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Where our tax money goes?

Fares Aad — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:35:37 +0000

We, as faithful American citizens, pay our fair share in taxes to the U.S. government trusting that the government will put that money to “good” use. By good use, I mean military, anti-poverty programs, education, health research & regulation, highways & mass transits, unemployment benefits and the rest of the programs that a government should take responsibility for and execute. Oh well, I was totally embarrassed and angry to read the below article in the Wall Street Journal about the disgraceful behavior of 12 US Congressmen who flew to Scotland to attend a conference and to meet with foreign officials of NATO. I will leave it to each one of you to read on and comment… And we wonder why politicians are so anxious to get reelected.

————————WSJ————————————————————WSJ——————————————–

Besides rooms for sleeping, the 12 members of the House of Representatives rented their hotel’s fireplace-equipped presidential suite and two adjacent rooms. The hotel cleared out the beds and in their place set up a bar, a snack room and office space. The three extra rooms — stocked with liquor, Coors beer, chips and salsa, sandwiches, Mrs. Fields cookies and York Peppermint Patties — cost a total of about $1,500 a night. They were rented for five nights.

While in Scotland, the House members toured historic buildings. Some shopped for Scotch whisky and visited the hotel spa. They capped the trip with a dinner at one of the region’s finest restaurants, paid for by the legislators, who got $118 daily stipends for meals and incidentals.

Eleven of the 12 legislators then left the five-day conference two days early.

The tour provides a glimpse of the mixture of business and pleasure involved in legislators’ overseas trips, which are growing in number and mostly financed by the taxpayer. Lawmakers travel with military liaisons who carry luggage, help them through customs, escort them on sightseeing trips and stock their hotel rooms with food and liquor. Typically, spouses come along, flying free on jets operated by the Air Force. Legislative aides come too. On the ground, all travel in chauffeured vehicles. Lawmakers take scores of overseas trips each year to visit military bases, meet foreign officials, attend conferences and see how U.S. funds are spent. Ever since a corruption scandal in 2005 led to restrictions on privately funded travel, legislators have been taking more trips paid for by the government.

The cost they reported for such travel abroad was $13 million in 2008, a 70% jump from 2005, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of travel records. Lawmakers don’t have to report the cost of domestic travel when the government pays. The $13 million didn’t include the expense of flying on Air Force planes, which lawmakers don’t have to disclose.

New Year's Resolution for Tea Party - Clean the Senate and House 2010

bobbi85710 — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:23:40 +0000

This is one resolution that the American Patriot can easily keep. Tea Party Members can resolve to clean the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives of Liberals, Democratic Socialists, and RINOs (Republican in Name Only) at the voting booth November 2010 and at every election in the future. Here’s a great place to start: The 41st Senator Vote is depending on a Conservative Massachusetts vote-January 19th, 2010.

Tea Party Members with Independents, Conservatives, Oathkeepers, Liberatarians, 912ers, and many other groups and individual Americans can get behind candidates that reflect American Patriotism and protect and defend the U.S. Constitution.

Counter-productive to destructive Congressional Members have been traitorous to the health and welfare of the American people through their latest tactics of bribery, coercion, and sellouts. My view and it’s strong is here.

Make 2010 the end of Government Corruption. We’re coming and we demand “Repeal the Health Care Bill!”

***Also forwarded to The 912 Project Fan Site for use.

American Heroes - 2nd Continental Congress

patrioticexpressions — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:09:23 +0000

The colonial war with Britain had recently started, and the delegates from the thirteen colonies assembled in Philadelphia to direct the war effort, raise armies, appoint diplomats and other necessary acts. Each of the delegates took their task very seriously and only acted within the authority given by their individual state.

Standing in stark comparison to the actions of today’s elected delegates to Congress, the Continental Congress delegates could not/would not take action or vote in a manner either inconsistent with or without the express authority of their constituent state.

Notes taken by Thomas Jefferson, given to James Madison, tell of the importance each delegate gave to their respective constituent authority:

“It was also argued by J. Adams, Lee, Wythe, and others:

That the people wait for us to lead the way:

That they are in favor of the measure, though the instructions given by some of their representatives are not:

That the voice of the representatives is not always consonant with the voice of the people, and this is remarkably the case in these middle Colonies:”

Congress voting independence

Eventually, the delegates consented to vote the consent of their constituent states – to declare independence from Britain.

In the event of constituent desire to have their delegates to Congress take action on a measure that is consistent with their desire and wishes…the Second Continental Congress ultimately took their authority from their constituent states and voted accordingly. That was the ONLY action they could take. Today, we see a Congress that takes action NOT in accordance with the wishes and desires of the majority of their constituents – it is for THEIR desire and glory only!

Oh for the dedication, commitment, and individual responsibility to those who send congressional representatives to Washington today as was displayed in the minds and actions of the Second Continental Congress.

Senators/Representatives Not Allowed To Read Socialism's Health Rationing Bill: Enemies Of The United States!

volubrjotr — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:31:41 +0000

Why is the Senate rushing to pass their mammoth health care takeover plan before Christmas and befor

The Patriots Are Beginning to Stand Up - Enter Parker Griffith

bobbi85710 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:26:20 +0000

Moments ago at 2:00 EST, the United States of America accepted the latest great American Patriot. Welcome – Parker Griffith. who has left the slime of the Democratic Party in the U.S. House of Representatives to cross party lines and declare alignment with the Republican Party values. There were no kind words of farewell to the Democrats.

There is opportunity for change growing daily. Congratulations Rep. Griffith, your country salutes you! I know Alabama is darn proud of you!

***Also forwarded to The 912 Project Fan Site for use.

Venezuelan President’s Speech on Climate Change in Copenhagen

Tio — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:39:04 +0000

December 17th 2009, by Hugo Chavez

President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez:

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, Excellencies, friends, I promise that I will not talk more than most have spoken this afternoon. Allow me an initial comment which I would have liked to make as part of the previous point which was expressed by the delegations of Brazil, China, India, and Bolivia. We were there asking to speak but it was not possible. Bolivia’s representative said, my salute of course to Comrade President Evo Morales, who is there, President of the Republic of Bolivia.

[Audience applause]

She said among other things the following, I noted it here, she said the text presented is not democratic, it is not inclusive.

I had hardly arrived and we were just sitting down when we heard the president of the previous session, the minister, saying that a document came about, but nobody knows, I’ve asked for the document, but we still don’t have it, I think nobody knows of that top secret document.

Now certainly, as the Bolivian comrade said, that is not democratic, it is not inclusive. Now, ladies and gentlemen, isn’t that just the reality of the world?

Are we in a democratic world? Is the global system inclusive? Can we hope for something democratic, inclusive from the current global system?

What we are experiencing on this planet is an imperial dictatorship, and from here we continue denouncing it. Down with imperial dictatorship! And long live the people and democracy and equality on this planet!

[Audience applause]

And what we see here is a reflection of this: Exclusion.

There is a group of countries that consider themselves superior to us in the South, to us in the Third World, to us, the underdeveloped countries, or as a great friend Eduardo Galeano says, we, the crushed countries, as if a train ran over us in history.

In light of this, it’s no surprise that there is no democracy in the world and here we are again faced with powerful evidence of global imperial dictatorship. Then two youths got up here, fortunately the enforcement officials were decent, some push around, and they collaborated right? There are many people outside, you know? Of course, they do not fit in this room, they are too many people. I’ve read in the news that there were some arrests, some intense protests, there in the streets of Copenhagen, and I salute all those people out there, most of them youth.

[Audience applause]

Of course young people are concerned, I think rightly much more than we are, for the future of the world. We have – most of us here – the sun on our backs, and they have to face the sun and are very worried.

One could say, Mr. President, that a spectre is haunting Copenhagen, to paraphrase Karl Marx, the great Karl Marx, a spectre is haunting the streets of Copenhagen, and I think that spectre walks silently through this room, walking around among us, through the halls, out below, it rises, this spectre is a terrible spectre almost nobody wants to mention it: Capitalism is the spectre, almost nobody wants to mention it.

[Audience applause]

It’s capitalism, the people roar, out there, hear them.

I have been reading some of the slogans painted on the streets, and I think those slogans of these youngsters, some of which I heard when I was young, and of the young woman there, two of which I noted. You can hear among others, two powerful slogans. One: Don’t change the climate, change the system.

[Audience applause]

And I take it onboard for us. Let’s not change the climate, let’s change the system! And consequently we will begin to save the planet. Capitalism is a destructive development model that is putting an end to life; it threatens to put a definitive end to the human species.

And another slogan calls for reflection. It is very in tune with the banking crisis that swept the world and still affects it, and of how the rich northern countries gave aid to bankers and the big banks. The U.S. alone gave, well, I lost the figure, but it is astronomical, to save the banks. They say in the streets the following: If the climate were a bank it would have been saved already.

[Audience applause]

And I think that’s true. If the climate were one of the biggest capitalist banks, the rich governments would have saved it.

I think Obama has not arrived. He received the Nobel Peace Prize almost the same day that he sent 30 thousand soldiers to kill more innocents in Afghanistan, and now he comes to stand here with the Nobel Peace Prize, the president of the United States.

But the United States has the machinery to make money, to make dollars, and has saved, well, they believe they have saved the banks and the capitalist system.
Well, this is a side comment that I wanted to make previously. We were raising our hand to accompany Brazil, India, Bolivia, China, in their interesting position that Venezuela and the countries of the Bolivarian Alliance firmly share. But hey, they didn’t let us speak, so do not count these minutes please, Mr. President.

[Audience applause]

Look, over there I met, I had the pleasure of meeting this French author Hervé Kempf. Recommending this book, I recommend it, it is available in Spanish – there is Hervé – its also in French, and surely in English, How the Rich are Destroying the Planet. Hervé Kempf: How the Rich are Destroying the Planet. This is what Christ said: it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. This is what our lord Christ said.

[Audience applause]

The rich are destroying the planet. Do they think the can go to another when they destroy this one? Do they have plans to go to another planet? So far there is none on the horizon of the galaxy.

This book has just reached me, Ignacio Ramonet gave it to me, and he is also around somewhere in this room. Finishing the prologue or the preamble this phrase is very important, Kempf says the following, I’ll read it:

“We can not reduce global material consumption if we don’t make the powerful go down several levels, and if we don’t combat inequality. It is necessary that to the ecological principle that is so useful at the time of becoming conscious, ‘think globally and act locally,’ we add the principle that the situation imposes: ‘Consume less and share better.’”

I think it is good advice that this French author Hervé Kempf gives us.

[Audience applause]

Well then, Mr. President, climate change is undoubtedly the most devastating environmental problem of this century. Floods, droughts, severe storms, hurricanes, melting ice caps, rise in mean sea levels, ocean acidification and heat waves, all of that sharpens the impact of global crisis besetting us.

Current human activity exceeds the threshold of sustainability, endangering life on the planet, but also in this we are profoundly unequal.

I want to recall: the 500 million richest people, 500 million, this is seven percent, seven percent, seven percent of the world’s population. This seven percent is responsible, these 500 million richest people are responsible for 50 percent of emissions, while the poorest 50 percent accounts for only seven percent of emissions.

So it strikes me as a bit strange to put the United States and China at the same level. The United States has just, well; it will soon reach 300 million people. China has nearly five times the U.S. population. The United Status consumes more than 20 million barrels of oil a day, China only reaches 5-6 million barrels a day, you can’t ask the same of the United States and China.

There are issues to discuss, hopefully we the heads of states and governments can sit down and discuss the truth, the truth about these issues.

So, Mr. President, 60 percent of the planet’s ecosystems are damaged, 20 percent of the earth’s crust is degraded, we have been impassive witnesses to deforestation, land conversion, desertification, deterioration of fresh water systems, overexploitation of marine resources, pollution and loss of biodiversity.

The overuse of the land exceeds by 30 percent the capacity to regenerate it. The planet is losing what the technicians call the ability to regulate itself; the planet is losing this. Every day more waste than can be processed is released. The survival of our species hammers in the consciousness of humanity. Despite the urgency, it has taken two years of negotiations for a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, and we attend this event without any real and meaningful agreement.

And indeed, on the text that comes from out of the blue, as some have called it, Venezuela says, and the ALBA countries, the Bolivarian Alliance say that we will not accept, since then we’ve said it, any other texts that do not come from working groups under the Kyoto Protocol and the Convention. They are the legitimate texts that we have been discussing so intensely over the years.

[Audience applause]

And in these last few hours, I believe you have not slept, plus you have not eaten, you have not slept. It does not seem logical to me to come out now with a document from scratch, as you say.

The scientifically substantiated objective of reducing the emission of polluting gases and achieving an agreement on long-term cooperation clearly, today at this time, has apparently failed, for now.

What is the reason? We have no doubt.

The reason is the irresponsible attitude and lack of political will from the most powerful nations on the planet. No one should feel offended, I recall the great José Gervasio Artigas when he said: “With the truth, I neither offend nor fear.” But it is actually an irresponsible attitude of positions, of reversals, of exclusions, of elitist management of a problem that belongs to everyone and that we can only solve together.

The political conservatism and selfishness of the largest consumers, of the richest countries shows high insensitivity and lack of solidarity with the poor, the hungry, and the most vulnerable to disease, to natural disasters. Mr. President, a new and single agreement is essential, applicable to absolutely unequal parties, according to the magnitude of their contributions and economic, financial and technological capabilities and based on unconditional respect for the principles contained in the Convention.

Developed countries should set binding, clear and concrete commitments for the substantial reduction of their emissions and assume obligations of financial and technological assistance to poor countries to cope with the destructive dangers of climate change. In this respect, the uniqueness of island states and least developed countries should be fully recognized.

Mr. President, climate change is not the only problem facing humanity today. Other scourges and injustices beset us, the gap between rich and poor countries has continued to grow, despite all the millennium goals, the Monterrey financing summit, at all these summits as the President of Senegal said here, revealing a great truth, there are promises and unfulfilled promises and the world continues its destructive march.

The total income of the 500 richest individuals in the world is greater than the income of the 416 million poorest people. The 2.8 billion people living in poverty on less than $2 per day, representing 40 per percent of the global population, receive only 5 percent of world income.

Today each year about 9.2 million children die before reaching their fifth year and 99.9 percent of these deaths occur in poorer countries.

Infant mortality is 47 deaths per thousand live births, but is only 5 per thousand in rich countries. Life expectancy on the planet is 67 years, in rich countries it is 79, while in some poor nations is only 40 years.

Additionally, there are 1.1 billion people without access to drinking water, 2.6 billion without sanitation services, over 800 million illiterate and 1.02 billion hungry people, that’s the global scenario.

Now the cause, what is the cause?

Let’s talk about the cause, let’s not evade responsibilities, and let’s not evade the depth of this problem. The cause, undoubtedly, I return to the theme of this whole disastrous panorama, is the destructive metabolic system of capital and its embodied model: Capitalism.

Here’s a quote that I want to read briefly, from that great liberation theologian Leonardo Boff, as we know a Brazilian, our American. Leonardo Boff says on this subject as follows:

“What is the cause? Ah, the cause is the dream of seeking happiness through material accumulation and of endless progress, using for this science and technology with which they can exploit without limits all the resources of the earth.”

And he cites here Charles Darwin and his “natural selection”, the survival of the fittest, but we know that the strongest survive over the ashes of the weakest.

Jean Jacques Rousseau, we must always remember, said that between the strong and the weak, freedom is oppressed. That’s why the Empire speaks of freedom; it’s the freedom to oppress, to invade, to kill, to annihilate, and to exploit. That is their freedom, and Rousseau adds this saving phrase: “Only the law liberates.”

There are countries that are hoping that no document comes out of here precisely because they do not want a law, do not want a standard, because the absence of these norms allows them to play at their exploitative freedom, their crushing freedom.

We must make an effort and pressure here and in the streets, so that a commitment comes out of here, a document that commits the most powerful countries on earth.

[Audience applause]

Well, Mr. President, Leonardo Boff asks… Have you met Boff? I do not know whether Leonardo might come, I met him recently in Paraguay, we’ve always read him.

Can a finite earth support an infinite project? The thesis of capitalism, infinite development, is a destructive pattern, let’s face it.

Then Boff asks us, what might we expect from Copenhagen? At least this simple confession: We can not continue like this. And a simple proposition: Let’s change course. Let’s do it, but without cynicism, without lies, without double agendas, no documents out of the blue, with the truth out in the open.

How long, we ask from Venezuela, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, how long are we going to allow such injustices and inequalities? How long are we going to tolerate the current international economic order and prevailing market mechanisms? How long are we going to allow huge epidemics like HIV/AIDS to ravage entire populations? How long are we going to allow the hungry to not eat or to be able to feed their own children? How long are we going to allow millions of children to die from curable diseases? How long will we allow armed conflicts to massacre millions of innocent human beings in order for the powerful to seize the resources of other peoples?

Cease the aggressions and the wars! We the peoples of the world ask of the empires, to those who try to continue dominating the world and exploiting us.
No more imperial military bases or military coups! Let’s build a more just and equitable economic and social order, let’s eradicate poverty, let’s immediately stop the high emission levels, let’s stop environmental degradation and avoid the great catastrophe of climate change, let’s integrate ourselves into the noble goal of everyone being more free and united.

Mr. President, almost two centuries ago, a universal Venezuelan, a liberator of nations and precursor of consciences left to posterity a full-willed maxim: “If nature opposes us, let’s fight against it and make it obey us.” That was Simón Bolívar, the Liberator.

From Bolivarian Venezuela, where a day like today some ten years ago, ten years exactly, we experienced the biggest climate tragedy in our history (the Vargas tragedy it is called), from this Venezuela whose revolution tries to win justice for all people, we say it is only possible through the path of socialism!

Socialism, the other spectre Karl Marx spoke about, which walks here too, rather it is like a counter-spectre. Socialism, this is the direction, this is the path to save the planet, I don’t have the least doubt. Capitalism is the road to hell, to the destruction of the world. We say this from Venezuela, which because of socialism faces threats from the U.S. Empire.

From the countries that comprise ALBA, the Bolivarian Alliance, we call, and I want to, with respect, but from my soul, call in the name of many on this planet, we say to governments and peoples of the Earth, to paraphrase Simón Bolívar, the Liberator: If the destructive nature of capitalism opposes us, let’s fight against it and make it obey us, let’s not wait idly by for the death of humanity.

History calls on us to unite and to fight.

If capitalism resists, we are obliged to take up a battle against capitalism and open the way for the salvation of the human species. It’s up to us, raising the banners of Christ, Mohammed, equality, love, justice, humanity, the true and most profound humanism. If we don’t do it, the most wonderful creation of the universe, the human being, will disappear, it will disappear.

This planet is billions of years old, and this planet existed for billions of years without us, the human species, i.e. it doesn’t need us to exist. Now, without the Earth we will not exist, and we are destroying Pachamama as Evo says, as our indigenous brothers from South America say.

Finally, Mr. President, and to finish, let’s listen to Fidel Castro when he said: “One species is in danger of extinction: Humanity.”

Let’s listen to Rosa Luxemburg when she said: “Socialism or Barbarism.”

Let us listen to Christ the Redeemer when he said: “Blessed are the poor for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, we are capable of not making this Earth the tomb of humanity. Let us make this earth a heaven, a heaven of life, of peace, peace and brotherhood for all humanity, for the human species.

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much and enjoy your meal.

[Audience applause]

Translated by Kiraz Janicke for Venezuelanalysis.com

Fidel Castro: The Truth of What Happened at the Summit

Plot Targeting Turkey’s Religious Minorities Allegedly Discovered

Particular Kev — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:32:00 +0000

CD indicates naval officers planned violence against non-Muslim communities. ISTANBUL, December 16 (

President Obama’s Saturday Address + Ben Nelson "Yes Man"

audiegrl — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:34:30 +0000

WhiteHouse.gov—The Patient’s Bill of Rights and Health Reform

December 19, 2009

The President looks back to the bipartisan Patient’s Bill of Rights, a bill that was defeated in Congress at the hands of special interests and their supporters, and notes that health insurance reform covers the same ground and much more in terms of giving the consumers the upper hand over their insurance companies. He calls on the Senate to allow an up-or-down vote, and for those opposing reform to stop using parliamentary maneuvers to drag it out.
Read the Transcript

December 19, 2009.

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Related Story: AP sources: Sen. Nelson to support health bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic officials say Sen. Ben Nelson intends to support health care legislation backed by President Barack Obama, giving the measure a 60th and decisive vote.

These officials say the Nebraska Democrat will make an announcement later Saturday. Marathon negotiations with the White House and Senate Democratic leaders produced fresh concessions that will mean additional abortion restrictions in the legislation.

source:

Budget office: Democrats’ bill covers 94 percent of population

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional budget scorekeepers say the latest Democratic health care bill would cover 94 percent of eligible Americans while reducing the federal deficit.

The Congressional Budget Office said Saturday the changes announced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would cut the deficit by an additional $2 billion, bringing the 10-year total reduction to $132 billion.

The nearly $900 billion bill would be paid for by $483 billion in cuts to Medicare and other federal health programs, as well as tax increases.

source:

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Is The Congress Violating The Constitution?

lobotero — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:06:05 +0000

Daily Agitator

Professor’s Classroom

Subject: American Government

For way too long I have listened to this politician and that politician stand on the Constitution to oppose or defend an issue….it is most tiring because none of these “people’s representatives” have actually read the document….bu that is for another post….right now I want to discuss the battles being waged in the Congress today…..health reform…energy…..financial regulation…war….all the fun stuff that writers want to tackle in pursuit of the Pulitzer…….

Almost every 7th grader can tell you that there is 3 branches of government in the US: Executive, Judicial and Legislative…for the sake of this post I will focusing in on the Legislative branch of our government.

With all the debate in Congress there are a few stages that every bill must go through:

1. Bill introduction

2. Referral to committee(s)

3. Committee hearings

4. Committee mark-up

5. Committee report

6. Scheduling legislation

7. House: special rules, suspension of the rules, or privileged matter

8. Senate: unanimous consent agreements or motions to proceed

9. Floor debate

10. Floor amendment
11. Vote on final passage

12. Reconciling differences between the house and senate

13. Amendments between the houses, or

14. Conference committee negotiations

15. Floor debate on conference report

16. Floor vote on conference report

17. Conference version presented to the president
18. President signs into law or allows bill to become law without his signature

19. President vetoes bill

20. First chamber vote on overriding veto

21. Second chamber vote on overriding veto

22. Bill becomes law if 2/3 vote to override is achieved in both chambers

23. Bill fails to become law if one chamber fails to override

Now that we have the stages of a bill…let us talk about the present day debate going on in Washington……to me there is NO substantial debate from the opposition, only obstructionism……is there NO compromise just partisan bickering…..there is NOTHING remotely being done in the name of the American people…..

There are somethings that are a must for the passing of a bill:

After a problem is identified, potential policy solutions are formulated. Elected officials, interest groups and citizens participate in discussions and debates. Alternative solutions are compared and critiqued. Where there is consensus (or at least majority support) for one of the policy alternatives, it is adopted, generally through the passage of legislation.

Now you have the process…now ask yourself, is this anything like what it happening in the health reform debate, for example? The answer is simple…..NO!

Why? There is NO discussion just name calling and slogan slinging……the people are NOT part of the debate….there are NO alternative solutions being discussed……in short the whole debate is one sided with the one side arguing with itself…..

This is NOT what was imagined by the “Fathers” of the Constitution….Madison wrote the direction of the Congress in Federalist 52:

As it is essential to liberty that the government in general should have a common interest with the people, so it is particularly essential that the [Congress] should have an immediate dependence on, and an intimate sympathy with, the people.

The present day Congress is a FAR cry from what Madison foresaw….and because of that misdirection I believe that the Congress is acting in an unconstitutional manner…..there is NO debate just obstructionism…that is not how it was intended to work……now we come back to Federalist #10……partisan BS!

What the %$@! is this blog about?

Americans for Truth in News by Penny — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:10:33 +0000

When I first started writing the blog attached to my website, www.pennyfletcher.com, I named it Americans for Truth in News because there is so much $#@% passing for news these days.

So if you’re fed up with the inaccuracy of politically-correct speech, or of journalists and broadcasters who pawn off their opinion as fact, or if you have any historical knowledge about how other countries were duped into dictatorship by propaganda, you just may find this your new home.

Or maybe you’re just plain tired of reading about celebrities (today it’s Tiger) most of my posts will be for you too. By quitting the big-time media and freelancing, I put a stop to censorship- yes censorship- of my writing. Now I write only for small local publications (to stay close to my community) and on line for organizations that believe in the Truth with a capital T.

I know some of you on here are professionals, many with more credits than I have. But many are also not paid to write, and I can point thoses readers (and potential writers) to sources and stories from around the world that at first may seem unbelieveable- until you check them out. As a radio talk show host, I ran under the name Uncensored Reporter because censorship is alive and well in the U.S. media.

What gave me the idea for all this “truth stuff” was the headline one day in July 2008 while I was on the air. It seemed every news outlet in America was asking “Who is the father of Minnie Driver’s baby?” But that was the day NASA launched the “Geoeye.” Ever heard of it? Well, it can read a 16-inch area (yep- including your computer screen) from 4 miles in the sky through walls. Should this (perhaps?) have been the lead story on Page One of every newspaper in America? Well guys, where the $$@#! were you?

So welcome, Truth Bearers. There’s real news out there and it’s not coming from the press releases issued by special-interest groups, lobbists and those we once elected to do our bidding in DC. (Republic, remember? Not democracy.) They’re unable to do anything. I’ve interviewed them and they’ve told me why. So they grab for their own brass ring.

Some want to do good, but can’t unless they make promises to “a devil” they despise. Our system is broken. Stick around and I’ll tell you why I’m saying that.

FREE SIGN UPS AT THE SAMPLE BAG!

avaforyou — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:06:47 +0000

Happy Holidays From The Sample Bag and Team!

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Harvard Students Against Stupak goes to Washington

studentsstopstupak — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:06:50 +0000

post by Jenny Ye, freshman at Harvard from New York City

On Wednesday, December 2, I went to DC join over 1,000 supporters for the National Day of Action to lobby for healthcare reform, against Stupak. Traveling alone, and representing Harvard, I had a whirlwind of a day in the capital, joining fellow citizens in demanding our elected officials to stand up for women’s rights.

After getting on the first Red Line T out of Harvard Station (5:30am), I made it to Logan with ample time before my 6:50 flight to Baltimore. In Baltimore, I waited over a half hour for the Amtrak to DC (woops, didn’t check the schedule beforehand) and knew that I would be very late to the briefings in the Dirksen building. When I finally arrived, I was greeted by volunteers and took as any stickers, pins, and flyers I saw. Planned Parenthood also handed out pretty pink t-shirts! Who doesn’t like pretty pink t-shirts?
I entered the Auditorium at Dirksen, to find an energized crowd preparing for the day.

Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards ended the briefing with a role call; it was clear that there were activists present from every part of the country.
I looked for the New York delegation as the briefing adjourned, and found a group of students from the Columbia University School of Public Health. They, and the Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum were planning to meet with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s legislative aides. They invited me to join them, and I was on my way to my first appointment! Rather than meeting in an office, we met in a hallway of the Russell building to discuss the Stupak amendment. Senator Gillibrand is opposed to the Stupak language of the healthcare bill, and we were thankful for this. We urged for her to be a leader in making sure this language doesn’t pass in the Senate. In addition to the Stupak debate, Gillibrand’s aides noted that the issue of health insurance for immigrants is also crucial. It was great to hear that Senator Gillibrand is addressing healthcare reform on multiple fronts. Our meeting was brief, but it was encouraging.
Before heading to the noon rally back at Dirksen, I joined the New York group for coffee in the basement of the Russell building. The group was from all around the country as well, and they were united as public health students concerned how healthcare reform will affect women everywhere.

Thanks New Yorkers! Keep up the great work.

The Rally
Next I returned to the Dirksen Auditorium for the noon rally. The main auditorium, along with an overflow room, was filled with supporters. It was time to break out the Harvard Students Stop Stupak sign.

At the rally, 14 members of Congress along with a list of amazing representatives from wonderful organizations spoke to the energized crowd.

Cecile Richards: “We need to tell the government: hands off our bodies, and hands out of our pocketbooks!”

Congressman Jerry Nadler (NY): “Compromises need to be made sometimes, but not on this issue.”

Congresswoman Diana DeGette from Colorado: “I feel like the reinforcements have arrived.”

Representative Judy Chu from California, the newest member of Congress.

Ellie Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation

Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon

Loretta Ross, National Coordinator, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, and awesome guest at Kim Gandy’s study group this term at the Institute of Politics!

Senator Barbara Boxer of California

The very energetic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro from Connecticut, who jumped and danced to the podium!

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York, who was a guest via teleconference at Kim Gandy’s study group. So good to see her in person!

Rev Carlton Veazey, President & CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, who closed with a message about the importance of the separation between religion and government.

Before we adjourned, we turned around to face the cameras above us for a group photo.

source: Planned Parenthood

Look at the top left of the photo! The sign reads “Harvard students say: Healthcare YES Stupak NO”

Cecile Richards and I.

Afternoon Lobbying
In the afternoon, I had planned on going to some of the meetings with representatives from Illinois but stumbled upon more New Yorkers heading to meetings. (New Yorkers just find each other!) I ended up with a group from NARAL Pro-Choice NY, meeting with my own representative, Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez. We met with the congresswoman and one of her assistants, in her office! Velasquez, a pro-choice champion, expressed incredible leadership and also mentioned the importance for Catholic women like her to speak up for women’s rights. Yet another encouraging meeting. I love New York!

Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez and I!

Debriefing

I head over early to the debriefing session in the Rayburn building to find the room filling with supporters and snacks. I found a seat and started connecting with the people around me. To my left sat a woman named Emily from Wisconsin. She had been on a 17 hour bus ride to get to DC, and this wasn’t her first time! (The first time was when Bush announced the troop surge in Iraq) It was incredible see such dedication and commitment.
When the debriefing began, I got up to the microphone in the back to give my comments on the day. I was inspired by the welcoming, passionate citizens that surrounded me, and felt like I had made many new friends over the course of a couple of hours. Many others followed me at the mic, reporting back from meetings with reps from Maine, Virginia, Illinois, Connecticut … They had thanked those who said no to Stupak, and demanded others to do the same.
Heading Home
I had to leave the debrief session early to catch my 6:30pm flight. Waiting until the last train possible, I ran to Union station, and caught the MARC to BWI. Although I made it from DC to BWI in 30 minutes, I found out that my flight back to Boston was canceled, and that I would have to wait till the next flight at 6:30am the next day. A free night at the Sheraton BWI didn’t sound too bad.

Huge bed!

In Conclusion
If I could sum up the impression that I left with, I’d say that I felt like a part of an incredible, intergenerational, multiracial, multiregional coalition of feminists that has been united and energized. (Wow that’s a mouthful) Thank you to all the amazing people that I met. The national lobby day was a great boost of momentum, but it taught me that the effort is not a one-day thing. It is more important than ever to call in to senators and demand that Stupak-like language does not get passed. If I may quote Loretta Ross from Wednesday, “Congress this is your memo: women are not your problem, women are your solution.”

Don't let me down, DC!

Does History Repeat Itself?

chickendance — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:00:26 +0000

Based on what I have been able to observe during my lifetime, I believe that history does repeat itself, but it has become increasingly apparent that the government does not understand, or just wants to ignore, that old adage.

With reard to “health care,” the government will be forcing private health insurers to cover high risk people without being able to charge a premium to cover the higher risk to the company providing the insurance. By adopting rules that lower qualification requirements for the health care industry similar to the approach imposed on the banking industry, the government is taking the taxpayers down the same path. If these provisions are approved by the Senate and the Congress, health insurers will have to line up for bailout money at some date in the not too distant future. Alternatively, I suppose they could elect to stop competing in that market segment which only would serve to reduce free market competition. Who knows, it could even result in total control of health care by the government at some point down the road!

You don’t suppose that is what it really is all about do you?

India Briefs: Recent Incidents of Persecution

Particular Kev — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:39:31 +0000

Karnataka, India, November 30 (CDN) — Police on Nov. 24 detained three Christians after Hindu extrem

Europe brought to notice human rights violations in Belarus

Particular Kev — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:27:24 +0000

On November 19-20 in Tallin (Estonia) and Helsinki (Finland) a Belarussian human rights advocate, ex

Holiday Representative

violet2015 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:58:53 +0000

What is a holiday representative?

Holiday representative

Most of the UK based tour operators recruit the staff for working in the resorts that they use. The holiday representative acts as a liaison between the tour operator and the customers, who are the holiday makers. One of the common types of overseas representative is a person who works for mainstream companies like the Thomson’s.

There are some resort representatives that are referred to as kiddie representatives. Some of the holiday representative is brave souls who can actually take care of the young rascals. This is because; they get to enjoy the odd moment of quiet and peace whilst drinking cold coke near the pool. There are also lots of specialist overseas representatives. Some of the representatives are the tour operators who are geared towards the youth market.

What is the whole recruitment process?

For a person, after a hectic nine to five job, it can be very hard to wonder whether there is something he can do to enjoy his work. The person can catch few glimpses of representatives on his holidays and also get to reckon that his job is a piece of cake. The first step to becoming a holiday representative is to apply for the tour operator of his choice. Most of the tour operators complete their application on line and the application form is standard, which is to list the previous employment. There is one good thing about being a holiday representative and this is that one does not need any specific formal qualifications in UK. It is possible for a person to come from all fields of employment backgrounds.

Experience required

However, it is quite helpful if the person has some customer service experience and the importance is one the fact that he has dealt with the general public. This does not necessarily mean that he has to have face to face conversation to get selected. There are chances that they can call the person to know his ability to deal with difficult and angry people even if it is through the telephonic conversation. Another employment history which they can look out for is salesmanship skills. There is a provision of application form, wherein most of the tour operators require latest photo copy and for the same profession, one has to be smart and confident.

What holiday or hotel management want in a holiday representative?

To start with, there are whole lot of applications that the resort management receive. They interview around five percent of candidates who apply for the post of holiday representative through online manner or through the source of ads. The tour operator interviews are not exactly for those who are faint hearted. They usually consist of group interview and one to one interview. The main motto or aim of the recruiters is not to see how funny the candidate is but to see how he interacts with his fellow groups. The management wants to see that the candidate for the holiday representative post is an objective listener and despite his own personal beliefs, he has to ability to understand other people.

There may be team building exercises and the management definitely wants to see whether the candidate has the capacity to use his own schemes. However, they do not want a person who is quite bossy. Further, one should have the ability to stand up in front of people and talk about anything. The way the management do this is to give a candidate the card with a specific subject written on it and his task is to talk on the nominated subject for the allotted time. Overall, the resort hotel management look for a friendly face and for an easy smile which can be more favourable.

The Patriotic Flu Outbreak of 2009...

ericatwitts — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:48:22 +0000

With recent events we have witnessed how the majority no longer matters in America, apparently it is the minority that now rules. A Soldier for Liberty recently posted…

it has become perfectly clear our government is no longer interested in deriving their power from the consent of the governed. The point was well made last fall when, against the wishes of the American people, $787,000,000,000 of our tax money was “donated” to unworthy corporate “charities”. The point was further driven home by the subsequent passing of HR 1105 , with over 9000 unnecessary earmarks totaling another $410,000,000,000. Neither of which are effectively addressing that which they were intended to resolve.

I ask you where is the transparency that we were promised? This administration is vehemently intent on driving their agenda home regardless of the effect it causes upon the lives of everyday Americans. I totally agree with A Soldier for Liberty when she states..

Neither Health Care “Reform” nor Cap and Trade legislation solve the issues they are meant to address. In both cases, as with other segments of the economy, the current Congress’ answer is to socialize and unionize 1/6th of our businesses, bringing the total slice of our economy run by the government to an estimated 49%. With passage of Cap and Trade that number would jump above 75%. These two bills, along with other items on the agenda of the current administration will desecrate our Constitution – the same Constitution they have all taken an oath to protect.

So on November 30, 2009 another epidemic will fall upon this great land, its not the swine flu, the seasonal flu but the “Patriotic Flu.” We are asking that you not work that day but that you use this time to notify your senators, your representatives that you strongly oppose this health-care reform that the government that is suppose to be for the people and by the people are trying to cram down our throats. This illness is better defined as..

Patriotic Flu is the inability on the part of disgruntled citizens to perform daily work functions in reaction to recent unconstitutional behavior of our supposed representative government. This disease will manifest itself in a November 30th outbreak of illness across this land.

If you are unable to take off that day and with the economy the way that it is I certainly understand, please take the time to email or fax your Senators, Representatives and be sure to spread the word via emails to friends, co-workers to let this go viral. The time for action is now!

“The will of the people…is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect it’s free expression should be our first object.”- Thomas Jefferson

The Threshold

driverpost — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:08:57 +0000

Conservatives are standing at the threshold of a golden opportunity to usher in a new era of leadership for the Republican Party in the United States.

A wide spectrum of voters make up what is the conservative cause and these Americans have a deep concern for the basic core issues facing the US today. These issues are bringing the US together right of center. A strong unity is coalescing in the ranks of conservatives.

If the conservative’s spectrum continues mending its old factions, they will take the reins of the Republican Party in 2010.

However, if these old fractures do remain and deepen, conservatives will splinter again forfeiting the greatest opportunity in decades for real change for the Republican Party and for the US.

The effects of the economic crisis, the radically liberal policies of the Obama Administration, and the disenfranchising Democratic Congress have left US citizens, the majority of which are already right of center, feeling they have no true representation in Washington.

US citizens are angry-fearful-disgruntled-disillusioned with both our government leaders and the political process. The US as a whole is ripe for real change from a conservative revolution.

There are no other party options in a two-party country; at this time the only viable option is to elect proven conservative candidates to the Republican Party. Conservative candidates who will bring real change, a morality back to Washington, stability to the economy, and defense for our nation at home and abroad.

There are serious concerns in the conservative camp to be addressed, due to the broad spectrum of conservative voters and they must necessarily lay aside their particular agendas to unite on one conservative platform, the Republican Party platform. Or, there will be no Republican Party with any real influence for the foreseeable future.

For too long the definite differences in the conservative camps have fractured the conservative cause into wrangling factions with little influence in Washington. These continual factions have completely weakened conservative influence to the point they are relegated into a minority and near obscurity in Washington. The ‘Almost Majority’ has been the reoccurring theme in a conservative political nightmare.

There is a tremendous danger looming for conservatives, if the these factions remain or deepen, therefore history will again repeat itself only this time with far more liberal elements taking control of the Republican Party.

The raw power and energy of conservatives being seen in the US is sending a dread into the left. The left have watched in bewilderment the conservative influence far and wide from the townhall meetings across the nation to the demonstrations at the Capital.

As when British Prime Minister Winston Churchill saw the US being drawn into WWII with the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, Churchill celebrated and declared we have just one the war! His advisors were puzzled at this, he explained to them, that the sleeping giant which was the US at that time had been awakened and it would be fatal for the enemies of the Allied armies.

Just as then, now the US is waking to a giant conservative majority!

Conservatives must unite on the Republican Party platform, family values, anti-abortion, fiscal responsibility, limited government, strong defense, and tax cuts.

Call it a coalition or call it what you will, conservatives must support conservative candidates who are proven in practice and not just propped up with rhetoric. It is critical that conservatives step forward, not backward to some idealized glory days of the Republican Party. Conservatives across the US need to step into their future, the future of the Republican Party. This future can only be captured with a unified conservative spectrum moving forward to deal decisively with the issues facing the US currently.

Some independence is needed on the part of conservatives, they must run their own conservative candidates who will be beholden to none other than the conservative cause and they must support them at every level of government with volunteers to dollars in an unprecedented involvement.

The conservative candidates must focus only on the Republican Party platform and core issues that will continue to unify the conservative cause by 2010 and 2012. Now is the conservative’s time. Now is the time for real conservative leadership for the Republican Party and real change for the American people.

Conservatives have a door to a golden opportunity before them, for the sake of the freedom of the future generations of Americans they must step over that threshold in unity.

Randy Driver – Driver Post

Pass ENDA Now!

sixtenths — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:01:02 +0000

From the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund:

In the coming weeks, the fate of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) will be decided. The bill should be moving in the House shortly after Thanksgiving, but it’s critical that our elected officials hear from us TODAY to ensure that all LGBT people are protected from workplace discrimination once and for all.

The right wing is fighting hard against the passage of ENDA. We must drown them out. Can you make a short phone call today to your legislators as part of National Call-In Days for Equality to pass ENDA? Even if you’ve called before, making another short call today will help keep the pressure on and ensure that our elected officials hear loud and clear from people who support equality.

We’ve made it easy — just follow these three steps:

1) Call the Capital Switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask to speak to your representative. (If you’re not sure who your representative is, simply give the operator your zip code and they will connect you.)

2) Follow this script:

My name is _____ and I’m a proud resident of (your city, state). I am calling in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017) to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from job discrimination. People should not have to fear losing their job simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Please pass ENDA before the end of the year. Thank you for your time.

3) Go back to step 1 and call at least one of your senators — we need to make our voice for equality as loud as possible.

It’s that simple! Your phone calls will really make a huge difference. Even if you think your representative is supportive, it’s still important to call.

Thanks for taking the time to make these important calls. We’ll keep you updated on ENDA’s progress in the coming weeks.

The AARP Scam

Steve — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:02:58 +0000

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Another SCAM on the American PUBLIC, including, but not limited to, RETIRED people.

If you are a member of AARP, ASK them where YOUR money goes?

Here is a hint, NOT to help YOU. AARP is endorsing the new Democratic Health Care plan(s) for cold, hard cash. AARP does not even NEED you to be a member any longer. AARP is making more money from selling insurance and our “GOVERNMENT” than they get from members. By endorsing the Democrat Health Care plan(s), they will INCREASE their income from insurance. This INCREASE in insurance premiums will come from YOU, because of reductions in Medicare and Medicaid.

If I have not been clear, let me try again. AARP wants the “Governement” to reduce Medicare and Medicaid, so that, Seniors (retired persons) will find it necessary to purchase (spend more of their own money) insurance to cover the reductions. AARP will only be only too happy to provide this insurance.

If you do not want to believe me, do your own research. You can start here.

I have also called these plans the Democrat Health Care plan(s), because that is what they are. They have not worked with anyone, but a select few (not even all the Democarts are involved) to draft these “plans”.

Also, how can AARP endorse a plan without reading it?? How do I know they have not read it, you ask. Because even the Senators and Representatives that are voting on the plans, have NOT even SEEN the plans, let alone read them.

Call your representatives, tell them to read the bills, AND explain them to YOU!!!! What will it cost YOU if you do nothing????

freedombrigade — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:22:27 +0000

THE TYRANNY OF TAXES

Have you ever asked yourself how much the government really takes from you on a monthly basis? And I am not just talking about the federal government but the state, county, and municipal governments. None of us really think about all the taxes and fees that come out of our pockets.

Think about it. You pay taxes on your income every paycheck; if those were the only taxes you paid life would be great. But that is only the beginning, unless you live in Florida or Texas, you also have to pay state income taxes. You go home with your check lightened by federal and state income taxes, Medicare, and social security taxes. So you are driving home and realize that you need gas for you car; you stop at the gas station and fill up. You pay anywhere from 30-60 cents for each gallon of gas (that is between $4.50-$9.00 on a 15 gallon tank and $7.50-$15.00 on a 25 gallon tank.) You get home and sit at the kitchen table with a calculator and the bills that have arrive by mail. You start writing checks; you pay your electricity bill plus taxes; natural gas bill plus taxes; water bill plus taxes and fees for sewer service; cable or satellite service plus taxes; internet services plus taxes; phone bill plus taxes and 911 fees; cellular phone service plus taxes plus taxes and surcharges. You pay your mortgage and pay taxes through the escrow account. With the money you have left you go out to eat and pay taxes on that. Buy a fountain drink at the convenience store and pay taxes on that. Buy a six-pack of beer or a bottle of wine and pay taxes on that. Buy clothes for you and your kids and pay taxes on that. You buy tickets to a baseball game and pay taxes on that. Go to the movies and pay taxes on that. You pay taxes on all the consumables you need for your home from toilet paper to soap to toothpaste. Any service that you need, from an oil change to a haircut, is taxed. You can’t even take a vacation from it because your airline ticket, hotel and rental car are taxed. Not a day goes by that you aren’t taxed in one way or another. Obviously some places are worse than others.

It is a wonder we have any money left at all. We as a people need to demand a stop to all this taxation, demand relief from those whom we have empowered to represent us. We are essentially suffering the same fate as the colonists prior to the revolution, with a twist: Taxation with misrepresentation. But it is our fault. We have subjected ourselves to this tyranny. And we must take responsibility as a nation and as an electorate, to get ourselves out. The Tyranny of Taxes is slowly taking away our liberty. We are evermore becoming indentured servants to the leviathan we call the Federal Government. Worse yet, we are enslaving our children and grandchildren to a life of making the minimum payment on a multi-trillion dollar credit card just to keep ahead of the interest.

We work everyday in an effort to achieve the American Dream and instead of government that encourages our efforts we have one that impedes them. Instead of creating an environment that is conducive to innovation the government has done everything it can to stifle it. Rather than lower taxes to stimulate growth and expansion of the economy, our government raises taxes and discourages investment and entrepreneurialism.

Look around and ask yourself, is my money well spent? Is it invested well? Should I be forced to help pay for someone else’s house or brand new car? Should I have been forced to by General Motors, Chrysler, or AIG? Could I have used that money more efficiently?

Put it in perspective, since 2008, the federal government has spent:

30 billion to bailout Bear Stearns

400 billion to bailout Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

180 billion to bailout AIG

25 billion to bailout GM and Chrysler

700 billion to bailout banks through the TARP program

787 billion in the “stimulus package”

5 billion in earmarks included in the Omnibus bill

According to the US Census Bureau there were 281,421,906 people in the United States in the year 2000.

For easy math let’s say that there are currently, 300,000,000 legal citizens and residents today. That would mean that if you added up all the spending, just for the programs and bailouts listed above, the government could have sent out a check to every man woman and child in the United States for $7090. For a family of four, that would mean $28,360.

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $28,360!!

Ask yourself who knows better how to look after your family; you or a collection of 500 individuals in Washington D.C. who have never seen you, never talked to you, and seem unwilling to consider your future and the future of your children and grandchildren. And don’t seem to understand that what they are doing not only affects us the people but our nation. They are jeopardizing the future of the United States of America.

Making the Leap – From Reactive to Proactive Sales

bozmen — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:04:43 +0000

Businesses can no longer sit back passively and hope customers come a knocking. The proactive pursuit of potential clients must be made a part of any companies’ day to day sales strategy, and reflect in its activities.

In today’s competitive marketplace, in practically every sector, obtaining new business is more difficult than it has ever been. Numerous factors are behind this:

Number of Alternatives

Potential clients have more alternatives in terms of where they want to take their business to than ever before. The number of competitors, the channels they can be accessed by, and the products and services they provide have all contributed towards giving the potential client a wealth of options.

Example – Booksellers like Waldenbooks have faced an extreme growth in competition through the proliferation of the internet channel, where companies like Amazon.com and Wal-Mart have thrived in winning clients. This shift in channel usage has resulted in the closing of hundreds of Waldenbooks bookstores (2oo to close this coming month alone), and countless thousands of smaller shops across the United States.

Pricing

Winning on price has become extremely difficult, as competitors are now more than ever able to match any price offering. Companies must look to differentiate their offerings in alternative ways, as pricing advantages can no longer easily be conveyed to the potential client.

Example – Computer maker Dell used to enjoy a significant pricing advantage against its premium PC OEM competitors, particularly benefiting from its supply chain efficiencies and direct sales channels. This advantage, however, has since been stripped away by the likes of other premium brands like HP and Lenovo, who have copies some of Dell’s efficiency-driving tactics, and introduced some of their own.

Product / Service Features

Similar to pricing, competitors are able to rather easily replicate the features of any given competitors’ product or service. Unless a specific patent and its relevant protection is in place, very few companies can ensure their given product or service will not be duplicated by a competitor, thus killing its marketplace advantage.

Example – Splenda, the artificial sweetener, has recently lost considerable market share to a Chinese rival who copied every aspect of its own product. The company falsely believed no competitor could produce the sweetener’s core chemical sucralose on a commercial scale, a belief that was dispelled when they found the rival’s product available in Wal-Mart stores across the United States.

In light of these market dynamics, companies can no longer rest on their laurels – a passive approach to sales and customer acquisition simply will not work in most cases (surely not in a way that will allow companies to hit their aggressive sales targets). To succeed in such a competitive, consumer-empowered atmosphere, companies must take to the streets, literally.

Proactive vs. Reactive Sales in a Given Store in a Given Sector

Reactive Sales World

In a reactive sales world, a given company’s sales rep waits for the customer to come in through the door, and then tries to sell to that customer (who is likely going to buy something anyway, regardless of the sales rep’s support / service). In this reactive sales world, the customer drives the relationship, dictating what he or she may buy, determining the rules of the game. The sales rep is ultimately a passive bystander in most cases, and adds little value besides being an information provider.

Sales reps in a reactive sales world come and go, with very high turnover associated with the position. Minimal training is provided to such reps, and thus, they understand little about the needs of their potential customers. In this store, the sales rep can do little to win over potential customers who show resistance to a possible purchase – their ability and motivation to make the sale happen are limited.

In such a reactive sales world, a company’s ability to drive people to the store determines the overall possible success of the store, and as such, requires extensive reliance on advertising, word-of-mouth, promotions, etc. That is, no matter how proficient and savvy the sales reps are, there is a constraint, and that is total number of visitors to the store.

The measure of success of this store in a reactive sales world is total sales per square foot, and for the employee, number of sales registered to him or her (in more advanced worlds, their mystery shopping service score). In such an environment, a store can only go so far as increasing their conversion rate – the percentage of potential customers walking through the door that make a purchase.

With such an approach in place, the location of a store dictates the overall success of the store to a very strong degree. As goes the neighborhood, so goes the store – high foot traffic spells success, the reverse, failure. In a reactive sales world, companies open and close stores on a constant basis, assessing performance quarterly to determine which stores to keep open and which ones to close.

Proactive Sales World

In a proactive sales world, the employee spends a great deal of time pursuing customers, in the most efficient manner possible relative to their specific situation (via emails, phone calls, door-to-door visits, etc.). In this proactive world, leads are given to the employee, and he or she is responsible for pursuing these leads. The store and its employees are not limited to the business they can drum up from customers that visit their store, but rather, by the additional number of potential clients they can get in touch with in a given amount of time.

In this proactive sales world, the store is very well educated about potential clients in the area. They know at any given time their market share, what their competitors are doing and which customer segments they are succeeding with, and which potential clients they have the highest probability of winning over if visited.

In this approach, products and services are matched to potential clients before a visit is made, and pitches to win them over are also ready. Sales reps are no longer turnover prone, but rather, well trained and motivated through financial and other means. These sales reps know the products and services inside out, know the needs of their potential customers, and can convert resistors much more effectively.

Sales per square foot are still a measure of success, but are complemented by targets around potential clients visited, leads generated, leaflets distributed, etc. The store is no longer exclusively reliant on advertising, promotions, and word-of-mouth for new business, their location also no longer limits their potential sales.

Stores that succeed in the company now do so because of their sales reps’ abilities to win over customers, not just inside, but outside the store. Reliance on location, advertising, and promotions becomes secondary to the ability of the sales force.

Proactive Sales Applicability

A proactive sales model is not applicable in every sector – sending out sales reps from a clothing store to visit potential clients, for example, will yield minimal results. Looking at this issue from the potential client’s perspective will point to the sectors that can benefit from this model.

For example, a small business opens up shop in a given neighborhood. The business is visited by an electronics store sales rep to discuss their computing needs. They then get a visit from a local bookstore that offers to bring a given set of business magazines and newspapers on a regular basis to their door. Then the local telecommunications dealer stops by to discuss their fixed, mobile, and internet service needs. A bank sales rep also comes by to open up their business checking account. Finally, an insurance sales rep comes by to discuss the businesses overall insurance needs.

This is only a scenario centered around a new business that only gives some examples of sectors than can benefit from using a proactive sales approach, similar scenarios can be built around new residents, existing residents, existing businesses, etc.

Leads

Leads are not always required to visit a potential customer, but they go a long way towards driving efficiency in the proactive sales effort. Leads can be obtained in numerous ways:

Through a listing of newly opened businesses published by city / government entities
Through realtors who can provide this information for a fee
Through searching on the internet for directories
Through using actual phone directories

At a minimum, companies in sectors that can benefit from such a proactive sales approach deserve to try it out as a pilot. This requires minimal training, with a focus on just one store, to see if the benefits derived are of a sufficient level to scale out the approach to the entire sales network. Companies ignoring considering the utilization of such an approach are doing so at their own peril, as their competitors likely will not.

Judges Should Never Assume Legislative Role

Words of America — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:26:52 +0000

Dear Judges Across America: The Supreme Court’s function is to interpret the constitutionality