What is happening here . . . .

Solid post indeed

except not nearly as eloquently. I don't think any of the unconstitutional, un-American things being foisted upon us today are by happenstance. I think it is all an intentional, calculated, dedicated effort to weaken our economy and national defense.....to shred the constitution, destroy the two party system, traditional family, our republic and every jot and tittle of morality and ethics upon which our country was founded and upon which our legal system was formed. I can't say when it all began.....probably some of it even as we were being led by our founders. But, it has been growing and has now EXPLODED with the event of the Obama election to the WH. IMHO, if we don't get control of it and take our country back SOON, I think we'll look up to see we've passed the point of no return. Hope I'm wrong, but my gut says we're in very deep doo- doo.

Great post, Mike.

Very deep doo-doo sums it up perfectly - to the shovels!!

Excellent essay, NY Mike! Has it only been 2 months? After congress and their despicable performance today, a 90 percent tax on a select few, "a hard rain is gonna fall" and I hope soon! Does pbho ever work? He`s been in Ca for two days acting like a celebutard, stopping traffic, major security and cracking jokes on Leno!

Are you aware his teleprompter has its own website? I think Rush is behind it! Check it out!

http://baracksteleprompter.blogspot.com/

at least Obama didn't invade Iraq. And he hasn't torchered anyone. Obama didn''t shred the constitution and wiretap your grandmother. And he also didn't say bad stuff about global warming. So anyway at least we have some hope and we can have change too. So don't say so much bad stuff about Obama cause it's not fair.

On those dates Washington and Texas became the final-needed states to ratify the 16th and 17th amendments, respectively, to the United States Constitution.

Both amendments were legally and constitutionally offered,processed and ratified. Until then, it was understood that the federal government's power and authority was limited to only its enumerated powers. Everything else was reserved to the states or tho the people.

The 16th gave the federal government everything it needed to intimidate the people. The 17th did the same vis-a-vis the states. Thereinafter, it only remained for an FDR, an LBJ, a Georgia peanut farmer, a WJC, and a BHB to use the tools in the interest of socialism and fascism. W helped as well.

Footnote: stefano is silly, but no surprise. "For conservatives seeing is believing while for liberals believing is seeing." (George Will)

Well, Europe has had a leftist tradition really since 1848. The Fabians in England expanded the theories of socialist pacifism and communalism. HG Wells in Eng. also wrote about these ideas and in America, Eugene Debs was a major player in the Dem Party running as a socialist. But, it was FDR and his Kitchen Cabinet who put Keynes into vogue and we have been fighting against that idea and pacifism from the Dems for almost 80 years. The media, universities and our governing infrastructure has never recovered from that ideology and even Reagan only dented it. So now we are in the midst of a social, cultural, historical and economic change which will allow us to become BELGIUM! It is scary but we have a dumbed down electorate and we will have to chip away at these secular humanists day by day. Do drop by and rant.

I've been wondering where is our constitution held in this whole mess? I bet most people today can't even name the first amendment. I also believe that many don't know how important the constitution was, (and still is), in shaping our country. Too many ignorants running around these days.

I think the turning point between individualism and collectivism was the LBJ administration. From then to now a majority of the people have become addicted to big government. That people from normally sensible states like Virginia or Montana could send Marxist dingbats to the Senate shows that things have completely come unglued. The ray of hope is the absolute, total incompetence of the Congressional and Executive leadership. A political 'special olympics'.

...well I think it started w/Bush 41 and Clinton /Bush 43 helped further it along. I've heard it described as Transnational Progressivism here:

http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/archives_roll/2002_04-06/ fonte_ideological/fonte_ideological.html

Its lengthy but try to wade through it. Its basically a determination by the elitists that we can no longer afford the luxury of nations and sovereign borders. The dem's are much more up front and aggressive about it but there are way too many transnationalists in the GOP and they have a strangle hold on the party. Which is why they're losing support. Reagan would not have allowed this element within the GOP but he made one small mistake by letting Bush 41 in the back door along w/his globalist, New World Order agenda. My take on it. DD

Many good questions and no easy answers. America seems to be in some weird social devolution. I think the prophets have their own interpretation of unfolding events.

Perhaps it was the advent of technology and materialism. We got soft around the middle...complacent, and took too much for granted. Maybe a good swift kick in the butt is what this country needs.

Too bad we had the bailouts. I’d prefer to see a complete collapse of the banking system. People would have been so angry, they would’ve marched on capital hill and the White House with ropes and torches. The total crash of the banking industry and Wall Street would spell disaster for every member of Congress and those on the government teet. The average Joe would do what he’s doing now...tighten his collective belt and ride out the storm.

Thought provoking.

Now someone please tell me stefano is someone's 10 year old on the computer without permission.