Here is what I have to say to both Barack and Michelle Obama.  You wouldn’t know sacrifice if it bit you on your proverbial buttocks. You and your family don’t have to live with the consequences of your actions. Like Congress, you are exempt from this disaster of a plan that will destroy our health care system. Like Congress, you and your family aren’t going to make any sacrifices for your fellow Americans.

The real underlying problem with all of the hype about health care reform is that it isn’t even about health care.  Sure it may address some issues relating to health care. But, the real purpose of all of this rhetoric and action by the liberals is the control of our very lives, liberty, and future.  Let me say again, this is not about health care!

What the liberals and Obama have really accomplished, unless we are able to overturn their actions, is the socialization of our great American Republic.  They have accomplished what their kind have been dreaming and scheming about for at least 100 years. That is the subversion of our republican form of government and the control of the people.

When a government is able to take over control of the health care system, they control the peoples very lives. They have “specialist” bureaucrats who decide on who gets care and at what level based on a formula which takes into account several factors.  Among these factors is an individuals “social usefulness” and the economic return on the money available.  In other words they now control your right to life.

In so doing, they deny the first and most sacred tenant of liberty, life itself.  If they can control your right to life, they can deny your liberty.  If they can control your right to life and deny you liberty, they can prevent you from pursuing happiness.

Our Constitution was formed to secure the blessings of liberty. The basic liberties stated in the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson penned these basic rights as those of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

This so-called health care reform is designed to deny “we the people of these United States” of all three.  It is designed to strip us of our freedom and place us under the thumb of government.  That is what it is really about. Don’t be fooled by all the rhetoric and media hype. See it for what it truly is.

Finally, to those Republican members of the Senate and House, wake up! Stop talking about health care reform and start making clear to the American people what is really the point of this legislation. Tell the American people the truth and stand firm in your oath to the Constitution and your obligation to the people who elected you.

It is not, nor has it ever been, about improving health care in America, people! It is time to fight for our God given rights by using our Constitutional authority to put down this rebellion of Obama and his liberal cronies in Congress.

American’s would do well to remember his words in light of the events of the last week.  With our very liberty on the line, we need to be inspired to action.  Americans need to be once more reminded of the sacrifice of brave men, living and dead, who have struggled and consecrated our freedom with their service and the blood of many. Following is my feeble attempt at writing the speech as it would apply today:

Nearly two hundred and thirty four years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great struggle, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met in a great battle of that struggle. We must dedicate our memory and our future actions to those who have given their lives that this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate or consecrate this nations long reign of liberty. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled for us, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world can never forget what they have done around the globe to advance the cause of freedom. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated  to the unfinished work which they who fought  have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be  dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we  highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

As our freedom is under assault by those that would take it from us and shackle us with the chains of tyranny, we must have a new resolve and dedication to the principles of our Constitution.  It is only with this renewed commitment to God and that resolve and dedication that we will be able to triumph over this enemy from within our nation.

This will not be an easy task.  This struggle is not merely the result of a few years of efforts by the enemy. Rather it is the culmination of nearly one hundred years of what many call  Progressive or Marxist ideals. For far too long, too many Americans have set back and acted as if totalitarianism could not possibly gain a foothold in America.  The events of the last weeks have proven that way of thinking to be greatly in error.

This is not a time for the faint of heart or the weak of spirit.  Rather, it is a time for great sacrifice and a strong spirit of patriotism if we are to turn back this attack on the Constitution and our American way of life.  We must not and cannot take this responsibility lightly. The future of our children and grandchildren and our Republic depend on it.

As Americans, we can little afford to allow our liberties to go silently into the night.  We must be united in our cause and rally around our Constitution.  We owe it to those brave men to not let them have sacrificed in vain. Freedom loving Americans of all colors and creeds must rise to the challenge that has been placed before us. We can and must bring about a new birth of freedom in this land.

In trying to put this whole situation into proper perspective I went to an old trusted source.  During the fight over the Republic City seal I was honored to meet and come to respect David Barton, founder and head of WallBuilders. In 2003, while in the area of Aledo, Texas I went over and met with David in his office. After our meeting, I was privileged to be able to tour the WallBuilders’ library.  One of the file cabinets I pulled open was full of old Sunday sermons from the Founding era of our nation.  I was impressed about how the Ministers of those day would preach about current events and how the Scripture relates to them.

While researching http://wallbuilders.com I came across a sermon by Rev. M. I. Motte  given on 07/05/1840 in Boston titled “Christian Patriot.”   In this 1840 sermon, Rev. Motte encourages Christians to fully engage the culture, especially in the political arena. He criticizes politicians for acting out of self-interest and greed rather than making decisions based upon what is morally right and wrong.  Motte insists that religious morality is the very first manifestation of true patriotism and “Public virtue is the strongest spirit of national vitality.”

According to Motte, the realization of this goal is to be found in individual piety and allegiance to righteousness over any political party.  I think this speaks as well to today’s issues as it did to the ones of Motte’s day. Following are two excerpts from his sermon that I believe put todays vote into perspective.

“But can it be possible, that men always do really believe as if for their interests? Can they be conscientious, in such innumerable cases, arriving, through the careful and dispassionate examination, at precisely the result that happens to favor the views and wishes? I allow a great deal for the blinding power of self-interest; but this uniform concurrence of hope and belief is astonishing still. These same people will reason as clearly as daylight on any argument which comes within the tenth of an inch of their own concerns without touching it; but, the moment it touches, their light is darkened, their logical acumen is blunted, their perceptions evince a certain unfortunate obliquity, which is sure to twist their notions in one invariable direction. Can this be right? Can it be honest? We know, or we might know, if we chose, that truth and justice cannot always, and on every accidental question and measure, be in our favor. We are bound, at any rate, not to take it for granted. Let us inquire. Let us make up our minds to lose so many dollars, relinquish a few prejudices, and partialities, and expectations, rather than lose probity, the approbation that speaks within, all generosity of soul, and the smiles of God. Let us not be satisfied to be guilty, because the guilt is shared with a multitude. Away with injustice and ungenerously, though only in thought, however popular, however fashionable. So shall we do our part to bring into currency a more elevated and uncompromising tone of political honor and conscience; and the whole regions of politics be no longer but as the Barbary States of moral geography, outlawed lands and piratical seas, from which are excluded all faith and virtue, all laws of God and man.

The Ruler of nations hath uttered the decree. From beginning of time his world has illustrating it. As surely as he is just and the King of nations as of individuals; as surely as there is truth taught by experience, and the unvarying certainty of the same effects from the same causes, according to the natural constitution he has impressed on his universe, the past, in all quarters of the globe, bids us look well to it. You may be the traitor within the garrison, though treason to the country be furthest from your thoughts. You may invoke ruin upon it when you are shouting, louder than any, the glory of its institutions. You may be the deadly enemy, though you shed your blood for it. Look into the nature of things. When hath a righteous nation perished? Where is there one doing justice and judgment, and it is not well with it? Public virtue is the strongest spirit of national vitality; and private virtue is the life-blood, coursing through every artery and vein, large and small, of the public institutions.

On the other hand, is it not undeniable from reason, scripture, and experience, that predominance of selfish principles and corrupt morals is the unfailing cause of calamities, perplexities, and ruin in a country?”

Those members of Congress who will cast their vote for the Health Care bill on the Sabbath would do well to read and head the words of Rev. Motte. The federal government has become corrupt and therefore lacks its moral authority.They are the traitors with-in the garrison even if treason to the nation is the furthest thing from their minds.  They are bringing ruin upon our nation. We the people must gain back that spirit of public virtue and hold these people accountable for their illegal actions. Only then can we hope to turn this nation around and return it to firm foundation.

We must identify  these traitors within the garrison and send them packing.

We have a document called the Constitution. It is a document that was well crafted and written.  You can take any section of it and read it through and get a very good grasp of what it means.  If you want to read the whole thing it doesn’t take very long.  To me, it seems quite clear in what the original intent of our Founding Fathers was when they wrote it.

Obama and the liberals though show nothing but contempt for the very document that they swore an oath to defend. They seem hell-bent on subverting it and re-defining what it means.  To them it is a living ever changing document. They believe it needs to be re-interpreted on a regular basis to fit the current situation.

They can’t stand the thought that it set up a government for the people and by the people.  How could that be when in their twisted minds only the elites are capable of governance.  In their minds the people need a keeper after all to give them what they need.  We couldn’t possibly have any idea what is best for ourselves.

Take Article II of the Constitution for example. It clearly states, “no persons except a natural born Citizen, or Citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President.” Pretty simple and straight forward to you and I, right?  Not to liberals and Barack Obama obviously. To them this is again is a thing to be changed or re-interpreted to fit the situation.  After all, they would reason we now live in a global society so the original intent can’t possibly fit the needs of the world. The presidency in their minds after all is bigger than just our nation. Therefore, shouldn’t  it be open to anyone whether they are a natural born citizen or not they would argue.

In emperor Obama’s and his attorneys minds the question is not whether or not he is a natural born Citizen of the United States. The question is whether any Citizen of the United States can prove standing in a U.S. court. What is standing from a legal definition?  It is the question of whether or not a person or persons have a legal right to initiate a lawsuit.

To do so, a person must be sufficiently affected by the matter at hand, and there must be a case or controversy that can be resolved by legal action. There are three requirements for Article III standing: (1) injury in fact, which means an invasion of a legally protected interest that is (a) concrete and particularized, and (b) actual or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical; (2) a causal relationship between the injury and the challenged conduct, which means that the injury fairly can be traced to the challenged action of the defendant, and has not resulted from the independent action of some third party not before the court; and (3) a likelihood that the injury will be redressed by a favorable decision, which means that the prospect of obtaining relief from the injury as a result of a favorable ruling is not too speculative.

In all of the cases requesting proof of Obama’s qualifications to be President, his attorneys have argued those initiating the suits lack standing.  I would argue they are looking at it from the point outlined in (3) above.  They believe the likelihood of the people obtaining relief from their injury  by a favorable ruling is too speculative.  In their minds we the people have no likelihood of the injuries to the Constitution being redressed by the courts.

Obama doesn’t think we have any right to question his eligibility to be President because he and his elitist cronies know what is best for us. In his mind, government is not for the people and by the people. It is for those “gifted few” who can see beyond our arcane Constitution and rule with a dictatorial mentality.

Silly people, government is for the elite. Not for we who in their minds are the ignorant masses. It couldn’t possibly be a government by the people, for the people in their twisted minds. We the people must demand relief of the injury to our Constitution.  We must join together to show who really holds the power to govern under the Constitution.

What beautiful words these are.  They are the words of men who understood what true Liberty was.  They also had no doubt who the source of  Liberty was and always will be.

When I first began doing my talk show, “AmericaFirst”, over a year and a half ago, I chose a passage of Scripture to be my mission statement, if you will.  I have quoted it often times since. In the King James version of  the Bible in II Chronicles 3:17, it says:

Now the Lord is that Spirit:  and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

I believe with all my heart the Founding Fathers had a firm grasp of where their and our Liberty comes from.  They knew you had to keep Christ as Lord of a free nation or it would not long endure.  We the people seem to have allowed our Lord to be pushed out of the public square, our day to day lives, and even the Churches of America.

Then we wonder why we wake up one day to realize our liberty has been gone for quite some time. We seek answers or causes from other sources to explain the problems we the American people are facing. The simple answer is there cannot be any true liberty without going to and recognizing its source.

As those of you who read my post last week know, in order to be released on my own recognizance, I had to cooperate in the collection of a DNA sample.  Cooperate is a funny word to use in this case, as the choice is to rot in jail if you don’t “cooperate”.  Last time I checked that didn’t seem much like cooperation but rather more like forced compliance.

What act supposedly gave them this authority to force me to provide my DNA? In 2000, Congress initially authorized the collection of DNA samples by federal agencies from persons convicted of certain federal crimes. Since that time, it has amended 42 U.S.C. 14135a. Most recently, Congress amended 42 U.S.C. 14135a to authorize the Attorney General to extend DNA sample collection by regulation to any individuals who are arrested, facing charges, or convicted, and to non-United States persons who are detained under the authority of the United States. These latest changes became effective January 9, 2009.

What amazes me is members of Congress seem to have no problem allowing the federal (in)justice system to force people who are merely facing charges to have to surrender their DNA.  This  in spite of the fact the supposed crimes have nothing to do with physical evidence in any way shape or form.  The more I think about this the more violated I feel.

In talking with people and making them aware of what the feds are able to do to the rights of people merely facing charges it didn’t make me feel any better.  Several people stated, ” So now they can plant your DNA anywhere?” I hadn’t thought of that aspect of it until they brought it up.

As far as I am concerned this forced collection violates those unalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.  My DNA is a unique identifier to what makes up my person or my physical being.  By taking this unique part of me they have interfered with my right to life and deprived me of my liberty. The fear of something happening to the sample or it being tampered with for corrupt purposes greatly impacts my ability to pursue happiness.

They have not only violated those unalienable rights granted to me by my Creator and protected by the Constitution, but have actually taken by force the very substance of His creation.  You need to realize this could just as easily be you setting here whose DNA is now in the hands of a corrupt federal government which is operating outside the Constitution and is capable of any abuse imaginable.

If you are a member of Congress or the State governments who approved this latest change, what the blazes where you thinking?  Or maybe you didn’t even take the time to read the changes before you cast your vote to violate the rights of  the people without regard or thought of the consequences? How could you think authorizing the federal Department of (in)Justice to collect DNA samples from people who are merely alleged to have committed a crime, was not a violation of their Constitutional rights?

I along with the majority of Americans  hold those truths to be self-evident and will not stand for the wanton disregard of our rights any longer. It is my intention to shout from the mountain tops until this type of tyranny is brought to light and ended.  Call you Congressman and Senators today to make them aware of this issue. Otherwise, it could be your DNA collected by the federal government next.

As those of you who read my weekly post know the federal government decided to target me by indicting me on five felony counts.  This was as a result of an unconstitutional grand jury’s actions.  I, like most other law abiding Americans, didn’t realize  if you are ordered to appear before a grand jury you have to wave your right to an attorney and you cannot plead the Fifth.   If you refuse to appear it will most likely result in an indictment.

Once a grand jury issues an indictment you are either arrested, must post bond, or surrender yourself to the U.S. Probation and Pre-Trial Services office prior to going in front of a federal judge. During the phone conversation with these representatives of the U.S. government you are asked if you own any guns. If the answer is yes, you are told you must immediately remove them from your home or face arrest. Remember, you are only alleged to have committed a crime or crimes, you have not been found guilty.

Next, during the long telephone interview process, you have to tell them how much money you have in the bank and in your pocket.  Then you have to give them the names addresses, and occupations of your parents, siblings, children, and spouse.  They go so far as to ask you how often you speak with each of them.  This is just the beginning of the revelation of just how little freedom we really have left.

The illusion of being innocent until proven guilty is one of the first things to be blown away.  You are instead considered guilty with little chance of being innocent.  If you are a former elected official they make sure to alert the press to that fact to make sure to get the maximum effect. This was illustrated in my case by the fact they indicted me under the wrong name ( by the way my real name is now listed as an alias).  The press would never have figured out it was me without being told.

When you arrive at the federal courthouse to appear before the judge you must first report to Pre Trial Services so they can go over your restrictions before you appear before the judge.  It is at this point you just how many rights you will be losing even though you have not been convicted of anything or even been arrested for a crime.  Here is a list of the restrictions or violations of your rights:

1. You are required to report weekly while awaiting trial.
2. You must notify them immediately of any changes in address, telephone number, or employment.
3. You must notify them within 24 hours of any law enforcement officials (this includes a speeding ticket).
4. You are not allowed to leave your state of residence without 5 days prior approval.
5. You are required to submit to home visits (announced and unannounced).
6. You must not violate any federal, state, or local law (any includes a parking ticket).
7. You must cooperate in the collection of a DNA sample.
8. You must surrender to serve any sentence imposed.
9. You must maintain or actively seek employment (good luck on this one).
10. You must refrain from possessing a forearm, destructive device , or other dangerous weapon ( their interpretation of course).

Then, there is the next part where you are advised of your penalties and sanctions for violating any of these conditions of your being released on your own recognizance.  These include additional prison time from one to ten years.  These penalties run consecutive to whatever sentence they might hand down form the original indictment.  You can also be required to pay up to $250,000 in fines.

Remember this is all simply because a grand jury handed down an indictment alleging you committed a crime. You haven’t been convicted of anything at this point.  You are fingerprinted. Your mouth is swabbed for a DNA sample and you are sent merrily on your highly restricted and controlled way.

For years I had heard the federal government no longer operates on the principle of a government of the people, for the people, and by the people.  A government that considers every citizen its enemy.  I have fought off those ideas to some extent up to this point.  For a long time I have tried to be the voice of reason among those who seek to restore our Constitutional Republic.

In the early 1980′s the truth of our federal government was revealed to me when a friend of mine’s tv repair business and assets were seized by the IRS.  As a result he lost everything he owned and his wife divorced him.  The problem was they had seized the wrong business.  They were after a gentleman with the same name who owned a hardware store.  I took him to Senator Bob Dole who corrected the mistake but the feds never made him whole.

As I look back, I realize God had given me a wake up call. He had shown me how this could happen to anyone but I chose not to act or speak  out at the time.  The problem is this could and does happen to innocent Americans everyday.  If our federal government decides to target you, the results are demonstrated above.

We no longer live under a constitutional form of government. The government in Washington is corrupt and out of control.  It is no longer a government of the people. It is a government that views its citizens as enemies of the state. Now is the time to wake up America.

Many of you are suffering the effects of the economy and the federal governments policies like my family and I are. This past year has been an extremely trying time for me and many others.  Many people have lost their jobs or had cuts in pay. Others are live in daily fear of finding themselves in that position.

Just over a year ago my pay from the  organization I worked with was first cut by nearly 84 % one month and completely eliminated the next.  I have spent the last year trying to find a position. I have applied for well over 350 jobs and only been interviewed four times during this period.  My search has included both nationwide and international  opportunities.

Recently, my wife and I had to place our home of nine years on the market or face foreclosure.  We unlike many were fortunate enough to get it under contract within 2 weeks of putting a sign in the yard and listing it on Craigslist.  Hopefully the sale will close in the next couple of weeks.  Most people aren’t this lucky in the current housing market.  We were truly blessed to be able to get what we asked for it.

Last week I was finally selected to be the Executive director of an organization here in Missouri.  At the same time I was in the running for the host of of the local morning radio talk program.  Things looked like they were finally going to turn around.  Little did I know that our federal government had other ideas.

On Wednesday afternoon I received notice a grand jury out of Kansas City, had handed down a five count indictment against me.  This was just the culmination of nearly a year and a half of being questioned by the feds and having my friends and associates questioned.  I was included with fifteen others in an alleged business loan scheme.  Two days later of course both of the opportunities were rescinded. As a result, on Friday, I had to sell my pickup as I had no idea how I would be able to pay the next months payment.

Needless to say the last year and especially the last few days have been extremely trying and difficult. On Tuesday I have to appear in federal court to enter my not guilty plea and then wait to see when and if I will be brought to trial.  This begins a new phase in the storm I have been enduring and the even dimmer prospects for any job being forthcoming.

Many could ask, “Keith with all of this going on, what stops you from doing something similar to Mr. Stack?” My response has been driven home to me in the last 24 hours.  The difference is I have not lost my faith in God.  I realize He is sovereign and in control of even my hardships. I realize I am not beyond His grasp during these trying times. He is there beside me every step of the way.

Steve Hall on Crosswalk.Com says, “if we understand God’s sovereign control even over our hardships, it should help us see God’s purposes for that hardship and help us realize we are not beyond His grasp during trying times.”  This thought has reminded me of the fact this is not the first storm I have experienced in my life. It is however the most severe.

In the last 24 hours the Casting Crowns song, Praise You In This Storm, has been playing through my head. I understand  I could let all of this get me down like Joseph Stack if I lose sight of the big picture.  Instead I choose to praise my God through this severe storm.  It is not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination.

My prayers is that I will not let this government or anyone else get me down.  These are truly dark and trying times.  However, I hope you can join me in looking to the following words of Casting Crowns song:

I lift my eyes unto the hills.
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
The Maker of Heaven and Earth.

As long as we keep in mind where our help will come from we can endure and overcome anything this government or anyone else sends our way.  I will not let them push me to the breaking point, because I       know we can weather the storms of life  no matter how severe they may be when we trust in the Lord our God.

During his interview with Katie Couric prior to the Super-bowl he said he wished he didn’t have to go to Congress to get health care reform. He lamented about how he wished he could enact it by executive order. If those other two pesky branches of government would just recognize that he is the emperor of the known world things would run so much smoother.

From the tone of his comments you get the impression Obama would love to have the same authority as Hugo Chavez.  If you think back Chavez felt the same way and eventually got his wish.  Is this the type of government you want Mr. Obama?

I believe you will see more and more attempts to paint the other two branches of government as obstructionist to his agenda of hope and change.  What is really scary is, I believe Obama believes his own press.  He actually thinks he should be the supreme authority in America without any sharing of power.

Recently while attending a meeting with church leaders in America, he told them they should question his actions or policies.  Again it was kind of like he was saying how dare you question the chosen one.

This week he also criticized the Senate confirmation process for delaying approval of his appointments before the vote on confirmation. He again seemed to be annoyed with the fact he would have to follow the same rules all presidents before him have had to follow.

This pattern of openly stating his frustration with the process is a very dangerous indication of Obama’s lack of concern for the original intent of the Constitution.    It is also an attempt to garner public support for him to have expanded powers.  I want to make it clear, I do not for a minute think he just doesn’t understand it. I think he just chooses to interpret it according to his wishes.

What is even more alarming is there are people on the left who would love to give him more authority. That way they could once again let the government take over one more aspect of their lives.

After all doesn’t Obama know what is best for each of us?  Isn’t he better equipped to lead the Nation?  If he just didn’t have to work with those other pesky branches of government he could show us all.

Mr. President there was a reason for the three branches of government being outlined in the Constitution. It was to keep people like you from becoming a dictator and destroyer of freedom.  Sorry, but as long as our Constitution remains intact, you will have to continue to work with them no matter how “pesky’ you may find them.

This time during a townhall speech in Nashua, New Hampshire, Mr. Obama again popped off about Las Vegas when talking about the need to tighten our belts due to the economy.  Obam said. ” You don’t go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage. You don’t blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you are trying to save for college.”  Really Mr. President, no joke? Not only are you clueless to the fact the American people aren’t stupid, you seem to have a problem with Las Vegas.

Harry Reid who normally would be lapping up Obama’s words actually took him to task. Reid  said, ” The President needs to lay off Las Vegas and stop making it the poster child for where people shouldn’t be spending their money.”  Others made similar statements about Obama’s statement.

You may recall as I do that during the last Presidential Election one of the national networks interviewed representatives form the service workers union in Las Vegas. What they found during that interview is that the majority of those workers when asked said they where voting for Barack Obama. I find it interesting that the man they thought would bring them hope and change, instead brought them unemployment.  The worse part is it wasn’t just his leadership which caused the problem. It was his irresponsible comments instead.

I really enjoyed Las Vegas’ Mayor’s comments about Obama.  The Mayor said of Obama’s planned trip to Vegas latter this month, ” When he comes I will do everything I can to give him the boot back to Washington to visit his failures back there.”  He made it clear the President was not welcome in his city. The Mayor went on to say, ” This President is a real slow learner.”

On February 01, 2010, President  Obama unveiled his budget for the 2011 Fiscal Year. Despite his talk of the need for fiscal restraint, this budget delivers little of that. The budget, rather than freezing spending, continues down the path of fiscal recklessness by continuing to increase total government spending.

This from the man who wants to tell us how to manage our money and where not to spend it.  All of this made me ask the question, “What is the President’s problem with Las Vegas?” I think I have the answers as illustrated by the following top ten list.

#1.  You get to choose whether or not you want to go to Vegas and risk blowing your money.  With the
federal government you don’t get to choose when they blow it.

#2.  In Vegas everything is available for the right price and you actually get the benefit of what you paid
for.  When Washington spends your money you get little or nothing for it.

#3.  When you pay for the Presidential Suite at a Vegas hotel, you get to sleep in it.  When the President or
your Congressman or Senator stay in a fancy hotel it is just at your expense.

#4.  The Casinos have daily loss limits.  Taxpayers don’t have that option when it comes to the daily
loss from deficit spending by the government in Washington.

#5.  They say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. What happens in Washington will effect all of our
lives.

#6.  In Las Vegas when you lay your money down you at least have a chance of winning more than you
had when you started.  With Washington you have no chance of winning it back.

#7.  Las Vegas can only survive on tourism. The government in Washington can survive by raising taxes,
borrowing from China, or printing more money.

#8.  In Vegas they don’t think you can spend your way out of debt.  In Washington they do.

#9.  You can get cheap airfare and travel packages for your trip to Vegas.  The President will spend
hundreds of thousands of dollars to fly in Air Force One to go to Vegas  for a politically motivated                 photo-op.

#10. In Vegas they arrest people who pick your pockets.  In Washington they give them awards and
accolades.

Most of us have enough sense to know whether or not we should buy a boat or take a trip to Vegas.  What Obama doesn’t like is the fact we have a choice at all.  He would rather control all our money and dole out  only what he thinks we need.  Under his plan, there would be no boat or trips to anywhere, let alone Vegas.  He would rather Washington have use of the money you choose for recreation or entertainment.

My response to his advice would be simple. “If the President calls, tell him we went to Vegas.” At least there we have a chance of coming back with more than we went with.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the legislation last summer.  However, it remains held up in the Senate as lawmakers weigh the possible benefits against potential job losses and higher energy costs. These proposals to reign in carbon dioxide emissions have brought any plans to build or invest in new coal-fired power plants to a screeching halt in the U.S.

Recently 15 Missouri communities saw the early effects when they were told they would no longer be able to buy electricity from Sho-Me power after Christmas of 2013  on  a long term basis.  Sho-Me cited its obligation to the co-ops as their priority.  Associated Electric, which sells wholesale power to Sho-Me, is scaling back on selling electricity to municipal utilities. They cited the uncertain future in generating additional energy as their reason.

The Cap and Trade proposal pushes for the development of alternative energy.  While the source of wind power is free, wind and other alternative energy sources cannot produce electricity that can be sold at reasonable rates. This is especially true when it comes to carbon legislation pending in Congress.

Associated Electric indefinitely suspended plans to construct a new 660-megawatt coal-fired power plant after $2 billion and financing dried up. Increased environmental regulation was cited as one of the factors in all but abandoning the project.

Due to the passage of the clean energy legislation in the House, investors and financiers are not interested in coal-fired power plants.  This is in spite of the fact that burning fossil fuels remains less expensive for generating cheap electricity.

What does all of this mean?

First, losing Sho-Me Power as a source for their power needs will most likely result in much higher electricity rates for the customers in the 15 effected communities.   They must try to find an energy supplier that’s going to give their residents economical rates.

Secondly, some cities are worried the perception of them not having a long-term power supplier could hurt their growing community’s economic development.  Developers my shy away from these communities due to concerns over a lack of affordable and reliable power.

Additionally, the situation shines light on Missouri’s lack of a long-term and affordable energy source if burning coal becomes too expensive to produce.  As a result the cities will have to band together to pool resources and negotiate for bulk power on their own.

The residents of these 15 communities are the first in Missouri who will feel the effects of this job killing tax.  Those on fixed income will be forced to make choices between electricity and food or medicine.  Businesses will be forced to cut costs elsewhere to offset the greatly increased cost of energy.  As the cost of energy increases for these communities companies could be forced to eliminate these 15 communities from plans for facility expansion or new construction.

This so-called clean energy legislation is not what is needed at a time when businesses are already having to determine means of cutting costs to survive in this strained economy. These 15 Missouri communities will be worth watching to give us a look at what the short and long term effects will be.

Call your Senator’s offices and once again express your opposition to this legislation. Then keep calling them every week until it is stopped.