“Since when have we Americans been expected to bow submissively to authority and speak with awe and reverence to those who represent us? The constitutional theory is that we the people are the sovereigns, the state and federal officials only our agents. We who have the final word can speak softly or angrily. We can seek to challenge and annoy, as we need not stay docile and quiet.” ~ Justice William O. Douglas

Absolutely, there is a war on free speech.

To be more accurate, however, the war on free speech is really a war on the right to criticize the government.

Although the right to speak out against government wrongdoing is the quintessential freedom, every day in this country, those who dare to speak their truth to the powers-that-be find themselves censored, silenced or fired.

Indeed, those who run the government don’t take kindly to individuals who speak truth to power. Continue reading →

In an article on RedWire.com it was noted that it seems to be back to business as usual in good old Sodomy on the Potomac. It seems as if (are you really surprised?) that now some of the “conservative” Republicans are suddenly not all that hot to investigate Biden family corruption as they were when running for election. Can anyone really be surprised that we are now getting back to business as usual in the great swamp?

It seems that the current agenda has now swung from investigating Biden family corruption to preventing a banking crisis as they promised us they would Many Republican voters are less than enthusiastic about this. They are getting upset that the Biden family corruption they were promised would be investigated is now on the way to being ignored! It would seem that except for talking a good fight, many conservatives are not really backing up the talk with meaningful action. Continue reading →

“This country has been having a nationwide nervous breakdown since 9/11. A nation of people suddenly broke, the market economy goes to shit, and they’re threatened on every side by an unknown, sinister enemy. But I don’t think fear is a very effective way of dealing with things – of responding to reality. Fear is just another word for ignorance.” ~ Hunter S. Thompson, gonzo journalist

We have become guinea pigs in a ruthlessly calculated, carefully orchestrated, chillingly cold-blooded experiment in how to control a population and advance a political agenda without much opposition from the citizenry.

This is mind-control in its most sinister form.

With alarming regularity, the nation is being subjected to a spate of violence that terrorizes the public, destabilizes the country, and gives the government greater justifications to crack down, lock down, and institute even more authoritarian policies for the so-called sake of national security without many objections from the citizenry.

Take this latest shooting in Nashville, Tenn. … Continue reading →

“The ‘Trans Day of Vengeance‘ protest scheduled for Washington, D.C., for Saturday has been canceled by organizers, who cited a ‘threat to life and safety.’

Our Rights DC, the co-organizer of the event, issued a Twitter thread announcing the cancellation. The event was to take place at the U.S. Supreme Court.

‘This action will not be taking place Saturday due to a credible threat to life and safety,” the organization tweeted. “The safety of our trans community is first priority. This threat is the direct result of the flood of raw hatred directed toward the trans community after the Tennessee shooting.'”

I guess their little queer asses are quivering in their crocks. This smacks of more sensationalism aimed at painting conservative Christians as the real threat and just another political ploy to gain sympathy and momentum for their movement, once again playing the victim despite Three Little Beautiful Children Laying Cold in the Grave. ~ J.O.S.
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Social Equity has become the root for almost every policy coming from government, school curriculum, human resources on the job, and even in our entertainment. It’s a revolution intended to change our entire social structure to affect how we all interact with each other.

To understand the full impact “equity” will have on our daily lives, let’s look at its intended definition, as prepared by its promoters. United Way of the National Capital Area (a long-time charity) defines Equity as “The quality of being fair and impartial. Social equity is impartiality, fairness and justice for all people in social policy. Social equity takes into account systemic inequalities to ensure everyone in a community has access to the same opportunities and outcomes. Equity of all kinds acknowledges that inequalities exist and works to eliminate them…Social equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.”

Well, if our American society intends to reach the goals of true social equity, we have a lot of changes in our everyday lives that must be made! Let’s get down to it. Continue reading →

[shmih-GEH-gee]

The title of this essay is a word I’ve used in past commentaries. Schmegegge is a Yiddish word for baloney, hot air, nonsense, and by extension, bullshit.

Other cultures fascinate me. I’ve lived, traveled, conversed, listened, and absorbed a lot of erudition in my LXXII years on this rock. I embrace this increased awareness because I never know when this knowledge will be helpful.

America is a melting pot of people and languages. We’re an amalgamation of everyone that merges with – not storms – our community. Much of our language originated from other countries, as do some of our customs – like Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, and Cinco de Mayo.

Sadly, we’ve lost our sense of community and regressed into tribal monikers and identifiers that challenge and expunge that unity. As if that’s not bad enough, we partitioned along partisan political paradigms. Continue reading →

…when you don’t hear from a friend for awhile.

Earlier today, I realized that I had not heard from a good friend and major contributor to the Kettle Moraine Publications family of websites – Justin O. Smith.

About a month ago his family experienced a death of his granddaughter’s fiance, and I have maintained  a great concern for how the family has been holding up.

Early today, I sent Justin a brief text which stated;

“Hey – are you OK?” – to which he responded; Continue reading →

George Mason, “the father of the Bill of Rights.”

Your 21st century American lifestyle may have led you to overlook “oversight.”

Perhaps you vaguely recall its mention during an American government class sometime in your educational past.

Thankfully, our founders did not overlook it, as they stated clearly in Article I, Section I, of our Constitution that “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States.”

Virginia’s George Mason made a compelling case for oversight at the Constitutional Convention, where he stated that federal lawmakers “are not only legislators but they possess inquisitorial powers. They must meet frequently to inspect the conduct of the public offices.”

Sadly, the conduct of some federal legislators leads casual observers to mistake congressional oversight hearings as a venue for partisan playground palaver. Continue reading →

Menny Floot Cakes een thees Adminislashun!

“Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” ~ Hebrews 3:15

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So Jesus told those indignant listeners this parable:

“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’

So the father divided the property between them.

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.

So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.

Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’

So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him

His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’

Then the celebration began.

Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’

He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’” ~ Luke 1-2,11-32
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“Big Guy,” J.D. Hayworth, Author

For the better part of four generations, Americans have grown into adulthood seemingly afloat upon an ocean of acronyms.

That’s especially true when it comes to our federal government.

News from Washington is filled with letters denoting governmental entities — DOJ, FBI, CIA… CDC, OMB — and the one agency that expects to hear directly from you every April 15 — the IRS.

What most of us find especially taxing is the explosion of acronyms that corresponds with the exponential growth of government. Continue reading →

“We fear no one:” Ukrainians raise flags to defy Russia invasion fear – Reuters

I’ve seen enough death and dying over the course of my lifetime to know that I’ll always try to find a peaceful path out of any situation, regardless of what it is. Violence is a double-edged sword that cuts both ways, and if I was a world leader, going to war would always be the last resort.

The victors of wars may reap some sort of reward in the aftermath, but the citizens of both countries always lose. Continue reading →

Chicago dumps the worst mayor in its long history of corrupt mayors.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot finished third in Tuesday’s election with 16.89% of the vote, behind former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas at 33.95% and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson with 20.32%.

Lori thinks it’s because of racism that she lost. Lightfoot responded to her loss by yanking out the race card.

“I’m a black woman in America — of course,” was her lame excuse. Continue reading →

The news caught my eye late on a mid-February morning: Actress Raquel Welch had died at the age of 82. If you are an adult of a certain age — and especially a male — you surely can close your eyes and conjure visions of Raquel, who was to Hollywood sex symbols what John Adams was to presidents — second in line.

In Welch’s case, behind only Marilyn Monroe when it came to earning headlines not for her acting talent but for the way she looked. This isn’t to say Welch was untalented — she won a Golden Globe for her role in “The Three Musketeers” — but more to give credit to her beauty, which was otherworldly.

It’s considered politically incorrect to comment on female attributes in the 21st century, but there is no way to think about Welch without acknowledging the obvious. As a beauty, she had few peers. Continue reading →

“Whether the mask is labeled fascism, democracy, or dictatorship of the proletariat, our great adversary remains the apparatus—the bureaucracy, the police, the military.” ~ Simone Weil, French philosopher

It’s hard to say whether we’re dealing with a kleptocracy (a government ruled by thieves), a kakistocracy (a government run by unprincipled career politicians, corporations and thieves that panders to the worst vices in our nature and has little regard for the rights of American citizens), or if we’ve gone straight to an idiocracy.

For instance, an animal welfare bill introduced in the Florida state legislature would ban the sale of rabbits in March and April, prohibit cat owners from declawing their pets, make it illegal for dogs to stick their heads out of car windows, force owners to place dogs in a harness or in a pet seatbelt when traveling in a car, and require police to create a public list of convicted animal abusers.

A Massachusetts law prohibits drivers from letting their cars idle for more than five minutes on penalty of a $100 fine ($500 for repeat offenders), even in the winter. You can also be fined $20 or a month in jail for scaring pigeons. Continue reading →

“Autocrats only understand one word: no, no, no. No you will not take my country, no you will not take my freedom, no you will not take my future… A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never be able to ease the people’s love of liberty. Brutality will never grind down the will of the free.” ~ President Biden

Oh, the hypocrisy.

To hear President Biden talk about the Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, you might imagine that Putin is the only dictator bent on expanding his military empire through the use of occupation, aggression and oppression.

Yet the United States is no better, having spent much of the past half-century policing the globe, occupying other countries, and waging endless wars.

What most Americans fail to recognize is that these ongoing wars have little to do with keeping the country safe and everything to do with propping up a military industrial complex that has its sights set on world domination. Continue reading →

Last week, students at small Christian college in Kentucky gathered for their regular Wednesday chapel service. Ten days later, it has not ended. People from around the country and the world continue to join in. No matter your religion or lack thereof, THIS is an exceptional happening. More exceptional even, is that this spirit has spread to other colleges and universities. Continue reading →