The Freedom Exchange Online

This is the video I made for Les’s song Let it Snow. Les and I recorded the song and I got the videos off YouTube.

I have embedded the YouTube video – it should load a lot faster. Here are the credits:

We all know by now that the 80/20 principle states that 80% of our business comes from 20% of our customers and 80% of our complaints come from 20% of them as well.

So what do I mean when I refer to an 80/20 principle in politics? If seems to me, and this is just my opinion based on decades of observation – that maybe 10% of the people are on the far left. And 10% are on the far right. That leaves the vast majority – 80% in between.

Cage birds accept each other but flight is what they long for.

–Tennessee Williams, Camino Real, 1953

The power to choose how to act and react to the world around us creates our reality, because we have the freedom to control our own lives. It is the choice to turn left or right, to be happy or sad, and it is always with us even at those times when we do not feel free. Its power is enormous. It can be our greatest ally or it can become our greatest enemy. By making the right choices, we can open the doors to lead a balanced life.

The Nazis stormed into the house of Stanislavsky Lech, who was Jewish, herded the entire family out at gunpoint, packed them into an overcrowded train, filled with the stench of death and despair, and sent them to Krakow.

Then, before his eyes, Lech saw his entire family shot. Somehow, he managed to live from one day to the next, in a numb, oblivious, zombie-like state. Impatiently, he awaited his own death. But one day, he realized, that his own death was not an unavoidable truth. He could, in fact, do something about it: he could make an attempt to escape.

This is an amazing video, maybe the solution to our problems is more than electing a new president.

According to a Rueters News report, President Obama expects to raise nearly sixty billion over 10 years by by tightening rules related to the estate tax and close unspecified tax loopholes.

While I freely admit to being an Obama supporter I don’t think the move to tighten the estate tax code is either needed or will be effective.  While there is a consensus that closing tax loopholes would be a good first step in fixing a broken tax system; how to fix the current tax code is not the problem, the problem is the current tax code.

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we’ll see
No I won’t be afraid, no I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

First they came for the communists,
and I did not speak out–because I was not a communist;

Then they came for the socialists,
and I did not speak out–because I was not a socialist;

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I did not speak out–because I was not a trade unionist;

Recently I was talking to a friend about how little good Bush’s bailout and Obama’s economic stimulus bill were doing. My suggestion was to give everyone over 60 two million dollars. I was only half joking. Then my brother in law sent me this via email:

Dear Mr. President:

Please find below my suggestion for fixing America ’s economy. Instead of giving billions of dollars to companies that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.

You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:

My friends at Generation Cobweb are running a series on the destruction of America. Here at the Freedom Exchange we certainly agree our rights are being eroded. When I came across this little tidbit I was both amused and frightened. Without further ado I give you the eight signs of terrorism (according to our government) and my comments.
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Terrorist operations usually begin with extensive planning. You can help prevent and detect terrorism — and other types of crime — by watching out for suspicious activities and reporting them to the proper authorities. Be alert for the eight signs of terrorism!

1. Surveillance- Someone recording or monitoring activities. This may include the use of cameras, note taking, drawing diagrams, annotating on maps, or using binoculars or other vision-enhancing devices.
So the next time you go on vacation don’t look too long at any national monument and for God’s sake leave your camera at home.

Ordinary people (like you and me) do not want a bail out for the rich and are tired of paying for the fraud and waste heaped upon us by an uncaring government. Here’s a letter from one angry citizen:

Dear Representlive xxxxxx,

I beg you and all of the members of the House of Representatives to NOT PASS this so called “bailout” or “rescue” bill. It only lays an even greater burden on the struggling American citizens of this country.