DownsizeDC.org Blog - . . . for Human Progress DC vs. Innovation

Real ID Anniversary

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:39:34 -0400

On May 11, 2005, the Real ID Act was signed into law.

Today, Sunday, May 11, 2008, was the day, by which, the Real ID Act was to be implemented in every state.

And today, Sunday, May 11, 2008, the Real ID Act will be the subject of my TWO-HOUR radio show, the Downsize DC Conference Call.

Our show sponsor, DownsizeDC.org, began fighting the Real ID Act back in October, 2004. DownsizeDC.org was only a few months old at the time.

Twice the House passed it. But public pressure worked. The Senate defeated it once. The second time the Senate refused to bring it to a vote. Real ID was dead . . .

. . . or so we thought. As we reported to you Thursday, we lost ONLY because the House and Senate leadership inserted it into an unrelated bill that was sure to pass.

One month after Real ID was passed, DownsizeDC.org began a "grudge campaign." Scores of groups did the same, working in the various states. Soon, a full-fledged "Real ID Rebellion" was underway. That surge of activism has delayed implementation in EVERY state until December, 2009, and we've got a real chance to kill this bill for good.

On today's show, you'll hear from a diverse cross-section of this movement:

* Noam Biale, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU.org
* Craig Treadwell, Endtime Magazine, Endtime.com
* Aaron Bolinger, National Veteran's Committee on Constitutional Affairs, NVCCA.net

You'll also hear an update from show sponsor, Gun Owners of America. And it too will be about the Real ID Act.

The program starts at

Government vs. You

Fri, 9 May 2008 11:06:53 -0400

Media notice: Tune-in to hear me on the Jerry Hughes show today. Details below my signature.

Quote of the Day:

"Government doesn't work."
-- Harry Browne

Subject: Government vs. You

In 1871 the city of Chicago burned to the ground. There was no FEMA or large federal funding to rebuild it. Instead, the people of Chicago rebuilt their own city and in short order it soared to new heights.

In 1906, after a major earthquake, the city of San Francisco also burned down. There was no FEMA or large federal funding to rebuild it. Instead, the people of San Francisco did it themselves and the city was soon restored.

In 2005 a large part of the city of New Orleans was destroyed when a levy, designed, built, and maintained by government, proved inadequate to protect against a hurricane that was far from the worst that could have struck the city. Private citizens and businesses such as Wal-Mart rushed to the city's aid, but were largely blocked by federal officials. FEMA and large federal funding were there to rebuild the city, but today much of New Orleans still lies in ruins.

We see the evidence all around us, where government seeks to help, harm often follows.

A Day of Infamy and Inspiration

Thu, 8 May 2008 11:32:27 -0400

Today's Downsizer-Dispatch . . .

Quote of the Day:

"I freed thousands of slaves. I could have freed thousands more if they had known they were slaves."
-- Harriet Tubman

Subject: A Day of Infamy & Inspiration

Saturday is an anniversary. May 10, 2005 was a day that will live in infamy. On that date the Senate passed the REAL ID Act.

No Senate majority ever intended this outcome. We had defeated REAL ID in the Senate twice before. After the second vote the Senate declined to vote again.

The White House and the House Republican leadership got around this by inserting the bill into the "Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005." This bill provided funding for the troops, the war on terror, and Tsunami reflief -- a trifecta of things no politician would oppose.

They might as well have called it the Motherhood, Flag-waving, and Apple Pie Act.

Ethanol Out of Gas

Wed, 7 May 2008 12:44:41 -0400

Change the political environment. Recruit more DC Downsizers. Share this message with others.

Quote of the Day:

"That which is falling must also be pushed."
-- Friederich Nietzsche

Subject: Is ethanol running out of gas?

Opposition to mandates and subsidies for mass-produced ethanol isn't just nationwide -- it's worldwide. That creates a good environment for legislative victory. But just because the climate is ripe for repeal, doesn't mean it will happen.

It's the central problem we face . . .

* Government favors are concentrated on those who receive them, but . . .
* The cost of those favors are dispersed among all taxpayers, so . . .
* Those who receive the favors have a huge incentive to defend them, while . . .
* Those who pay for the handouts have almost no incentive to fight them.

We aim to solve this problem by . . .

Using reforms such as the "Read the Bills Act" and the "One Subject at a Time Act" to raise the price legislators pay to create new favors
Lowering the cost taxpayers pay to fight government handouts

One way to lower the cost you pay to fight government handouts is through our online system. Our system enables you to pressure your Representative and your two Senators with just a few mouse-clicks and strokes of your computer keyboard. What could be easier?

But even that which is easy still requires a decision to act. The whole world may agree that ethanol subsidies are bad, but that means nothing unless people take action to tell Congress to repeal them.

Subsidized, mandated, mass-produced ethanol seems to be running out of gas, but

Summertime War with Iran?

Tue, 6 May 2008 12:36:54 -0400

Change the political environment. Recruit more DC Downsizers. Share this message with others.

Quote of the Day:

"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home."
-- James Madison

Subject: Summertime War with Iran?

Is another war brewing? ...this time with Iran?

The administration claims Iranian-backed Shia militias are attacking U.S. troops in Iraq. Iran denies its involvement. Other reports say that Sunnis have been responsible for 2/3rds of the attacks in Iraq. It's also important to note that Al Qaeda is a Sunni group, not Shia.

So who is responsible for most of the killing? Is is really the Shia Mullah's in Iran?

These Sunni-Shia distinctions confuse John McCain, Bill O'Reilly, and millions of Americans. General David Petraeus played on this ignorance in testimony to Congress last month. He blamed Iran's support of Shia militias for MOST of the remaining problems in Iraq. He said,

Iran has fueled the violence... with the Iraqi Security Forces, we have also focused on the Special Groups. These elements are funded, trained, armed, and directed by Iran's Qods Force... It is clearly in our national interest to resist Iranian encroachment.

Petraeus' rhetorical performance earned him a promotion, from military boss in Iraq, to chief of Central Command. His military responsibility now includes virtually the entire Middle East, including Iran.

Is this promotion another sign that President Bush wants to attack Iran before he leaves office? Andrew Cockburn reports,

Big Business Loves Big Government

Mon, 5 May 2008 09:46:29 -0400

Today's Downsizer-Dispatch . . .

Quote of the Day:

"Why not take advantage of the clever Downsize DC system like I just did? Invest five minutes today to sign up, and then from time to time you, too, can help bombard congress and pressure them into doing the right thing with your money."

- "creator," a blogger at Truth Realm

Subject: Big Business Loves Big Government

Politicians tell us that government protects the people from the cut-throat practices of Big Business. But in truth, Big Government is in bed with Big Business. If I were CEO of a major corporation - let's call it the Big Widget Corporation - I would love Big Government. That's because I could:

lobby Congress to subsidize the widget industry, explaining how vital widgets are to the economy.

lobby for tariff protection against imported widgets. This will allow my company to gouge American consumers with higher prices.

lobby for regulations that would drive my smaller competitors out of business.

But what is good for the Big Widget Corporation's shareholders isn't necessarily good for the American taxpayers, who must pay for this special treatment. That's why we want the Big Government-Big Business marriage to end in divorce. We can break up the marriage by changing the way Congress does things.

Political Realism To Downsize DC

Sun, 4 May 2008 00:25:53 -0400

Political Realism: Politicians are always going to be self-interested, rather than true "public servants."

Some might even call that, "the appearance of corruption." In response, the Good Government crowd suggests government oversight boards, ever-more complex ethics rules, and taxpayer financing of campaigns.

Others will say we must elect better people. But that won't ever happen . . . at least not in significant numbers.

We must deal with this fact. We need a strategy that takes Political Realism into account and takes us to our goal of Downsizing DC.

And on today's Downsize DC Conference Call, you'll learn how we can make Political Realism our friend.

My TWO HOUR radio show

We interrupt this broadcast

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:17:29 -0400

Today's Downsizer Dispatch . . .

Quote of the Day:

"I'm normally not a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me, Superman."
-- Homer Simpson

Subject: We interrupt this broadcast for our regular scheduled month-end commercial

Today's the last day for us to make budget for April. We made good progress yesterday, but we still need to raise $1,587. We're asking you, because we have only you to ask. Contributions in the following amounts would do the trick . . .

1 of $1,000 and 1 of $500
3 of $500
6 of $250
15 of $100
30 of 50
60 of $25
150 of $10

You can contribute here, and then . . .

We'll get back to work. Thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC army.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

What the calendar says

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:26:32 -0400

Today's Downsizer Dispatch . . .

Quote of the Day:

"With $10,000 we'd be millionaires! We could buy all kinds of useful things. Like love!"
-- Homer Simpson

Subject: What the calendar says

The calendar says April has only two days remaining, so here we are with our usual month-end frundraising drive. We need just $2,312 more to make budget for this month. DC Downsizers are our only source of funds, so if we don't ask you . . . we have nowhere to go.

Here are the contributions that would do the job . . .

2 of $1,000 and 1 of $300
5 of $500
10 of $250
23 of $100
46 of $50
92 of $25

If you can help, here's the place to do it.

Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

How to Stop the SPP

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:33:39 -0400

Today's Downsizer-Dispatch . . .

Last week, the Presidents of Mexico and the U.S. met with the Prime Minister of Canada to work on the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP). The SPP is a working relationship between bureaucrats in all three countries to promote greater uniformity in economic and security matters. Here are two of the SPP's goals, from the SPP's own website:

Safe Food & Products: Strengthen cooperation to better identify, assess and manage unsafe food and products before they enter North America, and collaborate to promote the compatibility of our related regulatory and inspection regimes;

Energy and Environment: Develop projects under the newly signed Agreement on Science and Technology; and cooperate on moving new technologies to the marketplace, auto fuel efficiency and energy efficiency standards ;

What's the goal here? Simply, if something is manufactured in Mexico or Canada, it won't have to be inspected when entering the United States. In addition, if something is imported into Mexico or Canada, their inspections will be "good enough" and the goods can be trucked into the United States with no further inspections.

What is the driving force behind this integration? Not the people of the three countries. Congress had no say in the formation of the SPP.

Free Talk on Downsize DC

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:05:38 -0400

I'm traveling this weekend. So Ian and Mark of Free Talk Live agreed to host my Sunday radio show, the Downsize DC Conference Call.

Free Talk Live is a show hosted by long-time DC Downsizers, heard on more than 30 stations around the U.S., Monday thru Saturday. Their format is simple -- they want you to call them. You choose the topic. That's when the fun begins on Free Talk Live.

I have no idea what they have planned today, save for an update from my sponsor, Gun Owners of America.

My guess is

National Security Letters Reform Act

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:58:58 -0400

DownsizeDC.org has joined 28 other organizations in sending the House and Senate a message asking them to support S. 2088, the National Security Letters Reform Act. Here is the copy of the letter sent to the Senate:

April 22, 2008

Hon. John Conyers, Jr., Chairman
Hon. Lamar S. Smith, Ranking Minority Member
House Committee on the Judiciary
2138 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-6216

Re: National Security Letters Reform Act, S. 2088

Dear Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Specter:

The Judiciary Committee will soon consider issues relating to National Security Letters. We write to express our support for the National Security Letters Reform Act (S. 2088).

The PATRIOT Act and Intelligence Authorization Act of FY 2004 drastically expanded the FBI's authority to obtain the business and personal records of Americans by issuing National Security Letters (NSLs). NSLs, which do not require prior judicial approval, can be used to obtain a wide range of documents based upon vague claims that the information is merely "relevant" to a terrorism investigation. Once the FBI acquires records with an NSL, it can keep them indefinitely, even when it concludes that the subject of those records is innocent of any crime and is not of intelligence interest.

Progress Report

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:35:08 -0400

Today's Downsizer Dispatch . . .

Quote of the Day:

"It is indeed probable that more harm and misery have been caused by men determined to use coercion to stamp out a moral evil than by men intent on doing evil."
-- Fredrich von Hayek, Nobel Laureate in Economics, from "The Constitution of Liberty"

Subject: Progress Report

We've been busy this month, mostly with behind the scenes stuff that you'll begin to see in May. Meanwhile, we've been clicking right along in April with our integrated campaign of education, recruitment, and pressure on Congress . . .

Is today really Tax Freedom Day?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:31:05 -0400

Today's Downsizer Dispatch . . .

Change the political environment. Recruit more Downsizers. Share this message with others.

Quote of the Day:

"If we run into such debts, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our callings and our creeds, as the people of England are, our people, like them, must come to labor sixteen hours in the twenty-four, give the earnings of fifteen of these to the government for their debts and daily expenses; and the sixteenth being insufficient to afford us bread, we must live, as they now do, on oatmeal and potatoes; have no time to think, no means of calling the mismanagers to account; but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers."
-- Thomas Jefferson

Subject: Is this really Tax Freedom Day?

Congratulations, you're now working for yourself. The Tax Foundation declares that today is Tax Freedom Day. From January 1 to today you were working for the government. From today through the end of the year, you'll be working for yourself.

Maybe.

Bureaucratic bookkeeping vs. targeted surveillance

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:29:41 -0400

Today's Downsizer-Dispatch . . .

Change the political environment. Recruit more Downsizers. Share this message with others.

Quote of the Day:

"Nothing is as terrible to see as ignorance in action."
-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) Source: engraved on a plaque at the Naval War College

Subject: Bureaucratic bookkeeping vs. targeted surveillance

Which is more likely to protect you from terrorism, a database and a plastic ID card, or targeted surveillance of probable terrorists?

REAL ID is mere bureaucratic bookkeeping. It aims to put EVERY LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN in a database, give us a special ID card, and then constantly ask us the totalitarian's favorite question, "May I see your papers please?"

But how exactly would a REAL ID card protect you from a suicide bomber? Could you throw it at them, or use it to shield yourself from the blast? Would a suicide bomber even . . .