ABC News has posted an interesting and inspirational story about a fallen Marine in Afghanistan who has been returned to the military reception process for the remains of military casualties of all branches of service at Dover Air Force Base. 

Marine Sergeant William Stacey died January 31, 2012, many thousands of miles away from his home and loving family while performing his duty for his country with bravery and honor in his fifth deployment overseas since his entry into the Marine Corps in January 2007. He has, in the words of President Lincoln, given his last full measure of devotion in the service of his country.

But Marine Sgt Stacey has left behind an additional legacy which his family has generously shared with all of us.  Sgt Stacey had written a letter to be opened by his family in the event of his death.  The story does not say when the letter was written but I would speculate that Sgt. Stacey, as he went into harm's way repeatedly serving in one combat deployment after another may have considered his mortality and was clearly aware that he might not return one day.  The family of Sgt Stacey provided the letter to the Seattle Times for publication and the story was the subject of the ABC news feature.  Follow this link for the full article (written by Alexandra Ludka) and video from ABC.

A portion of the text of Sgt Stacey's letter is produced here:

“My death did not change the world; it may be tough for you to justify its meaning at all,” he wrote. “But there is greater meaning to it…”

“Perhaps I did not change the world. Perhaps there is still injustice in the world. But there will be a child who will live because men left the security they enjoyed in their home country to come to his. And this child will learn in the new schools that have been built. He will walk his streets not worried about whether or not his leader’s henchmen are going to come and kidnap him. He will grow into a fine man who will pursue every opportunity his heart could desire. He will have the gift of freedom, which I have enjoyed for so long. If my life buys the safety of a child who will one day change this world, then I know that it was all worth it.”  [emphasis added]

Godspeed Sgt Stacey –  Semper Fi

For several years I have enjoyed the friendship and the correspondence on the Active Rain blogsite of Jon Zolsky, a successful real estate broker in Daytona Beach who happens to be an immigrant, now an American citizen, who came from the former Soviet Union, having lived above the Arctic Circle in Siberia.

As Jon relates his experiences and life in the Soviet Union in eloquent simplicity he provides a contrast between the Russian society he grew up in with the American society which he has grown to love.  It has been a source of inspiration and intellectual pleasure to realize that Jon, as an adult immigrant to the United States, understands the freedoms of America (both the promise and the history of these freedoms) better than my friends and neighbors who have lived under the protection of the American Constitution all of their lives.

In his current post, Jon describes an early experience after his arrival in America of being in a large residential complex in the Bronx and seeing many lighted Menorahs displayed in the windows of Jewish residents.  He was struck by the realization that such displays would not be permitted in his Russian homeland and would target the residents to violence, discrimination and even death.  And he saw in this simple observation more proof (no longer needed at this point, I suspect) of the greatness of America with true liberty and freedoms that he had not enjoyed in his previous culture.  The title of is post, by the way, is “I Am an American”

As I commented on Jon's post I described the current controversy in the news where the Obama Administration is, in my view, striking at well established religious freedoms in this country using their Obamacare regulations to force Catholic charities and hospitals to provide insurance funding for employees (who are of many faiths) for abortion and birth control and to provide those services in their hospitals despite long standing opposition to those services in the teaching of the Church.   But I decided to create this separate post to express my point of view and to introduce my readers in Active Rain and in my outside blogs to Jon Zolsky, a wonderful American who happens not to have been born here.

Many Americans of all faiths (or no faith in some cases) are seeing in the Administration's move against the Catholic Church a threat to all of us and a failure of our American system of religious freedoms.  Around the nation there is outrage and the beginnings of protests against the secular agenda of the current Administration. 

The foundation of the American experience and a major reason for the initial immigration from Europe and other places in the 15th and 16th centuries to what was then a group of English colonies was religious freedom.  

I fear that we are losing that freedom as well as others as the current administration seeks to extend their secular control over more segments of our population.  The current policy of the health care regulation system to force religious organizations to fund abortions and birth control services which are clearly against the beliefs of the Church sponsors of the hospitals or charities is an abomination against the Church and the Constitutional freedoms that we used to enjoy as Americans - unique in all the world.

The President who would foment class warfare for his own political advantage could use religious persecutions next to further his secular agenda.  The institutions of religion and education have been under attack here for years.  

I fear for the future of my country - now more than ever in my lifetime.  If this this President is willing to put forward these policies against the Churches now in an election year, can there be any limit on what he would do if he maintains power for another four years. 

I will watch with interest the building opposition to the President and the impact on our election process in November.

Reuters reports that Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman will withdraw from the Presidential Sweepstakes in advance of the South Carolina Primary on Monday (tomorrow) and prior to the Florida Primary on 31 January. 

I have written favorably about Governor Huntsman.  He has an excellent conservative record of accomplishment at Governor of Utah with Pro Life, pro second amendment positions and with a Health Care system that provided for a market driven private solution rather than the government mandate of Obamacare or Romneycare. 

I also appreciate Huntsman's experience in the foreign affairs with his resume and his achievments and with his command of Mandarin Chinese.  His knowledge and experience with China is outstanding and will be important to the Republican nominee when it comes time to form a government.

Reuters further reports that Huntsman will endorse Mitt Romney.

You may read additional details at <link here>

The New Hampshire primary is in the history books for 2012.  Mitt Romney is number 1, Dr Paul is number 2.  The only news is that former Governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman, is number 3 with 17% of the New Hampshire vote. 

The pundits have made one accurate observation.  We expected to have to defend capitalism against the President's continuing attacks –  but it appears that Romney is suffering from attacks on capitalism from Republicans.  This will weaken the Republican party and our eventual nominee in 2012 more than anything I have seen in the race so far, in my view.

Tampa independent writer Larry Thornberry offers an excellent discussion of the New Hampshire primary in his article appearing for The American Spectator today.  Larry feels that the small state primaries or caucuses are interesting but represent the views of unrepresentative populations.  He points out that the Florida primary on January 31 will be of more importance as an indication of the national pulse because of our larger and more diverse population. 

He also points out the institutional structures that exist in our states against the concept of a third party candidate.  New Hampshire and South Carolina have open primaries that permit independent voters to participate in the primary elections while Florida uses a closed primary system that does not permit independent voters (“Is this odd or what? If a voter wishes to be “independent,” what business does he have helping choose the candidate of a party he is independent of ?”) A third party candidate does not enjoy the systematic advantages of the two major party candidates –  which is why I believe that any third party candidate can be a spoiler but not a victor in the Presidential race.

Read Larry's article in full at <link here>  Enjoy.

I also note that Jon Huntsman is beginning to sound like the conservative Republican that his record as governor of Utah shows him to be.  If he had given his New Hampshire post primary election speech sooner and more often, he might be in a better position than #3 in the New Hampshire primary.  I believe that Jon Huntsman's record as Utah governor with economic stability, job growth, private sector medical care programs without the government mandate of Obamacare and RomneyCare and his expertise in foreign policy and experience with China combine to make Jon a strong and qualified candidate for President.  Perhaps his third place showing in New Hampshire will result in folks taking another look at Jon Huntsman as President in South Carolina, Florida and beyond.

You may listen to Jon's primary election night speech (about ten minutes) <link here>

I urge all of you to pay attention to the primary elections and debates and to support the candidate of your choice in your state coming into the Republican National Convention in Tampa beginning August 27, 2012.

Every so often … a glimmer of hope.

These kids get it.  How come the Congress doesn't?

My Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnDyXrSwJnA

As we enter the next  calendar year during the run up to the election, we cannot afford to continue to coast without serious fiscal changes and budget cuts.  The President is already asking for another increase to the debt ceiling.  Last time in August I recommended a small debt increase because the money had already been appropriated.  I suggested an 800 billion increase coupled with 600 billion in real cuts (claw back of money not yet spent)  in the current year budget and a freeze on spending even though the appropriations were passed but not yet spent.  That would have brought some balance to the 1.4 trillion deficit with a small increase to the debt and demonstrated to the world financial markets that we were serious about necessary change before we default on our obligations.  Well, we all saw how that process went. 

So now I recommend the following and have sent an open letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner with these proposals.  

1. When we are borrowing 42% of every dollar we spend, the practice of not having a Congressional budget is malfeasance and dereliction of duty. 
I propose that the House by its own rule making authority in its own chamber prohibit passage of any appropriations bill (and all appropriations bills originate in the House) that is not passed pursuant to a properly passed Congressional budget with a reference to the line number of the budget to which the appropriation is tied. 
2. An emergency procedure would be available for items not in a budget or exceeding a line item in the budget but would require a 2/3 majority to pass.
3. Majority Leader Reid in the Senate has refused to pass a budget for years in order to give his members political cover with the outrageous spending binge of the current administration and before.  He must be forced to meet with the House to negotiate a budget so that we can have a roadmap to spending cuts that is not currently available.
4. If the Speaker and the members of the House are serious about  finding a way out of this mess - they could use the same rule making authority in their chamber to call for single issue legislation.  This would stop the practice of amendments and riders on bills which are not related to the subject matter of the bill. 

I believe that these changes can be made within the House of Representatives through their rule making authority and do not require action by the Senate or the President.

WHERE ARE WE GOING AND WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THIS HANDBASKET

I am not sure we can survive until the election to start trying to right the ship of state.  We are losing the respect of the world and the financial markets and we are truly going to hell in a handbasket. The replacement of the President is not a sure thing in November and we must take real action now.  My plan would force the Senate to negotiate and pass a budget with the House.  Canada has taken necessary steps to fix their economy and they are stronger than we are in many ways now.  The banking system is healthier and the Canadian Dollar is worth more than the US dollar for the first time in my lifetime.

I ran across an interesting article in a MENSA newsletter (talk about news you can use...) under the title "Why the smell of cinnamon makes you spend money". 

http://ideas.time.com/2011/12/16/why-the-smell-of-cinnamon-makes-you-spend-money/

It seems that the smell of cinnamon and pine scents will put you into the Christmas spirit, presumably because of sensory memories of a simpler time. (this is not a joke)

Perhaps we could all chip in and send a 55 gal drum to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue... 

So I wish you all a safe holiday season and a Merry Christmas - Happy Hanukkah or Eid ul-Fitr  

This post has been appropriately dipped in cinnamon and pine scents.

Peace on Earth to Men of Good Will

(Sorry - AR does not permit a scratch and sniff graphic - maybe next year)

I note that Kim Jong II, leader of North Korea has died.  

Stratfor, a global information provider, states that Kim's third son, Kim Jong Un, will succeed his father.  This assumes that the Korean military will continue to support the family in power.  Because of Kim Jong Un's youth and inexperience, his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, is expected to be the power in Korea for the coming years.  

 North Korea is viewed as a client of China and I would think there is an opportunity for the US to seek a closer relationship with North Korea.  

The demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea remains one of the most heavily defended border areas in the world.  Abd the presence of nuclear weapons by Korea is seen as a desabilizing force in the region.  

It will be interesting to view the next year and see what changes come to North Korea following death of Kim Jong II after 17 years in power.  

I am looking at a deadlocked Congress, a do nothing President and another possible government shut-down on Friday.  Part of the problem is that we have a government of divided power and an unwillingness to compromise by either side.  

But while we are borrowing 42% of every dollar we spend - we still do not have a budget for the third year in a row.  This is unconscionable and is, in my view, caused by a lack of Presidential leadership and the wrong leadership in the Congress.  Even when the Democrats controlled the White House and both houses of Congress, we did not have a budget.  

What if we required a complete annual budget approved by Congress in order to appropriate any funds.  All appropriations would require a reference to a line item in the current budget.  Any emergency appropriations which are not in the budget would require a super majority of 2/3 of Congress to be passed.  

In my view this would not require the passage of legislation to be enacted.  The House and Senate could pass such a requirement into their own rules of each chamber.  Only the House would have to pass it initially since all appropriation bill must originate in the House.  If they can't pass a budget - then they can all pack up and go home in my view.  Continuing resolutions would not be available without a budget. (period...exclamation point)  No bill could be considered if not brought up pursuant to a budget being in place.  

We could also require single issue legislation by the same mechanism of operating rules in each Chamber.  If we eliminate the attachment of amendments and riders each measure would have to stand on its own and stand on its own merits in the glare of the public scrutiny. 

Canada - our good neighbor to the North - has already addressed some of these problems and their economy is stronger than ours at the moment.  The Canadian Dollar is worth more that the US Dollar for the first time that I remember in my life. Do they really have more political resolve to do the right thing than we do? It looks like that is the case.

The Republicans have a majority in the House of Representatives.  They could enact local rules in the House chamber that would guide us out of our current problems. What are we waiting for.  Now would be a good time.