gdp's Comments

Tenth Amendment Center Blog : Freedom isn’t Free. Especially when the IRS is involved.

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:57:01 +0000

We refuse to become non-profit for the Heritage Training Center. You can imagine by this how I feel about the TAC status...yep, stay as you are. Here is a copy of our disclaimer from our donation page; Your receipt will have ‘Our Heritage Alliance, LLC” as the payee . Please note we are not willing to submit to government oversight of our curriculum therefore we are not applying for non-profit status and your donation will not be tax deductible.

Tenth Amendment Center Blog : No State Legislator Left Behind.

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:36:14 +0000

One reference from the book Thomas Woods recommended in another Facebook post was Upshur's essay on the Constitution. We have provided it here for those who want to read it while waiting for Nullification to come out the 28th; http://studyourhistory.com/studies/2-good-reading...

Pennsylvania Tenth Amendment Center : Fail Safe

Sun, 23 May 2010 17:05:09 +0000

The most efficient government is a despot. Founders were not concerned with efficiency but quality and liberty. Very strong article, thank you!!

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : The Painful Truth - Video by Ken Ivory

Tue, 6 Apr 2010 19:19:01 +0000

Taxpayer money, Utah taxpayer money, your tax dollars are always better spent locally first and foremost just as you are always better to be responsible for yourself rather than from the federal level down. This was the strength of our country for over 150 years and this must be restored if we are to avoid further waste of our children's future. Proper government at all levels secures the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity while improper government reduces liberty. You may not like Wimmer and crew personally, that is fine. You may not like their politics personally, that is fine. However, do not allow your dislike for the people blind you to the truth of what is best for educating our kids because you are responsible and you are needed to hold elected people responsible for upholding their Oath of Office to defend our Constitution and protect our children's future.

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : The Painful Truth - Video by Ken Ivory

Tue, 6 Apr 2010 19:18:53 +0000

Many of the so-called responsible scholars are irresponsible in their public comments regarding the supremacy, commerce, and general welfare clauses. Their limited, public interpretation misleads people into believing the federal government is always right and states are always wrong which simply is false. It is not only about a possible victory or loss in court...it is an obligation if we are to protect our kids opportunity to live free. States have failed to stand up to their duties and responsibility for so many decades people no longer know what self-government, separation of powers, checks and balances are about. Educating our kids is more than a mere classroom obligation; we must live responsible lives based on the principles of federalism, self-government, and the rule of law. We struggle financially as a state not due to the 10th Amendment efforts today but the lack of them when federal usurpation set unfunded mandates upon us.

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : Utah is not in full support of a health care fight

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:49:03 +0000

Michele, you are right in the fact Utah is awake. My point, for those of us awake, is we must be ready to help awaken our neighbors so they will help in the fight to restore order. Thank you for all you are doing!

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : Comments on 10th Amendment legislation miss the point

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:33:08 +0000

What was I thinking, thanks for keeping me straight!

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : Our goal is federalism and not states' rights

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 16:34:56 +0000

Thank you BK. I have really enjoyed teaching as I learn so much when I do. There are countless sources and pamphlets that after my mere 34 years of in-depth study I still find, amazing. I think you struck on a root to our challenge...they never really know what their obligations are in the first place. My Saturday radio show co-host Gary Alder and I really want to work on a course for candidates and newly elected local servants...the time, where is the time. Speaking of which, time I get to work.

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : Our goal is federalism and not states' rights

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:51:05 +0000

Christopher, It is largely semantics yet the use of labels and words are very important as our detractors will fight to the end for the use of imagery they can bring to the uninformed when it comes to our core issue of necessitating state legislatures to stand by their sworn duty in defense of our Constitution and people's rights. Also, there are many states in the union that were required to add a section similar to Utah's Article 1, Section 3; Sec. 3. [Utah inseparable from the Union.] The State of Utah is an inseparable part of the Federal Union and the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land. The inseparable agreement would then need to be overturned and the efforts for this would be counter productive to the fact we don't want to separate, we want our United States restored. So though it is semantics it is, in my humble view, a critical aspect in the education of those who are now involved and those who will become involved in this root struggle for our future posterity's liberty.

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : Our goal is federalism and not states' rights

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:39:48 +0000

Thank you J.R. for bringing up some critical insights into both the importance of the Jury Box and the declining use of it in today's courts, alarming on all levels. For years I have explained to people we basically have four boxes from which we can defend our civil liberty. Although this is broken down to the overly simple and many may say it is too basic in meaning it gets the point home for many. The four boxes are; 1. The Ballot Box - this box is extremely powerful if we use it in an educated, local up fashion and do not get caught up in only the romance of federal elections nor fall into the 'horse race' mentality of having to vote for a winner, this horse or that horse, or your just throwing money away on your 'bet' which is how elections have been marketed for too long. 2. The Soap Box - this box also requires us to be well educated and articulate in our comments. If the soap box is used to shout when passionate discourse will do it is misused. If, on the other hand, passionate shouting is necessary for the moment a whisper will not create the educated action necessary for effective results. 3. The Jury Box - we have spent far too long running from jury duty. As you have quoted from Thomas Jefferson, it is much preferred to stand before the law with an educated jury in the box. Educated jurors have set many innocent free while shining light on unconstitutional laws and oppressive rules which never should have reached a point of use against citizens. Many...yet far more have been jailed because we do not gain the education and, if we do, when the call to jury comes we are far too busy to serve. So it is the less educated who listen in awe to the jury instruction, question the accused without questioning the law first. Without notice, without care the use of trial by jury shrinks as you indicate yet citizens don't take notice because this simply means there will be reduced inconvenience from the jury notices that cause us to roll our eyes and figure out how we can avoid the day or days of DUTY. 4. The Cartridge Box - this is by far the least of the boxes we should desire to use. It ends in terrible ways, wars and skirmishes need not be fought, nor does are freedom need to be defended in this way if we reawaken to the first 3 boxes and use them through educated action. Key to each and all is a restoration through education. It is a restoration also, not a revolution nor a new construction. We are not in need of re-making America, changing America, we are in need of restoring her to her glory. Like all restorations it will look very ugly as we must tear down years of abuse and bad construction before we can restore the beauty within our system. However, when our grand children's children gaze upon the efforts and realize the tools to keep it beautiful are stored in 3 well used boxes, and 1 carefully locked box, and are rather easy to use if we use them together our United States society will prosper for centuries to follow. Education will lead to action that can make this restoration a success. 'Only the educated are free.' Epictetus Gary Wood http://heritagetraining.ning.com

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : Ask Governor to Sign Utah-Made Guns & Ammo Bill

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:50:31 +0000

Billy, Check out Section 5 of the bill (line 130); http://le.utah.gov/~2010/bills/sbillint/sb0011.pd...

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : SCR-3 passes Utah Senate 23-3

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:58:21 +0000

Here is what I have found; Sen. Luz Robles, D-Salt Lake City - against (need feds for civil rights) Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City - for but will not vote for legislation according to his statement Sen. Karen Morgan, D-Cottonwood Heights - against Sen. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake City - against Other dems supported along the same reasoning as Sen. Davis, as long as it was not legislation. That is all the details I can dig up right now, sorry.

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : SCR-3 passes Utah Senate 23-3

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:57:36 +0000

Very well stated and insightful, thank you!

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : UT HB-67 Federal Health Care opt out passes the House, moves to Senate

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:14:56 +0000

You bring a good point Dimitri and we all need to consider what we really want, including you. Let me caveat my response with a clear understanding, you are going to read MY views and NOT the views of 'YOU PEOPLE' as I cannot talk for all who vary in their understanding and support no more than you can talk for all who fear some terrible fate should we instill again the philosophy of separation of powers, checks and balances, and Constitutional order in our governing systems. The bill is one that requires any federal health care mandate passed in D.C. be approved by the legislature before being pressed into implementation in Utah. It does not simply shut a door it merely allows it to be shut if what is on the other side represents the same financial destruction proposals have contained. We do not know what the federal government may do when it comes to health care. The recent proposals hidden within over 2,000 pages would have caused such hardship on states, and citizens in those states, we could not have afforded their demands (since we are not NE). HB-67 is a measure that insures we at least have a check on the federal government, it is a part of our Federalist Republic most citizens have forgotten. Most, instead, want to look at 'federal money' being given to citizens while many see states simply as a layer of bureaucracy impeding the path from federal grants of relief to the people 'in need' of help. However, federal money comes from people and is filtered through the expense of government inefficiency. Medicaid you mention as if it were a benevolent entitlement yet it is a poorly run system that would be bolstered by the decimation of Medicare, another poorly run system, and state required funding if the federal government has its way. Social security, Medicare, and Medicaid all represent more than some mere assistance by federal lords our 'nasty' states would not allow. They represent an expensive scheme of federal government cups & balls with the citizens who believed in and paid for the benefits being the ones lost in the shuffle of the magicians skill. Had the states performed their proper duty in the 1930s we would not have this discussion over some fearing we will 'lose' federal money, our money (mine, yours, your neighbors, and our future generations), simply by checking their schemes. All of these federal 'relief' programs need to be phased out and returned to private citizens' own care. An idea that no doubt will cause great fear or anxiety in many who feel only the great federal government can help us, we are not capable of helping ourselves. I still believe we can better determine our family needs and be in a better position to help our neighbors without the ongoing theft of resources by federal, state, and local governments under the guise of 'helping' us. This is a decade's long effort however, for the damage done by citizens not checking their government will take a long time to reverse without undo penalties on those that truly (truly being key) are in need.

Tenth Amendment Center : Small Things Grow Great by Concord

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:23:19 +0000

We studied John Dickinson and read this letter two weeks ago in our Tuesday night class. His pen and efforts were vital to our founding yet many have forgotten him simply because his name does not appear on the Declaration of Independence. Thanks for the reminder of his words and the application to our situation today.

Tenth Amendment Center Blog : A Question for Glenn Beck on Global Warming and Conspiracy

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:32:18 +0000

Yesterday in my comments I said I liked Glenn Beck. I am still glad he raised awareness of the Constitution and encouraged people to read the 5000 Year Leap but on the way home from work yesterday I was able to hear the entire interview segment, including the ridiculous rants after he hung up the phone. We all are able to change our minds and Mr. Beck has changed mine, I don't like Beck. Also, with all the common sense Debra Medina was making regarding transitioning Texas from an over taxed state on property to a state run on consumption taxes purely I want to know about her so we can talk to our family in Texas. She sounds like she really gets it and Beck sounds like he really misses it all.

Tenth Amendment Center Blog : Chris Matthews Smears Debra Medina

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:28:04 +0000

Typical smear of nullification efforts by the leg tingling Matthews. If they can successfully stretch racism over the real strength of states' duties under the 10th Amendment progressive democracy marches on toward tyranny unopposed. Education is critical to overcome this type of commentary.

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : During Brown watch don’t forget Utah

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:10:20 +0000

Thank you David, corrections made and I appreciate your keeping me straight!!

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : Utah 10th Amendment confusion

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 19:05:09 +0000

In and of themselves resolutions are feel-good items with no teeth. However, they can be used to help awaken citizens, educate on nullification, and then when legislation with teeth comes along those who supported the resolution yet will not support the legislation put themselves in quite a predicament come reelection day. This is how to use the votes for a resolution to 10th Amendment advantage from my view. We cannot allow a politician to support the resolution and then ignore the legislation without shining a light on the mixed stance they are taking. The change in the state constitution is something I wish you good fortune with. I am not sure our movement is prepared for that step yet but in the meantime performing our duties under the 10th Amendment are not hampered by being inseparable. The 10th Amendment is still valid for all states. Thank you for visiting and as neighbor states we should keep a close eye on each others successes, which I hope you have many of.

Utah Tenth Amendment Center : Utah Sen. Dayton is right while Rep. Chavez-Houck is wrong

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:31:26 +0000

David, it worked now but just in case here it is again; http://le.utah.gov/~2010/bills/sbillint/sb0011.pd...