The Whimsical Lowdown

Nebraska Sovereignty

2009-02-22T14:28:00.000-08:00

As of recently I have been outraged at the overwhelming power our Federal government has been demonstrating over the great people of this country as well as our states. I believe the power of the federal government has grown too powerful and moved outside of its means that the US Constitution (if there is still such a thing) grants it.

I do not agree with this outragious "Stimulus Bill" that has been passed that will leave me and my children forever in debt to a "Socialist government system." There are too many unconstitutional clauses underwritten into the bill including but not limited to: State Legislature's ability to overturn the governors' right to not accept the funding, adding funding for mandates and programs that are outside of the federal government's power.

I certainly do not agree with President Obama's "Housing Forclosure Plan," why should I have to help pay for mortgages that were the result of bad decisions. I was close to being one of these people two years ago when I was looking for a place to live, and I made the right decision "not buy a house." I know how to live inside my means and it is not my fault, nor the states fault, nor the federal government's fault that people do not know how to live within their means, or that they were led to believe that these homes were affordable to them. Doesn't anyone know what a financial advisor is?

Twenty-five states have already claimed or are in the process of declaring sovereignty including: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia.

I hope that Nebraska will follow, and fight back against a federal government that has just begun to stretch its unconstitutional legs. Please join me in letting the federal government know that we as a people and as a state will not stand for unfair taxes, unconstitutional mandates and regulations, and socialist practices.

I sent out a copy of this to my local newspaper, state senators, governor, and congressmen. I have recieved one letter of avoidance from Sen. Charlie Janssen.

Dear Mr. Cusick:

I, too, share your concerns regarding the infringement of our tenth amendment rights by the federal government. I have been told there are a number of groups that are examining this issue presently.

Governor Heinemann has assured us that he is examining the stimulus package and looking to discover whether there are any strings attached to it. The Housing Foreclosure Plan you mentioned is a part of that stimulus package. We are awaiting his report.

Again, thank you for contacting me and I hope that you continue to share your thoughts with me regarding issues of importance to the state of Nebraska.

Sincerely,

Sen. Charlie Janssen

Not quite the response I was looking for...I'm gonna send another letter.

Why Wait? Forclose On Your Own Town!

2009-02-18T12:13:00.000-08:00

Alright everybody, the bidding starts at $883,000. What are you bidding on, you ask? The small ghost town of Albert, TX is up for grabs.

Founded by Albert "Luckenbach" in 1892, the town of Albert is located in the wine region of Texas Hill Country about 20 miles southeast of Fredericksburg in Gillespie County. The town features an 85 year old dancehall, a general store converted to an icehouse and beergarden, a limestone schoolhouse (attended by Lyndon B Johnson in 1921), 41 pecan trees, a 200 year old oak tree, and a three bedroom/two bathroom home.

According the Handbook of Texas in 1925 Albert had 50 residents, and 25 in 2000. Now a small sign outside of town reads population "4."

Owner Bobby Cave, put the town up for sale on Ebay, October of last year with a reserve price $2.5 million dollars. Cave says "he's ready to move onto his next venture." He bought the property in March of 2003 for $216,000 and has spent approximately $100,000 restoring the ghost town and setting up a business. The icehouse and dancehall can both accomodate 500 people, and would be a perfect venue for weddings, anniversaries, or any get together.

"I didn't expect Albert, to get up and going as quickly as it did," said Cave. "It's doing exactly as I wanted it to do. We're open every weekend, and I think it's time for the next guy to take it to the next step."

Another Crash In The Sub Prime Market

2009-02-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

On February 3rd, two nuclear submarines from Britain and France collided at low speeds 1,000 feet underwater in the Bay of Biscay.

The HMS Vanguard, the lead submarine of the Royal Navy collided with the Le Triomphant seriously damaging the vessel's sonar dome, an estimated $50 million dollar blunder. And causing no more than a few minor dings and scratches to the HMS Vanguard. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) is currently checking the status of they're Geico account. The vessels were each carrying approximately 32 intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The two $4 billion dollar vessels were operating in "stealth mode," where most systems in the ships were shut off and moving at approximately four-miles-per-hour when they collided. Both ships were not using they're active ping sonar systems, to avoid being detected. The United States, Britain, and France are the only countries in the world with the capabilities to operate so silently underwater. Russian and Chinese navies have similar technologies, however are considered noisy and easy to detect in comparison. The United States and Britain have deals in place to exchange information on where submarines are patrolling. France, however does not have any deals in place.

The MoD declined to comment on the accident claiming operational secrecy. However, yesterday First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathan Band confirmed the crash which happened February 3rd stating, "Recently, the two submarines came into contact at very low speed. Both submarines remained safe and no injuries occurred. We can confirm that the capability remained unaffected and there has been no compromise to nuclear safety."

Most nuclear armed vessels navigate to the same deep, quiet areas of the ocean to sail at operational readiness in a close proximity to potential targets all roughly the same distance from home ports.

Lawmakers and disarmament advocates around the world are demanding explanations as to why two vessels carrying "weapons of mass destruction," could have collided with each other in the middle of the world's largest ocean.

The French Navy usually has only one missile vessel on patrol at a given time, the British submarine has the infintismal coincidence, and remarkable misfortune to collide with the only vessel in the world it was unable to detect and knew nothing about, in the world's largest ocean.

Britain is claiming victory in the game of hide and seek.