Quote: Government, Control and Banking

"I am one of those who do not believe that a national debt is a national blessing, but rather a curse to a republic; inasmuch as it is calculated to raise around the administration a moneyed aristocracy dangerous to the liberties of the country."
-- Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) 7th US President
Source: in a letter to T. H. Colman, 26 April 1824
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Andrew.Jackson.Quote.5038

"Governments do not govern, but merely control the machinery of government, being themselves controlled by the hidden hand."
-- Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) Prime Minister of England, British statesman, novelist
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Benjamin.Disraeli.Quote.504D

"And I sincerely believe, with you, that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies; and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale."
-- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
Source: letter to John Taylor in 1816
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Thomas.Jefferson.Quote.3778

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Quote: The Listener is Responsible?

"It is frequently said that speech that is intentionally provocative and  therefore invites physical retaliation can be punished or suppressed. Yet, plainly no such general proposition can be sustained. Quite the contrary…. The provocative nature of the communication does not make it any the less expression. Indeed, the whole theory of free expression contemplates that expression will in many circumstances be provocative and arouse hostility. The audience, just as the speaker, has an obligation to maintain physical restraint."
-- Thomas I. Emerson
Source: The System of Freedom of Expression, 1970
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Thomas.Emerson.Quote.3FD0

I found this quote very interesting. Just think, the hearer, the audience, ... the listener is responsible for his own actions. What a novel idea!

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Quotes: Socialism

"There’s no longer any left or right. There’s the system and the enemies of the system."
-- Eduard Limonov
founder of the National Bolshevik Party in Russia
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Eduard.Limonov.Quote.E418

"We are sure living in a peculiar time. You get more for not working than you will for working, and more for not raising a hog than for raising it."
-- Will Rogers
(1879-1935) American humorist
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Will.Rogers.Quote.250E

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Quotes: Enumerated Powers, What are they?

Enumerated Powers refer to the Federal Government having only the powers numbered/listed in the constitution.  This is made clear in the Tenth Amendment.

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Quote by:  U.S. Constitution, Tenth Amendment

The importance of this is that the Federal Government is be a government of LIMITED POWERS.

Below are quotes referring to these enumerated powers.  Please note of the persons who made the statements.

"This government is acknowledged by all, to be one of enumerated powers."
-- Justice John Marshall,(1755-1835) US Supreme Court Chief Justice
Source: McCulloch v. Maryland
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/John.Marshall.Quote.A3D9

"If any state in the Union will declare that it prefers separation... to a continuance in union... I have no hesitation in saying, 'let us separate.' "
-- Thomas Jefferson, (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
Source: letter to W. Crawford, June 20, 1816
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Thomas.Jefferson.Quote.2551

"We start with first principles. The Constitution
creates a Federal Government of enumerated powers."
-- William H. Rehnquist, Chief Justice, U. S. Supreme Court
Source: United States v. Lopez
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/William.Rehnquist.Quote.ECFF

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I find Mr. Jefferson’s statement of particular interest.

BE

Children are a Blessing, not a Curse

Albert Mohler alerts us to the a troubling mindset of many of the cultural elite.  Muslims are becoming the majority in Europe by simple biological math, Russia is paying mothers to have more babies, and this article Mr. Mohler sites is ecstatic about falling fertility rates.

Children are a blessing, not a curse.

Psa 127:1-5 ESV
(1)  A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches o ver the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
(2)  It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
(3) Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
(4)  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.
(5)  Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Please read Mr. Mohler’s comments on the article in the current issue of “The Economist”.

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Another Response from Senator McCaskill

Please see my initial correspondence to the senator, and her initial response, and then her most recent reply below:

November 9, 2009

Dear Mr. Emmerling,

Thank you for contacting me regarding Medicare physician payment cuts. I appreciate your comments and welcome the opportunity to respond.

As you may know, in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Congress introduced the sustainable growth rate (SGR) which is the mechanism currently used to determine payment to physicians in the Medicare program. The SGR compares yearly changes in payments made to physicians providing care to Medicare beneficiaries to the growth of the overall economy. If the data shows that reimbursement rates are too high, they are then set to be reduced in accordance with the SGR formula. However, as health care costs have skyrocketed, the formula has produced skewed results and left physicians facing significant Medicare payment cuts at the same time they are experiencing increased costs. Physicians are, in fact, facing a staggering 21.5 percent cut in reimbursement starting in January, 2010. Congress has consistently acted to prevent any cuts to physician payments. I have supported these efforts because I recognize that the SGR formula is flawed. I support efforts to simplify the Medicare payment system and to address the SGR formula problem in a more principled fashion.

Furthermore, I am concerned that these recurring Medicare cuts to physicians could put patient access to their doctors in jeopardy by preventing physicians from accepting new Medicare patients. On October 13th, Senator Stabenow (D-MI) introduced the Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009 (S. 1776). The bill would permanently repeal the SGR formula. In addition to S. 1776, there are proposals within the Senate and House versions of the health reform bill that would improve physicians' payment schedules.

I agree that it is essential for Congress to replace the flawed physician payment system with one that reflects the cost of treating our Medicare patients. However, I also believe that we must do so in a fiscally sustainable and responsible manner. I will be closely reviewing what the best method is to address the problems associated with the SGR formula, but agree that a fix must be made.

Again, thank you for writing. Please do not hesitate contacting me in the future regarding other matters of interest or concern to you.

Sincerely,

Claire McCaskill
United States Senator

P.S. If you would like more information about resources that can help Missourians, or what I am doing in the Senate on your behalf, please sign up for my email newsletter at www.mccaskill.senate.gov.

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What more can I say?  "Clearly", she has addressed "all" of my concerns.

BE

Quotes: Power of Federal Government

"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce."
-- James Madison
(1751-1836), Father of the Constitution for the USA, 4th US President
Source: Federalist No. 45
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/James.Madison.Quote.FEF7

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
-- U.S. Constitution, Ninth Amendment
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/U.S..Constitution,.Ninth.Amendment.Quote.3EF3

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
-- U.S. Constitution, Tenth Amendment
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/U.S..Constitution,.Tenth.Amendment.Quote.6FB6

Enough said.

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Book Review: How Long, O Lord?

How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering & Evil.
D.A. Carson, 1990 Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI.

How Long, O Lord? was my vacation reading this year, as we travelled to and from the Grand Canyon. Travelling with teenage drivers is a new experience, very relaxing with my daughters and wife driving. The scenery made it difficult to read, but camping made up for it.

How Long, O Lord? was not written to comfort those who are suffering. It was written to help Disciples of Jesus think Biblically about suffering. Some might appreciate the thoughts of D.A. Carson on this subject when suffering; but when we suffer as humans, we tend to emote rather than think. Therefore, “How Long, O Lord?” would be better read before, than during, suffering.

Mr. Carson states what the book is:
"Primarily, this is a book of preventative medicine. One of the major causes of devastating grief and confusion among Christians is that our expectations are false." (Carson, preface, pg. 9)

Further he states:
"But I shall be satisfied if it helps some Christians establish patterns and habits of thoughts that are so strong that when the hardest questions batter the soul there is less wavering and more faith, joy, and hope." (Carson, preface, pg. 10)

This is not an feel good book with easy, glib answers about suffering. D.A. Carson is a pastor and theologian who thinks from the Bible about its teachings (which is orthodoxy = right teaching). Mr. Carson looks at suffering from the scriptures:

1. Where did it come from?
2. What are its sources and forms?
3. How does God respond to suffering?
4. How should we respond to suffering(which is orthopraxy -right practices)?

Mr. Carson does an excellent job of examining this as a fellow sojourner in suffering. His conclusions are from the Lord, the Word, and are not his own.

Biblically, as Mr. Carson reminds us, suffering is a result of the Fall of Adam and Eve after Creation.

Suffering originated with sin. In fact, Mr. Carson would maintain that all suffering is a result of sin, though only sometimes is it the direct result of the sinner. Some, like natural disasters are the result of the original sin of Adam & Eve (all suffering has its origins here). Others, like lung cancer MAY be a direct result of abusing ones own body. In between is a range of sin and suffering that we ALL struggle with in some way. And we see this throughout the Bible.

God is NOT surprised by suffering, nor is he impotent to deal with it. His response is to provide an eternal solution and provide us with an example for responding to suffering in our lives; that of Jesus Christ.

Our response to suffering should not be to question "Why?" as if we deserve not to suffer. Rather, we might better ask "Why should our suffering not be worse?" Suffering should help us to see God's goodness, holiness, mercy and grace.

Part 1 Thinking about Suffering and Evil

Mr. Carson first recognizes that thinking about suffering is HARD. He then examines false starts that we may have in our thinking. This is critical as where we start thinking defines the presuppositions we have.

Part 2 Parts of the Puzzle: Biblical Themes for Suffering People

These are the Themes he explorers, hardly exhaustive, but VERY COMPREHENSIVE in scope.

• The Price of Sin
• Social Evils, Poverty, War, Natural Disasters
• The Suffering People of God
• Curses and Holy Wars—and Hell
• Illness, Death and Bereavement
• From the Vantage of the End
• Job: Mystery and Faith
• The Suffering God

Part 3 Glimpses of the Whole Puzzles: Evil and Suffering in the World of a Good and Sovereign God

Finally, he addresses the questions of how are we to see God’s actions in the midst of our suffering.

• the Mystery of Providence
• The Comfort of Providence: Learning to Trust
• Some Pastoral Reflections

While Mr. Carson only scratches the surface of the Biblical discussion, and I only scratch the surface of his examination and contemplation.

To whom would I recommend this book?

• Pastors- -to help them better think about suffering Biblically, and equip them to better shepherd the flock the Lord has charged them with protecting and caring.
• Believers/ Disciples of Jesus -who should want to minister to those whom are suffering.
• New Believers-who need to know what the Bible says about suffering before they encounter suffering for themselves.

Personally, I cannot recommend this book on suffering enough.

In closing, I quote form his chapter “First Steps”:

"They [Christians] draw comfort only from the living Lord himself, from the Spirit whom he has graciously given, from a renewed grasp, a felt experience, of the love of God in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3: 14-21). That is not to say, however, that the set of beliefs is irrelevant. It is to say that, in addition to holding that Christian beliefs are true and consistent, the Christian, to find comfort in them, must learn how to use (Carson's emphasis) them. Christian beliefs are not to be stacked in the warehouse of the mind; they are to be handled and applied to the challenges of life and discipleship." (Carson, pp. 20-21)

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Next Review(s):

• What He Must Be. Voddie Baucham
• Last of the Mohicans. Cooper (? I really enjoy this book, but novels are low on my review list, just depends on their impact)

Currently Reading:

• Already Gone. Ken Ham
• Do Hard Things. Harris Brothers

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Response from Senator Claire McCaskill

Below is the response from Senator
Claire McCaskill:

November 3, 2009
Dear Mr. Emmerling,

Thank you for contacting me regarding Medicare and Congressional proposals for health care reform. I appreciate your comments and apologize for the delay in my response.

Medicare has been the foundation of health insurance for our nation's seniors since 1965 and has provided a crucial health care safety net for nearly 45 million elderly Americans. I know how important Medicare is for seniors living on a fixed income, and I assure you that I am committed to strengthening this vital benefit program.

There is, however, no denying that our health care system is in need of reform. The soaring cost of medical care is crippling our economy, bankrupting our nation's families, and becoming an unsustainable financial burden for American employers. Federal entitlement programs, such as Medicare, will face financial insolvency if burgeoning health care costs are not addressed. In fact, it's estimated that Medicare will begin to run a deficit by 2017 and there is growing concern that the federal government will not be able to keep pace with the aging baby-boomer demand for medical services. It is clear that reforms must be made to our health care system so that we can maintain seniors' access to medical treatment in a fiscally sustainable manner.

As you may know, the President's budget includes a number of proposals which will generate an estimated savings of $92.3 billion over five years in the Medicare program. Congress is also exploring other ways to bring down health care costs and to produce savings in Medicare. Some of the proposals being debated include adjusting Medicare drug coverage premiums for the wealthy; bundling hospital Medicare payments to incentivize better follow-up care and decrease hospital readmission rates; and improving Medicare payment accuracy to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

Many of the potential savings for Medicare are expected to come from establishing a competitive bidding system for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Currently, the federal government is paying private insurers up to 12 percent more than it costs to treat comparable beneficiaries through traditional Medicare. In fact, a recent GAO report revealed that MA insurance companies made $3.36 billion in profits in 2006, with some companies making profits in excess of $1 billion more than they had projected. These overpayments are making sustaining Medicare more difficult. The proposed savings plan would require private insurance companies to competitively bid to cover Medicare beneficiaries in a certain geographic area and be paid the average of the bids. Generating competition within the private insurance market will lower overall prices and would save Medicare nearly $177 billion over 10 years.

Options like these will not only provide higher quality and value of care to patients, but also produce the savings we so desperately need to ensure that future generations can receive this benefit. Congress, as it considers health care reform, must work toward creating a Medicare program that serves the interests of seniors rather than private insurance companies.

Although there is not a final version of the health reform bill in the Senate, I understand that there has been a lot of confusion surrounding certain provisions in the various versions of this legislation. There is also misinformation being propagated, especially with regard to seniors. You may be interested to know that the Special Committee on Aging, of which I am a member, has prepared a document entitled "Health Care Reform, Fact vs. Fiction". I encourage you to visit the website http://www.aging.senate.gov/issues/healthcare/factvsfiction.pdf to gather factual information regarding some of these rumors.

As health reform legislation comes to the Senate floor, please be assured I remain committed to making sure all of our nation's seniors have access to affordable quality coverage.

Again, I appreciate your letter. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about other matters of interest or concern to you.

Sincerely,

Claire McCaskill
United States Senator

P.S. If you would like more information about resources that can help Missourians, or what I am doing in the Senate on your behalf, please sign up for my email newsletter at www.mccaskill.senate.gov.

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An Open Letter to My Congressmen

RE: the Healthcare Package

Dear Congressman,

Please understand that voting for the Healthcare Package before Congress is an act of TREASON!

Allow me to explain why:

1. No bill should be passed UNREAD BY YOU PERSONALLY. If you cannot read it, VOTE NO. At ~2000 pages, you cannot possibly have read AND analyzed the document. You were not sent to Washington, D.C. to be a "Yes Man".
2. Any bill of this nature is clearly UNCONSTITUTIONAL. I expect you feel otherwise, if so please indicate which sections and paragraphs of the US Constitution apply.
3. This bill is over reaching and clearly an attempt at socialism/communism. Our Founding Fathers, those who fought WWII, Korea and Veitnam laid down their lives for against such things, and we are willing to do the same. (Yes, I know I am labeled by our government as a Right Wing Domestic Terrorist simply for SAYING this.)

You have attacked my 1st Amendment right of free speech and freedom of religion. This alone is an act of TREASON, for which you should be recalled, replaced and tried in the courts of Missouri.

I expect those who represent me to represent my values, and to stand for what is truly right, regardless of opposition.

Vote No on healthcare reform as it is presented.

Feeling VERY unrepresented,

William & Sharri Emmerling

P.S. Please note, I will post this on my blog, http://the-word-on-the-street.blogspot.com/, along with your response.

cc: 
Representative Ike Skelton (D-MO 4th)
Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Senator Christopher S. Bond (R-MO) [His letter was modified as he voted against the 'Hate Crimes' Law.]