WHAT ALEX DE TOQUERVILLE SAW THAT WE ARE TOO BLIND TO SEE

Alex De Tocqueville, a 18th Century cultural anthropologist of sorts, intrigued why a newly formed society, forged out of wilderness and the unknown, thrived, but thrived ever so differently than the roots from whence the many citizens of its population came. He noticed huge differences in lifestyle compared with the Americans ancestral homes abroad. Americans had abandoned provincial lifestyles that thought inside the box for those that sparked ingenuity. This brought strength, individuality, independence, intelligence, and freedom. The latter brought Tocqueville to America.

But that was two hundred years ago.

There is an old poster making commentary about involvement with three monkeys: one covers its mouth; one, its ears; and one, its eyes. Has America become a monkey? Because apparently our friends to the East of us, namely in the former Soviet Block, believe, and perhaps arguably know, we have. In several publications from Russia, Ukraine and other countries where understanding of freedom is swelling and loathing of communist philosophy is growing, heads are shaking over what is happening here in the United States since President Obama has become President.

I say that in an indifferent and third party syntax because to state that Obama is our President or that he is THE President of the United States activates my gag-reflex. I'm sorry to my Democratic friends, I mean no offense. The solemn truth is that Obama's seat as President here is not nearly as large a loss to Republicans or other Party affiliates, or unaffiliated voters for that matter, as it is to Democrats. My Democratic friends, to be soft, but to the point, have been duped--I hardly think most of them truly believe themselves to be Socialist/Communist, unless they don't actually know what either is. But a Socialist is who we voted into office. My Democratic friends have been duped. And we have all been robbed blind of our American heritage.

Friends across America: Across the seas they can see our demise because we are blindly headed down a dangerous Communist/Marxist road most of Europe and Asia have suffered through for decades. While they have prayed SILENTLY in their secret corners for eventual refuge from government control we are leaping by canyon-sized gallops towards it. Here are the facts that represent what kind of legislation is currently on Capitol Hill: These bills and the information presented herein are verbatim from a new service that can be found among other places on Face book, called Visible Vote. You will notice that while many of these bills look benign on their face, the devil, as always is in the details. In fairness and to provide balance, there are bills of all kinds included here and no measure has been taken to slant the legislation coming from Washington right now. There are good bills, albeit, very few, that demonstrate efforts to protect the U.S. Constitution. But a close look and careful scrutiny of most of the bills themselves, will unveil a fortress of government control that is scaring half the planet.

(Why not us?)

American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
Category: Energy

Question: Should the government pass this bill to regulate emissions from companies, create energy jobs, and transition to a clean energy economy? (Please note this bill is over 900 pages long with a lot of details).

Highlights:
Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to establish a combined efficiency and renewable electricity standard that requires utilities to supply an increasing percentage of their demand from a combination of energy efficiency savings and renewable energy (6% in 2012, 9.5% in 2014, 13% in 2016, 16.5% in 2018, and 20% in 2021-2039). Provides for: (1) issuing, trading, banking, retiring, and verifying renewable electricity credits; and (2) prescribing standards to define and measure electricity savings from energy efficiency and energy conservation measures.- Amends the Clean Air Act (CAA) to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) set forth a national strategy to address barriers to the commercial-scale deployment of carbon capture and sequestration; (2) establish an approach to certify and permit geologic sequestration; and (3) promulgate regulations to minimize the risk of escape to the atmosphere of carbon dioxide injected for purposes of geological sequestration. Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator to promulgate regulations for sequestration wells.- Amends PURPA to provide for the development of electric vehicle infrastructure. Requires the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to establish: (1) a large-scale vehicle electrification program; and (2) a program to provide financial assistance for the manufacture of plug-in electric drive vehicles. Requires the Administrator to establish a program under which a state may create a State Energy and Environment Development Account.- Safe Climate Act - Amends the CAA to require the Administrator to promulgate regulations to: (1) cap and reduce GHG emissions, annually, so that GHG emissions from capped sources are reduced to 97% of 2005 levels by 2012, 83% by 2020, 58% by 2030, and 17% by 2050; and (2) establish a federal GHG registry.- Provides for trading, banking and borrowing, auctioning, selling, exchanging, transferring, holding, or retiring emission allowances.- Requires the Administrator to: (1) establish a strategic reserve account and place into that account specified amounts (ranging from 1% to 3%) of the emission allowances for each of calendar years 2012-2050; and (2) auction such strategic reserve allowances once each quarter of each of such years. Too Many Details to List. Mobile users please check out the Links on Visible Vote on Face book.
___________________________

Title: $106 Billion Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009
Category: Defense

Question: Should the government provide more funds (total $106 Billion) for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, a Line of Credit to the IMF, funds to help countries with Swine Flu, and provide vouchers for Car Trade-ins on gas guzzlers?

Highlights:
- Cost $106 Billion Dollars- $80 Billion for War time funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan- $5 Billion Line of credit to the International Monetary Fund to help developing countries combat the impact of the global recession.- $7.7 Billion to combat the Swine Flu Virus in Foreign Countries- $10.4 Billion in foreign aid to target and promote economic development and counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq- $1 Billion to the \"cash for clunkers\" program for consumers to receive $4500 vouchers to trade in old gas guzzling vehicles for more fuel efficient vehicles.
___________________________

Title: Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
Category: Health

Question: Should the FDA have power to regulate tobacco products and to assess fees on the tobacco companies?

Highlights:
-Grants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) power to regulate tobacco products (Sec. 101).-Requires tobacco product manufacturers to disclose all ingredients in its products, the form and delivery method of nicotine, and any research into the health, toxicological, behavioral, or physiologic effects of tobacco products to the FDA and notify the FDA of any future changes to any of the above (Sec. 101).-Requires tobacco manufacturers to release all marketing research documents to the FDA (Sec. 101).-Requires tobacco manufacturers to notify the FDA of any future changes to the ingredients of their products (Sec. 101).-Requires all owners and operators of companies manufacturing or processing tobacco products to register with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and to be inspected once every two years (Sec. 101).-Prohibits the FDA from banning existing tobacco products or requiring that they eliminate nicotine (Sec. 101).-Requires FDA review of new tobacco products before they can go to market unless they are similar to products marketed before February 15, 2007 (Sec. 101).-Bans companies from promoting products as lower-risk alternatives to traditional tobacco unless the FDA certifies that its sale is likely to improve public health (Sec. 101).-Establishes a mechanism to assess fees on tobacco companies and traders to finance FDA oversight of the industry (Sec. 101).-Orders a study on the public health implications of raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products (Sec. 104).-Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a plan relating to enforce restrictions on the advertising and promotion of menthol and other cigarettes to minors (Sec. 105).-Mandates larger, more varied, and more prominent warning labels on tobacco products (Secs. 201, 204).
_________________________

Title: Constitutional Amendments To Define Marriage as between a Man and Woman
Category: Social

Question: Should congress amend the Constitution of the United States to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman?

Highlights:
There are currently 2 bills introduced in Congress to define marriage as a union between man and woman. We will be monitoring to see if one makes it out of committee and is voted on. The details for each bill are as follows. We will post both bills on our discussion forums on Facebook.HR. 1269 Marriage Protection Act of 2009- Amends the federal judicial code to deny federal courts jurisdiction to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation of, or the validity under the Constitution, of the provision of the Defense of Marriage Act declaring that no state shall be required to give effect to any marriage between persons of the same sex under the laws of any other state.HR. 37 Proposing Amendment to the Constitution of the US relating to Marriage- Requires marriage in the United States to consist only of a legal union of a man and a woman.- Prohibits any federal or state court from having jurisdiction to determine whether the Constitution or any state constitution requires the legal incidents of marriage to be conferred upon any union other than a legal union between one man and one woman.- Prohibits requiring any state to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other state concerning a union between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage, or as having the legal incidents of marriage, under the laws of such other state.
_________________________

Title: Development, Relief, and Education for Alient Minors Act (DREAM) of 2009
Category: Social

Question: Should congress amend the illegal immigration reform and immigrant responsibility act of 1996 to permit states to determine State residency for higher education purposes and to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students?
Highlights:
Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2009 or the DREAM Act of 2009 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to repeal the denial of an unlawful alien\'s eligibility for higher education benefits based on state residence unless a U.S. national is similarly eligible without regard to such state residence.- Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to cancel the removal of, and adjust to conditional permanent resident status, an alien who: (1) entered the United States before his or her 16th birthday and has been present in the United States for at least five years immediately preceding enactment of this Act; (2) is a person of good moral character; (3) is not inadmissible or deportable under specified grounds of the Immigration and Nationality Act; (4) at the time of application, has been admitted to an institution of higher education or has earned a high school or equivalent diploma; (5) from the age of 16 and older, has never been under a final order of exclusion, deportation, or removal; and (6) was under age 35 on the date of this Act\'s enactment.-Sets forth the conditions for conditional permanent resident status, including: (1) termination of status for violation of this Act; and (2) removal of conditional status to permanent status.-Authorizes an alien who has satisfied the appropriate requirements prior to enactment of this Act to petition the Secretary for conditional permanent resident status.-Provides for: (1) exclusive jurisdiction; (2) penalties for false application statements; (3) confidentiality; (4) fee prohibitions; (5) higher education assistance; and (6) a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report respecting the number of aliens adjusted under this Act.- NOTE: This bill failed last year which you can see in the news articles.
________________________

Title: Defense Appropriations Act of 2009
Category: Defense

Question: Should the government pass the appropriations bill to fund $91.3 Billion to the defense budget plus other various departments?

Highlights:
- Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes supplemental appropriations for FY2009 for the Department of Defense (DOD) for: (1) military personnel; (2) operation and maintenance; (3) the Iraq Freedom Fund; (4) the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund; (5) the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund; (6) procurement; (7) research, development, test and evaluation; (8) Defense Working Capital Funds; (9) the Defense Health Program; (10) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; (11) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (12) the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Fund; (13) the Office of Inspector General; (14) military construction for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and DOD; (15) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program; and (16) the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 2005.- Rescinds specified funds from various accounts under prior defense appropriations Acts.- Makes supplemental appropriations for: (1) the Department of Agriculture for the Foreign Agricultural Service for Public Law 480 Title II grants (supplemental food program) and wildland fire management; (2) the Department of Justice (DOJ), including for the National Security Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Prison System; (3) the Department of Energy for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; (4) the National Nuclear Security Administration for defense nuclear nonproliferation; (5) the Executive Office of the President for the National Security Council; (6) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for firefighter assistance grants; (7) the Department of the Interior for wildland fire management; (8) the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund; (8) the Capitol Police; (9) the Department of State for diplomatic and consular programs, the Office of Inspector General, and embassy security, construction, and maintenance;
_________________________

Title: Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Act of 2009
Category: Finance

Question: Should the government amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under and open end consumer credit plan?

Highlights:
- (Sec. 2) Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a creditor from increasing any annual percentage rate of interest (APR) applicable to the existing balance on an open end consumer credit card account unless specified conditions are met. Allows a creditor to increase an APR on the existing credit card balance only if the increase is due solely to: - a change in index;- expiration of the promotional rate;- payment not received during the 30-day grace period after the due date; or- consumer failure to comply with a workout plan. Prohibits any such APR increase from exceeding the APR applicable to the particular category of transactions on the day before the effective date of the workout plan. Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve Board) to prescribe standards governing such workout plan. Requires a 45-day advance notice of:- credit card account rate increases, except one resulting from a change in index, and- significant contract changes. States that a notice of an account rate increase shall not be effective before the end of the one-year period beginning when the account is opened. States that, in the case of a promotional rate, no written notice of an increase in the APR shall be effective before the end of a six-month period beginning from the date the promotional rate takes effect. Requires a creditor to provide a 30-day advance notice of an account closure.- Note: There was a rider attached to this bill in regards to Firearms. We couldn't find a summary on the Library of Congress but if you are interested please remember to do your own research.- This bill is extremely detailed. Please visit our Facebook app under discussions to get the link to the full bill.
__________________________

Title: 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act
Category: Energy

Question: Should the Secretary of Education make grants to State educational agencies for the modernization, renovation, or repair of public school facilities including green technologies?

Highlights:
A local educational agency receiving a grant under this title shall use the grant for modernization, renovation, or repair of public school facilities, including, where applicable, early learning facilities.- Cost $6.4 Billion- repairing, replacing, or installing roofs, including extensive, intensive or semi-intensive green roofs, electrical wiring, plumbing systems, sewage systems, storm water runoff systems, lighting systems, or components of such systems, windows, ceilings, flooring, or doors, including security doors;- repairing, replacing, or installing heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, or components of such systems (including insulation), including indoor air quality assessments;- bringing public schools into compliance with fire, health, seismic, and safety codes, including professional installation of fire/life safety alarms, including modernizations, renovations, and repairs that ensure that schools are prepared for emergencies, such as improving building infrastructure to accommodate security measures;- modifications necessary to make public school facilities accessible to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794);- abatement, removal, or interim controls of asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, mold, mildew, or lead-based hazards, including lead-based paint hazards;- measures designed to reduce or eliminate human exposure to classroom noise and environmental noise pollution;- modernizations, renovations, or repairs necessary to reduce the consumption of coal, electricity, land, natural gas, oil, or water;- upgrading or installing educational technology infrastructure to ensure that students have access to up-to-date educational technology;- modernization, renovation, or repair of science and engineering laboratory facilities, libraries, and career and technical education facilities, including those related to energy efficiency and renewable energy, and improvements to building infrastructure to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian access;- renewable energy generation and heating systems, including solar, photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, or biomass, including wood pellet, woody biomass, waste-to-energy, and solar-thermal systems or components of such systems, and energy audits;
__________________________

Title: Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act
Category: Finance

Question: Should congress impose new rules and restrictions on credit card lenders that attempt to ban abusive credit practices, enhance consumer disclosures, and protect underage consumers?
Highlights:
- Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require advance notice of any increase in the annual percentage rate of interest (APR) pertaining to a credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan.- Imposes a freeze on interest rate terms and fees on canceled cards.- Sets limits on fees and interest charges, including a prohibition against penalties for on-time payments.- Prohibits a creditor from furnishing information to a consumer reporting agency concerning a newly opened credit card account until the credit card has been used or activated by the consumer.- Revises requirements for prompt and fair crediting of card payments.- Prohibits universal default (except in certain circumstances) and unilateral changes to cardholder agreements.- Increases the civil penalty against any creditor who fails to comply with specified requirements in the case of an individual action relating to an open end credit plan that is not secured by real property or a dwelling.- Prescribes procedures for specified federal regulatory agencies to evaluate credit card issuers for compliance with this Act.- Revises: (1) payoff and repayment timing disclosure requirements; and (2) requirements relating to late payment deadlines and penalties.- Prohibits issuance of: (1) a credit card on behalf of a consumer under age 21, unless the consumer has submitted a written application meeting specified requirements; and (2) certain affinity cards to students unless certain requirements have been met.- Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to allow underage consumers to elect to be included in certain listings compiled by a consumer reporting agency.- Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to require all federal banking agencies and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to coordinate rulemaking and regulations. - Cost is around $6 per American from 2010-2014
__________________________

Title: Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009
Category: Finance
Question: Should the authority of the Comptroller General be expanded to allow examination of open insured banks and be allowed to audit the Federal Reserve and its members?

Highlights:
- Repeals the authority of the Comptroller General to carry out an onsite examination of an open insured bank or bank holding company only if the appropriate federal regulatory agency has consented in writing. (Retains the authority of the Comptroller General to audit a federal agency.)- Directs the Comptroller General to complete, before the end of 2010, an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and of the federal reserve banks, followed by a detailed report to Congress.
____________________________

Title: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009
Category: Social

Question: Should congress pass this bill that gives broader powers to the Attorney General and various other agencies in regards to hate crimes?

Highlights:
- Authorizes the Attorney General to provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any crime that: (1) constitutes a crime of violence under federal law or a felony under state, local, or Indian tribal law; and (2) is motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim, or is a violation of the state, local, or tribal hate crime laws. Directs the Attorney General to give priority for assistance to crimes committed by offenders who have committed crimes in more than one state and to rural jurisdictions that have difficulty covering the extraordinary investigation or prosecution expenses.- Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to assist state, local, and Indian law enforcement agencies with such extraordinary expenses. Directs the Office of Justice Programs to: (1) work closely with funded jurisdictions to ensure that the concerns and needs of all affected parties are addressed; and (2) award grants to state and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles.
__________________________

Title: Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
Category: Social

Question: Should we extend the Adam Walsh Child Safety Act of 2006?

Highlights:
- This act established the National Sex Offender Registry law.- Extends funding for the Sex Offender Management Assitance program- Federal assitance to states for enforcing sex offender registration requirements- Pilot programs for monitoring sex offenders- Grants to combat sexual abuse of children- The Jessica Lunsford Address verifcation grant program- The program for safe surrender of fugitives- Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets act of 1968 to extend through FY2014 funding for sex offender apprehension grants and juvenile sex offender treatment grants.
__________________________

Title: Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act
Category: Social

Question: Should we expand the Volunteerism programs in the US, including but not limited to an expansion of AmeriCorps?
Highlights:
- Expand Americorps from 75,000 position to 250,000 Positions- Increase School programs to provide nutition education to students and manage physical activity programs.- Include new grants for College Students that participate in the Volunteer programs.- Expands the Senior Volunteer Age to 55- Increase current spending to $5 Billion over the next 5 years.
____________________

Title: Tax to Recoup AIG Bonuses and TARP Recipient Bonuses
Category: Finance

Question: Should the government implement a new tax that imposes a 90% tax rate on Individual Bonuses (above $250k) IF their companies that received more the $5 Billion in TARP money?

Highlights:
- Impose a 90% Tax on Bonuses for People with Incomes Over $250,000 if their Company received more than $5 Billion in TARP Money.- This will not tax Commissions, Welfare, Fringe Benefits or Expense Reimbursements for indivuduals.
________________________

Title: Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008
Category: Energy

Question: Should the government extend renewable energy tax credits and increase taxes on oil companies?
Highlights:
-Extends tax credits for wind facilities, closed loop and open loop biomass facilities, geothermal and solar facilities, small irrigation power facilities, landfill gas facilities, trash combustion facilities, and hydropower facilities for three years (Sec. 101).-Designates tax credits for marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy (Sec. 102).-Extends by eight years the 30 percent tax credit for solar energy property and fuel cell property (Sec. 103).-Creates new "clean renewable energy" bonds and designates a $2 billion limit on those bonds, which would be allocated to qualified projects of public power providers and cooperative electric companies (Sec. 104).-Extends tax credits for residential energy efficient property for six years (Sec. 106).-Raises the maximum credit for solar electric property from $2,000 to $4,000 (Sec. 106).-Allots income tax credits to consumers who buy plug-in hybrid vehicles (Sec. 201).-Extends and modifies tax credits for energy efficient appliances (Sec. 234).-Prevents tax deductions to major integrated oil companies for income resulting from the domestic production of oil and gas (Sec. 301).-Reduces the tax deduction of taxpayers with oil-related qualified production activities income by 3 percent after 2008 (Sec. 301).
_________________________

Title: Public Transportation and Alternative Fuel Grants
Category: Energy

Question: Should the government appropriate $850 million to the Department of Transportation in order to fund grants for the expansion of public transportation, the reduction of fares or avoidance of increases in fares, and the use of alternative fuel vehicle related quipment?

Highlights:
-Vote to pass a bill that appropriates $850 million to the Department of Transportation in order to fund grants for the expansion of public transportation, the reduction of public transportation fares or avoidance of increases in fares, the use of alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities, or the expansion or establishment of commuter matching services with information about alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use.-Specifies that grants for projects that involve designing, engineering, constructing, or acquiring property for additional parking facilities at end-of-line fixed guideway stations or at park-and-ride lots that serve commuter bus routes of more than 20 miles in length shall be for 100 percent of the net capital cost unless the recipient requests a lower percentage (Sec. 7).
_________________________

Title: Alternative Energy Tax Incentives
Category: Energy

Question: Should tax incentives be given for the production and use of alternative energy sources in addition to providing individuals income tax relief?

Highlights:
-Extends the renewable energy tax credit by one year for new wind facilities (Sec. 101).-Extends the renewable energy tax credit by 3 years for new qualified closed-loop or open-loop biomass facilities, geothermal or solar energy facilities, small irrigation power facilities, landfill gas facilities, trash combustion facilities, and qualified hydropower facilities (Sec. 101).-Designates marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as being qualified energy resources eligible for the renewable energy tax credit (Sec. 102).-Extends for 6 years the 30 percent energy tax credit for qualified fuel cell property and solar energy property and the 10 percent credit for microturbine property (Sec. 103).-Extends the tax credit for certain new residential "energy efficient" property for 6 years and raises the total tax credit for new solar electric property from $2,000 to $4,000 (Sec. 104).-Extends the research tax credit, restaurant property depreciation tax credits, and optional state sales tax deductions for one year (Sec. 221, 225, 201).-Extends tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel used as fuel for one year, and raises the biodiesel credits and biodiesel mixture credits from 50 cents per gallon to $1 per gallon (Sec. 122).-Provides an additional standard deduction for real property taxes for non-itemizers of up to $350 or $700 for a joint return (Sec. 301).-Increases the child tax credit for low-income parents (Sec. 302).-Delays tax code provisions that would allow companies to allocate interest on a worldwide basis for 10 years (Sec. 402).-Mandates that compensation deferred under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan of a foreign corporation shall be includible in gross income in the absence of a substantial risk of forfeiture of rights to such compensation (Sec. 401).
__________________________

Title: Consumer First Energy Act of 2008
Category: Energy

uestion: Should the Senate consider a bill that would redirect a portion of windfall profits of oil and gas companies into a fund to reduce American dependence on foreign oil and offset effects of climate change?

Highlights:
-Establishes a 25 percent tax on the "windfall profits" of major oil companies, defined as those oil companies that produce at least 500,000 barrels of oil per year and meet certain other criteria (Sec. 103).-Defines "windfall profit" as the excess of the adjustable taxable income of a taxpayer for the taxable year that exceeds the "reasonably" inflated average profit for such taxable year (Sec. 103).-Prohibits major oil companies from deducting the receipts from the production, refining, processing, transportation, or distribution of petroleum primary products from their taxable income (Sec. 101).-Reduces the foreign tax credit for foreign oil or gas related income (Sec. 102).-Allows oil companies to deduct investment in alternative energy production (including wind facilities, closed-loop and open-loop biomass facilities, geothermal or solar energy facilities, landfill gas facilities, small irrigation power facilities, trash combustion facilities, and qualified hydropower facilities) from the "windfall profits" tax (Sec. 103).-Establishes the Energy Independence and Security Trust Fund with the revenue created by this bill, with the stated purpose of decreasing the United States' dependence on foreign and "unsustainable" energy sources and combating global warming (Sec. 104).-Authorizes the president to declare a Federal energy emergency for a maximum initial period of 30 days in an area where there is a fuel supply shortage or price anomaly that affects the well-being of citizens (Sec. 204).-Prohibits suppliers from selling fuel at an "unconscionably" excessive price in an area that the president has declared the subject of an energy emergency (Sec. 203).-Suspends the acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until December 31, 2008 (Sec. 301).-Authorizes the Attorney General to take action against foreign states or agents thereof that attempt to collectively limit petroleum production, limit petroleum distribution, set the price of petroleum products, or restrain the trade of petroleum products (Sec. 401).-Mandates that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgate regulations to increase margin levels for crude oil trading to reduce oil speculation (Sec. 502).
_________________________

Title: Expand Social Security Act and Improve Childrens Health Insurance
Category: Health

Question: Should the government pass a bill to expand the Social Security Act and increase the scope of the Childrens Health Insurance(CHIP) program?

Highlights:
-Allows states to provide pregnancy-related assistance under CHIP for pregnant women whose income is at least 185 percent of their state's poverty level or at least 200 percent of the poverty level for children under 19 years of age (Sec. 111).-Phases out coverage of non-pregnant childless adults by prohibiting the approval or renewal of waivers after September 30, 2009, unless a state requests a one year extension (Sec. 112).-Expands CHIP coverage to children of families whose incomes would exceed 300% of the poverty line but for a general exclusion for blocks of income (Sec. 114).-Expands CHIP to allow states the option of covering children of legal immigrants and pregnant legal immigrants and allows them to bypass the normally required five-year waiting period before eligibility (Sec. 214).-Prohibits states from providing CHIP to any undocumented immigrants (Sec. 214, 605).M-Increases the federal excise taxes on tobacco products, including raising the cigarette tax by $0.61 to $1 per pack, in order to fund CHIP (Sec. 701).
__________________________

Title: Blair Holts Firearm Licensing Record of Sale Act
Category: Social

Question: Should the government implement a system of licensing for purchasers of certain firearms and create a record of sale system for those firearms and for other purposes?

Highlights:
1) Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm unless that person has been issued a firearm license under this Act or a state system certified under this Act and such license has not been invalidated or revoked. Prescribes license application, issuance, and renewal requirements.2) Prohibits transferring or receiving a qualifying firearm unless the recipient presents a valid firearms license, the license is verified, and the dealer records a tracking authorization number. Prescribes firearms transfer reporting and record keeping requirements. Directs the Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system.
___________________________

Title: $410 Billion Omnibus Bill
Category: Finance

Question: Should the government pass the current $410 Billion Omnibus bill to keep the government operating for the remainder of fiscal year 2009?

Highlights:
1) Spending bill keeps federal government operating through September 30, 2002) Bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration3) Some argue the bill's spending increases are too large
______________________

Title: Stem Cell Research Act of 2007
Category: Health
Question: Should the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells?

Highlights:
- Amends the Public Health Service Act to state that regardless of the date in which stem cells were derived from a human embryo, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct and support embryonic stem cell research (Sec. 2)- Amends the Public Health Service act to establish the following ethical requirements for research: (1) the stem cells have to be derived from human embryos that have been donated to in-vitro fertilization clinics for the purpose of fertility treatments and are deemed in excess of the clinical need for individual treatment, (2) it must be determined that the embryos would never be implanted in a woman, and therefore would be discarded, and (3) the individual who donated the embryos did so without receiving any financial or other inducement to make the donation (Sec. 2)- Amends the Public Health Service Act to state that the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct and support research to develop techniques for isolation, derivation, production, or testing of non-embryonic stem cells that are producing all or almost all cell types in the body (Sec. 3)
_________________________

Title: Close Guantanamo Bay Detention
Category: Defense

Question: Should the US close Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and limit the use of certain interrogation techniques?

Highlights:
1) Close Guantanamo Bay Cuba Detention facility.2) Limit use of certain interrogation techniques.3) Prohibit interrogation by contractors.4) Require notification of the International Committe of the Red Cross of detainees.5) Bill currently going through house committee.
___________________________

Title: Change Mortgage Terms In Bankruptcy
Category: Finance
Question: Should bankruptcy judges be allowed to reduce the principal owed on a mortgage loan?

Highlights:
1) Allow bankruptcy judges to reduce the amount of principal owed in a mortgage loan.2) Attempt to stop foreclosures and rescue people upside down on mortgages they cant afford.
___________________________

Title: Fair Tax of 2009
Category: Finance

Question: Should the government repeal the income tax and other taxes, abolish the IRS and enact a national sales tax to be administered by the states?

Highlights:
This bill has been referred to a house committee. It has been introduced into the congress for the past 3 years and never been voted on from what we have found.Here are the details we know thus far. We will update you when we know more:TITLE I--REPEAL OF THE INCOME TAX, PAYROLL TAXES, AND ESTATE AND GIFT TAXESSEC. 101. INCOME TAXES REPEALED.SEC. 102. PAYROLL TAXES REPEALED.SEC. 103. ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES REPEALED.SEC. 104. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS; EFFECTIVE DATE.TITLE II--SALES TAX ENACTEDSEC. 201. SALES TAX.Sorry no news media links were found on this. We made the foxnews link a link to Fairtax.org
_________________________

Title: Second Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act
Category: Energy
Question: Should the government extend selected agricultural assistance programs, provide funding for the purchase of certain foods for domestic nutrition programs, and lower income tax credits for ethanol producers?(President Bush Veto Override)

Highlights:
-Grants $37 million in technical assistance to specialty crop producers (Sec. 3203).-Prohibits persons with adjusted gross non-farm income of over $500,000 or adjusted gross farm income of over $750,000 from receiving certain types of subsidies (Sec. 1604).-Reauthorizes the Federal Food and Nutrition Program, the Commodity Distribution Program, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and distribution of surplus commodities to special nutrition projects through 2012 (Sec. 4406).-Establishes a table of market assistance loan rates for 19 commodities including corn, wheat, barley, oats, and soybeans (Sec. 1202).-Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to spend $991 million during 2008-2012 (and $206 million each subsequent fiscal year) for the purchase of fruits, vegetables, and nuts for nutritious foods in domestic nutrition assistance programs and an additional $250 million during 2008-2012 for fruits and vegetables for schools (Sec. 4404).
_________________________

Title: Expand Medicare Coverage
Category: Health

Question: Should the government provide expand Medicare coverage to improve access to preventive and mental health services, and enhance low income benefit programs? (President Bush Veto Override)

Highlights:
-Increases annually the amount covered by Medicare of health care costs associated with mental, psychoneurotic, and personality disorders until 100% of related costs are covered in 2014 (Sec. 102).-Prohibits Medicare Advantage marketing from conducting direct soliciting via telemarketing, door-to-door marketing, in health care settings, at educational activities, and from attempting to sell non-health related products at events related to Medicare Advantage plans (Sec. 103).-Makes available an additional $100 million to aid states in giving assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries through September 30, 2008, and makes available a total of $600 million through December 31, 2009 (Sec. 111).-Makes available $48.9 million for low income Medicare subsidies and Medicare Savings Program administrative costs (Sec. 113).-Removes life insurance policy values from being factored into determining an individuals income eligibility for Medicare low-income subsidies (Sec. 116).
____________________

Title: Defense Authorization Bill $603 Billion
Category: Defense

Question: Should the government authorize $603 Billion for activities of the Department of defense, including $69 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Highlights:
- Provides a 3.9 percent basic pay increase for members of the armed forces (Sec. 601).- Prohibits funds in this bill from being used for permanent stationing of armed forces in Iraq, and from exercising United States control over Iraqi oil resources (Sec. 2913).- Prohibits detainees from being interrogated by contracted personnel (Sec. 1036).- Requires the Department of Defense to develop a plan to increase the roll of the National Guard and Reserves in national defense (Sec. 1053).- Authorizes $153.55 billion for operations and maintenance- Authorizes an additional $19.86 billion for operations in Afghanistan, and an additional $49.63 billion for operations in Iraq
_______________________


Title: Lilly Ledbetter Pay Act
Category: Social

Question: Should the government redefine employment laws that allows each paycheck sent to a person count as an offense if the company is found guilty of discrimination?

Highlights:
-Changes the current unlawful employment discrimination laws to include the adoption of discriminatory compensation decisions or practices, including each time wages, benefits, or other compensation is paid, and when an individual is subjected to or affected by such practices (Sec. 3, 4, 5).-Allows the recovery of back pay for up to two years prior to the complaint in addition to existing penalties (Sec. 3).-Takes effect as if enacted on May 28, 2007 and applies to all claims made on or after that date (Sec. 6).
_______________________

Title: Obama $900 Billion Stimulus Package
Category: Finance

Question: Should the government spend $900 billion on infrastructure investment, energy efficiency, unemployment assitance, and state local fiscal stabilization?

Highlights:
- 900 Billion Dollar Economic Stabilization Act- Please go to http://thomas.loc.gov and search for HR 1 to read more. There is too much information to list here.
_________________________

Title: Paycheck Fairness Act for Women
Category: Social

Question: Should victims of wage discrimination be able to sue for punitive damages and require employers to prove that any disparities in pay between men and women are job-related?
Highlights:
-Requires that employers be able to prove that any disparities in pay between male and female employees are job-related (Sec. 3).-Prohibits employer retaliation against employees who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their own wage or that of another employee (Sec. 3).-Increases penalties against a discriminatory employer including compensation of legal fees and liability for punitive damages against an employee (Sec. 3).-Issues grant money for salary negotiation skills training for girls and women (Sec. 5).
_________________________

Title: Prevent AIDS, Malaria, TB In Foreign Countries
Category: Health

Question: Should the government provide $48billion to a global fund against AiDS, Malaria, and TB?

Highlights:
-Establishes a plan to prevent 12 million new HIV infections worldwide, provide support care for 12 million who are already infected with HIV/AIDS including 5 million orphans and children, and help countries reach 80 percent of the targeted group with counseling, testing, and treatment (Sec. 101).-Allows individuals with AIDS to receive a visa to travel into the United States (Sec. 305).-Provides assistance for counseling, testing, and treatment to prevent the transmission of HIV among men who have sex with men and by providing male and female condoms (Sec. 301).-Requires "balanced funding" for sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS prevention (Sec. 403).
__________________________

Title: $700 Billion Bailout
Category: Finance

Question: Should the government allocate $700billion dollars to buy troubled assets from financial institutions and backstop their losses?

Highlights:
-Establishes the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to allow the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase troubled assets from any financial institution (Div. A, Sec. 101).-Sets the initial authority for purchasing troubled assets at $250 billion, allows for the President to extend the authority up to $350 billion, and allows for an extension of up to $700 billion with both Congressional and Presidential approval (Div. A, Sec. 115).
__________________________

Title: India Nuclear Agreement
Category: Foreign

Question: Should the US provide nuclear technology and materials to India for non-military use?

Highlights:
-Provides for the transfer of nuclear technology and materials to India for non-military use (Sec 101).-Opens civilian nuclear facilities for inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (Sec 101, 104).-Requires the president to certify to Congress that this agreement does not violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by assisting India to produce or acquire nuclear weapons (Sec. 102).
_________________________

Title: Amtrak Revitilization
Category: Finance

Highlights:
- Authorizes appropriations for Amtrak for the next five years, including $5.32 billion for capital grants, $2.95 billion for operation grants, and $1.9 billion for intercity passenger rail services (Div. B).- Authorizes $1.5 billion over the next ten years for capital and preventive maintenance projects for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Div. B, Sec. 601).- Provides $1.63 billion for rail safety programs (Div. A).- Allocates $18 million for 2009-2013 to design, develop, and construct the Facility for Underground Rail Station and Tunnel in Colorado to test and evaluate above-ground and underground rail tunnels to prevent accidents, mitigate and remediate the consequences of any such accidents, and to provide a realistic scenario for training emergency responders (Div. A, Sec 3).
______________________

Title: Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation
Category: Finance

Question: Should the government extend unemployment compensation to people who have already used up their limit?

Highlights:
- Allows an individual who has no rights to federal or state regular unemployment compensation, or who has exhausted his or her rights to federal or state regular compensation, to receive the lesser of 80 percent (up from 50 percent) of the amount of his or her regular yearly compensation or 20 times (up from 13 times) his or her average weekly benefit amount (Sec. 2).- Provides additional extended emergency unemployment compensation in an amount equal to the lesser of 50 percent of the individual's regular yearly compensation or 13 times the individual's average weekly benefit amount in states that are in an extended benefit period, as defined by the unemployment rates (Sec. 3).
__________________________

Title: Automotive Company Bailout
Category: Finance

Question: Should the government provide $14billion to the American Auto Manufacturers?

Highlights:
-Requires the President to designate one or more officials (referred to by the media as "Car Czars") to be overseen by the Comptroller General in order to assess auto manufacturers recovery plans and approve bridge loans (Secs. 3, 4).-Allocates $14 billion for bridge loans and long-term restructuring loans to American auto companies that submitted recovery plans to the government by December 2, 2008 (Secs. 4, 10).-Requires participating auto manufacturers to submit a final restructuring plan to the Presidents designee by March 31, 2009, unless the designee chooses to postpone the deadline until April 30, 2009 (Sec. 6).
___________________

At first blush these bills may look like they were created with the best and most honorable of intentions. Indeed, I believe their sponsors believe their intentions are to be such. But that does not reduce the fact that in the end most of these bills have ab entirely different intent. The bottom line on most everything you have read above--save perhaps one bill, the marriage bill, is all about government control. Our country was devised and planned to avoid government control. Therefore, these bills, and many many more like them are by their very existance designed to take away Americanism! Americans, who more than two centuries came for religious and philosophical freedom, and monetary abundance secondarily, are preoccupied with fame and fortune. Indeed, freedom has been supplanted by security. The two oppose each other and do not co-exist without tention.

What we are not appreciative of, that DeToqueville observed so readily in American lifestyle, are qualities of character that surpass fortume and thus create it. He saw common folks having uncommon valore as an everyday affair. People, regular Joes and Josettes were familiar with Americanism because they sacrificed to get here. They sacrificed for their homes, families, and especially their beliefs. That was very real for them. They are not for us. It is all disposable to us, just like the Junker bill that Obama approved that gives everyone thousands of dollars to buy a newer car--at a price, of course.

Sign away your rights to privacy and you can have the money for a car.

Of course.

Obama--heard he studied Marxism.

Of course.

Obama would have activated DeToqueville's gag-relex. DeToqueville would have hurled his lunch at the thought that his book, Democracy in America (aka: "Democracy" for short) described a Socialist country after all.

It is imperative that we move now to reverse government control of our freedoms, as we are loosing them in a quantum leap of time.