Paul Rasmussen’s letter (Dec. 4) indicates that his grasp of the
U. S. Constitution is insufficient.
While the power to declare war is expressed in the Constitution, it is given solely to Congress. Hence, no “wars” fought since WWII – not Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan nor Iraq – can properly be called “wars” in the strictest constitutional sense. Since December 8th 1941 there have been “police actions,” “conflicts” and “operations,” but no wars. If a constitutionalist, Mr. Rasmussen should decry all recent American blood and treasure sacrificed in such unconstitutional “wars.”
Mr. Rasmussen correctly states that there is no reference to “health care” in the Constitution, yet he must also know that there are no references to Social Security, Medicare, or the federal highway system either. Still, most Americans enjoy having these things in their lives. The “Necessary and Proper” Clause of the Constitution gives Congress implicit powers to execute laws and delegate powers covering the aforementioned services, and if Congress so wishes, health care as well.
I hope that Congress does just that.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Local preacher doesn't now the 1st thing about the 1st Amendment...
...But in the “FAITH/ReligionViews,” section, our Valley Frontiersman nods to the 1st Amendment and gives Reverend Ron Hamman of the Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla free reign to spout some of his strange and insupportable views on a weekly basis. It seems “FAITH” (belief in something for which there is no proof) is the only place the views of the good pastor belong.
In earlier Frontiersman missives, Pastor Hamman has suggested that no person more liberal than he could conceivably respect the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. This may not shock those who call Hamman “Pastor,” but it would surprise a majority of Americans in this center-left nation.
Pastor Ron posits that the only true word of God is in the King James Bible. I don’t know from where Pastor Ron is credentialed in theology, but he must know that the Bible as we know it was translated from Hebrew and Aramaic to Greek-to-Latin-to-Old and Middle English, and cobbled together by committee with many subtle and not-so-subtle changes along the way. Why claim the King James as the only authentic “word,” when no serious biblical scholar thinks so?
So worked up about the evils of “sodomy” is Pastor Ron, that he recently suggested: “Will the Antichrist be a Homosexual?” He doesn’t come right out and say that he or she will be, but he leaves precious little room for doubt to any of his readership. Pastor Ron’s not doing a “God Hates Fags” a la the infamous Fred Phelps (also of an “independent” Baptist church), but he really ain’t that far from it.
Most recently, Pastor Ron assumes a competence in constitutional, as well as biblical scholarship, declaring that a government tax on a church is in violation of the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and that secular humanists, “Are evil and don’t want to be exposed.” On the second claim, Pastor Ron has me dead-to-rights. I admit that I am these things: husband, father and grandfather, schoolteacher, blood donor, community theater actor, recycler, secular humanist and apparently, evil-doer.
As to the Constitution, however, I fear Pastor Ron’s scholarship needs a little brush up. My research can find no constitutional restriction on Congress when it comes to church taxation, nor is there any such restriction on state or local governments. A little history: tax exemptions for churches and religious groups are a holdover from America’s European roots. They were customary in the early Republic, and now, even when protected by law, are not automatic, universal or total. This is no small thing. Churches may own more than 20% of all land in the U.S., and the average American family pays up to $1000 to fill the revenue gap caused by religious tax exemptions. In short, evil-doing secular humanists are subsidizing the churches of Pastor Ron, Pat Robertson, the pope, the Latter Day Saints, the Moonies and the Dalai Lama. Pastor Ron should maybe cut us some slack.
The instrument by which this these tax exemptions are made is the 501(c)3 “corporation.” Used by churches, charities and non-profits to avoid the IRS, Pastor Ron finds the 501(c)3 a restriction on what he sees as his 1st Amendment “right” to sermonize against the evil-doing secularist, homosexual (and potential Antichrist), liberal government agenda. In order to keep his 501(c)3, however, he may not politic from his pulpit.
Sorry, but rules are rules, and if Pastor Ron really wants to compete in the market place of political ideas, he’ll have to come out from under that 501(c)3 tax shelter that we secularists help pay for. We, however, are not holding our breath.
In earlier Frontiersman missives, Pastor Hamman has suggested that no person more liberal than he could conceivably respect the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. This may not shock those who call Hamman “Pastor,” but it would surprise a majority of Americans in this center-left nation.
Pastor Ron posits that the only true word of God is in the King James Bible. I don’t know from where Pastor Ron is credentialed in theology, but he must know that the Bible as we know it was translated from Hebrew and Aramaic to Greek-to-Latin-to-Old and Middle English, and cobbled together by committee with many subtle and not-so-subtle changes along the way. Why claim the King James as the only authentic “word,” when no serious biblical scholar thinks so?
So worked up about the evils of “sodomy” is Pastor Ron, that he recently suggested: “Will the Antichrist be a Homosexual?” He doesn’t come right out and say that he or she will be, but he leaves precious little room for doubt to any of his readership. Pastor Ron’s not doing a “God Hates Fags” a la the infamous Fred Phelps (also of an “independent” Baptist church), but he really ain’t that far from it.
Most recently, Pastor Ron assumes a competence in constitutional, as well as biblical scholarship, declaring that a government tax on a church is in violation of the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and that secular humanists, “Are evil and don’t want to be exposed.” On the second claim, Pastor Ron has me dead-to-rights. I admit that I am these things: husband, father and grandfather, schoolteacher, blood donor, community theater actor, recycler, secular humanist and apparently, evil-doer.
As to the Constitution, however, I fear Pastor Ron’s scholarship needs a little brush up. My research can find no constitutional restriction on Congress when it comes to church taxation, nor is there any such restriction on state or local governments. A little history: tax exemptions for churches and religious groups are a holdover from America’s European roots. They were customary in the early Republic, and now, even when protected by law, are not automatic, universal or total. This is no small thing. Churches may own more than 20% of all land in the U.S., and the average American family pays up to $1000 to fill the revenue gap caused by religious tax exemptions. In short, evil-doing secular humanists are subsidizing the churches of Pastor Ron, Pat Robertson, the pope, the Latter Day Saints, the Moonies and the Dalai Lama. Pastor Ron should maybe cut us some slack.
The instrument by which this these tax exemptions are made is the 501(c)3 “corporation.” Used by churches, charities and non-profits to avoid the IRS, Pastor Ron finds the 501(c)3 a restriction on what he sees as his 1st Amendment “right” to sermonize against the evil-doing secularist, homosexual (and potential Antichrist), liberal government agenda. In order to keep his 501(c)3, however, he may not politic from his pulpit.
Sorry, but rules are rules, and if Pastor Ron really wants to compete in the market place of political ideas, he’ll have to come out from under that 501(c)3 tax shelter that we secularists help pay for. We, however, are not holding our breath.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Senator Lisa Murkowski and Health Care article had me ...
Reading my Nov. 12th Anchorage Daily News, I realized that Alaska's Senator Lisa Murkowski had turned into her father, Frank, who was Alaska's US Senator for so many years, before becoming our least popular governor ever. Slowing down progress was very “Frank,” unless there was a pipeline involved. So it is with Lisa, who, at a Chugiak, AK “town hall,” said of the health care bill now in the Senate: “We can pull this thing back.” Sounds like Frank to me.
As for her town hall, the 150 – plus, mostly retired participants were apparently happy with their health care as is. Here’s why. Participant Ron Bauers proclaimed, “I think we have a pretty good health care system now.” Bauers probably has good health care. But what of the 46 million uninsured, or the 44,000 who die each year for lack of health insurance?
Also against the health care bill were Harry Young, whose years in the military allows him great health care, courtesy of the government, and Ed Singer, retired teacher, who undoubtedly has a government-paid health care plan himself.
Being like dad seems more important to Lisa than getting decent health care to Americans who don’t have a government retirement plan like her, her dad Frank, or most of her Chugiak town hall crowd.
As for her town hall, the 150 – plus, mostly retired participants were apparently happy with their health care as is. Here’s why. Participant Ron Bauers proclaimed, “I think we have a pretty good health care system now.” Bauers probably has good health care. But what of the 46 million uninsured, or the 44,000 who die each year for lack of health insurance?
Also against the health care bill were Harry Young, whose years in the military allows him great health care, courtesy of the government, and Ed Singer, retired teacher, who undoubtedly has a government-paid health care plan himself.
Being like dad seems more important to Lisa than getting decent health care to Americans who don’t have a government retirement plan like her, her dad Frank, or most of her Chugiak town hall crowd.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Guilty...?
In two consecutive days (Sep. 19 and 20, old news I know), we got two Daily News opinion pieces, from two conservative columnists who tell us that race hate against President Obama from the right is a figment of the liberal imagination.
Mssrs. Goldberg and Jenkins discount racial slurs and code words since the Fall of 2008, including some from our own former half-term governor, pictures comparing America’s 1st Lady to a chimp, the president portrayed as a witch doctor (replete with bone-through-nose), post cards of the White House lawn as a watermelon patch, the unhinged ravings of Glenn Beck, culminating in the Caucasian-only, 70,000 strong bizzarro “9/12” T-bag Mardi Gras in D.C. I could show Goldberg and Jenkins some of the disgusting emails forwarded to me by Republican acquaintances in the south.
The list goes on, but Goldberg and Jenkins are having none of it, telling us instead that there’s no real evidence to support the charge of racism, and that it’s simply a plot by Democrats to stifle earnest dissent against Obama’s socialist agenda.
Neither Goldberg nor Jenkins will ever admit that to many white Americans, Obama has committed the heinous crime of being president while black.
Sorry I haven't posted for so long, but I've been in engrossed in our community theater production of Agatha Christie's SPIDER'S WEB. This is our final weekend for the run, and I hope to be blogging and writing letters-to-editors and commentarying at large again soon. Hope you missed me.
Sandy and Joe, Jose and Stella, are you ready for some sunshine and cervesa Pacifico?
Mssrs. Goldberg and Jenkins discount racial slurs and code words since the Fall of 2008, including some from our own former half-term governor, pictures comparing America’s 1st Lady to a chimp, the president portrayed as a witch doctor (replete with bone-through-nose), post cards of the White House lawn as a watermelon patch, the unhinged ravings of Glenn Beck, culminating in the Caucasian-only, 70,000 strong bizzarro “9/12” T-bag Mardi Gras in D.C. I could show Goldberg and Jenkins some of the disgusting emails forwarded to me by Republican acquaintances in the south.
The list goes on, but Goldberg and Jenkins are having none of it, telling us instead that there’s no real evidence to support the charge of racism, and that it’s simply a plot by Democrats to stifle earnest dissent against Obama’s socialist agenda.
Neither Goldberg nor Jenkins will ever admit that to many white Americans, Obama has committed the heinous crime of being president while black.
Sorry I haven't posted for so long, but I've been in engrossed in our community theater production of Agatha Christie's SPIDER'S WEB. This is our final weekend for the run, and I hope to be blogging and writing letters-to-editors and commentarying at large again soon. Hope you missed me.
Sandy and Joe, Jose and Stella, are you ready for some sunshine and cervesa Pacifico?
Saturday, September 19, 2009
This time, it HAS been more than a month...
So, I wanted to share my thoughts regarding health care and reaction of Alaska's and Mat-Valley's own home-grown "Conservative Patriots Group:"
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What to make of a recent article about the so-called “forum” on health care reform, hosted by the Conservative Patriots Group (CPG), and moderated by right-wing talk show jock Glen Biegel? CPG president Jennie Bettine claims that the forum was not “canned” in any way, yet according to reporter Todd Disher, Biegel began the discussion by referring to an “alleged” 47 million uninsured Americans, and no physician on the panel had anything positive to say about the current health care reform proposals before Congress.
Yet, I read the papers, and it seems that at least 2/3 of the letters and opinion pieces published that are from physicians are in favor of health care reform, with a strong public option. How come none of those docs were included on the CPG panel? And why does Biegel speak of 47 million “alleged” uninsured much the same way CPG’s website treats “alleged” global warming – as a hoax.
Here’s a gem from one of the physician panelists: “Slavery was abolished in 1865. I’m not going to be a slave to the government. I’ve already served my time.” This panelist was apparently referring to his 21 years in the US Army as a condition of servitude equivalent to that suffered by the ancestors of black Americans. A condition of servitude which he “re-upped” for, numerous times. A condition of servitude which allows him a good retirement, so that he could begin a whole new practice in a lucrative medical profession as a civilian, go on panels, and bemoan his previous government enslavement. Is this what passes for health care debate these days?
The article’s most thoughtful and insightful statement came from surgeon Brent Taylor, who said, “America needs to decide if health care is a right or a privilege.” According to Taylor, coming to a consensus on that issue will move health care in America forward. I think Dr. Taylor is correct. Obviously, “health care for all” is not one of the enumerated rights as amended into the Constitution. But don’t forget the 9th Amendment in the Bill of Rights, which states: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” This means that just because a right isn’t listed in the Constitution, doesn’t mean we don’t have that right. Add to that the phrase from the Constitution’s Preamble, ”Promote the general Welfare” and I believe you could make a case that health care, at least in the 21st Century, is indeed a right.
The Conservative Patriots Group’s name suggests that they are indeed patriotic, and if you needed proof of that patriotism, go to their website, where you’ll find on their home page (along with a link to their “Global Warming Hoax” page), an American flag. Imbedded in that flag is the Preamble to the Constitution, including the words “Promote the general Welfare.” If the Founders of this country were so forward thinking, why can’t these patriots be?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
It seems like more than a month...
Since I posted last...oh, that's right, it HAS been over a month. A few things happened since June 10: Our friend and investment guy, Howie Powder was killed in a
motorcycle v. truck accident (motorcycles never seem to win these encounters). Howie was a one-of-a-kind, and the genuine article. How many other guys would unicycle in a 12 hour enduro bike race? We miss him.
Our 1st Grandchild, Else Adele Siedler was born on June 19th 2009, to the indomitable Dederick and Andrea, who, among other things are attempting to restore a 1920s "Craftsman" style home (out-of-pocket, I might add), raise a child, a dog and cat, all the while assuming an apparent state of relative beatitude. And it seems to work.
Whilst in visitation mode, Genie and I doubled-down against the possibility of coming under the all-seeing eye of Obama's Death Panel, and purchased a small condo in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon being the closest ideological surrogate to Canada, and with American $$ too. Too late did we realize that Oregon has such a liberal assisted suicide law. Nuts.
Pinot Noir tastes great even in 100-degree temps, as long as your in McMinnville, OR, and have good friends helping you taste the vino and the food. That's what Joe and Aurora Boyle did with Genie and I at the end of our sojourn, at the International Pinot Noir Celebration in McMinnville. Too good, too memorable, gotta do it again, perhaps next year...
Then it was the return of Artie (my Dad), and it was fishing, fishing and more fishing. My dad may have lost a step, but he has never lost the "Art of the luck and the luck of the Art." Good beer and whiskey, very good cigars and a wonderful time rounded out the days since I last posted. Tomorrow, the children come back to school...
motorcycle v. truck accident (motorcycles never seem to win these encounters). Howie was a one-of-a-kind, and the genuine article. How many other guys would unicycle in a 12 hour enduro bike race? We miss him.
Our 1st Grandchild, Else Adele Siedler was born on June 19th 2009, to the indomitable Dederick and Andrea, who, among other things are attempting to restore a 1920s "Craftsman" style home (out-of-pocket, I might add), raise a child, a dog and cat, all the while assuming an apparent state of relative beatitude. And it seems to work.
Whilst in visitation mode, Genie and I doubled-down against the possibility of coming under the all-seeing eye of Obama's Death Panel, and purchased a small condo in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon being the closest ideological surrogate to Canada, and with American $$ too. Too late did we realize that Oregon has such a liberal assisted suicide law. Nuts.
Pinot Noir tastes great even in 100-degree temps, as long as your in McMinnville, OR, and have good friends helping you taste the vino and the food. That's what Joe and Aurora Boyle did with Genie and I at the end of our sojourn, at the International Pinot Noir Celebration in McMinnville. Too good, too memorable, gotta do it again, perhaps next year...
Then it was the return of Artie (my Dad), and it was fishing, fishing and more fishing. My dad may have lost a step, but he has never lost the "Art of the luck and the luck of the Art." Good beer and whiskey, very good cigars and a wonderful time rounded out the days since I last posted. Tomorrow, the children come back to school...
Friday, July 10, 2009
The "Palinic" Era draws to a close, maybe...
And by now you've seen and heard lots about Sarah's quit snit. Most of us think she's doing it because she really isn't a fighter, can only feel validated with total adoration, and will probably make a bundle on the book and lecture circuit among her base, the fundamentalist southern "values" voters, who are about the only group that hasn't either left the Republican Party, at least in spirit.
Below is from the Huff Post about what Conservative journalist Peggy Noonan had to say about Sarah since Sarah's abandonment of Alaska's ship-of-state:
HUFFINGTON POST, JULY 10 2009:
One of the most refreshingly honest moments of the 2008 campaign came when Peggy Noonan, a columnist and former Republican speechwriter, was caught on a live mike calling the choice of Sarah Palin to run on the Republican ticket "political bullshit." She smoothed over her harsh remarks in a subsequent column, saying she liked Palin even if she wasn't sure the choice would be successful. But now that Palin has resigned as Alaska Governor, Noonan apparently feels free to speak openly.
Noonan wrote:
"In television interviews she was out of her depth in a shallow pool. She was limited in her ability to explain and defend her positions, and sometimes in knowing them. She couldn't say what she read because she didn't read anything. She was utterly unconcerned by all this and seemed in fact rather proud of it: It was evidence of her authenticity. She experienced criticism as both partisan and cruel because she could see no truth in any of it. She wasn't thoughtful enough to know she wasn't thoughtful enough. Her presentation up to the end has been scattered, illogical, manipulative and self-referential to the point of self-reverence. 'I'm not wired that way, I'm not a quitter,' 'I'm standing up for our values.' I'm, I'm, I'm."
In another age it might not have been terrible, but here and now it was actually rather horrifying.
Below is from the Huff Post about what Conservative journalist Peggy Noonan had to say about Sarah since Sarah's abandonment of Alaska's ship-of-state:
HUFFINGTON POST, JULY 10 2009:
One of the most refreshingly honest moments of the 2008 campaign came when Peggy Noonan, a columnist and former Republican speechwriter, was caught on a live mike calling the choice of Sarah Palin to run on the Republican ticket "political bullshit." She smoothed over her harsh remarks in a subsequent column, saying she liked Palin even if she wasn't sure the choice would be successful. But now that Palin has resigned as Alaska Governor, Noonan apparently feels free to speak openly.
Noonan wrote:
"In television interviews she was out of her depth in a shallow pool. She was limited in her ability to explain and defend her positions, and sometimes in knowing them. She couldn't say what she read because she didn't read anything. She was utterly unconcerned by all this and seemed in fact rather proud of it: It was evidence of her authenticity. She experienced criticism as both partisan and cruel because she could see no truth in any of it. She wasn't thoughtful enough to know she wasn't thoughtful enough. Her presentation up to the end has been scattered, illogical, manipulative and self-referential to the point of self-reverence. 'I'm not wired that way, I'm not a quitter,' 'I'm standing up for our values.' I'm, I'm, I'm."
In another age it might not have been terrible, but here and now it was actually rather horrifying.
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