The Government Can

I watched this with the kids.  Maggies asked if he was going to get in trouble from the government for making this video.  Well Maggie, not yet but we’re headed down that road…  http://www.youtube.com/user/timhawkinscomedy#play/uploads/0/LO2eh6f5Go0

Standing in Line

Our society is getting primed to “stand in line.”  Standing in line is a big deal for me.  I avoid it at all costs.  My kids suffer b/c we rarely do any amusement parks or other kid “line standing” activities.  They’ll survive.

One place it really bugs me is the second line at the warehouse store to get out the door.  This is standard procedure at Costco and Sam’s, and I’ve see it at Walmart too.   I understand standing in line to check out on a busy day at peak shopping time.  Today was an example.  Sunday afternoon is not the day to visit Costco – no evidence of a recession this afternoon at the warehouse.  I, along with the herd, maneuvered our way through the store to buy imported products and then stand in long lines to pay our dollars.  Then we stand in another line so they can check to see if you’ve stolen anything.  At this point I’m thinking “false imprisonment.”  In law school, this subject fascinated me.

Here’s a definition of false imprisonment:  Intentionally restraining another person without having the legal right to do so. It’s not necessary that physical force be used; threats or a show of apparent authority are sufficient. False imprisonment is a misdemeanor and a tort (a civil wrong). If the perpetrator confines the victim for a substantial period of time (or moves him a significant distance) in order to commit a felony, the false imprisonment may become a kidnapping.

Since they are not letting me leave their establishment until I succumb to their request, I think this line falls under the tort of false imprisonment.  You have the threat of security tackling you if you skirt the line and leave without the red line on your receipt.  As I stood in line to get out the door today, this was going through my brain.  I thought about cutting and making  run for it, but I had two kids and there was too much traffic blocking my way.  I eyed the customer service entrance and could have made my way out through its entrance.  I really thought about it.  I’m sure they’d have called security.   Didn’t want my kids to see me get arrested.

What legal right do they have to retain me after I’ve paid for my goods?  After I have paid for my merchandise, it belongs to me.  However, the second line is probably somewhere in my membership agreement, so chances are I’ve given up my right to leave without being searched.   One day we’ll have to open our purses to show “no stolen goods” before we leave and I”m sure we’ll all get in that line too.

So why do they do this?  And WHY DO WE COMPLY IS THE BIGGER QUESTION??????  I understand a store may stop me if they have probable cause to believe I have stolen.  Instead of putting the burden on the store to establish probable cause, they stop everyone.  It is easier for them to make us all wait for one hired person with a magic marker than for them to bear the burden of stopping those have truly given cause.  And they don’t want to risk stopping someone who has not given prob cause and being sued.   So it is like the airport… we all take our shoes off.

We’re all becoming drones.  They tell us to stand in line and we do it.  The lines get longer and we still stand in line.  Gov’t heathcare will be great.  Almost as fun at getting a new driver’s license.

I double dog dare you to leave Costco or Sams without your red line.   Let me know how it goes.  Tape it, put it on Youtube and you’ll be famous.   We’ll start a revolution.  Yes, I was the kid at school who thought up ideas and others got in trouble.

On a side note, it you really want to get rich – think of something remarkable to do while standing in line and get a copyright.

Doctors Warn: Avoid Genetically Modified Food

Do Cheetos count???  Really this is scary – info about GM food.  It hits home with me b/c our daughter has severe eczema and asthma.  I can’t help believe stuff like this is part of our problem.  Read full article here. Below is the first paragraph.

On May 19th, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) called on “Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM (genetically modified) foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks.”[1] They called for a moratorium on GM foods, long-term independent studies, and labeling. AAEM’s position paper stated, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. They conclude, “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation,” as defined by recognized scientific criteria. “The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.”

Cash for Clunkers

I missed the cash for clunkers  passage while I was on vacation and just heard about it.  I hate the stimulus spending, but since it is here take a look or at this toyota ad.. if  are shopping for a new vehicle and will be trading in an older automobile.  You can get up to $4,500 for your clunker.

Here are a few facts from the gov’t site:

• Your vehicle must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date
• Only purchase or lease of new vehicles qualify
• Generally, trade-in vehicles must get 18 or less MPG (some very large pick-up trucks and cargo vans have different requirements)
• Trade-in vehicles must be registered and insured continuously for the full year preceding the trade-in
• You don’t need a voucher, dealers will apply a credit at purchase
• Program runs through Nov 1, 2009 or when the funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
• The vehicle that you are trading in is required to be destroyed. Therefore, the value you negotiate with the dealer for your trade in is not likely to exceed its scrap value. The law requires the dealer to disclose to you and estimate of the scrap value of your trade-in vehicle.

Adoptions Declining

I’ve been wondering if domestic and international adoptions are declining.  I found this article in the Washington post describing the decline of international.   I have presumed the decline because of economics.  It is extremely expensive adopting a child either here or abroad.  However, if you go through our gov’t social services, I understand the cost is much less.  In a magazine today I read there are 143 worldwide orphans.  That is almost 1/2 the population of the United States.  My brain can’t comprehend that number and the suffering of these children.

4 years ago we adopted our third child who was from China.  We had 2 biological children and opted to adopt for our 3rd.   It is one of the best decisions Dave and I have ever made.  This child has changed our family for the better, as did our first two children.  She is our daughter just as much as her older sisters.   She is so smart and has so much potential.   She makes people smile.  Just this week she was jabbering away to me while sitting in the grocery cart and a lady I didn’t know came up to me and commented “how adorable.”  It was nice to have the reminder because I get busy and miss the “how adorable” moments when I’m keeping an eye on three kids, coordinating coupons and hoping the little one doesn’t get out of her belt land on the floor.

We considered adopting again.  Once you get the adoption bug, you want to adopt every kid you hear about.  Last summer we hosted a pre-teen girl from Ukraine in a summer camp program.  Under this program, older kids are brought to the USA for 3 weeks and live with the host family.  It gives them a chance to experience family life in America.  It also gives potential adoptive families a chance to see how the older child fits into the family dynamics.  It did not work out with the girl we hosted – she didn’t want to be adopted for reasons we understood.   I learned a lot from this experience and loved seeing our girls open their hearts/home to this child.

The older kids in Ukraine (and elsewhere) have a hard time getting placed.  If they don’t have a completed adoption by age 16 their life takes a dramatic turn.  I’m not the expert, but from what I learned these kids graduate from the orphanages at age 16.  After leaving the orphange, most are on their own.  After that many die before age 18.   Others pursue terrible jobs just to survive.

In the magazine I was reading today – Worldwide Challenge – by Campus Crusade for Christ they were taking about how tough it is to “graduate” from foster care in the USA.  I can’t imagine being an 18 year old girl and being on my own.  These young adults really need a family for support.

As times get tougher with global economic problems, I think we’ll see a larger worldwide orphan problem.  It is one of the many challenges we face as a society in the coming times.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child coming to our backyard

Today I received a letter from parentrights.org. I cut/ pasted below.  You can see the website for the original letter.  The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child would be terrible for families.  If you want to understand why, this site has an overview that will give you additional details.  If you want this stopped, please call your senators and the White House to voice your opinion.

Dear Friend of Parental Rights,

Monday in a Harlem middle school, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told a group of 120 students that administration officials are actively discussing “when and how it might be possible to join”  (that is, ratify) the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).  As before, she also communicated what a disgrace it is that the U.S. would stand with only Somalia against such a widely-accepted treaty.

This is the first direct public statement by the Obama administration that it will seek ratification of the UN CRC.

In my 30 years of political involvement, I have learned to recognize this as what is called a “trial balloon.” Like in World War I trench warfare, our opponents have “sent up a balloon” to see if it will draw fire. If things remain quiet, they will proceed with their plans to push for ratification of the CRC in the U.S. Senate.

To discourage them from doing so, we need to make sure that our voices are heard with unmistakable clarity.  We must let the Obama administration know that we oppose this anti-family, anti-American treaty.

Here’s what we need you all to do:

1.      Call the White House comments line at 202-456-1111. Tell them you heard the administration wants to ratify the CRC, and you strongly oppose this giving away of U.S. sovereignty to the UN. Also keep in mind that this treaty gives the government jurisdiction to override any decision made by any parent if the government thinks that a better decision can be made—even if there is no proof of any harm.

2.      Call Ambassador Susan Rice’s office at the United Nations. Tell her that you want her to represent the United States to the world rather than trying to get the United States to go along with international law initiated by the UN.  Her office number is 212-415-4000.

3.      Contact your Senators and urge them to oppose ratification of this treaty. (Find your Senators’ contact information by typing your zip code into the box here.) Ask them also to defeat it once and for all by cosponsoring SJRes 16 – the Parental Rights Amendment.

It is very important that we speak up right now.  Please call before you close this email!

Sincerely,

Michael Farris

Satan’s plan for America

This morning I listened to a sermon:   Satan’s plan for America.  I believe (in my lifetime) pastors will be imprisoned for these sermons.   He addressed God’s law versus our government’s law.  I hear and often say we’re in a culture war.  However, he explains the war is a spiritual war.

I am an attorney, so this sermon was thought provoking because the pastor tied his sermon to the law.  When any government passes law that goes against God’s law, then they are declaring war against God because God’s law is ultimate.  Instead, government is putting itself over God as the ultimate authority.  Who is supreme… the United States Supreme Court or God?  It is God.

Homeschool rights being attacked globally

I’ve written before how the UN treaty is terrible for families.  Now it is being used in Britain to take away the ability to homeschool.   see article here

http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=00f9e4541df7da80194807124&id=276512c6d8&e=137ea40fe4

This is not just a homeschool family issue.  It is really about parents making decisions for their families….not the government.   These institutions use the cases where children are not protected to push massive control on all families.   I don’t believe it is always about helping children, but indoctrinating them into the worldview that will  promote the social world they are trying so hard to create.

End times events blog

There’s a blog I regularly read that I have not included on my blogroll.  There are many views of end times in the Christian community, and even many more in the non-Christian community.   It is hard to find info on this topic that I completely agree with, which is why I haven’t put many on my blogroll.  However, I am fascinated with end times.  Especially with the current events we are witnessing.  I love seeing God be God.  God is so amazing.

This site takes current events each day and ties them to end times scriptures.  I do not always agree with his analysis, but it is thought provoking.   Since there’s even more going on in the middle east and our world right now, I thought I’d share this resource with my disclaimer.   When you’re reading analysis, remember you are reading man’s opinion, not God’s ultimate Word.

http://frankdimora.typepad.com/the_last_chronicles/

More government intrusion in Texas – sb 1440

I received this from my homeschool support group.  This impacts all families, not just homeschool families.  Below is the cut/pasted message I received.

Texas Home School Coalition Association
Legislative ALERT

Dear friends,

As you are probably well aware, the Texas legislature passed SB-1440
that would allow the Child Protective Services (CPS) the power to
access the medical and mental health records of a child and to access
and transport that child for interrogation and even strip searches
without parental notification or a court hearing. This is a dangerous
bill as it would strip away due process and the Fourth Amendment right
against unreasonable searches and seizures protections.

Luckily, we can still do something about this damaging bill. Governor
Rick Perry still has a few weeks to veto SB-1440. I believe that it is
in the best interest of parents to tell others about the bill’s
potential to hurt families.

Tomorrow, there will be a press conference sponsored by the Texas
Homeschooling Coalition and six other groups to highlight the probable
abuse of the Child Protective Services (CPS). We need as many people
to turn out at the south steps of the Capitol Building because we need
Governor Rick Perry to proactively veto the bill. If he does not veto
the bill, SB1440 will become the law and countless families will
become victims of the CPS.

If you cannot attend the press conference, please call Governor
Perry’s main switchboard at (512) 463-2000 and tell him that SB1440
will hurt families (office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm).

If you would like to receive more information about the press
conference, please contact Debra Medina at (979) 253-0220.

Location: South Steps of the Capitol (Congress @ 11th Street, Austin, TX
78701)
Time: 1:00 pm

SB 1440 Veto Update

CPS Blank Check II

SB 1440 was delivered to the governor on June 3. He has twenty days after
the end of the session to take action on the bill by signing or vetoing it
or allowing it to become law without his signature, which means he has
until the 21st or 22nd of June to veto the bill.

We have had people from all walks of life and from across the political
spectrum who have responded to this story and joined us in calling for the
veto of this bill. The more we learn about the way the bill passed, the more
the more ugly the story becomes.