I did not know why I had an overwhelming sense of patriotism when I was a child.  My parents never seemed to show overt patriotism.  Don’t get me wrong, they were loyalists who felt blessed to have been born in the greatest country ever known to man; and, growing up with little to no spare money, they could scarcely afford to deck the house out in red, white and blue decorations for the Fourth or throw elaborate BBQ’s or picnics to honor our nation’s birthday.  So it started me thinking and I believe I figured out where it started.

I was fortunate enough to grow up in a time when children were expected to start their school day, facing the flag, hand over heart and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  That’s where it started for me and I suspect that’s where it started for most folks.  Elementary aged school kids don’t always understand the true meaning of this simple pledge, but I can remember always feeling a sense of honor as I recited this promise.  I may not have known what each word meant, but I did know that I was part of something wonderful.  I was an American citizen and the power of that simple realization has never left me.

People may make disparaging comments about my great country, but it will never affect the way I feel about being an American.  The president can apologize for our greatness, but I will never apologize for being so blessed.  The Hollywood elite (and by that I include the music industry) and other activist groups can expound to the world that America is greedy and selfish and that we do not do our fair share to assist the world, and still my opinions will go unchanged.

The flag in my front yard flies every day.  In rain, sleet, winds or snow, my flag will always fly.  Being an American is a blessing.  If you think otherwise, perhaps the grass is greener elsewhere and you’ll find a better ‘home’ in another country.  Hordes of people from other countries are constantly applying for American citizenship.  Scottish born actor, Craig Ferguson, applied for and was granted honorary American citizenship.   He starts his show each night with his “it’s a great day in America” proclamation.  He has been quoted as saying, “America is not just a donkey and an elephant. It’s a flag and an idea.” Other famous people who have chosen to become naturalized U.S. citizens include Liam Neeson, Pierce Bronson, Melissa George and Arnold Schwarzenegger and I’m sure there are scores more.  This should be enough to prove, to those who denigrate this country, that their feelings and statements towards our great country are unfounded.  Until that day arrives, however, the rest of us can take solace knowing that we are blessed.  We are American.  Fly your flags proudly.  Celebrate our Nation’s birthday joyously and sing our songs loudly.

If your children do not benefit from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, I suggest you hold your local school district’s feet to the fire until they allow it again.  Make sure your kids know that we are “One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

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About the Author:
Stephanie Keller
At www.americandiversions.com we try to offer a little of everything.  We offer ideas and solutions to get you started in a new hobby or recreation.  We offer family fun ideas and great shopping deals.  We also offer a bit of political commentary.  We’re always interested in your thoughts and ideas, so drop us an email at comments@americandiversions.com.
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Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today attacked the state government led by Nitish Kumar for keeping the state backward even if central government has sent enough money for the overall development of the state.

Addressing large crowds who came to see their leader braving the scorching sun in Saharsa, Rahul Gandhi asked the crowds why Bihar is lagging behind today from other states. “Your state government claims that Bihar has progressed, but show me where development has taken place,” he asked, adding “wherever I go in other developed states like Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi, I see people of this state working there who help these states to gain prosperity, then why their own state fails to develop.”

Talking about the development, he said,” there was a time when Bihar & UP were the most developed states in the country. They were number one. Today both the states are lagging behind while the rest of India is surging ahead,” adding, “Today majority of the Indian states are going ahead while some states are running in reverse gear. UP and Bihar lead the list among the later category.”

At a rally, Congress General Secretary said that state government offered pretext of not having enough money for the development work in the state, even if the UPA government have been generous in giving assistance to the state. “Nitish ji says Delhi government doesn’t send money to Bihar. But it is not true. For rural development, NDA gave Rs. 3000 crore to Bihar while the UPA gave Rs. 19,000 crore,” he said.

When he said that the funds made available to state governments failed to reach the intended destination, he conjured up the memory of his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who famously said that around 15 paise of every rupee allocated by the Centre actually reached those for whom the money was intended. “Crores of rupees are sent to state governments by central government. It reaches Patna, Lucknow but vanishes from there. It goes into the belly of corruption,” he said.

He said that UPA government runs several pro-poor schemes for the upliftment of people. But the benefit of these programmes not reaches to the real beneficiaries on account of poor implementation by the state governments.

Taking swipe at Nitish Kumar, he accused him of maintaining a double standard on relationship with his alliance partner BJP and Narendra Modi. “Modi did not campaign in the last Assembly polls in Bihar, but once the election was over he was sighted going into a huddle with Modi at an NDA rally in Punjab … he maintains double face before and after polls,” he said. He reminded that during the NDA rule at the Centre, the Gujarat riots broke out, but he (Kumar) did not resign from the government.

Speaking about his experience in Uttar Pradesh, he said he had been advised by some senior leaders of his party that it’s futile to spend time to improve the prospects of the party. But he undertook the campaign and people of UP responded affirmatively. “Now the people of UP hold Congress as a suitable choice to replace the present regime,” he said.

“I see the similar situation in Bihar. People look at Congress as a great hope. People here want change of present regime and it is youth that can help Congress to bring in change in the present state of affairs. Development is almost absent for the past over 20 years,” he said adding interests of every sections of the society be taken care of if Congress come to power.

Later, on his trip to Samastipur, he assured the people that development will come their way, if Congress voted to power. He also felt deep regret for the family of Lucas Tete, who was murdered brutally by the Maoists. “I pray for the well-being of the three policemen who is still in captivity of Maoists,” said Rahul Gandhi.

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About the Author:
This article is posted by Press Brief.
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Imperato is aiming to be Florida’s first independent governor based on his qualifications and integrity, as well as defense of our constitution in accordance with Judea-Christian values. The Christians who supported Attorney General Bill McCollum for the big party nomination may support Imperato. A few weeks ago, Imperato invited McCollum to his Lt. Governor. But after a long career in the establishment party, McCollum was unable to go independent.

The Imperato camp was amused by the late arrival then sudden departure of Bud Chiles in the race. Calling him out as spoiler, they suspect Chiles was planted in the race solely to keep other independents out of the media. Campaign coordinator Joseph Oddo addressed Chiles role, “He succeeded in diverting the media to create the impression of a three way race. This only temporarily distracted attention away from our strong platform. Daniel’s impressive qualifications and the voter’s interest in someone new will still generate us a fair amount of support. Now we call on the remaining candidates to engage us in debate. And we urge the media to cover all candidates.”

Team Imperato is convinced that if enough people heard their ideas for lifting Florida out of economic stagnation they would rally the support needed to get elected.

The Imperato team has pieced together a seven-point plan for making Florida a global competitor in manufacturing, infrastructure and tourism. Last week in Tampa Daniel advocated the Interstate Traveler Hydro-Rail – an ambitious alternative to the 19th century heavy rail systems currently in use and not up to the task of moving volumes of people efficiently and quickly as is demanded in today’s world.

The second leg of their platform targets replacing the aging nuclear fission technology with advanced, safe and clean fusion power. They recommend halting the planned nuclear reactor on the Gulf Coast and urge Progress Energy to pursue fusion power instead.

Now it seems that the Obama administration is listening to Team Imperato suggestions with their own infrastructure initiative that even includes a dedicated bank – a plan outlined by Daniel several months ago. Former Bolivian central bank president Raul Garron is a senior economic advisor to Team Imperato and architect of the plan for a central bank in Florida to fund investment projects in energy and transportation with an emphasis on Florida entrepreneurs.

Finally last week, Team Imperato added Karl Behm as choice for Lt. Governor. Behm’s family is rooted in the farming and industrial center of Florida. Team Imperato is promoting an intensified agricultural component for a greener Florida. They advocate sweet sorghum to be grown in Florida as a replacement to corn to develop ethanol.

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Contact Daniel Imperato. 561-317-3210

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About the Author:
Joseph Oddo writes for hire, and manages political campaigns. Currently he is principal of Common Growth Strategies Inc. – a business services firm offering management consulting and strategic growth training. Mr. Oddo is the resident author at 49 Pines Rural Writer’s Retreat in Central Virginia.
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As Nhoj Sknab was handing his rapier to Ttekceb, he was mulling in his mind that Droffats the fox must have many enemies. As the chief counsellor to Queen Htebazile and head of the Privy Council with the title of secretary of state, he was the second most powerful person in Niatirb Taerg. Yet anywhere he goes, he is surrounded by soldiers who look like butchers from the slaughter house. Great powers seem to bring great loss in terms of personal freedom and privacy. But this loss was a necessary inconvenience especially when assassination attempts on the fox had happen more than once. Nhoj Sknab was wondering how this fox even makes love to his vixen with this kind of security arrangements. What fun would there be with so many eyes watching your every move. He wondered whether Droffats even knew what it was to have a romantic time.  Don’t think too much my friend, as you have much in store for you yet, Ttekceb said in a brotherly tone as he tapped him lightly on his shoulder waking him from his engrossment. Ttekceb instructed Nhoj Sknab and his friends to walk behind him surrounded by twelve soldiers who formed a protective ring around them. As they came earlier, the battalion of soldiers reversed their formation still keeping a cordon around Droffats as they marched into the arch doorway. Once inside the doorway, Droffats stopped the chariot and got down and signalled to Nhoj Sknab and his friends to join him.

Welcome to the outer defence grounds of Dorswinniatirb Palace, the official home of Queen Htebazile. Looking at Nhoj Sknab, he said, Ah! I see that you have questions in your mind, Droffats exclaimed as if he was a mind reader. We can talk about whatever you have in your mind later but for now I want to give your friends and you a tour of the palace grounds, so as you walk with me, just observe everything around you and give me your comments later. And also, please walk only where my soldiers and I walk, don’t stray. Accompanied by his four personal bodyguards, he took Nhoj Sknab and his friends on an eye opening tour.  As instructed, Nhoj Sknab started taking mental notes of everything. The first thing he noticed was that the six foot high wall of blackthorn shrubs was reinforced behind by a five foot 11 inches high stone wall that was six feet in thickness. There were sentinel posts at every twenty feet interval that was big enough to house twelve soldiers. In each sentinel post, there was a mini armory of weapons that included cross-bows, long bows, spears and rapiers. Tunnels beneath each post were wide and high enough for two soldiers to walk side by side interconnected all the posts, ensuring shelter from enemy arrows and providing safe logistics routes. The five foot eleven inches high stone walls and all its sentinel posts running all around the palace complex were camouflaged on the outside by the six foot high wall of blackthorn shrubs. What a deception to temporarily foil would-be-attackers whose ignorant presumption would be that the wall of Dorswinniatirb palace was merely made of blackthorn shrubs. Nhoj Sknab said to himself, a lesson in strategic deception to fool an enemy by displaying a false overt weakness.

Beginning from the inside of the arch doorway, right in the centre of the inner walls was a cobbled stone path that was wide enough for riding two donkey chariots side by side. The path led from the arch doorway to the edges of a thick green wood forest on the opposite end around quarter of a mile away whose green wood trees were so thick that they provided another natural wall. On each side of the cobbled stone path and between the parameter walls and the thick green wood forest, were dry brownish grass covered fields that emitted an oily smell with no plants, trees or animals of any kind. Nodsnuh who was just behind Nhoj Sknab whispered. Do you notice that none of the soldiers are walking on the fields? They seem to walk along the edges of the walls or on this path but not the fields. Droffats suddenly exclaimed, so, we have an observant stag here! Nodsnuh was astonished at the sharpness and alertness of the fox. Droffats turned his gaze on Nodsnuh. Nhoj Sknab introduced Nodsnuh as his assistant. Ah! You have a very smart and valuable assistant indeed. Let me demonstrate the answer to your question. He signaled to Ttekceb while pointing to the chained Billy goat. Ttekceb immediately unchained the Billy goat from the chariot and dragged him to Droffats. Gentlemen, this is Ygla our former minister of law. He feels that I have not been fair in my treatment of our citizens of Niatirb Taerg. Ygla dropped to his knees and pleaded with Droffats.  No sir, I do not think you are unfair. Indeed, you are the fairest and none can match your fairness. Droffats looked down at the wailing Billy goat and smiled. So, Ygla, now you think I am the fairest while in our ministers’ meeting you thought otherwise. No sir. I am sorry sir. That was a mistake sir. It will not happen again sir. Ygla was literally wailing and pleading with Droffats to spare his life. Seeing the petrified Ygla, the seven stags of Aidni Tsae suddenly realize the fate that awaits them if they ever cross the fox.

Droffats held his foot out to Ygla, come rise. Since you said I am the fairest and considering your past loyal service to Niatirb Taerg, I am going to give you an opportunity to save yourself. As Ygla rose, he kissed Droffats foot while thanking profusely. Nhoj Sknab thought, what a poor stupid bastard? He thinks he is being spared. He must be a fool indeed. Droffats seem almost to be a telepathic as at that moment he turned to smile at Nhoj Sknab. Droffats ordered Ttekceb to remove Ygla’s chains and give him a drink. Nhoj Sknab thought, Ygla, you fool, this is your last drink. Droffats patiently waited for Ygla to finish his drink. He then held Ygla by his left shoulder as a close friend would do. Ygla, this is what you must do to be spared. Just run across this dry field until you reach the green wood tree-line on the other side and I assure you on your nanny goat’s life, nobody will do anything to you. Can you do that to prove to me that you are obedient and will do what I say in the future. Ygla said, yes sir, immediately sir.

Ygla ran. He did not even reach twelve feet when the dry brownish grass beneath him gave way and he fell with an unearthly scream. Droffats mumbled, an obedient minister indeed. No one moved a muscle as they froze in total shock. Now gentlemen let me show you the answer that I promised you a while ago. As Droffats spoke, he moved to the edge of what now seems to be a very deep pit created by Ygla’s fall. As the seven stags looked down, what they saw caused Yelhgrub to vomit violently. Ygla was lying at the bottom of the pit impaled by two sharpened stakes through his neck and chest. The pit was almost thirty feet deep and the bottom was a bed of sharpened stakes. Droffats signalled to Ttekceb who threw a torch down the pit. A fireball shot out of the pit almost burning the faces of the stags that fell backwards trying to avoid the flames. As the stags were getting up, Nhoj Sknab understood the purpose of Droffats lessons to them. The fox was demonstrating his powers as well as his zero tolerance for dissent. It is now dawning on Nhoj Sknab that whatever happens among thieves, there is no stealing from or crossing the fox. The wider lesson in strategic war is that home defences must be deceptively deadly. It is no wonder that Droffats is trusted by Queen Htebazile who lets him run the land with a free hand and only answerable to her. The Privy Council, the Parliament and other national institutions are mere decorations of respectability. The real power in Niatirb Taerg was with the queen and Droffats.

Droffats said, I believe I have answered your question. If the enemies were to breach our walls, they will still die a fiery death with no foothold to stand on or for the matter to advance forward. Both fields on either side of this cobblestone path are made of many pits filled with stakes, poisonous vipers and oil. This cobblestone path would be laced with oil in the event of a possible breach. Any army advancing on this path will be presenting themselves as targets in sequence for our archers whose arrows will cloud out the sun on this path.  There is nothing but death waiting for our enemies if they can breach this outer defence walls. The idea is to decimate as many as possible before they can advance to the enchanted Liagiba forest. Now gentleman, I am hungry. We shall take a break for lunch before proceeding to Liagiba forest which you can see at the end of this cobblestone path. Come let us eat and I would like to hear your comments.

As Droffats led the stags to the sentinel post beside the main arch doorway where a lavish lunch spread was being set-up by a group of beautiful does. After lunch I have a little entertainment set-up for your pleasures. A beech wooden oval table with matching stools had been set-up in the sentinel post, big enough to accommodate Droffats and the seven stags. The table was laden with all kinds of fruits and vegetables for the stags while two specially roasted succulent kids were placed before Droffats. Two large drums of apple and grape wine were placed nearby. The mugs were filled by one of the beautiful does. While Droffats and each of the stags had a doe standing just behind to serve them. The stags became uncomfortable on seeing the roasted kids. They wondered the origin of the kids. While they were eating, they heard growls and the muffled and torturous bleats that sounded like a nanny goat in pain. Sensing their discomfort, Droffats whispered something to one of the attendant does. She quickly went out of the post and after a while the sound of bleating stopped. As they ate, the stags subconsciously knew that they wouldn’t be enjoying the forth-coming entertainment. Nhoj Sknab was losing his appetite seeing Droffats tearing and eating parts of the kids as if he was a lion. Now he wished he never made the business deal with Droffats. The other stags sensed the same thoughts but they all pretended to be happy with Droffats lunch treat.

After lunch was over, Droffats clapped his feet together, now for some entertainment as he led the stags out to the same pit where Ygla fell. The stags were traumatised by the sight of an unconscious nanny goat which was obviously the wife of Ygla. She was tied on a cross at the edge of the pit completely naked as her shredded otter trimmed clothes laid at the bottom of the cross. Her face was swollen. The bulldog soldiers who had been having fun with the Nanny goat stood around gaping at her like hungry wolves. Fresh blood was still dripping from her torn udders. There were bite and scratch marks all over her body. It is clear that she had been tortured and ravished. Nhoj Sknab suspicion was confirmed. The roasted kids that Droffats enjoyed for his lunch were her children.  Here was a fox that could become a lion to his enemies, killing everyone, even the children without mercy. Unlike the time when he introduced Ygla to the stags, he conveniently ignored introducing this brutalized victim. He knew that they knew. Droffats ordered the stags, gentlemen, please collect your crossbows. I want to see who among you the best shot is. The seven stags knew they couldn’t refuse. But even as nobles with slaves at their disposal, they had never participated in such savagery as they were experiencing now. Nhoj Sknab knew he had to put an end to the misery of the Nanny goat. So he volunteered to be the first to shoot. Bravo! Bravo! Droffats praised Nhoj Sknab as he took aim with his crossbow. Just as he was about to squeeze the trigger, he whispered, forgive me madam, and as he squeezed the trigger, he closed his eyes. Thud! And when Nhoj Sknab opened his eyes, the nanny goats head was lying lifeless to her side. The arrow had pieced her heart giving a merciful death in her unconsciousness. Nhoj Sknab had never killed a female before though he had a history of taking lives especially in duels. But this was murder. He made up his mind that he will kill the fox when the time is right. He thought that Droffats would be satisfied with seeing the nanny goat dead. He was wrong. Droffats was a blood thirsty sadistic and revengeful demon from hell. He forced each of the remaining six stags to shoot at the lifeless body until they ran out of arrows. Then, he ordered the bull dog soldiers to push the cross with the mutilated body into the pit. He then walked over, raised his clothes and pissed into the pit in a slow and deliberate manner.

If this was what Droffats could do to his law minister and his family, imagine what he would do to his real enemies. Foxes are renowned for their cunningness but this fox was a cunning demon, whose every action was calculated strategy meant to have optimum impact on its objects. Nhoj Sknab now knew how a slender and fragile fox like Droffats, could control all the brutes that surrounded him. Fear, intimidation, pain, torture, and death the perfect weapons, which most creatures understood without explanations. Nhoj Sknab also realized that Droffats not only taught practical lessons needed to defend a country from its enemies but also the use of power to keep order and manage even the most brutal of all creatures. But this required the power wielder to be the beast among beasts. Nhoj Sknab knew the lessons learned here is exactly what is needed in conquering and ruling faraway exotic lands. After today’s experience, Nhoj Sknab was prepared for whatever was in store for him and his friends in the enchanted Liagiba forest.

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About the Author:
Th. Dip (MTBI); Th. B (BTS); MSCP (summa cum laude);
Winner of Rector’s Award (AU)
Contact Email: nthesigan@hotmail.com
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According to an Associated Press report that was issued on September 1, 2010, the Federal government, through the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in the Interior Department, operates a first come, first served land leasing program that is supposed to foster the development of solar energy on Federal government lands. Under this program, companies could submit a plan and pay a fee to develop a solar energy production facility on the Federal land that they wanted to lease. They could control the solar development potential of that land forever even if they did not develop a solar energy capability on that land. Consider the history of the program, according to the AP article:

- In 2005, Congress gave the Interior Department a deadline of finding a way to generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity from renewable energy on public lands by 2015. 10,000 megawatts could power about five million U.S. homes during peak usage hours.

- However, Congress and the Interior Department never properly staffed the program, with the Bush Administration focusing the Interior Department on the development of oil and gas leases.

- As a result, according to the article, the small staff working this program have been overwhelmed by the administration of the program, resulting in companies getting the solar energy rights to Federal land but basically just squatting on the land and not generating any power.

- The staff has given out these land rights to numerous companies without ever discerning whether these companies had viable and workable plans to develop renewable energy on Federal land, with the result being that the most choice and prime sites have already been given out with no facilities being build to take advantage of these sites. According to an Interior Department official: “People were making solar applications on Federal lands not knowing what kind of technology to propose and how to develop the land.”

- While the companies holding the rights to the land cannot sell their stake to another company, if the company holding the rights is bought up by another company, those land rights follow to the new company, they do not revert back to government control. Thus, just having paper access to the government land for solar development created wealth in the private sector without benefiting the American taxpayer, when several of these companies holding the land rights were bought out.

- Goldman Sachs, the investment bank, has jumped into the giveaway and one of its subsidiaries has filed 52 of the 354 applications for the rights. Goldman is not stupid. They are not solar power developers, they are investment bankers. The recognize the value of these land stakes and for a minimum amount of money they can tie up valuable real estate assets until it suits them to do something with their claims. Goldman and its subsidiary have filed absolutely no plans for any solar facilities so far.

- Five years after Congress set up the program, there are no working facilities on any of the Federal lands designated for solar power sources. The Obama administration has identified 14 “fast track” projects that it wants to be approved by the end of the year. That is approved, not operational. Making any of these plans operational would take several more years at the earliest, according to the article.

What a disaster. Legitimate solar power developers cannot get access to government lands because start-up and/or incompetent companies and individuals, along with an investment bank, beat them to the Interior Department’s bureaucracy, a bureaucracy that handed out rights willynilly with a too small of a staff and too few resources available to properly screen out the best and worst applicants. As a result, the government has managed to gridlock the sun. Unbelievable.

Thus, it could easily be ten years from the time that Congress authorized the program in 2005 to the time we finally get any energy flowing. The incompetence is overwhelming. Wasted time, wasted government taxpayer money spent on administrating a failure of a program, and stranded natural resources sitting in prime solar energy territory.

And probably nobody, either in the Interior Department or those sitting on the Congressional committees responsible for implementing these plans, will face an consequences for this failure. They are all complicit in giving away government and taxpayer assets and getting nothing in return. It is a modern version of highway robbery. As with most every government programs, there are lots of people in charge, from the President (in this case, Bush) to Congress to Interior Department leaders but no one is responsible for this failure of a program. As a result, our dependency on fossil fuels and foreign energy sources continued to grow since 2005 with no progress made to change that trend.

Several steps are desperately needed to help ensure that this type of failure happens less frequently when it comes to government oversight and project management:

- Step 1 would significantly downsize the overall size of the Federal government over a five year period, resulting in fewer but more important projects being undertaken by the Federal government, projects that are hopefully managed better. This focus on fewer but more important programs would force down accountability to lower levels of government. This downsizing would make it clearer who was both in charge and responsible since the red tape and previous bureaucracy would be gone and the hiding places from responsibility would disappear. Failure in this new era of accountability would result in severe career consequences, much like it does in the private sector.

- Step 2 would institute a policy that would remove Congressional members from their committee posts if they and their committee did not fulfill the responsibilities of that committee. This would have resulted in politicians being replaced on the Interior Department committee or subcommittees that should have stayed on top of this solar project to ensure that taxpayer assets were not wasted and stranded and we actually got some solar power benefit form our public lands.

- Step 3 is the most important step. What is needed is the development of a sane, rationale and doable national energy strategy and policy based on fact and reality, not politicians’ focus on getting re-elected or satisfying those lobbyists who can get them re-elected. One reason why this solar project on Federal lands program failed is that it is a standalone tactic, it is not a tactic within an overall strategic plan. Develop the overall strategic plan and philosophy and then develop the tactical plan underneath the strategy, complete with deadlines and deliverables. Then you can manage the strategic plan and tactics together, identifying and remedying problems sooner since they pose a risk to attaining the overall strategic goal. It is not hard, companies in the private sector do it all the time to survive. Government rarely does it, usually resulting in failed laws and disappointing outcomes.

Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone, ain’t no sunshine being turned into cheap, domestic and clean energy when strategic planning is gone and replaced by political class incompetence. Grid locking the sun, who would have thought that possible?

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About the Author:
Walter “Burno” Korschek is the author of the book, “Love My Country, Loathe my Government – Fifty First Steps To Restoring Our Freedom and Destroying The American Poitical Class, which is available at www.loathemygovernment.com. Our daily dialog on freedom in America can be joined at www.loathemygovernment.blogspot.com.
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It is true! The tax laws are written to reduce your taxes, not to increase them. In the U.S., for example, there are over 5,800 pages of tax law. Only about 30 pages are devoted to raising taxes. This leaves over 5,700 pages that are devoted entirely to reducing your taxes.

This means 99.5% of the tax code exists solely for the purpose of saving you money.

I even go as far to say it is actually your patriotic duty to reduce your taxes by all legal means. Many people think I am kidding when I share this, but I am not!

Think about it this way. If 99.5% of the tax law is written to help you reduce your taxes, then the government must really want you to do just that. Otherwise, why would they enact so much legislation aimed at helping you do so?

All of the so-called complexity of the tax law is really just aimed at reducing your taxes, not increasing them.

When I share this concept with others, they usually find it interesting, which is great – but I really want them (and you) to think about this concept and how to apply it to their personal situation.

Once you truly believe that the government wants you to reduce your taxes, you will realize that you have the right to reduce your taxes every minute of every day. All you have to do is learn the rules.

Now, I enjoy reading the tax code and learning the tax rules. Most people don’t find this enjoyable though. This is where your wealth team can help. The tax rules can be easy to understand, if you have the right tax advisor on your team.

Here are a few cautions to consider when you are identifying the right tax advisor for your wealth team.

Just because someone is a licensed CPA, or licensed accountant, does not mean they understand taxes. Some accountants never deal with taxes at all.

Just because someone prepares tax returns does not mean it is safe to assume they understand the tax law well enough to make the rules understandable.

It is key to have a tax advisor on your team who understands what it is the government wants you to do in order to reduce your taxes and, more importantly, is able to put those rules into terms you understand.

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About the Author:
The tax laws are written to reduce your taxes, not to increase them. In the U.S., for example, there are over 5,800 pages of tax law. Only about 30 pages are devoted to raising taxes. This leaves over 5,700 pages that are devoted entirely to reducing your taxes. http://www.ProVisionWealth.com
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Custom Services Inc., a company founded by Bob and Dana in 1980 has been dedicatedly providing air conditioning, heating, and energy management systems to small, medium and large sized businesses. Their client’s list includes RDS Manufacturing, Broken Arrow School System and Victoria Christian Center, City of Broken Arrow and many more.  For 7 years, Bob has served Big Brothers/Sisters and he is still an active part of it. With his wife Dana, they attend church at Church on the Move in Tulsa, Oklahoma which keeps them in touch with their religion.

Bob also graduated from Victory Christian Centers and Victory Bible Institute where he completed his Bible Training program. During his bible school, Bob served the Hispanic Ministry for one year as well. Later on, he assisted Tulsa Technology Study group with their research and development regarding Energy measurements and Management techniques of W. Edwards Deming, the father of modern Quality Management techniques. Bob has also represented twice the Deming Study Group of Tulsa in Washington D.C at their meetings. These meetings were attended by distinguished consultants on Deming’s management techniques from all over the world.

Bob has excellent knowledge about Heating and Air conditioning, which caused him to serve as an advisor on Tulsa Technology Air Conditioning board for three years. Despite of all other responsibilities, Custom Services has always remained an important and major focus of Bob and family. Started with one employee in 1980, the company has now serving Oklahoma State with around 40 hardworking employees. Besides this, Bob has successfully acquired/merged with 12 other businesses related to Heating and Air Conditioning expanding his business roots more deep.

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About the Author:
Learn more about <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” target=”_blank” href=”http://tulsablogging.com/bobtownsend/”>life of Bob Townsend</a> and discover about his <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” target=”_blank” href=”http://tulsablogging.com/bobtownsend/”> success and achievements</a>.
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The Obama Administration made its report to the UN Human Rights Council public.   This report delineates the condition of human rights in America.  Included in this report is the Arizona SB-1070 law and Gov. Brewer is, rightly, irate.  But, let us not stop there.  Apparently America  also violates human rights because of poverty, high unemployment rates, poor housing, lack of health care access, discriminatory hiring practices (does Affirmative Action mean nothing to them?) and hate crimes.  Are you kidding me?  I am disappointed that our president continually denigrates America to gain favor with the UN.

Do they understand what a human rights violation is?  I sure bet women who live under the rule of Sharia Law know what a human rights violation is.  When women are buried up to their waste and then stoned to death for adultery that is a violation.  When Rwandan rebels gang rape hundreds of women, this is a violation of human rights.   When Sharia judges impose public flogging punishments, this is a human rights violation.

Mr. President, if you honestly think a high unemployment rate is a human rights violation, and you feel that our country should take its cues from the likes of North Korea, Saudi Arabia (which is considering paralysis as a form of punishment) and Libya, well then perhaps you should trek over to one of those Sharia judges and turn yourself in.  It was, after all, under your watch when the unemployment rate jumped up to near 10%.  Maybe you’ll only get 80 lashes for making false statements to the American people; I believe it was you who said signing that gargantuan stimulus bill would increase jobs and that the unemployment rate would not go above 8%.  Am I wrong?  Oh, and maybe another 100 lashes for allowing the tax cuts to expire, which will devastate small business and cause an even higher unemployment rate.

And, by the way, Americans are sick to death of you and your administration’s continual need to apologize on our behalf.  We owe NO ONE an apology, least of all the hooligans at the UN and tyrants, dictators and thugs of countries that are NOT our allies.

Gov. Brewer was absolutely correct when she said, “The idea of our own American government submitting the duly enacted laws of a state of the United States to ‘review’ by the United Nations is internationalism run amok and unconstitutional.”  Unlike you, Mr. Obama, I do not welcome “observations and recommendations” from concerned members of the U.N. Human Rights Council.  We’ve already addressed who sits on that board.

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About the Author:
Stephanie Keller
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For quite a while, the issue of Father Eustace had been the main talking point all over Imo State and even beyond. Sincerely speaking, I detest and condemn in the strongest possible terms the humiliating treatment that was given to the reverend by some overzealous security operatives in governor Ohakim’s convoy on August 8th 2010.

It is unbecoming and goes to show the level of depravity which our society has sunk. God and his ministers are no longer respected even when they bear reverend because just like when Eve touched the forbidden fruit and did not die, she thought that God had lied but the consequences of that stupid act is what we are suffering today as death even as God pronounced it and so it is with these zealots. Because some have done it to some God’s messengers and temporarily were unpunished, others now think that they can trample on these anointed men with impunity. But God has warned: “touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm.” If God is true, then this injunction is eternally sacred and the reason is that God honours his word more than his name.

I really pity those security operatives that manhandled Father Eustace Okorie. Maybe, God will forgive them if they repent and apologize to the humiliated priest. Do you know that because King Saul was anointed, King David could not harm him even when it was within his power to do so easily. You could as well remember and that is, if you are a Bible reading Christian, what happened to the fool that brought the ‘good’ tidings of King Saul’s death.

The perpetrators of the dastardly act are in real trouble except they ask for forgiveness. They are like Abacha’s Al Mustapha. The frenzied zealots are ready to cut off somebody’s ear at their own bidding without the master’s consent… too bad.

What they have succeeded in doing is to give bad name to the Governor. I know that Ikedi Ohakim will not condone such brazen and undignified treatment of Father Eustace and this he has proven by leading his entire executive council to meet with his grace, Archbishop AJV Obinna, to apologize for the excesses of those security operatives. This indeed is a demonstration of humility, piety and uncommon reverence for God and his true agents.

Thank God, the fatherly archbishop understood the real nub of the matter and accepted the apology. He has also issued a statement exonerating the governor from culpability.

It is therefore baffling but not surprising that the enemies of the governor and some insurgent and desperate writers have chosen to make cheap political capital out of the very unfortunate incident.

One thing clear and incontrovertible is that Governor Ohakim neither flogged nor ordered the sub-human treatment of the catholic priest. This class of ‘rolling stone’ enemies of the governor, who gather no moss, forgot that Ikedi Ohakim is a hooded knight of the order of Saint Christopher and cannot indulge in wanton aggression against a priest; although, I must admit that he is not a saint. The governor cannot forget so quickly how God established him and helped him to win 23 lawsuits in succession to condescend to the extent of flogging, brutalizing and incarcerating a reverend.

I am not Ohakim’s mouthpiece and he never paid me for this; I only have the passion for balanced analysis of events and situations. I only feel that Imo people have had enough of cheap political mudslinging. Let us help the governor by praying for him to rule well. This, according to the Bible is incumbent on all of us whether in the New Face Organization or not. Ohakim as a created being; is bound to err and when he does that, must we crucify him? Who is infallible?

It is unfortunate what happened to Father Eustace and I pray that such will never occur again. Nevertheless, I urge the Catholic priest to see it as part of the cross he has to carry for Christ; after all, Jesus himself, suffered stiffer humiliation in the hands of the Roman soldiers. In view of that my dear Father, count it all joy that you can suffer such for the sake of Christ. Do not harbour any grudge; please remember our brother, Stephen.

On the other hand, the governor must avert a recurrence of such dastardly deed by ensuring that those bigoted zealots among his security detail who mask their real feelings and who perhaps are not Christians and who are so demented to touch the Lord’s anointed in such an ignoble way, are sent packing out of the state or removed from his security retinue.

This drastic measure must also be extended to his hordes of lieutenants. There are some hypocrites within that fold whose actions and utterances are only detrimental to the governor’s political prospects. Some of them are virtually idle and have turned to unwieldy liability to the governor, government and people of Imo State.

I have said this before and I have to repeat it. Your Excellency sir, you have no excuse for failure, having overcome all. You rightly called yourself “orji” or iroko tree in Obowo recently and this is true at least euphemistically but you must remember also that any tree that does not bear good fruits must be hewn down.

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About the Author:
Benedict Ahanonu is a writer, journalist and social critic based in Owerri. He is also a poet and author of books.
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 In a strictly economic sense everyone knew that a Government worker was a parasite. In a societal point of view a teacher may be worth more than a professional athlete but in the cold hard realities of the marketplace, it’s a skill too easily acquired to demand much money (teaching that is).

While the suckers known as producers are out producing, the parasites, unions, politicians, and Govt. workers are working to get the people paid for by the taxpayers, paid better than the taxpayers. In essence….”I know you pay my salary, but I’m gonna really make you “pay” for my salary.

Come to the year 2008 and we elect the King of all parasites….Barack Hussein Obama…..mmmm mmmm mmmmm. Good ol’ Barack, you know, he’s gonna fundamentally “transform” America…..yeah, that Barack. The Chicago community organizer who is the most typical of Democrats (He’s made Government his God), and he wants everyone else to do the same thing.

 So people working with Government are screwing the people who just want to be left alone.

 One of the weapons progressives have is their desire for change through Government while conservatives do nothing, and only hope they don’t get audited every year and that’s the extent of their Government interest.

But things are about to change, Richard Nixon called the majority of Americans the “Silent Majority”, they didn’t march or cause a scene but they were there being the backbone of America. The kind of people who rose up after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.

 Barack Hussein Obama is about to hear from the Silent Majority himself.

Right now, the parasites are running roughshod over the producers, THAT MY FRIENDS HAS GOT TO STOP.

Every American who has made Government their God needs to wake up and realize…….

…..If you make Government your God, misery will be your companion.

HOLY HOLY HOLY is the Lord God Almighty, the One who is and was and is to come. Human beings naturally make something their God, choose well my friends.

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About the Author:
Don’t Click Here, the guy is a crazy right wing extremist
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