The Day the Music Died

After seeing the GMC commercial on television, it finally hit me.  I will never purchase another Chevy again.  I have had a GMC vehicle since I had my learner’s permit.  My family is a Chevy-family.  Even now, you will see over eight GMC vehicles parked at my family’s residence.

But GMC took the easy-road-out for their bad business decisions.  And they accepted money that was not theirs to “fix” their problems – a “fix” that is in fact having the most inefficient operation on earth (government) run their “for-profit” enterprise.  As a small-business-owner and entrepreneur, I find that quite distasteful, as they would never save my company from bankruptcy.  They would let me fall and fail, and believe it or not, I would accept that, as I am not going to cry about bad decisions on my part.

I looked forward to purchasing another Chevy vehicle at some point in time, I was eying those new Cameros and the Chevy Volt would be awesome.  But, I will NEVER support an American company that stole money from middle-class Americans, both in the form of a bailout, as well as cheating long-time stockholders of their company (stockholders that WERE NOT PART OF THE UNION).  That is unfair to the investors, unfair to the consumer, and pathetic.  So, bye-bye Miss American Pie – No More Chevies for me.

- Tisha Casida

See what The Good American Post is doing at: www.goodamericanpost.com

Rancher Ingenuity Improves Range, Increases Profit

Beltsville, MD – When federal environmental regulators cut his herd sizes to protect an endangered fish, Arizona rancher Rich Collins got busy. With three other ranchers and armed with a USDA SARE farmer/rancher grant, Collins installed new irrigation pipe, built fences and developed rotational grazing plans. Intensive monitoring helped them document improvements to the rangeland and riparian areas.

“The riparian areas have come back amazingly and the uplands have improved,” Collins says. “Monitoring showed we were in compliance…and helped us make management decisions, too.”

Rangeland Management Strategies, a free 16-page bulletin published by the Sustainable Agriculture Network, features innovative SARE-funded research on creating and sustaining a healthy range. Throughout, researchers and ranchers like Collins share goals and successes in winter and multi-species grazing, managing forage and other vegetation and protecting riparian areas.

Rangeland Management Strategies is the latest of a series of publications that feature the most creative research funded by SARE.  Preview or download the entire publication at http://www.sare.org/publications/rangeland.htm.

To order print copies, visit www.sare.org/Webstore, call 301/504-5411 or email san_assoc@sare.org. Agricultural educators may place orders for print copies in quantity at no cost.

“Rangeland Management Strategies” was published by the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. SARE is a program of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), USDA, and works with producers, researchers and educators to promote farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities.  SAN operates under a cooperative agreement between CSREES and the University of Vermont and the University of Maryland to develop and disseminate information about sustainable agriculture. For more information about SARE grant opportunities and other SAN resources, visit www.sare.org.

Protect the 2nd Amendment – This is Our Country & Constitution

What is it that protects our individual liberty and sovereignty?  It is us – WE THE PEOPLE!  How do we do that?  Through our constitution – specifically through the first and second amendments which are integral to our freedom and rights.  Gun ownership is a liberty that each of us can enjoy, and although many people disagree with being armed, it should not be a disagreement that takes away others’ rights.

As it is often said, “Guns don’t kill people – People kill people.”  That is the truth.  When someone takes a weapon and decides to infringe on another human being – that is because of a problem with the person, not the fact that they had a weapon.

Charlton Heston has created a video, it is eloquent, and if you have some time to watch, reminds us of many components that are integral to our constitution, freedom, and country.

- Tisha Casida

Fruits & Vegetables Aren’t THAT Good For You

According to a new study, fruits and vegetables are not nearly as healthy as first thought.  And although they admit there is not “one factor” (ahem, DUH), the fact that they just dissed PRODUCE as not being incredibly good for you is a big No-No, in my opinion.

People will take a story like this and not understand that there are INCREDIBLE benefits to eating healthy – meaning, to eat fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables.  I am appalled at such a headline, and am very saddened that our country is still stuck on a sick-care system where doctors prescribe pills INSTEAD of PRODUCE.

You can find the latest findings and this story HERE.  Please don’t buy into the message though.  And go buy some produce!  From a local farmer!

- Joni Cave

A Higher Purpose – John Mackey on Creating the High Trust Organization

John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, delivered a very eloquent essay on what is wrong and what is right in our society, culture, and politics.  Three things that are absolutely necessary for success in a business, a market, and a political system are: Transparency, Trust, and Genuine Concern for People.

That is what Whole Foods, as a company, embodies as a mission and vision.  The same type of mission and dedication to these three tenets should be a part of our political system.  The reason that we are in this current political and economic climate is because there is limited transparency, very minimal trust, and a lack of care for people – or the END CONSUMER.

By embracing these ideals, and by caring for our fellow human man (caring as in hand-ups NOT hand-outs), we will see TRUE PROFITABILITY – as people, business-owners, stockholders, and community members.

Please take the time to read John Mackey’s essay here: http://www2.wholefoodsmarket.com/blogs/jmackey/2010/03/09/creating-the-high-trust-organization/

By: Tisha Casida

100% Electric, No Hybrid or Hydrogen Nonsense

Our condolences to Tesla Motors for their loss of three employees earlier this year – our hearts are with your company for your tragic loss.

The Electric Car is here!  Actually, its been in existence since about 1839.  Yes, 1839. 171 years ago?

Elon Musk, CEO and founder of Tesla Motors, has taken the electric car to a level that no one thought was possible.  The Tesla Roadster goes 0-60 mph in under 4 seconds and has a driving range of 244 miles with just one charge.  Its 100 percent electric, no-hybrid or hydrogen nonsense.

Go to: www.goodamericanpost.com and click on the “Page 17″ Link to read the whole story…..

By Steve Thompson

Education and Common Sense?

By: Tisha Casida

In an article published at the Cato Institute, we have yet another example of backwards politicking versus intelligent and progressive actions that have positive benefits to society.  http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2010/01/13/head-starts-impact-evanescent-hhs-study/

Government-programs for education have come up short, again, and instead of looking at the actual problem, more money is thrown at it.  No where in the FREE-MARKET would you see more money thrown at a failing enterprise (oh wait, except for the billions of dollars for TARP -click on this link to catch-up on the bailout hoopla from Michelle Malkin).

This is what is backwards – there are NO INCENTIVES for success and there are NO PUNISHMENTS for failures – even in the education-system.  What can we do to change this?  Start taking more RESPONSIBILITY for educating our kids and our students.  And start doing everything in your power to protect our liberty.  The last people we want educating our kids is Uncle “Sam” and his minions.

Vox Populi, In Times Like These

In times like these we re-visit the concepts and influences that have made our country and our communities what they are today.  I personally believe that we live in the greatest country in the world.  And I believe that our forefathers, who created the very documents that are supposed to act as a guiding light on our freedoms and rights, had every intention of keeping our country a place where we are free.

Now, regardless of your political background and viewpoints, it is my estimation that most of us truly enjoy being “free.”  When we drive to the grocery store – or, preferably, our local farmers’ markets – it is this freedom of choice that allows us to participate in such an activity.  If we decide that we would like to grow our own produce on our own land, it is our freedom of choice and property rights that allow us to do that.  Freedom and being a consumer go hand in hand.  We make our choices; we tell our markets what to do – our free markets – where we actively participate with minimal intervention from entities that are not consumers (this would mean government).

When we decide if we want to visit a medical doctor at a hospital or a holistic practitioner in their own home, that is another way we get to exercise our freedoms.  We get to choose what we put in, on, and around our bodies.  We get to choose how we take care of ourselves.
When we decide if we want to purchase fossil fuels to drive our vehicles, or give up our vehicles to ride our bikes, walk, engage with the public transportation system, etc., we are exercising our freedoms.

When we submit articles to publications, we are exercising our voice and our freedom to express how we feel and what we think.  And the press, these publications and other content mechanisms have the right to publish this information.  Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are other ways that we express and get to hear the expressions of consumers in our country.

Sustainability, the ability to take care of oneself, the ability to survive without the intervention and assistance of others are freedom.  If I can grow my own food, create my own fuel or transportation, be able to protect myself, and be able to express myself to my community members, then I am free.  And no matter who you are and what political viewpoints you have, and no matter what religion you believe in, I think that you would agree that you want to be free, and you want to be able to live a sustainable lifestyle where you can be able to do all of these things as an individual.

I see many things going on in our country.  Some of them are scary, and some of them give me a lot of hope for the future.  The only thing I can do, as a man here in Southern Colorado, is express how I feel, hope that people will be able to see my words, and that somewhere, someone may say, “I feel that way too, what can I do to be free?”

Joseph Poder, or Joe, is a small-time farmer/rancher in Southern Colorado.  He enjoys living “off-the-grid” in the house that he and his wife built by themselves, with their two daughters, 3 dogs, 7+ cats, and numerous other small creatures.

The Coming Constitutional Debate

We will be taking a hard look at the Constitution of the United States of America and the implications of the judicial involvement within the words and interpretations of those words in the Constitution.  Our inspiration comes from a phenomenal piece by Stephen J. Markman, where it appeared in Imprimis in April of 2010.

Here we will outline, and continue in additional blog posts, the cases that are made my Mr. Markman.

1. Privileges or Immunities Clause

Proponents of a “21st century constitution” or those that believe in a “living constitution”  see the due process clause of the 14th Amendment as a way to seek additional federal oversight into  state and local laws.

2. Positive Rights

Again, using the privileges and immunities clause, proponents of the 21st century constitution may desire to change the Constitution from being a guarantor of “negative liberties” into a charter of “affirmative government” which would therein guarantee “positive rights” to people.  The Framer’s Constitution “defines individual rights in terms of what the government cannot do to you,” (Markman, 2010), NOT what the government should provide to you or guarantee you a right to (i.e. Healthcare).  This has many potential negative implications for the concept of liberty and the opportunity for prosperity (not a guarantee of prosperity).

3. State Action

The requirement of state action as a precondition for the enforcement of rights (as set forth in the due process and the privilege and immunities clause), is another barrier for 21st century constitution proponents. State powers (as re-emphasized in the 10th Amendment) protect individuals and states from federal intrusions (i.e. protecting states’ funds from being manipulated or re-distributed to other states).

4. Political Questions

Federal courts are beginning to assert themselves into decisions where the judiciary had never before been involved. In 1803, Chief Justice John Marshall in Marbury v. Madison explicitly stated that political questions were not to be made in court.  As recently as 2008, the Court decided upon a case dealing with foreign nationals, the military, and prisoners of war (Boumediene v. Bush).  One can see the implications from having the Court decide more and more political questions.

5. Ninth Amendment

“Many 2st century constitutionalists understand this amendment to say that there is some unknown array of unenumerated rights that lie fallow in the Constitution, waiting only to be unearthed by far-sighted judges” (Markman, 2010).  The 9th Amendment was created to emphasize the limited power of our national/federal government – not leave this an open-ended statement up for interpretation.

6. Transnationalism

This is the concept of having international law meld and mix with domestic law.  This would make domestic judges more reliant upon foreign laws to make decisions affecting the United States, and could potentially open a pandora’s box of sanctions against people of this country for “war crimes” and “violations of the Earth”.  And again, more and more decisions would be given to judges as officials and interpreters of the law.

Read the Whole Essay Here

Folks, we have so much work to do to secure the Constitution as written and interpreted by FREE MEN – The Founders and Framers of the United States of America.

- Tisha Casida

Dissent is Not Terrorism

The United States of America is a system of representation and individual liberty that is open to criticism and dissent.

This is an inherent part of freedom and our liberties, not to mention our right to free speech, the First Amendment and our Bill of Rights.

Tea Party activists have gotten a very negative wrap from some representatives in the current administration and public at-large, and it appears that this is moving towards a whole new level.

A very good resource, The Patriot Post (PatriotPost.US), had a story on training activities taking place with our own American soldiers to “deal with” terrorist threats including the “Local Militia Groups / Anti-Government Protesters / TEA Party” (Alexander, 2010).

Political dissent, when expressed without any type of violence towards others, is a legal activity that is an important part of being an individual in the United States of America.  The fact that these people – the TEA Partiers – could be targeted by our own military, is scary and preposterous.

Please take the time to read the whole essay here.

- Joseph Poder

References:

Alexander, M. (2010). The Patriot Post (PatriotPost.US). Retrieved on May 6, 2010 from http://patriotpost.us/alexander/2010/04/29/army-preps-for-tea-party-terrorists/