"...For Amber Waves Of Grain..."

Do Congressmen READ the Constitution?...,

 - I remember when I was young, my parents had a chicken coop and we always had eggs...never ran out of eggs. Those chickens laid so many that we could actually package a few dozen and sell them dirt cheap, heck...even give them away to neighbors. Mr. Hyde was our neighbor for a time, he had a garden...he really had a green thumb, grew the biggest produce you ever saw - he had a passion for gardening, ecked out a meager living through what his garden yielded. Didn't need much else...who would? Food is a basic necessity of LIFE, everyone has to eat...it's a requirement. You'd think some think PRECIOUS, this VITAL to the American Citizen that the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION would protect such a right, yes? Let's see what the Constitution says about Property, shall we? The 4th Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the United states Constitution states:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

 - I don't know about you folks, but that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside...the Constitution was derived to ENSURE that which was regarded as personal and owned as PRIVATE and unalienable unless:

1. Probable Cause was established, and...,
2. Supported by Oath or affirmation thereof regarding place searched and persons/things seized.

 - Once these two premises are established (...they MUST be established in order to proceed) then and ONLY then can a Warrant be issued regarding the proper course of action regarding thusly. One of the key ingredients of this Right is the terminology regarding the word 'unreasonable'...what exactly is unreasonable? In order to understand the terminology used, we have to look upon the root word:

Reason: the cause or source of an event or action.

 - Okay, that's relatively easy to understand...something unreasonable is without cause or source regarding and action or event. Also considered inexplicable, fantastical, imperical and tyrannical. This is what the Constitution was establishing - an individual's person, thier rights and thier properties could not be arbitrarily eleviated WITHOUT due process of law as provided by the very NEXT Amendment in the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution called the Fifth Amendment:

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

 - This means that YOU can't be denied the Right to do ANYTHING unless brought before a jury of your peers before a Court of LAW when there is clear and present danger as ordained via probable cause that is supported by oath or affirmation providing the Warrant NEEDED to excise action regarding thereof. You simply cannot be denied this and NO LAW can be ordained to SUPPORT this unless the Constitution is AMENDED denying this...which essentially means the ordainment of an Unconstitutional Law and/or blatant violation to the Constitution itself (...please see Prohibition for more details). So...what's all this getting to?...real simple folks:

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act is a bill recently passed by the US House of Representatives and introduced into the US Senate March 3, 2009. The bill expands the power of the FDA, specifically the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), to regulate all foods sold, distributed, or imported within the US.

 - Fellow countrymen, I'm not going to sugar coat this bill in any way, shape or form. I'm going to tell you EXACTLY what this bill is...what it does...and how it DENIES YOU YOUR RIGHTS. This so-called 'bill' is the first of many attempts to turn America, from a Republic to a Tyranny.

"The HHS will require registration and payment of a fee by any "person (excluding farms and restaurants) who manufactures, processes, packs, distributes, receives, holds, or imports an article of food." Individuals who partake in food handling without official registration are subject to a maximum 10 year prison sentence. Registration requires each facility which produces or handles food to maintain records relating to food safety.

The bill contains an exception for food grown and consumed at private residences. As of the current writing, the bill does not contain an exception for small farmers if in the course of their operations they pack or distribute their produce. According to the text of the law all food sold at local farmers' markets, for example, would be subject to the certification requirements."

 - This bill, like so many more that Congress has attempted to sneak past the American populous, is a discriminatory bill which targets a select group - in this case, the small town farmer. Farms are not subject to this bill, nor are restaurants (where I think the FDA needs to be MOST involved in, but I digress) and neither are individuals growing food in the private sector for thier own benifit. You just can't distribute said commodities...period, unless you pay for the registration fee which DOES affect the private sector because YOU can't give the extra eggs your chickens laid to your neighbor as a goodwill gift. Nope, not allowed - personal use only, hate your neighbor...it's good for you - watch your neighbor starve, it's the 'American Way'.
 - Why, oh why, did this insipid piece of legislative ROT get passed...the 'Food Safety' issue derived from CORPORATIONS that DIDN'T maintain and uphold proper health codes - NOT the residential small-time farmer! When was the last time ANYONE got sick from buying something from the rural Farmer's Market?! Ummm...NEVER?! C'mon! This is just about as blatant as you can get for CORPORATE AMERICA to keep the private/small-time business entepreuner from getting a foothold in the American market. This is rediculous, discriminatory and ultimately moronic. The I.Q. really falls through the floor where it clearly states that food/commodities can be acquired in the private sector, but ONLY for private consumption. Talk about trying to segregate America - screw you're neighbor, there's a bill in place that's FORCING YOU to not give a damn. How's THAT for Patriotism, eh?
 - Hey, Congress...I got an idea, how does THIS sound? Everyone in America...start growing your own personal garden AND, on a daily basis, swap with your neighbor various items grown so you can have a VARIETY of things to choose and cook with! That sounds awefully benign and PATRIOTIC to me...it establishes goodwill and appreciation for your neighbor. As a matter of fact, I'd advise ALL AMERICANS to check up on the location from which THEIR commodities are purchased and ONLY BUY AMERICAN. That way, we can avoid obvious problems like the FDA not being able to moderate the growth/production of foreign commodities! We'll be sparing the FDA a lot of time and effort! Isn't this a nice idea, Congress? You see, Americans can be Patriotic WITHOUT YOUR HELP!

Contact your Congressman and have them to repeal Senate Bill 510 - The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. You might want to add requesting them to STOP WASTING AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS BY MAKING STUPID BILLS!!!

The American Deist,
M.D. Little.

"Know Your Enemy..."

I wanted more time to address this...,

 - Unfortunately, I was unwise in this belief and things have been done that have caused an irreversible impact upon Our Nation. I know, right now, in speaking about this...I'm going to be a rather unpopular individual - I regret that such is the case, but I cannot deny that which is factual and true. For starters, let us discuss...

The Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve System (also known as the Federal Reserve, and informally as The Fed) is the central banking system of the United States. It was created in 1913 with the enactment of the Federal Reserve Act, and was largely a response to a series of financial panics, particularly a severe panic in 1907.

 - Okay, that's what the Federal Reserve is...it's a bank, that's it. It's not an intrinsic part of the United States Government...okay, so what's the Federal Reserve Act?

The Federal Reserve Act (enacted December 23, 1913), is the Act of Congress that created the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States of America, and granted it the legal authority to issue legal tender. The Act was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.

 - Alright, so we have an independent corporation granted authority provided by CONGRESS to issue legal tender - OUR AMERICAN DOLLAR. Okay, I think this pretty much sums up the problem...and it's resolution regarding what's happening in America today...

‎ - 600 BILLION Dollars were printed by the Federal Reserve...the Stock Market spiked making a few in the know freakin' millions and now, as the Stock Market makes the obvious spike downwards due to the false influx of currency derived by the Federal Reserve...we now have our American Dollar losing value. ENOUGH! KNOW YOUR ENEMY...and that is THE FEDERAL RESERVE!

 I'm past concern for personal safety - I know I must expose the TRUTH regarding the cascading flaws afflicting America today...it's as simple as the latin phrase from a dead culture millenia ago...

- RADIX MALLORUM EST CUPIDITAS - GREED IS THE ROOT OF EVIL.

- America is being drug down a fiscal spiral of corruption and devaluation as a certain, small percentage REAPS the rewards by RUINING those underneath them. America, this must end. My proposed resolution is this:

- SHUT DOWN AND CEASE ANY AND ALL FURTHER TRANSACTIONS AND/OR ACTIVITY RESOLVED BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE - PERIOD.

- I believe that a FULL FEDERAL INVESTIGATION needs launched by Our Government regarding the transactions behind the Federal Reserve. We, the People, have the RIGHT to know. Contact your Senators, let's kick this in motion, America. How long do you want the value of the dollar YOU worked so hard to attain...to slowly dwindle down to the value of the Mexican PESO! Enough's ENOUGH!

The American Deist,
M.D. Little.

Sorry about the lack of consistancy...

Howdy folks...,

 - Just thought I'd post a little blurb apologizing for my lack of consistancy regarding my former rash of postings. I guess perhaps it's due to the recent 'change of the guard' in Congress that has caused me a sense of worry that exceeds my drive to rationally deliberate the issues currently existing in America today. I mean, let's be honest folks...I don't recall, at ANY point in time, whereas it was an issue for the new Speaker of the House - Boehner, to regard the term length of the President and Health Care Reform that's been over a decade in the making...as an issue unto which the majority of the population has agreed that:

1. The term limit is derived via the People...not Congress.
2. A Health Care Reform that has been over 10 years in the making...was already well known, established and worked on BY Congress regarding the issues afflicting our current medical health care in the United States.

 - I remember hearing once that 'memories are short'...apparently, that was an understatement because lately SOME people have a hard time remembering what they ate for breakfast this morning. Don't keep your minds teethered to what other people insist you believe, America...you must free your minds, research the FACTS and make RATIONAL decisions. I know I insisted upon this...I can only hope those whom have been elected are being called right now by the People who elected them and are encouraging them to do that which is BEST for America, the Constitution and the People for whom it represents...

Sincerely,
The American Deist,
M.D. Little.

"Too big to fail"...err, what?

Howdy folks!

 - I had initially thought that the dealings with foreign countries regarded the acquisition of resources currently not available (or in short supply - see Logging Industry for more details regarding that). I, personally, thought it was moronic when I discovered that some corporations outsourced production and manufacturing (and in some cases, services) to foreign countries. Look, outsourcing jobs to a foreign country is nothing but a "lose-lose" scenario as it not only deprives an American thier job, it also prevents the finished product from being puchased (because that same American you laid off, in order to acquire cheap labor abroad, doesn't have any money to buy YOUR finished product). How corporations managed to ignore this glaringly obvious fallacy in reasoning...I do not know. I would have thought that when they had to literally pay out twice for the same thing (the production in a foriegn country and shipping to America) would've caused some neuron firing, but I digress. Of course, no Chinese are going to buy the products they make...they're well aware of how they make them and it's not something I'd regard as 'high quality' (lead painted toys, anyone?).

 - This is ultimately, once again, the fault of the American consumer who chooses to be blissfully unaware of the items they buy because they're too concerned about themselves...I, too, share that blame because I naively trusted the corporations to have America's best interests at heart: I...like so many others, were wrong. Now we have what I call affectionately 'the hemmoraging of the American Dream' as corporations (actually, it's really just the President and/or Head of the Board of Trustees) seek to increase thier own profit margin, stocks and IRA's so they can kick it in the Bahamas until thier final days. What's been the resounding message most corporations have stated...

 - "Eff America"

 - What's the solution?...try your best to ONLY buy that which is made in America (...and I don't mean just because it's got a 'Made in America' sticker on it - peel back that sticker and see if it's actually made in America...instead of Taiwan, China, etc...). Insist that your retailers provide American goods and services...boycott products (...even retailers if you must) and send a clear message to these corporations that you're simply not going to support selling America off to the highest bidder. Take any/all money out off the stock market from companies outsourcing, it is no longer representing and adequate model pertaining to the actual economy and they're certainly not supporting American interests. Start establishing working business models regarding business that's not sponsored by banks, get back to grass roots production...this won't be an easy task - but Thomas Edison didn't make the light-bulb on the first try either (...it's was closer to about the 1,000th time).
 - If we start working together, for America, by America and learn from these mistakes we've made...I think we got a decent shot at pulling out of this corporate sponsored mess. I like those odds a lot better then clinging onto the already proven outdated and defficient business models currently existing. Here's where it pays off to be an American - this is Free Market where unto the victor goes the spoils: this is how the younger generation, with younger minds and new ideals and dreams...save the old senile grandparent from crossing the road during oncoming traffic...at least, I hope they do. To the new millenium, I rest my hopes.
 - Why pull out stocks from companies that are doing so well if thier stocks are rising even though they're employing a workforce abroad? Real simple...if you have stocks in a corporation that utilizies foreign manufacturing is simply sponsoring those corporaitions in continuing thier production (...meaning, those jobs are going to STAY over there). Even if you don't buy thier products, investing in thier corporation SPONSORS this manner of production/services - why do that when doing so keeps Americans unemployed, new American businesses inhibited and our economy weakened? For a share in a corporation whose products cannot even be afforded by the American citizen?...seriously?...you want to get rich that badly? How Unamerican can you get?...about the only worse thing you can do is moving out of America entirely in order to no longer pay State/Federal taxes as well. 'Nuff said on that...

 - Regarding Government intervention in business?...onto that regard, I will have to admit, was a success regarding GM (so far). GM's business model was able to be downsized and restructured turning it from a certain-to-fail corporation to one that has a fighting chance at survival. It was a costly venture to engage in, but it kept an American Car Company in America (...an effort I do not expect to see the Government repeat - honestly, I find it a sad day when Americans have to be shown how to run a business by our own government...that's a darn pity). So what was GM's problem?
- The problems with GM was the entire business model - it was virtually non-existant derived from outmoded agendas that were causing more cost/unit disparity then the company could afford (...foreign competition was not even addressed...O.o ). Reducing the hourly worker salary from $23 to $17/hr was a good start (no offense, folks...but making over 30k gross/year is NOT something to complain about - period). Next was the termination of the origonal retirement package that was the main cause of a majority of the corporation's woes. There still is retirement benifits with GM, but not the sheer extravegance that the corporation simply could not sustain.
- The CEO, of course, was replace...which was an obvious neccessity because if a CEO cannot direct thier corporation to an ever changing and fluctuating economy - what good are they? Finally, sponsoring motivation and innovation in grass roots meetings which spawned the designs of hybrids and fuel efficient model vehicles that can NOW give foreign competition a run for thier money.
- Once GM is clear of bankruptcy protection...I think we'll have an American company that has been proven to show that even something as unwieldy as a corporation can adapt to the fluctuating market...there should be no reason FOR a corporation to fail. My only regret is that it took Our Government, instead of the ingenuity and drive of the People, to make this happen...in America, it takes guts, bold moves and even the ability to take a loss to make it happen - welcome to the free market. The Government should not EVER have to show a corporation how to work...again...ever (...at least it better not in my lifetime).
- The only thing I'm dissappointed regarding this is that some of the manufacturing is done in Canada. It would be nice to see an enterprising American to create a sustainable, flexible business model regarding manufacturing to give our foreign competitors (and neighbors) a run for THIER money and provide an equal, if not superior, manufacturing provision. THAT is what America's about, ladies and gentlemen - ingenuity, conviction, drive, the will to and ability to change, adaptation...even settling for less then previous to get (and keep) QUALITY workmanship...in America. CEO's from corporations who have outsourced - you need to learn this. It is why I will not be supporting your companies...because your idea of adaption, is to make Americans unemployed - good luck to you.
 - Banks on the other hand?...pffft, they can tank - entirely. If banking corporations are in the red then it's clear that they have absolutely no idea what they are doing and DESERVE to fail. How can you mess up addition and subtraction? No..., there's restructuring a manufacturing corporation and then there's having to send people back to elementary school...I draw the line with basic education. Seriously, Goldman-Sachs...you should've never been bailed-out in the first place. Hope the Bahamas were nice this year...it's a pity you got away with it and don't share a room with Bernie Madoff, cretins.

The American Deist,
M.D. Little.

A Patriot's Lament

A Patriot's Lament (I Take The Blame)

I take the blame...,
In a Nation where individuals seek to 'pass the buck',
And deny responsibility for thier actions (regardless how extreme),
Regarding wrong-doing and injury to thier fellow countryman,
I take a stand...and say,
I take the blame.

I take the blame,
When corporations accept foreign currencies,
For outsourcing jobs to facilitate thier own profit margins,
And seek government aid to thier own financial failings,
I refuse to stand behind a straw man - 'corporate personhood',
I take the blame.

I take the blame,
For the unconstitutional laws that have been passed,
Despite Congress whose intent and purpose
Is to insure the Constitution is preserved and maintained,
I failed my own Nation, for those whom I elected, therefore...,
I take the blame.

I take the blame,
For the prejudices that exists and are still allowed to foster,
And for not educating my fellow countryman's discrimination,
And in neglecting the Constitution for not understanding,
"Seperation of Church and State", I KNOW who is at fault,
I take the blame.

I take the blame,
For being too lazy and not becoming more involved,
In the very government which is decreed to be regulated,
For the People, Of the People, BY THE PEOPLE,
In choosing not to monitor Our Government more closely,
I take the blame.

Let no other take my place,
For if just one other seeks to be shamed,
Let them speak from thier mouth in thier own way,
This is to my eternal shame, a Patriot's lament,
For not caring about my kin, countryman and nation,
I take the blame.

The American Deist,
M.D. Little.

The Political Party "Smokescreen"...

So here's what we got...,

 - The House of Representatives is now predominantely Republican, but the Democrats still have the Senate. What does this mean for America?...does the interior decoration of the House get changed to a primarily red colour?...do donkey motiffs get replaced with elephants?...some believe that it will bring conservatism back into Our Government whereas a liberal agenda was taking the forefront. Really?...I thought there were repubicans IN the House for the past two years...O.o Maybe we need to take a closer look at what all these parties mean...

Republican: An advocate of a republic, a form of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is generally associated with the rule of law.

Democrat: An advocate of a democracy, a form of government where power is derived from the people, either by direct referendum or by means of elected representatives of the people.

 - Hmm...okay, well...one's against a monarchy and/or dictatorship and the other...well, is kinda for the same darn thing (government derived by the people). Okay, no worries...one seems to be focused on laws whilst the other seems to focus on individual representation - both are good, not too sure why there's a difference. Perhaps we need to look a bit further:

Conservative: is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society.

Liberal: is a political and social philosophy that promotes the importance of individual liberty and equal rights.

 - Odd, it kind of sounds like they're both talking about the same thing...but in different ways (kind of using different adjectives to describe the same object. Just like one person calling a pipe 'skinny' and another person says it's 'long' doesn't change the fact that it's a 'long, skinny pipe'. Regardless of political affiliation...we all want our rights protected, and I believe, in regarding my fellow countrymen - thier equal, unalienable rights. So is there a difference?...and if so, why?
 - There's a series of political party combinations that exist in Our Nation today...there's liberal republican, conservative democrat...I've even heard of a liberal conservative (?!). Even new ones are cropping up...such as the progressive libertarian:

Progressive: An advocate of a form of goverment that promotes changes or reform through governmental action.

Libertarian: is a political and social philosophy that promotes individual liberty, especially freedom of thought and action.

 - Okay, I can understand that - it even says that under Article V of the United States Constitution:

"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution..."

 - I'm not even too sure why there's even a new political party being addressed...directly (and indirectly) they're ALL talking about the same blasted thing! Personal freedom, equal protection under the law and limited government - EVERY American citizen wants these things, every single person. So...why are there political parties at all?

 - Don't be fooled...

 - This has absolutely NOTHING to do with being liberal, conservative, libertarian, republican, democratic or even tea-partier...stay focused. This has absolutely EVERYTHING to do with the issues at hand...and these issues affect EVERYONE, regardless of the 'political smokescreen'. Perhaps even as far back as the 'Industrial Era', politics has gravely shifted towards the surreal and America is finally waking up to the realizations that there's been an undisclosed party present which has been working behind the scenes...corporate lobbyists, slush funds and foreign investments in political campaigns...
 - "The First American", Benjamin Franklin, at the signing of the Declaration of Independence of 1776 to John Hancock's comment that 'they must all hang together' replied:

"Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."

 - Surely, times have changed...that was over 250+ years ago, who (if anyone) is America seeking independence from? Follow the money regarding the campaign funds regarding the mid-term elections...and you'll have a start towards the answer you seek. When an American willfully an intentfully seeks to deny another citizen of the United States thier rights for thier own personal gain...is a sad day for America, indeed.
 - Back in 1776 there were NO political parties whatsoever, politcal parties are just a discriminatory group's ideaologies and NOTHING MORE. FOCUS on the issues, REAL issues and not a bunch of rhetorical nonsense that does absolutely NOTHING but convolutes the issues and encourages narrow-mindedness. Refuse to have YOUR mind teethered by myopic dogma - Our Nation can ill-afford to be steeped in narcissism now. Our Constitution, Our Rights - IN THAT EXACT SAME ORDER, should be the ONLY thing we are concerned about regarding government. Our Nation will stabilize if the aforementioned priorities are acknowledged and accepted as Truth.

"Radix malorum est cupiditas" - greed is the root of evil.

The American Deist,
M.D. Little.

A Moment of Zen (...in a coffee shoppe).

It's a beautiful day at the coffee shoppe I'm at...,

- People just freshly from the polls with hopes of thier candidate attaining the superior vote. What's fascinating about this is that we're having...civil discussions regarding issues: the education system, the legal system, corporate laws...and we dont all agree, but we are courteous and respectful and listen to each others point of view. - It's a beautiful day in America as far as I can see...because, from where I sit - Americans are willing and able, to talk about the issues that face Our Nation, Our States...Our Districts. My hope has been restored in regarding the fundamental basis unto which Our Government is derived...we, the People, are talking to each other...

 - ...and that's a good thing.

 - It doesn't take much, to stand up on your own and make your opinions heard...it's called voting. I hope that each and every citizen (or legal immigrant that is allowed) of the United States takes PRIDE in Our Nation, takes PRIDE in Our States, Our Districts...and votes. No matter who is running (...EVEN...if it means voting for the 'lesser of two evils')...we, The PEOPLE, decide how things are run in THIS Nation...called the United States of America.
 - Be well, America...God bless - vote wisely and understand...however this day pans out, it is we, the People, that set the course. Be proud - I AM.

The American Deist,
M.D. Little.

Lobbyists, Advocates and Bribes - Oh MY!

We're going to get dirty today folks...,

Lobbying is a form of advocacy with the intention of influencing decisions made by legislators and officials in the government by individuals, other legislators, constituents, or advocacy groups. A lobbyist is a person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest or a member of a lobby. Governments often define and regulate organized group lobbying that has become influential.

 - 'Advocacy'?...what's that?...and who are 'advocacy groups'? Glad you asked!

Advocacy by an individual or by an advocacy group normally aim to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an asset of interest. Advocacy can include many activities that a person or organization undertakes including media campaigns, public speaking, commissioning and publishing research or poll or the 'filing of friend of the court briefs'.

 - Yeah, anyone else get confused by those two?...they seem actually mutually exclusive instead of meaning the same thing. Lobbyists seek to intercede legislature (...that means Congress) while Advocates seem more like public awareness groups for people in your community (...kind of like Jehovah's Witnesses). Technically, lobbyists are the advocates in Congress even though it's on the basis of the Congressman's stance ON issues that...well, kind of gets him/her elected...in the...first...place. Sooo...why are there lobbyists?...and what are they doing hassling Congress? Let's look a little deeper into this, shall we?

Lobby groups may concentrate their efforts on the legislatures, where laws are created, but may also use the judicial branch to advance their causes. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, for example, filed suits in state and federal courts in the 1950s to challenge segregation laws. Their efforts resulted in the Supreme Court declaring such laws unconstitutional.

 - Well...score one for lobbyists, eh? Still, I'm kind of confused...are we to believe that PURELY on the intercession of lobbyists that segregation was ruled unconstitutional? I thought that was accomplished through social awareness and petitioning...hmmm, petitioning...

The ability of individuals, groups, and corporations to lobby the government is protected by the right to petition in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

 - A-HA! I knew I'd find the Constitution somewhere in this - let's see what the Constitution says about the 'Right to Petition', shall we? This is covered in the First Amendment:

"Congress shall make no law...abridging...the right...to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

 - Well THAT makes sense...after all, as written in the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776:

"In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury..."

 - I can see why Our Forefather's would want to insure that the citizenry be reserved the right to petition, especially if it is regarding grievances pertaining to an unconstitutional law...individuals and groups should have the right to be heard. Still, there's something wrong here...looking back at the previous discussion regarding 'petitioning' lies this one statement that just doesn't make sense to me..., "The ability for individuals, groups and corporations to lobby the government...". What the?! WHY do corporations 'need' to lobby Congress...I mean, that's a business, right?...we're not talking about a living, breathing human being here...

Corporate personhood refers to the controversy of what subset of rights afforded under the law to natural persons should also be afforded to corporations as legal persons.

 - *blinks*

 - No, it's not a joke folks...there's people out there in America who honestly think that a BUILDING...a corporate LOGO...err...what?...has the right to vote? Maybe we should ask the question as to whether or not a business is democratic or republican? Is a corporation required to get a "green card" and "work permit" in order to be in the United States?...I don't remember Proctor and Gamble raising issues about 'Freedom of Speech"...what's it's stance on abortion issues? Does anyone else feel like Alice down the rabbit hole?...can a corporation keep and bear arms (...pirates do...are THEY corporations?). What about National Health Care?...when a corporation gets 'sick', is the government required to render aid? Apparently that issue was pressed regarding the car industry and even after the bailout, those agencies still crumbled. Is anyone seeing the absolute ABSURDITY regarding this?
 - Look, folks...no matter how you slice it...a corporation is NOT a living, breathing person - I don't care WHAT those corporate lawyers say. It doesn't take a rocket-scientist to know that even if you take all the workers out of a corporation...it doesn't 'die', because it wasn't freakin' 'ALIVE' in the first place. Cmon, folks...let's get real, this 'corperate personhood' malarky is just a smoke-screen to protect the 'captains of industry' from being targetted for the misgivings they allow thier corporations to create. If there is ANY WAY a corporation can be 'acknowledged' as a 'person' then it's under a default 'power of attorney' which the CEO, President and/or Board of Trustees are ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR...and it is the responsibility of the corporation that these individuals are sincerely seeking to shift over to a 'legally recognized', but ulitmately false identity. This is called a 'straw man' argument which is an informal fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position (i.e. - "This is how we do things here at Joe's...it's our corporate policy." "No, it's NOT 'our corporate policy'...it's just how the CEO wants things done - stop evading the issue.").
 - How does this tie in with lobbyists (...and why CORPORATE lobbyists need run out of Congress)? Real simple, we got a bunch of clowns running around trying to push legislature to protect thier investments from thier own wrong-doing by insisting that thier errors cannot be arbitrarily be targetted (...it's a 'corporate problem'...not the fault of the execs in charge, it's the fault of the 'economy', 'the market'...anything but them...). Look, lobbying Congress is reserved for PERSONS...not property, but a PERSON'S property. The 'slippery slope' argument (which is also a fallacy of reasoning) states that a relatively small first step inevitably leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant impact, much like an object given a small push over the edge of a slope sliding all the way to the bottom. Just because your corporation blows chucks and can't sustain itself due to mismanagement of corporate funds and over-extended projected sales does NOT make this a government issue - it just means you're lousy at business, cannot adapt and need to go under so that others (who probably know a great deal more then you) can start up thier own business (...or banks, for that matter). That's why it's called a 'free market'...that means 'free for all' - you want to keep your business afloat then YOU need to make it work!...by maintaining a stable business model that can adapt and advance in accordance to the ever fluctuating market!
 - I read Ann Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged'...I thought it was the biggest joke in the history of literature - pity most business execs swear by it as the example unto which derives the 'importance of business'. Pulease, believing in that rhetoric only makes you narcissistic. Please, go away and take your corrupt 'corporate lobbyists' with you - Congress is for we, the People...not straw men. Weight in, America...abolish 'corporate personhood' and ban 'corporate lobbyists' in Congress? They're not even representing themselves, they're representing a brand name - trees having lobbyists I can understand more then corporations: stop trying to turn our free market system into 'governmentally-sponsored capitalism'. Be the man or woman you professed to be...the one in charge - the leader: a 'captain of industry'. Be proud of your successes...and failures - be willing to 'go down with the ship', be 'the last one overboard' and 'women and children first', remember? Sometime ago, I think we lost our ability ability to be 'noble' and 'civil'...now, we use laws to regulate ourselves - to keep us from being anything, but civil (i.e. - we cannot seem to do anything now without being uncivil). Kind of like myself (knowing I shouldn't), but I'm calling a 'spade' a 'spade' - to the 'Captains of Industry' that exist today, who are trying to "blame the victim": a fake identity 'YOUR corporation'...it's a psychological disorder called:

the fundamental attribution error (also known as correspondence bias or attribution effect) describes the tendency to over-value dispositional or personality-based explanations for the observed behaviors of others while under-valuing situational explanations for those behaviors. The fundamental attribution error is most visible when people explain the behavior of others. It does not explain interpretations of one's own behavior—where situational factors are often taken into consideration. This discrepancy is called the actor-observer bias.

 - The belief that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get, which was first theorized by Melvin Lerner (...no, I don't know him). Attributing failures to dispositional causes rather than situational causes, which are unchangeable and uncontrollable, satisfies our need to believe that the world is fair and we have control over our life (...meaning, 'I was tempted by teh DEBIL!"). We are motivated to see a just world because this reduces our perceived threats, gives us a sense of security, helps us find meaning in difficult and unsettling circumstances, and benefits us psychologically (...in other words, 'playing with 'imaginary friends' is still GOOD for you!'). Unfortunately, the just world hypothesis also results in a tendency for people to blame and disparage victims of a tragedy or an accident, such as victims of rape and domestic abuse to reassure themselves of their insusceptibility to such events (...like some 'religions' who force 'rape victims' to MARRY thier rapist - are you freaking KIDDING me?! OUCH!). People may even go to such extremes as the victim's faults in "past life" to pursue justification for their bad outcome...'cognito ergo sum', eh (...'I think, therefore I am')?

 - O.o

 - Really?...are you serious?! Oh c'mon...show at least a LITTLE backbone, will ya? Like we say down here in Texas, 'Cowboy UP!' (...or 'cowgirl'...look, don't make me 'get all legalesse on you'...). You chose to get on that bull...you sat in that saddle yourself - it's just you and the bull now: no one forced you to ride, and thier ain't a single soul that's ever tried gonna say, 'it's easy'. So, you didn't last long - so what?...you survived, isn't that enough? The punishment for being a coward and not owning up to your own mistakes (in accordance to most military laws) is typically severe - ranging from corporal punishment to the death sentence. Be graceful, be civil and take a bow...that was your turn on stage - maybe you'll do better with your next opportunity. The world's still full of opportunities...and that looks (and sounds) a lot better then you're desperate attempt to hold onto YOUR failure. Is it not through the honour and civility of man that can acknowledge and accept reponsibility for thier own mistakes? Exit stage left, you hypocritical narcissistic...

 - ...COWARDS!

"Radix malorum est cupiditas,"
The American Deist,
M.D. Little