Free Republic

A bill being considered by state legislators in Pennsylvania would require health care facilities to bury or cremate fetal remains after an abortion or miscarriage. House Bill 1890, which was introduced by predominantly Republican group of lawmakers in September and passed by the GOP-led state House last week, is now being considered in the state Senate. The bill, also known the Final Disposition of Fetal Remains Act, seeks to require health care facilities to bury or cremate the remains of a fetus after an abortion or miscarriage if they are not claimed by a parent for disposition. “Upon the fetal...

No decision is a decision. There’s never been a time in our nation’s history when that expression means more. The lack of a decision by President Obama and Congress has sparked the doom and gloom of the pending “fiscal cliff.” Yet for the vast majority of us, the real issue is fear of the unknown. It is the complexity of all the potential changes that makes the fiscal cliff so dangerous to our economy. This complexity makes it incredibly difficult for the average family to anticipate what 2013 has in store — and be able to plan for it. Businesses,...

In the beginning, Government provided the infrastructure that permitted the success of American companies. After seven days, government rested. Until President Obama clearly reinforced the government-Creationist perspective, Americans truly did not understand the greatness of our government and all that it has done for us. If not for Government (like God, Government should be capitalized), Henry Ford would have never invented the car. Quite obviously, Ford thought, now that Government has created roads, he must put a vehicle on them. Thank Government! Just as apparently, God, in his infinite wisdom, must have realized that Government-created trails needed horses. So He...

Many laws protect us against abusive businesses. Some laws protect us against abusive unions. But what laws effectively protect us against abusive government? The Sherman Antitrust Act, the Clayton Antitrust Act and the RICO statutes have been enacted due to alleged market abuses or attempts to control a market by big business, big labor or organized crime. Antitrust laws are intended to protect us against business and unions. But the protections against intrusive government are fragmented at best. The Supreme Court's recent decision against the EPA overreach helps, but what about the human toll on the citizen while the case...

In a much-talked about Aug. 14 op-ed in the New York Times, Warren Buffett exclaimed that politicians were coddling the super rich. From the flawed analysis, it appears that Buffett’s op-ed is politically motivated and not policy driven. Perhaps Mr. Buffett should reread his 12th principle in his 13 owner-related business principles in his “Annual Report.” The 12th principle suggests that candor be a major principle in all his dealings. First, he asserts that the top 400 earners in America paid effective tax rates of 29.2 percent on their income of $16.9 billion in 1992. Buffett then claims in 2008,...

During the 2008 presidential campaign, then-candidate Hilary Clinton ridiculed Barack Obama's inexperience with the famous ad asking who you wanted to answer the phone during a crisis at 3AM. Today, it is apparent that our nation desperately needs someone with experience, decisiveness, and leadership to navigate these troubled economic waters. .... Blame at 3AM is not the issue. The issue in time of crisis is the response and only the response. Thus far, our nation's response has been to increase the debt ceiling and provide a tepid response to critical spending issues. It's now 3AM and the world is wondering...

Economic Slavery: Modern-Day Indentured Servitude By Frank Ryan The "tax the rich" hysteria gripping this nation is absolute insanity. Cries to raise taxes on those with incomes over $250,000 or some other magical number are unbelievable. As a CPA, I find the "tax the rich" schemes to be pure junk science. To that end, the illogical precepts underpinning these arguments must be exposed. (Incidentally, by way of full disclosure, I would not be personally affected by these tax increases. I merely want to expose the scheme for the fraud that it is.) Many in Congress have attempted to make earning...

Future Plans by Col. Frank Ryan, USMCR (ret) I recently reached a milestone. Age sixty is a great age and a wonderful time for reflection. My life has been extremely blessed with many great friends and memories that warm my heart. My family has been my greatest blessing. They have sacrificed so much to allow me to serve our Nation in the Marines. Our Nation and our state are at a crossroads. What we do in the next few years will determine our future and, perhaps, our survival as a great nation. I have spent my professional life working to...

The situation in the United States has deteriorated and will continue to do so unless drastic action on our federal, state and local government deficits is taken. We need to trace what happens during an economic collapse. In preparation for a collapse here is what you can do personally to avoid being swept away by the tidal wave of fear, anxiety and trepidation. During the early stages of a nation collapsing economically, the debt of the nation swells almost uncontrollably. We, in the United States are already there. From the burgeoning debt loads come the setting for collapse. While the...

Cosmetic budget cuts will not solve our nation's debt woes.  Real change is required to right our county.  Waste must be identified, isolated, and eliminated. One such change is to abolish the U.S. Department of Education. The Department of Education was established to promote "student achievement and prepare them for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and insuring equal access." Since 1979 when the Department of Education was created and with the passage of laws regulating education, such as the No Child Left Behind, the result has been an education system where compliance with laws becomes the rule of...

Creative Destruction and the Federal Deficit By Frank Ryan The President announced the 2012 budget of $3.73 Trillion with an expected deficit of $1.1 trillion. The massive deficit combines with the three prior years' deficits of in excess of $1 Trillion each which will push the national debt beyond $16 Trillion. When combined with the exploding state deficits and other unfunded liabilities, the debt crisis will begin to unfold rapidly and unpredictably for our citizens. A national disaster is in the making. Republicans in Congress responded with demands for budget cuts of $100 billion. The current debt crisis requires so...

The Supreme Court ruled that the Westboro Baptist Church's behavior in demonstrating at the funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder was protected speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution. The Court of Public Opinion must hold the demonstrators to a different standard. Lance Corporal Snyder swore to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. He died defending the very rights of the people who violated his and his family's right to mourn. I too took that same oath. As a retired Marine Colonel, please allow me to defend my Marine Lance Corporal...

“FDIC warns of legal action against officers of failed banks” was the heading of a November 10th article published by the LA Times. The article accurately describes the actions the FDIC is taking against some officers and directors of failed financial institutions. At first blush, the headline appears to put all directors and officers of banks on notice to begin writing big checks. The outcry from the article was immediate and profound (and is some cases profane). The impropriety of such an unrelenting policy towards bankers affected by factors outside their control seemed dishonest at best. In checking the FDIC...

GM's recent public offering has been touted as a huge success by the administration. The president announced that the tough decisions made during his administration were beginning to pay off. He also indicated that the "American taxpayers are now positioned to recover more than my administration invested in GM, and that's a good thing." In analyzing the use of proceeds of the two securities offered by GM (GM), the common stock and the mandatory convertible preferred stock, it is interesting to note that the company will not receive any funds from the offerings and, in fact, will deplete its current...

Last week, GM sold stock in a public offering. At the same time, President Obama announced that the tough decisions made during his administration were beginning to pay off. He also indicated that the "American taxpayers are now positioned to recover more than my administration invested in GM, and that's a good thing." I do not know where to be amazed or appalled. First, contrary to popular administration folklore, GM did not survive bankruptcy. The name did, but that is all that happened. A new company acquired the name and assets of GM and is now the company being called...

For those old enough to remember, the late 1970's and early 1980’s were consumed by periods of high unemployment, high inflation, and devastating interest rates. The national debt was almost $1 Trillion. Interest rates were in the high teens and inflation was equally high. President Reagan, in a national debate, asked the devastating rhetorical question which haunted then President Carter, “Are we better off today than we were four years earlier?” The answer to the question was intuitively obvious to the most casual observer at the time and is believed to have had a significant effect on the outcome of...

In November 2010, GM sold stock in a public offering. At the same time, the President announced that the tough decisions made during his administration were beginning to pay off. He also indicated that the “American taxpayers are now positioned to recover more than my administration invested in GM, and that's a good thing” I do not know whether to be amazed or appalled. First, contrary to popular administration folklore, GM did not survive bankruptcy. The name did but that is all that happened. A new company acquired the name and assets of GM and is now the company being...

The greatest national security threat to the United States is our national debt. A determined enemy could bring us to our knees without firing a shot. Moody's rating service indication that it is considering downgrading the debt of the U. S. Treasury from the gold standard AAA rating to a double AA rating is a warning that should not go unheeded! Just as President Reagan helped bring down the Russian empire in a classic economic chess game in the 1980’s, the United States faces a similar risk in 2010 and beyond. Since 1997, the national debt has climed from $5.4...

Letter of Resignation When I heard Joe Biden tell me it was my patriotic responsibility to pay more taxes, I felt like resigning from the Taxpayers Club of America! Wouldn’t you love to resign as well? Imagine this letter to the President. “Mr. President, it is with deep regret that I submit my resignation from the wage earners in America effective immediately. My decision does not come lightly but after careful consideration, I feel that I have no other alternative than to join the millions of Americans that you feel you represent. Since you do not know me, may I...

GREAT SHOW Tonight! , SUNDAY 04/11 AT 8:00 PM EASTERN! NITE CAP ON FREEDOM RADIO: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/freedom Join us tonight or a little song, little dance, a little seltzer down that clown Grayson's pants! Now is not the time to relax folks, our candidates need your continued support! We welcome into the Freedom Radio Lounge, Lt. Comdr. Dan Fanelli, http://electdan2010.com/ Republican candidate running for Congress from Florida District 8 to face DEM Alan Grayson in November.