Quotes about corporations: Lincoln,Cleveland, Roosevelt,Jefferson,Madison

“We may congratulate ourselves that this cruel war is nearing its end. It has cost a vast amount of treasure and blood … It has indeed been a trying hour for the Republic; but I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands, and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless.” Lincoln  November 21, 1864

“As we view the achievements of aggregated capital, we discover the existence of trusts, combinations, and monopolies, while the citizen is struggling far in the rear, or is trampled beneath an iron heel. Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people’s masters.” Grover Cleveland 1888.

“The great corporations which we have grown to speak of rather loosely as trusts are the creatures of the State, and the State not only has the right to control them, but it is duty bound to control them wherever the need of such control is shown.”  State of The Union Address in 1902, Roosevelt

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.” Thomas Jefferson

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.  Already they have raised up a moneyed aristocracy that has set the government at defiance. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."    Thomas Jefferson

“There is an evil which ought to be guarded against in the indefinite accumulation of property from the capacity of holding it in perpetuity by…corporations. The power of all corporations ought to be limited in this respect. The growing wealth acquired by them never fails to be a source of abuses.” .” James Madison

“The end of democracy and the defeat of the American revolution will occur when government falls into the hands of the lending institutions and moneyed incorporations.” James Madison

God and the poor

Proverbs 14:31 “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”

In the New International Version of the Bible, caring for the poor is referenced 178 times. Jesus talkes about giving to the poor and abandoning your wealth and money in general appox 105 times. He talked about money more than He did Heaven and Hell combined. Jesus' messages about money seem less to do with having too much than with too little. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is concerned with people having too little of what they really need. That meant health for the sick, welcome for outcasts, food for beggars, and protection for women and children. Of all the parables in the Bible 11 of 39 talk about money.

Politicians on the far right talk of being "Christians" and following God's word when they make their policies for the American people. They are quick to quote one of their favorite passages from the Bible, one that fits their speech for the day. They conveniently leave out the passages that do not support their ideas. They give their groups catchy names like Values Voter Summit, Christian Coalition, the Conservative Christian's, and the Christian County Republican. Each speech given includes some reference to the Bible, Jesus or God. George W Bush loved to talk about being a Christian and doing God's work. He even stated that God talked to him and told him to run for President.  On June 10, 2003 the Washington Post quoted him talking about God's concern for the poor: "Jewish prophets and Catholic teaching both speak of God's special concern for the poor. This is perhaps the most radical teaching of faith, that the value of life is not contingent on wealth or strength or skill, that value is a reflection of God's image." But  during his presidency poverty increased by 3 million children. The Republican Congress working with George W passed a bill that would reduce the number of low-income families who receive housing vouchers by more than 150,000. 
The current Republican controlled House has proposed cutting the following programs that help the poor: 
$1 billion off Head Start, $1.1 billion off the Public Housing Capital Fund, $752 million from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, and $5.7 billion from Pell Grants. They were against extending unemployment payments but the only policy they would not budge on was extending tax cuts for the rich. Presidential canidate Herman Cain is getting a lot of attention for his 9-9-9 plan. His plan sets a fixed tax rate for ALL Americans and corporations. Our current income tax plan allows for low income families to pay little or no tax, these families will now pay 9% sales tax (plus any state sales tax), and 9% tax on all income. Cain's plan reduces taxes for the rich while raising taxes for the poor.  Michele Bachmann wants to take away employer health insurance and give a "tax break" so people can buy their own insurance. With the average cost of health insurance about $13,200 a year, that equates to about 50% of their income.(poverty level for 2011 was set at $22,350). This is 15% of all wage earners. Again the poor will suffer. House Speaker John Boehner recieved a letter from  75 Catholic academics and community leaders stating ""Your record in support of legislation to address the desperate needs of the poor is among the worst in Congress." It is time the Democratic Party step foward and show the American people how just speaking like a good Christian does not matter, it is in your actions that show your true Christian/Jewish feelings.


Deuteronomy 15:7 “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.”




1 John 3:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”
Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Corporations are people

"I refuse to believe that corporations are people until Texas executes one." unknown

Freedom being taken away by who?

The Tea Party is claiming that America has lost its way, that Obama and Democrats are taking away their freedom. They state that "workplace freedom" is being taken away because the democrats want to open the workers choice to join a union. If it is easier to join a group is that not one of the bases of freedom? Freedom to choose to join or not? Instead the Tea Party/GOP have been spending the last two years finding creative ways to suppress our freedom. In Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, Georgia, Tennessee and West Virginia the republican controlled Congress has decreased the time their constituents have to vote. Maine has done away with a policy that allows people to register at the polls on Election Day. Kansas, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas have changed their voting rights to only people with state or federal approved photo ID's. In Tennessee their new law does not permit identification cards issued by county and city governments or private employers.

Across the county Republican controlled congress' are changing redistricting maps to boster the Republican vote. The US Justice Department has ruled that the new Texas redistricting map violated the Voting Rights Acts.

In Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler unsuccessfully tried to stop local county clerks from mailing ballots to registered voters because they did not vote in the last election. But Denver District Judge Brian Whitney ruled that the county clerks can mail ballots out because "It is irreparable to disenfranchise a voter,'' Whitney ruled. "It is a fundamental right to be able to vote.''

A movement has begun called "Occupy Wall Street". In a short month this movement has  spread across the United States, bringing out thousands of people to protest the state of America. Yet Republican Mayors, Governors across the country are finding ways to suppress these young, educated people. The Republican Mayor of Boston kicked out the protesters because he said the park needed cleaned, same in New York's Zuccoti Park. Where would we be if we allowed the controlling few to suppress the Civil Rights marches, the Boston Tea Party, the Stamp Act of 1765, Vietnam and Korea protests, the Tea Party "rallies", ERA marches. American was built on it's citizens speaking out when they feel that the controlling few are making the wrong choices.

Our freedoms are being taken away, but it’s not by the Democrats. The regulations that are being applied are for our safety, to keep our environment clean so we can enjoy its beauty for years to come

Family

As I get older I begin to look at my life and the wonderful family that is my life. My dad had limited education due to his parents passing when he was only a young boy. He did the best he could, he got a job with the  US Postal Service, and with that he was able to live his dream of owning a small but rewarding farm. We had horses, chickens, a couple of pigs, and a cow. Dad never sat still, he was always pulling weeds, cleaning up after the animals, fixing fences, hauling hay, whatever needed to be done around the house. His domain was the farm. My mom grew up in a religious family, although she never herself was a very religious person. She attended some college and worked outside the home as a "bookkeeper". Mom was always the "peace keeper" in the family. Whenever trouble brewed she found a way to turn down the heat. Both my parents loved children. First there was Richard (Dick as I called him), followed by Robert Jr (Bob), then Tim (the animal lover). At this point no girl. So mom and dad said lets try one more time. They got more than they asked for. My twin-Tammi- was the girl they always wanted. I was the extra boy that came with the package. Mom and dad have both passed, as well as Dick, and Tim.
In my early 20's I met and feel in love with Rose. Rose was the first woman I met that already had done so much at her early age. She was a homeowner, going to college, traveled to Peru, read more books than I ever dreamed of. And she did it all on her own. No family help for college, no help to purchase her home or her trip to Peru. She was driven to improve not only herself but the people she cared about. This drive was new to me, excited me and I knew I wanted to be around her more.
Our first born is Nathan. He grew up being the kindest little boy around. Shy and intraverted. We enrolled him in Tae Kwon Do and he began to flourish. He went on to earn his internationally recognised black belt. He is active in Peace Jam (they won awards and participated in many international enviromental and peace orgainizations). Nathan is now studing to be an Aerospace Engineer.
Second is Autumn. a beautiful overly shy little girl growing up. To Autumn her friends were the world to her. She flourished in High School Color Guard, hours and hours of practice. Autumn is now studying  very hard so she can enter nursing school. She has always dreamed of working for Doctors without Borders.
As Nathan and Autumn were getting ready to leave the nest, Rose and I decided we were not ready or old enough (LOL) to be empty nesters. So off to China we went and brought home our third child: a beautiful girl  
Ji Mio Man (Angelina ). Angelina has been with us now for 5 years and we have loved (almost) every minute. With the age gap between the "teens" and Angelina we new we were not done!! So off to China again. This time we came home with a 5 year old boy. WuZiBu (Logan). Logan was a "special needs" child having a hydrocephalus shunt, and "enlarged" cornea's. We now know the "enlarged" corneas were caused by glaucoma.  The three years with Logan have been challenging. 9 operations on one eye!! But Logan is working hard to adapt to all the challenges that have been thrown at him.
I have more than my parents did in material objects, more education, and more opportunities than they ever had. Yet if you ask them, they had a family that made them happy, they didn't need all the riches in the world.  After all: it is the family that brings you the most joy, the most love, the best memories.

Sen. Sanders you are correct.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/congratulations-sen-cobur_b_905230.html

Raising the debt ceiling

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/opinion/01krugman.html?hp