. It is not, and has never been, a law, but it is worth reading.

This week, Americans celebrate the Declaration of Independence with picnics, parades, and fireworks. In the movie National Treasure, Nicholas Cage’s character steals the Declaration from the National Archives in order to protect it from the real bad guys. It’s a good movie, but it never really explains what the Declaration is.

Thomas Jefferson and a committee of colleagues drafted the Declaration in Philadelphia throughout the spring and summer of 1776. The Second Continental Congress approved it on July 4, 1776. They declared their independence from British rule and their intent to create a new nation. No one had ever dared to try such a bold move. Delegates from all of the original 13 colonies, except New York, adopted the Declaration on that day. They did not actually sign the final version until August 2, 1776. Congress declared July 4 a national holiday in 1870.
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http://voices.yahoo.com/read-declaration-independence-12219785.html?cat=37

Nonprofit Organizations: Myths and Facts

“Nonprofit” Does Not Mean “No Money”

Recent news reports claimed that the IRS targeted extra scrutiny to conservative groups applying for nonprofit tax exemptions. It was much ado about nothing. But it’s time to clarify nonprofits’ legal status and their social roles in our culture.

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The Internal Revenue Service’s regulation of nonprofit organizations was a major topic in the news recently, and that’s quite unusual.  Apparently, an IRS manager instructed some of his staff people to pay particular attention to tax exemption applications from groups with politically-related words in their names, such as “tea party”, “patriot”, and “progressive”, to be sure that they were genuine.  Yes, folks.  It worked both ways.  Republicans in Congress were enraged about the ghastly “Obama scandal”.

Before that, for more than a year, teapartiers and other conservatives had jumped up and down, screeching and wailing about how much they hate that horrible “Kenyan-Nazi-Marxist-socialist-dictator-Muslim-terrorist pal”, Barack Hussein Obama.  They battled for camera time to see who could post the most outrageous insults about the President of the United States of America.  And then, suddenly, they all applied for tax exempt status for their “nonpartisan, non-political, social welfare organizations”.  Uh huh.

“Nonprofit” doesn’t just mean that you’re not making money. An organization is not “nonprofit” just because its managers say so.  Thousands of state and federal regulations control the business of nonprofit corporations. These are just the basics.

Read More …http://voices.yahoo.com/article/9907276/nonprofit-organizations-myths-facts-12206714.html?cat=17

 

When Does Obstruction Become Treason?

Why Won't Americans Just Read the Constitution?

Recently, Bill Maher and Michael Moore rightly criticized Congressional Republicans for their relentless obstruction of government.  Plenty of liberal bloggers and their followers jumped on the bandwagon.  But they all went too far in calling it treason.

Republicans have tripped over each other to obstruct every budget proposal, jobs bill, issue, policy, effort, nomination, and idea that President Obama has proposed since the day of his first inauguration. In 2010, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said, at a Heritage Foundation event, that denying President Obama a second term was the GOP’S top priority. Since then, Republicans have enlarged their efforts and now even oppose policies that they had previously supported. Republican Senate filibusters are at an all-time high. 

So how’s that working for them?  Most Americans – not just Democrats – are angry.  Public approval of Congress is at an all-time low.  The public overwhelmingly supports many of Obama’s policies.  They support him so much that he was emphatically elected to his second term in November. 

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http://voices.yahoo.com/when-does-obstruction-become-treason-12154975.html?cat=17

 

Impeachment: Myths, Facts, & History

More Empty Impeachment Threats from the GOP

Right-wingers trembled with glee when Sen. James Inhofe said that President Obama might be impeached for the events in Benghazi.  Few rank-and-file Americans understand impeachment or the odds of it happening.  It does not mean that the president is fired.

Most members of Congress and the media understand what impeachment means, but our schools work very hard to produce politically ignorant citizens.  Impeachment means charging a public official with an offense.  Impeachment does not mean firing a public official from her/his job.

Only to the House of Representatives can impeach.  The House can impeach hundreds of public officials:  the president, vice president, all federal judges – including Supreme Court justices – cabinet secretaries and other high-ranking officials. If the full House approves impeachment, then the official has been impeached.  But that just begins the process.  The accused still faces trial in the Senate. 

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http://voices.yahoo.com/article/9883987/impeachment-myths-facts-history-12148497.html?cat=37

 

Find Out What Congress Is Doing

Free. Easy.  All Online.

Public interest in Congressional activity surged in recent years. Confusion, misinformation, and outright lies abound. But we can get accurate information without extensive web searches. All official Congressional activity is available on one website.

Have you ever wanted to read the text of a bill for yourself, while Congress debates it? Do you want to know which committees consider nominees for particular cabinet positions? Or the status of the federal budget? It’s much easier to find that information than you might think.

Thomas.gov. It’s easy to remember. And it’s your link to all Congressional activity.

Most Americans have no idea how Congress works, who their representatives are, how laws are made, or what committees do. That’s because our schools do an excellent job of producing politically ignorant citizens. They spend far too much time on historical minutiae instead of teaching our children how their government works. And those clueless children become clueless adults.

Members of Congress introduce thousands of bills every year. Those bills absorb tens of thousands of person-hours in meetings, hearings, briefings, debates, and reports. Only about five percent ever become laws.

Read More …http://voices.yahoo.com/find-out-congress-doing-12119722.html?cat=17

 

Martin Sheen Honored in Pittsburgh for His Activism

Molly Rush and Martin Sheen in Pittsburgh

Sheen Calls Pittsburgh Activist Molly Rush His Inspiration.

In a building dedicated to those who have fought in America’s wars, about 250 people gathered in Pittsburgh on Saturday to honor a man who has dedicated his life to working for international peace and social justice.

Pittsburgh’s Thomas Merton Center honored actor and activist Martin Sheen with its Thomas Merton Award at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum on Saturday, April 13. Thomas Merton was a writer, Trappist monk, and social activist.  The center named for him has been a hub of the city’s peace and justice activity since 1972.

Pennsylvania State Senator Jim Ferlo, another lifelong activist and friend to many in attendance, served as Master of Ceremonies. Guitar soloist Moko, folksinger Anne Feeney, and Mike Stout and the Human Union band provided musical entertainment.  Pittsburgh’s city council proclaimed April 13 as Thomas Merton Center Day in the city.  The city’s Congress member Mike Doyle (D) attended the event and issued his own declaration honoring the Merton Center and Martin Sheen for their work.

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http://voices.yahoo.com/article/9865526/martin-sheen-honored-pittsburgh-his-activism-12097029.html?cat=49

 

The 113th Congress Opens for Business

Just What is a “Congress” Anyway?

 

Every two years, Congress reboots. Like a bright New Year’s Day, it’s fresh, and clean, and brief. The 113^th Congress assembled on Thursday, January 3 – a day for family and tradition, smiles and handshakes. They’ll return to the backstabbing soon enough.

For some reason, many Americans think that “Congress” is only the House of Representatives. It is not. Article I, Section 1 of the United States Constitution says:

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

That means that Congress makes the national laws and authorizes all federal spending. Yes, that’s right. The president can’t spend a dime without Congressional approval.

The Constitution requires that a new "Congress" convene every two years. In even-numbered years, every one of the 435 House seats and one-third of the 100 Senate seats, called a “class”, are up for election in November. The new Congress opens early in the following January. There are two sessions of each Congress; each lasts one year. The first Congress was elected in 1788 and assembled in 1789. The 112^th Congress officially closed at noon on Thursday, January 3, 2013 and the 113^th Congress opened moments later. The second session of the 113^th will open in January 2014.

WHY don’t Americans know this stuff?

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http://voices.yahoo.com/the-113th-congress-opens-business-11963389.html

How Does the Electoral College Work?

And Why Don’t We Get Rid of It?

Legally, the Electoral College chooses our president, but our votes DO control that result. And until we can remove the marketing geeks from the election process, we do still need the Electoral College.

As usual on election night, news reporters announced each state’s vote totals as the polls closed and kept a running tally of electoral votes. Incumbent President Barack Obama won re-election by 4,602,212 popular votes and earned 332 Electoral College votes. Former Gov. Mitt Romney won 206 electoral votes. Other candidates won 2,227,841 popular and zero electoral votes. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the election. But what’s the point of having the Electoral College?

Our founders were afraid to permit the uninformed and uneducated public to elect the president and vice president, but didn’t want to give that much power to Congress. The Electoral College was their compromise. The constitution allots each state the same number of electors as it has members of Congress – both in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. There are 435 House of Representatives members and 100 senators. The 23^rd amendment allots three electors to the District of Columbia, just as though it was a state, so there are 538 total electors.

Read More … http://voices.yahoo.com/how-does-electoral-college-work-11943697.html

 

Thanksgiving, the U.S. Constitution, and American Ignorance

Most Americans don't know that the very first Thanksgiving was not about Pilgrims.
It was about the US Constitution.
Here's a repost of my 2011 Thanksgiving article.
Enjoy!
http://voices.yahoo.com/thanksgiving-us-constitution-10508935.html?cat=9

Secession, the U.S. Constitution, and the Consequences

It’s Not What You Think

Since last weekend, the internet has been aflutter with news that many states have petitioned the White House for permission to secede from the union. No state has officially done any such thing. This is what’s going on.

To date, there are forty-eight petitions asking President Obama to approve the secession of 40 states.

This is just another in a long list of examples of the pathetic state of civics education in the United States. The president has no power to approve a state’s secession, yet tens of thousands of people signed petitions asking him to do so. And they think it’s going to work. Most of the petitions contain glaring spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors, illustrating their authors’ illiteracy.

Many other Americans are under the impression that the U.S. Constitution prohibits secession. It does not. Yes, it is possible to secede. No, the president does not have the authority to permit it. Most believe that the Civil War settled the secession question permanently. Wrong again.

But, if Congress did agree to a peaceful secession, it would open up a whole new can of worms.

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http://voices.yahoo.com/article/9776067/secession-us-constitution-consequences-11877496.html?cat=37