A week ago I saw an associate of mine at a fast food place and he asked, “Since our country’s decline is inevitable why try to save it? Shouldn’t we be using our energy and time trying to figure out how to survive its coming demise instead of wasting our efforts trying to save it?” I told him that I agreed the evidence of our nation’s decline is overwhelming but that it has not yet reached its demise. And there are those who feel they must not give up the fight to save our nation.
I told him of an experience I had, a true specific event in Southeast Asia during the war. A Jolly Green CH-53 “chopper” flew into the airbase where I was stationed; on board were wounded Marines. One was a Marine Major who suffered a severe chest wound. Talking with the medical staff and a couple of escort Marines that night they told me that a Medic had “worked” on the unresponsive Major for hours on the battlefield before he was finally air lifted out. A Marine had asked the Medic why he kept working on the Major when it was evident he was dead. The Medic responded,” I have to give him every chance I can to live, I have no other choice. I save lives, that is what I do.” Months later the medic found out that the Major had lived, and had been reunited with his wife and three kids back in California.
So it is with our nation, it might be severely wounded, unresponsive and bleeding, but there are a lot of people out here who just will not quit, will not give up on their country…I see these “medics” at every tea party gathering and in homes, churches and on streets all across America. Who knows, with their unwillingness to give up the fight this nation just might survive.

Not all Democrats are far left radicals or Marxist/Socialists. Those that aren’t are usually over the age of 50 and belong to an era when both major parties aligned themselves with the will of the American people on fiscal and defense issues. They were dubbed “Reagan/Kennedy” Democrats and certainly did not consider themselves anti-capitalist socialists.
One thing I find striking about the “Reagan/Kennedy” Democrats is their tendency to put the interest of the nation ahead of their party, something they have in common with conservative Republicans. One woman said that a person with a “D” in front of his name did not ensure he was the right person for the job, and that also went for anyone with an “R” in front of his name. I found her reasoning spot on.
So what power do these “Reagan/Kennedy” Democrats have today? And why do we seldom hear from them? It was clear that they never aligned themselves with the recent “occupy fiasco” and most thought the present administration is taking the country in the wrong direction.
Invariably I got around to asking a number of them why are they still Democrats today instead of becoming Republicans? One gentleman said, “Well Jim I rather stay in the pit of vipers I know rather than step over into a pit of vipers I don’t know.” Well I could not argue with that logic.
But it is good to know that there are Democrats and Republicans that reject the extremes in their parties and who agree on more things than they disagree on. The Tea Party movement across America personifies this sentiment, which is why a cross section of tea party patriots includes Libertarians, Democrats, union members, Republicans, Independents and just plain ole Americans who want to restore the honor and vitality of their country and rejuvenate “American Exceptionalism.” You just can’t argue with that kind of logic.

How disappointing that the re-election campaign of Mr. Obama is now publicly seeking the endorsement of a long list of celebrities. Many who are the Hollywood elite, have been generally outspoken and supportive of his first term, and are now the preferred or “selected” person(s) whose endorsement will somehow carry the clout to sway the populous to re-elect him as the next President.

Apparently, the campaign focus has now switched from the American people who should be the most important selection committee, to those elitists who are members of the millionaire club and have, at best, hypocritical views of what is the best solution for this country. This new campaign focus carries a torch of a different light that leaves an acrid scorch of whose opinion carries the highest level of importance. When I read this news release, I could not help but wonder if other citizens feel the insult and slap of non-importance at being disregarded as not having the common sense and personal ability to select the best person for the office of President.

When the direction of a campaign changes from seeking the intelligent and informed approval of the people towards a group who only have a passive indifference of Americans who are barely keeping their heads above the poverty level, it signals an significant shift in priorities. I do not believe that celebrities speak for the ordinary and average citizen, and their left and liberal viewpoints are certainly not representative of me or the majority. With all of the information that I consistently and constantly learn and gain from non-partisan speakers and information sharing at the Tea Party monthly meetings, I feel more confident that I am able to recognize the insulated bubble that surrounds many Washington politicians and bureaucrats. I firmly believe that complaining will not take anyone out of Washington, but voting will.

Arvene Kilby

Many of you may have already read this classic which was written in 1945, but it may be time to dust it off and reread it again. While Orwell wrote Animal Farm as a pointed criticism of Stalinist Russia, even the reviews of the book on the fiftieth-anniversary of its publication declared its message to be still relevant.
When you look at the Seven Commandments that were created in Animal Farm and in particular, the revised and edited Commandments towards the end of the book, there is a very disturbing and menacing similarity to what is evolving in our country for the past couple of decades and still today. It is very interesting to compare the actions that were taken when the animals revolted and took over Mr. Jones' farm with some of the Movements that have occurred this year.
Socialistic and Marxist principles were addressed in this fictional story, yet when you look at what is being done by the radicals, the Liberals, the Progressives, the increasing influence of George Soros and scores of others, you will find a direct and alarming correlation to our current problems in this country. The infiltration into our education system has already been coming to fruition, the OWS class credits given by professors, the indoctrination of Islam classes into elementary schools and higher education, and the elimination of any Christian-Judeo reference. It isn’t hard to discover the implication of sharia law.
Consider the New Jersey government and the Bill being introduced into Trenton that promotes the elimination of the 3 day waiting period prior to marriage and the added clause that provides a post 30 day return of the spouse if you don't like who you married. That comes from sharia law. Animal Farm influences are all around us. Listen to the twisted and spun rhetoric that comes from Washington D.C. daily, news conferences by politicians or the Commander in Chief that refute their own words while telling American that we" misunderstood" what they meant, and the ever so popular commentaries why all the laws must be passed to "protect ourselves and children". And this is just a short list. But then again, the animals only had a short list to live by. The problem was the commandments kept changing. And with all of the revisions, the animals blamed themselves and began to believe that they either misread the commandment(s) or had faulty memories. The farm animals were led to believe that the pig in charge always spoke the truth.
This classic was originally considered a satire on (socialistic) equality, but what has been the most memorable quote is this: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." This quote was typical of Orwell's belief that those in power usually manipulate language to their own benefit. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Arvene Kilby
Member
GTPPSJ

One of my readers sent me this:
This accurately describes the state of the taxes in New Jersey.

Tax their land, tax their hay.
Tax their bed in which they lay.
Tax their tractor, tax their mule,
Teach them taxes are the rule.

Tax their cow, tax their goat,
Tax their pants, tax their coat.
Tax their shoes, tax their shirt,
Tax their work and tax their dirt.

Tax their tobacco, tax their drink,
Tax them if they try to think.
Tax their booze, tax their beers,
And when they cry we’ll tax their tears.

Tax their water, tax their gas,
Tax their phones, tax their cash.
Tax them good and let them know,
That after taxes we have their dough.

If they holler, tax them more,
Tax them until they are really sore.
And if they die one night or day,
Tax the sod in which they lay.

And when they are gone we won’t relax,
We’re going after the inheritance Tax.
And every year we’ll raise the rate,
So welcome to the Garden State.

This is a true editorial. It was written in 2004 but it stands true today.

HERE IS A GERMAN EDITORIAL.  If any of you still feel that this war on terror is a mistake, here is an opinion from an unexpected source. It's fascinating that this should come out of Europe. Mathias Dapfner, Chief Executive of the huge German publisher Axel Springer AG, has written a blistering attack in DIE WELT, Germany's largest daily paper, against the timid reaction of Europe in the face of the Islamic threat. This is a must-read by all Americans. History may well certify its correctness.---- EUROPE - THY NAME IS COWARDICE (Commentary by Mathias Dapfner CEO, Axel Springer, AG). A few days ago Henry Broder wrote in Welt am Sonntag, 'Europe - your family name is appeasement. It's a phrase you can't get out of your head because it's so terribly true. Appeasement cost millions of Jews and non-Jews their lives, as England and France, allies at the time, negotiated and hesitated too long before they noticed that Hitler had to be fought, not bound to toothless agreements. Appeasement legitimized and stabilized Communism in the Soviet Union, then East Germany, then all the rest of Eastern Europe, where for decades, inhuman suppressive, murderous governments were glorified as the ideologically correct alternative to all other possibilities. Appeasement crippled Europe when genocide ran rampant in Kosovo, and even though we had absolute proof of ongoing mass-murder, we Europeans debated and debated and debated, and were still debating when finally the Americans had to come from halfway around the world, into Europe yet again, and do our work for us. Rather than protecting democracy in  the Middle East, European Appeasement -- camouflaged behind the fuzzy word 'equidistance' -- now countenances suicide bombings in Israel by fundamentalist Palestinians. Appeasement generates a mentality that allows Europe to ignore nearly 500,000 victims of Saddam's torture and murder machinery and, motivated by the self-righteousness of the peace movement, has the gall to issue bad grades to George Bush even as it is uncovered that the loudest critics of the American action in Iraq made illicit billions -- no, TENS of billions -- in the corrupt U.N. Oil-for-Food program. And now we are faced with a particularly grotesque form of appeasement. How is Germany reacting to the escalating violence by Islamic Fundamentalists in Holland and elsewhere? By suggesting that we really should have a 'Muslim Holiday' in Germany! I wish I were joking, but I am not. A substantial fraction of our (German) Government, and if the polls are to be believed, the German people, actually believe that creating an Official State 'Muslim Holiday' will somehow spare us from the wrath of the fanatical Islamists. One cannot help but recall Britain's Neville Chamberlain waving the laughable treaty signed by Adolph Hitler and declaring European 'Peace in our time'. What else has to happen before the European public and its political leadership get it? There is a sort of crusade underway, an especially perfidious crusade consisting of systematic attacks by fanatic Muslims, focused on civilians, directed against our free, open Western societies, and intent upon Western Civilization's utter destruction. It is a conflict that will most likely last longer than any of the great military conflicts of the last century - a conflict conducted by an enemy that cannot be tamed by 'tolerance' and 'accommodation' but is actually spurred on by such gestures, which have proven to be, and will always be taken by the Islamists for signs of weakness. Only two recent American Presidents had the courage needed for Anti-appeasement: Reagan and Bush. His American critics may quibble over the details, but we Europeans know the truth. We saw it first hand: Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War, freeing half of the German people from nearly 50 years of terror and virtual slavery. And Bush, supported only by the Social Democrat Blair, acting on moral conviction, recognized the danger in the Islamic War against Democracy. His place in history will have to be evaluated after a number of years have passed. In the meantime, Europe sits back with charismatic self-confidence in the multicultural corner, instead of defending liberal society's values and being an attractive center of power on the same playing field as the true great powers, America and China. On the contrary - we Europeans present ourselves, in contrast to those 'arrogant Americans', as the World Champions of 'tolerance', which even (Germany's Interior Minister) Otto Schily justifiably criticizes. Why? Because we're so moral, no, I fear it's more because we're so materialistic, so devoid of a moral compass. For his policies, Bush risks the fall of the dollar, huge amounts of additional national debt, and a massive and persistent burden on the American economy - because unlike almost all of Europe, Bush realizes what is at stake - literally everything. While we criticize the 'capitalistic robber barons' of America because they seem too sure of their priorities, we timidly defend our Social Welfare systems. Stay out of it! It could get expensive! We'd rather discuss reducing our 35-hour workweek or our dental coverage, or our four weeks of paid vacation. Or listen to TV pastors preach about the need to 'reach out to terrorists; To understand and forgive'. These days, Europe reminds me of an old woman who, with shaking hands, frantically hides her last pieces of jewelry when she notices a robber breaking into a neighbor's house. Appeasement? Europe, thy name is Cowardice. God Bless America

As far as I can tell I have been an American of African ancestry all of my life. I am intelligent enough and experienced enough to know racism when I see it and when I hear it. Which means I don’t need or want any progressives, bureaucrats, politicians, pundits, political activist, news commentators or journalists telling me what is and what isn’t racism. But I remind other Americans of African ancestry that some of these progressives will hear or see something that they think is racists and they will run up in your face and tell you to get angry about it. This will happen a lot this year. What arrogance these people take upon themselves. Do they take us for fools? It’s not only insulting to think that we can’t determine what is and isn’t racism for ourselves but it is also an assumed sense of superiority. I don’t know about others but if some progressive steps to me and tries to tell me how to act and think over something he heard or saw, I will tell him to back off and go occupy something.

Growing up in Southern Illinois in the 50s and 60s I used to love listening to all the tall tales told by my brother Belton and my brother-in-law Jake and some of those tales were REALLY tall. I had relatives in Alabama and in Arkansas and it was Jake’s prevailing “wisdom” that visiting relatives in Alabama would get you a lot to eat but nothing to drink (adult beverages). But visiting Arkansas relatives would get you a lot to drink, but hardly anything to eat. So he said it all depended on whether he was hungry or thirsty as to whom he visited.
Both Belton and Jake drug me around with them during the summer months to Alabama or Arkansas or some other place I had never heard of; they’d toss me in the back of a Hudson, Buick Dynaflow, Studebaker or Dodge and off we would go. Mom and my sisters would always pack food for us to eat along the way because in those days we (blacks) could not stop and eat at the roadside diners and food courts. And Jake and Belton knew from experience which gas stations they could stop at because not all stations would sell gas to us. But I was too young at the time to really understand such things.
Anyway, we were always going to visit some cousin, uncle, niece or aunt somewhere, Lord knows I did not know any of those people, but who cared, the food was always hot and there was always plenty of it. Looking back years later I was glad we could not eat at any of those “white only” places along the way…there was no way on earth their food could have come close to matching the meals my relatives fixed for us.
One problem while visiting relatives in Alabama was that at every house you visited, you had to eat something and each helping was piled high, so by the time I got to Aunt Sophie’s house after eating at Uncle Ray’s and at my other Aunt Mary’s house I was stuffed to the gills and not even Aunt Sophie’s homemade apple pie could coax me to eat another bite. But as I grew older, I learned to pace myself, eat a little bit here, a little bit there and save enough room for desert
But it was not all fun and games especially those trips to Arkansas. I was usually the only kid in a house full of men and women playing cards for hours on end. And trying to sit comfortably on some couch or chair covered in thick plastic in August heat was rather unpleasant. And just when I thought the “visits” were coming to an end, somebody, usually the skinny guy with the limp, would go out and come back with several brown bags and everybody was happy again. So I usually found a bed and went to sleep. The next day I would wake up with a soft pillow under my head and a homemade quilt covering me from head to toe and the aroma of sausage and eggs and toast coming from the kitchen area.
However, the days of being carted around all over the South ended when I entered high school. I found “better” things to do with my summer, I discovered girls. Years later after I graduated and left home I became aware of the outside world that my family, teachers and ministers had sheltered me from, but had also prepared me for in their own special way. I look back on those early days with fondness and although most people I knew back then have passed on I credit them for shaping my future and my mindset and my humbleness. Long live the road trips.

Oh the agony of it all, the silly season. The silly season begins roughly when an election is near and progressives ratchet up their attacks on people who don’t agree with them. Their media allies inundate voters 24/7 with a barrage of lies, misinformation, disinformation, half-truths, progressive spin, adhominem rhetoric and besmirching accusations. This all in an effort to intimidate and silence Tea Party patriots and other conservatives while enthusiastically espousing the principles and ideology of Antonio Gramsci, Saul Alinsky, George Soros, Bill Ayers and Karl H. Marx.
Organized thugs, rioters, mobs, violent demonstrators and unruly protesters are the action arms of the progressive agenda. Citing their First Amendment rights they conveniently ignore that part of the amendment that says” the right of the people peaceably to assembly.” With the blessings of some elected officials they destroy and damage public and private property, dishonor our military, disrespect business owners, create health issues and trash parks, streets and walkways.
During this silly season progressives will try to achieve their interpretation of “change” through in-your-face tactics, rancorous intimidation, threats of violence, violation of rights of other Americans and disruption of businesses while attempting to instill fear in the general public. And the media will continue to give aid and comfort to these rioters and mobs with positive spin coverage while savaging anyone who disagrees with or criticizes them.
So as we enter this 2012 silly season, those of us who aren’t progressives will see the lies and misinformation from the left increase dramatically as we near November. We can also expect to see increased suggestive and actual bullying tactics from organized thugs and disrupters in an attempt to deny voters their First Amendment rights. However, patriots and conservatives must continue to take the high road in the face of such attacks. It won’t be easy but the ace we have is the majority of the American people who don’t like or agree with “thuggery” of any kind. So it is imperative that we get this “ace” to the polls in November to prevent another four years of progressive power in Washington. The gauntlet has been thrown down, and we must pick it up.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People always encourages folks to vote and to vote their values and to ensure that the politicians they vote for value their votes.
However, our very right to vote is being impacted in states all across the country. Jim Crow-style voter suppression campaigns are springing up all across America that are intended to intimidate voters of color and keep them away from the polls.
New voting laws could make it significantly harder for more than five million eligible voters to cast ballots in 2012, according to the first comprehensive study of the laws’ impact. “More voters may be affected than the margin of victory in two out of the past three presidential elections,” said Michael Waldman, of the Brennan Center for Justice. He says, “In 2012 we should make it easier for every eligible citizen to vote. Instead, we have made it harder for too many. Partisans should not try to tilt the electoral playing field in this way.”
States have introduced legislation that would require voters to show photo identification, require proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, to register to vote. They have introduced bills to end highly popular Election Day and same-day voter registration, reduced their early voting periods, and reduced absentee voting opportunities. Two states reversed prior executive actions that made it easier for
citizens with past felony convictions to restore their voting rights, affecting hundreds of thousands. In effect, this now permanently disenfranchises most citizens with past felony convictions.
These voting law changes are radical and completely unnecessary. They especially hurt those who have been historically locked out of our electoral system, such as minorities, poor people and students.
America finds itself in troubling times where joblessness and hopelessness abound. We have a “do nothing” Congress that has consistently voted against legislation which was in the best interest of American citizens all for the sake of what they perceive to be political gain.
When a sitting senator named Mitch McConnell gets on national television and clearly states his number one priority is to ensure President Barack Obama is a one-term president, that’s a problem. He’s basically saying “to hell with the country.”
Shouldn’t our elected officials be addressing a declining economy where one in six people live in poverty, where 40 percent of African-American children live in poverty and where CEOs pay less in taxes than their employees? Shouldn’t we be talking about creating jobs, ending wars, protecting the environment, making our streets and neighborhoods safe and improving the education system for our children?
Too many career politicians have no regard for who lies in their path of destruction, as long as they can blame a dismal economy they helped to create on President Obama.
And for the record, my brothers and sisters, President Obama has a rather impressive record of accomplishments: He’s headed off a full economic meltdown with the stimulus; saved the U.S. banking and automobile industries at a minimal cost to taxpayers, imposed tough new regulations on the financial sector; got rid of “don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy; killed high-profile terrorists such as Osama bin Laden and Anwar Al-Awlaki; ended the Iraq war; overhauled the profoundly dysfunctional U.S. health care system and made major changes in student loan programs. And he did all this while fighting both a global depression and a brutal, extremist right-wing opposition.
As we embark on 2012, I urge you to educate yourself on the issues and prepare yourself to fight for the civil rights our forefathers, our civil rights champions, fought, bled and died for.

Richard Smith is 1st vice president of NAACP New Jersey State Conference and president of the NAACP Greater Vineland Branch.

Mr. Smith is attributing the issue of voter ID requirements to the belabored point that this is discrimination to blacks as seen through the eyes of the NAACP. This requirement does nothing to disenfranchise anyone from voting. This photo ID requirement being debated by many is actually no different than the Homeland Security requirement of a photo ID at the airport.

Voter ID has been the topic of many discussions. Fraud is the enemy of elections, having voter lists that have not been purged of deceased Americans or of non-citizens of the United States. The Constitutional Amendment that was approved and ratified was a decisive victory for empowering all citizens eligible to vote. That Amendment remains today, it is not being modified nor is it being attacked. The NAACP should be one of the foremost leaders in maintaining the integrity of the election process.

The alleged issue here is a weak argument for voter ID. As a business owner, I see many forms of ID being presented by applicants for employment. Each person has a form of photo ID that is either a driver license, county ID, school ID, military ID, or passport. The standard in this country has already been established that citizens must have some type of photo ID in order to travel, transact banking or check cashing, enroll in education, apply for employment, to receive entitlement assistance, or any other business. There is no reason to isolate voter ID as being different from any other process.

All citizens should be proud that this country has a democratic process to encompass the election process and to be able to show that they can participate in the election process. Mr. Smith should rethink his rationale about why this issue is a problem and instead be a stronger supporter and leader in the community promoting why voting ID is important for all people during each election.

Arvene S Kilby

It’s my view that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has proven time and time again over many decades that it has lost credibility to represent all “colored” people by becoming an active political arm of the Democratic Party and avidly ascribing to progressive ideas and ideology. The recent “My View” article by Richard Smith, First Vice President of the NAACP Greater Vineland Branch, is further proof of the organization’s far left position and illustrates that it does not represent all American of African ancestry.
I believe Mr. Smith’s article insults Americans of African ancestry by asserting that getting and maintaining valid photo ID cards is somehow too hard for blacks and the poor to accomplish. I wonder if Mr. Smith is covertly saying that we blacks are too ignorant, too lazy and not capable of getting valid photo ID cards to use not only for voting, but also for numerous other transactions?
Because the article by Mr. Smith contain so many erroneous and misleading statements and progressive assertions, it would be impossible to refute them all in the space allotted. However I will address a few of them. First I agree with Mr. Smith that it is very important for people to get out and vote, but I would go a step further and say to the voters, make an informed vote, do your own homework and don’t let any political party take you for granted because of your race. A good place to learn facts and information and not spin might be your local non-partisan TEA party meetings.
Second, I would presume that the NAACP believes voter ID laws across our nation are nothing but reincarnated poll taxes and literacy tests. Seems to me Mr. Smith has conveniently forgotten to mention that we (blacks) fought for many years just to be able to exercise our constitutional right to vote and to have that vote mean something. And that by purging voter lists of illegal aliens and dead people, and requiring ALL voters to identify themselves as legal citizens should be strongly supported by black citizens because this sort of fraud does nothing but injure and dilute that sacred right to vote which many died to achieve.
Third, as a conservative American of African ancestry and a Christian I view my fellow Americans of African ancestry as capable human beings, people who are capable of defending their rights and who don’t like being told what to think and how to vote by any person regardless of their position or status. I think the article by Mr. Smith reached a new low with the attack on voter ID legislation and those who support it. I think if the NAACP really wanted to secure and ensure legal voting rights for black citizens it would vigorously denounce voter fraud and strongly support the efforts to find and eliminate it.
Again, laws that require valid identification when voting, removing dead or illegal people from voting lists and upholding restrictions on felons should be heralded by the NAACP but in progressive speak, these measures are seen as targeting blacks, and that to me is a high insult to my integrity, sense of civic duty, intelligence, patriotism, military service and my natural abilities.
I agree with Mr. Smith in the last paragraph of his article that we should all educate ourselves, not just for 2012, but going forward into the future. However, I think the civil rights of old that people died for have become perverted by entwining them with progressive ideology so that today they are not the same civil rights that Mr. Smith and I could agree on. And his praise of President Obama’s performance is another area where we would disagree. I respect Mr. Smith’s views but on the voter ID issue I strongly differ with him. After attending the 1963 speech in DC by Dr. King, I came away with a very different meaning for blacks in this great nation and I don’t think the Dr. King I heard that day would approve of the positions and rhetoric by Mr. Smith and that of the national NAACP.

Through the OWS and other protest movements, one of the loudest demands by the ranting folks is to receive a free college or university education and does not require the student to be responsible for any type of tuition or payment to the institution.
What a bold dream. Graduate students and young twenty-something are stating in public interviews and on their protesting signs that they have been cheated in their ability to take their degree and walk into a paying job on the employment market. Now most of these interviews fail to identify the degrees that these graduates have achieved, but a few have acknowledged that their Liberal Arts major is not opening doors on the open market.
It’s not surprising to find out that the students were never coached to research their opportunities for post-graduate employment. It is a wonder that they did not even look for themselves to see if their degree selection had merit in the real world market. So when did the proverbial guidance counselor move into a different job description than to counsel students in their selection of majors (or minors) in relationship to the employment market? It seems that the professors of these specialized degree programs are very content to remain in their tenured cocoon. How interesting that they bask in their academic limelight at the same time promoting student participation in these movements as class credit. Common sense tells you that students are not acting alone.
The protesters demanding the free tuition still want to be able to major in a non-trade and non-traditional degree program without any risk to themselves. They also still want to be able to apply and gain admission in any college or university of their choice. I’ll bet they also want a guaranteed position in the job market at least by fall after they vacation and tour Europe after the graduation ceremony. But, it just seems like there is still another piece of the puzzle still missing.
Oh, how could I forget that Federal law was enacted for all the student loan recipients to stretch out their payment structure to only be 15% of their allowable net income to help them through the tough post-graduate years? They also had 20 years to repay this mortgage-like loan back to the federal government. However, did you know that a recent modification of the federal loan process was made to “forgive” any remaining balance after 20 years of installment payments? Yes, student loan balances will be forgiven if they fail to pay off the entire balance due.
Flash forward. This past week, President Obama, has once again side-stepped Constitutional process and has publicly stated on his campaign trail that he will overstep the Congressional law and will change the student loan formula himself by executive power. He will now reduce the 15% garnishment to only 10% of the allowable net income and will now increase the 20 year repayment cycle to a 25 year payment plan. His last modifier was announced that again, any remaining balance after 25 years will be forgiven. Sounds real appealing for the person who will have the greater risk of default.
Gee, this executive order falls right into the trick-or-treat month for not being responsible. There is only one place that this “forgiveness” will fall and that is into the taxpayer’s bag. No treat, but certainly a deceiving trick for those who are not watching what falls towards the general population. This new EO will benefit the growing number of post-graduate young adults (who have probably moved back home) with no employment. However, I guarantee that their disposable income will most likely fall below the income standard that always prevents any federal-like garnishment from being applied. My experience and common sense tells me this is the missing piece of the puzzle.
Arvene Kilby
Greenwich Tea Party Patriots of South Jersey
Member

America’s enemies have often said that its downfall would come from within. Over the decades these enemy bad actors have launched legal attacks against our nation and have become quite adept at using our own laws against us while hiding behind those very laws. They also know how to use our courts to subvert the basis of our freedoms under the guise of fairness and political correctness. Those who expose and speak out against these bad actors are demonized and labeled “racist, homophobes, haters, compassionless and a myriad of other things.
During 5th Century Rome Vandals lived within the borders of the Roman Empire. A Roman General viewing the hordes of Vandals said, “No nation can long survive allowing its enemies to live and thrive within its borders.” And history proved the General correct.
Can we today knowing the intent of our enemies long survive by allowing them to seek the destruction of our nation while they live and thrive among us? Can our society in its pseudo-enlightened state and politically correct mindset endure the very threats that seek its demise? It has been said that our Constitution was not designed to be a suicide pact, meaning there are limits to tolerance in respect to our laws when such adherence to those same tolerances in law threatens to rip apart the very meaning of the Constitution.
It is clear enemies living within our borders must think us fools as they continue to openly undermine our values and national heritage with impunity. Surely they think us intellectually inept and bereft of dignity when we smile, bow and apologize for our past greatness and successes. Even our churches have been compromised through skillful infiltration by our enemies to such a degree that little if any solace or refuge can be found in them for patriots of the American experience.
There is no doubt our nation is in decline but it has yet to reach its demise. Unfortunately there is much that falls outside the purview of what can lawfully be done against these bad actors. They twist and cloud the meanings of our laws in ways never intended by the Founding Fathers. Befuddled politicians today intentionally wear blinders, and moneyed men with sinister motives promote uprisings, spark mob protests and give aid and comfort to those who would harm us.
Today we are threatened with enemies living and thriving within our borders. That Roman General would marvel at lesson not learned by us. But rather than spears and swords as done in 5th Century Rome to dispatch their enemy, we must best our enemies with ballots, education, information, truth, facts, conservative principles, strong reasoning and common sense. We can prevent the demise of our country, it won’t be easy, but then nothing worthwhile ever is.

Are politicking activities the same? Is the political mechanism always fair? Do newcomers who delve into the political arena get a fair chance at victory? Does one wonder why more people chose not to run for an office of their choice?
Let’s set the stage. The demand for people interested in political office is a never ending cycle. Our political system actually thrives better when new persons enter into that arena. The need at all levels of local, county, and state government for new people is beginning to outweigh the incumbent re-election process. The call for new “blood” into this arena is in high demand, so what are the obstacles that seem to deter and detract these people from gaining victory at the polls?
Somewhere in the scheme of planning, organizing, gaining endorsements and support, and campaigning, there is the need for money. It takes not just personal time and schedule interruptions to run for office, but lots of money to produce campaign literature, signs, banners, advertisements, and the most expensive of all, television commercials. Fundraising is, of course, the mega-goal of anyone who wants to campaign for victory.
Take for example, in the last 2 weeks, the 3rd District candidates came right out of the gate with commercials that are designed to malign the opposing candidates. The apparent questions are, “where are the rebuttal commercials in reply” and “when or how are these candidates going to respond?” Could it be that the political party who should be backing a candidate is not sharing in the campaign support and funding? Could it be that only selected candidates reap the benefit of a full party backing? The answer to these questionable thoughts is a resounding Yes.
Let’s forget for a moment that political campaigning is a very costly effort for literature, signage, and the explosive commercials that are now only made to vilify an opposing candidate. It seems that for every newcomer who wants to run for an office and bring their expertise and new ideas for improving the current local, county, or state affairs, there is an equal force that comes from the respective Party who makes the decision as to “who” is worthy of the party funds. As a business owner I know that every dollar spent should be consistently examined to get the best result. So, if a political party has graded the potential victory for each newcomer on “old incumbent” criteria, perhaps it is time to take this “old” philosophy and provide stronger support to the newcomer who is on the ballot vying to take the office away from the incumbent.
Wouldn’t you rather see more attention given to the candidate who had the guts to run, win the primary and is going head-to-head with an incumbent who’s record does not reflect the voice of the people? Wouldn’t you like to see a more balanced race that has candidates who give fresh and responsible suggestions for improving the economic problems? Wouldn’t you like to hear campaign platforms that address the current issues instead of slinging dirt at their opponent? Then, let the party lines know that new candidates should be promoted and supported too, not just incumbents. Our state needs new people in office, not just the incumbents.
By Arvene Kilby
Greenwich Tea Party Patriots of South Jersey
Member