SO WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE MS. SPEAKER? Still on the same privacy bandwagon?

Old and new are about to meet at a political nexus point, and I am left wondering what became of sanity? The Patriot Act and legislation being entertained on financial reform are about to collide. Not the laws themselves, but certainly the drama behind them.

First a look at what the Left had to say about the Patriot Act.

Five years ago, Nancy Pelosi posted some very real concerns she had about the Patriot Act, a George W. Bush policy hated by the Left, yet renewed intact by the Obama administration (and suddenly, those opposing political voices got very silent, and with political reason).

In 2005, in a rebuttal entitled Reauthorization of Patriot Act a Massive Invasion of Privacy, Ms. Pelosi wrote: “We must also preserve the balance between security and civil liberties and recognize that not all of the tools that law enforcement officers want are tools that they legitimately need” (bold mine).

Her concerns went on to include such language as, ““This is a massive invasion of the privacy of the American people, not just some idle threat,” and “We must always remember as we protect and defend the American people, we must honor the oath of office we take here when we are sworn in to protect and defend the Constitution and the civil liberties that it contains. We have an obligation to do better for the American people.”

Now a look at the financial reform legislation being introduced by the Left.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) comments on CNSNews.com: “The Democrats’ new bureaucracy poses a threat to our privacy.” It appears that financial reform will give the government the power to take a look at anyone’s finances:

“Individuals could be required to provide the new agency with written answers—under oath—to any question posed by the bureau regarding their personal financial information.”

Of course it’s all under the guise of needing to know what’s going on in the financial world for the sake of “peace and security,” but carefully consider . . . government agencies will now have total access to every receipt and every expense, every time you use an electronic form of payment: credit card, debit card, or check.

Cash is not a consideration at this point, as hard currency is difficult to tie to an individual’s transaction activity. But then . . . isn’t that a good political reason to do away with cash altogether?
So Ms. Pelosi, how are you going to protect the American citizenry from this new assault on privacy? It’s a slippery, Orwellian slope you and your peers are placing this nation on.

Stop it. Stop it now.

NO MR. PRESIDENT, YOU DON'T SOUND PARANOID: hope-on-a-rope

This latest diatribe on American freedom expression are, in my opinion, the first signs of a man nearing the end of his hope-on-a-rope.

Google reports: 

"With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations, -- none of which I know how to work -- information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation," Obama said.

Further evidence of the tension and paranoia are seen in the statement:

"All of this is not only putting new pressures on you, it is putting new pressures on our country and on our democracy."

I seem to remember one Hillary Clinton shrilling: "We are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration!"

I also remember a presidential campaign only two years ago when the feeding, leaking, and tweaking of "controversy" onto the information highway was standard operating procedure—and with political reason. I guess now that the shoe is on the other foot the highway is not so much fun.

Enjoy the ride, Mr. President. You helped blaze the trail.

PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN

On May 1, the news was rich with stories of legal and illegal Hispanics marching to protest Arizona's tough stand on illegal immigrants. The media report that "thousands" added their voices in opposition to Arizona's law, legislation which is being considered as well in Texas and California. At issue is the notion that anyone in the U.S.A. being asked to "present papers, please," stirs up memories of Nazi Europe.

But while our politicians are planning boycotts and rallying to oppose Arizona, they are speaking out of both sides of their mouths—again.

While this state law is being opposed on the streets, The Hill reports that our federal legislators on April 30, presented their own plan for a Federal I.D. card. Appointed the "BELIEVE SYSTEM," every citizen of this great nation of ours will be required to present this digitally encrypted ID card, a kind of government permission slip for employment, medical care, and so on. The card will absolutley represent you the individual as your fingerprint is digitally represented.

Please do not miss that: every citizen will be fingerprinted, a privilege hitherto only reserved for criminals who have been stripped of their liberties by the State.

So while Arizona is being lambasted for Nazism, the real socialists are busy in the nation's capital. While you're distracted by what's taking place out West, the East encroaches deeper into your life. While we are being warned of the dangers of Nazi-style identification by the left, the left is planning to require them of all citizens.

There is political reason behind this move in Washington, but is the BELIEVE SYSTEM hope and change you can believe in?

BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID

Every year as tax-time edges nearer to my checkbook, I am confronted with fears. Not fear that I may have paid too much or too little, both of which are a common reality. In the grand labyrinth of our tax code, has anyone ever paid in exactly what they owe?

No, this gut-turning dread comes from a fear of my government. Yes, "We the People" fear Washington. Fear that one day men in black suits driving black SUVs, bearing IRS badges will show up at my door. When the Internal Revenue Service is involved, the rule is "guilty until proven innocent."

Until now, that dread has been seasonal: tax-time. But times, they are a changin'.

With the IRS assuming enforcement of health care, and hiring tens of thousands of agents with the mandate of "health care or else," that gnawing little voice in the back of my head will speak to me—and you—all year long, year after year. Every time you go through the rigamarole of signing up for health insurance, use your flex account (if the benevolent government lets you keep one), each time you visit the doctor, need a prescription, or have to show your shiny new government-issue heath care card, there will be that momentary, "What if it doesn't work this time?" moment. "What if I'm turned down?" "What if someone didn't file the right paperwork in triplicate and the computer says I don't deserve this treatment?"

I can't wait for that moment when I actually say, "Gee, I remember when I only had to deal with the IRS once a year. Boy those were the days!"

Now there is change you can believe in.