Disturbing Trends
Posted August 5th, 2011 by Konni
By The Honorable Arlene Wohlgemuth, Executive Director and Director, Center for Health Care Policy
I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared…. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt…. We must make our choice between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude…. If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and our comforts, in our labors and in our amusements…. If we can prevent the Government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy.
—Thomas Jefferson
Profusion means lavish spending; extravagance. Such has been the case with our Congress for decades and especially in the last two-and-a-half years. The dire situation in which we find ourselves as a nation was the focus of remarks by Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, when he called the national debt the single biggest threat to national security.
Unfortunately, the impact of Congress’ profligacy is not confined to the federal government. Just as congressional programs and spending have created the biggest threat to the nation, the federally designed Medicaid program presents our state with its single biggest threat. Medicaid is the health care program for the poor that is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, but almost all the rules are set by Congress. Because it is an entitlement program, enrollment cannot be restricted and little can be done under the inflexible rules to make common-sense changes to control the costs.
Research projecting the cost of Medicaid to our state over the next 30 years is alarming. Under current law, Medicaid will consume 46.6 percent of Texas’ total budget in 2014-15. The next Legislature will have to come up with an additional $16.7 billion in general revenue above what was appropriated in the 2012-13 budget. That is for one program—not all of health and human services—and no allowance for growth in education or any other part of the state’s budget.
As Congress grapples with its own budget problems, governors of both parties are pleading not to cause more problems with states’ budgets by making cuts in Medicaid. Unlike the federal government, 49 states, including Texas, are required to balance their budget. No “kicking the can down the road” for the state; no printing more money to cover the cost. Increasing taxes and cutting other programs are the only options, with education the most likely to see big cuts.
There is a better way to cover the needs of the poor and enough money in the system to do so. With less money than was spent on Medicaid in 2008-09, all Texans up to 175 percent of poverty level could be covered with a subsidy for private insurance based on a sliding scale with adequate money for guaranteeing long-term care such as nursing home, home health, and program administration. To do so would require Congress to return health care policy back to the state.
Congress’ debt problem is a problem of governance, especially where entitlements are concerned. The federal government can ill afford its unfunded liability for entitlement programs, and the state cannot afford its share of federally designed Medicaid.
Jefferson was right; our liberty is at stake. It is time for Congress and this administration to relinquish control and let Texans decide what’s best for Texas.
Posted July 25th, 2011 by Julie
Patriots,
Moveon.org has protests planned at every congressional office in America for 12:00 tomorrow (Tuesday, July 26) demanding that the debt ceiling be raised. Their email has used all kinds of scare tactics and lies to rally their leftist members into action.
Now, I know most of us who are opposed to raising the debt ceiling are too hard at work on a Tuesday at noon to have time to counter-protest. However, all of us can find time to make a phone call or shoot an email to our Congressmen to encourage them to stand strong.
Please use the contact information below to send your encouraging, uplifting message to our Congressmen. Tell them they have your full support to NOT raise the debt ceiling, and thank them for standing strong so far.
Here’s the call that Moveon.org put out…
From: Daniel Mintz, MoveOn.org Civic Action <moveon-help@list.moveon.org>
Subject: Tuesday: Emergency drop by at Rep. Marchant’s office
Date: Sunday, July 24, 2011, 8:47 PM
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Can you drop by Rep. Marchant’s office and tell him “Don’t destroy the American Dream?” Click below to sign up and drop by this local office Tuesday at noon: 9901 East Valley Ranch Parkway, Irving, TX 75063
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Dear MoveOn member,This weekend, it became 100% clear that Republicans would rather see America default, Social Security checks stop going out, the stock market plummet, and unemployment soar than give one inch on their position: that the very richest people and most profitable corporations shouldn’t pay one penny more in taxes. Even after the president offered Republicans a debt-ceiling deal most MoveOn members probably consider unconscionable—with trillions in cuts, even to Medicare and Social Security—Speaker Boehner still walked away from the table.
Our only chance to move the Republicans is to make sure that the dire consequences of their actions are laid directly at their feet. So with other leaders of the American Dream movement, we’re putting out an urgent call for every patriotic American to show up outside Republican congressional offices on Tuesday at noon to deliver a crucial message: “Don’t destroy the American Dream.”
We need to show up in force and let Rep. Marchant know that we’ll hold him accountable for his position and for the consequences to our economy.
Can you drop by Rep. Marchant’s office on Tuesday at Noon?
Yes, I can drop by on Tuesday!
We’ll follow up with all the details and a link to print your own “Don’t destroy the American Dream” signs to bring to Rep. Marchant.
Then you just have to show up on Tuesday here:
9901 East Valley Ranch Parkway, Irving, TX 75063 We need to show as much public concern as possible, so please pass this along to anyone else you know who could join in on Tuesday. This is a moment when we need to bring together the vast majority of Americans who find the Republicans’ position immoral.
Let’s get out there on Tuesday and let Republicans like Rep. Marchant know that crashing the American economy in order to protect tax giveaways for the rich is unacceptable.
Click here if you can drop by Rep. Marchant’s office on Tuesday at noon:
http://civic.moveon.org/debtdropby.html?id=29154-9767737-ys7ZSDx&t=3Thanks for all you do.
–Daniel, Elena, Tate, Robin, and the rest of the team
Posted July 20th, 2011 by Julie
On Thursday evening, July 28, from 6:30-8pm at 1060 E Highland in Southlake, the NE Tarrant Tea Party will hold a special meeting to talk about emergency preparedness. We’ve all heard stories about the collapse of the dollar, threat of nuclear war, fears of a dwindling food supply — it’s enough to make a person feel hopeless, worried and stressed, not to mention confused about how best to prepare.
Join us as we hear from David Bond on this very important topic. What emergencies should you prepare for? How? What resources are there? Where do I start? How much will it all cost? David will help us work through these questions and provide some answers based on his training and experience. Here’s a snippet of what David has planned for us…
Basically I’ll start by asking them what ‘disaster’ they feel they need to prepare for… it can be anything from unemployment to the tribulation to radioactive mutant teenage zombie turtles invading. That’s the first obstacle many people face is identifying what the threat is, where it is, and how it might affect them. I’ll try and point out some of the unseen threats. We’ll discuss preparedness versus self-sufficiency. We’ll talk a little about everyday carry items, kits, food storage, etc. We’ll talk about communications and plans. There are some books and magazines I’ll show and talk about. We’ll talk about survival mindset and finally we’ll do an question and answer time.
I’m no expert in this area and I’m wary of anyone who claims to be. I’ve spent time traveling overseas, plus have military, law enforcement, firefighting, haz-mat and some other experiences that have given me a chance to observe some pretty crazy situations.
Posted July 18th, 2011 by Julie
You can watch Glenn Beck’s Restoring Courage Rally at Gateway Church in Southlake. The event is August 24 at 7pm in room 2D. Doors open at 6pm. The room holds 200, and seating is first come, first served. You are advised to arrive early!
Posted July 14th, 2011 by Julie
Judging by the feedback from those who attended, Rick Scarborough was one of the best speakers we’ve ever had at NE Tarrant Tea Party. His message implored us to keep working to get the church involved in the fight to save America. He cited example after example of pastors throughout American history who turned in their church robes for a military uniform to fight for America. And then he quoted the following:
If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discernment, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in Christianity, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. ~ Rev. Charles Finney
Here’s a summary one of our members provided. The link he provides is to a nine-minute video produced by CNN telling all about the work Rick Scarborough does. It is very, very good.
Scarborough is the author of the acclaimed book Enough is Enough and founder of Vision America an organization formed to mobilize Christians to restore Judeo-Christian values in America. He emphatically emphasized relying on our core values to search for, identify and support candidates who will represent us as true conservatives. Watch this video to learn why he says, “This is not the time to quit–it’s the time to re-up.” http://www.visionamerica.us/
Watch the nine-minute CNN video linked to above if you can. Even better, watch the full presentation from Dr. Rick Scarborough at the following links. It will not be a waste of your time!
Posted July 7th, 2011 by Julie
NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting
with
Guest Speaker: Dr. Rick Scarborough of Vision America
and
an Interview with US Senate Candidate Glenn Addison
July 11, 2011, 6:30-8:00pm
$5 chicken finger dinner served at 6pm
1060 E Highland, Southlake 76092
(bldg 1020 of Highland Meadow Montessori Academy)
Dr. Rick Scarborough, D Min.
Founder and President of Vision America
Rick Scarborough holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Houston Baptist University, with a double major in Political Science and Speech.
Dr. Scarborough and Tommye, his wife, have two grown children, Misty and Richard, and one daughter in Heaven, Kathryn who finished her assignment here in 2004 at 25 years of age. Misty is married to Daniel Allmond; they have two children, Micah and Alexis. Richard is married to Anny; they have twins, Richard Wayne III and Kaylee Anne.
From 1990 to June 2002, Dr. Scarborough was the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Pearland located on the southeast side of the Houston Metroplex. During his twelve year ministry there, the church baptized over 2,000 people and relocated to a beautiful new 27-acre campus and facilities in March 2001; featuring Eagle Heights Christian Academy with faculty and student population of over 300 and Trinity Oaks Retirement Center with housing for 85 independent and assisted living units.
In 1992, Pastor Dr. Scarborough gained national recognition when he exposed the contents of a disturbing assembly program at the local high school. Under the auspices of an “AIDS Presentation,” a young lady, sponsored by the AIDS Foundation of Houston, candidly discussed every sex act imaginable expressing the opinion (presented as fact) that “safe sex” was attainable by using condoms. Dr. Scarborough recorded the assembly and then made transcripts available to his congregation the following Sunday morning. The resulting furor that erupted caught the eye of the national media.
Dr. Scarborough mobilized his congregation during the following months to make significant changes in Pearland. Members began running for public office, as well as volunteering for various organizations beyond traditional “Christian ministry” seeking to become “salt and light” in their community. National Public Radio produced a two-part feature on Dr. Scarborough during which he was dubbed, “The Rising Star of the Religious Right”.
In 1996 he published the widely acclaimed 252-page book appropriately entitled, Enough is Enough; a Call to Christian Involvement. Other published works include, In Defense of Mixing Church and State and It All Depends on What Is…Is. In 2007 he published Liberalism Kills Kids.
In 1998, he founded Vision America, an organization whose mission is to “inform and mobilize Pastors and their congregations to become salt and light, becoming pro-active in restoring Judeo-Christian values in America.” The advisory board of Vision America includes notable Christian leaders such as Don Wildmon and Dr. Tim LaHaye.
On May 9, 2005, the Washington Post carried a front page story in the Sunday addition on the effective work that Dr. Scarborough and the Judeo-Christian Council is accomplishing in their efforts to confront Judicial tyranny and mobilize pastors.
Dr. Scarborough’s work has been featured in numerous articles and publications around the nation. A partial listing includes the New York Times, Washington Post, Kansas City Star, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Boston Globe and the Congressional Quarterly.
Dr. Scarborough has appeared on Larry King Live, Fox News, CBS Evening News and numerous other television and radio programs. The work of Vision America has been featured in several documentaries and specials such as CNN’s award winning special God’s Warriors and the HBO documentary, Friends of God.
Dr. Scarborough and Vision America have been featured on Focus on the Family with Dr. James Dobson three times.
Dr. Scarborough regularly speaks in churches, rallies, and political conventions.
Posted June 30th, 2011 by Julie
Are you a liberal or a conservative? I asked NE Tarrant Tea Party member Tom Moore to create a chart outlining the fundamental differences between the two. My hope was that it would be something very clear I could point to when conversing with liberal friends. I always try to give them the benefit of the doubt, thinking that if they only knew what all is included in the belief system they were clinging to, they’d change their minds. Here’s what Tom put together. I think he nailed it! So which one are you…?
Posted May 26th, 2011 by Julie
NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting
Guest Speaker: Allen Clark on Civilizational Jihad
September 12, 2011, 6:30-7:00pm
$5 dinner served at 6pm
1060 E Highland, Southlake 76092
(bldg 1020 of Highland Meadow Montessori Academy)
Allen Clark will speak to us on “Civilizational Jihad”… internal subversion and treason, broader than Sharia Law.
About Allen Clark…
After attending Phillips Exeter Academy, Allen graduated the United States Military Academy in 1963, after which he was commissioned in the Army Corps of Engineers. Two years after graduation from West Point, he volunteered for a tour in Vietnam where he served as a Military Intelligence officer assigned to the Fifth Special Forces Group. Allen sustained injuries in an early-morning mortar attack at the Dak To Special Forces camp on June 17, 1967, that necessitated the amputation of both legs below his knees. His military service and sacrifice were recognized with receipt of a Silver Star for Gallantry in Action, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He was airborne-qualified.
While learning to adjust to his disability and to walk on prosthetic legs, he obtained an MBA in finance and investments from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Allen’s first post-graduate position was as an investment manager for Ross Perot. His other private sector experience has spanned oil and gas exploration, real estate marketing, and mortgage lending. He has been vice president of a bank, president of three oil service companies, and co-founder of a real estate investment company in Texas.
Allen’s impassioned commitment to public service and to helping veterans began with an appointment in 1979 as the Special Assistant for Administration to Texas Governor William P. Clements, Jr. In 1981, Allen was President Ronald Reagan’s selection to be Deputy Administrator for the Veterans Administration (now the Department of Veterans Affairs). However, he chose to remain in Texas where in 1982 he received the Texas Republican Party’s nomination to run for State Treasurer in a race that was won by former Texas State Governor Ann Richards.
In 1989, he was nominated by President George H.W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary for Veterans Liaison and Program Coordination at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In 1991, he received his second VA confirmation as Director of the National Cemetery System, a position in which he served until the end of the Bush Administration.
Allen’s dedicated efforts to support veterans’ causes at the national and state levels were recognized with his nomination by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization as the Texas State candidate for the national Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the year 2000. In 1993 the Military Chaplains Association awarded him their annual National Citizenship Award.”
He retired in 2005 as the Public Affairs Officer for the VA North Texas Health Care System in Dallas, Texas. His current lay ministry is involved in outreach efforts to help veterans recover emotionally and spiritually from adverse wartime experiences. Allen participates in many community and civic activities, including regularly speaking at various group events and churches. Allen has addressed many audiences nationwide as a political candidate, public official, and motivational speaker. Allen’s autobiography titled “Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior” was published in early 2007 by Zenith Press (visit book site).
He is a member of the American Legion, Association of the U.S. Army, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the World Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Military Officers Association, Sons of the American Revolution, Special Forces Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Association of Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, and Vietnam Veterans of America.
Allen and his wife, the former Linda Frost, are members of Christ Church, Plano, TX. Allen can be contacted by sending an email to allenbclark@aol.com.
Here is some reading that will be recommended in this presentation:
Posted March 23rd, 2011 by Julie
The NE Tarrant Tea Party has submitted a questionnaire to all municipal and school board candidates in our area of coverage. One response we got back today should please most conservatives…
Question:
What are your thoughts on the recent controversy over Mansfield ISD requiring 100 minutes of Arabic culture studies per week? Should American sovereignty, constitutional government or private enterprise be included in classroom curriculum?
Response from Keith Houser, candidate for Carroll ISD:
Keith Houser, candidate for CISD Board
Today’s students know little about American sovereignty, the US and Texas constitutions and private enterprise. I would support 100 minutes per SEMESTER (not per week) on Arabic culture, so long as it is balanced and tells the truth. That truth would include how many women annually are stoned to death for adultery, how many women are “honor killed” by family members, how many women are sexually mutilated by their husbands, how many Christians and Jews are killed as “infidels” and how many people die each month from peaceful homicide bombers, ethnic cleanings and Islamic tribal disputes worldwide.
As a 501(c)3 organization, NE Tarrant Tea Party does not endorse any candidate, but we do ask questions that will help our members make up their own minds about a candidate. And this is one answer we think our members will appreciate!
The complete packet of questions and responses will be made available to our members via email, will be posted on this website, and will be available via email to anyone who requests it. Candidates have until April 8 to submit their answers. Our candidate fair is April 11 from 6-6:45 at 1060 E Highland Meadow, Southlake, followed by our guest speaker, Michael Badnarik, who will speak on the Federal Reserve and fiat money. We’ll also be hearing from Lela Pittenger briefly on her candidacy for US Senate.
Posted March 16th, 2011 by Julie
From American Thinker, October 2009:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/10/un_agenda_21_coming_to_a_neigh.html
Most Americans are unaware that one of the greatest threats to their freedom may be a United Nations program known as Agenda 21. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development created Agenda 21 as a sustainability agenda which is arguably an amalgamation of socialism and extreme environmentalism brushed with anti-American, anti-capitalist overtones.
A detailed history on sustainable development, definitions, and critical actions can be found here. Section III of the Agenda 21 Plan addresses local community sustainable development. The Preamble and Chapter 28 discuss how Agenda 21 should be implemented at a local level. The United Nations purposely recommends avoiding the term Agenda 21 and suggests a cleverly named alternative: “smart growth.” The United Nations Millennium Papers – Issue 2 (page 5) says this of Agenda 21 and smart growth:
Participating in a UN-advocated planning process would very likely bring out many of the conspiracy-fixated groups and individuals in our society such as the National Rifle Association, citizen militias and some members of Congress. This segment of our society who fear ‘one-world government’ and a UN invasion of the United States through which our individual freedom would be stripped away would actively work to defeat any elected official who joined ‘the conspiracy’ by undertaking LA21. So, we call our process something else, such as comprehensive planning, growth management, or smart growth [emphasis added].
Undoubtedly, residents of any town, county, or city in the United States that treasure their freedom, liberty, and property rights couldn’t care less whether it’s called Agenda 21 or smart growth. A recent example of this can be found in Carroll County, Maryland, where a smart growth plan called Pathways was drafted by the County Planning Department. The plan, if enacted, proposed a breathtaking reshuffling of land rights:
- Rezoning of thousands of acres of beautiful, low-density agricultural farmland and protected residential conservation land into office parks
- Down-zoning of agriculture land to prevent future subdivision by farmers
- Up-zoning of low-density residential land around small towns into higher density zoning to permit construction of hundreds or possibly thousands of inclusive housing units, including apartments and condominiums
- Inclusive housing with placement of multi-family construction on in-fill lots within existing residential single family communities
- Endorsement of government-sponsored housing initiatives (subsidies) to ensure healthier, balanced neighborhoods
Community leaders working together in Carroll County recently defended their county against overreaching smart growth initiatives. Richard Rothschild, a candidate for Commissioner, emphatically remarks, “Smart growth is not science; it is political dogma combined with an insidious dose of social engineering. Smart growth is a wedding wherein zoning code is married with government-sponsored housing initiatives to accomplish government’s goal of social re-engineering. It urbanizes rural towns with high-density development, and gerrymanders population centers through the use of housing initiatives that enable people with weak patterns of personal financial responsibility to acquire homes in higher-income areas. This has the effect of shifting the voting patterns of rural municipalities from Right to Left.”
Smart growth plans usurp property rights and constitutional rights. Local officials, at the behest of State Government, revise zoning laws to fit into a “smart code” zoning template. A massive reshuffling of property rights ensues. Farmers may lose subdivision rights; conservation land adjacent to population centers may be rezoned into commercial employment centers; and low-density land in small towns is re-designated as growth area and rezoned to accommodate diverse housing including high-density apartments and condominiums.
Finally, a healthy dose of federal- or state-sponsored housing initiatives is embraced to ensure communities are properly balanced. The net effect of these plans is to create highly urbanized population centers throughout otherwise-rural counties, while simultaneously limiting the availability of land for suburban and estate subdivisions, as these are considered an unsustainable waste of land by Agenda 21 disciples.
Clearly, smart growth plans will impact Americans’ future choices in where and how they live. Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal and state agencies may attempt to deny grant funds to states and cities that do not adopt smart growth plans.
Most Americans will remain unaware of the implications of smart growth and Agenda 21 until after it is promulgated in their own backyards. Ironically, these plans are more insidious than the Eminent Domain ruling by the Supreme Court in the case of Kelo v City of New London. Under Eminent Domain rulings, property owners usually receive compensation for their losses.
Conversely, smart growth municipal plans, required by statute, enable municipalities to change zoning laws and engage in other regulatory actions that devalue property, restrict off-conveyances, and otherwise erode property values without payment of any compensation to the property owner.
Smart growth has another interesting unintended consequence: it can disrupt conventional alliances and lead to strange political bedfellows. Rural urbanization plans may raise the ire of environmental groups while simultaneously stirring the wrath of both conservative and liberal residents that want to maintain the rural fabric of their communities. Conversely, developers, sensing opportunity, may side with government smart growth bureaucrats in support of these plans.
Regardless of political orientation, two indisputable facts remain. Agenda 21 is a direct assault on private property rights and American sovereignty, and it is coming to a neighborhood near you.
