Election 2016...Do the Right Thing!

My fellow Americans, for better or worse, we will be voting for a new president this year. If you follow the "news" on social media then it's hard to find any candidate worth voting for. According to all the "experts" on Facebook, there is nothing good about any of them and all kinds of good about all of them. It just depends on the meme of the moment. Let's look at a whole different view of this matter before you decide that you are moving out of the greatest country on Earth depending on the election outcome.

Have you ever stopped looking at all the rhetoric on Facebook and Twitter and tried to look at this mess without influence? Has it occurred to you that it makes no difference who is the President of the United States?

History Lesson #1 - When states leaders gathered together in 1787 to script the United States Constitution, their goal was simple. They wanted to create a government that was fair but would be limited in its power. Thus they created the three branches of governments; legislative, judicial and executive. No one piece can do all. For example, the President can negotiate a treaty but the Senate must ratify it with a 2/3 vote. Another example is Congress introduces bills to become law, but the President can veto the bill stopping it. However, Congress can, with enough votes and support, overturn a veto. The point is, there is a process.

That is why it is so ridiculous to fall into the trap of believing that any candidate is going to nullify the Second Amendment or "come take your guns". It's not that simple. It's not going to happen. As bad as you think Congress is (and believe it they are that bad), it just seems unrealistic that they would allow something like that to happen. It's unrealistic to think the votes are there. Recall when President Obama joked and said that he cannot just come take our guns because he was bound by the law of the land? He was right and he knows it.

Another popular issue this election is Socialism. "Bernie Sanders is a Socialist"! Maybe he is. "Bernie Sanders will raise taxes $23 Trillion"! Really? Let's be clear on this issue, the president does not have the power to raise or lower taxes on his own authority. He can try and influence Congress to create a bill to do so and he can veto a tax bill that he does not agree with. But Bernie cannot, as president, raise taxes. Take the Affordable Care Act, for example. Here is a good example of the president using his influence to get this bill passed through Congress. President Obama used a lot of influence to push it through and it worked. Of course, Nancy Pelosi announced that they "had to pass it to see what was in it". That last part is when yours truly came to the conclusion that Congress no longer worked for the constituents. More on that later. What would be nice, if a president used his influence to get bills passed that would lower corporate taxes so that companies can flourish here in the United States and hire more people. What would be nice, if a president used his influence to get bills passed that did something to solve hunger and homelessness here in the United States. What would be nice, if a president used his influence to get bills passed that would save our dying oceans.

My Fellow Americans, let me shift the conversation away from the presidency for a little because it is of the opinion of this author that the real problem is with Congress and some other parts of the system.

History Lesson #2 - Congress consists of two chambers; the Senate and the House of Representatives. Legislation cannot be enacted without the consent of both chambers. Legislation is a law enacted by a governing body. So in layman's terms, laws cannot be passed without the mutual agreement of both houses of Congress.

With that being clarified, now look at the problems that we are facing today; poverty, crime, hunger, homelessness, unemployment, high corporate taxes, etc. No one is saying that some of this is not the fault of the president or others in his administration. There is enough argument on both sides of the table to fancy a discussion on it. However, the president did not single-handedly raise corporate tax, cause hunger, make companies fail thus ruining economies around the country. Who is in charge of making laws? Who raises and lowers taxes? Who introduces crime bills? The answer is Congress. Who influences Congress? The president...and others. Wait, others? Yes. Have you thought about the corporations and lobbies that influence Congress? Some money here and some promises there and you have some legislation being introduced. Someone once asked me what I would do with the money if I ever won the lottery. I told him about all the great things that I would do to free myself from debt, help my children, buy a nice home. He said that he would "buy a Congressperson and make some changes". Think about how true that statement is; you can buy yourself a Congressperson. That is all a lobby does or special interest groups; they are buying legislation. If you remove that money from Washington, you may actually remove the corruption and get some real work done for the betterment of Americans.

I could go on for hours and words but I'd probably begin to bore you. All I really want is for you to open your mind and think on this a little. Everyone is looking to memes and fly-by-night Internet "news" agencies to tell them who to vote for as president. The real issue is who are you voting for in Congress and is that person after your best interests? Because that is the person that matters. What does not count is whether Hillary Clinton is a liar, Bernie Sanders is a Communist, Donald Trump is a fake or that Marco Rubio has no experience. In the words of Hillary Rodham Clinton, "What difference does it make". Absolutely none.

Benghazi: Unsolved Mystery

Here in the United States of America, people are murdered every day. That is a sad reality. Law enforcement agencies are constantly working on leads and developments, talking to witnesses, canvassing the crime scenes, collecting and analyzing evidence all in an effort to bring the suspected murderers to justice.

Benghazi Case File:

On the evening of 11 September 2012, the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya was attacked by Islamic militants. As a result of this attack, A United States Ambassador Christopher Stevens and United States Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith were both murdered. Several hours later on the same evening, another compound approximately one mile from the murders, another attack ensued and United States CIA Contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were both also murdered. These are the core facts regarding events in Benghazi, Libya on the night of 11 September 2012.

The Benghazi "Scandal", as it is so called, has become a political pissing match between the Republican-controlled Congress and the Democrats. In three years and more than $4.5 million, there really has been no resolution to this issue not only politically, but also no resolution period. Now if we strip all the politics, the left and the right away from this whole Benghazi thing then we start to see this a little bit differently. Once we look at it without political lines, you might then feel like you have some questions of your own that you want answered.

Refer back to the core facts above; this is murder. This is capital murder with a lot of implications. Forget everything that you've read in the newspaper, magazines and (God help us) Social Media. Look at this without politics and look at it with your instincts. Four people were murdered that night. Four AMERICANS on sovereign AMERICAN soil. Now ask yourself these questions:

• What law enforcement agencies are investigating these crimes?
• Was the Preliminary Survey performed?
• Was a narrative of the scene conducted by Crime Scene specialists?
• What evidence has been collected?
• Who are the witnesses that were questioned?
• What area(s) have been canvassed?
• Who are the suspects being investigated?

When you eliminate the political aspect of this crime, you are left with murders that have to be solved. The families of these men deserve justice and closure. Have any of the politicians thought about that? Why do we not hear how the criminal investigation is going? Is there even a criminal investigation going on? We should have all applicable agencies on this matter every day until the perpetrators are brought to justice. That is the core of this matter. It is what matters to me as an American when I look at this and think about the wasted money and resources to make this everything else than what it is.

To re-introduce some politics back into it then yes, there are questions that need to be addressed. Why were 600+ requests for help not satisfied? How on earth and more importantly why would you ignore so many requests for help? Why would we hesitate for a second to send aid to our representatives in their time of need? It is the job of Congress to get to the bottom of this and it is no time for partisan politics. Forget about your party and get to the facts and the heart of this matter. It is law enforcement's job to find the murderers and it is Congress's job to find the people responsible for making the mistakes in our government. It sounds quite simple doesn't it?

Like anything else, if you strip the politics away from the issue then we can really see what is or isn't important. We begin to learn how the political machine and the media create these false realities. In some cases, it is a real head scratcher trying to figure out what the reasons are. In this case, four Americans are dead. I think it is time we focus in on that.

Mass Shootings: Something must be done!

As of the time I write this piece (October 6, 2015) there have been 297 mass shootings in the United States in the year 2015. I am sure that number shocks you because you most likely have not heard of nearly 300 mass shootings this year. That is because the media only covers the ones that make their news seem sensational and their advertisers salivate over the Return on Investment made advertising with the news agencies. According to Mass Shooting Tracker (http://shootingtracker.com/wiki/Main_Page), a mass shooting is defined as four or more people shot in a single setting/spree; not only the ones killed. But let's move forward.

Every time the media covers one of these devastating events, it will usually include the President of the United States on television calling for more laws and measures to stop mass shootings. Now depending upon where you sit or stand on the political spectrum will highly decide just how you interpret these headlines and stories. Usually I attempt to make light of these things on social media but it does not always work out because there are far too many sensitive persons these days. So I will stick as close as I can to the center and to the facts. The President is calling on Congress to make some sensible laws to curb this sort of behavior while not infringing on the Second Amendment. This is a tough road to travel to be sure. However, it is not just Congress, it is the government in total that has to work together. This is not something that has happened in a very long time and certainly not since the Republicans gained control of Congress in 2014. This is not a reason for the President to insult the Republicans though it seems that he does. It is also not a reason for either party to boo-hoo and cry because they do not like the President.

Here in the United States of America, bills are introduced and voted on in the House of Representatives. If the vote passes, it moves to the Senate for debate and vote. If the bill passes the Senate it goes to the President to be "signed into law". Everyone get that? The President does not have the power to come take your guns. So now you have this bitterness in the government; the President wants something done... and Congress stalls on anything getting done at all about it... and the media reports whatever makes their network the most money. Conservative news will tell you that the President will come door to door personally and take all of your weapons, and the liberal news will blame the Republicans for not helping to take the guns and so the Republicans must hate America. Or something like that.

The reality is, we all want something done. We are all tired of watching the news and finding out that another "Gun-Free Zone" was targeted and a shooter performed a vicious act. We become scared, we become hermits. No one wants to go to the mall, go to the movies, go anywhere that people gather and can become a victim. So I am writing to discuss some points that I think address the problem or "could" address the problem and maybe help set things right.

1) Let's look at the issue of mental instability. Many of the shooters seem to suffer from some sort of mental disorder that may or may not be able to be helped but there has been a serious decline in facilities to house people who may be mentally distraught. Since 1972, there has been a thing happening called Deinstitutionalisation. This is the process of replacing long-term care facilities with community mental health services. Let me make that brief and reiterate; replacing facilities with services. In my opinion, because of the decline of the healthcare system (whole new argument there, folks), this simply means that we are not providing the best treatment for people who need it. Then if the people who really need it are not receiving the proper treatment and not being properly recorded, then they are able to waltz through the federal background check for a hand gun...hmm, how'd that happen? This is not in every mass shooting case, but in the ones that the person did have some sort of mental disorder, we cannot just shove a prescription in their pocket and kick them into the streets.

2) Now take a look at the shooters who do not kill themselves in the process. In most cases, these people find an attorney who will cop a plea of insanity or some mental disorder and woe is he for not having the proper care and help. Regarding the above paragraph, yes the people who need help NEED HELP. But look at the case of James Egan Holmes, the 2012 Aurora Theater shooter. He is scheduled to serve 12 life sentences followed by 3,318 years of prison. No, that is not a typo. He wanted to plea guilty to "avoid the death penalty", which was denied but guess what? A jury of his peers could not unanimously vote to put him to death. Interesting, I do not recall anyone popping into the movie theater on the night of July 20, 2012 and giving the victims a choice to live, die or be there at all! He lost his right to live the moment he set that plan in motion. He should have been marched out of the courtroom into the town square and put to death by any way the families of the victims chose. These executions should also be televised on all major networks coast to coast. Now look, I know that there are going to be some haters on this but don't you think that people who are NOT really insane might think twice about committing crimes like this if they know that this could be the outcome of their actions? Let's save some tax payers' money!

3) We have service men and women coming home and need jobs. There are some great groups out there that promote the hiring of these men and women and I applaud them I really do. Let's cross off two items from the list of "What is Wrong in America" (no, there is no actual list...) and give these men and women jobs protecting EVERY school in the United States of America from grade K through College/University. Guess what? A retail store in Delaware was tired of being robbed semi-regularly at gunpoint and hired an ex-marine to work the night shift as an armed guard in the store. They have not been robbed again. It works! And if it does not deter, it sure will be the best defense the schools can have to protect the institution and the people.

4) The President and others want to keep you thinking that where there are stricter gun laws there is less crime. Keep in mind that the way they present these numbers it can be true. If you look at it state-wide then the number works for your agenda; the states with the strictest gun laws have less gun crime. However, the cities with strictest gun laws have the highest crime. It's all perspective can we agree? So let's look at a smart gun law idea. What if more states allowed law-abiding citizens to carry a firearm concealed without obtaining a permit? Currently only six states allow what is known as Constitutional Carry meaning to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Twenty more states have introduced bills for Constitutional Carry but have not yet voted. This levels the playing field although it is a terrible thought that we must do so but criminals are more likely to not commit these mass shootings when there is a strong chance most of the would-be victims are armed and equally dangerous. Look at the argument this way, if you are a law-abiding citizen and pass a background check then you can own a firearm. Why the need for the additional steps to obtain more bureaucratic paperwork to carry your legally obtained firearm and protect yourself? Listen, having a permit or not having a permit does not make the difference in whether or not someone will use the firearm for harm or not. But not allowing citizens to defend themselves is completely wrong.

I do not have the answers, but collectively we can come up with some solutions. It will take everyone writing and calling your representatives in Congress. Instead of telling them to not take your guns, ask them to start passing laws that will allow you to protect yourself, laws that will ensure the proper treatment of persons with mental disorders, laws that will put our service men and women back to work in jobs that are meaningful to their training and laws that will help boost the economy and the moral of the citizens of the United States of America! Abraham Lincoln said, "and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth". Start acting like it is a government of the people, by the people and for the people before it does perish from this earth

Solving Our Nation's Problems - Hunger

Let me preface this blog with a quick note; I am not an economist and I do not claim to know how the economy works. I am, however, a voting patriotic constituent who recognizes obvious waste in the system. I see opportunities that are at the very least worthy of a blog and open for discussion.

In a previous post, I spoke about the amount of money that we send to other countries for various reasons of aid and Americans are even very generous, donating tens of billions to aid hunger and poverty overseas (http://www.globalissues.org/print/article/35#tab-content-oda-breakdown-donor-2). Why are Americans not donating to Americans in need? I get that wealthy Americans are looking for tax write-off opportunities but let's give to our brothers and sisters who need food.

Take a look at what programs like Hunters for the Hungry are doing (http://www.huntersforhungry.com/). These hunters provide hundreds of millions of venison meals each year to the homeless and hungry at soup kitchens and shelters around the nation. This without federal dollars. There are many other organizations like this and my hat is off for each and every one.

Now in my aforementioned previous post, I was talking about the annual ticket of $400 million that we give to Hamas. I would like to see that money go to the homeless situation using shipping containers to make small houses and neighborhoods to kick start the homeless back into society. So now about all the money from private donations that goes overseas...I cannot understand why we are not donating to organizations committed to feeding the poor and hungry here. Don't get me wrong, I feel for everyone but I think it sends the wrong message to poor Americans when we send the money around them to other countries. Can we not save our own? Does it not bother you when you drive past homeless people holding a sign and looking for anything you can give?

Perhaps the organizations that reel in the donations need to do a better job at two things; one they need to get American dollars donated to their American programs and two they need to do more outreach so that these people who take to the corners know that there are resources. What makes more sense to you? Giving a few bucks to a man on a corner who will probably buy alcohol or drugs or give to a legitimate organization who can do so much more with it to assist these people. Now before you call me heartless in my thinking, allow me to share a TRUE story. A friend of mine passed a man begging on a corner for money for food. My friend drove to a McDonald's and purchased a gift card because he wanted to make sure that this man he wanted to help would be able to get guaranteed meals. The man threw the gift card back at my friend and said "Fuck You!" Not so nice. We have to get these people off the streets and get them into programs to help them.

Let's step up and give back. Bring a good portion of this donated money back from overseas and put it to good use for AMERICANS! I am including a list of great verified agencies who combat hunger here in the USA.

Feeding America
Food Pantries
List of Charities

God Bless the United States of America!

Solving Our Nation's Problems - Homeless

Let me preface this blog with a quick note; I am not an economist and I do not claim to know how the economy works. I am, however, a voting patriotic constituent who recognizes obvious waste in the system. I see opportunities that are at the very least worthy of a blog and open for discussion.

We have a terrible homeless problem in the United States of America. In fact, the problem is so bad that there is an annual report submitted to Congress called The Annual Homeless Assessment Report (https://www.onecpd.info/resources/documents/ahar-2013-part1.pdf). That is correct, we have a report. So this report typically states that there are just shy of 700,000 homeless individuals on a given night. Do you want to hear something that is deplorable? 12%, or just under 58,000 are VETERANS. In my opinion, that is about 12% too high as we owe more to our veterans who served and fought to keep this great nation free. But that is a subject for another discussion.

Right now let's focus on the entire situation. So we have a serious problem here. We should be concentrating on this issue.

It astounds me the amount of money that we send to other countries (http://www.factcheck.org/2011/03/funding-mosques-overseas/); especially countries that promote terrorism (http://online.wsj.com/articles/why-should-americans-fund-hamas-1401913021). In a nation that has a deficit that is beyond being out of control, we just continue to send billions of dollars to other countries when we have a plethora of trouble here that needs to be addressed. I have a plan to help the homeless and it would probably cost less money than shipping it out of the country.

Shipping Containers.

That's right, shipping containers. Those steel containers that are shipped across the world's oceans to be loaded onto trucks to be shipped coast to coast. Well, these are fast becoming an ideal solution to affordable and sturdy housing and home designers are being very creative.

Now shipping containers come in a variety of sizes and here is the thing; they range in price from free (when companies just want to upgrade stock) to around $5000. I have even seen links on the web that have new ones for as little as $850 if you want a smaller one. Shipping containers are being used to bury in the ground as apocalypse shelters to office buildings, shopping centers and beautiful homes.

So if we built neighborhoods with used shipping containers, even the smaller ones, and spent another $30,000 to finish each one, install a roof full of solar panels and make a simple little house of it would this not help our homeless? I am not saying that we need to make luxury housing. I feel like we need to do something to bring the homeless indoors. The very basic human need is to have a roof over your head. The little extra money to make them "green" makes them self-sustainable and affordable in the future. This is an example of recycling in it's general form. Let's re-use these containers for some good.

If we look at the $400 million sent to support Hamas each year and divide that by say... $35,000 to do one basic container home... we can create 11,428 homes. As I said, I may not have exact figures or even know how it is supposed to work, but I know that somehow I have a say in where my tax money goes and I think many will agree that $400 million each year solves a lot of domestic issues with homelessness right here in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

Additional Reading:
Could Shipping Containers Help End Homelessness? - Huffington Post

Let's Review: The Bill of Rights

Preamble

Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent starts of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Amendments

* First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

* Second Amendment – Militia (United States), Sovereign state, Right to keep and bear arms.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

* Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops.
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

* Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

* Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain.

No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

* Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

* Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury.

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

* Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
* Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

* Tenth Amendment – Powers of States and people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

There WILL be a Pop Quiz!

Meet the Libertarian Party

Time and time again on the Behind The Mike Show, I advocate the fact that there are missed opportunities for voters in the Independent Political parties. I personally feel that "we the people" have the right idea that we want change and we want our freedoms restored, we want our country restored and we want things to be better. I also feel that we have the right intentions that maybe we should put more independents into office. However, somewhere between getting out of the car and walking into the voting booth, we get a fear about us that makes us swing the lever for "the norm".

Over the next several weeks, I intend to introduce my listeners to the Libertarian Party and some candidates running for federal offices. My intentions are NOT to tell you to vote Libertarian. I am not telling you not to vote Republican or Democrat. I am asking that we all take a good look at the candidates on the ballot and educate yourselves about the candidates that way you can make a solid decision at the polls. Is it any wonder why The Daily Show calls there election night special, "Indecision XXXX"? Do you ever feel as though you are not sure about the candidate you are voting for...as you turn that lever?

Libertarianism is the view that each person has the right to live his life in any way he chooses so long as he respects the equal rights of others. Libertarians defend each person's right to life, liberty, and property-rights that people have naturally, before governments are created. In the libertarian view, all human relationships should be voluntary; the only actions that should be forbidden by law are those that involve the initiation of force against those who have not themselves used force-actions like murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, and fraud. ~ Libertarianism: A Primer by David Boaz, Free Press, 1997.

In the upcoming weeks, we will be talking with Brent Wangen, Libertarian candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Delaware. Brent has agreed to share with us the views and information about the Libertarian Party in a manner to which will educate the public on the core values and principles of the party. As you can see from the definition above of Libertarianism, it sounds like a cool way of life as prescribed by the U.S. Constitution. The Libertarian Party has been around since 1971 and has had quite a few members elected to political offices around the country.

Brent states this introduction on his LinkedIn Page: "My platform is based on one core value, the US Constitution. Our forefathers drafted this document and ratified it into law in order to provide us with a form of government of the people, by the people, and for the people". Sounds like a plan, right? Now I understand that you may have questions and this is understandable. But stay tuned for the date of Brent's radio interview with me and you will have every opportunity to ask him your questions and to learn about he and the party he represents.

As I said, I am not here to tell you how to vote, I am merely here to help facilitate information to you to make an educated choice. Here are some links to help you along the way...

1. Find out who is on your primary ballots. Start here to see who is running on your primary so you can research them. Never be afraid to call them or ask to meet them to discuss their issues and intents: http://www.votesmart.org/election_state.php
2. Learn more about the Libertarian Party: http://www.lp.org/
3. Learn about Brent Wangen before meeting him on Behind The Mike: http://www.wangen2010.com/

Be sure to stay tuned to the Behind The Mike Website or Facebook for more information on when Brent and other party members will be on hand to answer your questions. Remember to mark your calendars...November 2nd we must take out the trash!