Insurance or Tax?

A bill introduced in the New York State Assembly would require the state’s residents to acquire liability insurance as a condition for gun ownership. The annual cost for $1 million in liability insurance is estimated to be between $1600 and $2000.

Proponents of the bill will certainly argue that this is no different than requiring insurance coverage for car registration or home insurance in order to obtain a mortgage. There is logic to that argument, but the bill opens the door for an onslaught of requirements for insurance.

Clearly, this is a mandate to buy insurance, though it is not the same as the mandate from Obamacare because it does not require everyone to buy insurance. However, if this bill were to land in a court’s lap for a decision, could it be labeled a tax?

No one expected the Supreme Court to rule the Obamacare mandate to be a tax, especially after Obama adamantly assured us it was not a tax. However, that is what occurred and, as with many court rulings, it created a slippery slope that a NY court may decide to slide down. Stranger things have happened.

Once that door is wide open, could liability insurance be required for ownership of a bow and arrow, machete, BB gun, darts, or a nail gun? How about for ownership of a dog, baseball bat, skateboard, or a bicycle? Could a purchase of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, or prescription painkillers require liability insurance or an additional health policy?

That may sound crazy but not too long ago it sounded crazy to buy water in bottles like soda, pay for a cable to receive free TV, hand out condoms in grade schools, or provide sex-change operations to prison inmates. Perhaps this may be a good time to buy stock in insurance companies.

David J. Hentosh

Obama Opened the Closet Door

Obama’s presidency has convinced the progressive left that their ideology is now mainstream America. They feel empowered by the arrogance of Obama’s ‘in-your-face’ liberalism and re-election and believe it is time to come out of the closet. Taking their cue from Obama’s war against everything conservative, they no longer try to hide contempt for conservative, Middle America values.

Thus, we find MSNBC show host Melissa Harris-Perry boldly admitting that the US military is despised as an engine of war by many progressives. This has been vehemently denied for years due to the backlash at the despicable treatment soldiers received during the Vietnam War era. The sham of respecting the military is being dropped.

We also find CBS boldly airing a segment about giving up on the Constitution. Many progressive ideas have been hampered by the Constitution and it is obvious they would like it altered, or eliminated, to suit their ideology. The process of removing that obstacle is being legitimized by the CBS segment.

President Obama has repeatedly shown that he cares more about redistribution than the country’s poor economy, spurring the progressive left to unleash resentment and hatred of the wealthy. Consequently, the rich have now replaced Bush as the scapegoat for all that is wrong.

Obama continues to rail against FOX News, the lone news network refusing to carry his water. This has emboldened many progressives to adopt that criticism, even while admitting they never watch FOX. This is deliberate abuse of the presidential “bully pulpit”. It is unseemly and it furthers the partisanship that is damaging the country.

From celebrity Samuel Jackson admitting voting for Obama because he is black to a NY Times reporter admitting almost every news organization submitted quotes to an Obama campaign “gatekeeper” for censoring, progressive liberals are no longer trying to hide their dirty ideological laundry.

Obama opened the closet door and whether it is true or not, progressive liberals believe the majority is behind them. As we all know, belief does not give ground to reason. The next four years may irreparably damage the very fabric of this nation.

David J. Hentosh

1st Amendment Clashes With 7th Century

Egypt’s Islamic and Muslim Brotherhood president, Mohamed Morsi, said the US needs to “fundamentally change its approach to the Arab world, showing greater respect for its values”. Furthermore, he said it was “up to Washington to repair relations with the Arab world and to revitalize the alliance with Egypt”. By “revitalize”, he means keeping the money flowing.

Respect for “values” that include beheadings, honor killings, terrorism, a real war on women (as opposed to US liberals’ twisted version), imposed religion, hating Jews, Christian-bashing, and other such behaviors is not going to happen. Until Morsi, along with the Arab world, stops trying to resurrect 7^th century values from the ash heap of history, there will be no respect.

The Arab world harmed its relations by attempting to force its values and religious beliefs into universal acceptance. Unfortunately, Obama, sympathetic to Arab demands and intent on diminishing US influence, began a policy of appeasement, bolstering confidence in those trying to force changes that mirror 7^th century values. This policy has succeeded only in fanning the flames of fanaticism and unrest in the Middle East.

Thus, Muslim leaders, once again, petitioned the UN to institute universal laws against “blasphemy” in an attempt to force all to bow to their beliefs. Religious fanatics, using a YouTube video as a tool, deliberately fomented riots and violence to assist their agenda. Those blinded by the idealistic notion of moral equivalence believe the ruse and continue to blame the video for this round of violence, thereby, assisting the fanatics in their cause. It is insane.

Religious fanatics are fueled by hate, intent on destruction, and unwilling to compromise. Our 1^st Amendment must never bend to 7^th century values or be affected by the hypersensitivity of these fanatics. The “change” Morsi seeks needs to start with him, his country, and his “Brotherhood”. Blaming the US for the consequences of Arab behavior has become a transparent ploy.

David J. Hentosh

A Message from TJC President Jeff McGeary

Dear Patriot,

Our August meeting will be held in conjunction with the Kitchen Table Patriots to present a project to help ensure the integrity of our electoral process.  This is a genuine non-partisan issue.  Win or lose candidates for office should be able to rely on the officials who oversee the polls on Election Day so that every legitimate vote is counted.

“True the Vote” is an initiative developed by citizens for citizens, to inspire and equip volunteers for involvement at every stage of our electoral process and to actively protect the rights of legitimate voters, regardless of their political party affiliation.  We are looking for people to learn about this effort and get involved today to ensure we have valid elections for all.  Please join us August 8th.

True the Vote
w/ TJC & KTP
Monday, August 8th, 7pm
The Moose Club
127 East State Street
Doylestown, PA

At the meeting we will begin planning for the 2nd Annual “We Read the Constitution” Rally at Washington Crossing State Park on Saturday, September 17th.  Those who attended last year will recall the educational and civic value of the event.  If you are interested in helping or being a reader, please contact Audrey Strein at audreys110@yahoo.com.

Also consider attending a wonderful event with the “First Lady” of the Conservative movement, Phyllis Schlafly, on Tuesday, August 9th at the Union League in Philadelphia.  Phyllis is the Founder and President of the Eagle Forum.  There is a reception and luncheon; more information can be found here:  http://www.eagleforum.org/w-mailing/2011/Philadelphia-Invite.pdf.

All the best,
Jeff McGeary
President, Thomas Jefferson Club

Arkansas Town Moves to Ban Free Speech

Uh-oh. I guess Arkansas forgot that little thing called the Constitution.

Check out this newscast describing how an Arkansas town has decided to ban any meetings in the town without city approval, if the city is mentioned at the meeting. The ordinance bans Boy Scout meetings, book clubs, and even talks at the dinner table if they include a discussion of the city. People can’t start groups either.

Geez, what next?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VP6TMd5e_o

Truth for American Teens Added to BlogRoll

American Politics and True History for Today’s Teens.

Here’s the first Constitutional discussion – The Preamble.

Reading Between Constitution’s Lines

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a liberal New York Democrat, has denounced the reading of the US Constituion on the floor of the US House of Representatives as “propaganda” and “nonsense.”

From The Washington Post:

And the Founders said: Let there be a constitution. And the Founders looked at the articles and clauses and saw that it was good.

For more than 200 years, Americans have revered the Constitution as the law of the land, but the GOP and tea party heralding of the document in recent months – and the planned recitation on the House floor Thursday – have caused some Democrats to worry that the charter is being misconstrued as the immutable word of God.

“They are reading it like a sacred text,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the outgoing chairman of the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, civil rights and civil liberties, who has studied and memorized the Constitution with talmudic intensity.

Nadler called the “ritualistic reading” on the floor “total nonsense” and “propaganda” intended to claim the document for Republicans. “You read the Torah, you read the Bible, you build a worship service around it,” said Nadler, who argued that the Founders were not “demigods” and that the document’s need for amendments to abolish slavery and other injustices showed it was “highly imperfect.”

Read the rest here.

“We the People” to Open Next Congress

From the Washington Times;

The Constitution frequently gets lip service in 

History Lesson for Constitution Day

From the Doylestown Intelligencer:

Washington Crossing Historic Park was one of hundreds of locations around the country where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were read Saturday.

With American flags flapping in a gentle breeze and the Delaware River as a backdrop, about 150 people gathered at Washington Crossing Historic Park Saturday for a refresher course on the country’s founding documents.

Members of the Bucks County-based Thomas Jefferson Club read every word of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution as audience members followed along with copies of both documents handed out by the club.

The reading was one of hundreds done at various locations around the country to commemorate Friday’s Constitution Day, said Thomas Jefferson Club founder and president Jeff McGeary, a Newtown Township resident.

Along with the readings, McGeary and other club members lent perspective and rounded out the history lesson by talking about the background and events leading up to the signing and ratification of both the Declaration and Constitution.

Read the rest here.

Reminder: September 18 Public Reading of the Constitution in Washington Crossing, PA