State Governments are NOT Subordinate to the Federal Government

Maybe the anti-federalists were right, maybe the Constitution made it  too easy for the federal government to take over.  Thomas Jefferson didn't believe that, however.  The constitution and the bill of rights were written so that neither has more power than the other and that is the way it should be. 

Thomas Jefferson wrote about our Constitution: “With respect to our State and federal governments, I do not think their relations correctly understood by foreigners,” sadly, I believe many of the citizens of the United States of America do not understand how the relationship between state and federal governments is supposed to work.  Jefferson relates that when the founders wrote our constitution, they had the ability to write what they pleased, that they had no “musty records” or laws they needed to follow.  They were free to create a document, laws, of their own choosing.  They choose not only the wording, but also the format of our government. Our government was founded  so that the state and federal government work hand in hand, each having their own responsibilities, separate, but equal.  But many citizens don't understand this.  The believe the federal government has control over state government and therefore allow them to act as such.

Exactly what are the responsibilities of the state and federal government?  Ours is a constitution based on Federalism, power is divided between a the federal, state and local governments.  Many are confused as to the relationship between the two.  This is why the Bill of Rights was written by our founders, Amendments that clarify what is written in the Constitution and the rights of the people and the government, both state and federal.  It is why Jefferson pushed for the Bill of Rights in the first place.  Jefferson states, “[Those who don’t understand the relationship between the state and federal government] generally suppose the former subordinate to the latter. But this is not the case. They are co-ordinate departments of one simple and integral whole. To the State governments are reserved all legislation and administration, in affairs which concern their own citizens only, and to the federal government is given whatever concerns foreigners, or the citizens of other States; these functions alone being made federal. The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch of the same government; neither having control over the other, but within its own department.”

The state government gives power to the citizens while the federal government is concerned with foreigners matters.  Here’s where the problem arises. It is not the job, as put forth by our founders, for the federal government to be creating legislation, laws, that apply directly and only to citizens of the United States. That is what the state’s government is for. The federal government, time and time again, oversteps their bounds.  They interfere with issues that are clearly the domain of the state government. The state government is not subordinate to the federal government, yet the federal government acts as though it is. They are both equal and one does not have the power to dictate to the other.  State governments are NOT subordinate to the federal government, though the federal government continues to attempt to enslave them.

Jefferson believed Amendment X to be foundation of our government and it states: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”  These are the rights that the citizens and the states must protect. The states must stand up and reclaim what is inherently theirs, what is given. 

The responsibilities the federal government pertaining to foreign matters is outline in Amendment XI, and limits state’s rights pertaining to foreign affairs and treaties.  Amendments X and XI were written to specifically clarify the responsibilities and limitations of the federal and state governments.

These are the rights which the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, protects, which are rights of the citizens of our states.  "The true foundation of republican government is the equal right of every citizen, in his person and property, and in their management."

Of course, our Constitution is a living document, it is able to be changed, as Jefferson says: “Nothing then is unchangeable but the inherent and unalienable rights of man.”  Why change the foundation upon that which our great nation was founded?  It is when we attempt to change the foundation, to allow federal government to encroach upon what is clearly the responsibility of the states, that there are problems. This is the reason there is an enormous federal debt.  It is what Jefferson feared when he said: “[The people are] our dependence for continued freedom. And to preserve their independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude.

The federal government was not created to care for the people, the federal government was created to attend to foreign affairs and affairs of the country as a whole.  The state governments, with the extension to local governments, were created  "that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, in all cases to which they think themselves competent, or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of the press."

The federal and state governments are separate, but they are equal, one not more powerful than the other.  And yet, as Jefferson himself predicted, "even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny."  

Our citizen's are not well informed, government run schools and media that supports the federal government have tainted the minds of our citizens. I fear that because our citizens no longer know about the responsibilities, duties and limitations of the different branches of government they will not take corrective action to correct what has gone so terribly wrong.  If you don't know it's broken, you can't fix it.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." --Thomas Jefferson to Col. Charles Yancey, 1816.

 

Silly Me, Marriage is Marriage

Last year I wrote a post entitled I Pray Government Gets Outof the Marriage Business which, according to Ten Q&A on Same-Sex MarriageCanards and Evasions #7 is a "silly sloagan."  Now, I don't care that someone thinks what I write or think is "silly," and I won't change my thinking because someone thinks I'm "silly," but, I am not beneath revisiting and rethinking what I wrote either. The author of that piece makes valid points, points I had not considered.  Therefore I must clarify my statement and redefine what I mean by "Marriage Business" and revisit some of my statements.
There are two separate aspects of marriage, the physical act of marrying, and the actual marriage of the husband and wife.

Government needs to stay out of the religious rites of marrying.  Religious organizations need to be free to perform marriages based on their religious beliefs. Government intrusion into religious rites, including marriages, is a clear breech of the First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. By re-defining marriage, the government is dictating to religious organizations what they legally must accept as the definition of marriage thereby restricting their free exercise there of.
 

In my post, I discussed the government getting out of “marriage” by redefining it to “civil union.”  After reading the above post, I am rethinking my position on that aspect. It diminishes marriage.  The last thing I want is for marriage to be diminished into a legal contract.  It’s too important for that. 

So what about defining marriage, marriage is already defined, the government does not need to re-define it in order to make some people happy.  They are too busy trying to “not offend” everyone that everyone loses.  I once again reiterate, not one religious rite is applicable to every person.  That’s just the way it is.  Marriage is no different.  Not every celebration of the birth of a baby is a Baptism, not every rite of the passage into adulthood is a bar mitzvah.  I'll never be queen of the gay pride parade and I'm ok with that.  You would think the liberals, with their cries of “diversity now” would embrace differences instead trying to make marriage cookie cuttings. One size does not fit all and marriage does not fit everyone.  

But here's the dilemma. As I’ve stated, the federal government, is too involved in people’s lives, too many regulations, too many restrictions.This is not what our founders had in mind. The federal government has complicated everything it touches and intruded into areas that do not fall under it’s role. The federal government should be concerned with the protection and preservation of our country as a whole, not the bits and pieces.That is why we have state and local governements, to care for the bits and pieces.If the federal government wants to tax, it should be a general tax, a flat tax, that is for everyone, the whole, equally.It should be applied to caring for the whole of the country, for it’s defense etc., not for caring for bits and pieces.  Again, the bits and pieces are for state and local to care for.  To that end, marriage should fall under State and local governments, not federal.

To recap: Like it or not, marriage is marriage and not everyone fits.  Government should not interfere by dictating to religious organizations about marriage.

 

The Killing of Healthy Unborn Babies has Reached Epidemic Proportions

Currently the trial of Kermit Gosnell is proceeding. Gosnell (I decline to acknowledge the title of Dr. but will confer instead the title of "butcher.") In case you haven't heard of butcher Gosnell's house of horrors, the article "10 of the Most Shocking Allegations in the Gruesome ‘House of Horrors’ That Was Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s Abortion Clinic" (WARNING: Graphic) by Billy Hallowell and current updates (as of today) Front Row at the Gosnell Horror Show By Phelim McAleer and What I saw at the Gosnell trial by JD Mullane give you a sense of the horror that was Gosnell's clinic. As the case has come to light, I have updated a previous post:

Working as a nurse in one of the busiest Labor and Delivery departments in the country I have experienced the joys of births and the heartbreak of loss. I have seen many healthy babies born, and have delivered a few myself. These are the joyous days. I have seen tiny preemie babies some who survive and some who do not. I have seen babies who are stillborn of all sizes and witnessed the sorrow that death brings. The days when a baby is stillborn, or dies are the sad, heartbreaking days. These are the days that wrench your soul. I cannot imagine anyone destroying the life of a healthy unborn baby on purpose, but it happens.

At conception, cells begin to divide and that is the beginning of life. Once that baby is conceived it is real, it is alive and it deserves to live. The mother’s womb holds, nurtures and cares for the baby. God made us so that creation, nurturing and protection of the baby begins at the moment of conception, meaning that life, according to God’s design, must begin at conception.

The abortion of a baby, the intentional destruction of life, is murder. Only God should have the power to decide when someone, and after conception a baby is someone, should come to be with him. Throughout history, there have been cultures and groups who performed infanticide for various reasons. Most people in the United States would be horrified if this became a common practice in the United States. These same people have no difficulty supporting embryocide and feticide. There is a worldwide epidemic of feticide. In China, female fetuses are routinely murdered because they are of less value to the Chinese than is the male fetus. The same people who find infanticide horrific find this acceptable. Location, location, location!! Inside the womb, it’s acceptable to murder the baby, outside the womb it’s not.

"The most substantive difference between the partial-birth abortions on which Obama fundraised and Gosnell's abortions is this: Dr. Gosnell did the snipping outside of the mother's birth canal, while Dr. Carhart reaches his scissors inside the woman's vagina to snip the baby's spine."

Embryocide, feticide, and the euthanizing (as some people put it), the killing of healthy unborn babies has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. It’s difficult to know exactly how many abortions occur annually in the United States because some states, like California, which performs the most abortions (estimated over 200,000 a year), does not report abortion numbers to the CDC. In 2008, 825,564 abortions were reported to the CDC, but the CDC estimates 1,211,500 abortions in the U.S. The number of murdered babies is staggering!!! When you look at the reasons for abortions in the United States, the facts are shocking. About 92% of abortions in the United States are convenience abortions, killing healthy babies for selfish reasons. Healthy babies murdered for convenience sake.

Abortion Statistics –

Decisions to Have and Abortion (U.S.)

%	Reason for Aborting
25.5%	Want to postpone childbearing.
21.3%	cannot afford a baby
14.1%	Have a relationship issue or their partner does not want a child.
12.2%	Too young (their parents or others object to the pregnancy.)
10.8%	Feel a child will disrupt their education or career.
7.9%	Want no (more) children.
3.3%	Due to a risk to fetal health.
2.8%	Due to a risk to maternal health

 

 

 

Those who are “pro-choice” (pro-abortion) say it is a woman’s choice what to do with her body. That doesn't give them the right to do whatever they want to the body of the baby. The baby is a separate entity that the mother is charged with caring for. The mother does not have the right to kill the baby. 

 

"Pro-choice" (pro-abortion) is saying that they are choosing to allow the woman to abort (kill) the baby. They can only see the point of view of the mother, they are incapable of seeing the baby's point of view. I’m sure the baby, if given the choice, would choose to live. Most sane people wouldn't choose death for themselves, would they? Why would assume the baby would choose death? Why should the baby be denied it's future? The baby is unable to voice her opinion, so the choice must be made for her. Life or death? Who gets to choose. "Pro-choice" (pro-abortion) advocates choosing to impose and carry out a death sentence on a baby. The choice is not theirs or the mother's to make. The choice of life and death of an innocent should be left solely up to God.

 

People are against the death penalty, but casually agree with the murder of a baby. They want to kill the babies and save the murderers. They would rather have the murderers in the world than the babies.

 

It seems as though the most important thing for those that are "pro-choice" is location. The aforementioned murderer is outside the womb in the “safe zone.” The baby in the womb is in the target area. Everything inside the target area is fair game. It’s my womb and it’s my baby so it’s okay. That argument doesn't work. Let's put a baby in the target area at the range, let’s see how these pro-choice people react. If I say the baby in the target area is fair game, it’s my baby and it’s my range there should be no problem, right? They would disagree, to them, the womb is the only acceptable target area. If the baby is in the womb, she is fair game, kill away. The only difference is the location. Location doesn't matter, the murder of a baby is murder, it doesn't matter if she is in the womb or out. That is why they praise Dr. Carhart but Dr. Gosnell is a monster (at least to most, but not all) to pro-choice supporters. In reality, there is no difference, same baby, just a few millimeters inside the mother.

 

Being pregnant and delivering a baby is not easy and it is not convenient. Life is not easy and it is not convenient. Life is uncomfortable and filled with inconveniences this does not mean you kill a baby to avoid being uncomfortable or inconvenienced. This means you do what you have to, you carry and deliver the baby, no matter how inconvenient or uncomfortble it is and if you do not wish to care for the baby after that, you give it up for adoption to someone who wants a baby. This is the just and moral thing to do.

 

I was adopted. I am glad that my birth mother did not murder me for convenience or for gender or for any other reason. I am glad she had endured some inconvenience and discomfort and carried and delivered me. It must have been difficult for her to carry and deliver me and then give me up. For what she did, I am forever grateful.

Just because they can’t be seen with the naked eye, doesn’t mean the babies aren’t real, and doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Each baby, from the moment of conception, deserves to have his or her presence in the world recognized. All babies, no matter how tiny, deserve to be respected, held, loved and to not be murdered.

http://womensissues.about.com/cs/abortionstats/a/aaabortionstats.htm

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0103.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6015a1.htm?s_cid=ss6015a1_w

George Zimmerman Case: Don't Believe Everything You Read

  
The same lies and misrepresentations about the George Zimmerman case have been seen, almost word for word, in news reports, blogs and social networking sites.  Take note, you can't believe everything you read.
 

Fact or fiction, here’s the truth as I know it so far.

Fiction: Zimmerman was told by a 911 dispatcher to not follow Trayvon Martin, but he continued to pursue the young man.

Fact: The 911 dispatcher DID NOT tell George Zimmerman not to follow Trayvon:
Dispatcher: Are you following him

Zimmerman: Yeah

Dispatcher: We don't need you to do that.

Dispatcher never told him not to follow Trayvon.

Being told that they don’t need him to follow Trayvon is not the same as telling him not to do it.  The way it was said was as if the dispatcher feared for Zimmerman, as though following was unsafe. Listen to the 911 call and see the transcript.
 

Fiction: The Sanford Police department told Trayvon’s parents that George Zimmerman did not have a criminal record.

Fact: Police did not tell Trayvon's parents he didn't have a criminal record, they told him Zimmerman described himself as "squeaky clean.” Police admitted Zimmerman had a record.

Fact twisted to mean something: Trayvon Martin’s body tested for drugs and alcohol after his death and George Zimmerman was not. Trayvon had marijuana in his system.
More Important Fact: Trayvon had an autopsy, as is required when someone is shot; drug and alcohol screen is a part of every autopsy. They did not autopsy Zimmerman.

Fact twisted to mean something: The police didn’t do a ballistics test on Zimmerman’s hands and weapon.
Clarifying fact: You don't do ballistics tests on hands, you do gunshot residue.  Gunshot residue test shows someone fired a gun and isn't necessary to do if someone admits to firing a gun. The police know he has gunshot residue on his hands. Zimmerman also admitted to shooting Trayvon, why would ballistics test be necessary? Also, police seized and are in possession of the gun.

Fact twisted to mean something: Zimmerman made more than 40 911 calls over the past year and should have been looked at as a red flag. The man was obviously a vigilante just waiting for the right victim.
Clarifying fact: George Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch leader, of course he would make 911 calls if, as he made his rounds, he found something suspicious.  It also means the area that Zimmerman patrols as part of his neighborhood watch is crime ridden.
Note: Sanford is so crime ridden that the Sanford police have just created 'The Neighborhood Response Unit, a special unit to combat violent crime. 

Fiction: Investigators failed to look into cellphone records by Martin and Zimmerman, which would have shown them that the shooter’s version of events, etc. were not accurate.
Fact: They did look into the cell phone records. Trayvon's girlfriend refused to talk to police. Also, they have an eyewitness to the events and others who also heard what was going on.

Unknown by public and used to incite anger: The police department refused to return the Martin family’s phone calls in the three days following their son’s death.
Who said they didn't? It's hearsay.

Fiction: The police did not follow protocol.
Fact: The police did follow protocol. The police reacted based on what the witness saw and corroborating physical evidence and 911 calls.  This led the police to believe it was self-defense.  The police and the state followed protocol, though it seems that the 2nd Degree murder charges Florida State Prosecutor is seeking is not appropriate.  If you look at the statutes,

A witness stated that he saw Zimmerman on the ground being beaten by a much larger Martin. The witness heard Zimmerman crying for help, but could not help him. Zimmerman had scratches on the back of his head, grass stains on his back and a broken nose as pictures support:

 

 
The police, having evidence to support self-defense could not arrest Zimmerman because of FL statute 776. The police followed their protocol and forwarded the case to the state attorney's office.
 
We will have to wait until the trial to see what, if anything, George Zimmerman is convicted of.

 

Even the IDF Agrees: Men Are Better Suited Than Women For Military Combat

While there are undoubtedly some women who are quite capable of performing combat duty, men are better suited to combat duty.  It’s not a matter of discrimination, it’s a matter physiology.

Men and women are not the same.  They are, for obvious reasons, not meant to be the same; they are designed for different roles in life.  This is not to say that men cannot take on the role of caregiver or that women can’t fight, but it does mean that men and women are, in general, better at the, roles they are designed to perform.

How does this physiology affect the ability to perform military combat duty?  The difference in male and female physiology is especially true when it comes to skeletal muscle mass. Due to testosterone, men’s muscle fibers are larger than women’s. This allows men to have larger muscles and are thereby stronger than women.

One study showed that “women were approximately 52% and 66% as strong as the men in the upper and lower body respectively.”

Another study showed “men had significantly more skeletal muscle mass in comparison to women in both absolute terms (33.0 vs. 21.0 kg)and relative to body mass (38.4 vs. 30.6%). The gender differences were greater in the upper (40%) than lower (33%) body.”

Emotionally, men and women differ as well. Why are men and women emotionally different? “Aggressive competitiveness [is a] function of testosterone and the working of the masculine brain.”  “The same group of neurons in the brains of both men and women process emotional experiences of fear and aggression; these neurons are connected to different regions of the brain in men and women. For women, these neurons connect to areas of the brain regulating internal areas of the body, thus focusing on aspects such as her hormones, blood pressure and respiration. On the other hand, these same neurons in men will connect to areas of the brain focused on the external areas, including vision and movement. This will cause a significant difference in the behaviour of a man and woman experiencing the same stressful situation.”

When looking at women in the army, the obvious comparison is women in the Israeli army.  It is thought that women are permitted in all roles, including combat in the Israeli army.  The Israeli army even says women "take an equal part" as men, but when you look at women in the IDF, you will see, this is not the case.  While Israel does allow women in some combat roles there are still combat positions, about 10% of them, that are off limits to women and "the five major IDF infantry brigades are still all-male."

Women only make up 33% of the armed forces in Israel even though service is required because they can be exempt from serving for more reasons, such as motherhood, than men. Women tour is 24 months compared to men’s 36 months required tour. It is not compulsory that women go in to combat positions. Only 3% of Israeli combat soldiers are women. The women combat soldiers are held to the same standards and tour requirements (36 months) as their male counterparts. Israel’s

According to the IDF, the 5 "Most Hardcore Female Combat Roles" are hardly hardcore and not particularily "combat". 
1. Air Force Pilot: Both Israel and the United States currently allow women to be pilots. 
2. Caracal Battalion Combat Soldiers:

Women in Israel's Caracal Battalion

Caracal battalion, whose main duty is to patrol the Israel-Egyptian border, is a combat unit that is made up of 70% women.  Though they have a policy of equality, even the Israeli military knows there is a difference between men and women.
3. Oketz (“Sting”) Unit K-9 Fighter:
The soldiers go into the field with their canine partners and do everything together, from searching terror facilities to chasing down an escaped criminal.
4. 76th Battalion of the Combat Engineering Brigade:
a unique unit which combines male and female soldiers whose job is to neutralize ABC weapons live in the field during battle. These soldiers go into the heart of enemy territory along with other combat troops during wartime, and help protect them from unconventional weapons.
5. Snapir (“Fin”) Unit: Their job is to safegurd Israel’s civilian ports, especially from incoming ships, and to protect the IDF’s naval bases.

All these jobs are considered 'combat' by the Israeli army, and many of these jobs are already available to women in the U.S. military.

If the United States is going to allow women in combat roles, those women must pass muster with men equally.  They need to perform the job as well and not be allowed to perform on a lower scale than her male counter-part.  Jobs should be assigned by who can perform the job better, not because someone wants to do the job and it would be politically incorrect or discriminatory not to give it to someone because of gender. 

In the end, it can’t be denied, physiologically and emotionally, men are better suited than women for military combat.

Who Wants the Flu?

 
Cold and flu season is here again and nobody wants a cold or the flu.  Here are some tips to help prevent the spread of cold or flu and some ways to help you feel better if you get sick.

 
Symptoms of cold and flu are similar. You may have some or all of these symptoms. 

• fever *Not everyone with the flu will have a fever.
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue
• sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

A flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common.  This year’s vaccine has only been moderately (62%) effective in preventing the flu so it is important, whether you have had the vaccine, or not, to follow these tips to help prevent getting the flu.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.  This is the NUMBER ONE way to prevent the spread of infection.  Teach children to wash their hands.  

Clean hands prevent the flu:

 

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.  If someone is coughing or sneezing, try to stay at least 6 feet away from them.

 

If you are sick with a cold or flu, prevent the spread to others.

• The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• When you sneeze or cough, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sneeze/cough into your elbow (not your hand). Throw used tissues in the trash after you use it.

 

Remember: Colds and flu are viruses and antibiotics will not help you unless you have a bacterial infection on top of the viral cold/flu infection.

Care for yourself when you are sick:

• Get plenty of rest, give your body time to recover.

• Eat lightly and keep hydrated, you may have a poor appetite, that is normal when you are sick. It is important to drink and keep hydrated.  Hot tea with honey and lemon are helpful if you have a sore throat and/or cough.

• If you are congested it may be helpful to avoid dairy which increases mucous production

There are medicines available, over the counter, to treat fever, cough and congestion.  Read labels carefully and follow directions.  Do not take more than the recommended dosage.  Pay particular attention to "cold medicines" that have multiple ingredients.  Example: If a cold medicine has acetaminophen, don't take additional acetaminophen (Tylenol) you can overdose and damage your liver.  I prefer to treat the symptoms and use medicine for each symptom.  Yes, you will be taking more medicine, but you will not be taking more dosage of each medicine and you will customize your medicine to only those symptoms you have.  You will not be taking medicine for symptoms you don't have.  Example: if you don't have a cough, there is not reason for you to take something that has cough medicine in it.  

If symptoms persist or get worse, see a doctor.
 

Certain people are at greater risk of serious flu-related complications (including young children, elderly persons, pregnant women and people with certain long-term medical conditions) If you are in a high risk group and develop flu symptoms, it’s best for you to contact your doctor. Remind them about your high risk status for flu.

CDC Emergency warning signs:

In children

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash
  

In addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs:

• Being unable to eat
• Has trouble breathing
• Has no tears when crying
• Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal
  

In adults

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

This video is was made for healthcare workers, but it's fun for everyone to watch: