The Democrats continue the farce that they are for traditional family values when in fact they support the exact opposite. They released a proclamation in support of Same-Sex marriages on June 3rd. This came from DNC Chairman Howard Dean, Massachusetts Democratic Representative Barney Frank and Wisconsin Democratic Representative Tammy Baldwin.
“Today, on behalf of Democrats across America, we join together in celebrating the contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans and their families make to our society and reaffirm our Party’s commitment to promoting full equality under the law for every American.
“As leaders of the Democratic Party, we stand proudly with the LGBT community and commit ourselves to working together to build an America that is truly inclusive. Every American has the right to live in dignity, with equal rights, responsibilities and protections under the law.
These are our country’s and our Party’s core values. Across the country, at every level of government, Democrats have championed sweeping protections in the areas of employment, housing, domestic partnerships and civil unions, adoption, gender identity or expression, and hate crimes.
“Despite all we have accomplished, our work is not done. We need to fight efforts to write discrimination into our laws and constitutions.(This statement is in reference to H.J. RES. 89, the Marriage Protection Amendment, which makes marriage legal only between a man and a woman. The Democratic Party opposes the Marriage Protection Amendment because they believe it is discriminatory against homosexuals.)
At least some of the Democrats no longer pretend to be a traditional family values supporter. They are making it very clear that they will support same-sex marriage at all levels of government and will fight to keep traditional marriage amendments from passing in state constitutions. This makes the choice for Evangelical Christians and other supporters of traditional family values in the upcoming elections clearer. Don’t elect the Democrat if you support traditional family values.
The following is from the neighborhood coordinator who is leading a campaign to help a fellow neighbor in need. This neighbor lives across the street from me and is in great financial need. Please read the letter below and pass it along to other bloggers to spread the word about this need.
Lennie
Friends,
We are on a journey together to save a home from Foreclosure. Debbi Tepper passed away on May 29th leaving behind a husband, George, who is need of a kidney transplant; a son, Brandon Tepper who is twelve years old; and a daughter Jamie who is 23.
Debbi was admitted to Condell Hospital in Libertyville, Illinois on May 21, 2008 with a mysterious illness that aggressively ravaged her body to the point where she became paralyzed. She was on a feeding tube and ventilator. She also received a tracheotomy. This illness eventually attacked her body to the point where her brain was no longer functioning leaving her on life support, until eventually the family had to let her go.
Debbi is at peace now, but her family is not. The government was declaring a Sherriff’s sale on her home the very same day she passed away. An extension was able to be obtained until July 28th, 2008. That is the day the house is up for auction.
George, her husband has Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). Because of his PKD, he is in immediate need of a second kidney transplant. He goes to dialysis three times a week and is awaiting a second kidney transplant. The extensive medical bills the family has incurred has forced them to get far behind on their house payments.
Jamie just graduated from college only to eventually see her mother who was the picture of perfect health die from a mysterious illness which violated her body in less than two weeks. Jamie and Brandon have gone through more than any child should ever have to in a lifetime.
Debbi was the hub of our entire neighborhood Lakewood Hills in Round Lake Beach Illinois. Brandon, her son, is undoubtedly the most popular child in the neighborhood. He does not deserve to lose the home he has grown up in.
We are on a mission to save their home and we need your help! Please give ASAP to “Team Up For The Teppers” at any Fifth Third Bank Location, donate online at DebbiTepper.com, or mail a donation to the following Fifth Third Bank address:
Fifth Third Bank
Attn: Randy Angsten
750 Northwest Hwy
Cary, IL 60013
Thank you for your kind support. Everyone is telling me it looks hopeless but I am believing God for a miracle! Please give from your heart. We are on a massive fundraising campaign in our community and we are not giving up! Keep the Faith.
While the Senators were grilling the Oil Company Execs about the high cost of gas, the revenues the government receives from the gas taxes are bringing in record revenues into their coffers. In fact in Chicago, who has the highest gas prices in the nation, taxes account for approximately 20% of the gas costs. [Emphasis mine]
Tired of seeing the price at the pump jump every time you need to buy gasoline? Well, the record-high price of gasoline in the Chicago area is linked to a record-high rate of taxation: nearly 20 percent of the Chicago price.
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“It was $4.20. I can come over here and get it for $3.93,” said Tikvah Wadley, one of the many fleeing Illinois taxes.
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin complained to oil company bosses at a hearing on Capitol Hill about Chicago having the highest gasoline prices in the United States. Largely ignored was the role taxes are playing — an astounding 10 levels of taxation.
“Does it trouble any of you when you see what you’re doing to us?” Durbin asked..
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The watchdog Civic Federation says that on a $4 gallon of gas, the total tax is 79.2 cents. That compares to 77 cents in Los Angeles and 65 cents in New York City.
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And that, of course, is exactly the point for the politicians. Gov. Blagojevich, for example, is counting on the high price of gasoline to bring at least an extra $220 million in the State Treasury in the fiscal year that begins this July. Most of that will be used to balance the way-out-of-balance budget.
Senator Durbin, does it trouble you when you see what you’re doing to us? Don’t you and your fellow Senators care about the poor and middle class working families? Why are you are forcing them to pay nearly a 20% tax rate on the gas they need to get back and forth to work?
Eventually, the majority of the taxpayers are going to find out the truth that Congress, State Legislators and local governments are to blame for the high gas prices. They will understand that you and your cohorts don’t want to fix the high gas prices. You just want the tax revenue so you can spend more of our money on your pet projects and never have to make decisions to actually cut spending.
This in not the first time the Illinois Review has shunned someone who speaks out against the corruption and impotent Republican leadership in the Illinois Republican Party. I personally know of another conservative who was blocked from writing any more articles because he too dared to question the Republican leadership.
Tactics like this are what turn people off from the Republican Party. They want unquestioning loyalty no matter how bad they govern; no matter how corrupt they act; no matter how much they increase spending; no matter how little difference there is between them and the Democrats.
One day the Republicans here in Illinois will realize that they can’t build a totalitarian party like the Democrats. The more conservative people are, the more freedom oriented they are. This means that the Republicans or any party that wants to attract Free Market/Limited Government people must build a coalition of varied thought. Without this, the Republican Party in Illinois will become nonexistent.
State Sen. Chris Lauzen will be holding a property tax forum Monday, May 12 from 7 - 8:30 pm at the Yorkville Public Library, 902 Game Farm Road, Yorkville. (Hat tip: Daily Herald) [Emphasis mine]
As property tax bills begin to appear in mailboxes throughout Kane and Kendall counties, state Sen. Chris Lauzen, an Aurora Republican, wants to help area residents understand their bills and provide information on a variety of cost-saving measures.
The best cost savings will be to lower property taxes instead of the annual unending increases.
Lauzen has partnered with the supervisors of assessments and treasurers from both counties to help answer questions on local residents’ property tax bills and to help explain where their tax dollars are distributed.
The largest percentage goes to the local school districts who spend the money on the following instead of the education of the children: (This is not an all inclusive list)
Pay raises higher than those the taxpayers
Outrageous end of career bonuses
Retirement at age 55
Overtaxing after referendums
Use of bonds schemes to fleece the taxpayer more
No bid contracts
Information also will be provided on a number of new homestead exemptions that have recently passed the General Assembly.
Sorry, Mr. Lauzen, but these new exemptions help only a minority of taxpayers, particularly Seniors and Veterans. Even for them, it will only slow the growth of their tax bills. If you wish, please e-mail Mr. Lauzen and ask him for real property tax reform instead of these meetings and feel good sessions.
A Christian law firm will appeal a ruling by the New Mexico Human Rights Commission fining a photographer who refused to take photos of a homosexual commitment ceremony.
Elaine Huguenin and her husband Jon, who co-own Elane Photography in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are both Christians. So when a lesbian couple asked them to photograph their “commitment ceremony” in Taos, the Huguenins politely refused. In response, Vanessa Willock filed a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission claiming the Huguenins discriminated against her because of her “sexual orientation.” On Wednesday, the Commission found the Christian couple guilty of discrimination under state anti-discrimination laws and ordered them to pay more than $6,000 in costs.
The decision is being appealed of course. Here is a statement from their lawyer, Jordan Lorence with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF):
“There is a great threat to our religious liberties and our ability to speak out in favor of traditional marriage when these non-discrimination laws are interpreted in such a harsh way to censor Christians and others,” he asserts.
Lorence said Americans do not surrender their freedoms of speech or religion just because they choose to open a business. He added that the Commission’s decision is tantamount to the State of New Mexico forcing a vegetarian videographer to create a commercial for a butcher shop.
My thoughts on this are simple. This is an infringement on someone’s freedom of religion. It highlights the fact of how giving extra rights based on sexual preference will gradually criminalize religion.
What are your thoughts, is this case an infringement of freedom of religion or is it a human rights violation?
Republican Congressman John Campbell has “heard the cries” of those who feel they are undertaxed and introduced the “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Act.” (Hat tip: Opinion Journal)
Mr. Campbell says he has heard the “cries” of those wealthy Americans – Mrs. Clinton, Warren Buffett, Barbra Streisand – who reject the lower tax rates passed in 2001 and 2003 and complain that they and their fellow rich don’t pay enough. “It’s a great injustice that citizens wishing to fulfill their dream of paying more taxes cannot simply check a box on their 1040 form to make a donation,” he says. His bill would give liberals a chance to salve their consciences without having to raise taxes on millions of Americans who already feel overtaxed as it is.
Are taxes voluntary? According to Harry Reid, yes. Watch the following video and see how he tries to justify this assertion. (Hat tip: Free Liberal via Nicky Cheese)
I guess Mr. Reid should explain this to the police, other governmental agencies, and the Supreme Court who still think taxes are mandatory.
Is the government smarter than the people? Government officials, especially the Democrats believe they are can make better decisions with our tax money. First, there is Minnesota State Senator Larry Pogemiller who said [Emphasis mine] (Hat tip: Eric Odom):
I think it’s simplistic and naive to say people can spend their money better than the government. And the reason is, the reason we have government is to build community assets. And I don’t care how rich you are, you can’t build a freeway system by yourself, and that’s why we have taxes. And I don’t care how rich you are, you can’t build a public education system by yourself. You can get you own child educated, but in this state we have something called universal education for all children. And so I think the notion that everybody can individually spend their money better than government I just think is trite, wrongheaded and anti-democratic.
You can watch the video of this statement as well:
There are some who claim that Senator Pogemiller is talking only about roads and education. Reading the entire statement though shows an attitude of arrogance. He uses examples of roads and education as examples of why government is better than individuals. The problem he has is two fold. First, the government bureaucracy build Interstate 35 and couldn’t even maintain it leading to its collapse and multiple deaths. Second, he believes you as an individual are capable of educating your child, but not every other parent is not. His logic belies his true feelings. That belief is that government is smarter than society. Mr. Pogemiller believes it is governments right to take money away from you because the government can spend it more wisely than you can as an individual. His words show a belief that it is more important for the government to slowly control your lives instead and limiting your freedom.
