The state of Montana approved what commentators are dubbing a “revolutionary” new law earlier this month. The “Montana Firearms Freedom Act” is set to trigger a legal showdown between the federal government and the state, which is exactly what some lawmakers are hoping for.

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Be Encouraged
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Be Encouraged

ByMark Gilmore

What a great week for encouraging listening.

This weekend, I drove into Memphis to see The Good Shepherd. I listened each way to great ally Caroline Casey do her winter solstice solo, interview Graha…

8 Comments

  2. Here is a site that I found most informative. The strength of liberty is in the separate states. The central government can be overrun.. the White House burned as it was in 1812, but with strong states, there is still leadership and the ability to resurrect the central government for its intended purpose.

    http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/state-groups/ Be sure to listen to “The States’ Rights that Nobody Knows.”

    The mega banks have shown that the idea of “bigger is better” is not economic. If we are forced to rely on the central government for everything, and it fails, we are doomed.

    The central government is bankrupt and in debt. They have led us to the financial meltdown with bad policy. We cannot let them dictate energy policy, nor contol water and the food supply.

    The photo shoot of Air Force One cost $300,000. One trip without the President on board. Wow… that was an unnecessary expense. Air Force One should be grounded until we are out of debt. How many people could have had a regular check-up and been able to see their doctor instead of sending those taxes to Washington to be frittered away?

    Come on, Barack… show some leadership.. Give up Air Force One… fly commercial… take off your shoes like the commoners. We would even hold the plane for you. Teleconference…

  3. We have to be so careful to not be divided by issues and politics. We must adhere to ideals that promote the long term good. Our founding fathers knew that if the people were deprived of guns and speach, the central government would eventually enslave the people. Montana is full of thoughtful, resourceful and independent people. Their governor is a Democrat. He signed the bill.

    Politics is a distraction and used to divide. States have been mandated to provide services which the Federal government is supposed ot subsidize with our taxes. These programs are giant sieves with the cost of administration from that level very inefficient.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLxVlhpTFeg

    Thank your lucky stars that Brad Sherman is awake.

    Although a measure can be defined exactly by Congress to put limits on something, there will be those who violate the intent of the measure. Geithner is an example of someone who is not qualified to do the task as his loyalties are not to the law or the people. He should be overseeing the quick and complete return of the funds to simplify and eliminate the temporary programs.

    The TARP bill was explicit that all returned funds were to be put in the general fund and that the TARP was not a revolving fund. This money was a one time event and when it comes back, it is over. Once the money is back, there is no need for oversight or employing people to manage it. Therein lies the problem. The build-up of people for this and and payments to manage it is a special interest which naturally will try to extend the length of the contract and employment of these people. This is how central government becomes bloated. Government employees who are supposed to be efficient instead do things to promote their own interest at the expense of everyone else just to get a paycheck.

    When the TARP fund was set up, it was intended to be a temporary credit and then separate measures were passed as the size of the failures of the banking system grew. We all should have been alerted to the problem when there became a debate about whether recipients of the TARP funds were allowed to pay the money back. The TARP funds are not to be used over and over. We can’t expect that the government will “make” money on this deal as there is overhead, uncertain values to the assets and these are not liquid. Government is not in the business to make money, but the costs of providing these funds should be borne by those receiving the bailout. The repurchase of assets should include the costs of managing the funds.

    These funds were not grants. These were loans with associated costs. The longer TARP is open, the more likely that there will be money syphoned off to support the program. The Pollyanna idea that the government would make money on this is a joke. The contractors who manage the funds are going to make money, but we will end up with a deficit in the program.

    Here is an example of utter waste. The Federal government lends money to banks who then lend the money to the States. The banks have to make money to stay in business.. make a profit. The taxpayer puts the money with the Federal government and then gets a surcharge when it comes back to the states to support the banks. Why not just pay state taxes instead of Federal taxes? There are two layers, the federal bureaucracy and the banks that siphon off funds. It is totally inefficient and you realize that the bureaucracy and the banks are nothing more than welfare recipients who are very powerful. Besides providing for these welfare recipients, there is the potential for graft and error.

    Then there is the problem with the Federal government having to oversee how the funds are spent on their federally mandated programs. More bureaucracy. More opportunity for graft, waste and error.

    Make certain that your represntatives know that you want the money back as soon as possible. And when it is time to account for the losses and the costs, tell them you want to know how much it really cost us and who made profits on it. We need transparency so that Congress can be accountable for passing the bailout against the people’s wishes.

  4. guy…i’m not sure they can. i expect that much of the republican line will be a version which is more “populist” libertarian/paleo-conservative, in the same way that the democrats reached out to the left, progressives, and greens, without any substance therebehind.

    there’s a reason the Libertarians, Constitutionalists, Greens, and Naderites (as well as many other progressives) decided to band together on their core issues this past election year. Unforutnately, big money was still too much in control and most people never got the memo.

    but you’re right to be dead skeptical of the motives of those offering the “solution,” in my opinion. However, that’s how change happens, when people start taking their time, money, and energy and hitting them where it hurts most. then they put through bills that attempt to placate them, no matter how much they may not plan on long-term enforcement. also, it’s always “freer” to be the opposition.

  5. I like it!! Say it for homegrown manufacturing and local self reliance!!! 😀

  7. Question: How can initiatives like this be kept from being covertly funded/supported and co-opted by Republicans who are jumping on the “populist” right wing bandwagon?

  8. i spoke with one of the legislators who was sponsoring this bill (i believe then as a referendum) last year and was quite impressed. go montana!

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