Cap and Trade and the death of the American Dream

I was blessed to have been raised in a wonderful family. We were taught to work hard, to be honest, to have faith in God, to respect our Elders and to never ever quit. We raised and sold corn, fresh milk and eggs. We raised turkeys (wouldn’t recommend that one), and grew every kind of fruit and vegetable you could in a small field in Idaho. Once when I was a kid, my father told me the story of how he and his father used to take the nails out of every piece of scrap wood they came across. My Grandpa Buck survived The Great Depression, and nothing was wasted. I recall the stories about when there was little to eat they would break up bread and pour milk and honey over it and that would be dinner. No complaints, they were glad to have it. I have copies of several of my ancestors’ journals and have poured over them and gotten to know who they were. They walked and pushed handcarts across hundreds of miles to settle in western states. They also buried loved ones along the way. They were pioneers, patriots and they were survivors. They believed in the opportunities afforded by the American Dream. That belief, coupled by hard work, has been passed on and that pioneer spirit runs through my veins.

Last week, our House of Representatives sold off another piece of the American Dream. It didn’t matter how many people stood up to defend her by calling, faxing, emailing. It didn’t matter how loud and how long we said we just can’t afford any more, they sold us out. They continue to day by day, prove that the only interests they represent are their own and whoever is scratching their backs. They have proved that common sense and Congress don’t belong in the same sentence.

Below is an email I recieved from one of my "people" and it is here with permission.


The so called Cap and Trade bill will, in fact, be the largest tax increase in the history of America. It is being sold as a way to make us energy independent and green.

First, wind and solar have been tried in European countries and have been found to be woefully lacking. British Petroleum announced this week they are stopping R&D in wind until further scientific, electronic, and electrical developments can be developed. There are many studies and statistics available so I need not try to parrot these. The fact is this bill, in whatever its final form, will be the most costly piece of legislation ever introduced into any country in the world under any guise.

Beyond that:

1. This bill has the typical cost impact/implementations and graduations built into it that Congress is so fond of. It is the old “put the toad in a pan of cold water and gradually boil him.” Immediate to us these graduations will serve to place a strangle hold on Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Kentucky because these states are not only big time coal producers but generate their electric power using coal. Coal, as a hard commodity, generates a huge amount of revenue each year, both for the companies that mine, process, ship it, and use the coal but each of these steps produces state tax revenue. Over time this bill will suffocate each of these processes as well as the resulting state taxes. This will serve to force the states to go to Washington and the Federal Government for operating funds.

Every American has seen the results of this move. It will further indebt the states to the Federal Government thereby deteriorating states rights and placing more and more federal control over all the states.

2. This bill will tax the power producing companies as well as all companies that use fossil fuel in any form. These costs will accelerate over time and the resulting costs will be passed on to consumers. Conservative estimates from governmental accounting sources as well as independent think tanks puts the average cost of at least $800.00 annually for every man woman and child. These costs will come in the form of higher energy prices and the resulting higher costs for all American made products. With all the talk and debate about this bill I have yet to hear any mention of the added costs that will most certainly be levied against diesel powered trains and the trucking industry. These levies alone will dramatically drive up the cost of every consumable that is used by every American. The most notable of these commodities is food.

3. This bill will give the Environmental Protection Agency an unlimited amount of power and authority never before seen in this country. Having just gone through a 24 month battle with the OEPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers I can, with first hand experience, say that these agencies live by their own rules. The width and breadth of their assumed authority is virtually without limits. The U.S. Supreme Court found against these governmental agencies in 2008. The result was that the Senate came out and said the USACE would be granted more, not less power and authority. The USACE then proceeded to completely and totally ignore the high Court ruling. The Cap and Trade Bill open the door to putting Federal EPA agents in your very home. (This is not a scare tactic). During the Clinton administration, the head of the Department of Labor Robert Rousch tried unsuccessfully to bring all household products such as cleaning agents, laundry soap, glass cleaners and the like under control of the Federal OSHA. This action would have allowed, by law, Federal OSHA inspectors to come into your home to inspect what products you might own, to see that Material Safety Data Sheets were posted in your home, that all family members, under federally approved training plans were trained in the use of all these household items and to levy fines in cases of infractions.

4. Prior to the last elections Mr. Obama clearly said that if a coal fired power plant was begun, under his administration it would never be completed. The attitude of his administration is openly against clean coal technology. High grade coal is one of America’s finest and most plentiful natural resources. Under this administration the mining and use of this natural resource will be virtually stopped. In addition further R&D into cleaner coal technology will be stopped.

5. It seems most odd to me that President Obama campaigned hard for votes in the main coal producing and coal using states of Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana; making multitudes of promises related to how he would work to better their economies. In fact he knew all the time that his allegiance was to the Environmentalists and to his Socialist agenda. Why? Because the environmentalists gave so much money to him and do give and support democratic politicians. Another huge piece if this puzzle is that environmentalists thrive in a socialist society and socialism is the dream and goal of this administration.

6. The battle against the cap and trade bill is up a steep hill. We Americans who are informed and are battling against this monstrous power grab will not be fighting only against Washington Liberal Democrats. The reported 300 page amendment to the bill in the House of Representatives contained buy outs and pay off’s. It goes like this. There were congressional hold outs whose votes were needed by the leadership. The leadership also knew the holdouts wanted something for their vote and that it could be bought. So following closed room negotiations the amendment was written and it contained the pay offs. So and So from such and such a state gets 5 billion dollars for such and such. (Remember the Stimulus Bill and the Omnibus Bill and those billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars that are being held in Washington? What do you think the money is going to be used for? A large piece of it will be used to buy representatives votes in order to pass Cap and Trade and for the passage of the Federal medical scheme. In addition there are very powerful entities that want this legislation to become law. General Electric, for example, will develop such items as water timer control valves that will be mandated by law (this is not a scare tactic…it is in the bill to control the use of all energy and that include hot water). The length of time you will be allowed to shower will be controlled. Goldman Sachs and the rest of Wall Street want this bill to become law because the permits controlling carbon dioxide emissions will be traded on wall street! And you can bet the Federal Lawmakers, who are not controlled by the insider trading laws that we the “common folks” are will make tons of money off this legislation. Phillips, the makers of light bulbs loves this bill. It has new products that only the giants can produce written all over it. This bill, if passed, will impact and federally control each state’s building codes. Federally developed and mandated building codes will be injected into each state’s building codes. This will have an immense cost impact on the price of engineering, design and construction of all construction. Michele Bachmen, Representative from Minnesota said the House version that was passed contained a provision that all states would be forced to adopt the California State Building Code. Even the color of vehicle you will be able to buy will be mandated. There will, eventually, be no more black or dark colored automobiles sold in America. So much for freedom of choice.

7. The Obama administration has shown it’s true colors. To say it is a radical left wing organization is, in my opinion, putting it its most mild form. Two hundred and fifty years ago the battle against England was a battle for states rights. A reading of the letter from King George declaring an end to the revolutionary war clearly spells out that fact and that states were considered separate entities; even bordering on separate countries. The United States, a phrase coined by Thomas Paine, meant united countries or separate state entities united for a common cause and for the common good. The internal conflicts that took place during the confirmation of the Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights and the Constitution mostly had to do with states rights.

Every American saw what happened to General Motors. As soon as they asked for federal money they also opened the door to federal control. The same thing has been happening between the states and Washington for years.

Under this administration, however, the pace is quickened and the agenda is to socialize by bringing every state under full control of the federal government. It is being done through such innocent sounding “programs” as the school lunch program, the clean water act, the federal highway improvement programs funded in part by federal gasoline taxes, Medicaid, Medicare, the Department of Agriculture and the soon to be cap and tax act.

Throughout the coarse of history Americans have fought many battles. Every one of them was meaningful and every one was costly. This battle however, the battle against the so called cap and trade legislation is, in the opinion of many THE GREAT PIVOTAL BATTLE OF OUR LIFETIME.

If this legislation can be stopped it will dramatically slow down the ongoing federal grab for states control. If it cannot be stopped the ramifications are mind boggling. It will signal the beginning of the end for American manufacturing, for America;s growth and development and will serve to stagnate our country.

With the simple stroke of a pen the President of the United States of America will open the flood gates and the washing away of all American’s Freedoms will begin.

Who will take a stand to defend the Amerian Dream? Will it become just a memory and something we tell our children's children about that used to exist? My ancestors and the battles they fought for me, is the reason I will continue to fight and stand for the sacrifices of those who have gone before me.

I'll leave you with the words of my father, a talented singer and a gifted songwriter.

I witness George Washington's army
Who fought without shoes on their feet
So many who since fell to battle
Protecting our home from defeat
Protecting our land and our freedoms
Believing they ever would stand
Looked down upon those who destroyed her
Who now had all that blood on their hands.

Join us tomorrow from 4-7 at the Free stamp at Willard park.

The gloves are coming off!!

On Monday, a group of Cleveland Tea Party Patriots went to go play the game “cat and mouse” at the State House. After several committee meetings were canceled regarding the Ohio budget, and then rescheduled for Monday, we took our chances and drove to Columbus. Halfway there, we get the call that it’s been canceled again. We’d already rearranged our work and children’s schedules, so we decided to plow forward and try to turn chicken s**t into chicken salad. We decided to visit all senate offices with a quick intro of who we were, how many we represented and three quick talking points to pass to their bosses. One of the messages was to keep ALL EARMARKS out of the budget.

The first office we went to was Senator Grendell’s. This was the only Senator’s office, with an aide kind enough to invite us to sit down, and took a few moments to answer some of our questions. Ms. Crowe gave us a lot of information on where the Senator stood on some current budget issues and wished us well, on our journey to other offices.

Well, saddle up Patriots because it was a rough ride from there. A couple Senator’s aids were polite, but I sensed no real motivation or urgency whatsoever to help us. Overall, it felt like a bad zombie movie. You know the ones where you’re normal and talking to someone who looks normal but nobody’s home?? Well my friends, that’s the State House for you. They look normal, but they’re not. If you want to get a real clear picture of why we’re in such a hot mess, go do what we did, but take your Zoloft with you.

I don’t expect a damn spa treatment with a non-fat mocha latte when I drop into my Senator’s office with my questions or concerns. But I do expect the same respect that my staff gives to our customers. Everybody says that if government operated like a business we’d be a lot better off. Well they’re right, and a couple senators in particular need to drop kick some staff to the curb. I can’t fire them, but I can and will call them on the carpet, and unapologetically so. We pay for you to sit there; we get to tell you when you suck at your job.

My first victim is going to be Senator Gibb’s front desk aide. Picture this. Upon entering that office, she was sitting behind her desk holding a bag of chips. We stood there, while she just looks at us, and if I’m lying I’m dying, continues to eat chips. No “Hello”, no “Can I help you?” Nope, nada, nothing. This girl just stares up at us and eats. We told her who we were, why we were there and asked her to leave Senator Gibbs a message. She sighs, puts her hand back in the chip bag and looks up at the ceiling then pops another chip in her mouth. She made no attempt to even pretend to be respectful to the people her boss works for.

Well Chip Girl, shame on us, apparently we interrupted snack time. She must have caught the look of horror on my face because at one point, she pulled her hand out of the bag with no chips in hand, slouched her shoulders forward and then rolled her eyes. She was like some spoiled nitwit teenager who just was told to clean her room. It was truly unbelievable.

On our way out the door we mention the library protest that was happening outside. This is when she apparently decided to get her face out of her bag of chips and finally swallowed enough food to speak. With enough attitude to cut diamonds, the compulsive chip eater says “The Library funding isn’t an earmark”, rolls her eyes, takes a deep breath like we’re something to be wiped off her shoe and proceeds to shove more chips in her mouth.

With all the attitude flying around her I didn’t catch her name, so she will be forever referred to amongst us as the “chip eating nitwit.” We left there and stopped outside the office and looked at each other in disbelief. Senator Gibbs should be congratulated for having a staff that really knows how to show that he cares. If she worked for me, and I witnessed that, she would have been fired ON THE SPOT. If she was my daughter, I would have grabbed the bag of chips, told her to sit up straight, wipe that smug look off her face and show some respect.

Evidently, it is mostly the lobbyists who drop in to visit Senators. I want to know who lobbies for the taxpayer. Who lobbies for the taxpayers who say “enough?” Who lobbies for the Constitution? To steal a quote from an April 15th speaker at our Cleveland tea party, “The Government should account for every penny they take from us.” Amen sister. Well guess what you chip eating nitwit? You’re parked in that chair because of the taxpayers. And if you can’t even pretend to be pleasant, maybe bill collecting would be more up your alley. You can get paid to be nasty, and due to the current economic crisis, I’ve heard business is booming.

You are supposed to answer to us, account to us, listen to us, and help us. So in the future, when us regular folk come for a visit to those we put into office, a little more respect from your staff would be fabulous. Think, “Oh look, here’s my meal ticket” kind of respect.

So, in the spirit of kindness, I’ll share some free tips from a girl who has trained a few office managers in her day. If I, as a business owner must train people well, then I expect the same from you. Please feel free to add this to your own training packets as part of your Human Resources program.

1. When you say you’ll take a message, take a message. A piece of paper and a no.2 pencil are nice. If there is some new technology that includes an invisible, robotic pen with magic ink that secretly takes messages, then I apologize. It’s just that since I didn’t see anyone physically take a message, I, the customer, got the impression that you had no intention of relaying the message. And remember, the customer (taxpayer) always comes first.

2. Try to not look so surprised when people walk in and ask to speak to the Senator. The deer in the headlights look isn’t comforting to the taxpayer. And in case this is because regular concerned citizens don’t stop by for a visit enough, for training purposes we will volunteer to schedule more Ohio Tea Party Patriots to routinely visit with our latest “message”.

3. Even if you don’t care, try to pretend that you do. It makes a girl like me feel like I didn’t pollute the environment driving 240 miles for nothing. Save the Earth right?

4. You are a reflection of your boss. If you are rude, arrogant, and dismissive, and have a smart-ass smirk on your face, then we’ll assume your boss is that way too. If this doesn’t bother your boss, he should be fired at the next election. If you are cool and look me in the eye, maybe crack a joke (shout out to Mr. Youngstown) I’ll assume your boss is cool and a straight-shooter too.

5. If it’s a busy day and you’re eating on the fly when a customer (the taxpayer) walks in, discreetly slide the food over and ask “Hello, can I help you?” Eating in front of a customer is not only rude, but maybe they are hungry from roaming the halls of the State house trying to get you to do your job. If Senator’s aides eat in front of the hungry, taxed enough already taxpayers, it may be considered discriminatory and unfair and worthy of a “redistribution of lunch” program. Since we can’t afford anymore programs, and to avoid any problems with the ACLU we recommend not eating in front of the constituents at all.

And to you, you chip eating nitwit, your behavior was deplorable. But I must credit you as the inspiration behind my new idea. On my long drive home, and after talking to the team, we’ve decided that we will begin giving awards to the wastes of space in government. So, on July 3rd at the Cleveland Freedom Fest, we will ask the thousands who gather, to email us with suggestions as to what the name of the award should be. We will then put a pole on our site and let them vote. After all, that’s how the system works right?? As a consolation prize for being the inspiration behind this yet to be named award, upon my next visit I will personally spring for a bag of rippled Lays potato chips. In the future dear, might I recommend the baked and not fried variety?

With blistered feet I made my way back to my Government Motors vehicle and dug in my purse for my valet ticket as the guy asks how my day was. My response as I pointed across the street the State House, “Oh it was great. Go spend a couple hours over there and you’ll get why we are all so screwed.”
More to follow….You can bet on it.

Over the River & Through the Woods to the State House We Go!

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots

For Immediate Release

June 27, 2009

Contact: Cleveland Tea Party Patriots
clevelandteaparty@gmail.com

Statewide Tea Party Patriot Action Alert

Saddle Up Tea Party Patriots we are taking a road trip! That's right - we are taking it to our legislators and going to Columbus to sit in on the House vote of HB 1 freshly out of conference committee.

After having only 2 last-minute public conference committee meetings, (the last one being tomorrow) and MANY private meetings to work out over 960 differences in the House & Senate version of HB 1 -- the House & Senate are preparing to vote on our budget.

This includes the latest gambling proposal by Gov. Strickland & an extensive lobbying effort to increase funding with money our state does not have!

We smell another Crap & Trade type passing of a bill!

Not only will we try to sit in on the vote, we will demand that the bill in its' entirety be read aloud. While we wait, we will go to the office of each member of the House & Senate asking if they read the whole bill and any amendments from the conference committee.

We will let every member of the House & Senate know that, if there are ANY earmarks in the bill, we demand that they vote NO!

• Place: State House
• Date: Monday June 29, 2009
• Time: 9:00am
• Directions: South on I-71 until you smell the stench! (Or click here) There is public parking under the State House and many public lots in the immediate area.

We apologize for the short notice and inconvenience - but this is the way "they" operate. We need your support in taking this fight too them! We hope to see you there!

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots

A non-partisan grass roots movement

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Freedom Fest Press Release

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots

For Immediate Release
June 26, 2009
Contact: Cleveland Tea Party Patriots
clevelandteaparty@gmail.com


Turn Up The Heat!!
Celebrate our Independence
Protect our Freedoms


Today Americans were scammed by the House of Representatives, and despite the fact that we shut down the phones of virtually every Representative in the nation, they ignored us and voted for another bill which they haven't even read. HR 2454 The American Clean Energy & Security Act (Previously named CAP & TRADE) passed today.
The House added 300 pages this morning, none of them read it, and they still voted for it. It is more and more evident that we must be ever vigilant in working to protect our freedoms.
Please join us for Cleveland’s first ever “Freedom Fest” on July 3rd, from 4-7pm at the Free Stamp at Willard Park. Below are a few of the speakers who will join us at Freedom Fest 09, to share with us their knowledge and help us in this fight.

Tom Ganley: President of the Ganley Auto Group. Mr. Ganley has been a greater Cleveland auto dealer since 1979.

Colleen Holmes: Executive director for Eagle Forum, a conservative grassroots organization founded by Phyllis Schlafly.

Steve Salvi: Founder of Ohio Jobs and Justice PAC. Steve’s website, OJJPAC.org is a national resource for information about illegal immigration.

Tim “Doc” Anderson: Paladin Knights member and activist for homeless veterans.
Ilonna Trommler: Small business owner and legal immigrant from communist Hungary. Ilonna will speak about her fight for freedom in the USA.
Please visit www.Clevelandteaparty.com for complete bios, and to RSVP for this event.

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots
A non-partisan grass roots movement
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Tonight - RALLY FOR AMERICA

Here's a great way to prepare for Independence Day weekend. Kicking off the celebrations of our Freedom are the Tea Party Patriots from the American Heritage Club...


From the American Heritage Club

Rally For America June 26th

Join us as we hold a Tea Party in Downtown Willoughby on Friday Evening June 26th. It starts at 6PM. Bring your signs, flags and be prepared to Rally for Our Constitution, Rally for Freedom and Rally for America. The event will be hosted by former State Rep Candidate and host of "The Breakdown w/Mike & Josh Radio Program", Mike Gutierrez. Guest Speakers include Cleveland Tea Party Co-Organizer, Ralph King and Willoughby Hills Councilman and former Lake County Commissioner Candidate Ray Somich.

The atmosphere of this event being held in the heart of Downtown Willoughby will have a feel like no other Tea Party. Come support the American Heritage Club and the Tea Party Patriots at this Rally For America!
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The Rug is Pulled Out From Under the Atlanta Tea Party

The Atlanta Tea Party organizers had all the t's crossed and the i's dotted for their Independence Day tea party. That is, until a bully with a big pencil eraser showed up. On Thursday, with just two weeks left before July 4th, they learned that the owner of the property where they were planning their protest had revoked his permission.

The planned site of the tea party, the parking lot of an old Macy's building, is adjacent to Gwinnet Place Mall, owned by Simon Properties (http://www.simon.com/). Simon Properties pressured the owner of the Macy's building to disallow the Atlanta Tea Party from holding their protest in the parking lot. Although Simon Properties does not own the parking lot, they were able to assert authority on the matter due to recipricol property easement agreements.

Fellow Tea Party Patriots have done a little research and discovered that Simon Properties has made financial contributions to several Democrat members of Congress, as well as the Democratic National Committee. This probably comes as no surprise.

In case you are interested (and I know you are) Simon Properties has several holdings in the Cleveland area:

• Summit Mall in Akron
• Southern Park Mall in Youngstown
• Aurora Farms Premium Outlets
• Richmond Town Square
• Great Lakes Plaza
• Great Lakes Mall

You and I, my fellow Tea Party Patriot, are in an uphill battle. It appears we are opposed by large companies with deep pockets and even deeper ignorance. Ignorance of what they are doing to their own futures by supporting the march to socialism. Wealth and ignorance is a combination that is very difficult to fight, but fight we must. We can win this battle if we remember a simple fact: corporate decisions are not made by corporations, but by people. Ignorant and stubborn people, perhaps, but people none the less. Maybe your neighbor is one of these corporate decision makers. Maybe your influence can be the beginning of a change; a small change, but all we need is many many small changes.

We also need to let the store owners who lease space from Simon Properties know just what their landlord is doing to them. (Store owners are people, too, don't forget.) It would be hard to calculate the revenue the merchants in Atlanta's Gwinnet Place Mall will lose because their landlord decreed there will be no large crowd of people there on July 4th. They need to know that their landlord is working to create an economic circumstance that will make it increasingly difficult for them to survive, much less thrive and grow. Maybe the city leaders in Aurora need to know that the owner of their sparkling jewel, Aurora Farms, is working hard to hasten the day that business goes out of business. We need to tell them this.

The official press release is at the Atlanta Tea Party website (http://www.atlantateaparty.net/).

Our First Tea Party Patriot Target!

Fellow Tea Party Patriots,

We want to thank you for contacting our elected officials regarding the proposed budget for the State of Ohio. I felt it was very important to share this with you...

In my calls to our State Senators, there is one in particular that needs a Tea Party Patriot target on his back. That would be Senator Mark Wagoner.

In my calls to his office (5 calls) regarding his role on the Senate Finance Committee and the Conference Committee for the State Budget, Senator Wagoner's office refused to take my calls because I did not live in his district. I was rudely told to contact my own Senator if I had any problems. Even after identifying myself as a Tea Party Patriot and that I was calling specifically about his role in working on the budget - I was again told to contact my own Senator.

With this, we are now directing all Tea Party Patriots to call Senator Wagoner's office and inquire about the budget, inform him we want no earmarks added into budget and most importantly -we want Senator Wagoner's office flooded with phone calls! Senator Wagoner needs to be taught that as an elected official, he WILL address the concerns of all OH residents.

Senator Wagoner is the perfect example of the type of elected official we can no longer stand for.

Here is the contact information for Senator Wagoner;

Senator Mark Wagoner

Senate Building

Room #129, First Floor

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Telephone: 614/466-8060

Email: SD02@senate.state.oh.us

Let's show the Senator who he represents!