Blind to the Truth.
Y...719 wrote: "Trust your Creator, if not then you doubt Him. You doubt His Judgment. Where is our faith then? What does faith require of us?" (10/1/2011)
A Response......
As a Muslim, are you precluded from applying logic?
You do not Q Allah, but has he provided all the answers? Or are there answers still to come? I agree God will reveal all, but in time. God wants you to Q, for the answers will reveal His truth. He is testing your heart. Science enters the discussion. Over History much has been learned. New inventions, the practical application of what has been learned, and the study of 'why', to produce an answer, has been exceedingly valuable in adapting the world to a growing population. With greater numbers living upon a finite resource, as land & water, man has been provided, unique to the animal kingdom, a mind that can see things and ask why. Evidence of inquiry is most clear in children who pester parents with that same constant - why? If all has been revealed 'why' would not exist, it would not be part of the vocabulary of every language.
One 'why' asked was as to corn & wheat production. Why cannot an acre produce more? Study followed as to the cause of growth & productivity. More water, not too much, turning the soil, using different soils, introducing added nutrients found in the soil that was most valued, and locations. The cause of 'why' corn & wheat grew effected higher yields, the ability to produce more bushels from the same average. God revealed the truth through the mind and intellect of man, God's greatest creation, his image. More people were thus served from the same amount of land & water.
The automobile is the result of many 'why's' answered, answers obtained thru research, observation, ingenuity, trial & error, and experimentation.
We use the Internet and communicate via Twitter and Facebook. What led to this? Ten or fifteen tears ago we did not know what a cell phone was, or clearly how it could work enabling calls all over the world. Places never reached before became accessible, without wires. Today the iPad is in fashion. People using them never needed one before, and can't live without theirs now. The computer and technology behind it has engendered the communication tools we covet this day. Man is too often prone to take credit and our system rewards those who invent, produce, promote and sell the new items, but God made it possible. To the Q 'why' communications and the proximity of people & cultures narrowed.
Another 'why' is not tangible. Why are people treated differently in different cultures? Women in your culture are subjected to oppressive conditions & requirements as well as practices that suggest the male is superior. Granted sexual identities differ, and physical characteristics are unique, but the soul, the heart, and the mind are equal. There is also no reason for human rights to vary or judgment in the legal system to have a dissimilar bearing in terms of witness or degree of punishment. As we have equal judgment by God, the same should apply under civil society. That takes thought, rational consideration and reason applied to all we have been taught & learned. That includes application of what is recorded in the Bible, the Quran, the Torah and other religious books. It is when God speaks to you, not a religious leader, but directly to you. Your education, objectivity, lessons learned from scholars and your own research will equip you to decipher for yourself God's Truth, not man's explanation of God's Truth.
God's world is not this world. This world is not God's world. We live in both. But we can choose the world not of this one if we seek His eternal kingdom. We must think about it, the cause and effect of human actions, judgments, and outcomes and know in our own mind, is this what a loving God would enable?
You must be guided by the Truth you seek. God's judgment comes later, not at the hand of man. Civil laws, not theocratic, are man's laws to be obeyed, and must be structured for the common good, all people, all persuasions, all religious beliefs and all sexes, equally. If not you know, as well as I, that such laws, especially applied using God as justification, are evil. Do not be deceived.
"God is not a man that he should lie. Nor the son of man that he should change his mind." (Num 23:19). God will not deceive you.
Your faith requires knowing God, and knowing also the Deceivers. A relationship with God is as a loving relationship with another person. You want to be with that person. You trust that person. You have not been forced into loving or being with that person. You do so voluntarily, because that is where your heart is. You met others, made a personal choice, and followed your heart.
In my reading the Quran says do not pursue other religions lest you be swayed. I ask 'why'. The Truth of your faith will/must stand on it's own. Being bombarded by outside influences is to be expected. Do not be afraid. True faith will not allow you to sink in the waters that surround. Only your lack of faith will. Accept the challenge. There may be another Truth more compelling. I have. Being captured by the fear caused by dictates in the name of God, the fear of retribution or rejection, should not bind anyone to what may be false.
You can doubt the creator you don't know, but not the one you know. Who has done more for mankind then any other? Who has set the highest standard? Who has given their life so you may be free to love God, to be judged for your faith & not your good deeds? Having faith will enable the good to flow from your heart guided by the spirit within. What you need not doubt is that God will answer you. Just ask and listen.
Don't be afraid to question Him? He wants to hear from you. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." -James 1:5 (NIV84)
In closing, "Be merciful to those who doubt" -Jude 1:22 (NIV84)
Grace and Peace
Monday, October 3, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Hanging for Apostasy - A Travesty of Islam
Hanging for Apostasy
September 30, 2011
Is this how Islam makes known the statement, “There is no compulsion in Religion.” To hang one who converted from Islam to Christianity, now for the crime of not converting back too, apostasy in its ultimate mode of punishment to a Muslim. Choose, free-will applied, another faith and death is the order of the day. Yes, there is ‘no compulsion in religion’ as long as the religion is Islam. What a fear tactic. How many are living under the umbrella of the ideology of Islam wanting to find or take another path, yet not doing so out of fear. How many fear Allah and the army of Islamists that do the bidding of the Quran. Those, the punishers, they act more, in my opinion, for their sake in a self-righteous posture, than for their love of Allah alone questionable. Do they enjoy the role as executioner? Do they enjoy the role as judge in the name of Allah?
Sinners Also
The Muslim world is filled with women in Hijabs and men bowing for daily prayer that pray to God to be freed of the oppression of an ideology that does not allow freedom of choice. They have free-will, but because they are weak, they cannot remain pure. Born without sin, yet weak. Incongruent in my mind because they are sinners, as all mankind is, yet they say birth of a Muslim is without original sin. They are just weak. Aren‘t we all?
How many who judge using the Quran in their own lives wallow in the pleasures of sin.
Fear – The Tactical Tool of Islam
The fear of leaving the ideology of Islam - is it a result of indoctrination, possibly brainwashing, fear of retribution or rejection? Have they no backbone? I know, it is difficult when death by a firing squad may be the result. How Allah has deceived and scared so many into remaining in the fold. Only the acceptance of Allah is to be considered. No doubts are permitted. This is not acceptable and in America it should be seen for what it is. Knowing that Islamic Law, Sharia Law, condones such actions is enough to do all possible to exclude Sharia Law from any court or matter to be resolved with civility. It is not structured for the common good. Keep it far from the shores of this great Nation - America. Islam does not accept freedom of religion. Freedom in general is anathema to Islam. God would not permit this. But Allah?
Yusef Naderkhani
We must praise Yusef Naderkhani. He is willing to stand-up for what HE believes. Are you? He may even become a martyr for his belief in Jesus. He no longer believes or accepts Allah. We need to pray he will be set-free. But will others?
In UI – Part 111, on the subject of Polygamy (posted at http://www.understand-islam.com/), a woman spoke with her local ulema, an Islamic scholar, expressing her doubts. Addressing her concerns as to Polygamy, her discomfort, the scholar side-stepped her major question and personal concern responding with, “Do you believe Allah is Just?” Is that a loaded question or what? How else could an Islamic woman answer but, “Yes.” The doubts were to remain. The scholars say doubt, questions, are unnecessary. Allah has revealed everything. It is in the Quran. Take it; accept it. But if don’t take it, you leave it, you die. Beware! Be scared!
Yusef Naderkhani has been in jail since October 2009. He converted from Islam to Christianity and became a Christian Pastor. It has been reported that “The 33-year-old Naderkhani converted to Christianity from Islam in 1997, when he was 19. He was arrested in 2009, when he was serving as the pastor of a small church in the northern city of Rasht. A court sentenced him to hanging after convicting him of apostasy.”
Islamic law in Iran says a Muslim who converts to another faith can face the death penalty. Iran is mostly Shite, and differs from the majority Sunni Muslim population in a few ways, to include the selection for the highest Ulema (scholars), whether they are in the family of Muhammad or chosen for their knowledge and leadership in Islam, but not in their consideration of the application of Islamic Law. The Saudi nation is Wahabbist, a more extreme form of Sunni, where Islamic Law is strictly enforced, moreso than in most other Muslim concentrated and autocratically ruled areas.
His wife was also imprisoned at one point, now free. Free but under, to be sure, the watchful eye of the Islamist police.
His sentence to death can be overturned if he repents and becomes a Muslim again. Now that is keeping the faith; but it is not having faith. On many occasion he was confronted with this option to avoid the death sentence. He has not converted back, and would die for his faith and belief in Jesus Christ. What a strong believer in the Risen Lord.
In an appeal to the Islamic Court Naderkhani’s lawyer, Dadkhah, argued, "… at the time of Prophet Mohammad no one was killed for being an apostate. The history of Islam shows that at the time of the Prophet three tribes became apostate but the Prophet didn't [order] them to be killed. There's nothing about killing apostates in the Koran.” It was not sufficient, as yet anyway, to gain his release.
The Moderates Have Not been Heard From
On Twitter many have called for a halt to this travesty. Yet I have not read a word from the Muslim community, even from moderates I know are out there. I welcome being enlightened by those Muslims fighting for the release of this convert, and renouncing the practice in Islam to kill an apostate. They need to also call for a halt throughout the Muslim world to not accepting other religions. Allow free-will to enable those who believe not in Islam to worship as they please. Build and open church doors in Muslim areas of the world. Let me hear your voice.
Whitehouse Statement
The Whitehouse made a statement, "That the Iranian authorities would try to force [Naderkhani] to renounce [his] faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran's own international obligations…. A decision to impose the death penalty would further demonstrate the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlight Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens."
Trying to find a means to insure the death sentence was imposed, the case for apostasy, the court worked hard to justify the sentence even saying Naderkhani was guilty of apostasy because he has Muslim ancestry. Now even if not a Muslim today, but you parents were Muslims, beware, the Islamists are out to kill you and have you convert back to Islam. The choice is yours, but the death sentence is theirs.
Who is the Judge?
In my faith God punishes. Especially as to matters of faith. He is judge, and that judgment will occur not in this world but in his world, not by man acting as God, but by God alone. Islam, as demonstrated by this case, is not Godlike in its standards of Law. Christ freed all mankind from the Laws, and if man chooses to then enact Laws as he so determines, then he commits a crime against the most holy.
Pray
Pray for the release of Naderkhani. May God have mercy on him. May salvation be his as a believer in Christ, justified by his faith, sustained by the Spirit of God within, and assured of an eternal life in the Kingdom.
May the evil in the hearts of those in Iran that have judged this human so wrongly be cleansed with sanity, human compassion, and love. The Khomeini and Ahmadinejad are as much at fault for such a serious breach of the rights of all humans. If this execution is carried out their souls will be blackened by the evil that has been exposed. May the Love of God prevail.
The misfortune that has befallen this man is not of his own doing. The Quran is wrong in Sura 4:79 when it says ‘whatever good befalls thee, it is from Allah, and whatever misfortune befalls thee, it is from thyself.’ That is not God speaking. God loves this man, and all humans, unconditionally.
Grace and Peace
September 30, 2011
Is this how Islam makes known the statement, “There is no compulsion in Religion.” To hang one who converted from Islam to Christianity, now for the crime of not converting back too, apostasy in its ultimate mode of punishment to a Muslim. Choose, free-will applied, another faith and death is the order of the day. Yes, there is ‘no compulsion in religion’ as long as the religion is Islam. What a fear tactic. How many are living under the umbrella of the ideology of Islam wanting to find or take another path, yet not doing so out of fear. How many fear Allah and the army of Islamists that do the bidding of the Quran. Those, the punishers, they act more, in my opinion, for their sake in a self-righteous posture, than for their love of Allah alone questionable. Do they enjoy the role as executioner? Do they enjoy the role as judge in the name of Allah?
Sinners Also
The Muslim world is filled with women in Hijabs and men bowing for daily prayer that pray to God to be freed of the oppression of an ideology that does not allow freedom of choice. They have free-will, but because they are weak, they cannot remain pure. Born without sin, yet weak. Incongruent in my mind because they are sinners, as all mankind is, yet they say birth of a Muslim is without original sin. They are just weak. Aren‘t we all?
How many who judge using the Quran in their own lives wallow in the pleasures of sin.
Fear – The Tactical Tool of Islam
The fear of leaving the ideology of Islam - is it a result of indoctrination, possibly brainwashing, fear of retribution or rejection? Have they no backbone? I know, it is difficult when death by a firing squad may be the result. How Allah has deceived and scared so many into remaining in the fold. Only the acceptance of Allah is to be considered. No doubts are permitted. This is not acceptable and in America it should be seen for what it is. Knowing that Islamic Law, Sharia Law, condones such actions is enough to do all possible to exclude Sharia Law from any court or matter to be resolved with civility. It is not structured for the common good. Keep it far from the shores of this great Nation - America. Islam does not accept freedom of religion. Freedom in general is anathema to Islam. God would not permit this. But Allah?
Yusef Naderkhani
We must praise Yusef Naderkhani. He is willing to stand-up for what HE believes. Are you? He may even become a martyr for his belief in Jesus. He no longer believes or accepts Allah. We need to pray he will be set-free. But will others?
In UI – Part 111, on the subject of Polygamy (posted at http://www.understand-islam.com/), a woman spoke with her local ulema, an Islamic scholar, expressing her doubts. Addressing her concerns as to Polygamy, her discomfort, the scholar side-stepped her major question and personal concern responding with, “Do you believe Allah is Just?” Is that a loaded question or what? How else could an Islamic woman answer but, “Yes.” The doubts were to remain. The scholars say doubt, questions, are unnecessary. Allah has revealed everything. It is in the Quran. Take it; accept it. But if don’t take it, you leave it, you die. Beware! Be scared!
Yusef Naderkhani has been in jail since October 2009. He converted from Islam to Christianity and became a Christian Pastor. It has been reported that “The 33-year-old Naderkhani converted to Christianity from Islam in 1997, when he was 19. He was arrested in 2009, when he was serving as the pastor of a small church in the northern city of Rasht. A court sentenced him to hanging after convicting him of apostasy.”
Islamic law in Iran says a Muslim who converts to another faith can face the death penalty. Iran is mostly Shite, and differs from the majority Sunni Muslim population in a few ways, to include the selection for the highest Ulema (scholars), whether they are in the family of Muhammad or chosen for their knowledge and leadership in Islam, but not in their consideration of the application of Islamic Law. The Saudi nation is Wahabbist, a more extreme form of Sunni, where Islamic Law is strictly enforced, moreso than in most other Muslim concentrated and autocratically ruled areas.
His wife was also imprisoned at one point, now free. Free but under, to be sure, the watchful eye of the Islamist police.
His sentence to death can be overturned if he repents and becomes a Muslim again. Now that is keeping the faith; but it is not having faith. On many occasion he was confronted with this option to avoid the death sentence. He has not converted back, and would die for his faith and belief in Jesus Christ. What a strong believer in the Risen Lord.
In an appeal to the Islamic Court Naderkhani’s lawyer, Dadkhah, argued, "… at the time of Prophet Mohammad no one was killed for being an apostate. The history of Islam shows that at the time of the Prophet three tribes became apostate but the Prophet didn't [order] them to be killed. There's nothing about killing apostates in the Koran.” It was not sufficient, as yet anyway, to gain his release.
The Moderates Have Not been Heard From
On Twitter many have called for a halt to this travesty. Yet I have not read a word from the Muslim community, even from moderates I know are out there. I welcome being enlightened by those Muslims fighting for the release of this convert, and renouncing the practice in Islam to kill an apostate. They need to also call for a halt throughout the Muslim world to not accepting other religions. Allow free-will to enable those who believe not in Islam to worship as they please. Build and open church doors in Muslim areas of the world. Let me hear your voice.
Whitehouse Statement
The Whitehouse made a statement, "That the Iranian authorities would try to force [Naderkhani] to renounce [his] faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran's own international obligations…. A decision to impose the death penalty would further demonstrate the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlight Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens."
Trying to find a means to insure the death sentence was imposed, the case for apostasy, the court worked hard to justify the sentence even saying Naderkhani was guilty of apostasy because he has Muslim ancestry. Now even if not a Muslim today, but you parents were Muslims, beware, the Islamists are out to kill you and have you convert back to Islam. The choice is yours, but the death sentence is theirs.
Who is the Judge?
In my faith God punishes. Especially as to matters of faith. He is judge, and that judgment will occur not in this world but in his world, not by man acting as God, but by God alone. Islam, as demonstrated by this case, is not Godlike in its standards of Law. Christ freed all mankind from the Laws, and if man chooses to then enact Laws as he so determines, then he commits a crime against the most holy.
Pray
Pray for the release of Naderkhani. May God have mercy on him. May salvation be his as a believer in Christ, justified by his faith, sustained by the Spirit of God within, and assured of an eternal life in the Kingdom.
May the evil in the hearts of those in Iran that have judged this human so wrongly be cleansed with sanity, human compassion, and love. The Khomeini and Ahmadinejad are as much at fault for such a serious breach of the rights of all humans. If this execution is carried out their souls will be blackened by the evil that has been exposed. May the Love of God prevail.
The misfortune that has befallen this man is not of his own doing. The Quran is wrong in Sura 4:79 when it says ‘whatever good befalls thee, it is from Allah, and whatever misfortune befalls thee, it is from thyself.’ That is not God speaking. God loves this man, and all humans, unconditionally.
Grace and Peace
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Let us Pray Together for Our Great Nation - America the Beautiful and Land of the Free.
Something powerful we can all do.
Received this from a freind. It is what we can all do. God Bless this Nation. We need prayer.
Someone has said that if Christians really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England , its people and peace? There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America . If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation.
Received this from a freind. It is what we can all do. God Bless this Nation. We need prayer.
Someone has said that if Christians really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England , its people and peace? There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America . If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation. May it be part of your Evening Prayer. Pray your own prayer. It need not be a scripted repetitious piece. Let it be from your heart.
If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Please forward this to your praying friends.
Grace and Peace
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
40 Areas Where Washington Can Cut Today
We have a Federal Government rapidly growing by design. The Government is entering areas of people’s lives wherever possible, institutionalizing what they can so regulations prevail, fees grow, and control, the power of the government, can be exercised as much and as pervasively as possible. The Nanny State, a label, where Sam USA says what you can wear, eat, say and support. Eat peas, not Oreos, where chinos, not hip huggers, say evolution, not God as the first cause, bless global warming initiatives, and do not drive gas guzzlers (even if they are classics.) If it is not regulated we will find a regulation to fit and a regulator to oversee.
Government’s obsession with control is in Banking, Health Care (Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Doctors, Insurers), Energy, Communications, Wall Street, Corporations, Labor/Unions, Shipping, Imports/Exports, and on and on. It is invasive. People’s independence is being eroded. The Government wants to be everyone’s food source. Soon to be inspections of homes (especially if someone is receiving benefits from the government – welfare or health care), or group homes (now possible if more than 16 residents), regulations on weight [taxes on anything with sugar, no bake sales in public schools, even penalties for being overweight (based on government established standards)], smoker taxes (already on tobacco products), alcohol consumption taxes (already in place), and auto taxes, when gas mileage does not meet government standards (with inspections for a fee to determine) to be penalized, and mileage taxes, to help pay for activities of the Department of Transportation.
What can our government do to cut back, to reduce, to budget, to insure outflows = inflows, and to insure representatives of the people are upright citizens with the intentions and needs of the people in mind (more than those of the representatives).
Much can be done by Washington to save Trillions, make Government more efficient, more effective, and more reflective of the desires of the wonderful peoples of our great Nation.
1. Eliminate Subsidies, Farm Subsidies, Sugar subsidies, Energy Development subsidies, and any other subsidy. Means test as a minimum.
2. Earmark requests in separate stand-alone legislation, accompanied with the name of the author and the intent. Each earmark means tested.
3. Eliminate current non-essential Earmarks.
4. Eliminate support for the National Endowment for the Arts and similar organizations that can be served by outside, non-government organizations.
5. Eliminate naming opportunities for Congressmen, Senators and other Government members (except after death) on buildings, bridges, roadways, etc., unless contributions made are by the elected official themselves (out of their pockets and the goodness of their hearts).
6. Reduce franking privileges, the use of free postal services. Much can be saved here - use email, and for campaign constituency purposes use campaign funds.
7. Get the Federal Government out of the abortion business, the business of voter registration and other non-specific activities of Government – such as payments to Planned Parenthood, ACORN and the like. Let the support for these groups come from non-government sources – charities.
8. No direct Federal Government funding for welfare recipients, with exceptions and limitations. Food stamps and unemployment may remain in the government hands.
a. When it comes to home health care, or child care, the government may determine eligibility and issue funds – in the form of vouchers – and then allow the recipient to find providers for services that either accept the voucher or accept the voucher but require additional monies, the recipient left with the choice or need to find the added funding to use the provider of their choice. Supplemental money provided by the government may be used to fund ancillaries.
b. The same would apply to long-term care, the government would provide vouchers for daily nursing home care to be paid directly to a care facility. The beneficiary would be left to choose the home and if more daily monies are required they can be provided by the beneficiary or charities or family members.
c. In good years (excess Revenues) government can provide monies to charitable groups to help fund activities to help the poor, sick and needy. In bad years (deficits) government can cut back on giving funds to help charities. Charities would then trim there services or find ways to better, more efficiently, care and help, seeking more volunteers.
9. Allow States, only, to tax oil, energy companies, to the extent resources are recovered from that State, and to be paid for and to the benefit of the Residents.
10. Reform campaign finance and simplify documentation. Make it easier for seekers to office to comply with requirements to raise funds and run for office.
11. Limit the time candidates can campaign for an elected office. Say 6 months max.
12. Establish Term limits for all legislators – 2 terms max.
13. Reduce or eliminate payments to subsidize museums and Parks, allowing entrance fees to support. Raise entry fees when necessary. Allow for private funding.
14. Eliminate payments for Portraits of any member of the Government or Military. Photographs only.
15. Flat tax or National Sales Tax (preferred), thus eliminating the IRS. State programs to remain, based on sales tax only. (Note: It is est. costs of goods sold, what you ultimately pay to purchase any given product, with the elimination of business taxes and the costs associated with tax filing, will change little from today, even with value added tax. Savings (cuts) from:
a. IRS significantly reduced.
b. No forms to be processed
c. No need for business taxes
d. No need for taxes on investments, IRA’s, ROTH plans, interest, dividends, capital gains, etc.
e. Revenue benefit: Capture Revenues from the Underground Economy.
16. Significantly reduce, ease, Regulations on businesses and Banks (in turn reducing policing action of business by Government and associated costs).
a. Lower cost of goods manufactured.
b. Increase demand, due to lower cost.
c. Increase jobs.
d. Lower interest rates
e. Improve productivity
17. Significantly reduce, ease, Regulations on health care providers (in turn reducing policing action of business by Government and associated costs).
a. Lower cost of health care
b. Increase staffing for patient care – staff not otherwise engaged in meeting exacting government requirements and paperwork.
c. lower cost of health care to government itself – Medicare and Medicaid
18. No riders on legislation that is not in concert with the Bill itself.
19. Reduce hearings by legislature that are non-essential and act only to provide a platform for members of the legislature to make political statements.
20. Eliminate all Parties, no Republican, no Democrat, Independent or other. All voters to register as ‘Voters.’
a. All Congressmen and Senators to run as individuals, representing only their personal views not party politics.
b. Objective – to enable individual thought and minimize pressure by Party leaders on newly elected; also to eliminate the herding instinct and partisan politics.
21. Establish limits for the years a staff member can work for any legislator in Washington, for Congress 6 years – for the Senate 12 years.
22. Neither lobbyist nor the staff member of lobbyists should attend functions attended by elected representatives.
23. Disallow any government intervention is decisions by business as to salaries or bonuses.
24. Government – legislators, precluded (abstain) from voting on measures that directly effect contributors to political campaigns.
25. Welfare recipients, not to include Medicaid, ineligible to vote until no longer on welfare. Cannot directly support any candidate for office, or contribute to any candidate (doing so would be using payments from the Government to support a political candidate).
26. Reduce all Regulations. Use an ombudsman system to be called when abuses occur that matter.
27. Create a test for registrants to vote. Pass the test and register.
a. Citizen of the USA
b. ID
c. Lived in area for at least one year – proof of residence.
28. Insure all government programs cover 100% of the costs.
29. Any form of arbitration should be conducted by non-governmental employees (esp. labor/union relations)
30. Eliminate fraud and inefficiencies in Medicare
31. Eliminate fraud and inefficiencies in Medicaid
32. Contract outside providers to manage VA hospitals. Government to provide 100% of funding and incentives to achieve savings from prior year’s operations.
33. Eliminate burdens of approvals to have Infrastructure Projects (Shovel-Ready) started.
34. Eliminate burdens of approvals to drill for oil in US.
35. Reduce unneeded Governmental Agencies, where redundancy reigns; Education and Health Care are rife with excess and overlap.
36. Eliminate unnecessary Departments – delegate responsibility to States.
a. Education – formed in the 80’s – return this responsibility to the States.
b. Energy – again leave it to State by State discretion – the Feds have never produced one barrel of oil
c. Defense – formed after WWII
d. Commerce – States to regulate
37. Federal Government Staff Reductions
a. Reduce the size of staff of Congressmen and Senators by half.
b. Limit President’s wife to a secretary – maximum paid staff.
c. Other:
i. Congress and Senate
1. Reduce # of offices each member can maintain
2. Require a specified number of days to be in session and do not pay for those missed.
3. Reduce ‘boondoggle’ educational trips.
ii. White House
1. Fewer trips with the compliment of personnel President (Obama the example) deems necessary.
2. Less freedom for extravagant travel by the President’s wife.
iii. Military
1. Careful consideration given to troop needs. Rely on military officers with expertise, not President.
2. Use of technology over man-power, drones over infantry.
iv. Postal Service
1. Eliminate Saturday delivery
2. Only deliver bulk-mail and magazines one or two days per week (like Tuesday and Friday)
3. Establish more P.O. Box only areas.
v. Modify all Government Pension programs to align with private sector, or Social Security only.
38. In addition to reducing the size and cost of government, restrict the number and frequency of studies being conducted on behalf of the government paid by the government that answer government questions the way they want them answered.
39. Increase the age for Medicare and Social Security – 70 or 75, and scale added increases to longevity.
40. Foreign Government Support – reduce our expenditures to countries that simply do not like us, or like us only for our money. Help the poor, not the tyrants.
Grace and Peace
Government’s obsession with control is in Banking, Health Care (Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Doctors, Insurers), Energy, Communications, Wall Street, Corporations, Labor/Unions, Shipping, Imports/Exports, and on and on. It is invasive. People’s independence is being eroded. The Government wants to be everyone’s food source. Soon to be inspections of homes (especially if someone is receiving benefits from the government – welfare or health care), or group homes (now possible if more than 16 residents), regulations on weight [taxes on anything with sugar, no bake sales in public schools, even penalties for being overweight (based on government established standards)], smoker taxes (already on tobacco products), alcohol consumption taxes (already in place), and auto taxes, when gas mileage does not meet government standards (with inspections for a fee to determine) to be penalized, and mileage taxes, to help pay for activities of the Department of Transportation.
What can our government do to cut back, to reduce, to budget, to insure outflows = inflows, and to insure representatives of the people are upright citizens with the intentions and needs of the people in mind (more than those of the representatives).
Much can be done by Washington to save Trillions, make Government more efficient, more effective, and more reflective of the desires of the wonderful peoples of our great Nation.
1. Eliminate Subsidies, Farm Subsidies, Sugar subsidies, Energy Development subsidies, and any other subsidy. Means test as a minimum.
2. Earmark requests in separate stand-alone legislation, accompanied with the name of the author and the intent. Each earmark means tested.
3. Eliminate current non-essential Earmarks.
4. Eliminate support for the National Endowment for the Arts and similar organizations that can be served by outside, non-government organizations.
5. Eliminate naming opportunities for Congressmen, Senators and other Government members (except after death) on buildings, bridges, roadways, etc., unless contributions made are by the elected official themselves (out of their pockets and the goodness of their hearts).
6. Reduce franking privileges, the use of free postal services. Much can be saved here - use email, and for campaign constituency purposes use campaign funds.
7. Get the Federal Government out of the abortion business, the business of voter registration and other non-specific activities of Government – such as payments to Planned Parenthood, ACORN and the like. Let the support for these groups come from non-government sources – charities.
8. No direct Federal Government funding for welfare recipients, with exceptions and limitations. Food stamps and unemployment may remain in the government hands.
a. When it comes to home health care, or child care, the government may determine eligibility and issue funds – in the form of vouchers – and then allow the recipient to find providers for services that either accept the voucher or accept the voucher but require additional monies, the recipient left with the choice or need to find the added funding to use the provider of their choice. Supplemental money provided by the government may be used to fund ancillaries.
b. The same would apply to long-term care, the government would provide vouchers for daily nursing home care to be paid directly to a care facility. The beneficiary would be left to choose the home and if more daily monies are required they can be provided by the beneficiary or charities or family members.
c. In good years (excess Revenues) government can provide monies to charitable groups to help fund activities to help the poor, sick and needy. In bad years (deficits) government can cut back on giving funds to help charities. Charities would then trim there services or find ways to better, more efficiently, care and help, seeking more volunteers.
9. Allow States, only, to tax oil, energy companies, to the extent resources are recovered from that State, and to be paid for and to the benefit of the Residents.
10. Reform campaign finance and simplify documentation. Make it easier for seekers to office to comply with requirements to raise funds and run for office.
11. Limit the time candidates can campaign for an elected office. Say 6 months max.
12. Establish Term limits for all legislators – 2 terms max.
13. Reduce or eliminate payments to subsidize museums and Parks, allowing entrance fees to support. Raise entry fees when necessary. Allow for private funding.
14. Eliminate payments for Portraits of any member of the Government or Military. Photographs only.
15. Flat tax or National Sales Tax (preferred), thus eliminating the IRS. State programs to remain, based on sales tax only. (Note: It is est. costs of goods sold, what you ultimately pay to purchase any given product, with the elimination of business taxes and the costs associated with tax filing, will change little from today, even with value added tax. Savings (cuts) from:
a. IRS significantly reduced.
b. No forms to be processed
c. No need for business taxes
d. No need for taxes on investments, IRA’s, ROTH plans, interest, dividends, capital gains, etc.
e. Revenue benefit: Capture Revenues from the Underground Economy.
16. Significantly reduce, ease, Regulations on businesses and Banks (in turn reducing policing action of business by Government and associated costs).
a. Lower cost of goods manufactured.
b. Increase demand, due to lower cost.
c. Increase jobs.
d. Lower interest rates
e. Improve productivity
17. Significantly reduce, ease, Regulations on health care providers (in turn reducing policing action of business by Government and associated costs).
a. Lower cost of health care
b. Increase staffing for patient care – staff not otherwise engaged in meeting exacting government requirements and paperwork.
c. lower cost of health care to government itself – Medicare and Medicaid
18. No riders on legislation that is not in concert with the Bill itself.
19. Reduce hearings by legislature that are non-essential and act only to provide a platform for members of the legislature to make political statements.
20. Eliminate all Parties, no Republican, no Democrat, Independent or other. All voters to register as ‘Voters.’
a. All Congressmen and Senators to run as individuals, representing only their personal views not party politics.
b. Objective – to enable individual thought and minimize pressure by Party leaders on newly elected; also to eliminate the herding instinct and partisan politics.
21. Establish limits for the years a staff member can work for any legislator in Washington, for Congress 6 years – for the Senate 12 years.
22. Neither lobbyist nor the staff member of lobbyists should attend functions attended by elected representatives.
23. Disallow any government intervention is decisions by business as to salaries or bonuses.
24. Government – legislators, precluded (abstain) from voting on measures that directly effect contributors to political campaigns.
25. Welfare recipients, not to include Medicaid, ineligible to vote until no longer on welfare. Cannot directly support any candidate for office, or contribute to any candidate (doing so would be using payments from the Government to support a political candidate).
26. Reduce all Regulations. Use an ombudsman system to be called when abuses occur that matter.
27. Create a test for registrants to vote. Pass the test and register.
a. Citizen of the USA
b. ID
c. Lived in area for at least one year – proof of residence.
28. Insure all government programs cover 100% of the costs.
29. Any form of arbitration should be conducted by non-governmental employees (esp. labor/union relations)
30. Eliminate fraud and inefficiencies in Medicare
31. Eliminate fraud and inefficiencies in Medicaid
32. Contract outside providers to manage VA hospitals. Government to provide 100% of funding and incentives to achieve savings from prior year’s operations.
33. Eliminate burdens of approvals to have Infrastructure Projects (Shovel-Ready) started.
34. Eliminate burdens of approvals to drill for oil in US.
35. Reduce unneeded Governmental Agencies, where redundancy reigns; Education and Health Care are rife with excess and overlap.
36. Eliminate unnecessary Departments – delegate responsibility to States.
a. Education – formed in the 80’s – return this responsibility to the States.
b. Energy – again leave it to State by State discretion – the Feds have never produced one barrel of oil
c. Defense – formed after WWII
d. Commerce – States to regulate
37. Federal Government Staff Reductions
a. Reduce the size of staff of Congressmen and Senators by half.
b. Limit President’s wife to a secretary – maximum paid staff.
c. Other:
i. Congress and Senate
1. Reduce # of offices each member can maintain
2. Require a specified number of days to be in session and do not pay for those missed.
3. Reduce ‘boondoggle’ educational trips.
ii. White House
1. Fewer trips with the compliment of personnel President (Obama the example) deems necessary.
2. Less freedom for extravagant travel by the President’s wife.
iii. Military
1. Careful consideration given to troop needs. Rely on military officers with expertise, not President.
2. Use of technology over man-power, drones over infantry.
iv. Postal Service
1. Eliminate Saturday delivery
2. Only deliver bulk-mail and magazines one or two days per week (like Tuesday and Friday)
3. Establish more P.O. Box only areas.
v. Modify all Government Pension programs to align with private sector, or Social Security only.
38. In addition to reducing the size and cost of government, restrict the number and frequency of studies being conducted on behalf of the government paid by the government that answer government questions the way they want them answered.
39. Increase the age for Medicare and Social Security – 70 or 75, and scale added increases to longevity.
40. Foreign Government Support – reduce our expenditures to countries that simply do not like us, or like us only for our money. Help the poor, not the tyrants.
Grace and Peace
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