Free Competition in Currency Act

The Federal Reserve increased the money supply by more than 2 Trillion Dollars within the last 15 months. The massive increase in the money supply creates a substantial risk of hyper-inflation.

Hyper-inflation can strike suddenly and quickly reduce savings by destroying the value of the dollar. Most of the recently-created dollars remain in the banking system and have not been introduced into the economy as loans. Because the trillions remain on the sidelines the risk of hyper-inflation is suppressed . . . for the time being. However, when the stagnant American economy begins to rebound, the banks where all that newly-minted money is hanging out will start making loans again. Then, the risk of hyper-inflation will kick in.

People can partially hedge against the threat of hyper-inflation by buying gold. But a problem with that financial strategy is that the appreciation of the gold, or any other precious metal, will be subject to capital gains tax. Thus, while gold is a way to reduce the risk, it still serves in a less than fully optimal capability because of the United States exclusive currency and tax policies.

The federal government, through its instrument the Federal Reserve, created the risk of hyper-inflation by massively increasing the money supply. The federal government ought to responsibly create a safety net for the American public against the risks associated with its policy. It can mitigate the danger by enacting a law allowing accumulation of gold or silver.

Article I, Section 8, of the United States Constitution allows states to establish gold and silver as legal tender. “No State shall . . . make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts . . . .” However, the current federal law makes it a crime, punishable by imprisonment of up to five years, to use coins as legal tender. See 18 U.S.C. Section 486.

A proposed law pending to correct this untenable situation is the Free Competition in Currency Act of 2009, a refreshingly simple one page law. That statute, if inacted into law, would repeal 18 U.S.C. § 486, the criminal ban against States permitting use of gold and silve coins as legal tender. The proposed law would also ban imposition of federal or state taxes on gold and silver coins.

Technorati Tags: Free, Competition, in, Currency, Act, of, 2009, hyper-inflation, money, supply, federal, reserve, tax, 18, usc, 486

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Alabama Fans Rap About Julio Jones

"His Momma Named Him That"

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Papajohns.com Bowl: Connecticut Big East Ties

I heard a friend complaining about the Gamecocks opponent, Connecticut, for the January 2, 2010, Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham. My friend's sad philosophy is your favorite team's bowl should be played against a high-profile team in a down year. He figures that winning over a “name” team, brings more prestige than beating a no-name.

Now, don't get me wrong. My friend understands Connecticut as a high-quality opponent. However, because the Huskies joined the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) only a few years ago (in 2002) their team has a lower profile than somebody like, for instance, Florida State. He knows Connecticut is an up-and-coming team. He knows they are physical and play with passion. But he figures most casual fans don't know the Huskies.

I quibble with my friend here because I think most people understand the Huskies are pretty good. First, they are from the northeast where most of the media is located. Secondly, and more importantly, they compete in the Big East Conference. The Big East is a BCS Conference with a growing reputation.

The Big East Conference may not be considered one of the nation's power conferences like the SEC. Nevertheless, its reputation for excellent football is growing steadily. In fact, last year, the Big East performed very well in bowl games winning 4 and losing only twice.

My post last January, Conference Bowl Performance, contained the following chart comparing each of the conferences:



Last year, the Big East out performed the pitiful Big 10, the woeful ACC, and the Big 12--three more high-profile conferences. Therefore, it appears Connecticut will be a nightmare for my friend. They are an excellent football team from a tough conference. The Gamecocks will have their hands full on January 2 . . . and my friend will stay nervous until the game is in the books.

Technorati Tags: Connecticut, Connecticut, Gamecocks, Big, East, Bowl, 2008
performance

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Sherry Peal Jackson: Political Prisoner in America

Sherry Peal Jackson is a former IRS Agent. She became a CPA in 1987. As a private CPA, she spoke on why income tax laws were unconstitutional. Her website is here, Sherry Peel Jackson Dot Com.

Jackson, a wife and mother, was convicted by a federal court in 2007 of "willful failure to file taxes." However, her primary crime was apparently disseminating argument the federal government lacks authority to require people to pay income tax. Thus, she was targeted by the IRS as part of its "Tax Defier Initiative" campaign.

Her prosecution and conviction for misdemeanors charges were in large measure because of political speech.

Unfortunately, Jackson was sentenced to federal prison, and while incarcerated, she encountered serious health problems. The Federal Prison was not providing her proper medical treatment--treatment that could cost Sherry her life. That sounds like a serious miscarriage of justice! Certainly, the government's failure to provide obviously needed medical treatment is worthy of concern.

A copy of Sherry's letter about her plight in federal prison is quoted below. A Free Sherry Website on Wiki contains further information. Apparently, the federal government is finally taking action to address the health problems outlined in the letter. Publicizing her cause has been worthwhile.

I am Sherry Peel Jackson, your former CPA. I am writing you because I am concerned about my health and my life. Prior to becoming a political prisoner I was the picture of health.

In late June, 2009 I started experiencing a rapid heart beat on an irregular basis. Since this had happened infrequently in the past I did not think much of it. However, in Mid July it started happening on a regular basis and I became concerned. I went to the medical staff twice in Mid July only to be given a one-minute EKG test and powerful meds without proper diagnosis. I did not take them because I had not been seen by a specialist.

One week later, on July 21 at 12:45am I left the dorm in flip flops to go tell the officers that I was having a heart attack. The officers on duty called the ambulance and the ambulance checked my heart on their portable EKG machine. It was beating at 150 beats per minute. They took me to Leesberg (spelling) hospital where I remained until Friday, July 24th at 11:30pm. During the hospital stay it was determined that my heart was healthy but my thyroid was producing too much hormone, thus speeding up my heart.

This is called hyperthyroidism or Graves disease. I was given two medications by the hospital - Methimazole, which is an anti-thyroid agent used to reduce the amount of thyroid hormone produced by the body and Metoprolol, which is a beta blocker used to slow the heart. The hospital doctor told me that in four weeks (approximately August 21) the prison medical unit was to do blood tests to determine how the thyroid medication was affecting my body.

The blood test was taken in late August and I was told that I would be placed on the appointment schedule to come over and review the results. I was never called. I went over in early September and inquired of Dr. DeLeon as to how to get blood test results. He told me to put in a request to staff, so I did that on September 15th. It simply asked to see the results of the tests.

Sometime after September 23rd I received a response in writing, from Ms. Marich, that stated that I could either make a sick call (come over early in the morning wait in line and fill out forms) or come to Open House to see the results. Open house is held only on Thursdays from 3:00pm to 3:30pm. I went to Open House Thursday September 30th and was told by Ms. Marich that she could not find the results! I watched her look through and around several piles of folders in her office but at no time did she look on a computer for them. She told me to check back later.

On Wednesday October 28th I passed out around 4pm and was taken to medical and cleared. On Friday October 30th my lips started turning black as if I had been a lifelong smoker. By Sunday November 1st my lips were fully black.

My boss, the Chaplain, called medical and a male nurse was sent over from the medium security men's prison on this complex (there are two maximum security, one medium security and one low security men's prisons on this complex with the women's camp). He took my blood pressure and oxygen and said there was nothing else he could do. He told me to go to sick call Monday morning, which I did. I showed Mr. Coucho my lips and told him that something was wrong with my blood, I could tell. (I am leaving out gross details here). He said I would be put on the schedule.

However, the very next day, Tuesday morning, November 3rd, I found blood in my stool and rushed over to medical because I am smart enough to know that this is a major problem. I was chewed out for coming over to medical without a staff member telling me to come. I told Charlie, the female nurse and Mr. Coucho the PA that I was in the hospital in July, never got the blood work results and something was terribly wrong. I was 46 years old and I know my body! I finally convinced them that I was not playing and was not stupid, so they 'treated' me with a packet for a stool sample test.

Mr. Coucho looked on the computer for the blood test results from August and found them there! The blood test showed a problem with the thyroid way back then! He said I would be put on the schedule for new blood work later that week because these results were too old. He had a short conversation with Dr. DeLeon in Spanish and then said the thyroid count was off. This was November 3rd. I administered the stool tests and returned them to Nurse Charlie on Friday November 6th.

Today is November 26th, Thanksgiving. I have not received the results of the stool test. I have not been given any new blood test. My neck is swelling up like a blow fish and I am having trouble talking. I have been feeling very ill for the last two weeks.

Congressman, I don't want them to kill me in here. As you well know, I am being punished for exposing government fraud. However, millions of people don't file tax returns and I was just used as an example by the DOJ for their new program called the Tax Defiers Initiative.

I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful children. I have already spent 21 months in prison for a non crime, and I refuse to come out dead or maimed for life. I have not caused these people any problems. This is no threat but just for your information. I also wrote the warden today. Things can't go on this way as I languish in here for someone's political gain. God doesn't like ugly and He is the ultimate judge and vindicator.
Sherry Peel Jackson 59085-019

FCI COLEMAN MEDIUM
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
P.O. BOX 1032
COLEMAN, FL 33521

FCI Coleman Medium
On December 2nd, 2009 CptDave says:
phone number: 352-689-5000
fax: 352-330-0552

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Christmas: Simeon's Story

Last Sunday, our Bridgepointe Bible study group looked at the Christmas verses in Luke 2. Most of the chapter is very familiar, often cited by folks at Christmas. However, I was intrigued by a lesser known passage about an elderly priest named Simeon.

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel's consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law, Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said:

Now, Master,
You can dismiss Your slave in peace,
according to Your word.
For my eyes have seen Your salvation.
You have prepared [it]
in the presence of all peoples—
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and glory to Your people Israel.

His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Him. Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: "Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed — and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Luke 2:25-35 (emphasis added).

This passage about Simeon intrigued me for three reasons. First, he was attuned to God's direction. Second, his theology viewed the Messiah's salvation s all-encompassing. And third, because of his affinity for the Lord.

Attuned to God's Guidance

Throughout the scripture, it is plain that Simeon listened to God. The verses state that the Holy Spirit was with him. Some folks are surprised by this because of Acts 2:1-4, where the Holy Spirit, or “Comforter,” baptized believers. However, as is shown here, the Holy Spirit was also with Old Testament believers.

Simeon listened to the Holy Spirit and did not take guidance from him lightly. He believed the message from God that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. The context of the story suggests that Simeon was quite elderly when he met the baby Jesus in the Temple. Therefore, Simeon waited patiently for the event even in his old age.

When the Holy Spirit guided, Simeon followed. The sensitivity to the Spirt led Simeon directly to the Lord Jesus in the temple.

All-encompassing Savior

Back in the Old Testament days, many of the Hebrew religious leaders expected a political Messiah. They interpreted the prophecies of Messiah to mean that God's messager would reinstate a glorious Israel kingdom like there was in the days of King David.

However, God had in mind that his Messiah's Kingdom would be greater. It is not limited to earth. Indeed, at his trial before Pontius Pilot, when the Hebrew Religious leaders accused Jesus of insurrection against Ceaser, Pilot asked Jesus, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

Jesus repled to Pilot, “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36.

God had in mind an all-encompassing Kingdom that was beyond the scope of the borders of Israel. The Old Testament scriptures point to an all-encompassing spiritual kingdom that includes all peoples. The Messiah came not just for the Hebrew people—although he came from the Hebrew people—but for all men and women. It is like the Angels proclaimed to the shepherds in the field:

I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people

Luke 2:10.

Indeed, since the time for Messiah to die for our sins had not yet come, it is clear that Messiah's power of salvation stretched not only forward in time to reach us, but backwards as well. He came to die for all people who have lived—even those who lived before him.

Simeon understood the scope of God's Messiah would not be limited.

Simeon's Affinity for Messiah

Probably the most intriguing aspect of Simeon is the humanity of his relationship with Jesus, the Messiah. Many commentators, including our Lifeway writer, Dale “Geno” Robinson, focus on the great prayer Simeon uttered when he saw the Lord. It really is a great prayer.

I noticed on the nonverbal part of the prayer. The scripture says “Simeon took Him [Jesus] up in his arms.” I imagine Simeon held the baby Jesus in full embrace and said the prayer with tears of joy and happiness in his eyes. Simeon understood he held the Lord's Messiah in his arms, the salvation of all humanity. His heart was bursting with love for God and for Jesus as he tightly held the baby in his arms.

Simeon's affinity to the Lord is the kind God hopes we might achieve. We would do well to strive for the kind of relationship Simeon had with the Lord Jesus Christ.

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John Stossel Rebuts Global Warming Alarmist Agenda

Here is an interesting clip. This must have been published before the emails by the global warming alarmists were leaked. Still, it is a pretty good recounting of the factual errors and exaggerations found in "An Inconvenient Truth."

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Emily Boot Camp News

On Saturday afternoon Emily made a couple short calls to South Carolina. She is surviving Navy Boot Camp. It sounds like she and the others are learning a lot about team work. Emily reported to Nathan that Boot Camp was tough, but pretty fun.

We received our first letter from Em last week! She gave me permission to publish the letters so everyone can read about her experience. Read her correspondence at the link in this paragraph.

In a related matter, Emily is scheduled to graduate from Boot Camp on January 29, 2010. Katrina and I have tickets from Charlotte to Chicago. We are staying at an Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago-North Shore/Deerfield. A Map of Area shows the location of the hotel. The Recruit Training Center is up a bit north in the city of Waukegan. Both are north of Chicago.

Emily requests letters via snail mail letters at the following address:

SR Turnage, Emily R.
SHIP 10, DIV 074
3425 Sailor Drive
GREAT LAKES IL 60088-3525

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Lindsey Graham Blasts Dem Health Bill

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham makes three strong points in the clip below.

First, he states that Senator Ben Nelson (D. Neb) was bribed to compromise on his previous position opposing using federal funds to pay for abortions.

In a back room deal negotiated by Nelson in secret, Nelson received a provision in the proposed law that permanently exempts his State, Nebraska, from paying any money toward the States' budget busting obligations toward the federal Medicaid program. Graham states he believes the Nelson deal is unconstitutional and he intends to ask South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster to weigh-in on that issue.

Second, the abortion provision Nelson obtained is so weak that no pro-life group supports it. Graham says that Bart Stupak (D. Mich.), the House Democrat that forced stronger anti-abortion language in the correlated House Health Care Bill, said Nelson's compromise was "unacceptable."

Third, Graham attacked the sham budgeting used by Democrats to claim the Bill is "balanced". Graham stated the accounting amounted to Enron-styled gimmickry. He says the economic projections out of the Congressional Budget Office related to a "Class Act" law for long-term health insurance that is included in the potential law constitutes a Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme of the first order.

Graham, a Republican known for working across the aisle with Democrats, also attacked the process of enacting this potential law as the worst kind of Washington politics.

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Class: Eric Norwood Thanks the Fans

The Feeling is Mutual

In the video embedded below, Eric Norwood thanks the South Carolina fans for supporting the team during the 2009 season. He states in the video that the home field advantage in 2009 was the best in his four year career at South Carolina.

I think it is time to return the thanks.

I would like to thank Eric Norwood for his tremendous heart.

Norwood is a player who never quits on any play. He gives his all every time.

And, Norwood, from time to time, makes huge plays. From his linebacker or defensive end spot, he can change a game around from a loss to a win. That feat, even once during a career, is a rarity for a college linebacker/defensive lineman. Norwood has done several times in his.

Eric Norwood could have entered the professional draft last year. He likely would have gone in one of the first several rounds and made a bunch of money. Instead of going Pro, Norwood stayed at Carolina and played his senior season.

Before the season, in this July 24, 2009, Post, I wrote about Norwood's unselfish career at South Carolina. The post had a clip embedded from after the Gamecocks win over Kentucky during the 2008 season. Norwood, in the midst of a national interview by ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, turned to honor to the Carolina Alma Mata. He has his priorities straight.

In 2009, Norwood played great for his senior season. He set records such as the most sacks by any player in the history of South Carolina football. He recently received a standing ovation when he completed his course requirement and obtained a degree from Carolina.

Eric, the feeling toward you is mutual. I cannot wait to see you play your final game as a Gamecock down in Birmingham. Thank you for a great career.

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Global Warming Debate with Greenpeace Member

Lord Christopher Monckton has been in the news in recent months due to his scepticism of global warming.

In November 2006, he published in The Daily Telegraph a widely publicized article critical of the prevailing climate change opinions. After U.S. Senators Rockefeller and Snowe wrote a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of ExxonMobil asking him to stop funding scientists who reject global warming, Lord Monckton wrote a letter to the senators reminding them of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and calling on them to reverse their position or resign.

In February 2007, he published an analysis and summary of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report on climate change.

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