June 26, 2013

All Points North

By Tammy Derouin

The word Karma was mentioned in a conversation I was part of this past week. Although it was said for a different reason, the reminder couldn’t have come at a better time.  I believe everything happens for a reason. 

I developed a love for history and heritage at a very early age.  History and heritage collided when I went to Northern Michigan for the first time.  I was twelve.  My heritage is French/Canadian and my interests quickly turned to all points north.  Northern Michigan is full of French and Canadian influence.  Was this heaven on earth? 

Travers City and Charlevoix are two of my favorite stops as I travel to the jewel, Mackinaw.  The city and the island are full of historic sites.  The Mackinac Bridge is my beacon.  When others head south, I prefer to head north, regardless of the time of year.

I had hoped to share this love of history and heritage with my girls.  I wanted to wait until they were a little older so they would be able to appreciate the experience.   

Karma is the belief that your actions today will determine how life treats you tomorrow.  I grew up with the Golden Rule; do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Living by this philosophy doesn’t guarantee you will be treated well but it establishes a code of conduct.  Living by the Golden Rule allows me to look in the mirror with the knowledge that I didn’t intentionally hurt or cause someone harm.  There are times when difficult decisions must be made.  Someone, and usually more than one, will end up being hurt.  Avoiding the decision inflicts pain on yourself and eventually those around you.  It’s like pulling off a Band-Aid.  You know it must be done.  You can linger, slowly tearing one hair out at a time, causing much discomfort or you can pull it off and be done with it.  Oh, there will be pain but much less than the endless suffering you are putting yourself through by hesitating.  Most painful decisions, regardless how much better you know your life would be, require much thought and consideration.  Such life altering decisions aren’t made in haste. 

It’s easy to be strong and to say everything happens for a reason when life is going well.  An individual’s strength and character are tested when they’re under attack.  My nemesis delivered such a blow this past week.  I was informed that my girls would be traveling to Northern Michigan.  All points of interest to me would be covered.  He waited until we were face to face to give me this news.  Northern Michigan is a location he never wanted to visit again.  He has nothing nice to say about the area.  I endured many derogatory remarks about my French heritage, usually along the lines of running from a fight.   Well, this French Lady decided to fight.  I joined the resistance and didn’t back down.

Controllers will use anything and everything to get their way or to attack you if you go against them.  To say it doesn’t hurt would be a lie.  I’m human.  I’m not made of steel like the Mighty Mac.  A controller will only win if you allow them to win.  I wrestled with a dagger to the heart this past week but I didn’t allow it to control me.  I will not allow it to change my philosophy on life.  To do unto him as he has done unto me would be the beginning of my self-destruction.

My crime; I refused to be controlled.  I drew my line.  I said enough was enough and walked away.  I angered the one who thought he was all powerful.  I’ve been dodging bullets and an occasional bomb ever since.  I will take a little comfort in knowing he just spent money and time traveling to places he never wanted to see again. 

When others use personal knowledge and information as a weapon against you for the sole purpose of inflicting pain, the Golden Rule is still the best principle to follow.  It allows you to have a clear conscience.

When our government has knowledge of our personal information just because it wants to, we as a nation become vulnerable to attack.  Information is powerful.  That’s why the government is eliminating the press.  That’s also why the government wants to know everything about everyone.  Humans have the ability to be petty and vindictive.  Allowing the government to get away with such behavior will lead our nation down the path of self-destruction.

“He who knows best knows how little he knows.”

Thomas Jefferson

 

 

 

June 19, 2013

Pick A Tyrant

By Tammy Derouin

Abuse of power is disguised and always denied.  Those who wish to control always believe they know what’s best and they are never wrong.  They have become masters of their craft.  They disguise their motive and agenda. The ends will always justify the means.  They will even make it look like they are taking concessions to convince you they are willing to be flexible.  It will appear they want to work with you.  To object makes you look uncooperative.  If their motive is discovered they will of course deny any wrongdoing.  It’s for your benefit or your protection.  They don’t mean any harm, do they?  If you question their intentions you make yourself even more vulnerable to attack.  You were already the target but now they pull out the big guns.  It’s fine for them to have the guns but not you.

When I read about the NSA’s spy program and the government’s capability to invade our privacy, I found it difficult to comprehend that this is happening in the United States.   This is activity that only happens in other countries, or so we were taught.  Ever since September 11, 2001, Americans have been conditioned to give up their rights in the name of security.  Politicians, including the president, have implied that we should be fine with the loss of privacy or our rights if it’s for the greater good.  What is the greater good?  Whose ideas are we being nudged, pushed and then shoved to conform too? 

Our country is turning into a police state, something that we used to fight against.  Can you imagine if the tyrants of the past had the ability to know every detail of their opponents’ lives?  How would they have used financial, medical or educational information against them?  What about their personal and private information?  What if they would have known the hopes and fears of their enemies?  What makes each person vulnerable?  Can you imagine how useful such confidential information could have been used?  The power, the influence, the control would have been catastrophic.  How do you defend yourself when every weapon being used against you is a direct assault on your ability to function? 

How would our world look if tyrants such as Stalin, Mao, Hitler or Mussolini would have had such private information on those they wished to control?  Pick a tyrant, any tyrant and imagine how the outcome could have been. 

Now imagine your life today.  How does it feel to know that the government, your government has all this information stored on you?  The PRISM program has been revealed and the government has made the whistleblower a target.  He’s a target because he had the courage to tell the American people what their government is doing.  The government is using all their resources to convince you he is an enemy of the state.  He drew his line.  He said enough is enough.

The Washington Post obtained a top-secret document that lists some very familiar companies.  The Post reported how the NSA collects the information it wants.  According to the document:  “Collection directly from the servers of these U.S. Service Providers:  Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube, Apple.”  How often do you use these servers?  You have become a target of your own government. 

Verizon received its orders from a “secret court.”  The court orders prohibit anyone from revealing the existence of such a secret program.  A Verizon official declined comment last week.  It isn’t surprising considering the personal consequences that could be involved. The NSA has the ability to collect everybody’s information.

In the eyes of today’s law, you may not be doing anything wrong or illegal.  What about tomorrow?  What if what you are doing today is considered questionable or illegal activity at some future time? The “I’m not doing anything wrong so what does it matter” argument is irrelevant.  The entity that is spying makes the rules.  In this case it’s our federal government.  The ruling party would decide if your activity is legal or not.  The law would change based on the philosophy of the powers that be.  Everyone would be a potential target.  No one would be safe.

We have the tool to stop the government from over reaching its power and authority.  The Constitution is the only way to prevent such tyranny from gaining a stronger hold on our country.  Of all the documents that have been saved over time, I feel this administration would like nothing more than to push the delete button on the Constitution.

“We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.

Ayn Rand

 

June 12, 2013

Not Fit To Lead

By Tammy Derouin

The government’s conduct and activities are leading us down a dark and dangerous path.  History is repeating.  The United States will succumb to totalitarian rule if we continue to ignore the disappearance of our Constitution.  

The crimes committed against the people of the United States by our government, are precisely the reason the colonists fought for independence from British rule.  The Declaration of Independence states why the line was drawn.  If you haven’t read it lately, read it.  The similarities are frightening.   We the people must restrain our government.  The Constitution prevents the government from encroaching over that line.  We have the tool but it is in jeopardy.

Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) gave a critical review this past week of the president and his administration.  His list included such activities as selling weapons to drug cartels/terrorists south of our border.  The weapons our government provided to our enemies claimed the life of an American border patrol officer.  The President, the State Department and his administration lied about the Benghazi attack.  They knowingly gave false information to the American people.  This activity cost four American lives.  Not only did the activity bring about their deaths but our government did nothing to help them once they were under attack.  Attorney General Eric Holder authorized surveillance of a Fox News reporter and his family.  The DOJ confiscated phone records of the Associated Press.  The administration used the IRS to target political opposition.  He could have added much more.  Why are we accepting so much corruption and deceit?

In today’s world, I call Rep. Bridenstine courageous.  Although he states the truth, making any negative statement against the Obama administration is dangerous.  Whistleblowers and those that want to preserve and follow the Constitution have become targets.

USA Today (London) reported this past week, “Under orders from a secret court, Verizon has been giving the National Security Agency its call records for millions of U.S. customers every day since late April.”  Don’t assume you’re safe if you use a different carrier. According to The Blaze, “Though Verizon is the only phone company that has been confirmed to be involved with the NSA’s spy program; many fear other major U.S. telecommunications companies are involved as well.  However, the court orders prohibit any one from revealing the existence of the secret program.”  That would explain, “We decline comment,” Ed McFadden, Verizon spokesman.  Phrases such as “secret court” should be grabbing your attention.

We have been told by the Obama administration; that they are only collecting “bare data,” such as phone number to phone number or email address to email address, not content.  William Binney, an NSA whistleblower stated, “Their statement about, ‘we don’t have content’ is an outright lie.”  He went on to mention that emails, videos and other content are covered under the NSA and the FBI’s secret “PRISM” program.  The Washington Post was one media outlet to exposes the secret “PRISM” program.  It involves tapping into the servers of nine top Internet companies to collect tons of user data.  There is debate as to how much data and whose data is collected.  If communication companies are forbidden to reveal its existence and the press is non-existent, who do you trust, the government?  Don’t forget, the Utah Data Center opened last week.  It all kind of makes sense now, doesn’t it?  Technology can be a wonderful tool.  If used with morals and with checks and balances, it will benefit the people.  If it is abused, it will be used against the people. 

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) asked if bloggers deserve First Amendment protection.  What has happened to us America?  Today’s blogger is yesterday’s, well, soap box critic.  Americans have freedom of speech as listed in the Bill of Rights.  The Constitution states that Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of the press.  What’s the difference?  American citizens have the God given right to be critical of the government and to express their opinions and concerns.  We can state them on paper, verbally or electronically. An American citizen who is a member of the press collects a paycheck.  The citizen part never changed.  We don’t have to agree with our government.  We shouldn’t feel threatened if we are critical, not in the United States.  This is what makes us exceptional.  It’s no accident that the government is silencing the press.  Individual speech is the next target.  History is repeating.

Rep. Bridenstine also indicated that the evidence that has been forth coming demonstrates Obama is “not fit to lead.”  Let’s face it, have you seen anybody point the finger or deny knowledge more than Obama?  Is he incompetent or negligent?  It’s one or the other and either one is just cause to question his ability but more importantly, his motive.  There isn’t a third option.    

“The only problem is that his vice president is equally unfit and even more embarrassing.”

Rep. Jim Bridenstine

 

June 5, 2013

An Unwavering Spine

By Tammy Derouin

“It never ceases to amaze me how spineless you are?”  Those were the words of my Nemeses the Narcissist.  He didn’t like the fact that I wasn’t going to listen to insults or take abuse so I ended our conversation, said goodbye and hung up the phone.  A controller doesn’t like losing control so those words were left for me.

It never ceases to amaze me how quick and easy it is for those with an agenda to insult, belittle, mock and dismiss those they fear.  This is a Saul Alinsky tactic.  The Left has been using it for some time.  It’s also a tactic that I’m very familiar with on a personal level. 

The Left fears their true agenda will be discovered before it can be completely implemented.  They desire absolute control.  To obtain the god-like control they crave, they must eliminate any opposition they will encounter.  How would that be achieved?

Spying and monitoring are effective ways to learn about those you wish to control.  On May 30, the National Security Agency held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its intrusive Utah Data Center.  Politicians and dignitaries were invited.  It wasn’t open to the public or to media outlets, well, except for the NSA’s public and media affairs office.  So, only state and federal authorities, along with their idea of “media,” were invited.  Red flags anyone? 

Last year I read that this data collection center would be able to hold four 25,000 square foot halls of servers.  All forms of electronic communications and transactions could be collected.  This could include public and private emails, online searches such as Google, online purchases, cell phone calls, books and magazine purchases, personal itineraries and all sorts of personal data trails.  Every time you swipe a bank card, credit card and even those wonderful rewards cards, they will be able to be tracked by our over protective, we know what’s best for you, government. 

Isn’t it just a little coincidental that Douglas Shulman, former IRS Chief, visited the White House numerous times between 2009 and 2012?  His reported visits range between 120 to 157 times, more than any cabinet member.  This is the time we are now learning conservative groups and those who opposed Obamacare or supported the Constitution were being targeted by the IRS.  How very interesting.  The IRS will be the chief enforcer of Obamacare.   Lois Lerner, Director of Exempt Organizations, stated she wasn’t involved.  However, evidence has begun to emerge that she was involved.  Interestingly enough, she asserted her constitutional right not to answer questions.  Yet she and others involved in this mind numbing scandal, targeted groups that support the Constitution.  Americans are being targeted by the U.S. government for supporting the Constitution.  Think about it.  Those who dared to speak out were called conspiracy theorists.  There’s a conspiracy alright but it’s the government who conspires against the citizens.

When power is abused to benefit an individual, a group or an ideology, everyone becomes a target.  I’m sure there are those on the Left who loved the fact the opposition was a federal target.  What they don’t understand is they could become the next target.  What if they fall out of favor with the ruling party?  What if there is no longer a Constitution?  How hypocritical of Lois Lerner to use the Constitution as her shield while targeting those who want to uphold it.

When there is abuse of power, nobody is safe.  Google is now a target of the FBI and so are you.  Originally, U.S. District Judge Illston ruled the FBI’s letters requesting unlimited kinds of private information of their customers was unconstitutional.  She is now requiring Google to comply with the secret demands.  I wonder what happened between then and now.  The proceedings were closed to the public, notice the emerging pattern?  It’s unclear what type of information the government demanded or who they were targeting.  Google must now comply with warrantless demands for information from the FBI.

Do you feel safer today than you did five years ago or do you feel like a target?  Do you feel your government is protecting you or exposing you?

The definition of spineless includes such words as cowardly and weak.  When a person stands up to someone who has over stepped their authority and refuses to listen or take insults and abuse, they are far from spineless.  It takes courage, strength and an unwavering spine to say enough is enough, I will not take anymore.  It takes determination, boldness and bravery to stand up to those who wish to control and abuse power.  So may I suggest that Americans do their part to ensure freedom and liberty for ourselves and our posterity.  If we don’t stand up to a tyrant, we will become the tyrant’s slave.

“ O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

The National Anthem