Discussions - Restore the USA2024-03-29T00:34:12Zhttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/feed/allThe Unconstitutional Bump Stock Ban and What to do About it https://restoretheusa.net/blog/the-unconstitutional-bump-stock-ban-and-what-to-do-about-it2018-12-19T10:00:48.000Z2018-12-19T10:00:48.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><strong>The Unconstitutional Bump Stock Ban and What to do About it </strong><br />
<em>by Michael Boldin</em> (<a href="https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d&id=bd5bebf983&e=59e1cdc59b" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d%26id%3Dbd5bebf983%26e%3D59e1cdc59b&source=gmail&ust=1545263439717000&usg=AFQjCNHY-YjEF9b-f59PZP_uVQYE6k7Cfw">read this article in your browser</a>)</p>
<p>Today, the Trump administration rolled out its new federal regulation banning bump-fire stocks.</p>
<p>Anyone who possesses one of the devices will have 90 days to turn in or destroy it once the final rule is published in the federal register. That is expected to happen this Friday.</p>
<p>The ban is wholly unconstitutional. And it is almost identical, in process, to a failed attempt by the Obama administration to ban M855 ammunition. But it can be nullified through state, local, and individual resistance.</p>
<p><strong>TWO PEAS IN A POD</strong></p>
<p>Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker signed the new rule Tuesday morning. This is notable considering the fact that the Obama administration did not believe that federal law allowed it to ban bump stocks.</p>
<p>“The stock has no automatically functioning mechanical parts or springs and performs no automatic mechanical function when installed,” the Obama administration’s ATF technology chief wrote. “Accordingly, we find that the ‘bump-stock’ is a firearm part and is not regulated as a firearm under Gun Control Act or the National Firearms Act.”</p>
<p>In a dangerous and unfortunate step for the Constitution and liberty, it seems the Trump administration has taken an unconstitutional gun control move right out of Obama’s playbook.</p>
<p>As <a href="https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d&id=4690df03d4&e=59e1cdc59b" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d%26id%3D4690df03d4%26e%3D59e1cdc59b&source=gmail&ust=1545263439717000&usg=AFQjCNETvy22RFV3sYdSJakxepPNgO36qw">TJ Martinell noted</a>, “President Obama directed the ATF to pursue a possible ban on the M855 cartridge. To do so, they released a proposed agency rule which redefined M855 ‘green tip’ ammunition as ‘armor piercing’ to qualify it for federal prohibition under the 1968 Gun Control Act (GCA).”</p>
<p>This is essentially the same process the Trump administration is using to qualify bump-stocks for federal prohibition under the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA).</p>
<p>There’s some serious irony to this.</p>
<p>An administration widely believed to be in favor of more federal gun control rejected the notion of banning bump stocks under current federal law, while an NRA-backed administration, widely believed to be in favor of the Second Amendment, has aggressively pushed to get it done anyway.</p>
<p>In short, Trump is using Obama’s tactics to push more federal gun control — and both efforts were totally unconstitutional.</p>
<p><strong>ZERO</strong></p>
<p>As <a href="https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d&id=0182491a1e&e=59e1cdc59b" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d%26id%3D0182491a1e%26e%3D59e1cdc59b&source=gmail&ust=1545263439717000&usg=AFQjCNF2Nyi8jAs4TZnqX5jEiqGDPC9FDA">Mike Maharrey wrote</a>, “Because the Constitution does not delegate gun control to the federal government, and because the Ninth Amendment makes it clear that the federal government cannot infringe on individual liberties – even those not listed in the Bill of Rights – any regulation or laws regarding guns federal government is unconstitutional.”</p>
<p>“Simply put, no matter how you care to interpret the Second Amendment, based on a constitutional reading guided by Amendment IX and X, the federal government possesses zero authority to enforce any type of gun laws, or infringe on the right to self-defense in any way whatsoever,” Maharrey continued.</p>
<p>The Second Amendment has no exceptions, whether it’s for a bump-stock, M855 ammunition, or anything similar.</p>
<p><strong>STRATEGY</strong></p>
<p>The federal government relies heavily on state cooperation to implement and enforce almost all of its laws, regulations and acts – including gun control.</p>
<p>As noted by the National Governors’ Association during the partial government “shutdown” of 2013, “states are partners with the federal government on most federal programs.”</p>
<p>Partnerships don’t work too well when half the team quits.</p>
<p>The ATF has just over 5000 employees for the entire country, and about one-third of them are in administration. That labor force gives them a capacity of a little over 8000-10,000 closed cases per year.</p>
<p>In theory, then, say there were 10 or 11 million people owning undocumented short-barreled shotguns in violation of the NFA. There is absolutely no way that the federal government would have the resources to stop them without significant support from state and local law enforcement.</p>
<p>In 2014, Judge <a href="https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d&id=bb558771bc&e=59e1cdc59b" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d%26id%3Dbb558771bc%26e%3D59e1cdc59b&source=gmail&ust=1545263439717000&usg=AFQjCNEY984E9bBFQ71oqtt4-gjhfZMX1A">Andrew Napolitano discussed</a> how this would play out in response to Obama-era gun control proposals, noting that a single state withdrawing resources for federal enforcement would make new gun control efforts “nearly impossible” to enforce.</p>
<p>“If the federal government limits guns in a state, will it need the assistance of state police to enforce those limitations?” Napolitano asked rhetorically. “Yes, they will. And do the states have the right to refuse to enforce federal law that’s against state public policy? Yes, they do. That’s where we are on this.”<br />
<br />
Based on <a href="https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d&id=c12507d0e6&e=59e1cdc59b" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d%26id%3Dc12507d0e6%26e%3D59e1cdc59b&source=gmail&ust=1545263439717000&usg=AFQjCNG1Wz4YlGDOW4zBEK1C2jWaEe-h0A">James Madison’s advice for states and individuals in Federalist #46</a>, a “refusal to cooperate with officers of the Union” represents an extremely effective method to bring down federal gun control measures because most enforcement actions rely on help, support and leadership from state and local governments.</p>
<p>Even the Supreme Court agrees. Under the long-standing “anti-commandeering doctrine,” the Court has repeatedly held that states are not required to use resources or manpower to enforce or implement federal acts or regulatory programs.<br />
<br />
This is based primarily on five cases dating back to 1842. <em>Printz v. U.S</em>. serves as the cornerstone.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“We held in New York that Congress cannot compel the States to enact or enforce a federal regulatory program. Today we hold that Congress cannot circumvent that prohibition by conscripting the States’ officers directly. The Federal Government may neither issue directives requiring the States to address particular problems, nor command the States’ officers, or those of their political subdivisions, to administer or enforce a federal regulatory program. It matters not whether policy making is involved, and no case by case weighing of the burdens or benefits is necessary; such commands are fundamentally incompatible with our constitutional system of dual sovereignty.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>IDAHO</strong></p>
<p>On March 20, 2014, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter<a href="https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d&id=45d8662fb3&e=59e1cdc59b" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d%26id%3D45d8662fb3%26e%3D59e1cdc59b&source=gmail&ust=1545263439717000&usg=AFQjCNHvzG5JW3OYVh45ErsMYnN_iH9AKA"> signed a bill</a> that prohibits state or local enforcement of any federal act enacted after that date relating to personal firearms, a firearm accessory, or ammunition in violation of the Idaho state constitution’s protections of the right to keep and bear arms.</p>
<p>It reads, in part:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Any official, agent or employee of the state of Idaho or a political subdivision thereof who knowingly and willfully orders an official, agent or employee of the state of Idaho or a political subdivision of the state to enforce any executive order, agency order, law, rule or regulation of the United States government as provided in subsection (2) of this section upon a personal firearm, <strong>a firearm accessory</strong> or ammunition shall, on a first violation, be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) which shall be paid into the general fund of the state.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>TEXAS</strong></p>
<p>A similar, and potentially more expansive law has been proposed for the 2019 legislative session in Texas.</p>
<p>House Bill 238 (HB238), from Rep Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth) would prohibit state agencies and law enforcement officers from having “contract with or in any other manner provide assistance to a federal agency or official with respect to the enforcement of a federal statute, order, rule, or regulation purporting to regulate a firearm, a firearm accessory, or firearm ammunition if the statute, order, rule, or regulation imposes a prohibition, restriction, or other regulation, such as a capacity or size limitation or a registration requirement, that does not exist under the laws of this state.”</p>
<p>In short, as long as Texas itself doesn’t ban bump stocks, which it hasn’t, passage of HB238 would have the same effect as the 2014 Idaho law. That is, the state would be banned from helping the federal government enforce its new bump stock ban.</p>
<p><strong>TO THE STATES</strong></p>
<p>By withdrawing all resources and participation in federal gun control, states and even local governments can help bring these unconstitutional act to their much-needed end.</p>
<p>Supporters of the right to keep and bear arms should focus their efforts on the state level. There are four steps that can be taken today.</p>
<ol>
<li>Download the <a href="https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d&id=20d2f1b890&e=59e1cdc59b" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://tenthamendmentcenter.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3D3a5a3fb1ad250e247bde9f42d%26id%3D20d2f1b890%26e%3D59e1cdc59b&source=gmail&ust=1545263439717000&usg=AFQjCNGBxPvsM3pwyCEO5L_tZaZps7mxzQ">model legislation at this link</a> (pdf format)</li>
<li>Find the email address of your <a href="http://restoretheusa.net/state-groups/united-states-of-america" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state-level representative and senator here</a></li>
<li>Be firm, but courteous. Email both and urge them to introduce the model legislation.</li>
<li>Share this information widely via social media and to your email contacts.</li>
</ol>
<p>Bonus</p>
<ul>
<li>Wait 3-5 business days, then call the office of both your state representative and senator to follow up on your email no matter what you received in response.</li>
</ul>
<p>It’s going to take human action to get the job done. Today, it starts with less than ten minutes of action. In the end, when enough people say “No!” to the federal government, and enough states pass laws to back those people up, there’s not much the feds can do to shove their so-called “laws,” regulations, and mandates down our throats.</p>
</div>Letter To ALL Membershttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/letter-to-all-members2018-04-25T19:39:39.000Z2018-04-25T19:39:39.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Patriots,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>WE are the Blood, Sweat and Tears</strong> that waters the "Tree of Liberty".  If we fail to take action we will lose "The Republic".  The progressive globalists want to destroy OUR Constitution and enslave us.  The plan is to rule over us by attempting to provide a solution.  What a solution we have allowed to be created; Taxation and Federal Reserve.  How is that going for us?  Well Taxed Enough Already and a dollar that is .0233 of its value before the Federal Reserve.  No more Federal than Federal Express.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>We must get together with our local Patriots.</strong>  The way we do that is we join <a href="http://restoretheusa.net/select-your-state" target="_self">our state</a> and our county group.  The county groups are on the left hand side of the state group page. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How else will you meet others that have joined with Restore the USA to help <strong>Preserve the Republic</strong>?  We have to meet face to face and go as groups and show up at local politcal clubs, events, town halls and municpal or meetings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The attack is on and we must step up and take action.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I encourage you to watch, if you haven't already, the free movie showing of <a href="https://tz357.isrefer.com/go/Revelation/stepman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Revelation</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://tz357.isrefer.com/go/Revelation/stepman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-center" src="https://revelationmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/336x280-300x250.jpg" /></a></span></p>
</div>20 Thomas Jefferson Quotes for His 275th Birthdayhttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/20-thomas-jefferson-quotes-for-his-275th-birthday2018-04-15T23:24:12.000Z2018-04-15T23:24:12.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">April 13 is Thomas Jefferson’s 275</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">th</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Birthday. Since I share his birthday, I have long been a fan. But that is mainly because the drafter of the Declaration of Independence was the most prolific of our founders, especially on the topics of liberty and the rights that America was created to preserve and protect. It is worth celebrating his bicenterquasiquigenary (according to the only website I found providing a latin name) by remembering his profound words.</span></p>
<h2>Government Exists Only to Defend Rights</h2>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"A free people [claim] their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their chief magistrate.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The true foundation of republican government is the equal right of every citizen in his person and property and in their management.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It is to secure these rights that we resort to government at all.”</span></p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Liberty Is to Be Limited Only by Equal Liberty</h2>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our own will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add “within the limits of the law,” because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What more is necessary to make us a happy and a prosperous people?...a wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.”</span></p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Government Cannot Take Away Rights </h2>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Our legislators are not sufficiently apprised of the rightful limits of their power: that their true office is to declare and enforce only our natural rights and duties and to take none of them from us.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The right of self-government does not comprehend the government of others.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It [is] ridiculous to suppose that a man had less rights in himself than…his neighbors …This would be slavery, and not that liberty…for the preservation of which our government has been charged.”</span></p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Economic Freedom Is Not to Be Overridden  </h2>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The pillars of our prosperity are the most thriving when left most free to individual enterprise.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“To take from one because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father’s has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association—the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Our wish is that...[there may be] maintained that state of property, equal or unequal, which results to every man from his own industry or that of this fathers.”</span></p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Government Power Is to Be Limited </h2>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious…it might be much simplified to the relief of those who maintain it.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned…is the sum of good government.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy.”</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jefferson once asked a seminal question:</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others?”</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our founding documents were designed, partly by his hand, to answer that question. America’s federal government was given power restricted to a few enumerated tasks deemed necessary to maintain our rights and sustain our liberty, to minimize the extent to which some would govern others rather than letting them govern themselves. On his 275</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">th</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">birthday, we should reconsider how far America has departed from our founding principles and the importance of reclaiming the liberty we have allowed to be so severely compromised.</span></p>
<p><img src="http://fee.org/media/12517/garygalles.jpg?center=0.32916666666666666,0.475&mode=crop&height=287&widthratio=1.3937282229965156794425087108&rnd=131317337610000000" alt="Gary M. Galles" /></p>
<h5><a href="http://fee.org/people/gary-m-galles/">Gary M. Galles</a></h5>
<p class="brief-bio"> </p>
<p><strong>Gary M. Galles</strong> is a professor of economics at Pepperdine University. His recent books include <em>Faulty Premises, Faulty Policies</em> (2014) and <em>Apostle of Peace</em> (2013). He is a member of the FEE <a href="http://fee.org/about/faculty/">Faculty Network</a>.</p>
<p style="font-style: italic;">This article was originally published on FEE.org. Read the <a href="https://fee.org/articles/20-thomas-jefferson-quotes-for-his-275th-birthday/">original article</a>.</p>
<p><img src="http://fee.org/counter/168007" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></p>
</div>Taking Back Your Governmenthttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/taking-back-your-government2018-03-24T05:17:46.000Z2018-03-24T05:17:46.000ZRon Basshttps://restoretheusa.net/members/RonBass<div><p>The Neighborhood Precinct<br />
Committeeman Strategy:</p>
<p>Taking back your government<br />
by first taking back your<br />
political party.</p>
<p>It works.</p>
<p><a href="http://theprecinctproject.wordpress.com">http://theprecinctproject.wordpress.com</a></p>
</div>Overcoming confusionhttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/overcoming-confusion2018-03-17T17:16:36.000Z2018-03-17T17:16:36.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p>The ideal of political authority is to create a public mind that is a mirror image of the pretense of government. This is a perfect crime against human liberty.</p>
<p>The first cause of government is and can only be suppression of our human nature and loss of our identity as human beings and individuals. Hence, government authority and propaganda seek to fade the individual into group consciousness. Altruistic philosophy and self-denial is the government propaganda used in this process.</p>
<p>Governments must destroy the identity of the individual and subvert him to the mass conscience and control by the state. Carefully chosen words by the establishment are the basis of mass mind control leading to acceptance of force. Until the people accept collectivism under some pretext, they are not docile and completely subdued.</p>
<p>Words are created and repeated, which expands the collective psyche to accept and repeat some more. People who freely use those terms are not in control of their own thinking process.</p>
<p>Totalitarian regimes are successful when they have created a system of conventional wisdom in which their subjects acquire and remain in a state of confusion. This confusion is achieved when individuality is completely surrendered to the collective and reality is distorted by propaganda that creates two opposing thoughts which the masses accept as fact. George Orwell called this doublethink.</p>
<p>Orwell described it in <em>1984</em> this way:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them, to use logic against logic, to repudiate morality while laying claim to it, to believe that democracy was impossible and that the Party was the guardian of democracy, to forget whatever it was necessary to forget, then to draw it back into memory again at the moment when it was needed, and then promptly to forget it again, and above all, to apply the same process to the process itself—that was the ultimate subtlety: consciously to induce unconsciousness, and then, once again, to become unconscious of the act of hypnosis you had just performed. Even to understand the word—doublethink—involved the use of doublethink.</p>
<p>The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them… To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just as long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies—all this is indispensably necessary. Even in using the word doublethink it is necessary to exercise doublethink. For by using the word one admits that one is tampering with reality; by a fresh act of doublethink one erases this knowledge; and so on indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the truth.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The more the individual is diminished into crowd consciousness, the easier to develop the psyche of self-sacrifice to the state. Self-sacrifice means a willingness to surrender your rights for some fictional notion of "safety," die in foreign wars or a willingness to transfer your labor and wealth to the government under the fiction of income tax, Social Security tax, or inheritance tax. All governments use this psychological phenomenon to their advantage.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>This phenomenon was on display last Wednesday (March 14) when students across the country walked out school in a protest against "guns" and for "school safety." No doubt every tyrant in history gave a rousing "Huzza!" and all the Founding Fathers wept at the demonstration of hive mind collectivism on display. It was one of those rare times in American history when so many have at one time clamored so loudly to have their rights stripped from them outright.</p>
<p>Following are some examples of doublethink that are common today:</p>
<table border="1" width="647" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1">
<tbody>
<tr bgcolor="#EEEEEE">
<td>
<ul>
<li>Anyone under 21 is mentally and emotionally incapable of purchasing or owning a weapon.</li>
<li>High school students should direct our policies on gun control.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<ul>
<li>President Donald Trump is a dictator and a tyrant.</li>
<li>Trump and Congress need to buck the NRA and take away our guns.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#EEEEEE">
<td>
<ul>
<li>President Donald Trump is a dictator and a tyrant.</li>
<li>Trump and Congress need to buck the NRA and take away our guns.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<ul>
<li>President Donald Trump is a dictator and a tyrant.</li>
<li>Trump and Congress need to buck the NRA and take away our guns.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#EEEEEE">
<td>
<ul>
<li>Police are over-militarized and violent and are disproportionally targeting minorities.</li>
<li>Only police should have guns.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<ul>
<li>"Children" should stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26.</li>
<li>Pre-teen and teenaged children are capable of choosing their own "gender" and deciding to have an abortion without parental consent.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#EEEEEE">
<td>
<ul>
<li>Russia is our enemy.</li>
<li>Russia is backing the NRA and wants more Americans to be armed.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>We are the most conditioned, programmed beings the world has ever known. Not only are our thoughts and attitudes continually being shaped and molded, our very awareness of the whole design has been erased. Few question anything.</p>
<p>One important thought here: A person's IQ or education level has absolutely nothing to do with his perception of reality. Higher education is higher brainwashing. Sometimes it seems that the more education, the bigger the fool.</p>
<p>The only escape from tyranny is mental freedom — a transition from the unconscious to the conscious mind. Mental freedom precedes physical freedom. Mental freedom is not a figment of idealism or philosophy. It delivers peace of mind and unlimited prosperity to the individual right under the nose of oppressive government. To escape oppressive government is to escape the thought system into which we are born.</p>
<p>We need to be aware of the power of doublethink and how the authorities (seen and unseen) use it if we are to strive for a transition back to consciousness and self-realization. Political doctrines which offer automatic answers and lifetime guidance without the effort of using our conscious minds and individual self-esteem are false. They are ploys for power over our lives and our total existence, including our earned assets and wealth. It is all mass hypnosis that we have mistaken for political and mental freedom.</p>
<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br />
Yours for the truth,<br />
<a href="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/g1XASF0Kcc9ddHUFTuidpE4Nn7jyRUtXzzo7TMpCRwnRzQaN7dGLxHfsjsLasO6_qrNhG7PcqtCAsAsOFtpZ2FIBrgdFyLYN6zA2LBEEmcQuXrx4q1o8PqL8-q5FoO0=s0-d-e1-ft#%3Ca%20href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-left" src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/g1XASF0Kcc9ddHUFTuidpE4Nn7jyRUtXzzo7TMpCRwnRzQaN7dGLxHfsjsLasO6_qrNhG7PcqtCAsAsOFtpZ2FIBrgdFyLYN6zA2LBEEmcQuXrx4q1o8PqL8-q5FoO0=s0-d-e1-ft#%3Ca%20href=" /></a></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://plimages.blob.core.windows.net/images/emails/PLA_Bob_Signature.jpg">Bob Livingston<br />
Editor, <em>The Bob Livingston Letter™</em></a></span></p>
</div>THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE COMPLACENThttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/this-is-not-the-time-to-be-complacent2018-03-16T14:53:41.000Z2018-03-16T14:53:41.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><h4>Patriots,</h4>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE COMPLACENT.</strong></h2>
<h4>If you are on this site, you realize that OUR Country has been hijacked by the Progressive Left. Whether it is illegal immigration or refugee resettlement, the most egregious attack is on the "Bill of Rights".<br />
<br />
With the advent of continued school shootings and the fact that most schools are so-called "Gun-Free Zones, the lefties have gone on the attack of OUR firearms. The very firearms that OUR Forefathers had credence to protect as a RIGHT. The RIGHT to protect OUR life, liberty and treasure from the very government that they created. Not a privilege, a God given right.<br />
<br />
Now the debate turns to school safety and the logical solution is to protect the schools. Whether it is well-trained armed teachers, administrators or staff, the solution is obvious. If a perpetrator knows that the resistance will impede them, they will not attack.<br />
So what soes the progressive left do. They force the children to "stand in solidarity" with no choice not too. See the following story from Breibart.  <br />
<a style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/14/five-lies-student-walkout-gun-control/">Five Lies About the Student ‘Walkout’ for Gun Control</a>.<br />
<br />
So our willy nilly Senators and Representatives need to hear from us. TODAY. Contact them by e-mail, phone or letter. Visit them locally. Better yet, group up with those in your County or State and have a group visit.<br />
<br />
If you haven't joined your State, do it <a style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://restoretheusa.net/select-your-state">here</a>. If you haven't joined your County, after joining your state, find your County on the left side of the State page. The only way for us to make a difference is to do so together. Individually our voice is not heard. Together, our voice can make a difference. If everyone of us contacts our Senator and Representative, our voice can be heard.</h4>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Without each other we stand alone.</strong></h2>
<h4>Group together and share your strategy with one and other. YOU, have to take the ACTION.<br />
<br />
REACH OUT to your STATE and COUNTY Group and make it happen. Post and share your efforts so others may be so inspired to PROTECT OUR REPUBLIC.</h4>
<p>In Liberty,<br />
Edward Durfee<br />
Webmaster, RTU</p>
</div>Mass shootings will never negate the need for gun rightshttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/mass-shootings-will-never-negate-the-need-for-gun-rights2018-02-20T16:23:18.000Z2018-02-20T16:23:18.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p>Though the media often attempts to twist the gun rights debate into a web of complexity, gun rights is in fact a rather simple issue — either you believe that people have an inherent right to self defense, or you don't. All other arguments are a peripheral distraction.</p>
<p>Firearms are a powerful epoch changing development. Not because they necessarily make killing "easier;" killing was always easy for certain groups of people throughout history, including governments and organized thugs. Instead, guns changed the world because for the first time in thousands of years the common man or woman could realistically stop a more powerful and more skilled attacker. Firearms are a miraculous equalizer in a world otherwise dominated and enslaved by everyday psychopaths.</p>
<p>The Founding Fathers understood this dynamic very well. Despite arguments from the extreme left falsely insinuating that the founders are essentially barbarians from a defunct era that were too stupid to understand future developments and technology, the fact is that they always knew the core philosophical justification for an armed citizenry was always the most important matter at hand. Today's debates try to muddle meaningful discourse by swamping the public in the minutia of background checks, etc. But the following quotes from the early days of the Republic outline what we should all really be talking about:</p>
<p><strong>"The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."</strong><br />
- Thomas Jefferson, <em>Commonplace Book</em> (quoting 18th century criminologist Cesare Beccaria), 1774-1776</p>
<p><strong>"To disarm the people...[i]s the most effectual way to enslave them."</strong><br />
- George Mason, referencing advice given to the British Parliament by Pennsylvania governor Sir William Keith, <em>The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution</em>, June 14, 1788</p>
<p><strong>"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops."</strong><br />
- Noah Webster, <em>An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution</em>, October 10, 1787</p>
<p><strong>"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined.... The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun."</strong><br />
- Patrick Henry, Speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 5, 1778</p>
<p><strong>"The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them."</strong><br />
- Joseph Story, <em>Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States</em>, 1833</p>
<p><strong>"On every occasion [of Constitutional interpretation] let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying [to force] what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, [instead let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."</strong><br />
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Johnson, 12 June 1823</p>
<p>The inborn right to self defense and the ability of the people to maintain individual liberties in the face of tyranny supersedes all other arguments on gun rights. In fact, nothing else matters. This key point is so unassailable that anti-gun lobbyists have in most cases given up trying to defeat it. Instead of trying to confiscate firearms outright (which is their ultimate goal), they attempt to chip away at gun rights a piece at a time through endless flurries of legislation. This legislation is usually implemented in the wake of a tragedy involving firearms, for gun grabbers never let a good crisis go to waste. Exploiting the deaths of innocent people to further an ideological agenda is a common strategy for them.</p>
<p>This leads us to the recent mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida. The narrative being constructed around this event is the same as usual — that stronger "gun control and background checks" are needed to prevent such things from ever happening again.</p>
<p>Of course, Nikolas Cruz, the alleged perpetrator of the shooting, obtained his firearms legally and by passing existing background checks. Being that these background checks have been highly effective in stopping the vast majority of potential criminals from purchasing firearms through legal channels, one wonders what more can be done to make these checks somehow "foolproof."</p>
<p>Around 1.5 million 4473 forms (background checks) have been rejected by the ATF in the two decades since more stringent background checks were instituted. <a href="http://src.boblivingstonletter.com/ego/3f3548c5-4119-4b82-ab62-c18d2437890a/402572691/322267" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://src.boblivingstonletter.com/ego/3f3548c5-4119-4b82-ab62-c18d2437890a/402572691/322267&source=gmail&ust=1519229324493000&usg=AFQjCNFa_qLCI5Jd1EfP54GT4gGGQmlycA">As many as 160,000 forms are denied each year for multiple reasons, including mental health reasons</a>.</p>
<p>So, the question is, did background checks fail in the case of Nikolas Cruz? And would any suggested amendments to current 4473 methods have made <em>any</em>difference whatsoever in stopping Cruz from purchasing a weapon? The answer is no. No suggested changes to ATF background checks would have made a difference. But there are stop-gaps to preventing mass shootings other than the ATF.</p>
<p><a href="http://src.boblivingstonletter.com/ego/46d4d1f8-c416-4719-a161-bbb980e0336a/402572691/322267" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://src.boblivingstonletter.com/ego/46d4d1f8-c416-4719-a161-bbb980e0336a/402572691/322267&source=gmail&ust=1519229324493000&usg=AFQjCNFHe0_hgS9KQY0QyiheuzzRZVDWDA">The FBI, for example, had been warned on multiple occasions about Cruz</a>, including his open threats to commit a school shooting. Yet, the FBI did nothing.</p>
<p>Could the FBI have prevented the killings in Parkland by following up repeated warnings on Nikolas Cruz? I would say yes, it is possible they could have investigated Cruz's threats, verified them and prosecuted for conspiracy to commit a violent crime, or at the very least, they could have frightened him away from the idea.</p>
<p>Was the Parkland shooting then a failure of background checks or a failure of the FBI? And, if it was a failure of the FBI, then shouldn't anti-gun advocates focus on revamping the FBI instead of pushing the same background check and gun show "loophole" rhetoric they always do?</p>
<p>They aren't interested in instituting changes at the FBI because this could help solve the problem, and they do not care about solving the problem, they only care about pursuing their ultimate goal of deconstructing the 2nd Amendment for all time.</p>
<p>Gun control advocates will conjure up a host of arguments for diminishing gun rights, but just like the background check issue and Nikolas Cruz, most of them are nonsensical.</p>
<p>They'll make the claim that guns for self defense are fine, but that high capacity military grade weapons were never protected under the Constitution. "The founding fathers were talking about single shot muskets when they wrote that..." is the commonly regurgitated propaganda meme. This is false. High capacity "machine guns" (like the Puckle gun and the Girandoni rifle) and even artillery were actually common during the time of the founders and were indeed protected under the 2nd Amendment. In fact, the 2nd Amendment applies to all firearms under common military usage regardless of the era.</p>
<p>They'll claim that high capacity "assault weapons" are not needed and that low capacity firearms are more practical for self defense. They obviously are ignoring the circumstances surrounding any given self defense scenario. What if you are facing off with multiple assailants? What if those assailants are mass shooters themselves and obtained their weapons on the black market as the ISIS terrorist in Paris did in 2015? What if the assailant is a tyrannical government? Who is to say what capacity is "practical" in those situations?</p>
<p>They'll claim that tougher gun laws and even confiscation will prevent mass shootings in the future, yet multiple nations (including France) have suffered horrific mass shootings despite having far more Orwellian gun laws than the U.S. Criminals and terrorists do not follow laws. Laws are words on paper backed up by perceived consequences that only law abiding people care about.</p>
<p>The vast majority of successful mass shooting take place in "gun free zones," places where average law abiding citizens are left unarmed and easy prey.</p>
<p>So, what is the solution that gun grabbers don't want to talk about? What could have stopped the shooting in Parkland? What is the one thing that the mainstream media actively seeks to avoid any dialogue about?</p>
<p>The solution is simple — abolish all gun free zones. <a href="http://src.boblivingstonletter.com/ego/d34af839-2016-4476-9d45-f7940b83163b/402572691/322267" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://src.boblivingstonletter.com/ego/d34af839-2016-4476-9d45-f7940b83163b/402572691/322267&source=gmail&ust=1519229324494000&usg=AFQjCNEWXcf-E3PRcLbiJ0pruosBsQPBTA">If teachers at the high school in Parkland had been armed the day</a> Nikolas Cruz showed up with the intent to murder, then the entire event could have gone far differently. Instead of acting helplessly as human shields against a spray of bullets, teachers and coaches could have been shooting back, actually stopping the threat instead of just slowing it down for a few seconds. Or, knowing that he might be immediately shot and killed before accomplishing his attack, Cruz may have abandoned the attempt altogether. There is no way to calculate how many crimes and mass shootings have been prevented exactly because private gun ownership acted as a deterrent.</p>
<p>Most gun grabbers are oblivious to this kind of logic because they are blinded by ideological biases. Some of them, however, understand the truth of this completely, and they don't care. They are not in the business of saving lives; they are in the business of exploiting death. They want something entirely different from what they claim they want. They are not interested in life, they are interested in control.<br />
<br />
<br />
To truth and knowledge,<br />
<img class="CToWUd" src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/IoN4piTwdQobDCZpRyqIyxeGrJPtzjTcetXAc-QHBzqo3Ce0faMRN4z6b9MsByqh83LPeSXivoILH5BiYiIKc3ROOqHrVuVsXRJ-71JgSeSzXNE_AcPoWA=s0-d-e1-ft#%3Ca%20href=" />http://plimages.blob.core.windows.net/images/brandon-signature.png" /><br />
Brandon Smith</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Published by:</p>
<p>Personal Liberty Media Group<br />
Post Office Box 1105<br />
Cullman, AL 35056</p>
</div>Is Bitcoin the Answer?https://restoretheusa.net/blog/is-bitcoin-the-answer2017-12-15T16:46:34.000Z2017-12-15T16:46:34.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p></p>
<h2><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-4">Conclusion</span></h2>
<p></p>
<div><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-4" data-mce-mark="1">These are the issues at the heart of Bitcoin's monetary conundrum. For it to become usable as money its price must stabilize. For it to stabilize it must be able to expand and contract, under collateral agreements, according to ordinary monetary demand. But this drives a bus through its principles.<br />
<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-4" data-mce-mark="1">Moreover, those same collateral agreements demand that someone sits on the debt side of the score-keeping system, which no-one wants to do while the price is going up. And if finally someone extremely brave decides to step in and take the debt then the price will stall, and encourage thousands of twitchy Bitcoiners to sell, all at once, automatically bursting its bubble. It's in a catch 22 of its own design. In the long term, as it is, Bitcoin can't truly work as a stable form of money.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-4"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-4"><br />
Nevertheless it has done us all a very useful and overdue service. It shows us that while we have liberty we can make the choice to stop using whichever money government is seeking to over-tax and over-regulate, and </span><strong style="font-size: 14pt;">find our own way of keeping score</strong><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-4">. And for so long as the Bitcoin music plays, anyone can mimic the old fashioned buccaneers and smugglers who exchanged goods and services in their occasionally illicit deals, tax-free and un-pestered, on the fringes of society.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-4"> </span></div>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-4">Source: <a href="https://www.bullionvault.com/gold-news/bitcoin-gold-money-120720174" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gold News - Is Bitcoin Money?</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-4"><a href="http://www.bullionvaultaffiliate.com/durfgold/en" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">BullionVault</a>, A great way to buy and store Gold/$ilver/Platinum grams.</span></p>
</div>The Leftist Factions Against Trumphttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/the-leftist-factions-against-trump2017-11-13T10:44:03.000Z2017-11-13T10:44:03.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><h3>Our friends at <a href="http://www.afr.org" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Americans for a Free Republic</a>, offer this explanation of what we are facing and why. As always, Nelson does a bang up job in proving his piece.</h3>
<blockquote>
<p><span class="font-size-3">There are five basic factions in today's society that have a visceral hatred for Donald Trump and have forged a resistance to his administration that is destroying any hope for American restoration from a Trump presidency. Their goal is to produce legislative stagnancy over the next three years for his "Make America Great Again" agenda, to therefore neutralize him, and thus doom his re-election chances in 2020. The stage will then be set for resumption of our march toward the globalist World Government that has animated American politics for the past century.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">These five basic factions aligned against Trump are: 1) the liberal multiculturalists of the Democrat Party, 2) the collectivist professors of our universities, 3) the "fake news" media pundits, 4) the quisling RINOs and Neocons of the Republican Party, and 5) the CIA, FBI, NSA, Pentagon complex.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Let's elaborate on these factions:</span></p>
</blockquote>
<h3><a href="http://afr.org/nietzsche-trump-political-left/" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">The Leftist Factions Against Trump</a></h3>
</div>The Experiment in Freedom is Failinghttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/the-experiment-in-freedom-is-failing2017-10-18T01:49:28.000Z2017-10-18T01:49:28.000ZStepman NJhttps://restoretheusa.net/members/StepmanNJ<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2249585?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><h4>This message from the Rutherford Institute pretty much sums up what we stand for here at Restore the USA. I encourage you to read the entire piece.</h4><blockquote><p>The facts speak for themselves.</p><p><strong>We’re being robbed blind by a government of thieves. </strong>Americans no longer have any real protection against government agents empowered to seize private property at will. For instance, police agencies under the guise of asset forfeiture laws are taking Americans’ personal property based on little more than a suspicion of criminal activity and keeping it for their own profit and gain. In one case, <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/04/25/how-oklahoma-cops-took-53000-from-a-burmese-christian-band-a-church-in-omaha-and-an-orphanage-in-thailand/">police seized $53,000 from the manager of a Christian rock band</a> that was touring and raising money for an orphanage in Thailand. Despite finding no evidence of wrongdoing, police kept the money. Homeowners are losing their homes over nonpayment of taxes (<a rel="nofollow" href="http://money.cnn.com/2012/07/10/real_estate/tax-liens/">for as little as $400 owed</a>) and municipal bills such as water or sewer fees that amount to a fraction of what they have invested in their homes. And then there’s the Drug Enforcement Agency, which has been searching train and airline passengers and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/10/dea-travel-record-airport-seizures/88474282/">pocketing their cash</a>, without ever charging them with a crime.</p><p><strong>We’re being taken advantage of by a government of scoundrels, idiots and cowards.</strong> Mencken calculated that “Congress consists of one-third, more or less, scoundrels; two-thirds, more or less, idiots; and three-thirds, more or less, poltroons.” By and large, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/185918/majority-americans-congress-touch-corrupt.aspx">Americans seem to agree</a>. When you’ve got government representatives who spend a large chunk of their work hours <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-are-members-of-congress-becoming-telemarketers/">fundraising</a>, being feted by lobbyists, shuffling through a <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/the-lobbying-reform-that-enriched-congress-224849">lucrative revolving door</a> between public service and lobbying, and making themselves available to anyone with enough money to secure <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/03/11/congress-to-constituents-show-me-the-money/">access to a congressional office</a>, you’re in the clutches of a <a rel="nofollow" href="https://theintercept.com/2015/07/30/politicians-admitting-obvious-fact-money-affects-vote/">corrupt</a> oligarchy. Mind you, these same elected officials <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.pennstatelawreview.org/118/penn%20statim/DontBeSillyFinal.pdf">rarely read the legislation</a> they’re enacting, nor do they seem capable of enacting much legislation that actually helps the plight of the American citizen. More often than not, the legislation lands the citizenry in worse straits.</p><p><strong>We’re being locked up by a government of greedy jailers.</strong> We have become a <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/10/the-black-family-in-the-age-of-mass-incarceration/403246/">carceral state</a>, spending <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.rawstory.com/2016/07/us-spending-three-times-more-on-prisons-than-schools-federal-report/">three times more on our prisons</a> than on our schools and imprisoning close to a <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/new-report-slams-unprecedented-growth-in-us-prisons/">quarter of the world’s prisoners</a>, despite the fact that crime is at an all-time low and the U.S. makes up only 5% of the world’s population. The rise of overcriminalization and profit-driven private prisons provides even greater incentives for locking up American citizens for such non-violent “crimes” as having an <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-07-11/single-mother-arrested-for-grass-after-not-mowing">overgrown lawn</a>. As the <em>Boston Review</em> points out, “America’s contemporary system of policing, courts, imprisonment, and parole … <a rel="nofollow" href="http://bostonreview.net/us/donna-murch-paying-punishment">makes money</a> through asset forfeiture, lucrative public contracts from private service providers, and by directly extracting revenue and unpaid labor from populations of color and the poor. In states and municipalities throughout the country, the criminal justice system defrays costs by forcing prisoners and their families to pay for punishment. It also allows private service providers to charge outrageous fees for everyday needs such as telephone calls. As a result people facing even minor criminal charges can easily find themselves trapped in a self-perpetuating cycle of debt, criminalization, and incarceration.”</p><p><strong>We’re being spied on by a government of Peeping Toms.</strong> The government is watching <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201409/all-eyes-you">everything</a> you do, reading everything you write, listening to everything you say, and monitoring everything you spend. Omnipresent surveillance is paving the way for government programs that profile citizens, document their behavior and attempt to predict what they might do in the future, whether it’s what they might buy, what politician they might support, or <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.wired.com/2011/10/pre-crime-detection/">what kinds of crimes they might commit</a>. The impact of this far-reaching surveillance, according to <em>Psychology Today</em>, is “<a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201409/all-eyes-you">reduced trust, increased conformity, and even diminished civic participation</a>.” As technology analyst Jillian C. York concludes, “Mass surveillance without due process—whether undertaken by the government of Bahrain, Russia, the US, or anywhere in between—threatens to stifle and smother that dissent, leaving in its wake a <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/06/201362574347243214.html">populace cowed by fear</a>.”</p><p><strong>We’re being ravaged by a government of ruffians, rapists and killers. </strong>It’s not just the police <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/police-shootings-2016/">shootings of unarmed citizens</a> that are worrisome. It’s the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/10/swat-raid-casualties">SWAT team raids gone wrong</a>—<a rel="nofollow" href="http://theweek.com/articles/531458/troubling-rise-swat-teams">more than 80,000 annually</a>—that are leaving innocent citizens wounded, children terrorized and family pets killed. It’s the <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.rt.com/usa/355602-baltimore-police-illegal-strip-searches/">roadside strip searches</a>—in some cases, cavity searches of men and women alike carried out in full view of the public—in pursuit of drugs that are never found. It’s the potentially lethal—and unwarranted—<a rel="nofollow" href="http://data.huffingtonpost.com/2016/school-police/tasers">use of so-called “nonlethal” weapons such as tasers on children</a> for “<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.kansas.com/news/article1090931.html">mouthing off to a police officer</a>. For trying to<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/03/deputies_use_taser_to_stop_stu.html"> run from the principal’s office</a>. For, at the age of 12, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/mom-upset-after-officer-uses-taser-child-during-fi/242588106">getting into a fight with another girl</a>.”</p><p><strong>We’re being forced to surrender our freedoms—and those of our children—to a government of extortionists, money launderers and professional pirates.</strong> The American people have repeatedly been sold a bill of goods about how the government needs more money, more expansive powers, and more secrecy (secret courts, secret budgets, secret military campaigns, secret surveillance) in order to keep us safe. Under the guise of fighting its wars on terror, drugs and now domestic extremism, the government has spent billions in taxpayer dollars on endless wars that have <em>not</em>ended terrorism but merely sown the seeds of blowback, surveillance programs that have caught <em>few</em> terrorists while subjecting all Americans to a surveillance society, and militarized police that have <em>done little</em> to decrease crime while turning communities into warzones. Not surprisingly, the primary ones to benefit from these government exercises in legal money laundering have been the corporations, lobbyists and politicians who inflict them on a trusting public.</p><p><strong>We’re being held at gunpoint by a government of soldiers: a standing army. </strong>As if it weren’t enough that the American military empire stretches around the globe (and continues to leech much-needed resources from the American economy), the U.S. government is creating its own standing army of militarized police and teams of weaponized bureaucrats. These <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-does-the-irs-need-guns-1466117176">civilian employees are being armed to the hilt</a> with guns, ammunition and military-style equipment; authorized to make arrests; and trained in military tactics. Among the agencies being supplied with night-vision equipment, body armor, hollow-point bullets, shotguns, drones, assault rifles and LP gas cannons are the Smithsonian, U.S. Mint, Health and Human Services, IRS, FDA, Small Business Administration, Social Security Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Education Department, Energy Department, Bureau of Engraving and Printing and an assortment of public universities. There are now reportedly more bureaucratic (non-military) government civilians armed with high-tech, deadly weapons than U.S. Marines. That doesn’t even begin to touch on the government’s arsenal, the transformation of local police into extensions of the military, and the speed with which the nation could be locked down under martial law depending on the circumstances.</p></blockquote><h4><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/this_is_how_tyranny_rises_and_freedom_falls_the_experiment_in_freedom_" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">The Experiment in Freedom Is Failing</a></h4></div>Heritage Conference Call for October 16th, 2017https://restoretheusa.net/blog/heritage-conference-call-for-october-16th-20172017-10-17T15:03:57.000Z2017-10-17T15:03:57.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">To watch/listen to a replay of this week’s Sentinel Call, please visit our Heritage Action Sentinel Nation Page at <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkEGPgyAUhH-NXkgNIIoeOLR2m92Ll26yZ5SnJUUwStP47xfttps0gQPzJvPNQwmZlR2JtaCYcBIupgxTnNCU5ixJGStPvCp5_pGntCgjhi8waS97kK3XzsIgtUlaN8QXwQqMu65sGsyzAvJCMqUKQgsV1K6RbWzExftxjtJ9RE_h3O_3pJMtNM5d14wg9ZO7BQc9ncF6bcHUcsUEIZ4EqNvUAYQSbvTOmjBPLPh4Xmy7a-UwSt3bndfegIj4IaL0KX6vWnhvaFpJY1DtPMyI4CirQjrJwwj9AFzNgj7_VkT7bUf0718j-PENqNUb7Us9UCTj-GWfwSqYdlYOz3Lb3503-VXtAH5eUA0m2B-wX3rxgr8" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkEGPgyAUhH-NXkgNIIoeOLR2m92Ll26yZ5SnJUUwStP47xfttps0gQPzJvPNQwmZlR2JtaCYcBIupgxTnNCU5ixJGStPvCp5_pGntCgjhi8waS97kK3XzsIgtUlaN8QXwQqMu65sGsyzAvJCMqUKQgsV1K6RbWzExftxjtJ9RE_h3O_3pJMtNM5d14wg9ZO7BQc9ncF6bcHUcsUEIZ4EqNvUAYQSbvTOmjBPLPh4Xmy7a-UwSt3bndfegIj4IaL0KX6vWnhvaFpJY1DtPMyI4CirQjrJwwj9AFzNgj7_VkT7bUf0718j-PENqNUb7Us9UCTj-GWfwSqYdlYOz3Lb3503-VXtAH5eUA0m2B-wX3rxgr8&source=gmail&ust=1508319629373000&usg=AFQjCNFJyJ3zMC4HjuFIQ0JpYz0cm6Uhtg">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr />groups/SentinelNation/.</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>BIG NEWS</b>: President Trump will be speaking <span data-term="goog_164290008" tabindex="0">tomorrow</span> night at Heritage Foundation’s Annual President’s Club Dinner. If you are in town for the event, please stop by and say hello to me and meet the Sentinel Builders from the Northeast. If you’d like to watch a live stream of the address, please check out <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkD9vgzAQxT-NWSyQ_2CMB4aENmqXLK3U2TUHWDU2Anfg29chTapGuhvu3dP7na5rtFA9zWzDCJU0NWElYaRgnFVlwctSnWSrZPVccVYrVJIRFhv1ANpEGzxM2rrChCkbm54aUQsGvO_NJ0gpeC0ZlSqNUnUEMteMMc6IHxA7pfqfVIRlyJYGuu-lB0igMMfgnfVQeIjZunmTGz3N2g4-jzY6aJA8IsZu4vtFS_Oez1rtHD6HCCumBIk28WiVVvgD4Mtt-OUXjg87Hf_5LxHy6QFouwfaa3dFUSHJ3b6C72DJvZ5ux-3_edvl-2lHiOuGz-CS_Qr7Acb0eOE" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkD9vgzAQxT-NWSyQ_2CMB4aENmqXLK3U2TUHWDU2Anfg29chTapGuhvu3dP7na5rtFA9zWzDCJU0NWElYaRgnFVlwctSnWSrZPVccVYrVJIRFhv1ANpEGzxM2rrChCkbm54aUQsGvO_NJ0gpeC0ZlSqNUnUEMteMMc6IHxA7pfqfVIRlyJYGuu-lB0igMMfgnfVQeIjZunmTGz3N2g4-jzY6aJA8IsZu4vtFS_Oez1rtHD6HCCumBIk28WiVVvgD4Mtt-OUXjg87Hf_5LxHy6QFouwfaa3dFUSHJ3b6C72DJvZ5ux-3_edvl-2lHiOuGz-CS_Qr7Acb0eOE&source=gmail&ust=1508319629373000&usg=AFQjCNFh5OT0u2TWHjzLbBRSbL1zbNAr7g">heritage.org</a> for the live stream.  <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUctuwyAQ_Br7YmFh_KA--JCkjdpLLq3UM_UuMQoGy-BG_vtiJ06lSCDEMDszu0AjylpmsWoYzXgWNmUFZTRlOauKNC-K-sgPNa_eqpy91FFBOxyVF2cUrVfWYC-UTlvbx13z0-Y_lIs6LzMA2day4rKlJXCGdSELGeum836I8l3EjmFdr9d0U0vteA7QMKJz91MBGk_AGqGB-HHqBwKo1S-O5IKzsR6JAFgKiO-QbEpE2smAWMI5IoyZhCYPORePDcI0SsTQih28NVoZTA362M2mJa3oB6HOhnjlNTYR30eMbeDXgoX72gE7CK2TU4jhkoxG5SHEzqrwlHwjXvScvN8DJbt1Usk_f5Hgr0-GCp7cPuBmlZWcPugODYQBGNFv4dYf-FzhR7Q9ejcnJ9SBfjP7A5Ylnq0" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUctuwyAQ_Br7YmFh_KA--JCkjdpLLq3UM_UuMQoGy-BG_vtiJ06lSCDEMDszu0AjylpmsWoYzXgWNmUFZTRlOauKNC-K-sgPNa_eqpy91FFBOxyVF2cUrVfWYC-UTlvbx13z0-Y_lIs6LzMA2day4rKlJXCGdSELGeum836I8l3EjmFdr9d0U0vteA7QMKJz91MBGk_AGqGB-HHqBwKo1S-O5IKzsR6JAFgKiO-QbEpE2smAWMI5IoyZhCYPORePDcI0SsTQih28NVoZTA362M2mJa3oB6HOhnjlNTYR30eMbeDXgoX72gE7CK2TU4jhkoxG5SHEzqrwlHwjXvScvN8DJbt1Usk_f5Hgr0-GCp7cPuBmlZWcPugODYQBGNFv4dYf-FzhR7Q9ejcnJ9SBfjP7A5Ylnq0&source=gmail&ust=1508319629373000&usg=AFQjCNHsUaDJbc7ed1ThYZZxVVirvhi53A">http://www.heritage.org/press/<wbr />president-donald-trump-<wbr />deliver-keynote-address-the-<wbr />heritage-foundations-annual-<wbr />presidents</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><strong>Congressional Brief:</strong> The Senate is in session. The House is on recess this week. Many representatives are back home in their districts for the week. Now is a great opportunity to reach out to their district offices and see if there’s still an opportunity to set up a meeting with your member of member of the staff regarding Tax Reform. Not sure who to talk to or what to do? Please reply to this email and we will work with you to try and set up a meeting with your legislator of their staff.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">For more specific details on Tax Reform and other issues please scroll down below.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><strong>Writers and Letters to the Editor Wanted: </strong>Thank you to those of you who have already submitted Letters to your local paper on Tax Reform to your local paper. We are off to a great start….</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">For the first time since 1986, Congress has the opportunity to pass significant Tax reform that not will only benefit individuals but businesses across the United States. But we are still seeking writers to submit Letter to the Editor regarding Tax Reform. We have templates and I am happy to help you craft or submit a strong letter to a local paper.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Please reply to this email if you are interested in supporting this effort or helping to find individuals in your network who’d be willing to contribute a Letter to the Editor.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><strong>Thank you for holding Congress accountable. If you have any questions, ideas, suggestions, please simply reply to this email.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Betsy Nelsen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Northeast Regional Coordinator</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><a href="mailto:Elizabeth.nelsen@heritageaction.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Elizabeth.nelsen@<wbr />heritageaction.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">@Nelsen.Elizabeth</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>October 16th: Sentinel Weekly Action Guide</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Washington, D.C. Update:</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">The Senate is in session this week while the House is in recess until <span data-term="goog_164290009" tabindex="0">October 23rd</span>. The Senate will consider a House-passed $36.5 billion emergency spending package, which includes an<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkDFvwyAUhH-NvSAswI4Jg4ckbdQuWVqpM4bnBAWDBWTIvy92mrSNBAP3TnffQ3dyJQZamo4Rymm-hDWEkYrVrG2qumnEnu8Eb1_bmq1F0ZATBJPkEaRKxjsYpbGV8mN56jRjUipQQ8NJ0-teSN3SYU1qJRQXtC5td0ppKupNwfb5_E-aQ7I4BYgRB7AgI8Q_LnyzYT9NPk8wbXFvrJ2lPjP4S8IDaAjS4sF6r_EU_DHIObMMHehLGAAyv5-Sd9Y4qBykMl6dwkqOkzRHh5NJFrqCbwvG7uLnrOX3gs120lp08AkioqRY7XI6bfMIfQGc7RW9_dCizUKLfv1zBH95KjT6qe1d36roipOHPYLLi2Enxzvc8u0fi_xA20KKV3QAm-23sm-iuZjz" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkDFvwyAUhH-NvSAswI4Jg4ckbdQuWVqpM4bnBAWDBWTIvy92mrSNBAP3TnffQ3dyJQZamo4Rymm-hDWEkYrVrG2qumnEnu8Eb1_bmq1F0ZATBJPkEaRKxjsYpbGV8mN56jRjUipQQ8NJ0-teSN3SYU1qJRQXtC5td0ppKupNwfb5_E-aQ7I4BYgRB7AgI8Q_LnyzYT9NPk8wbXFvrJ2lPjP4S8IDaAjS4sF6r_EU_DHIObMMHehLGAAyv5-Sd9Y4qBykMl6dwkqOkzRHh5NJFrqCbwvG7uLnrOX3gs120lp08AkioqRY7XI6bfMIfQGc7RW9_dCizUKLfv1zBH95KjT6qe1d36roipOHPYLLi2Enxzvc8u0fi_xA20KKV3QAm-23sm-iuZjz&source=gmail&ust=1508319629374000&usg=AFQjCNGS3ovF7H39yx5T-q6fwoQmSfXAfQ"> irresponsible provision</a> to cancel $16 billion of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) debt. Any emergency spending package must meet five criteria: necessary, sudden, urgent, unforeseen, and not permanent. The Senate is also scheduled to hold a “vote-a-rama” on the fiscal 2018 budget resolution, or vehicle for tax reform, this week. The Trump administration announced significant policy changes affecting health insurers and employers last week. The administration intends to “discontinue” illegal Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments to insurance companies, while also expanding the ability for individuals to buy less expensive and less regulated health insurance plans.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Core priorities for this week:</b></span></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Tax Reform: </b>Tell lawmakers to support the tax reform plan released by the “Big Six”, especially the repeal of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction in exchange for lower rates for all Americans.  </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Obamacare: </b>Tell senators to oppose any straight bailout of Obamacare, including the Alexander-Murray proposal and support President Trump’s decision to end the illegal CSR payments to insurance companies.  </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Immigration: </b>Tell lawmakers to support President Trump’s efforts to end DACA, secure our borders, and reform legal immigration.  </span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Taxes<br /></b><i>Pro-Growth Tax Reform</i></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>State of Play: </b>Republican leadership represented by the “Big Six” recently released an outline of their tax reform plan. Heritage Action <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkEFvwiAYhn9NeyE0QGmRQw_qZraLly3ZGemnklEggMn898M63WZSDrw8ed8nHQfVyT2tzcAIFbQcwjhhpGEt63nTci43Yi1F_9y3bCErTo4QTVYHUDob72BSxjbaT_VxEJSD0KLnut_xfsEA5I4TyWSnO73ftbUdjjmHql1WbFO-_02XkhKGCCnhCBZUgvSHwlcMqxCsOo0JH3zAWX3hEH3wSdnC1nGA8RT3AEXUh-ydNQ4aB7lOZ6exVlNQ5uBwNtnCUIlVxdgtfL9k5T77sbWyFm19hoQoqbp1aad9eUIfAJ_2jF5-tNBy1kK__KVCPD0MmvFh7XW8TtFOkDuewI0QsVPTTW7-v29zfFdbQU5ntAVb8OvYN1d0j_k" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkEFvwiAYhn9NeyE0QGmRQw_qZraLly3ZGemnklEggMn898M63WZSDrw8ed8nHQfVyT2tzcAIFbQcwjhhpGEt63nTci43Yi1F_9y3bCErTo4QTVYHUDob72BSxjbaT_VxEJSD0KLnut_xfsEA5I4TyWSnO73ftbUdjjmHql1WbFO-_02XkhKGCCnhCBZUgvSHwlcMqxCsOo0JH3zAWX3hEH3wSdnC1nGA8RT3AEXUh-ydNQ4aB7lOZ6exVlNQ5uBwNtnCUIlVxdgtfL9k5T77sbWyFm19hoQoqbp1aad9eUIfAJ_2jF5-tNBy1kK__KVCPD0MmvFh7XW8TtFOkDuewI0QsVPTTW7-v29zfFdbQU5ntAVb8OvYN1d0j_k&source=gmail&ust=1508319629374000&usg=AFQjCNEadGi_L1QAZylCGDOpDXABZzNx3w">praised</a> the GOP tax reform framework as pro-growth since it lowers the corporate rate, moves to a territorial system, permits full and immediate expensing, cuts individual taxes, and calls on Congress to end special interest carve outs. This plan will increase wages, create jobs, and grow the economy. Republicans in Congress plan to use the fiscal year 2018 budget reconciliation tool to pass pro-growth tax reform without Democrat support by the end of the year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">The Senate Budget Committee has approved a draft fiscal 2018 budget resolution while the House approved its version (<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_GviBbgA2Egw9J2qi95NJKPRN7baNiiAA3zdsXO00qVeJHfDvLjLZrFJM9yXVDMREkbUxrTHFJK8rrsqpreRB7Kfgzr-hGZjUeweuoBlBt1M7CpLQpWzflYyOY6HklTxuGeyV5C5xhsiFtL1XNKPDcNGOM55BV24we0rpcLqnVDh5CKAf3ldBJG5MuQlgci3stgdHNARbQzt6DjUXizsxLhFQVJB0RvmPuG-hm3wOkpO4cnTXaQmkh5uFq26JV01npwRZRRwNNJnYZpXf4vrD0XvPRvTIGHV2EgAjO2H5JxVMJfQB8mit6-Z0D2q6DQH_65Qvx9M9Qd__cXrubFWECP-QBbAe-sGq6h1sH_LbiR7QdxHBFRzBJfjP7AU0Ejuw" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_GviBbgA2Egw9J2qi95NJKPRN7baNiiAA3zdsXO00qVeJHfDvLjLZrFJM9yXVDMREkbUxrTHFJK8rrsqpreRB7Kfgzr-hGZjUeweuoBlBt1M7CpLQpWzflYyOY6HklTxuGeyV5C5xhsiFtL1XNKPDcNGOM55BV24we0rpcLqnVDh5CKAf3ldBJG5MuQlgci3stgdHNARbQzt6DjUXizsxLhFQVJB0RvmPuG-hm3wOkpO4cnTXaQmkh5uFq26JV01npwRZRRwNNJnYZpXf4vrD0XvPRvTIGHV2EgAjO2H5JxVMJfQB8mit6-Z0D2q6DQH_65Qvx9M9Qd__cXrubFWECP-QBbAe-sGq6h1sH_LbiR7QdxHBFRzBJfjP7AU0Ejuw&source=gmail&ust=1508319629374000&usg=AFQjCNF3-wjB0W9b9hQVWn_6bbQkI5lzEA">H. Con. Res. 71</a>) on a<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkEGPgyAQhX-NXogEEUUPHFq7ze6ll91kzyijkiIYpc3675fabTdpwkDm8cL3BiVkXnVprAUlKU9DEcoIJZhmtGA4Y6w68rrixVuR0bKKGBlg1l72IFuvnYVRaoNbN8aDYBWHrlCkLJsqa0oCDTDVZlTmpOFcQmzE4P0UZbuIHsNqDcxnPLjLArh316DAdQn7LUk4ZmdMnnP8M5p4FqAucwcQArjJO2u0BWzBx8tq26SV4yR1bxOvvQER8X1E6UP8ummh37i0lsagk_OwoJREeR1AaRGu0DfA2azo_W88tNvmQ__-2xP88ALU6oX2oe6oNOfkaV_AKpgTK8dHuO3fPjf5GW0PflnRCUyw32G_Rkd_Zg" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkEGPgyAQhX-NXogEEUUPHFq7ze6ll91kzyijkiIYpc3675fabTdpwkDm8cL3BiVkXnVprAUlKU9DEcoIJZhmtGA4Y6w68rrixVuR0bKKGBlg1l72IFuvnYVRaoNbN8aDYBWHrlCkLJsqa0oCDTDVZlTmpOFcQmzE4P0UZbuIHsNqDcxnPLjLArh316DAdQn7LUk4ZmdMnnP8M5p4FqAucwcQArjJO2u0BWzBx8tq26SV4yR1bxOvvQER8X1E6UP8ummh37i0lsagk_OwoJREeR1AaRGu0DfA2azo_W88tNvmQ__-2xP88ALU6oX2oe6oNOfkaV_AKpgTK8dHuO3fPjf5GW0PflnRCUyw32G_Rkd_Zg&source=gmail&ust=1508319629374000&usg=AFQjCNG5F1S_KpBjYD4LyjqWieVo7gU4jA"> 219-206</a> vote earlier this month. The Senate is scheduled to hold a “vote-a-rama” on its budget resolution this week. Once the House and Senate adopt a joint budget resolution with the appropriate reconciliation instructions, lawmakers will be able to move forward on tax reform. Some attention in the White House and on Capitol Hill is turning to how tax cuts and reforms would affect the deficit. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Reps. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), and Charlie Dent (R-PA)<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLsjI2ObvwIGkjdpLLq3Us7GXxKqxEWyU8vY1pEmlSPauPBrtfGvdyLzus9g0jGZlFi5lgjKaMs4KkXIh6kO5r8viteCsqiNBzzAZlCeQCo13MEhjU-WH-NzUsoKiY6JSnFayr3RX9VCzTmkKfUeL2DZnxDHibcQO4Vyv13T01qBRfh0RpBn9tIS-woSW0bUUoeB0GUaC8oeMVjqioTfK4EyY4GVex1MD-jL1AAHQj-idNQ5SBxjPi1NEyWGU5uQIGrTQROUuYuwufq5aeG9cbC-tTY4eYU5Cer6_AfA2-QL4tkvy9rd-0m77J__-dUT58hRo9FPau75FZXlJH_YZnIaJODnc4bZ__djkB9oOcF6SI9hgv4X9AkFXidY" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLsjI2ObvwIGkjdpLLq3Us7GXxKqxEWyU8vY1pEmlSPauPBrtfGvdyLzus9g0jGZlFi5lgjKaMs4KkXIh6kO5r8viteCsqiNBzzAZlCeQCo13MEhjU-WH-NzUsoKiY6JSnFayr3RX9VCzTmkKfUeL2DZnxDHibcQO4Vyv13T01qBRfh0RpBn9tIS-woSW0bUUoeB0GUaC8oeMVjqioTfK4EyY4GVex1MD-jL1AAHQj-idNQ5SBxjPi1NEyWGU5uQIGrTQROUuYuwufq5aeG9cbC-tTY4eYU5Cer6_AfA2-QL4tkvy9rd-0m77J__-dUT58hRo9FPau75FZXlJH_YZnIaJODnc4bZ__djkB9oOcF6SI9hgv4X9AkFXidY&source=gmail&ust=1508319629374000&usg=AFQjCNHpRzoCeINWelM7I_PPWggPJqoEEw"> remain skeptical</a> of the tax reform framework due to the issue of revenue-neutrality.   </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Action Item: </b>Sentinels should encourage their members of Congress to agree to a budget resolution that allows them to move forward on pro-growth tax reform, not revenue-neutral tax reform, as outlined by the “Big Six.” Sentinels should encourage their members to support a tax reform package that reduces the overall tax burden on the American people. Congress has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Tax reform should include the following principles:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">1.) lower and simplify the individual tax rate</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">2.) lower and simplify the corporate tax rate</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">3.) permit tax-free entrepreneurship (full expensing),</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">4.) tax profits only made in the U.S. (territorial system), and</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">5.) eliminate carve outs for special interests (including state and local tax deduction).  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Resources:<br /></b>Heritage Action activist toolkit: <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLhbINgaHA4ckbdRecmmlnl1YJ1aMjWArlbfvQppUjeQfeXY088ldY8raitQ1kgstaHOpuOS5LGSl8kKp-qD3ta6eq0Ju6kTxM4wOzQlMiy4G6I3zeRv79NzQXItWCSU_rbW1tlZ2lKY3hdIlWJP65ow4JMU2kQda_5OWEBIXDLr4hg4039kINo59hjH6i0MS07GB7mu0AAQTB4zBuwB5AEynObRZa_rBuFPI0KGHJtG7RMqb-L5o9F4Z5N54z44RYWKCJ-We0kVFI_YBcPEze_kFZNuVkP35lwj99FDouoe21-5aJUrN7_YJQgdjFkx_g1v_8G2V72g7wGlmR_Bkv5b9AEYrg00" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLhbINgaHA4ckbdRecmmlnl1YJ1aMjWArlbfvQppUjeQfeXY088ldY8raitQ1kgstaHOpuOS5LGSl8kKp-qD3ta6eq0Ju6kTxM4wOzQlMiy4G6I3zeRv79NzQXItWCSU_rbW1tlZ2lKY3hdIlWJP65ow4JMU2kQda_5OWEBIXDLr4hg4039kINo59hjH6i0MS07GB7mu0AAQTB4zBuwB5AEynObRZa_rBuFPI0KGHJtG7RMqb-L5o9F4Z5N54z44RYWKCJ-We0kVFI_YBcPEze_kFZNuVkP35lwj99FDouoe21-5aJUrN7_YJQgdjFkx_g1v_8G2V72g7wGlmR_Bkv5b9AEYrg00&source=gmail&ust=1508319629374000&usg=AFQjCNHKs1nLuKB-98E9XBeIv7SPVNvBWQ">http://heritageaction.com/<wbr />2017/08/tax-reform-toolkit/<br /></a>Sentinel brief: <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_GviAsWP8QH3xI0kbtJZdW6hmbdYyCwcJUbd6-2GlSNRKwYhjNfEI1sqx7nuoGGBc8bgYFA5ZBDlWR5UVRH8S-FtVzlcOmTgo2oNdBnlB2QTuLo9Qm69yYDk0OqoayjXEcoe1LaFvkou-Z4AUrcJOaZghhSvJtAoe4_ictIVFcMOJgm3hYREUn7-jJu68w0CC_qcfe-cWY-gbVp-8RI5SbgrNGW8wshnS-2I52cpykPlkadDDYJGKXANzE90WL95UF9tIYcnQBZ8JZUu5jOq_iE_lAPJsLefkFJduVlPz5lwjx9FCo1UPbq7pW8VKwu31Gq9BTK8cb3PqXb6t8R9thmC_kiCbar2U_31qGQg" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_GviAsWP8QH3xI0kbtJZdW6hmbdYyCwcJUbd6-2GlSNRKwYhjNfEI1sqx7nuoGGBc8bgYFA5ZBDlWR5UVRH8S-FtVzlcOmTgo2oNdBnlB2QTuLo9Qm69yYDk0OqoayjXEcoe1LaFvkou-Z4AUrcJOaZghhSvJtAoe4_ictIVFcMOJgm3hYREUn7-jJu68w0CC_qcfe-cWY-gbVp-8RI5SbgrNGW8wshnS-2I52cpykPlkadDDYJGKXANzE90WL95UF9tIYcnQBZ8JZUu5jOq_iE_lAPJsLefkFJduVlPz5lwjx9FCo1UPbq7pW8VKwu31Gq9BTK8cb3PqXb6t8R9thmC_kiCbar2U_31qGQg&source=gmail&ust=1508319629374000&usg=AFQjCNHOzKVBrlAmixWRSAu-EFehrGqeqA">http://heritageaction.com/<wbr />2017/08/need-pro-growth-tax-<wbr />reform/<br /></a>Heritage Action Myth vs. Fact: <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkEtvhCAUhX-NbgwGEKUsXMxMO2k3s2mTrqlclBTBIH3474tOZ5pOwiP3cO49X1CtrIUmuWkpJpykjSnDFJe0og0rK8bEkR8Ebx6ait6JjOEBgomyB9lF4x2M0tiy82M-tKQWIHXFxJsmDeZaKCoqRlWnGgCB69y2Q4xTVu0yekzr_6R1SBJXjHQRnI4peNQH_xUHFOU3CqB9GNG4pPpzRjr1JVMeWlAfQQMkOD9F76xxUDqI-by4DnVynKTpHYomWmgzvs8ovYgvq5bqjYkepLXFyUeYi5RfH1aOJj0VrwDvdikef4GL3UZc_PnXEfz-JtCom7QndY4iNcdX-wxOQUBOjhe47U-fN_mKtoc4L8UJbLKfw34Ar4SJVw" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkEtvhCAUhX-NbgwGEKUsXMxMO2k3s2mTrqlclBTBIH3474tOZ5pOwiP3cO49X1CtrIUmuWkpJpykjSnDFJe0og0rK8bEkR8Ebx6ait6JjOEBgomyB9lF4x2M0tiy82M-tKQWIHXFxJsmDeZaKCoqRlWnGgCB69y2Q4xTVu0yekzr_6R1SBJXjHQRnI4peNQH_xUHFOU3CqB9GNG4pPpzRjr1JVMeWlAfQQMkOD9F76xxUDqI-by4DnVynKTpHYomWmgzvs8ovYgvq5bqjYkepLXFyUeYi5RfH1aOJj0VrwDvdikef4GL3UZc_PnXEfz-JtCom7QndY4iNcdX-wxOQUBOjhe47U-fN_mKtoc4L8UJbLKfw34Ar4SJVw&source=gmail&ust=1508319629374000&usg=AFQjCNGmOrJ92mYyidDHui2-KU4fSq3Ogw">http://heritageaction.com/<wbr />2017/10/pro-growth-tax-reform-<wbr />myth-vs-fact/<br /></a>Heritage Action pushes back on special interest lobby: <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_GviAsjPHfwYckbdRecmmlnglsElQMFhClefuunSZVK8GB2dlvRuhB1v2hzM3AWdmWeBkXjLOCV7wRRSVEv203fds8NxXv-kywEwST5BGkSsY7GKWxhfJjfhq6vdo3QqqqFoxVyANodcc7xRSvNe9zO5xSmrJqlfEtnr-kGYLiFCBGGsCCjBBRiBc5TlQFkOmMMypTgnFKVAd_cTTJLzQffJh38zCAPocDAPb0U_LOGgeFg5THq1NUIUmaI26ZZGHI2nXG-V18nzV8L_X4RlpLdj5BJCXL6g3SywZH5APg017Jy093slrKk1__jGif_gUa_S_tVd-iyrplD3sEpyFQJ8d7ueV73xb5UW0NKV7JDizab2HfyqePqw" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_GviAsjPHfwYckbdRecmmlnglsElQMFhClefuunSZVK8GB2dlvRuhB1v2hzM3AWdmWeBkXjLOCV7wRRSVEv203fds8NxXv-kywEwST5BGkSsY7GKWxhfJjfhq6vdo3QqqqFoxVyANodcc7xRSvNe9zO5xSmrJqlfEtnr-kGYLiFCBGGsCCjBBRiBc5TlQFkOmMMypTgnFKVAd_cTTJLzQffJh38zCAPocDAPb0U_LOGgeFg5THq1NUIUmaI26ZZGHI2nXG-V18nzV8L_X4RlpLdj5BJCXL6g3SywZH5APg017Jy093slrKk1__jGif_gUa_S_tVd-iyrplD3sEpyFQJ8d7ueV73xb5UW0NKV7JDizab2HfyqePqw&source=gmail&ust=1508319629374000&usg=AFQjCNGtveSsABXxp_5Dq0U8PQ-mnLDA6w">http://heritageaction.<wbr />com/press-releases/swamp-<wbr />creatures-attempt-drown-tax-<wbr />reform/</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Healthcare<br /></b><i>No Obamacare Bailouts</i></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>State of Play: </b>Last week, the Trump administration announced significant policy changes affecting health insurers and employers. The administration intends to “discontinue” illegal Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments to insurance companies, while also expanding the availability of Association Health Plans (AHPs), short-term health plans, and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). The <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUMtuwjAQ_JrkYhHZzsPkkAOhRUUV9NBWVL0ZexNcHJsmLm34-jqhUAlp97Azo53ZlQVP84qEqqCYMOIb0wRTHNGYZkkUJ0m-YPOcZfdZTKd5kOAdtMrxGrhwyhpouNKRsE24K0TOUsy2RLJpss25rKgUhABgDMBjPA11sXPu0AXxLKALX7JVR4hqa2sNww4PVUrDwPjG5ak-9fTxrf_5dOJ1sVx9lE_vm9Xpmew9fVTwHbYFyK-2AvDB7MFZo5WByIALu96IieDNgavaTJxyGoqAlQGlF_BlwPw8xqFzrjVaWwcdIjhI596BZJ5CG4C97tHD39loNt6N_vXDCnZ3Y6jkjdtSnq1IyvBV3oGR0E4Mby7hxn8-j_A1Wgmu69EatJefzX4BF1OIcQ" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUMtuwjAQ_JrkYhHZzsPkkAOhRUUV9NBWVL0ZexNcHJsmLm34-jqhUAlp97Azo53ZlQVP84qEqqCYMOIb0wRTHNGYZkkUJ0m-YPOcZfdZTKd5kOAdtMrxGrhwyhpouNKRsE24K0TOUsy2RLJpss25rKgUhABgDMBjPA11sXPu0AXxLKALX7JVR4hqa2sNww4PVUrDwPjG5ak-9fTxrf_5dOJ1sVx9lE_vm9Xpmew9fVTwHbYFyK-2AvDB7MFZo5WByIALu96IieDNgavaTJxyGoqAlQGlF_BlwPw8xqFzrjVaWwcdIjhI596BZJ5CG4C97tHD39loNt6N_vXDCnZ3Y6jkjdtSnq1IyvBV3oGR0E4Mby7hxn8-j_A1Wgmu69EatJefzX4BF1OIcQ&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNFYbDpfrTfjg7JUScwsNoNbXA8HLw">court filing</a> and <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUcFuwyAM_ZrkEhERQpLlkEPbrdouvWzSzi44AY1AFGiz_v1Iu3bSJDDi-eH3bGQHVdsXqe4YLZoibso4ZTRnJat5XnLe7ptd29Qvdcme2oRThbMOMCCIoJ3FEbTJhRtT1XEKNTLG2_LYcBBVz4pWwPFYUAqVpCI1nQph8km5Sdg-rmVZ8kXpgMqdPOaDO0cwKCTTjN4T1_daYIRWa_Eo6BpYDGteS7RBgyH4jeIU9BmJmyXO8bEbXdB2IArBBCVgRiKUi7UIWEmi2QmDXt2nc4fyNPeIsTE3BWeNtphbDKm_WEEEjBPowZJIN9glzTZh7A5-rFi8X9thOzAmO7iAPos-q91qtY6p7BPxy1yy19-xZZvr3LI__lqief4nqOU_tTd5kyqqhj7oHu3asYXxbu76H-9X-GFti8FfsgOaSL-J_QB5QaBo" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUcFuwyAM_ZrkEhERQpLlkEPbrdouvWzSzi44AY1AFGiz_v1Iu3bSJDDi-eH3bGQHVdsXqe4YLZoibso4ZTRnJat5XnLe7ptd29Qvdcme2oRThbMOMCCIoJ3FEbTJhRtT1XEKNTLG2_LYcBBVz4pWwPFYUAqVpCI1nQph8km5Sdg-rmVZ8kXpgMqdPOaDO0cwKCTTjN4T1_daYIRWa_Eo6BpYDGteS7RBgyH4jeIU9BmJmyXO8bEbXdB2IArBBCVgRiKUi7UIWEmi2QmDXt2nc4fyNPeIsTE3BWeNtphbDKm_WEEEjBPowZJIN9glzTZh7A5-rFi8X9thOzAmO7iAPos-q91qtY6p7BPxy1yy19-xZZvr3LI__lqief4nqOU_tTd5kyqqhj7oHu3asYXxbu76H-9X-GFti8FfsgOaSL-J_QB5QaBo&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNGF0Fqh9LGw1dfy6U3sMaRFuEDJGg">executive order</a> are steps in the right direction, and expand the ability for individuals to buy less expensive and less regulated health insurance. As Heritage Action<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLsgI_4DDgUOSNmovubRSzwteiFVjkG0Oefsa0qRqJPvg8eqbmVUNlHVPU92wgkoab8FEwYqccVaJnAtRn-SxltVrxdmuTkRxQacDDAhd0JPFEbTJu2lML00tZUcF8r7lO9FLTqmUXPRqp6pS0bZNTXMJYU74PmGneP6TVkgUZ4feE4cGwaOPQnDLOBNQo7baBwfrLOnAdmg80cbgAIZMLYzQgUOirV8cOuKX1mulN0TqGlSL6xFj_mkOkzXaYm4xpP5qu0gbZ9CDJUEHg00iDwljd_Fz1eJ7i82OYEx2ngL6jBZJeYx0WsWv7Avx21yzt99O2X4rlf3Nrwj58mSo1ZPbu7pZ0VIWj3GPVsVKFsZ7uG3tH5v8iHbA4K_ZOa4F7c3sB6ipmT0" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLsgI_4DDgUOSNmovubRSzwteiFVjkG0Oefsa0qRqJPvg8eqbmVUNlHVPU92wgkoab8FEwYqccVaJnAtRn-SxltVrxdmuTkRxQacDDAhd0JPFEbTJu2lML00tZUcF8r7lO9FLTqmUXPRqp6pS0bZNTXMJYU74PmGneP6TVkgUZ4feE4cGwaOPQnDLOBNQo7baBwfrLOnAdmg80cbgAIZMLYzQgUOirV8cOuKX1mulN0TqGlSL6xFj_mkOkzXaYm4xpP5qu0gbZ9CDJUEHg00iDwljd_Fz1eJ7i82OYEx2ngL6jBZJeYx0WsWv7Avx21yzt99O2X4rlf3Nrwj58mSo1ZPbu7pZ0VIWj3GPVsVKFsZ7uG3tH5v8iHbA4K_ZOa4F7c3sB6ipmT0&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNFQ5ergb0UKXuNMh3TJ2Ys_xZz7hw"> noted</a> last week, the administration deserves credit for understanding these payments are unlawful and for halting them immediately.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Although Obamacare remains a fundamentally flawed law, Senate democrats nevertheless are ramping up ‘bipartisan market stabilization’ efforts and urging Republicans to come back to the negotiating table. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) are expected to introduce a plan to bailout insurers this week while Sen. Ron Johnson (R.-Wis.) will propose an alternative. Speaker Ryan reportedly drew a “red line” against bailing out insurance companies. The Trump administration has signaled its intention to take up Obamacare repeal next year and deny any straight bailout of Obamacare.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Action Item: </b>Sentinels should tell their members of Congress to support the Trump administration’s decision and oppose any efforts to bailout Obamacare; through a congressional appropriation or otherwise. Heritage Action will continue to 1)<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_GviAswD_EBx-StFF7yaWVel7DJkHBYAE95O1LnCZVIy2HnR3NfEIP0PYHXppBMC55fkw0TLBK1KJrqrpp-p3c9rJ77Wqx6ouGnTCYBEcElYx3OIGxlfJTeRr6UYoVrxXjSjdyFFL3GtpD33KmtepkaYdTSnNRrwuxy_M_6RqSxTlgjDSgRYgYs-A8ncBpSEjH3EX9CBMoCJhvZRhQf4cDYgbzc_LOGoeVw1TGi1NUwTSDOTqaTLI4FHJTCHEXP69a3hcesQVryd4njISzot3mdN7lE_lCPNsLefuFJeuFlvz5rxHy5anQ6Ke2d32r4q1kD3tEpzFQB9MdbvnPj0V-oG0wxQvZo832W9kPOlSJhw" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_GviAswD_EBx-StFF7yaWVel7DJkHBYAE95O1LnCZVIy2HnR3NfEIP0PYHXppBMC55fkw0TLBK1KJrqrpp-p3c9rJ77Wqx6ouGnTCYBEcElYx3OIGxlfJTeRr6UYoVrxXjSjdyFFL3GtpD33KmtepkaYdTSnNRrwuxy_M_6RqSxTlgjDSgRYgYs-A8ncBpSEjH3EX9CBMoCJhvZRhQf4cDYgbzc_LOGoeVw1TGi1NUwTSDOTqaTLI4FHJTCHEXP69a3hcesQVryd4njISzot3mdN7lE_lCPNsLefuFJeuFlvz5rxHy5anQ6Ke2d32r4q1kD3tEpzFQB9MdbvnPj0V-oG0wxQvZo832W9kPOlSJhw&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNGUbOWIrB_2xScd0gPEALKoHrRaUA"> oppose</a> any bipartisan efforts to bailout Obamacare and 2) urge the president to<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUMtuwyAQ_Br7YmEBfh98SNJG7SWXVuoZ43VMg8ECItV_37XTpFIkYGEYZobtW1E0A4tVyymrGE7Kc8ppyjNe5mmW582xOjRV-VpmvG6inI7gVBBnEDIoa2ASSqfSTvGICkA5L7qGCVEAdGyoa0ppUWS9lFkNsW7HEOYo20X8iEN9u_Ul7uysDIrhbk2Bha4LL8uc1sTBfO20ksJ44i_KmGWFQGgyOzuqTgViOzEJKRx4Iq05Y_Uohwz4gWkON-nYtdBf3QCAv7BzsEYrA6mBEPvFSCLFNAt1NiSooKGNqn3E-R38XDE8b-H5QWidnGwAnzAaFQdUZyVeJV8AF70kb389SnZbk5J__ipRvTwZqv7J7b2_WbGiog-6B9ODI0ZM93Bb8z82-BFtD8EvyQk00m9mvxUmmBY" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUMtuwyAQ_Br7YmEBfh98SNJG7SWXVuoZ43VMg8ECItV_37XTpFIkYGEYZobtW1E0A4tVyymrGE7Kc8ppyjNe5mmW582xOjRV-VpmvG6inI7gVBBnEDIoa2ASSqfSTvGICkA5L7qGCVEAdGyoa0ppUWS9lFkNsW7HEOYo20X8iEN9u_Ul7uysDIrhbk2Bha4LL8uc1sTBfO20ksJ44i_KmGWFQGgyOzuqTgViOzEJKRx4Iq05Y_Uohwz4gWkON-nYtdBf3QCAv7BzsEYrA6mBEPvFSCLFNAt1NiSooKGNqn3E-R38XDE8b-H5QWidnGwAnzAaFQdUZyVeJV8AF70kb389SnZbk5J__ipRvTwZqv7J7b2_WbGiog-6B9ODI0ZM93Bb8z82-BFtD8EvyQk00m9mvxUmmBY&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNGEGk-BNJPGbaPwcsZ1vajXIyOWEw"> overturn</a> the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)’s 2013-era guidance that authorized illegal insurance subsidies for lawmakers and congressional staff so they wouldn’t feel the full burden of Obamacare.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Resources:<br /></b>Heritage Action activist toolkit: <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_Gvli2ABuIDz4kaaP2kksr9byFTYyCIbK3lfL2xU6TqpH4EcNo5gPbgWwPPHedYFzzNJlomGCVqIVqqrpp2p3etlo9q1qs2qxhPY6O4IhgyMWAAzhfmTjkfYdSMJTI2gal_ERQoEEZw_TBrj6N5bnveqJzVq8zsUvjf9IcksQZI21MpWXCAIQl9AbK2fTtJiopRn9ylK7zsUP7NR4QE1Y8UwzeBawCUj5dgikNDGdwx1CSI49dpjeZEDfxfdbSeaERW_C-2EfCqeAsk9uUzlW6Kj4QT_5SvPyiFuuFtfjzzxH66aHQ2Ye2V3ut4lKzuz09z-JYBhhucMtvvi3yHW2DNF2KPfpkv5b9ADJNh-4" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_Gvli2ABuIDz4kaaP2kksr9byFTYyCIbK3lfL2xU6TqpH4EcNo5gPbgWwPPHedYFzzNJlomGCVqIVqqrpp2p3etlo9q1qs2qxhPY6O4IhgyMWAAzhfmTjkfYdSMJTI2gal_ERQoEEZw_TBrj6N5bnveqJzVq8zsUvjf9IcksQZI21MpWXCAIQl9AbK2fTtJiopRn9ylK7zsUP7NR4QE1Y8UwzeBawCUj5dgikNDGdwx1CSI49dpjeZEDfxfdbSeaERW_C-2EfCqeAsk9uUzlW6Kj4QT_5SvPyiFuuFtfjzzxH66aHQ2Ye2V3ut4lKzuz09z-JYBhhucMtvvi3yHW2DNF2KPfpkv5b9ADJNh-4&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNGueTnIGdlBFLbBG-XVcm9g4iujyQ">http://heritageaction.com/<wbr />2017/06/senate-ahca-activist-<wbr />toolkit/<br /></a>Sentinel brief on Obamacare bailouts: <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkDFvwyAQhX-NvaBYgLGxBw9J2qhdsrRSx-hsHwkqhsgmQ_59z06TqpGAg3en9z7RN1DURqS2kVxoQZtLxSXPZC5LleVK1Tu9rXX5WuayqhPFTzjaCEeELtrgcQDrsi4M6anBThijTW7aCjUoZQpdVlJLI0wLqHnqmlOM5ynJ14nc0fpvNbuQOHNQ4RUdPhyGMOIhtDBAB3RrKS5c4kTNdGywv4wGkajCOQbvrMfMY0ynq-9WHQxnsEe_ijY6bBK9SaS8i5-zRu-FRW7BObYPEScmeFJsyV2U1GJfiN_uyt5-Qdl6IWV_87OFfnkKtP1T2nt_ixKF5o_xCX2P48rDcIdbPvNjkR9oG4zTle3R0fgt7AcO64fx" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkDFvwyAQhX-NvaBYgLGxBw9J2qhdsrRSx-hsHwkqhsgmQ_59z06TqpGAg3en9z7RN1DURqS2kVxoQZtLxSXPZC5LleVK1Tu9rXX5WuayqhPFTzjaCEeELtrgcQDrsi4M6anBThijTW7aCjUoZQpdVlJLI0wLqHnqmlOM5ynJ14nc0fpvNbuQOHNQ4RUdPhyGMOIhtDBAB3RrKS5c4kTNdGywv4wGkajCOQbvrMfMY0ynq-9WHQxnsEe_ijY6bBK9SaS8i5-zRu-FRW7BObYPEScmeFJsyV2U1GJfiN_uyt5-Qdl6IWV_87OFfnkKtP1T2nt_ixKF5o_xCX2P48rDcIdbPvNjkR9oG4zTle3R0fgt7AcO64fx&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNHT3mJcNx3vS0dF8YbQgMLoZ6MHGw">https://<wbr />heritageaction.com/2017/08/no_<wbr />more_obamacare_bailouts/<br /></a>Sentinel brief on Obamacare exemption for Congress:<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM9vgyAcxf8avRANoIIePLRuzXbpZUt2ZvClJUUwwpL53w_t2mVN-BEeL-99QPWi6TTJTU8x4SRNTGtMcUkryuqyquvuwIeOs2dW0bbLanyG2URxAiGj8Q5GYWwp_Zifey0lbyWnQiuGG02VZBVjXaW1wKRrZW77c4xTyKpdRg9p_I9aU5K4cqQNt2kBpwr_KUYhxQwFfMM4rc5CeneaIYRkyece1NesARKbn6J31jgoHcQ8LE4WUoyTMCdXRBMt9BnfZ5TexPdVS-eNiA7CWnT0EQIiOGuGlE5YukIfABe7oJdfXLTbeNGff43gTw-FRj20vaprFWk4vttDeiPMhRPjDW770rdNvqPtIYYFHcEm-7XsB_jRiao" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM9vgyAcxf8avRANoIIePLRuzXbpZUt2ZvClJUUwwpL53w_t2mVN-BEeL-99QPWi6TTJTU8x4SRNTGtMcUkryuqyquvuwIeOs2dW0bbLanyG2URxAiGj8Q5GYWwp_Zifey0lbyWnQiuGG02VZBVjXaW1wKRrZW77c4xTyKpdRg9p_I9aU5K4cqQNt2kBpwr_KUYhxQwFfMM4rc5CeneaIYRkyece1NesARKbn6J31jgoHcQ8LE4WUoyTMCdXRBMt9BnfZ5TexPdVS-eNiA7CWnT0EQIiOGuGlE5YukIfABe7oJdfXLTbeNGff43gTw-FRj20vaprFWk4vttDeiPMhRPjDW770rdNvqPtIYYFHcEm-7XsB_jRiao&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNF4UqTJcaOgcuBLYTOIXGFiPAlH_g"> https://<wbr />heritageaction.com/2017/08/<wbr />end-obamacare-exemption-<wbr />congress/</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Immigration<br /></b><i>Ending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)</i></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>State of Play: </b>The Trump administration announced an end to DACA with a delayed enforcement date of <span data-term="goog_164290010" tabindex="0">March 5th, 2018</span>. Ten state attorneys general threatened to sue the administration over the program by <span data-term="goog_164290011" tabindex="0">September 5th</span> if the President did not rescind the Obama-era program. The six month delay is intended to spur congressional action to address both DACA, but could also become a vehicle to address the broader immigration failures. <span data-term="goog_164290012" tabindex="0">On Sunday</span>, the administration unveiled a list of 70 immigration-related policies Congress should pursue in conjunction with DACA efforts.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Action Item: </b>DACA should be rescinded permanently. Sentinels should ask their members of Congress to support President Trump’s efforts to end the unconstitutional and illegal DACA program created by President Obama in 2012. Sentinels should encourage Congress to support the administration’s efforts to enforce U.S. immigration laws, secure our borders, and reform our broken legal immigration system. Additionally, the 1986 mistake of trading amnesty (i.e., DACA) now for border security funding later should not be repeated. Congress should pursue meaningful reforms such as ending chain migration and replacing it with a merit based immigration system.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Resource:<br /></b>Heritage Action toolkit: <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_GviBbmB8TH3xI0kbtJZdW6nmL1wkqxgjIIW9f7DSpWgkOO4y-mWXoQXZjU5qe0UY1-VImKKM146wVNReiO6h9p9rnlrNNVwh6xmASnBB0MrPDCYyt9TyV515qzoTqqOxQjfITeaO5bAWnepOx41Da_pySL_i2YId8_pIWSBZ9wBirgBYhYswCusG4UzWAhkrPLiaTLosfbAXeh9kHAwmzsQw9DpcwIuaWs0-zs8Zh7TCV8ep0pWHyYE6uygSLfaF2BWN38X3R8ryWY3uwlhznhJE0tJD7TG_a_EQ-EL_slbz8NCfbtTr59S8I9fQv0Az_0l6HW1QjFX3YY94UQ-VgupdbP_dtlR_VdpjilRzRZvst7BstpI6z" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1uwyAQhJ_GviBbmB8TH3xI0kbtJZdW6nmL1wkqxgjIIW9f7DSpWgkOO4y-mWXoQXZjU5qe0UY1-VImKKM146wVNReiO6h9p9rnlrNNVwh6xmASnBB0MrPDCYyt9TyV515qzoTqqOxQjfITeaO5bAWnepOx41Da_pySL_i2YId8_pIWSBZ9wBirgBYhYswCusG4UzWAhkrPLiaTLosfbAXeh9kHAwmzsQw9DpcwIuaWs0-zs8Zh7TCV8ep0pWHyYE6uygSLfaF2BWN38X3R8ryWY3uwlhznhJE0tJD7TG_a_EQ-EL_slbz8NCfbtTr59S8I9fQv0Az_0l6HW1QjFX3YY94UQ-VgupdbP_dtlR_VdpjilRzRZvst7BstpI6z&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNGj5X-SodFuW_brxoHGP-tNeVpwug">http://heritageaction.com/<wbr />2017/09/no-amnesty-toolkit/</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Welfare<br /></b><i>Work Requirements for Food Stamps</i></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>State of Play: </b>Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) introduced a work for welfare bill called the <i>Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reform Act of 2017</i> (<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUctuwyAQ_Bp8QbbM0-HgQx6N2ksurdQzsdc2KsYpkEb5-2LnUakSLDCzw-xCW2uhOpKZmpakImmWlJe0LCijkheMc7WvtqqSL5LRlUK8HMCbqHvQTTSTg1EbWzTTmA21oE1LpGxIp9VRdaCOHWeKrIRcVcC4ymw9xHgKiK0R3adxuVyS1PUeQij66SdBR2NtWggRccgfXAKG6Rwgv7NUKYnY_huxHaKi2qRAaQDtm2HZpjBbCHFjBr8I7oxYNClIn_Qk8zW0Z98BpN6mU5ycNQ4KBzELV9fkjR5P2vQujyZaqNHsRh_gx4yl89IR3Wpr8WGKEDApkdjOfaQ61_gT4Mte8ev95fB6eTr8lz9fUe3-GZr2n9tbe7Mioiqf6QFcCz53enwUt3zJ-wI_S9tADFd8AJvSb2a_bJ6WiA" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUctuwyAQ_Bp8QbbM0-HgQx6N2ksurdQzsdc2KsYpkEb5-2LnUakSLDCzw-xCW2uhOpKZmpakImmWlJe0LCijkheMc7WvtqqSL5LRlUK8HMCbqHvQTTSTg1EbWzTTmA21oE1LpGxIp9VRdaCOHWeKrIRcVcC4ymw9xHgKiK0R3adxuVyS1PUeQij66SdBR2NtWggRccgfXAKG6Rwgv7NUKYnY_huxHaKi2qRAaQDtm2HZpjBbCHFjBr8I7oxYNClIn_Qk8zW0Z98BpN6mU5ycNQ4KBzELV9fkjR5P2vQujyZaqNHsRh_gx4yl89IR3Wpr8WGKEDApkdjOfaQ61_gT4Mte8ev95fB6eTr8lz9fUe3-GZr2n9tbe7Mioiqf6QFcCz53enwUt3zJ-wI_S9tADFd8AJvSb2a_bJ6WiA&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNH6TtegvuMBST61vtyo6qIAnPueEQ">H.R. 2996</a>). This legislation would help reduce poverty and government dependency, increase self-sufficiency, and restore families by strengthening the effective and popular work requirements for all able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDS) who receive food stamps (SNAP). Speaker Paul Ryan indicated his support for including welfare reforms in tax reform legislation, <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkU1vgzAMhn8NXFBQCN8HDm23arv0skk7m2BK1BBQkorx7-fStZMmJVLs13of2-kayOs-CVUjeFImdLnIuOCxSEWRxWmW1cfyUJfFa5GKqg4yPqBVHs4I0qvJ4AhKx3Iaw6HJkzJr274qeFsUUENeZa3kXQVtmQOveaibwfs5SHeBONJZliVewA3KnD05fcOoDNqbGYnGSsnkAMoyqREsG5XzcEHWrszifG21kmAc8xObr25gA4L2gwSLJPeTHVmvrPPkBNYrsqCXoBnyNA1tg93V9og0zjQTWxM4NuhDtxqiwjiDOhvmldfYBOU-EOKR_LzlKN6mEAfQOjpNHl2U8CA_ECQpSIq-EC96jd5-lxXttm1Ff_U3i_LlH1B1_2jv3R2V5CV_ljs0HVpmYHw0t_3Cx5Z-trZH79bohJrK77AfNX-dUQ" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkU1vgzAMhn8NXFBQCN8HDm23arv0skk7m2BK1BBQkorx7-fStZMmJVLs13of2-kayOs-CVUjeFImdLnIuOCxSEWRxWmW1cfyUJfFa5GKqg4yPqBVHs4I0qvJ4AhKx3Iaw6HJkzJr274qeFsUUENeZa3kXQVtmQOveaibwfs5SHeBONJZliVewA3KnD05fcOoDNqbGYnGSsnkAMoyqREsG5XzcEHWrszifG21kmAc8xObr25gA4L2gwSLJPeTHVmvrPPkBNYrsqCXoBnyNA1tg93V9og0zjQTWxM4NuhDtxqiwjiDOhvmldfYBOU-EOKR_LzlKN6mEAfQOjpNHl2U8CA_ECQpSIq-EC96jd5-lxXttm1Ff_U3i_LlH1B1_2jv3R2V5CV_ljs0HVpmYHw0t_3Cx5Z-trZH79bohJrK77AfNX-dUQ&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNE25x-D9YPRvE-5X_QFF1q2i8njNA">stating</a> to the press, in part: “It raises the stakes on some welfare reform that we’re going to do as part of tax reform. So it makes it important that we get those things done.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Action Item: </b>Sentinels should ask their members of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 2996.Click this link <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ_GXCyQfwDDgUNCG7WXXFqpZwevgxVjI-weePs6pEnVSOvDjkfzjVZ1smo1zUzHCBU0PcJKwkjBOKvLgpdlexB9K-rXmrOmRSUZYTFRnkEO0XgHkzS2GPyUjZ0QHDSvCSWDphXTvGlqIKeBnDQD0TSZ7cYYZ8R3iB3S_E-6hiRRe69ClNMc0pItHajvRQMksJ-jd9Y4KBzELKxuyIfkk-bs8miihQ6JPWLsLn5etbRvPNZLa_HRRwiYElT1KZ3W6Qt_AVzsit9-y-Dd1gb_-a8R4uUJaNQT7V3dULQS5GEP4BQsuZPTvdx2r49NflTbQwwrPoJN9hvsB0Dtfdw" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ_GXCyQfwDDgUNCG7WXXFqpZwevgxVjI-weePs6pEnVSOvDjkfzjVZ1smo1zUzHCBU0PcJKwkjBOKvLgpdlexB9K-rXmrOmRSUZYTFRnkEO0XgHkzS2GPyUjZ0QHDSvCSWDphXTvGlqIKeBnDQD0TSZ7cYYZ8R3iB3S_E-6hiRRe69ClNMc0pItHajvRQMksJ-jd9Y4KBzELKxuyIfkk-bs8miihQ6JPWLsLn5etbRvPNZLa_HRRwiYElT1KZ3W6Qt_AVzsit9-y-Dd1gb_-a8R4uUJaNQT7V3dULQS5GEP4BQsuZPTvdx2r49NflTbQwwrPoJN9hvsB0Dtfdw&source=gmail&ust=1508319629375000&usg=AFQjCNGva4zMxlE_BONJxyfXBW5ime3Bfg">http://heritageaction.com/<wbr />foodstamps/</a> for a list of cosponsors.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Resources:<br /></b>Heritage Action activist toolkit: <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLhbIXgyGgw8JadRecmmlnh1YghVjI3Ar8fY1pEnVSP6RZ0czn9xKlVcdi7UEygQLmwKnQFPIoOBpxnl1FHUlipcig7KKOO1x0l5dUDVeO4uD0iZt3BD38pydKSCjpSqrMMZCcUDEhgW5ExxiI3vvxyjbRXAM63_SGhLEFSNcdD1mq8ZknX7reUi8c-aqfdDjSWL7NXWIgceN3lmjLaYWfTwvtkkaNYxKX2zitTcoI7GPAO7ix6qF94YBtTKGnJzHmTAa5XVIZ0UYkU_Eq1nI6y8j2W2Q5M-_RojDU6Fun9re2lsVywV92Ge0LU6JVcMdbvvG901-oO3Rzws5oQn2W9kP53iFIQ" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLhbIXgyGgw8JadRecmmlnh1YghVjI3Ar8fY1pEnVSP6RZ0czn9xKlVcdi7UEygQLmwKnQFPIoOBpxnl1FHUlipcig7KKOO1x0l5dUDVeO4uD0iZt3BD38pydKSCjpSqrMMZCcUDEhgW5ExxiI3vvxyjbRXAM63_SGhLEFSNcdD1mq8ZknX7reUi8c-aqfdDjSWL7NXWIgceN3lmjLaYWfTwvtkkaNYxKX2zitTcoI7GPAO7ix6qF94YBtTKGnJzHmTAa5XVIZ0UYkU_Eq1nI6y8j2W2Q5M-_RojDU6Fun9re2lsVywV92Ge0LU6JVcMdbvvG901-oO3Rzws5oQn2W9kP53iFIQ&source=gmail&ust=1508319629376000&usg=AFQjCNF6zCqX7LB8FYvUUfTb97XQrx46UQ">http://heritageaction.com/<wbr />2017/07/snap-activism-toolkit/<br /></a>Sentinel brief:<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM9vwiAcxf-a9kJogLZgDz2om9kuXrZkZ1q-WCIFRzHG_360TpeZ8PPx8t4nqFbWjaa5aRmhgqZJWEUYKVjJeFWUVdXsxLYR_JWXbNVkFRkgmCgPIPtovINRGlv0fsyHtislE6zhesU73tO-U1p0RBAtuAJe69y2Q4ynrFxnbJfG_6Q5JIkzRtoIT8sFrJYBcADtw4gvPhzT-ftsAozg4oS19wpPUY6nKdnz0II6Bw2QMP0pemeNg8JBzKer63GffNIcHI4mWmgzsckYu4ufs5buCx3bSmvR3keYECVZvU3plKcn9AVwtFf09ouO1gs7-vPPEeLlqdCop7Z3dauitSAP-wROQcBOjne45Xc_FvmBtoE4XdEebLLfyn4A2KSOFQ" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM9vwiAcxf-a9kJogLZgDz2om9kuXrZkZ1q-WCIFRzHG_360TpeZ8PPx8t4nqFbWjaa5aRmhgqZJWEUYKVjJeFWUVdXsxLYR_JWXbNVkFRkgmCgPIPtovINRGlv0fsyHtislE6zhesU73tO-U1p0RBAtuAJe69y2Q4ynrFxnbJfG_6Q5JIkzRtoIT8sFrJYBcADtw4gvPhzT-ftsAozg4oS19wpPUY6nKdnz0II6Bw2QMP0pemeNg8JBzKer63GffNIcHI4mWmgzsckYu4ufs5buCx3bSmvR3keYECVZvU3plKcn9AVwtFf09ouO1gs7-vPPEeLlqdCop7Z3dauitSAP-wROQcBOjne45Xc_FvmBtoE4XdEebLLfyn4A2KSOFQ&source=gmail&ust=1508319629376000&usg=AFQjCNFgNDFDhdlB048UKILJPqxgm1NMdQ"> http://heritageaction.com/<wbr />2017/06/welfare-reform-work-<wbr />requirements-food-stamps/<br /></a>Heritage Action key vote co-sponsorship:<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUU1rwyAY_jXJJRiMprEecmi7le3SywY7O_PaSI2K2kH-_Uy6daygoI_P-3zg0IsNV02pe4Ib1uSNSYsJrgklXVvTtuVHduCse-4o2fKixSMEncQZhEzaWZiENrV0Uzn2UmG6parDgnWEt1JRUOyTU2CEUQpQmn5MyRd0V5BjXv-VFpEMXmBGXy5BzGfpUPTORhfiqD2KV-8NTGCTMMheU57Oc0jEqGMSVgLywZ2DmFAA5cKEsjBaaqERBUQ477JmGXoYrkEB5C7OJ2eNtlBbSGWcrURSTF7os0VJJwN9wfYFIb_g-4Ll-1qBHIQx1WnJWjW42ByyetPlp-oD4GLm6uWnX7VbC1Z__EWCPT0Y6uHB7XW4WTUbhu_0CHaAgKyYfsOtX_C2wvdoe0hxrk5gMv1m9g0aQpwR" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUU1rwyAY_jXJJRiMprEecmi7le3SywY7O_PaSI2K2kH-_Uy6daygoI_P-3zg0IsNV02pe4Ib1uSNSYsJrgklXVvTtuVHduCse-4o2fKixSMEncQZhEzaWZiENrV0Uzn2UmG6parDgnWEt1JRUOyTU2CEUQpQmn5MyRd0V5BjXv-VFpEMXmBGXy5BzGfpUPTORhfiqD2KV-8NTGCTMMheU57Oc0jEqGMSVgLywZ2DmFAA5cKEsjBaaqERBUQ477JmGXoYrkEB5C7OJ2eNtlBbSGWcrURSTF7os0VJJwN9wfYFIb_g-4Ll-1qBHIQx1WnJWjW42ByyetPlp-oD4GLm6uWnX7VbC1Z__EWCPT0Y6uHB7XW4WTUbhu_0CHaAgKyYfsOtX_C2wvdoe0hxrk5gMv1m9g0aQpwR&source=gmail&ust=1508319629376000&usg=AFQjCNHPEwk3KT0ByLUMLbuob3ycECpB6w"> http://heritageaction.com/key-<wbr />votes/co-sponsorship-<wbr />supplemental-nutrition-<wbr />assistance-program-reform-act-<wbr />2017-h-r-2996/</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Labor<br /></b><i>Fighting Labor Union Bosses</i></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>State of Play: </b>Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) introduced the <i>Employee Rights Act</i> (<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUcluwyAQ_Rp8sWyxEw4-ZGnUXnJppZ6pPbFRCU6BNMrfFztLpUgwwHsz82aGrjFC70lhG4qJInljyjHFNWVU8ppxrrdqrZV8kYwuNOJ4gGCT6cG0yY4eDsa6uh0PxZAzQCuNZlRzrRTojnOOuwXWey2JXODCNUNKx4jYEtFtXufzOYf6PkCMdT_-ZujLOpcPQkQaqjuXgWE8RahuLFWUIbb9QWyDqFCrbCiNYEI7zNdsJgkhrswQ5oAbI-aYbGTI8aQIDXSnsAfIvY3HNHpnPdQeUhEvvq1aczga2_sq2eSgQZMavYMfE5bfc0d0bZwrd2OCWBKMxHrqQ2aq_AT4dpfy9Ta5cjmPrvz3n1KozZOg7Z7U3rqrFBEKP9wj-A5C5c3hXtz8Je8z_ChtBSleyh247H4V-wMSOpWs" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUcluwyAQ_Rp8sWyxEw4-ZGnUXnJppZ6pPbFRCU6BNMrfFztLpUgwwHsz82aGrjFC70lhG4qJInljyjHFNWVU8ppxrrdqrZV8kYwuNOJ4gGCT6cG0yY4eDsa6uh0PxZAzQCuNZlRzrRTojnOOuwXWey2JXODCNUNKx4jYEtFtXufzOYf6PkCMdT_-ZujLOpcPQkQaqjuXgWE8RahuLFWUIbb9QWyDqFCrbCiNYEI7zNdsJgkhrswQ5oAbI-aYbGTI8aQIDXSnsAfIvY3HNHpnPdQeUhEvvq1aczga2_sq2eSgQZMavYMfE5bfc0d0bZwrd2OCWBKMxHrqQ2aq_AT4dpfy9Ta5cjmPrvz3n1KozZOg7Z7U3rqrFBEKP9wj-A5C5c3hXtz8Je8z_ChtBSleyh247H4V-wMSOpWs&source=gmail&ust=1508319629376000&usg=AFQjCNGwVzqpgU9jclWAzYjBabCEXxvOcQ">H.R. 2723 & </a><a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUMFugzAM_Rq4RKAkBAIHDm23arv0skk7u2AgakgQyVb17xfo6KRKSaw8P_s9u60hrzoWq5pTJlm4lAvKacozXog0E6I6ykMli9ci42UVCTrgrDz0CI1X1uAISqeNHeOhLs-UVyWKkmXL24WCooKyayUCUA6xrgfvJxdlu4gfw7ler6HU9DM6l_b2J0BnpXUIjOV-SLZcABwa8JhsaSlFCI11kzXOzi6ea2y_5w4xOLSTt0Yrg6lBH7ubaZIGxglUbxKvvMY6kvuI8w38XLDwX33xA2hNTtajI4xG-WGRK0KKfCFe9I28_c1PdusCyD9_aSFfngRV-6T23t6lWC7pgx7Ga3FODIybuXWxHyv8sLZH727khDrQ72K_yDqLUQ" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUMFugzAM_Rq4RKAkBAIHDm23arv0skk7u2AgakgQyVb17xfo6KRKSaw8P_s9u60hrzoWq5pTJlm4lAvKacozXog0E6I6ykMli9ci42UVCTrgrDz0CI1X1uAISqeNHeOhLs-UVyWKkmXL24WCooKyayUCUA6xrgfvJxdlu4gfw7ler6HU9DM6l_b2J0BnpXUIjOV-SLZcABwa8JhsaSlFCI11kzXOzi6ea2y_5w4xOLSTt0Yrg6lBH7ubaZIGxglUbxKvvMY6kvuI8w38XLDwX33xA2hNTtajI4xG-WGRK0KKfCFe9I28_c1PdusCyD9_aSFfngRV-6T23t6lWC7pgx7Ga3FODIybuXWxHyv8sLZH727khDrQ72K_yDqLUQ&source=gmail&ust=1508319629376000&usg=AFQjCNEO6jJsSjk5m93P03wI__cN6XT9Mw">S. 1774</a> ). This legislation would protect workers from union pressure by putting power back in the hands of employees and making union leaders more accountable to their members.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Action Item: </b>Sentinels should ask their members of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 2723 and S.1774. Click this link <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkEFvhCAQhX-NXogGBhU9cNi13bSXvbRJzxTGlRTRKD3474tud5tuwpDw5uV9LxipyqZjqZVAmWBxKBQUaA4cqiLnRdGcRNuI6rniUDdJQXucbVAXVDrY0eOgrMv1OKS9rGsNihcaSqUNo9joRnAwyGtdGt19pk72IUwJPyRwiud_0hYSRZxVvNNZovmeO8RIHKcwemc95h5DuqxeZ1oNk7IXnwUbHMpEHBOAm_i-afG9g6BVzpHzGHAhjCZlG9NZFVfkA_HLreTltwU57DXIn3-LEE8PQGseaK_mimKloHf7gt7gnHk13MrtH_W2y_dqRwzLSs7oov0K-wHrynuP" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkEFvhCAQhX-NXogGBhU9cNi13bSXvbRJzxTGlRTRKD3474tud5tuwpDw5uV9LxipyqZjqZVAmWBxKBQUaA4cqiLnRdGcRNuI6rniUDdJQXucbVAXVDrY0eOgrMv1OKS9rGsNihcaSqUNo9joRnAwyGtdGt19pk72IUwJPyRwiud_0hYSRZxVvNNZovmeO8RIHKcwemc95h5DuqxeZ1oNk7IXnwUbHMpEHBOAm_i-afG9g6BVzpHzGHAhjCZlG9NZFVfkA_HLreTltwU57DXIn3-LEE8PQGseaK_mimKloHf7gt7gnHk13MrtH_W2y_dqRwzLSs7oov0K-wHrynuP&source=gmail&ust=1508319629376000&usg=AFQjCNFXO9-7izxASI0RP2B8XllzFtweCA">http://heritageaction.com/era/</a> for a list of cosponsors.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Resources:<br /></b>Heritage Action activist toolkit: <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkMtuhCAYhZ9GNwTDRUEXLGamnbSb2bRJ10R-lQyCUbrw7YtOZ5pOwiUcDud8wShdNR3NrWKESpomYSVhpGCcibLgZdmc5amR4lVwVjdZSQaYbdQ96Dba4GHU1hVtGPNBcSmq9LoTpqqNqYzWtO4MMTUHwk0tcqeGGKcl44eMndP4H7WlJHHjSBvZFhgnF1YAPNt-iAtORgyzxjEEd7UxOfJZgfmeO4CEFqYYvLMeCg8xX1bf4laPk7a9x9FGByqTx4yxu_i5aem8A7GTdg5dQoQFUZJVp5RORbpCXwBXt6K3X1p02HHRn3-LkC9PhdY8tb2bWxWtJHnYF_AGZuz1eIfbf_Rjlx9oR4jLii7gkv1W9gOyJIjG" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkMtuhCAYhZ9GNwTDRUEXLGamnbSb2bRJ10R-lQyCUbrw7YtOZ5pOwiUcDud8wShdNR3NrWKESpomYSVhpGCcibLgZdmc5amR4lVwVjdZSQaYbdQ96Dba4GHU1hVtGPNBcSmq9LoTpqqNqYzWtO4MMTUHwk0tcqeGGKcl44eMndP4H7WlJHHjSBvZFhgnF1YAPNt-iAtORgyzxjEEd7UxOfJZgfmeO4CEFqYYvLMeCg8xX1bf4laPk7a9x9FGByqTx4yxu_i5aem8A7GTdg5dQoQFUZJVp5RORbpCXwBXt6K3X1p02HHRn3-LkC9PhdY8tb2bWxWtJHnYF_AGZuz1eIfbf_Rjlx9oR4jLii7gkv1W9gOyJIjG&source=gmail&ust=1508319629376000&usg=AFQjCNGCDEJTMDetiAKGVToOaHym1ad-bw">https://heritageaction.com/<wbr />2017/07/employee-rights-act-<wbr />era-toolkit/<br /></a>Sentinel brief: <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkMtuwyAURL_G3iAsHo6JF14kaaN2k00rdY3hOkHBYNlEUf6-106TqpV4iGGYOcI2elV3PHeNYFxxnEyUTLBCSFGVhSzLeq92tapeKynWdVayE4wu6SNok1wM0GvnCxP7_NRII6WwYExVdmumhGT4ujWa27atO2C5b04pDZncZGKP42_SHILijIEbq3CBfohXNIUjvcbxDONEQ0zU6zaO9BLw0YSufGzAXsYOAOnikGLwLkARIOXTLRhqdD9odww0ueShydQ2E-Ihfs4anhcosdPek0NMMBHOstUO03mFV-QL4Oxv5O2HmGwWZPLrnyPUy79CZ_-1vdt7FV8p9rRPECyMNOj-Abd86sciP9G2kKYbOYBH-73sGy0FioA" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkMtuwyAURL_G3iAsHo6JF14kaaN2k00rdY3hOkHBYNlEUf6-106TqpV4iGGYOcI2elV3PHeNYFxxnEyUTLBCSFGVhSzLeq92tapeKynWdVayE4wu6SNok1wM0GvnCxP7_NRII6WwYExVdmumhGT4ujWa27atO2C5b04pDZncZGKP42_SHILijIEbq3CBfohXNIUjvcbxDONEQ0zU6zaO9BLw0YSufGzAXsYOAOnikGLwLkARIOXTLRhqdD9odww0ueShydQ2E-Ihfs4anhcosdPek0NMMBHOstUO03mFV-QL4Oxv5O2HmGwWZPLrnyPUy79CZ_-1vdt7FV8p9rRPECyMNOj-Abd86sciP9G2kKYbOYBH-73sGy0FioA&source=gmail&ust=1508319629376000&usg=AFQjCNH0GhKH_5qonHmN5SgeQABzKKpqBA">http://heritageaction.com/<wbr />2017/06/empowering-workers-<wbr />not-labor-unions/<br /></a>Heritage Action key vote co-sponsorship:<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUU1rwyAY_jXJJRiMprEecmi7le3SywY7O_PaSI2K2kH-_Uy6daygoI_P-3zg0IsNV02pe4Ib1uSNSYsJrgklXVvTtuVHduCse-4o2fKixSMEncQZhEzaWZiENrV0Uzn2UmG6parDgnWEt1JRUOyTU2CEUQpQmn5MyRd0V5BjXv-VFpEMXmBGXy5BzGfpUPTORhfiqD2KV-8NTGCTMMheU57Oc0jEqGMSVgLywZ2DmFAA5cKEsjBaaqERBUQ477JmGXoYrkEB5C7OJ2eNtlBbSGWcrURSTF7os0VJJwN9wfYFIb_g-4Ll-1qBHIQx1WnJWjW42ByyetPlp-oD4GLm6uWnX7VbC1Z__EWCPT0Y6uHB7XW4WTUbhu_0CHaAgKyYfsOtX_C2wvdoe0hxrk5gMv1m9g0aQpwR" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUU1rwyAY_jXJJRiMprEecmi7le3SywY7O_PaSI2K2kH-_Uy6daygoI_P-3zg0IsNV02pe4Ib1uSNSYsJrgklXVvTtuVHduCse-4o2fKixSMEncQZhEzaWZiENrV0Uzn2UmG6parDgnWEt1JRUOyTU2CEUQpQmn5MyRd0V5BjXv-VFpEMXmBGXy5BzGfpUPTORhfiqD2KV-8NTGCTMMheU57Oc0jEqGMSVgLywZ2DmFAA5cKEsjBaaqERBUQ477JmGXoYrkEB5C7OJ2eNtlBbSGWcrURSTF7os0VJJwN9wfYFIb_g-4Ll-1qBHIQx1WnJWjW42ByyetPlp-oD4GLm6uWnX7VbC1Z__EWCPT0Y6uHB7XW4WTUbhu_0CHaAgKyYfsOtX_C2wvdoe0hxrk5gMv1m9g0aQpwR&source=gmail&ust=1508319629376000&usg=AFQjCNHPEwk3KT0ByLUMLbuob3ycECpB6w"> http://heritageaction.com/key-<wbr />votes/co-sponsorship-<wbr />supplemental-nutrition-<wbr />assistance-program-reform-act-<wbr />2017-h-r-2996/</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Abortion<br /></b><i>Defending life</i></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>State of Play:</b> With pro-life majorities in the House and Senate, and a president who has committed to defend innocent life, Congress has the opportunity of a generation to pass key pro-life legislation. Last week, the House passed the <i>Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act</i> (<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUcluwyAQ_Rp8sWyxGBMffMjSqL3k0ko9E5jYKBinQBrl74udpVIkGODNG94supW8OZDMtBQTQdLGtMIUl5TRuipZVTVbsW5E_VYzumhQhXvwJsoOpIpmdDBIY0s1Dlnf7pXa1w2RTLBKkwUmIOSBADSEK63lIrNtH-MpILZEdJvW5XJJoa7zEELZjb8J2htr00EIj33x8CWgH88BiruX1YhtfxDbIMrFKhlKA0iv-vmazCTA-c3T-0S_43yOSKb2KZpkvgV99geAVNd4iqOzxkHpIGbh6lSh5HCSpnNFNNFCiyYt-gC_Jiy952roWlqb78YIIScY8fVUQ8pymX8DHO01f793LV_Obcv_-dMXYvMiaPSL2oe-SREu8JMewGnwhZPDI7l5HJ8z_ExtBTFc8x3YRL-J_QFpupZD" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUcluwyAQ_Rp8sWyxGBMffMjSqL3k0ko9E5jYKBinQBrl74udpVIkGODNG94supW8OZDMtBQTQdLGtMIUl5TRuipZVTVbsW5E_VYzumhQhXvwJsoOpIpmdDBIY0s1Dlnf7pXa1w2RTLBKkwUmIOSBADSEK63lIrNtH-MpILZEdJvW5XJJoa7zEELZjb8J2htr00EIj33x8CWgH88BiruX1YhtfxDbIMrFKhlKA0iv-vmazCTA-c3T-0S_43yOSKb2KZpkvgV99geAVNd4iqOzxkHpIGbh6lSh5HCSpnNFNNFCiyYt-gC_Jiy952roWlqb78YIIScY8fVUQ8pymX8DHO01f793LV_Obcv_-dMXYvMiaPSL2oe-SREu8JMewGnwhZPDI7l5HJ8z_ExtBTFc8x3YRL-J_QFpupZD&source=gmail&ust=1508319629377000&usg=AFQjCNEqOxmIq0bm6mM7lbFhIVnD_yqzJw">H.R. 36</a>). This legislation would protect unborn children by preventing abortions 20 weeks after fertilization, at which time scientific evidence suggests the child can feel pain. Heritage Action key voted the bill and released a key vote co-sponsorship of the Senate companion bill (<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUMFuhCAU_Bq9EA0gynLwsGu7aS97aZOeUZ5KFtEIrfHvy7p1m2wCIcwMb2ZQpcxFS2JdUkw4CRtThilOaUYLlmaMiTOvBC9ei4weRMRwD7P2sgPZeD1aGKQ2aTMOcV9iRniN6xokFLxuRQuKZ0zktQhTeX6ITdl7P7koO0b0HNayLOGp7WZwLu3GnwDV2phwEJL7Ptm5ADiw0kOy04LSeC5Bfc8tQAg1Tn60RltILfjYrbZJGjlMUnc28dobKCN-iijdwc8bFu5bFFpJY9Bl9OAQwVFe3RyKQKEvgKtZ0dtfZXTcOqN__W0Ef3ky1OrJ7V3drUjO8UMeGimYEyuHPdz2lx8b_Ih2Au9WdAET5HezX1EhhoI" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdUMFuhCAU_Bq9EA0gynLwsGu7aS97aZOeUZ5KFtEIrfHvy7p1m2wCIcwMb2ZQpcxFS2JdUkw4CRtThilOaUYLlmaMiTOvBC9ei4weRMRwD7P2sgPZeD1aGKQ2aTMOcV9iRniN6xokFLxuRQuKZ0zktQhTeX6ITdl7P7koO0b0HNayLOGp7WZwLu3GnwDV2phwEJL7Ptm5ADiw0kOy04LSeC5Bfc8tQAg1Tn60RltILfjYrbZJGjlMUnc28dobKCN-iijdwc8bFu5bFFpJY9Bl9OAQwVFe3RyKQKEvgKtZ0dtfZXTcOqN__W0Ef3ky1OrJ7V3drUjO8UMeGimYEyuHPdz2lx8b_Ih2Au9WdAET5HezX1EhhoI&source=gmail&ust=1508319629377000&usg=AFQjCNHY2glw-cQfp6rfAEguFWub5YFcCA">S.1922</a>).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Action Item:</b> Sentinels should tell their members of Congress to support the <i>Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act</i> to protect women and unborn children from gruesome late-term abortions performed after 20 weeks. Sentinels should ask their senators to cosponsor the senate bill.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"><b>Resources:<br /></b>Heritage Action key vote:<a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLsjIf9jhwCFJG7WXXFqpZ4M3wYoxCJxKvH0X0qRqJFvyjne_GdtWpihPLHUVp0wz3JRLymnOBVcyF1KWB70vtXpVgm_KRNIWRhfNGUwTXR-gM87nTd-lbcU3tamVLZmWm6bWojSiqKlQVnFTSsZTX7UxDonYJvyA6z9pgaB4gZl89xEmPM8wkcG4QBozmNoDuYa6H7FsnbdkGLFtHSVIIC0ZiVA4lY4V2Ot4AsC0_RD74F2APEBMpzk0COsQeg4kuuihSvQu4fwufi4a1mtIvjfeZ8clTcZoUuyRzhReZV8AFz9nb78vyLZrjuyvf0HolydDZ5_c3u3NihWaPtonCBZGEkx3D7d-8scqP6LtIE5zdgSP7TezH9J-kFk" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLsjIf9jhwCFJG7WXXFqpZ4M3wYoxCJxKvH0X0qRqJFvyjne_GdtWpihPLHUVp0wz3JRLymnOBVcyF1KWB70vtXpVgm_KRNIWRhfNGUwTXR-gM87nTd-lbcU3tamVLZmWm6bWojSiqKlQVnFTSsZTX7UxDonYJvyA6z9pgaB4gZl89xEmPM8wkcG4QBozmNoDuYa6H7FsnbdkGLFtHSVIIC0ZiVA4lY4V2Ot4AsC0_RD74F2APEBMpzk0COsQeg4kuuihSvQu4fwufi4a1mtIvjfeZ8clTcZoUuyRzhReZV8AFz9nb78vyLZrjuyvf0HolydDZ5_c3u3NihWaPtonCBZGEkx3D7d-8scqP6LtIE5zdgSP7TezH9J-kFk&source=gmail&ust=1508319629377000&usg=AFQjCNG7Xy6uDL3XXU9Aju6g8SHKq41O9Q"> http://heritageaction.com/key-<wbr />votes/yes-pain-capable-unborn-<wbr />child-protection-act-h-r-36/<br /></a>Heritage Action Senate cosponsor key vote: <a href="http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLsjIP4DDgUOSNmovubRSzwZvghVjI-xU4u27kCZVI9mSd7z7zdi6UWV9YqlpOGWS4aa8oJzmXPCqyEVR1Ae5r2X1Wgm-qZOC9jCZqM6gumi8g0EZm3d-SPumbEELBZuWtpJTXQmp2rrTm1YxXlSiS23TxzgmYpvwA67_pAWC4gVm8u0jBDx3noTRu-Cn0JuRjMo40qlRtRbI1bV-wrI3VpNxwomVQhBGAmE15whIpwb0dToBYHA_Ru-scZA7iGmYXYewAaFnR6KJFppE7hLO7-LnomG95uV7ZW12XIJljCblHumswqvsC-Bi5-zt9zHZds2R_fUvCPnyZGj0k9u7vlmxUtJHewCnYSJODfdw639_rPIj2g5imLMjWGy_mf0ASi6VhA" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://email.heritageactionemail.com/c/eJxdkM1ugzAQhJ8GLsjIP4DDgUOSNmovubRSzwZvghVjI-xU4u27kCZVI9mSd7z7zdi6UWV9YqlpOGWS4aa8oJzmXPCqyEVR1Ae5r2X1Wgm-qZOC9jCZqM6gumi8g0EZm3d-SPumbEELBZuWtpJTXQmp2rrTm1YxXlSiS23TxzgmYpvwA67_pAWC4gVm8u0jBDx3noTRu-Cn0JuRjMo40qlRtRbI1bV-wrI3VpNxwomVQhBGAmE15whIpwb0dToBYHA_Ru-scZA7iGmYXYewAaFnR6KJFppE7hLO7-LnomG95uV7ZW12XIJljCblHumswqvsC-Bi5-zt9zHZds2R_fUvCPnyZGj0k9u7vlmxUtJHewCnYSJODfdw639_rPIj2g5imLMjWGy_mf0ASi6VhA&source=gmail&ust=1508319629377000&usg=AFQjCNEECKxa1aK_-AjKl__vb4Zz6C9MCw">http://heritageaction.<wbr />com/key-votes/co-sponsorship-<wbr />pain-capable-unborn-child-<wbr />protection-act-s-1922/</a></span></p>
</div>The Survival Mindsethttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/the-survival-mindset2017-10-16T09:32:24.000Z2017-10-16T09:32:24.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2049406?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2049406?profile=original" width="500" class="align-center"></a>The success of an individual in a survival situation is dependent upon several variables including knowledge, skills and even a fair amount of luck. One of the other components that everyone should have is a mindset for survival; the ultimate survival tool. It just so happens that everyone has a brain, so training for a specific mindset is something that anyone can do regardless of economic status, physical capability, etc. The brain is the ultimate survival tool; there are cases where individuals with no actual training have survived potentially deadly situations because of their mindset. Because we all have a brain, there should not be much in the way of obstacles or excuses for an individual to train their mind to operate at its peak during a time of trouble.</p>
<p>When there is too much stress on a person from any situation(s) there are some natural things that happen in a person when placed in this situation. It is important to remain objective when considering the reactions of individuals to stress or trauma. Every single person will react in his or her own way, and there is no precise means of predicting what an individual will do in a given situation. When evaluating stress from a disaster, let’s first look at the emotional and physical responses that one can experience from stress.</p>
<p>A quick note first, everyone that is placed in a stressful enough situation will react in one of three ways: fight, flight or freeze. This basically means that there are those who will stay put and take a problem head on, some will retreat from the issue and others will just freeze and do nothing. I have seen all three of these responses. If you are part of a group, training together and having similar mindsets will help prevent the group from going three different ways at a critical moment. That said, a group would always need to keep tabs on each other because every member will react differently to a given set of circumstances.</p>
<h2>Emotional responses to stress</h2>
<ul>
<li>Fear</li>
<li>Anxiety</li>
<li>Anger</li>
<li>Frustration</li>
<li>Depression</li>
<li>Loneliness</li>
<li>Boredom</li>
<li>Guilt</li>
</ul>
<p>These are all common emotional responses to stress. It is possible that someone could have one or more of these emotional reactions, or it may seem like someone does not experience any of these (although not very likely). At the same time, this is only a short list of possible emotions that one could have in a survival situation so only the situation will reveal the precise emotional reactions.</p>
<h2><span>Physical responses to stress</span></h2>
<p>Once again, this is not an end all, be all list of possibilities, but these are some of the common physical reactions that people have to stressful situations. The reactions that a person may have can vary and may even evolve from one reaction to a different type of reaction.</p>
<ul>
<li>Angry outbursts</li>
<li>Constant worrying</li>
<li>Difficulty making decisions</li>
<li>Carelessness</li>
<li>Forgetfulness</li>
<li>Difficulty getting along with others</li>
<li>Lack of energy</li>
<li>An inclination toward mistakes</li>
<li>Withdrawal from others</li>
<li>Thoughts about death and suicide</li>
<li>Hiding from responsibilities</li>
</ul>
<p>If the event is stressful enough or significantly traumatic (in any way), there is always the possibility that an individual could go into a state of shock immediately and may not necessarily fit any pattern of signs or symptoms.</p>
<p>As an example, a man leaves his home to go to the river and get water. On his way home he thinks he hears a child scream. Upon arrival at his house, he goes inside and finds his wife of 10 years and their seven-year-old dead and the few usable supplies they had gathered have been taken. This would probably do enough to put a person into some level of shock, which may give way to the emotions listed above and these other types of physical reactions in turn.</p>
<h2>Causes of stress during emergencies</h2>
<p>There are many reasons that a person could find him or herself feeling the stress of a given situation. Outside of the various factors of stress in everyday life (work, school, marriage, family, etc.), there are several common causes of stress during an emergency. Some of these causes include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Injury</li>
<li>Illness</li>
<li>Death</li>
<li>Uncertainty</li>
<li>Loss of control</li>
<li>Environmental</li>
<li>Hunger</li>
<li>Thirst</li>
<li>Fatigue</li>
<li>Isolation</li>
</ul>
<p>Once again, these causes of stress are not isolated from one another and there is potential for them to happen together in addition to happening separately. With many things stress related, one small crack in the mirror can make the whole mirror shatter if the crack is not dealt with.</p>
<h2>Ways to train your brain</h2>
<p>The specific response by any given individual to a stressful situation should be self-preservation. This is where things start to blur a little bit because to preserve your own life in a survival situation will usually require at least a bit of knowledge or skill. But remember, there are those who have survived dangerous situations with little training or knowledge because of the mindset they had. On the other side of the coin, there are individuals that have training and knowledge of how to survive but did not make it because their mindset ruined them.</p>
<p>Training your brain to a survival mindset is about taking the reactions that we have to stress and channeling them to persevere and overcome the situation. Having an element of control that prevents stress responses from going too far makes that stress work for you.</p>
<p><span>Exposure:</span> While there are probably a few, most of us do not like to continually expose ourselves to the stresses associated with life and death, disaster, etc. When training for a specific mindset, there does have to necessarily be an extreme condition that one places him or herself in the middle of. The important element is that exposure is done incrementally, safely and that it gives a push the border of what an individual’s mind is currently comfortable with.</p>
<p>An example of what this type of exposure might be is a person who is not comfortable with, or afraid of, firearms going to a firing range. Once there, they just stand behind the firing line to feel the emotions they have when being around guns and the sounds and smells that are generated by them. This would be a great place for a friend who is comfortable with firearms to be there for support.</p>
<p><span>Self-inventory:</span> Take a look within you and see what it is that you are truly made of. Continue to build strength where it exists already and then, having identified areas of weakness, use training and the people around you (family, friends, colleagues, etc.) build up the areas where you need to improve to survive.</p>
<p><span>Ground yourself in reality:</span> Be honest about how you feel in certain circumstances. It is only through legitimate appraisal of your reality that you will be able to affect meaningful change within your own mind. If you a situation for what it is, and not what you would like it be, then an appropriate plan can be made and actions taken to navigate a set of circumstances. All in all, it is better to be surprised with an outcome that is better than your expectation, than to be disappointed because your expectation was far better than the reality of the situation.</p>
<p><span>Anticipate stress reactions:</span> We all will have stress reactions in tough situations. Think about the circumstances that you could possibly end up in one day that will cause you stress. After identifying these situations, think about what you will need to work through them. Take this resolutions and work on them. If this is done, the end result will likely still be some type of stress but you will already have worked through it in your mind before, so you can work through the situation now.</p>
<p><span>Find the good:</span> It is really easy to only see the negative in a situation. I’m definitely this way. I could probably take my wedding or the birth of one of my children and find things that were negative about those experiences. Even though I would tell you those are on the top of the list for the best things to ever happen to me. I’m not saying that every situation will produce a favorable outcome. As I heard many times in the Army, “You can’t shine a turd.”</p>
<p>Never the less, learn to look for the good in situations. Having hope that not all is lost and there will be something of benefit to come out of an event can be what a person needs to sustain their mental well-being for a period of time. Like if my house floats down the river from flooding, I wanted to remodel the bathroom anyway, right?</p>
<p><span>Learn to manage stress:</span> Maybe it’s too easy of an answer but learning healthy ways to deal with stress will help to keep these stressors from growing to be too much. Some of my favorite methods that I use are deep breathing exercises, music and a technique called <a href="http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/treatment/biofeedback" target="_blank" rel="noopener">biofeedback</a>.</p>
<p><span>Stay focused</span>: It is imperative to remember what is at stake in a given situation and remain focused on the consequences of your actions. This is especially true if you are part of a group where everyone is depending on each other to get through a situation. Don’t allow the events on the periphery of a situation distract you from the key situation itself.</p>
<p>To overcome future hurdles now, by minimizing the stress of dealing with things in the future, training and exposure will go a long way to help. By having the ability to identify how a person will react (yourself included) in stressful situations and predict the scenarios that might produce these reactions, you will have achieved a stronger mindset. One that is better suited for survival in times of difficulty. Just keep in mind that it will be impossible to predict the reaction to every type of situation. While this leaves some doubt to be had, making the effort to improve the areas you have puts you above those who have not taken the time and steps to do so.</p>
<p><em>— Thomas Miller</em></p>
<p><em>Source: <a href="https://personalliberty.com/the-survival-mindset/" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">https://personalliberty.com/the-survival-mindset/</a></em></p>
<p><em>About Thomas Miller: <span>Lives with his wife and three sons on an island in the Pacific. He loves fishing, woodworking, hiking, swimming, golfing, and generally anything that he can do with his family. Using his skills and knowledge acquired in the Army, honed through multiple combat deployments, and gained through the ongoing study of survival and preparedness, Miller shares his knowledge and thoughts on his blog, thepreparedninja.com. You can also connect with him on Twitter, @preparedninja.</span></em></p></div>Fascists were the good guys?https://restoretheusa.net/blog/fascists-were-the-good-guys2017-09-12T15:39:16.000Z2017-09-12T15:39:16.000ZStepman NJhttps://restoretheusa.net/members/StepmanNJ<div><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Years ago in 2012, I published a thorough examination of disinformation tactics used by globalist institutions as well as government and political outfits to manipulate the public and undermine legitimate analysts working to expose particular truths of our social and economic conditions. If you have not read this article, titled <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.alt-market.com/articles/964-disinformation-how-it-works" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Disinformation: How It Works</a>, I highly recommend you do so now. It will act as a solid foundation for what I am about to discuss in this article. Without a basic understanding of how lies are utilized, you will be in no position to grasp the complexities of disinformation trends being implemented today.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Much of what I am about to outline will probably not become apparent for much of the mainstream and portions of the liberty movement for many years to come. Sadly, the biggest lies are often the hardest to see until time and distance are achieved.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">If you want to be able to predict geopolitical and economic trends with any accuracy, you must first accept a couple of hard realities. First and foremost, the majority of cultural shifts and fiscal developments within our system are a product of social engineering by an organized collective of power elites. Second, you must understand that this collective is driven by the ideology of globalism — the pursuit of total centralization of financial and political control into the hands of a select few deemed as "superior" concertmasters or "maestros." As globalist insider, CFR member and mentor to Bill Clinton, Carroll Quigley, openly admitted in his book Tragedy And Hope:</span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">"The powers of financial capitalism had another far-reaching aim, nothing less than to create a world system of financial control in private hands able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole. This system was to be controlled in a feudalist fashion by the central banks of the world acting in concert, by secret agreements arrived at in frequent private meetings and conferences. The apex of the system was to be the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland, a private bank owned and controlled by the world’s central banks which were themselves private corporations. Each central bank ... sought to dominate its government by its ability to control Treasury loans, to manipulate foreign exchanges, to influence the level of economic activity in the country, and to influence cooperative politicians by subsequent economic rewards in the business world."</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">The philosophical basis for the globalist ideology is most clearly summarized in the principles of something called "Fabian Socialism," a system founded in 1884 which promotes the subversive and deliberate manipulation of the masses towards total centralization, collectivism and population control through eugenics. Fabian Socialists prefer to carry out their strategies over a span of decades, turning a population against itself slowly, rather than trying to force changes to a system immediately and outright.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Again, it is important to acknowledge that these people are not unified by loyalty to any one nation, culture, political party or mainstream religion. In fact, they will happily sacrifice any country or any group of people if it will get them closer to their goal.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">They are not defenders of the free market as the idiots on the extreme left like to claim. In fact, they abhor any business model that is not dominated by a government and a bureaucracy designed to give them an unfair advantage through legislation. Anyone who thinks free markets are the cause of our economic ailments in the past decade has lost sight of the fact that we have not had anything even remotely resembling free markets for more than a century. The corporations leftists and common socialists constantly wail about could not exist without government charter and the legal loopholes surrounding limited liability. So please, socialist warriors, shut up about free markets. You have no idea what you are talking about.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">The globalists are not loyal acolytes of any particular theological tradition (at least not any that are clearly identified). Meaning, they are not organized around Judaism or even loyalty to Israel as is the common claim of the clowns that make up what some are now calling the "Alt-Right." Globalists do not care about Jewish people or Jewish beliefs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">While a minority of them are associated with the political extremist faction known as "Zionism," Zionists are just another exploitable group to them, and their greater objective has nothing to do with the elevation of Israel. They will gladly fund Islamic extremist groups, for example, that desire and willingly carry out the obliteration of Israel or the murder of Jewish people. They also exploit elements of the Israeli government to trigger chaos on the other side of the chess board.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Those who argue that all our ills are engineered by "the jeeeewwws!" or "the tribe" are poorly informed and have chosen an overly simplistic broad-brush explanation for a much more complex enemy they have no ability to fathom. They tend to cite "evidence" that is highly unverified and poorly sourced, they think the Rothschilds are the root of all globalism when the Rothschilds are just one element of a greater cabal, and they also tend to argue that the fascist movements of the past century were actually "doing battle with the globalist agenda" — i.e. they were the "good guys."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Sorry to break it to the "Alt-Right" crowd, but almost everything they believe is wrong.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">I have noticed a disturbing trend within liberty movement and conservative circles; a kind of invasion, if you will. A minority of disinformation agents and useful idiots are operating within liberty outlets to push an ideological revolution oddly similar in tactics to those used by Soros funded groups overtaking the political left. It is my belief that while some globalist created movements are meant to provoke the left to zealotry and cultural Marxism, other globalist created movements are meant to provoke the right to zealotry and a misplaced adoration for fascism.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">As I noted in my last article <a rel="nofollow" href="https://personalliberty.com/globalists-will-throw-antifa-wolves-agenda/" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Globalists will throw Antifa to the wolves</a> to further their agenda, the left is essentially a lost cause. Any semblance of the so called "classical liberal" that is so commonly linked back to certain American revolutionaries and founding fathers was snuffed out long ago. They don't exist anymore. Conservatives (not necessarily Republicans) have taken up the mantle of individual liberty and small government champions. The labels may have changed, but the principles remain the same. Conservatives are the natural enemy of globalists. The ideals of conservative thought and the globalist agenda are mutually exclusive — both cannot exist within the same space at the same time. One of them has to go for the other to function.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">So, what are elitists with aspirations of becoming god-kings to do? Well, they could try to attack conservatives directly, but this does not mean the ideals will disappear. The ideals might even spread and flourish in reaction to a crackdown, which is the opposite effect that social engineers desire. Instead, 4th generation warfare is in order. That is to say, conservatives must be bamboozled into embracing actions contrary to their principles.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">They must be conned into applauding big government instead of fighting against it. They must be tricked into rationalizing violations of the Constitution instead of exposing said violations as a spreading cancer. They must be cajoled into cheering for even more expensive and ill conceived war efforts that do not serve the interest of Americans. They must be fooled into praising the relationship between corporations and government instead of working to dismantle the government framework that coddles corporations and protects them from free markets. While globalists cannot destroy conservatism from without, they might be able to use 4th Gen tactics to destroy conservatism from within. Conservatives have to be convinced that conservative values are weaknesses that must be abandoned for the "greater good." At this point, conservatives would no longer be conservative; they become something else entirely.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">While the liberty movement in particular has been hyper-focused on the dangers of cultural Marxism and communism, the real danger is the psyop being played within the political right. Both communism and fascism serve globalist interests. It is to their advantage to promote both and to even pit one against the other. The key is to use the left to drive conservatives to desperate measures and then link conservatives to ideals that are counter to their natures until the original ideals are forgotten.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">There are some core weakness to the entire propaganda campaign that gut the narrative completely. The fact that the establishment is grasping at such methods to me seems desperate, but then again, I make a rule never to underestimate people's laziness or their ignorance. So, lets look at the primary argument popping up in every liberty comment thread and chat board: Globalists are purely communists and fascism is a misunderstood and necessary counterpunch.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">This assertion falls apart completely when historical fact is applied and one realizes that both communism and fascism were movements funded and supported by the very same financial elites. Yes, that's right, fascism cannot be opposed to globalism, because globalists created fascism to serve their purposes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">To find the most comprehensive evidence compiled on the relationship between the financial elites and the rise of fascism and communism, one of the best sources is the work of Professor Antony Sutton. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sah_Xni-gtg&feature=youtu.be" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Here</a> Sutton answers questions on some of these ties, including the elitist funding and technological development of the Nazis as well as the Soviet Union.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Globalist conglomerates like the Rockefeller's Standard Oil were even exposed during the Nuremberg trials as having funded and aided Nazi technological advancements throughout the war using close relationships to IG Farben. This is made clear in the 'Von Knieriem Documents' within the Nuremberg and WWII congressional investigative record, which can be read in full in <a rel="nofollow" href="https://books.google.com/books/about/Elimination_of_German_Resources_for_War.html?id=gaUtAAAAMAAJ" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Elimination Of German Resources For War</a>, starting on page 1302.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">This means that the disinfo-argument that "perhaps the elites funded fascism in the beginning but turned against it later" is a no-go. Of course, these revelations were ultimately buried and no one of import was ever prosecuted.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Beyond general cash flow and tech support for fascist governments, the globalist ideology is almost identical to fascist models. Mainstream assumptions aside, fascists are not true nationalists, rather, they are ideologues seeking to spread globally — their propaganda base just happens to begin with national pride. As mentioned earlier, globalism is best understood through the lens of Fabian Socialism, and Fabian Socialism is essentially fascism; though fascism tends to add a frontman dictator rather than an open cabal of dictators.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Fabian Socialists (globalists) are so fond of fascism that they have in the past presented unabashed defense of the Third Reich. George Bernard Shaw, a celebrity member of the Fabians, is notorious for praising the methods of the Nazis, including the mass murder of undesirables. The difference between the communist model and the Nazi model? Nazis believed in population control based on genetic origin, while communists believed in population control based on labor potential. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQvsf2MUKRQ&feature=youtu.be" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Both standards appeal to globalists.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Bottom line — fascists are slaves for globalists, just as communists are slaves for globalists. Both support big government power, both undermine personal freedoms. There is little more than cosmetic differences between them when one knows the true history behind each movement.<br/></span><br/> <span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">The disinformation brigade drumming up the pro-fascist/pro-Hitler dialogue on conservative forums may be part of a funded agenda to demonize liberty movements by false association. Or, it may be an attempt to lure conservatives into thinking the only way to counteract the insanity of the extreme left is to become more like their classic enemy, the fascist. And, perhaps it is simply a gaggle of morons with zero historical reference parroting what they have been hearing in their online echo chambers for years, but now they see an opportunity generated by the fear surrounding the mania of cultural Marxists.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">They will haunt the comments of this article, that is certain. I will be accused of being a "Zionist agent," with zero proof of course. They will gather a dozen of their friends from their favorite online haunt and "mob up" to flood the comments with angry discord to make it appear that there are more of them out there than really exist, but it is unlikely they will produce any hard evidence countering anything I have presented here. Their opinions might be loud, but they are also irrelevant.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">My concern is that there is something larger afoot. That maybe, just maybe, the conservative right is being tenderized in preparation for radicalization, just as much as the left has been radicalized. For the more extreme the social divide, the more likely chaos and crisis will erupt, and the globalists never let a good crisis go to waste. Zealots, regardless of their claimed moral authority, are almost always wrong in history. Conservatives cannot afford to be wrong in this era. We cannot afford biases and mistakes; the future of individual liberty depends on our ability to remain objective, vigilant and steadfast. 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Usually men like wearing their best shirt often, thus it is <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.nfl49ersofficial.com/navorro-bowman-jersey">NaVorro Bowman jersey</a> common to see these replica shirts wear our pretty fast.</p><p><a href="https://hiacommunityofpractice.ning.com/blog/chiefs-fantasy-football-studs-and-duds-week-4-vs-the-new-york-gia">Chiefs Fantasy Football Studs And Duds: Week 4 Vs The New York Giants</a><br/><a rel="nofollow" href="http://healingintuition.co/blog/hockey-jerseys-are-right-gifts-for-your-children-as-hockey-lovers">Hockey Jerseys Are Right Gifts For Your Children As Hockey Lovers</a><br/><a rel="nofollow" href="http://sceneonline.biz/profiles/blogs/take-up-sports-collectibles-as-an-exceptional-pastime">Take Up Sports Collectibles As An Exceptional Pastime</a></p></div>Must-See Documentary Reveals Dangers of Smart Metershttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/must-see-documentary-reveals-dangers-of-smart-meters2017-08-23T13:53:23.000Z2017-08-23T13:53:23.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><h3 data-jsid="expanderHead"></h3>
<h3>Story at-a-glance</h3>
<ul>
<li><span id="ctl00_bcr_rptStory_ctl01_cslStory" cssclsas="story-list">The smart grid promised to enhance energy security and reduce energy usage. In reality, 80 percent of households that have received a smart meter report increases on their utility bill</span></li>
<li><span id="ctl00_bcr_rptStory_ctl02_cslStory" cssclsas="story-list">Thousands of people complain of health problems developing shortly after receiving a smart meter on their home. In some cases, blood tests confirm suspicions that RF radiation has impacted health</span></li>
<li><span id="ctl00_bcr_rptStory_ctl03_cslStory" cssclsas="story-list">The smart grid is part of a clandestine surveillance network, violating privacy rights and posing an unprecedented cybersecurity problem</span></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/08/05/smart-meter-dangers.aspx?" target="_blank" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;">Must-See Documentary Reveals Dangers of Smart Meters</a></p>
<p></p>
</div>Stefan Molyneux on Charlottesvillehttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/stefan-molyneux-on-charlottesville2017-08-16T17:35:22.000Z2017-08-16T17:35:22.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hjg3joKXfqc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
</div>Just Say "NO" to Article Vhttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/just-say-no-to-article-v2017-03-12T21:12:18.000Z2017-03-12T21:12:18.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/107933176" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/107933176">Straight Talk about an Article V Convention</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user15569616">Publius Huldah</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
</div>The U.S. is Dangerously Close to Mass Democracyhttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/the-u-s-is-dangerously-close-to-mass-democracy2017-01-26T16:27:51.000Z2017-01-26T16:27:51.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span class="font-size-3"><span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The Center For Self Governance is a great advocate for understanding our principles and the reponse to those principles that is required. In the following piece, Bill Norton describes the reasons for why we are dangerously close to a democracy. As we know, we are a republic.</span></span></p>
<blockquote>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Were you happy to see the presidential election conclude on November 8th only to be disappointed in the escalation of hostility after the election? America has always prided itself in the ability to have a peaceful transition of control. Are we losing the ability to have that peaceful transition? If so, why? Perhaps it is because we are being conditioned and trained to believe our system is a pure democracy, so we are behaving as if it were true.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="font-size-3" style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Some democratic principles are an important part of our Republic and must be preserved if we are to maintain a balanced, free government. But history has proven the road to mass democracy will lead to turmoil, contention, anarchy, and will necessarily result in a tyrannical oligarchy that will be difficult to reverse.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://centerforselfgovernance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/70-The-U.S.-is-Dangerously-Close-to-Mass-Democracy.pdf" target="_blank" style="font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 12pt;">https://centerforselfgovernance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/70-The-U.S.-is-Dangerously-Close-to-Mass-Democracy.pdf</a></p>
</blockquote>
</div>Jihad vs Crusadeshttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/jihad-vs-crusades2017-01-18T03:14:05.000Z2017-01-18T03:14:05.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span class="font-size-4">Did you ever try to speak about the muslim jihad and get stymied by "The Crusades".  Watch this presentation by Bill Warner and become empowered with the knowledge to turn back any argument.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I_To-cV94Bo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
</div>Why Americans are Getting Dumber and How to Fix Ithttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/why-americans-are-getting-dumber-and-how-to-fix-it2017-01-03T17:09:05.000Z2017-01-03T17:09:05.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><h2>Why Americans are Getting Dumber and How to Fix It</h2>
<p>Recently I learned that long time economist Thomas Sowell is retiring from his position as a syndicated columnist. Curious, I flipped through an <a href="http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell1.asp">archive</a> of his many columns and stumbled on one entitled <em><a href="http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell011206.asp">Education: Then and Now</a>,</em> written in early 2006.</p>
<p>One paragraph in particular caught my eye. Like <a href="http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/our-iqs-are-shrinking-lot-study-finds">many of the older generation</a>, Sowell notes that the education he received in the New York Public School system of the 1940s was stellar and well-rounded, a far cry from that experienced by children enrolled in the New York Public Schools of the late twentieth century:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Some years ago, when I looked at the math textbooks that my nieces in Harlem were using, I discovered that they were being taught in the 11th grade what I had been taught in the 9th grade. Even if they were the best students around, they would still be two years behind — with their chances in life correspondingly reduced.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Sowell’s words are reminiscent of those from another individual well-acquainted with the New York Public School system: former teacher of the year John Taylor Gatto. In his book, <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0865714487/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=intelltakeo0d-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0865714487&linkId=72fbc4fa927346eeb76a0d20b7d70f26">Dumbing Us Down</a></em>, Gatto declares:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Pick up a fifth-grade math or rhetoric textbook from 1850 and you’ll see that the texts were pitched then on what would today be considered college level. The continuing cry for ‘basic skills’ practice is a smoke screen behind which schools preempt the time of children for twelve years….”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So why were the students of previous generations able to handle such difficult material? According to Gatto, the answer is simple: they didn’t have a school system which put every student in the same little box. Instead, children were encouraged to learn when they were ready and at the pace which they desired:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“[T]he truth is that reading, writing, and arithmetic only take about one hundred hours to transmit as long as the audience is eager and willing to learn. The trick is to wait until someone asks and then move fast while the mood is on. Millions of people teach themselves these things – it really isn’t very hard.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The investigations of Sowell and Gatto confirm what many Americans have long feared, namely, that the content in the classroom has been “dumbed down.”</p>
<p>But Gatto also hints at an interesting solution – which many of us never hear – when he suggests that the way out of this problem is to get children out of the institutional mode of schooling.</p>
<p>Do you think he’s on to something? Would we see a natural genius and a quest for learning spring out of many children if they were not consigned to a classroom and the learning level appropriated for their age?</p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><em>Republished from <a href="http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/yes-were-getting-dumber-why">Intellectual Takeout</a>.</em></p>
<p><img src="http://fee.org/media/16603/annie_0.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&height=287&widthratio=1.3937282229965156794425087108&rnd=131128161370000000" alt="Annie Holmquist" /></p>
<h5><a href="http://fee.org/people/annie-holmquist/">Annie Holmquist</a></h5>
<p class="rtejustify">Annie is a research associate with Intellectual Takeout. In her role, she writes for the blog, conducts a variety of research for the organization's websites and social media pages, and assists with development projects. She particularly loves digging into the historical aspects of America's educational structure.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="font-style: italic;">This article was originally published on FEE.org. Read the <a href="https://fee.org/articles/why-americans-are-being-dumbed-down-and-how-to-fix-it/">original article</a>.</p>
<p><img src="http://fee.org/counter/146278" width="1" height="1" alt="" /></p>
</div>Istanbul New Year Terror attack 35 deadhttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/istanbul-new-year-terror-attack-35-dead2017-01-01T01:13:12.000Z2017-01-01T01:13:12.000ZVictoria Penleyhttps://restoretheusa.net/members/VPenley<div><p>#Nightclub #Shooting #attack "Istanbul governor: at least 35 dead in attack on nightclub http://wpo.st/Y_FP2</p></div>Lawmakers Miss Stuff in Bills All the Time (And So Do You). Here’s Some Help With That.https://restoretheusa.net/blog/lawmakers-miss-stuff-in-bills-all-the-time-and-so-do-you-here-s-s2016-12-30T11:17:33.000Z2016-12-30T11:17:33.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span class="font-size-4" data-mce-mark="1"><span class="font-size-4" data-mce-mark="1">Here is a great way to keep track of bills that effect your State taxation and even your County and Local taxes. </span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4" data-mce-mark="1">There is even a <a href="http://cqrollcall.com/statetrackers/states-six-times-more-productive-than-congress/" target="_blank" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;">tracking system</a> that you can use to follow bills of interest.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2049373?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2049373?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-center"></a></p>
<blockquote>
Stories about state legislators being asleep at the wheel grab headlines on a regular basis. Even people who draft (and vote on) legislation for a living routinely overlook key provisions, or fail to grasp a provision’s full impact before it’s too late. Looked at from the macro scale of 50 independent legislatures, the sheer volume of laws flowing from state capitols makes it difficult to stay aware of what gets added to each bill, nonetheless identify along the way which newly added provision will have an unexpectedly outsize impact. For lawmakers, it can be an embarrassing mistake to make — and a costly one, too.
</blockquote>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><a href="http://cqrollcall.com/statetrackers/lawmakers-miss-stuff-in-bills-all-the-time-so-do-you-heres-some-help-with-that/" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">See the full article here.</a><br></span></p></div>Donald Trump's Contract with the American Voterhttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/donald-trump-s-contract-with-the-american-voter2016-12-21T17:23:28.000Z2016-12-21T17:23:28.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2049391?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2049391?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-left"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2049446?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2049446?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-left"></a></p></div>Are you a Constitutional Activisthttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/are-you-a-constitutional-activist2016-12-15T14:10:50.000Z2016-12-15T14:10:50.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span class="font-size-4"><a href="http://krisannehall.com/about-krisanne-hall/" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">KrisAnne Hall</a> needs little introduction.  Here is a great piece about getting involved in local politics.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G2AgEj6Nj7o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></p>
</div>Open letter to ALL MEMBERShttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/open-letter-to-all-members2016-07-16T23:11:41.000Z2016-07-16T23:11:41.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">My fellow Activists,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">It has been some time since I communicated with you and feel the need to do so now.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">I activated late in life, as a 53 year old man; I began the effort to elect Ron Paul.  I became a precinct leader and engaged my neighborhood.  I have continued that to this day and in fact am a member of the Local Republican County Committee.  I am engaging the politicos from the inside.  I attend meetings and bring the message of Liberty and Prosperity to those surrounding me.  I attend Freeholder meetings and make it known that we are watching ALL that they do with OUR TAX MONEY.  I hold meetings with likeminded County residents twice monthly and we discuss ways to engage the politicos.  We have been able to fill many spots in the County Committee with others like myself.  So what I am saying here is not pie in sky.  If you wish to once again be SELF GOVERNED, you must engage.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">We are members of the RESTORE THE USA, a political action network.  This action calls us to engage the politicos in their arena.  This means involving ourselves with the so called decision makers that we (sic) have elected.  This action has to be local.  We are least effective when we concern ourselves with the federal issues. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">That is the ultimate decision for the creation of RESTORE THE USA.  It is the realization that we are allowing the elected to stay elected and thus RULE OVER US.  This has to change and change very rapidly. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">The most effective way to change is to engage locally.  This means attending local town board meeting, school board meeting, county freeholder meetings and meeting with likeminded activists.  Thus, we see the reason for the State/County group structure of our network.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">It is incumbent on us to find the local activists that are willing to activate and strive to release us from the tyranny that has beset OUR Government.  When the Founders created the Declaration of Independence, they stated clearly, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>“that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the CONSENT of the GOVERNED”</strong></span>.  Have we consented to the over spending by our Treasury, the open border policies of recent time, the onslaught of so called refugees, refugees that come to take and NOT assimilate to OUR WAY of life?  Did we consent to change the meaning of words like marriage and gender, to name a few?  I say not.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">So I call upon you to TAKE ACTION TODAY.  Bring your friends and create pockets of change or resistance, whatever pleases your fancy.  BUT DO SOMETHING more than being a keyboard warrior.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Our network is designed to allow everyone to see what others are doing and mirror those efforts in their locale.  Whether it is attending meetings and asking questions or delivering petitions to the elected.  This is the ACTION that we must take.  Use what works for your locale and leave what doesn’t.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Feel free to post events under the Events and Activities Tab.  Use the News and Articles to post those articles that pertain to your locale.  We are in formation and encourage you to follow the mission statement and join the various groups to stay informed.  As we grow and you find a group that doesn’t work for you, you can always leave the group.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">You are here, so utilize the tools, make suggestions and get busy.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">In Liberty and Prosperity,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">Edward Durfee</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3">A Founding Member and Webmaster</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
</div>Understanding what is Taqiyyahttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/understanding-what-is-taqiyya2016-06-02T10:04:04.000Z2016-06-02T10:04:04.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span class="font-size-4" data-mce-mark="1"><strong>Some well stated points of interest. </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" data-mce-mark="1">The millions of legal, illegal immigrants, refugees, visa overstayers foisted on America by every conceivable bit of taqiyya-tongued-trickery, (Obama hate-monger lies, laced with the support of the most evil army of willing accomplices in the history of the world), and the overwhelming financial support of George Soros, who bragged that he owns the Democrat Party, and has been quoted as saying "destroying America will be the culmination of my life's work" and playboy Saudi Prince Al-Weed who just pledged his 35 billion dollar to the implementation of the obscene Islam/Sharia agenda in the West, Europe and America. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" data-mce-mark="1">To say nothing of the complete complicity of the Muslim directed United Nations in their decision-making prominence in deciding who, how many and where the great Muslim majority of entrants will be inserted in America, those decisions clearly being made with total capitulation to making sure that filters of radical, leftist, Muslim Brotherhood geographic interests are best served and first applied.   </span><br /></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" data-mce-mark="1">To the everlasting, shameless discrimination against America's citizens, including the most needy and neglected infidels, Christians, caucasian poor to the extent that these heavy-handed executive orders and lawless edicts might result in massive unrest and civil disobedience, tantamount to causing the declaring of martial law and quite possibly the suspension of the 2016 election.  The Obama Administration, with the able assistance and foresight of BFFR, Weather Underground's own founder Bill Ayers, who laid plans for that eventuality in his goal to start a black/white race war in the late sixties,  has spent the last 8 years in preparing for such a happening by weakening our local, state and national ability to put down.</span></p>
<p><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;" data-mce-mark="1">These are just some of the destructive policies directed by Obama's POTUS dreams, now and beyond, and his chief collaborator for the future, Hillary Clinton, has verified in her campaign rhetoric that she has every intention of continuing with total support of his caliphate if she is elected in November.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">Minds Versus Matters</span><strong><br />
 <br />
h/t  Gary Henderson    taqiyya</strong></span></p>
</div>3 Ways to Tell Your U.S. Legislator “NO REFUGEES”https://restoretheusa.net/blog/3-ways-to-tell-your-u-s-legislator-no-refugees2016-04-25T13:37:57.000Z2016-04-25T13:37:57.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">3 Ways to Tell Your U.S. Legislator</span><br> <span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">“NO REFUGEES”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2049384?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2049384?profile=original" width="600" class="align-center"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">Our 300,000 grassroots advocates have been very vocal in opposing the resettlement of Syrian refugees to the U.S. We are being heard, but we must do more. President Obama has been clear that he still intends to bring hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees to our towns and communities — irrespective of the roar of disapproval from American citizens, the strong public disapproval of over half of U.S Governors, the passage of legislation by the U.S. Congress, and — of course — even after the Paris attack, where we now know that at least one of the terrorists arrived in Europe as a Syrian refugee.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">This is unacceptable and <a style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.actforamerica.org/" target="_blank">ACT for America</a> is taking action, but we need your help.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">We have <strong>three important and time-sensitive ACTION ALERTS</strong> currently underway. Please be sure to take action on each of them, and to forward this e-mail to everyone you know. This is a critical time, both in our nation and worldwide, and we need all hands on deck.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">IMPORTANT ACTION ALERTS</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">1. We are gathering tens of thousands of signatures on an Open Letter to the leadership in the House and Senate voicing strong opposition to the Obama Administration’s plans to bring Syrian refugees to the U.S. The letter will be hand-delivered to the U.S. Congress by our Director of Government Relations. If you haven’t yet added your name, please click <a style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://cqrcengage.com/act/app/sign-petition?0&engagementId=142773" target="_blank">HERE</a> to do so.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">2. We are actively supporting <a style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3314" target="_blank">H.R. 3314, the Resettlement Accountability National Security Act of 2015</a> introduced by Rep Brian Babin (R-TX). The bill would immediately suspend the U.N.-run refugee program to provide Congress time to fully assess the national security risks and investigate its financial burden on federal, state and local taxpayers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">As of this writing, the bill has 78 cosponsors. Is your House Representative <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3314/cosponsors" target="_blank">one of them</a>? Please research your local House Representatives/Senators and find out if they are.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">(Several weeks, before the Paris attack, Representative Babin spoke on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives about the grave threat associated with the U.N.-run refugee program. )</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3" data-mce-mark="1">3. We are actively registering our opposition to any federal funding for U.S. Refugee resettlement actions to be included in the U.S. Congress’s end of year spending bill. This is our most time-sensitive activity right now! Please e-mail or call your federal legislators TODAY to express your opposition to any federal funding going to refugee resettlement. See our petition <a style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://restoretheusa.net/petitions/a-petition-to-Defund-the-Refugee-Resettlement-Program" target="_self">HERE</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">[NOTE: When calling your legislator’s office, it’s fine to merge Actions 2 and 3 together. Express your support for Rep. Babin’s bill and ask for cosponsorship; and express your opposition for any refugee resettlement funding in the fiscal year 2016 budget bill.]</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">The Paris attack is but a foreshadowing of what can and will take place in our nation soon. We cannot allow unvetted refugees from Syria (or elsewhere) to be settled in our towns and communities. This is a high priority national security matter. Please take action today and pass this information on to everyone you know.<br></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">Remember, if each of us does just a little, together we can accomplish a lot.</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino;" class="font-size-3">h/t: <a style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://act4sanantonio.com/san-antonio-local/" target="_blank">ACT For America: San Antonio Chapter</a></span></p></div>Published Letter to Editorhttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/published-letter-to-editor2016-01-28T19:10:16.000Z2016-01-28T19:10:16.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span class="font-size-3"><b>Committee members serve their towns </b></span></p><p><span class="font-size-3">Many people wish they could be involved and help foster positive change in their community, but don't know how.</span></p><p><span class="font-size-3">They hope someone in a leadership position will promote awareness of political actions that are in harmony with the Bill of Rights and warn against those that are not.</span></p><p><span class="font-size-3">Did you ever consider that person could be you if you were voted into your local county committee?</span></p><p><span class="font-size-3">Each town is divided into voting districts or precincts. Each of these is represented by a man and a woman duly elected at the primary. That is the county committee. Each party has one, and terms are for two years.</span></p><p><span class="font-size-3">County committee members make up the local party clubs and encourage other like-minded neighbors to get involved. They are tasked with getting to know the voters in their district, learning the local issues, and attending municipal club meetings and the county committee monthly meeting. They are the eyes and ears for local, county, state and even federal candidates.</span></p><p><span class="font-size-3">They bring the party and/or candidates' message to their neighbors and engage them to partake in the political process. They bring their neighbors' message to the local and county committees by attending meetings and engaging their fellow committee members.</span></p><p><span class="font-size-3">County committee members can have direct influence on party platforms, policies and selection of candidates. A county committee person is the voice of his or her community.</span></p><p><span class="font-size-3">Why can't that person be you?</span></p><p><span class="font-size-3"><b>Edward Durfee</b></span></p><p><span class="font-size-3"><i>Northvale, Jan. 24</i></span></p><p><span class="font-size-3">The writer is chairman of the Northvale Republican County Committee.</span></p><p><span class="font-size-3"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/the-record-letters-thursday-jan-28-1.1500930?page=2" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/the-record-letters-thursday-jan-28-1.1500930?page=2</a></span></p></div>WACO: A NEW REVELATIONhttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/waco-a-new-revelation2016-01-20T13:47:46.000Z2016-01-20T13:47:46.000ZEdward Durfeehttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee<div><p><span class="font-size-4">Here is a warning from Oath Keepers Founder Stewart Rhodes.</span></p><blockquote><p><strong>While the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)</strong> is taking it on the chin in the western States the current occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon has prompted Oath Keepers Founder and President Stewart Rhodes to issue a cautionary <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.oathkeepers.org/critical-warning-to-u-s-military-and-federal-leo-do-not-follow-orders-to-waco-ammon-bundy-occupation-in-oregon-or-you-risk-starting-a-civil-war/" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><em><strong>warning</strong></em></a> which is going viral across America:</p><h2 class="fn entry-title">“Warning to U.S. Military and Federal LEOs: Do Not Follow Orders to “Waco” Ammon Bundy Occupation, or Risk Civil War”</h2><p>Of particular interest to me is Stewart’s use of the name “Waco”.</p></blockquote><p><span class="font-size-4">See the article <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.oathkeepers.org/waco-a-new-revelation/" style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a>.</span></p></div>The Greatest Gift For All -- Paul Craig Robertshttps://restoretheusa.net/blog/the-greatest-gift-for-all-paul-craig-roberts2015-12-24T19:06:52.000Z2015-12-24T19:06:52.000ZWebmasterhttps://restoretheusa.net/members/EdwardDurfee602<div><p>Christmas is a time of traditions. If you have found time in the rush before Christmas to decorate a tree, you are sharing in a relatively new tradition. Although the Christmas tree has ancient roots, at the beginning of the 20th century only 1 in 5 American families put up a tree. It was 1920 before the Christmas tree became the hallmark of the season. Calvin Coolidge was the first President to light a national Christmas tree on the White House lawn.</p>
<p>Gifts are another shared custom. This tradition comes from the wise men or three kings who brought gifts to baby Jesus. When I was a kid, gifts were more modest than they are now, but even then people were complaining about the commercialization of Christmas. We have grown accustomed to the commercialization. Christmas sales are the backbone of many businesses. Gift giving causes us to remember others and to take time from our harried lives to give them thought.</p>
<p>The decorations and gifts of Christmas are one of our connections to a Christian culture that has held Western civilization together for 2,000 years.</p>
<p>In our culture the individual counts. This permits an individual person to put his or her foot down, to take a stand on principle, to become a reformer and to take on injustice.</p>
<p>This empowerment of the individual is unique to Western civilization. It has made the individual a citizen equal in rights to all other citizens, protected from tyrannical government by the rule of law and free speech. These achievements are the products of centuries of struggle, but they all flow from the teaching that God so values the individual’s soul that he sent his son to die so we might live. By so elevating the individual, Christianity gave him a voice.</p>
<p>Formerly only those with power had a voice. But in Western civilization people with integrity have a voice. So do people with a sense of justice, of honor, of duty, of fair play. Reformers can reform, investors can invest, and entrepreneurs can create commercial enterprises, new products and new occupations.</p>
<p>The result was a land of opportunity. The United States attracted immigrants who shared our values and reflected them in their own lives. Our culture was absorbed by a diverse people who became one.</p>
<p>In recent decades we have lost sight of the historic achievement that empowered the individual. The religious, legal and political roots of this great achievement are no longer reverently taught in high schools, colleges and universities or respected by our government. The voices that reach us through the millennia and connect us to our culture are being silenced by “political correctness” and “the war on terror.” Prayer has been driven from schools and Christian religious symbols from public life.</p>
<p>Constitutional protections have been diminished by hegemonic political ambitions. Indefinite detention, torture, and murder are now acknowledged practices of the United States government. The historic achievement of due process has been rolled back. Tyranny has re-emerged.</p>
<p>Diversity at home and hegemony abroad are consuming values and are dismantling the culture and the rule of law. There is plenty of room for cultural diversity in the world, but not within a single country. A Tower of Babel has no culture. A person cannot be a Christian one day, a pagan the next and a Muslim the day after. A hodgepodge of cultural and religious values provides no basis for law – except the raw power of the pre-Christian past.</p>
<p>All Americans have a huge stake in Christianity. Whether or not we are individually believers in Christ, we are beneficiaries of the moral doctrine that has curbed power and protected the weak. Power is the horse ridden by evil. In the 20th century the horse was ridden hard, and the 21st century shows an increase in pace. Millions of people were exterminated in the 20th century by National Socialists in Germany and by Soviet and Chinese communists simply because they were members of a race or class that had been demonized by intellectuals and political authority. In the beginning years of the 21st century, hundreds of thousands of Muslims in seven countries have already been murdered and millions displaced in order to extend Washington’s hegemony.</p>
<p>Power that is secularized and cut free of civilizing traditions is not limited by moral and religious scruples. V.I. Lenin made this clear when he defined the meaning of his dictatorship as “unlimited power, resting directly on force, not limited by anything.” Washington’s drive for hegemony over US citizens and the rest of the world is based entirely on the exercise of force and is resurrecting unaccountable power.</p>
<p>Christianity’s emphasis on the worth of the individual makes such power as Lenin claimed, and Washington now claims, unthinkable. Be we religious or be we not, our celebration of Christ’s birthday celebrates a religion that made us masters of our souls and of our political life on Earth. Such a religion as this is worth holding on to even by atheists.</p>
<p>As we enter into 2016, Western civilization, the product of thousands of years of striving, hangs in the balance. Degeneracy is everywhere before our eyes. As the West sinks into tyranny, will Western peoples defend their liberty and their souls, or will they sink into the tyranny, which again has raised its ugly and all devouring head?</p>
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