The Freedom Factory

Government detention camps cover up deaths-does America have a human rights problem? Congress passes unprecedented $3.6 trillion budget with $1.2 trillion deficit, official unemployment rates his 8.5%-some economists claiming they are really upwards of 20%, government mortgage giants Fannie and Freddie to pay $159 billion in new bonuses, Obama calls end to ‘Pax Americana’, world leaders pledge $1.1 trillion to IMF, Russia refuses to remove troops from Georgia, NY protesters call for government to ‘Bail out the People’, Hugo Chavez declares that ‘Capitalism must end,’ and Treasuries drop with announcement of next week’s $59 billion note issue and Goldman Sachs estimate that government will need to borrow another $3.25 trillion this year… Continue Reading

ACORN in the news: leftist group launches campaign of lawlessness to seize foreclosed homes, mysterious bank payment of $2 million, Obama promises ACORN role in White House policy, and NY ACORN leader confronted by TV anchor. In other news, regulators inch towards bank ownership, Medicaid receives emergency $15 billion from spending bill, economists predict recovery in 2010, Biden appointed “stimulus Czar”, and poll shows Americans trust politicians more than business leaders to run economy…just the latest in your Freedom Under Fire Report!

Everyday our liberties and freedom come under fire. The American Republic once protected its citizens from arbitrary abuse, extortion, and deliberate social engineering. Now the very same public servants who were meant to work for us connive daily on how to control our lives. The Republic is gone and we are left to fend for ourselves, to put up resistance to every encroachment on individual self-determination. The Freedom Under Fire Report provides daily coverage of the most important issues, so that you remain informed and ready to defend yourself. Read on and pass this around to everyone you think could benefit:

Regulators Inch Toward Bank Nationalization. Federal regulators will launch a revamped program to “shore up the nation’s troubled banks,” including the option of increasing government ownership. Reluctant to head down the road to nationalization, regulators continue to suggest that keeping banks private in the long run is still a priority: “Because our economy functions better when financial institutions are well managed in the private sector, the strong presumption is that banks should remain in private hands.”

Medicaid to Receive $15 billion from Spending Bill. Addressing the nation’s governors, President Obama announced that $15 billion of the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be immediately available for Medicaid. Medicaid is a jointly underwritten program between the federal and state governments, designed to provide health coverage for the poor.

Economists Predict Recovery in 2010. A survey of leading economists forecasts a deep and painful recession through the end of 2009, at which point they see a modest recovery, followed by solid growth in 2010.

New Role for Vice President Biden: “Stimulus Czar”. Vice President Joe Biden has been appointed to oversee implementation of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Part of the spending bill will be maid immediately available this week for Medicaid programs.

Poll: People Trust Politicians More than Business Leaders to Fix Economy. According to a new poll it seems as though people have more faith in politicians to manage the economy than they do business owners and managers. 30% of those questioned have confidence in Wall Street executives to make the right decisions, while 75% believe Obama can do better. Republicans scored 53%, while Democrats in Congress scored 66%. Can lawyers and career bureaucrats really run businesses better than those who actually run businesses? This well written, witty article suggests Congress runs its business horribly. In fact, Congress manages its affairs so poorly that if it were held to the same standards to which it forces businesses, most members would be fired, or imprisoned.

Why is a Bank Paying Off a Leftist Group Attacking Banks? Bank of America forks over $2 million to ACORN Housing Corporation to “prevent foreclosures and educate people about finances and purchasing homes.” President Obama has long worked witih ACORN in his community organizing days, which explains why the majority of the Bank of America payoff is going to ACORN’s Chicago chapter.

NY ACORN Leader, Bertha Lewis, Confronted on Fox Business. Fox Business host, Stuart Varney, confronts ACORN leader about the group’s home squatting program. “Do you think that you’ve got a right to these houses? They’ve got a right to the house even though they haven’t been paying their bills?” “What right do you have to get my money to pay for you? I’ve read the Constitution and I don’t see that right.” Lewis tries several times to dodge Varney’s questions, positing parallel arguments, but Varney stops her on every occasion. Ultimately, the ACORN leader states:

“I wish we could force banks to our will, we wouldn’t have this problem.”

Obama Calls on ACORN to Shape Federal Agenda. With the recent resurgence of the radical leftist group, ACORN, which is receiving federal funding, and $2 million from Bank of America directly to the group’s chicago chapter, it raises questions as to the influence this group now holds over government. In a speech to thousands of community organizers, including ACORN, at the Heartland Democratic Presidential Forum on 12/1/07, Obama clearly sends a signal of support for the group saying:

“Before i even get inaugurated, we’re going to be calling you all in to help shape the agenda. We’re going to be having meetings all across the country with community organizations so that you have input in the agenda of the next presidency of the United States of America.”

Obama later refuted direct affiliation with ACORN, saying that his campaign does not need the group’s help. Obama could have been merely posturing to the group in the 2007 rally hoping to gain votes, but recent funding and other support for the group at least raises serious questions.

The Senate seems set to pass an $820 billion spending bill dubbed a “stimulus package.” President Obama calls the bill absolutely essential and warns of economic catastrophe if swift action is not taken in Congress.

Not everyone agrees that this unprecedented spending package should be passed. In fact, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, whose state would be a beneficiary of the largess, claims the legislation will mean economic disaster.

Governor Sanford is far more eloquent than I, so you can watch him explain himself here:

Embedded video from <a href=”http://www.cnn.com/video” mce_href=”http://www.cnn.com/video”>CNN Video</a>

The main takeaways:

• America is turning into a political economy: The key to success is having the right Washington D.C. connections, not actually running a good business
• Congress is trying to fix a problem caused by too much borrowing and spending by  borrowing and spending on an unprecedented scale
• The U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio is at a critical tipping point (government has borrowed too much!), which is increasing the risk of our currency collapsing

It looks like Republicans have a rising star in Mark Sanford.

The next time you hear a politician use the word “billion” in a casual manner, think about how you want government spending YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.

• A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
• A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
• A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
• A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

At the rate our government is spending it, a billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes ago. Continue Reading