wnd--2020-01-19--Fisherman pulls orange box from seafloor, U.S. Navy calls shortly after he posts a pic

A fisherman got a big surprise after discovering that a mysterious orange box pulled from the ocean depths was no mere piece of trash , but surveillance equipment belonging to the United States Navy .
Croatian fisherman Darko Kunac Bigava and his crew pulled the object aboard after it shredded their fishing nets on Jan. 6 , according to Forbes .
This box was obviously out of place in the Adriatic Sea , especially since it still had a DHL shipping label that revealed the device 's origins in America .
One thing was clear -- the mystery cube had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the coast of Croatia .
Bigava posted photos to Croatian social media , and speculation about the device raged as the pictures spread far and wide .
Shortly after posting the photos , Bigava received a phone call that put an end to the mystery surrounding his Adriatic discovery .
On the phone was someone from the U.S. Navy , who told Bigava that the world 's largest naval force would like their property back .
After the phone call , Bigava handed the device over to the USNS Bruce C. Heezen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange , he was compensated for his destroyed nets and other damaged equipment .
TRENDING : Pelosi overturns American justice system with new standard for convictions Of course , this took a bit of haggling on Bigava 's part .
It 's unclear whether the Navy has a way to find the devices if discovered by less ethical people or foreign governments .
Judging by posts from the Naval Oceanographic Office , the device appears to be part of an environmental acoustic recording system .
The system records acoustic data from its position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available for official analysis .
One application is to monitor ambient noise and its effects on local marine life .
A picture of a Navy ship deploying one of these systems can be seen below .
Luckily for Bigava , his haul was only a technical instrument .
Had he pulled up a relic from one of Europe 's many wars , like a naval mine or a torpedo , damaged nets would be the least of this fisherman 's concerns .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

A fisherman got a big surprise after discovering that a mysterious orange box pulled from the ocean depths was no mere piece of trash, but surveillance equipment belonging to the United States Navy.
Croatian fisherman Darko Kunac Bigava and his crew pulled the object aboard after it shredded their fishing nets on Jan. 6, according to Forbes.
This box was obviously out of place in the Adriatic Sea, especially since it still had a DHL shipping label that revealed the device's origins in America.
One thing was clear -- the mystery cube had flown out of Louisiana before ending up off the coast of Croatia.
Bigava posted photos to Croatian social media, and speculation about the device raged as the pictures spread far and wide.
Shortly after posting the photos, Bigava received a phone call that put an end to the mystery surrounding his Adriatic discovery.
On the phone was someone from the U.S. Navy, who told Bigava that the world's largest naval force would like their property back.
After the phone call, Bigava handed the device over to the USNS Bruce C. Heezen, an oceanographic survey ship. In exchange, he was compensated for his destroyed nets and other damaged equipment.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Of course, this took a bit of haggling on Bigava's part.
It's unclear whether the Navy has a way to find the devices if discovered by less ethical people or foreign governments.
Judging by posts from the Naval Oceanographic Office, the device appears to be part of an environmental acoustic recording system. The system records acoustic data from its position in the ocean, which is then available for official analysis.
One application is to monitor ambient noise and its effects on local marine life.
A picture of a Navy ship deploying one of these systems can be seen below.
Luckily for Bigava, his haul was only a technical instrument.
Had he pulled up a relic from one of Europe's many wars, like a naval mine or a torpedo, damaged nets would be the least of this fisherman's concerns.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-01-19--U.S. government confiscates family's $82,000 for no reason

There were no charges .
No crimes .
No arrests .
No allegation of any wrongdoing .
Not even suspicion of any wrongdoing .
Just the fact that a woman was moving her family 's $ 82,000 to a bank in a nearby state , requiring her to fly with the cash .
And that triggered agents of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Transportation Security Administration to confiscate the money .
TRENDING : Pelosi overturns American justice system with new standard for convictions Now the family is suing to get it back .
The Institute for Justice is defending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brown .
`` Flying with any amount of cash is completely legal , but once again we see government agents treating American citizens like criminals , '' explained IJ Senior Attorney Dan Alban .
`` You do n't forfeit your constitutional rights when you try to board an airplane .
It is time for TSA and federal law enforcement to stop seizing cash from travelers simply because the government considers certain amounts of cash 'suspicious . '
'' IJ explained it 's the third time it 's handled such a case .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken from a nurse traveling to Nigeria to open a medical clinic .
In Cleveland , it sued after the CBP seized $ 58,000 from a man planning to purchase a home for retirement .
Both cases ended with the money being returned .
In the new case , IJ explained Rolin 's life savings of $ 82,373 was seized by the federal government for no apparent reason .
His daughter was moving the money to a bank in her hometown in Massachusetts for her father 's health care and other needs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first confronted by the TSA about the money she had in her purse .
A short time later , a deputy and a DEA agent simply took it .
Explained IJ : `` Terry , 79 , is a retired railroad engineer born and raised in Pittsburgh .
For many years , he followed his parents ' habit of hiding money in the basement of their home .
When Terry moved out of his family home and into a smaller apartment , he became uncomfortable with keeping a large amount of cash .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was home for a family event , Terry asked her to take the money and open a new joint bank account that he could use to pay for dental work and to fix his truck , among other needs . ''
But Pennsylvania State Troopers worked with TSA and DEA agents to make sure the money stayed in Pittsburgh with them .
Months later , the government agents , still in possession of the money , gave notice they intended to keep it .
IJ said the lawsuit seeks the return of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unconstitutional and unlawful practices of TSA and DEA with class action claims and a claim against the DEA agent . ''
`` First , the suit sets forth that TSA exceeds its legal authority by seizing cash , which poses no threat to air travel .
Second , the suit claims that TSA violates the constitutional rights of flyers when it seizes bags without probable cause , simply because they contain a 'large ' amount of cash .
Third , the suit claims that the DEA violates the constitutional rights of flyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Finally , the lawsuit includes a claim for damages against the DEA agent who seized Terry ’ s and Rebecca ’ s money without probable cause . ''
The charges come in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania .
Defendants are the TSA , DEA , David Pekoske , Uttam Dhillon and unknown others .
`` My father and his parents worked hard for this money , and the government shouldn ’ t be able to reach into his pocket and take it , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing wrong and haven ’ t been charged with any crime , yet the DEA is trying to take my father ’ s life savings .
His savings should be returned right away , and the government should stop taking money from Americans who are doing something completely legal . ''
`` It ’ s become routine for law enforcement to seize money first and ask questions later , '' said IJ Attorney Jaba Tsitsuashvili .
`` The government shouldn ’ t be able to take someone ’ s life savings without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Terry across the country are forced to fight to prove their innocence just to keep money or property they worked hard to earn .
This abuse needs to end . ''
The complaint also seeks to turn it into a class action lawsuit on behalf of the thousands of people who likely have lost millions of dollars to the government through confiscation .

There were no charges. No crimes. No arrests. No allegation of any wrongdoing. Not even suspicion of any wrongdoing.
Just the fact that a woman was moving her family's $82,000 to a bank in a nearby state, requiring her to fly with the cash.
And that triggered agents of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Transportation Security Administration to confiscate the money.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Now the family is suing to get it back.
See the story:
The Institute for Justice is defending Terry Rolin and his daughter, Rebecca Brown.
"Flying with any amount of cash is completely legal, but once again we see government agents treating American citizens like criminals," explained IJ Senior Attorney Dan Alban. "You don't forfeit your constitutional rights when you try to board an airplane. It is time for TSA and federal law enforcement to stop seizing cash from travelers simply because the government considers certain amounts of cash 'suspicious.'"
IJ explained it's the third time it's handled such a case. In Houston, it sued over $41,000 taken from a nurse traveling to Nigeria to open a medical clinic. In Cleveland, it sued after the CBP seized $58,000 from a man planning to purchase a home for retirement.
Both cases ended with the money being returned.
In the new case, IJ explained Rolin's life savings of $82,373 was seized by the federal government for no apparent reason.
His daughter was moving the money to a bank in her hometown in Massachusetts for her father's health care and other needs.
At the Pittsburgh airport, she was first confronted by the TSA about the money she had in her purse. A short time later, a deputy and a DEA agent simply took it.
Explained IJ: "Terry, 79, is a retired railroad engineer born and raised in Pittsburgh. For many years, he followed his parents' habit of hiding money in the basement of their home. When Terry moved out of his family home and into a smaller apartment, he became uncomfortable with keeping a large amount of cash. Last summer, when his daughter Rebecca was home for a family event, Terry asked her to take the money and open a new joint bank account that he could use to pay for dental work and to fix his truck, among other needs."
But Pennsylvania State Troopers worked with TSA and DEA agents to make sure the money stayed in Pittsburgh with them.
Months later, the government agents, still in possession of the money, gave notice they intended to keep it.
IJ said the lawsuit seeks the return of the money but "also aims to stop the unconstitutional and unlawful practices of TSA and DEA with class action claims and a claim against the DEA agent."
"First, the suit sets forth that TSA exceeds its legal authority by seizing cash, which poses no threat to air travel. Second, the suit claims that TSA violates the constitutional rights of flyers when it seizes bags without probable cause, simply because they contain a 'large' amount of cash. Third, the suit claims that the DEA violates the constitutional rights of flyers by seizing their money without probable cause. Finally, the lawsuit includes a claim for damages against the DEA agent who seized Terry’s and Rebecca’s money without probable cause."
The charges come in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Defendants are the TSA, DEA, David Pekoske, Uttam Dhillon and unknown others.
"My father and his parents worked hard for this money, and the government shouldn’t be able to reach into his pocket and take it," said Rebecca Brown. "We did nothing wrong and haven’t been charged with any crime, yet the DEA is trying to take my father’s life savings. His savings should be returned right away, and the government should stop taking money from Americans who are doing something completely legal."
"It’s become routine for law enforcement to seize money first and ask questions later," said IJ Attorney Jaba Tsitsuashvili. "The government shouldn’t be able to take someone’s life savings without a related criminal conviction. Unfortunately, people like Terry across the country are forced to fight to prove their innocence just to keep money or property they worked hard to earn. This abuse needs to end."
The complaint also seeks to turn it into a class action lawsuit on behalf of the thousands of people who likely have lost millions of dollars to the government through confiscation.


wnd--2020-01-21--Clarence Thomas: I was 'the wrong black guy' and had 'to be destroyed'

Known to rarely speak in hearings , U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas ' voice is given center stage in an upcoming documentary .
`` Created Equal : Clarence Thomas In His Own Words '' features his faith , political awakening , judicial philosophy and the role race has played in his life .
Premiering nationwide in select theaters Jan. 31 , the film includes Thomas ' reflections on the contentious 1991 Senate confirmation hearings led by Joe Biden , who now is the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination .
Thomas addresses Anita Hill 's accusations of sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuses red-flag law , lies about innocent man to have his guns confiscated '' Do I have like stupid written on the back of my shirt ? ''
Thomas says .
`` I mean come on .
We know what this is all about .
`` People should just tell the truth : 'This is the wrong black guy ; he has to be destroyed , ' '' he says .
`` Just say it .
Then now we 're at least honest with each other . ''
The objective of the opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get rid '' of him and then `` undermine '' him .
Thomas describes Biden 's question to him about natural law as a `` thinly veiled attempt to probe at his views on abortion . ''
`` I did n't really appreciate it , '' he says .
The director of `` Created Equal , '' Michael Pack , conducted more than 30 interviews with Thomas and his wife , Virginia Thomas , over a six-month period .
Pack explained after an Oct. 22 screening , Time reported , that he chose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he did n't want to `` lose Justice Thomas ' voice . ''
`` I felt it would also let viewers make up their own mind , '' Pack said .
`` My deal with the audience was to let Justice Thomas tell his story and be fair to his story . ''
Along with its nationwide theatrical release , the film will air on PBS in May .
Executive producer Gina Cappo Pack said in a statement that Thomas ' life is `` a remarkable journey , the quintessential American success story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gullah-speaking Pin Point , Georgia , suffered poverty and privation in Savannah , dealt with the vicious iniquities of the segregation , and yet rose to serve on the highest court in the land , '' she said .
'No idea what they 're talking about' In the documentary , Thomas does n't cite Biden by name , but he says lawmakers did n't have full command of the subject matter during his confirmation hearings .
`` One of the things you do in hearings is you have to sit there and look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea what they ’ re talking about , '' Thomas says .
Manifold Productions described the documentary as a way to `` tell the Clarence Thomas story truly and fully , without cover-ups or distortions . ''
Pack told `` Fox & Friends '' in an interview Monday that Thomas `` came from really dire poverty in Savannah , raised by his grandfather and then , at some point , he rebelled against that and became a radical leftist , as he said , 'never a liberal , just a radical . '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tells his journey back from being sympathetic to the [ Black ] Panthers and Marxism to where he is today to voting for Ronald Reagan , '' said Pack .
The film also recounts the racist attacks that accompanied Thomas ' nomination , the Daily Caller News Foundation reported .
Former Democratic Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell said Thomas ' nomination suggested Bush was `` against quotas for every position except the Supreme Court . ''
`` I felt as though in my life I had been looking at the wrong people as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , '' Thomas says of such statements .
`` We were told that 'Oh it ’ s going to be the bigot in the pickup truck .
It ’ s going be the Klansman .
It ’ s going to be the rural sheriff . '
'' But the `` biggest impediment was the modern day liberal . ''
`` They were the ones who would discount all those things , because they have one issue or because they have the authority , the power to caricature you , '' Thomas says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' Thomas says he was in the bathtub when the Senate voted on Oct. 15 , 1991 , to confirm him to the Supreme Court .
`` My reaction is still pretty much the way it is now , '' Thomas says .
`` I mean , whoop-dee-damn-doo .
I was n't really all that interested in it . ''
At a low moment in his life , before becoming a judge , Thomas says he had a reckoning with his purpose and his values .
`` For what will you die ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is there something in life you would die for ?
What about your principles ? ''
Thomas says he decided then that the principles his grandfather raised him with and the principles on which America was founded were worth his life .
See more clips from the film :

Known to rarely speak in hearings, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas' voice is given center stage in an upcoming documentary.
"Created Equal: Clarence Thomas In His Own Words" features his faith, political awakening, judicial philosophy and the role race has played in his life.
Premiering nationwide in select theaters Jan. 31, the film includes Thomas' reflections on the contentious 1991 Senate confirmation hearings led by Joe Biden, who now is the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Thomas addresses Anita Hill's accusations of sexual misconduct by him.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"Do I have like stupid written on the back of my shirt?" Thomas says. "I mean come on. We know what this is all about.
"People should just tell the truth: 'This is the wrong black guy; he has to be destroyed,'" he says. "Just say it. Then now we're at least honest with each other."
The objective of the opposition, says Thomas, was to "get rid" of him and then "undermine" him.
Thomas describes Biden's question to him about natural law as a "thinly veiled attempt to probe at his views on abortion."
"I didn't really appreciate it," he says.
See the film's trailer:
The director of "Created Equal," Michael Pack, conducted more than 30 interviews with Thomas and his wife, Virginia Thomas, over a six-month period.
Pack explained after an Oct. 22 screening, Time reported, that he chose not to include other original interviews because he didn't want to "lose Justice Thomas' voice."
"I felt it would also let viewers make up their own mind," Pack said. "My deal with the audience was to let Justice Thomas tell his story and be fair to his story."
Along with its nationwide theatrical release, the film will air on PBS in May.
Executive producer Gina Cappo Pack said in a statement that Thomas' life is "a remarkable journey, the quintessential American success story."
"He began life in Gullah-speaking Pin Point, Georgia, suffered poverty and privation in Savannah, dealt with the vicious iniquities of the segregation, and yet rose to serve on the highest court in the land," she said.
'No idea what they're talking about'
In the documentary, Thomas doesn't cite Biden by name, but he says lawmakers didn't have full command of the subject matter during his confirmation hearings.
"One of the things you do in hearings is you have to sit there and look attentively at people you know have no idea what they’re talking about," Thomas says.
Manifold Productions described the documentary as a way to "tell the Clarence Thomas story truly and fully, without cover-ups or distortions."
Pack told "Fox & Friends" in an interview Monday that Thomas "came from really dire poverty in Savannah, raised by his grandfather and then, at some point, he rebelled against that and became a radical leftist, as he said, 'never a liberal, just a radical.'"
"A chunk of the film tells his journey back from being sympathetic to the [Black] Panthers and Marxism to where he is today to voting for Ronald Reagan," said Pack.
'Biggest impediment': Modern-day liberal
The film also recounts the racist attacks that accompanied Thomas' nomination, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.
Former Democratic Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell said Thomas' nomination suggested Bush was "against quotas for every position except the Supreme Court."
"I felt as though in my life I had been looking at the wrong people as the people who would be problematic toward me," Thomas says of such statements. "We were told that 'Oh it’s going to be the bigot in the pickup truck. It’s going be the Klansman. It’s going to be the rural sheriff.'"
But the "biggest impediment was the modern day liberal."
"They were the ones who would discount all those things, because they have one issue or because they have the authority, the power to caricature you," Thomas says.
'For what will you die?'
Thomas says he was in the bathtub when the Senate voted on Oct. 15, 1991, to confirm him to the Supreme Court.
"My reaction is still pretty much the way it is now," Thomas says. "I mean, whoop-dee-damn-doo. I wasn't really all that interested in it."
At a low moment in his life, before becoming a judge, Thomas says he had a reckoning with his purpose and his values.
"For what will you die?" he remembers asking himself. "Is there something in life you would die for? What about your principles?"
Thomas says he decided then that the principles his grandfather raised him with and the principles on which America was founded were worth his life.
See more clips from the film:


wnd--2020-01-21--Singer-songwriter reportedly says 'I'm sorry' to crowd, then dies onstage during performance

Singer-songwriter David Olney , 71 , quietly passed away in the midst of a performance at the 30A Songwriters Festival on Saturday night .
According to NBC News , Olney was in the middle of playing for a crowd at Santa Rosa Beach in Florida when he paused , apologized , then `` fell silent and dropped his head . ''
Olney , considered a musical giant in the folk-rock community , was in the middle of his second festival performance of the day when he died .
TRENDING : Woman abuses red-flag law , lies about innocent man to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at first , the musicians on stage and the crowd did not realize that Olney had passed away , thinking he was perhaps just taking an artistic pause .
Amy Rigby , who was sitting beside Olney when he stopped playing , recounted the moment on Facebook .
`` Olney was in the middle of his third song when he stopped , apologized and shut his eyes , '' she wrote .
`` He was very still , sitting upright with his guitar on , wearing the coolest hat and a beautiful rust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was raining like hell outside the boathouse where we were playing . ''
`` I just want the picture to be as graceful and dignified as it was , because it at first looked like he was just taking a moment , '' Rigby wrote .
Rigby said that fellow musician Scott Miller initiated an attempt to revive Olney , joined by doctors from the crowd as well as festival officials in hopes to save the singer 's life .
`` I am so sorry for his wife and family and friends and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his music .
Even those who never heard of him , '' Rigby wrote .
`` We all lost someone important last night . ''
Miller echoed Rigby 's words in a post of his own , describing Olney 's calm and gentle final moments .
`` David was playing a song when he paused , said ' I ’ m sorry ' and put his chin to his chest , '' Miller wrote .
`` He never dropped his guitar or fell off his stool .
It was as easy and gentle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him down and tried our best to revive him until the EMT ’ s arrived , '' Miller continued .
`` The world lost a good one last night . ''
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Singer-songwriter David Olney, 71, quietly passed away in the midst of a performance at the 30A Songwriters Festival on Saturday night.
According to NBC News, Olney was in the middle of playing for a crowd at Santa Rosa Beach in Florida when he paused, apologized, then "fell silent and dropped his head."
Olney, considered a musical giant in the folk-rock community, was in the middle of his second festival performance of the day when he died.
Singer-songwriter David Olney has died at age 71, after falling silent and dropping his head in the midst of a performance at a songwriters festival in Florida on Saturday. https://t.co/vE0YvjB4CT — NBC News (@NBCNews) January 20, 2020
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
NBC reported that at first, the musicians on stage and the crowd did not realize that Olney had passed away, thinking he was perhaps just taking an artistic pause.
Amy Rigby, who was sitting beside Olney when he stopped playing, recounted the moment on Facebook.
"Olney was in the middle of his third song when he stopped, apologized and shut his eyes," she wrote.
"He was very still, sitting upright with his guitar on, wearing the coolest hat and a beautiful rust suede jacket we laughed about because it was raining like hell outside the boathouse where we were playing."
Singer-songwriter David Olney, whose songs were recorded by Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and others, died on stage while performing at a festival in Florida, his website says. He was 71. https://t.co/1nqhHoAV2O pic.twitter.com/5SShKPcRie — CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) January 20, 2020
"I just want the picture to be as graceful and dignified as it was, because it at first looked like he was just taking a moment," Rigby wrote.
Rigby said that fellow musician Scott Miller initiated an attempt to revive Olney, joined by doctors from the crowd as well as festival officials in hopes to save the singer's life.
"I am so sorry for his wife and family and friends and all the people who loved him and his music. Even those who never heard of him," Rigby wrote.
"We all lost someone important last night."
Miller echoed Rigby's words in a post of his own, describing Olney's calm and gentle final moments.
"David was playing a song when he paused, said 'I’m sorry' and put his chin to his chest," Miller wrote.
"He never dropped his guitar or fell off his stool. It was as easy and gentle as he was.
"We got him down and tried our best to revive him until the EMT’s arrived," Miller continued. "The world lost a good one last night."
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-01-20--Are RINO senators plotting to rig impeachment trial?

Why are the likes of Sens .
Mitt Romney , R-Utah , Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska , Susan Collins , R-Maine , et al .
in the Republican Party ?
Together they act more like Democrats than they do even moderate Republicans .
Democrats and the never-Trump cabal have been able to count on them far more than conservatives have .
I give Collins zero credit for supporting Justice Kavanaugh ; not voting to confirm Kavanaugh should never even have been a consideration .
Barack Obama appreciated Romney more than conservative voters do .
After all , it was Romney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rhinos found in the jungle are ill-tempered , dangerous animals with poor eyesight , but the RINO found in Congress is a backstabbing traitor and saboteur .
Thus the question that begs an answer : Why are those like Romney , Murkowski and Collins in the Republican Party ?
I 'm frequently polled , and every poll that asks if I have something I 'd like to add , I respond that I want Republicans to support and defend President Trump .
I let them know that I am sick of Romney , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats marched in lock step for Bill Clinton and Obama who abused their office and decimated the Constitution .
The only thing missing in the Oval Office when Clinton was president was a `` red light , '' and the only thing missing in same when Obama was in office was a flag with a star and crescent on it .
TRENDING : Woman abuses red-flag law , lies about innocent man to have his guns confiscated The words of MSNBC 's Brian Williams from 2016 ring true : `` The Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are [ watching ] a moving history lesson . ''
The `` history lesson '' we 're watching today is that RINO Repubs continue proving there 's no level they wo n't stoop to , in trying to destroy President Trump .
President Trump is guilty of three things : 1 ) getting elected ; 2 ) keeping his campaign promises to the absolute best of his ability despite betrayal by Republicans and fallacious accusations by Democrats and their lapdog fake news media ; and 3 ) being one of the greatest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even exceeding the gold standard of President Reagan .
Romney , Collins , Murkowski et al .
have done the heretofore unthinkable .
They 've conspired with Democrats and never-Trumpers to aggressively undermine and sabotage President Trump 's presidency .
Every Senate Republican knows exactly what the House Republicans know – that this entire impeachment process is a massively transpicuous attempt to delegitimize and overturn the will of more than 63 million voters .
And yet Romney , Collins and Murkowski , spurred on by the Erebusic cabal of never-Trump marplots , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rig the impeachment trial in the Senate to destroy President Trump .
These people have been in office for decades , and they 've done nothing for We the People .
They did n't overturn Obamacare as they promised when they had majorities in both the House and the Senate .
They aligned with Democrats to oppose President Trump on border security , restricting the flow of people from countries sponsoring terrorism , sanctuary cities , foreign policy , and they support the taxpayer funded murder of babies .
They and their minions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usual .
They are not fighting to make a difference for you and me .
They 're part of the swamp President Trump must continue to eradicate .
If Romney , Collins and company do not sabotage President Trump during the Senate impeachment trial , it wo n't be because they did n't try .
Nothing persuades me that shadowy wraiths like Ben Ginsberg have ceased in their efforts to find an effective way to remove our president .
We know that the remaining Koch brother is a committed never-Trump devotee , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump .
For the record , I am prepared to start calling out the so-called conservative Capitol Hill public policy institutes that were so vocal in their support of George W. Bush for being so sickeningly tepid in voicing their support for President Trump and his agenda .
Our electing Donald J. Trump president was n't an anomaly ; it was an uprising .
We the People are tired of being played for patsies .
In the 2016 campaign , the Republican sith lords demanded candidate Donald Trump submit to unparalleled promises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to run as a third party candidate if he did n't win the nomination , even as they were fiendishly plotting to prevent him from getting the nomination .
Are we really supposed to believe they stopped trying to sabotage him just because he won ?
They still parade Karl Rove out with his whiteboard to take cheap shots at our president .
I do not think it an accident nor do I think it political sleight of hand that Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. , has made it clear there would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a rigged impeachment trial in the Senate were acted upon .
He warned same because that 's what Romney and company were/are preparing to do .

Why are the likes of Sens. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Susan Collins, R-Maine, et al. in the Republican Party? Together they act more like Democrats than they do even moderate Republicans.
Democrats and the never-Trump cabal have been able to count on them far more than conservatives have. I give Collins zero credit for supporting Justice Kavanaugh; not voting to confirm Kavanaugh should never even have been a consideration. Barack Obama appreciated Romney more than conservative voters do. After all, it was Romney's blueprint he used for Obamacare.
Rhinos found in the jungle are ill-tempered, dangerous animals with poor eyesight, but the RINO found in Congress is a backstabbing traitor and saboteur. Thus the question that begs an answer: Why are those like Romney, Murkowski and Collins in the Republican Party?
I'm frequently polled, and every poll that asks if I have something I'd like to add, I respond that I want Republicans to support and defend President Trump. I let them know that I am sick of Romney, Collins, Murkowski and those like them.
Democrats marched in lock step for Bill Clinton and Obama who abused their office and decimated the Constitution. The only thing missing in the Oval Office when Clinton was president was a "red light," and the only thing missing in same when Obama was in office was a flag with a star and crescent on it.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The words of MSNBC's Brian Williams from 2016 ring true: "The Republican Party is facing an existential crisis. We are [watching] a moving history lesson." The "history lesson" we're watching today is that RINO Repubs continue proving there's no level they won't stoop to, in trying to destroy President Trump.
President Trump is guilty of three things: 1) getting elected; 2) keeping his campaign promises to the absolute best of his ability despite betrayal by Republicans and fallacious accusations by Democrats and their lapdog fake news media; and 3) being one of the greatest president's in modern history, rivaling and even exceeding the gold standard of President Reagan.
Romney, Collins, Murkowski et al. have done the heretofore unthinkable. They've conspired with Democrats and never-Trumpers to aggressively undermine and sabotage President Trump's presidency.
Every Senate Republican knows exactly what the House Republicans know – that this entire impeachment process is a massively transpicuous attempt to delegitimize and overturn the will of more than 63 million voters. And yet Romney, Collins and Murkowski, spurred on by the Erebusic cabal of never-Trump marplots, have been exposed in their treachery to rig the impeachment trial in the Senate to destroy President Trump.
These people have been in office for decades, and they've done nothing for We the People. They didn't overturn Obamacare as they promised when they had majorities in both the House and the Senate. They aligned with Democrats to oppose President Trump on border security, restricting the flow of people from countries sponsoring terrorism, sanctuary cities, foreign policy, and they support the taxpayer funded murder of babies.
They and their minions are fighting to continue doing business as usual. They are not fighting to make a difference for you and me. They're part of the swamp President Trump must continue to eradicate.
If Romney, Collins and company do not sabotage President Trump during the Senate impeachment trial, it won't be because they didn't try. Nothing persuades me that shadowy wraiths like Ben Ginsberg have ceased in their efforts to find an effective way to remove our president. We know that the remaining Koch brother is a committed never-Trump devotee, and he has billions to poor into undermining President Trump. For the record, I am prepared to start calling out the so-called conservative Capitol Hill public policy institutes that were so vocal in their support of George W. Bush for being so sickeningly tepid in voicing their support for President Trump and his agenda.
Our electing Donald J. Trump president wasn't an anomaly; it was an uprising. We the People are tired of being played for patsies.
In the 2016 campaign, the Republican sith lords demanded candidate Donald Trump submit to unparalleled promises and agreements including having him agree not to run as a third party candidate if he didn't win the nomination, even as they were fiendishly plotting to prevent him from getting the nomination.
Are we really supposed to believe they stopped trying to sabotage him just because he won? They still parade Karl Rove out with his whiteboard to take cheap shots at our president.
I do not think it an accident nor do I think it political sleight of hand that Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has made it clear there would be hell to pay if the machinations to have a rigged impeachment trial in the Senate were acted upon.
He warned same because that's what Romney and company were/are preparing to do.


wnd--2020-01-20--Why Democrats control our cities – and how to take them back

In my opinion , Lyndon Baines Johnson ( LBJ ) was the most wicked man ever to hold the office of president of the United States .
While more recent Democratic presidents are strong contenders for that designation , their own corrupt `` achievements '' would not have been possible without reliance on LBJ 's system for permanent Democratic control of America 's major population centers .
Because of LBJ , America 's big cities became virtually unconquerable strongholds of socialist power through enslavement of individuals and families to multi-generational government dependency .
Very simply , LBJ 's strategy was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the federal level to fight for `` social justice '' and to disburse those funds to government agencies and NGOs at the state and local level `` where the needs are greatest . ''
Because Republicans and conservatives naturally opposed this quintessentially Marxist wealth redistribution scheme , they ( rightfully but unsuccessfully ) resisted it , while the Democrats eagerly established conduits to receive `` their share '' of the federal largess and quickly built `` social welfare '' systems to put that money to work creating vast armies of unionized public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping those Democrats in power .
Voila , America 's major population centers turned an increasingly deeper shade of blue , whose concentrated political power could be easily leveraged to steer , if not outright control state policy .
Add to this the Agenda 21 ( now Agenda 2030 ) strategy of the United Nations to drive people out of the rural areas into the cities , and you have a recipe for incrementally establishing a global socialist order , using the takedown of America – the Land of the Free – as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ futile .
As far as I know , there has never been an example of a major American city flipping from blue to red since LBJ set up this system ( RINOs do n't count ) , not even in the most conservative states , while there have been many examples of red states flipping blue because of the growth of the cities .
The entire political process is further unbalanced because Democrats enjoy both an `` economy of scale '' and geographically concentrated power , while Republicans ' power base is scattered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manpower and money to organize .
TRENDING : Woman abuses red-flag law , lies about innocent man to have his guns confiscated LBJ 's system depends on turning the people of the inner city into `` cash cows '' and never letting them break free of government dependency .
I believe the Holy Spirit has given me the solution to this problem .
In 2008 , my wife , Anne , and I moved to inner-city Springfield , Massachusetts , the most poverty-stricken and broken down city in the most morally corrupt state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Springfield was listed by Forbes Magazine as one of the `` Ten Fasted Dying Cities '' in America .
We bought the worst house in arguably the worst inner-city neighborhood and established an inner-city mission there .
We spent the next seven years working to redeem the city through evangelism and good works , establishing a church and organizing Christians from many other churches in the Greater Springfield area to join us in the effort .
The mission continues to this day with the same goals .
It was one of our church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Native American grandmother who had worked many years in social service agencies in Boston , who first educated me about how the Democrats enslaved inner-city families as `` cash cows . ''
She told me Springfield was known in her circles ( people who resent government dependency – and there are a lot of them ) as a `` Catfish Farm '' where the homeless , mentally ill , alcoholic , drug addict , disabled , etc .
can be congregated together .
The purpose of the Catfish Farm is to spend as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so more money is available for perpetuating Democratic political control .
In 2014 and 2018 , I ran for governor of Massachusetts to have a platform to advocate the biblical worldview in that dark arena .
Those campaigns allowed me to see deeper into the shadows of Massachusetts politics than the average citizen , and I confirmed and added to what our church member had told me .
Further study of history and politics allowed me to put the jigsaw puzzle together as to how it came about , as I described above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and over time came to realize that the key to breaking the Democrats ' stranglehold is to set the captives free .
And the very simple strategy for doing it is for the pastors and churches of the red areas to partner with the pastors and churches of the blue inner-cities to promote and facilitate entrepreneurialism as a viable alternative to socialism and predatory corporatism ( which work hand in hand to ensure there are no options but government handouts or subsistence-level employment in corporate franchises that suck all the money out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocating is a church-wide , conservative-movement-wide campaign to liberate inner-city families from government dependency through entrepreneurialism .
It 's goal is for every inner-city home to be owned by the family that occupies it , and every business lining the streets owned by people in the neighborhood .
Every child in the inner city will know that owning their own business someday is not only possible , but likely if they follow the example of their neighbors , and every resident will know about and value the philosophy of keeping money in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for local prosperity and `` legacy wealth '' for its residents .
This is just good politics : what I call Flip One to Win Two .
For every person we break free from government dependency we pinch off an income stream to the Dems , while adding an ally in the quest to restore American greatness .
We get two for one .
But it 's also good theology : because The One who set us free wants us to follow His example in everything we do .
This will be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
If you want to be a part of it , please sign up here – and please forward this article to your pastor .

In my opinion, Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) was the most wicked man ever to hold the office of president of the United States. While more recent Democratic presidents are strong contenders for that designation, their own corrupt "achievements" would not have been possible without reliance on LBJ's system for permanent Democratic control of America's major population centers.
Because of LBJ, America's big cities became virtually unconquerable strongholds of socialist power through enslavement of individuals and families to multi-generational government dependency. Very simply, LBJ's strategy was to establish vast reservoirs of taxpayer money at the federal level to fight for "social justice" and to disburse those funds to government agencies and NGOs at the state and local level "where the needs are greatest."
Because Republicans and conservatives naturally opposed this quintessentially Marxist wealth redistribution scheme, they (rightfully but unsuccessfully) resisted it, while the Democrats eagerly established conduits to receive "their share" of the federal largess and quickly built "social welfare" systems to put that money to work creating vast armies of unionized public employees with a strongly vested interest in keeping those Democrats in power.
Voila, America's major population centers turned an increasingly deeper shade of blue, whose concentrated political power could be easily leveraged to steer, if not outright control state policy. Add to this the Agenda 21 (now Agenda 2030) strategy of the United Nations to drive people out of the rural areas into the cities, and you have a recipe for incrementally establishing a global socialist order, using the takedown of America – the Land of the Free – as proof to the world that resistance is futile.
As far as I know, there has never been an example of a major American city flipping from blue to red since LBJ set up this system (RINOs don't count), not even in the most conservative states, while there have been many examples of red states flipping blue because of the growth of the cities. The entire political process is further unbalanced because Democrats enjoy both an "economy of scale" and geographically concentrated power, while Republicans' power base is scattered across the rural landscape, requiring greater manpower and money to organize.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
LBJ's system depends on turning the people of the inner city into "cash cows" and never letting them break free of government dependency. I believe the Holy Spirit has given me the solution to this problem.
In 2008, my wife, Anne, and I moved to inner-city Springfield, Massachusetts, the most poverty-stricken and broken down city in the most morally corrupt state in the nation. At that time Springfield was listed by Forbes Magazine as one of the "Ten Fasted Dying Cities" in America. We bought the worst house in arguably the worst inner-city neighborhood and established an inner-city mission there. We spent the next seven years working to redeem the city through evangelism and good works, establishing a church and organizing Christians from many other churches in the Greater Springfield area to join us in the effort. The mission continues to this day with the same goals.
It was one of our church members, a half black, half Native American grandmother who had worked many years in social service agencies in Boston, who first educated me about how the Democrats enslaved inner-city families as "cash cows." She told me Springfield was known in her circles (people who resent government dependency – and there are a lot of them) as a "Catfish Farm" where the homeless, mentally ill, alcoholic, drug addict, disabled, etc. can be congregated together. The purpose of the Catfish Farm is to spend as little money as possible on the needy so more money is available for perpetuating Democratic political control.
In 2014 and 2018, I ran for governor of Massachusetts to have a platform to advocate the biblical worldview in that dark arena. Those campaigns allowed me to see deeper into the shadows of Massachusetts politics than the average citizen, and I confirmed and added to what our church member had told me. Further study of history and politics allowed me to put the jigsaw puzzle together as to how it came about, as I described above.
I also began pondering the solution and over time came to realize that the key to breaking the Democrats' stranglehold is to set the captives free. And the very simple strategy for doing it is for the pastors and churches of the red areas to partner with the pastors and churches of the blue inner-cities to promote and facilitate entrepreneurialism as a viable alternative to socialism and predatory corporatism (which work hand in hand to ensure there are no options but government handouts or subsistence-level employment in corporate franchises that suck all the money out of the community).
What I am advocating is a church-wide, conservative-movement-wide campaign to liberate inner-city families from government dependency through entrepreneurialism. It's goal is for every inner-city home to be owned by the family that occupies it, and every business lining the streets owned by people in the neighborhood. Every child in the inner city will know that owning their own business someday is not only possible, but likely if they follow the example of their neighbors, and every resident will know about and value the philosophy of keeping money in the community where it can establish a basis for local prosperity and "legacy wealth" for its residents.
This is just good politics: what I call Flip One to Win Two. For every person we break free from government dependency we pinch off an income stream to the Dems, while adding an ally in the quest to restore American greatness. We get two for one. But it's also good theology: because The One who set us free wants us to follow His example in everything we do.
This will be a strategy of my Revolutionary Remnant Regiment in 2020. If you want to be a part of it, please sign up here – and please forward this article to your pastor.


wnd--2020-01-20--Neighborhood dog shows up at Subway's door every night for dinner, becomes internet sensation

Stray dogs are more than an occasional sight in some places .
While in many neighborhoods a loose dog will be picked up and taken to a shelter or back home immediately , there are places where the stray dogs roam and are `` adopted '' by multiple people who look out for them .
That seems to be the case for a pup in Portales , New Mexico , who appears healthy and well-kept but does n't have an `` owner , '' per se .
The dog -- which looks like an Australian shepherd mix -- has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made her way around town , seeming to know what she 's about and where she 's going .
She was a familiar face in Portales , but after a young man who works at a Subway there posted a video of her , over 10 million people found out about her .
According to KRQE , people have been visiting the Subway in hopes of spotting the now-famous pup and getting a picture with her .
TRENDING : Woman abuses red-flag law , lies about innocent man to have his guns confiscated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted on TikTok about `` Subway Sally '' waiting patiently at the Subway door each night for tasty handouts .
She peers in through the glass until some kind soul brings her a little paper-wrapped parcel of goodies , which she inhales before slipping off into the night again .
Luhman says Sally has been a regular ever since he started working about a year ago , and she clearly knows her way around .
In fact , if she does n't get her handout quickly enough at Subway , she goes across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She looks well-fed , so she probably has other spots she frequents as well .
While hearts were initially warmed at the kindhearted meal , people soon began asking questions .
How could she be a stray if she were in such good , clean condition ?
Why did n't anyone try to give her a home ?
Luhman had answers for these sharp inquiries .
A lady who owns a flower shop next door grooms her , according to what Luhman said in one of his videos .
Sally has had at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about her .
When people asked why he has n't taken her to the local shelter , he said he would n't take her because it was 20 miles away and high-kill .
He also said he had cats himself and ca n't take her in , but that she seems to have a place that she sleeps .
Apparently , some people have tried to give Sally a home , but she 's incorrigibly her own woman and finds her way back onto the streets eventually .
In another video , Luhman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of college girls '' trying to get Sally in their car , but then he showed another video of the dog back in her same old spot later on .
Luhman explained that a lot of people in his town do n't have enough money to properly care for their pets , which is part of why the strays are so common -- and if they continue to have pups , like Sally , the number only increases .
To help out the situation , Luhman told CBS that he hopes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that people can feed their animals at home .
Hopefully that , along with spaying and neutering , will help decrease the number of pups out on the road .
But for now , at least Subway Sally has people who look out for her , and Luhman promised he and his coworkers would continue to feed her .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Stray dogs are more than an occasional sight in some places. While in many neighborhoods a loose dog will be picked up and taken to a shelter or back home immediately, there are places where the stray dogs roam and are "adopted" by multiple people who look out for them.
That seems to be the case for a pup in Portales, New Mexico, who appears healthy and well-kept but doesn't have an "owner," per se.
The dog -- which looks like an Australian shepherd mix -- has been around for a while, and has made her way around town, seeming to know what she's about and where she's going.
She was a familiar face in Portales, but after a young man who works at a Subway there posted a video of her, over 10 million people found out about her.
According to KRQE, people have been visiting the Subway in hopes of spotting the now-famous pup and getting a picture with her.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The Subway employee, Giovanni Luhman, posted on TikTok about "Subway Sally" waiting patiently at the Subway door each night for tasty handouts. She peers in through the glass until some kind soul brings her a little paper-wrapped parcel of goodies, which she inhales before slipping off into the night again.
Luhman says Sally has been a regular ever since he started working about a year ago, and she clearly knows her way around.
In fact, if she doesn't get her handout quickly enough at Subway, she goes across the way to Taco Bell instead. She looks well-fed, so she probably has other spots she frequents as well.
While hearts were initially warmed at the kindhearted meal, people soon began asking questions. How could she be a stray if she were in such good, clean condition? Why didn't anyone try to give her a home?
Luhman had answers for these sharp inquiries. A lady who owns a flower shop next door grooms her, according to what Luhman said in one of his videos.
Sally has had at least 4 litters since Luhman has known about her. When people asked why he hasn't taken her to the local shelter, he said he wouldn't take her because it was 20 miles away and high-kill.
He also said he had cats himself and can't take her in, but that she seems to have a place that she sleeps.
Apparently, some people have tried to give Sally a home, but she's incorrigibly her own woman and finds her way back onto the streets eventually.
In another video, Luhman films what he describes as a "group of college girls" trying to get Sally in their car, but then he showed another video of the dog back in her same old spot later on.
Luhman explained that a lot of people in his town don't have enough money to properly care for their pets, which is part of why the strays are so common -- and if they continue to have pups, like Sally, the number only increases.
To help out the situation, Luhman told CBS that he hopes to start a pet food drive for locals so that people can feed their animals at home. Hopefully that, along with spaying and neutering, will help decrease the number of pups out on the road.
But for now, at least Subway Sally has people who look out for her, and Luhman promised he and his coworkers would continue to feed her.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-01-20--Is mass civil disobedience our future?

Is mass civil disobedience our future?

On the holiday set aside in 2020 to honor Martin Luther King , the premier advocate of nonviolent Gandhian civil disobedience , thousands of gun owners gathered in Richmond to petition peacefully for their rights .
King had preached that there was a higher law that justified breaking existing laws that mandated racial segregation .
When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in the front of the bus in Montgomery , when Freedom Riders integrated bus terminals , when black students sat at segregated lunch counters in North Carolina , they challenged state law in the name of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And Virginia gun owners believe their moral obligation to protect families , friends and themselves in a violent society justifies their right to keep and carry firearms , no matter what the Virginia legislature says .
Americans have a long history of breaching laws in the name of a higher law or God-given rights .
TRENDING : Woman abuses red-flag law , lies about innocent man to have his guns confiscated The patriots of Boston gathered an arsenal at Concord in defiance of the British .
To protest a tea tax imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indians and threw shiploads of imported tea into Boston Harbor .
Shays ' Rebellion in Massachusetts , to protest debt collections in 1786-87 , and the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania , to protest a tax , both had to be crushed with force .
Abolitionists supported the violation of fugitive slave laws , the enforcement of which Lincoln endorsed in his first inaugural as a national necessity to restore and preserve the Union .
A constitutional prohibition of the sale of beer , wine and liquor in the U.S. , following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to massive civil disobedience in the Roaring '20s , before it was repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment .
During Vietnam , burning draft cards was a regular feature of antiwar rallies .
Historians may describe the racial riots of the 1960s – Harlem , Watts , Newark , Detroit , and 100 U.S. cities including Washington , D.C. , after King 's assassination – as popular uprisings , but many required National Guard and federal troops to stop the looting , shooting and arson .
By the late 1960s , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 , could not visit a college campus without a violent demonstration .
This week , Washington hosts the 46th annual March for Life to commemorate the 60 million unborn killed in the abortion mills of America since Roe v. Wade in 1973 .
In conservative states , restrictions imposed on abortion facilities have put some out of business .
The legislators and governors who have done so believe the right to life trumps the Warren Court ruling in Roe v. Wade .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ today is the illegal presence of between 12 million and 20 million immigrants who broke into our country or are breaking the law by being here after their visas expired .
Their collaborators are the business owners who hire them and the public officials who refuse to treat them as lawbreakers .
`` Sanctuary cities '' have been created where local and state authorities refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement .
Now , towns , cities and counties are creating `` Second Amendment sanctuaries , '' where laws restricting gun rights will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police , themselves gun owners , stand with those who defy the new state laws on guns , who enforces the new laws ?
The Virginia Senate has begun to move bills requiring background checks for gun purchasers , including red flag laws to disarm individuals deemed at risk to themselves or others and bills granting permission for locales to restrict the carrying of arms in government buildings and confining the purchases of handguns to one a month .
There are other restrictions the Democratic legislature in Richmond and governor are ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullets in clips and magazines and halting sales of rifles like the AR-15 .
Gun owners see these as the onset of an all-out assault on gun rights .
For a republic to endure , there has to be a common consent on the rule of law and what constitutes a good society .
But these seem to be at issue again in America .
Is abortion the killing of an innocent human being ?
Do Americans have a constitutional and human right to keep and carry firearms to protect themselves and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not a rightful resident of our national home ?
Do illegal migrants have a right to come here and stay here ?
Or do their numbers imperil our national identity and existence as `` one nation and one people '' ?
Violent crime was greater in America in the early 1990s .
Urban riots were far more common in the 1960s .
And there is nothing today comparable to the bloodletting of the 1861-65 War Between the States .
Still , Americans seem to disagree with each other more and to dislike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lifetime of most of us .
One wonders : How does it all stay together ?
And for how long ?

On the holiday set aside in 2020 to honor Martin Luther King, the premier advocate of nonviolent Gandhian civil disobedience, thousands of gun owners gathered in Richmond to petition peacefully for their rights.
King had preached that there was a higher law that justified breaking existing laws that mandated racial segregation.
When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in the front of the bus in Montgomery, when Freedom Riders integrated bus terminals, when black students sat at segregated lunch counters in North Carolina, they challenged state law in the name of what they said was a higher law.
And Virginia gun owners believe their moral obligation to protect families, friends and themselves in a violent society justifies their right to keep and carry firearms, no matter what the Virginia legislature says.
Americans have a long history of breaching laws in the name of a higher law or God-given rights.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The patriots of Boston gathered an arsenal at Concord in defiance of the British. To protest a tea tax imposed by Parliament, they dressed as American Indians and threw shiploads of imported tea into Boston Harbor.
Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts, to protest debt collections in 1786-87, and the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, to protest a tax, both had to be crushed with force.
Abolitionists supported the violation of fugitive slave laws, the enforcement of which Lincoln endorsed in his first inaugural as a national necessity to restore and preserve the Union.
A constitutional prohibition of the sale of beer, wine and liquor in the U.S., following the enactment of the 18th Amendment, led to massive civil disobedience in the Roaring '20s, before it was repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment.
During Vietnam, burning draft cards was a regular feature of antiwar rallies.
Historians may describe the racial riots of the 1960s – Harlem, Watts, Newark, Detroit, and 100 U.S. cities including Washington, D.C., after King's assassination – as popular uprisings, but many required National Guard and federal troops to stop the looting, shooting and arson.
By the late 1960s, LBJ, who had passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, could not visit a college campus without a violent demonstration.
This week, Washington hosts the 46th annual March for Life to commemorate the 60 million unborn killed in the abortion mills of America since Roe v. Wade in 1973.
In conservative states, restrictions imposed on abortion facilities have put some out of business. The legislators and governors who have done so believe the right to life trumps the Warren Court ruling in Roe v. Wade.
Perhaps the greatest manifestation of civil disobedience today is the illegal presence of between 12 million and 20 million immigrants who broke into our country or are breaking the law by being here after their visas expired.
Their collaborators are the business owners who hire them and the public officials who refuse to treat them as lawbreakers.
"Sanctuary cities" have been created where local and state authorities refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
Now, towns, cities and counties are creating "Second Amendment sanctuaries," where laws restricting gun rights will not be enforced.
If state and local police, themselves gun owners, stand with those who defy the new state laws on guns, who enforces the new laws?
The Virginia Senate has begun to move bills requiring background checks for gun purchasers, including red flag laws to disarm individuals deemed at risk to themselves or others and bills granting permission for locales to restrict the carrying of arms in government buildings and confining the purchases of handguns to one a month.
There are other restrictions the Democratic legislature in Richmond and governor are ready to move, including restricting the number of bullets in clips and magazines and halting sales of rifles like the AR-15.
Gun owners see these as the onset of an all-out assault on gun rights.
For a republic to endure, there has to be a common consent on the rule of law and what constitutes a good society. But these seem to be at issue again in America.
Is abortion the killing of an innocent human being? Do Americans have a constitutional and human right to keep and carry firearms to protect themselves and their loved ones?
Who is and who is not a rightful resident of our national home?
Do illegal migrants have a right to come here and stay here? Or do their numbers imperil our national identity and existence as "one nation and one people"?
Violent crime was greater in America in the early 1990s. Urban riots were far more common in the 1960s. And there is nothing today comparable to the bloodletting of the 1861-65 War Between the States.
Still, Americans seem to disagree with each other more and to dislike each other more than they have in the lifetime of most of us.
One wonders: How does it all stay together? And for how long?


wnd--2020-01-20--Latest Stockman ruling: Nonprofits should be terrified

If you raise money for a nonprofit , but do n't finish all of the projects you were raising it for , you could go to prison for 10 years .
This is no exaggeration .
This is what happened to former Rep. Steve Stockman of Texas .
Earlier this month , the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a conviction against him for that very reason .
Two of the three judges on the panel were Obama appointees .
The third judge , who wrote the opinion , is 82 and was so ill he never showed up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a politically charged opinion , evidenced right in its sarcastic opening statement , which makes light of a serious case impacting a man 's life .
Stockman was a very outspoken conservative congressman who appears to have been targeted by the left through the legal system .
But this ruling sets a chilling precedent for nonprofit c3s and c4s of all political stripes .
This terrible decision , which ignored several of the 5th Circuit 's own precedents , could be used against Democratic nonprofits just as easily .
What happened was Stockman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ross Center , a 501c3 he controlled .
He told the donor , Stanford Z. Rothschild Jr. , that the money was to go to voter education for Jewish voters in Florida as well as a fundraiser .
Meanwhile , Stockman received a salary from the Ross Center – nothing odd about that .
The 5th Circuit opinion ignored the work he 'd done related to the project , which included making a book and the fact the money was legitimately spent on a fundraiser .
Instead , they claimed he misused the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his salary on personal items for himself .
But how he spent his salary was his own business .
The opinion deliberately left out the fact he was spending money from his salary , in order to come to its twisted conclusion .
The judge wrote , `` He quickly diverted donor money to personal and political projects having nothing to do with philanthropy or education ( emphasis added ) . ''
Even more dishonestly , the court looked at credit card statements from four years before the donations were even made to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rothschild offered to donate money to be used for voter education .
He contributed $ 165,000 to the Ross Center and to another nonprofit Stockman ran , Life Without Limits .
Again , Stockman paid himself a salary and used it on various personal items , including a loan to his political campaign .
TRENDING : Woman abuses red-flag law , lies about innocent man to have his guns confiscated In 2013 , businessman Richard Uihlein offered to contribute $ 350,000 for projects by the Congressional Freedom Foundation .
The prosecution honed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the project , obtaining a house called `` Freedom House , '' was not completed .
And yet again , the 5th Circuit opinion poured over the personal items Stockman spent his separate salary on .
In 2014 , Uihlein gave $ 450,571.65 to the Post Office in order to send out an educational mailer for Stockman 's political campaign .
They mailed fewer than planned , but that 's common , and applied funds raised to other legitimate nonprofit costs as well .
The 5th Circuit admitted in its opinion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to print and distribute hundreds of thousands of copies of The Conservative News . ''
About half of the money was spent on that .
But since the direct mail portion ended up not taking place , the court claimed it was a fraudulent scheme .
The court also falsely wrote in its opinion that Uihlein wrote his check to one of Stockman 's nonprofits , and said that Stockman called off the mailing .
The truth is the vendor could not complete the task because his shop could not handle that much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process crimes , which are meant to pile on , and crimes that normally are handled civilly by correcting a filing .
Wire fraud and mail fraud simply mean the person used the mail and the telephone while they were committing crimes .
Money laundering means there was money involved in the crimes .
The campaign counts and tax return count should have never risen to the level of a crime .
Stockman should have been allowed to correct the filings civilly as most people are .
The 5th Circuit opinion allowed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 501c4s in the jury instructions to stand .
The jury instructions were confusing and gave the jury only a partial understanding of what nonprofits can and ca n't do with donations .
The trial court also used an unfair standard to convict Stockman of violating campaign finance laws .
Stockman did not set up an excessive contribution to his campaign because The Conservative News mailer was n't `` express advocacy '' so it did not constitute a `` contribution . ''
The literature did n't say `` vote for '' or use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was merely educational .
But the trial court confused the jury into thinking it was express advocacy .
According to the government 's own case agent , FBI Agent Spencer Brooks , The Conservative News did not contain any `` express advocacy . ''
There was no precedent until recently for turning the alleged campaign violation of a coordinated contribution into a crime .
The appeals panel , however , chose to disregard its own circuit precedent about independent expenditures , and therefore reached an egregious and unprecedented result on the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment protections , and regulation must be narrow .
The opinion did n't even mention the First Amendment .
This should terrify any nonprofit that gets close to any political campaigns .
The 5th Circuit 's opinion is written sarcastically , mocking Stockman , who has now been languishing in a prison cell for over two years .
Stockman did not implement `` a scheme to deprive two donors of their money and property . ''
The donors knew exactly what their money was going to and approved of it .
Rothschild admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been adequately spent .
Unfortunately , he passed away before he could be called to testify at trial .
One of the key witnesses for the prosecution , Ben Wetmore , has subsequently said that Stockman is innocent .
He has gone over all of the charges against Stockman and explained why they were wrong .
Stockman has an impeccable background with no criminal convictions until now .
The Department of Justice is out of control , and it 's unfortunate President Donald Trump has not been able to clean it up yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stockman to send a message to outspoken conservative elected officials : Back down or you will pay .
Convicted murderers have served less than 10 years in prison .
Let 's hope wiser heads at the U.S. Supreme Court agree to take this case .
Alternatively , Trump needs to pardon Stockman .

If you raise money for a nonprofit, but don't finish all of the projects you were raising it for, you could go to prison for 10 years. This is no exaggeration. This is what happened to former Rep. Steve Stockman of Texas. Earlier this month, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a conviction against him for that very reason. Two of the three judges on the panel were Obama appointees. The third judge, who wrote the opinion, is 82 and was so ill he never showed up for oral arguments. Shockingly, he wrote a politically charged opinion, evidenced right in its sarcastic opening statement, which makes light of a serious case impacting a man's life.
Stockman was a very outspoken conservative congressman who appears to have been targeted by the left through the legal system. But this ruling sets a chilling precedent for nonprofit c3s and c4s of all political stripes. This terrible decision, which ignored several of the 5th Circuit's own precedents, could be used against Democratic nonprofits just as easily.
What happened was Stockman raised $285,000 in 2010 for the Ross Center, a 501c3 he controlled. He told the donor, Stanford Z. Rothschild Jr., that the money was to go to voter education for Jewish voters in Florida as well as a fundraiser. Meanwhile, Stockman received a salary from the Ross Center – nothing odd about that. The 5th Circuit opinion ignored the work he'd done related to the project, which included making a book and the fact the money was legitimately spent on a fundraiser.
Instead, they claimed he misused the funds, because he chose to spend his salary on personal items for himself. But how he spent his salary was his own business. The opinion deliberately left out the fact he was spending money from his salary, in order to come to its twisted conclusion. The judge wrote, "He quickly diverted donor money to personal and political projects having nothing to do with philanthropy or education (emphasis added)." Even more dishonestly, the court looked at credit card statements from four years before the donations were even made to find personal expenses!
Again in 2011, Rothschild offered to donate money to be used for voter education. He contributed $165,000 to the Ross Center and to another nonprofit Stockman ran, Life Without Limits. Again, Stockman paid himself a salary and used it on various personal items, including a loan to his political campaign.
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In 2013, businessman Richard Uihlein offered to contribute $350,000 for projects by the Congressional Freedom Foundation. The prosecution honed in on the fact that one part of the project, obtaining a house called "Freedom House," was not completed. And yet again, the 5th Circuit opinion poured over the personal items Stockman spent his separate salary on.
In 2014, Uihlein gave $450,571.65 to the Post Office in order to send out an educational mailer for Stockman's political campaign. They mailed fewer than planned, but that's common, and applied funds raised to other legitimate nonprofit costs as well. The 5th Circuit admitted in its opinion, "The 2014 Uihlein funds were used to print and distribute hundreds of thousands of copies of The Conservative News." About half of the money was spent on that. But since the direct mail portion ended up not taking place, the court claimed it was a fraudulent scheme. The court also falsely wrote in its opinion that Uihlein wrote his check to one of Stockman's nonprofits, and said that Stockman called off the mailing. The truth is the vendor could not complete the task because his shop could not handle that much mail.
Stockman was convicted of merely process crimes, which are meant to pile on, and crimes that normally are handled civilly by correcting a filing. Wire fraud and mail fraud simply mean the person used the mail and the telephone while they were committing crimes. Money laundering means there was money involved in the crimes. The campaign counts and tax return count should have never risen to the level of a crime. Stockman should have been allowed to correct the filings civilly as most people are.
The 5th Circuit opinion allowed the trial court's misleading description of 501c3s and 501c4s in the jury instructions to stand. The jury instructions were confusing and gave the jury only a partial understanding of what nonprofits can and can't do with donations.
The trial court also used an unfair standard to convict Stockman of violating campaign finance laws. Stockman did not set up an excessive contribution to his campaign because The Conservative News mailer wasn't "express advocacy" so it did not constitute a "contribution." The literature didn't say "vote for" or use that kind of clear advocacy language; it was merely educational. But the trial court confused the jury into thinking it was express advocacy. According to the government's own case agent, FBI Agent Spencer Brooks, The Conservative News did not contain any "express advocacy."
There was no precedent until recently for turning the alleged campaign violation of a coordinated contribution into a crime. The appeals panel, however, chose to disregard its own circuit precedent about independent expenditures, and therefore reached an egregious and unprecedented result on the campaign finance issue. Political speech has First Amendment protections, and regulation must be narrow. The opinion didn't even mention the First Amendment. This should terrify any nonprofit that gets close to any political campaigns.
The 5th Circuit's opinion is written sarcastically, mocking Stockman, who has now been languishing in a prison cell for over two years. Stockman did not implement "a scheme to deprive two donors of their money and property." The donors knew exactly what their money was going to and approved of it. Rothschild admitted afterward that he thought his money had been adequately spent. Unfortunately, he passed away before he could be called to testify at trial.
One of the key witnesses for the prosecution, Ben Wetmore, has subsequently said that Stockman is innocent. He has gone over all of the charges against Stockman and explained why they were wrong.
Stockman has an impeccable background with no criminal convictions until now. The Department of Justice is out of control, and it's unfortunate President Donald Trump has not been able to clean it up yet. Left-wing prosecutors targeted and overly prosecuted Stockman to send a message to outspoken conservative elected officials: Back down or you will pay. Convicted murderers have served less than 10 years in prison. Let's hope wiser heads at the U.S. Supreme Court agree to take this case. Alternatively, Trump needs to pardon Stockman.


wnd--2020-01-20--2 disturbing deceptions at heart of Dems' impeachment brief

Two major `` deceptions '' lie at the heart of the House Democrats ' impeachment brief , contends Byron York in an analysis for the Washington Examiner .
Democrats say Trump must be `` immediately '' removed `` to safeguard the 2020 U.S. election , '' contending he was the knowing beneficiary of Russian help in the 2016 election and plans to do it again .
But in making their argument , argues York , Democrats make two critical mischaracterizations about Trump , Republicans and 2016 .
`` One is flat-out wrong , while the other is misleading , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red-flag law , lies about innocent man to have his guns confiscated The deception that is flat-out wrong , says York , is the Democrats ' assertion that Trump wanted Ukraine to investigate `` a debunked conspiracy theory that Russia did not interfere in the 2016 presidential election to aid President Trump , but instead that Ukraine interfered in that election to aid President Trump 's opponent , Hillary Clinton . ''
The misleading mischaracterization in the Democratic brief is the assertion that , in 2016 , Trump `` welcomed Russia 's election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mischaracterization in the Democratic brief is a mistake .
`` Democratic prosecutors know full well what actually happened , '' he said .
`` But the mischaracterizations are necessary to build the case against the president , to show that he had corrupt motives in the Ukraine matter . ''
In a 110-page response , President Trump 's legal team called the House 's impeachment case `` flimsy '' and a `` dangerous perversion of the Constitution . ''
The charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress do not amount to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contends .
Regarding Russia , York points out that the White House is not saying that Russia did not interfere .
The first congressional probe , by the House Intelligence Committee under then-chairman Devin Nunes , concluded as much .
The theory posited by the White House , he says , is that `` in addition to Russian interference , some people in Ukraine , including some government officials , also tried to influence the U.S .
election . ''
Among the evidence cited by supporters of the president : • Ukraine 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambassador to the U.S. condemned Trump during the campaign via social media .
• Ukrainian Parliament member attacked Paul Manafort , including publicizing a `` black ledger '' that contained an unverified allegation about Manafort being paid in cash for work in Ukraine .
• Anti-Trump figures in Ukraine connected to Fusion GPS , the American opposition research firm behind the debunked Steele dossier .
• The Democratic National Committee employee who sought dirt on Trump from anti-Trump elements in Ukraine , Alexandra Chalupa .
`` None of that is definitive , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York writes .
`` And it is not a denial of Russian interference but a recognition that in addition to that interference , some in Ukraine also tried to influence the election . ''
The brief quotes special counsel Robert Mueller 's report that the Trump campaign welcomed Russian help because it `` expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts . ''
While Trump did welcome leaks about the Clinton campaign , it was because the media were enthusiastically embracing and repeating Russian-based leaks about the Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the headlines : • `` CNN Cuts Ties to Analyst as Emails Show She Tipped Off Clinton Allies '' ( 11/1/16 ) • Trump `` was n't welcoming something that everyone else was condemning . ''
`` He was welcoming something that everyone else was welcoming , too , '' York says .
`` And now , in retrospect , that is a terrible offense , part of the foundation for removing the president from office ? ''

Two major "deceptions" lie at the heart of the House Democrats' impeachment brief, contends Byron York in an analysis for the Washington Examiner.
Democrats say Trump must be "immediately" removed "to safeguard the 2020 U.S. election," contending he was the knowing beneficiary of Russian help in the 2016 election and plans to do it again.
But in making their argument, argues York, Democrats make two critical mischaracterizations about Trump, Republicans and 2016.
"One is flat-out wrong, while the other is misleading," he writes.
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The deception that is flat-out wrong, says York, is the Democrats' assertion that Trump wanted Ukraine to investigate "a debunked conspiracy theory that Russia did not interfere in the 2016 presidential election to aid President Trump, but instead that Ukraine interfered in that election to aid President Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton."
The misleading mischaracterization in the Democratic brief is the assertion that, in 2016, Trump "welcomed Russia's election interference."
York contends that neither mischaracterization in the Democratic brief is a mistake.
"Democratic prosecutors know full well what actually happened," he said. "But the mischaracterizations are necessary to build the case against the president, to show that he had corrupt motives in the Ukraine matter."
In a 110-page response, President Trump's legal team called the House's impeachment case "flimsy" and a "dangerous perversion of the Constitution."
The charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress do not amount to impeachable offenses, the White House team contends.
Ukraine and Russia
Regarding Russia, York points out that the White House is not saying that Russia did not interfere. The first congressional probe, by the House Intelligence Committee under then-chairman Devin Nunes, concluded as much. The theory posited by the White House, he says, is that "in addition to Russian interference, some people in Ukraine, including some government officials, also tried to influence the U.S. election."
Among the evidence cited by supporters of the president:
Ukraine's interior minister, former prime minister and ambassador to the U.S. condemned Trump during the campaign via social media.
Ukrainian Parliament member attacked Paul Manafort, including publicizing a "black ledger" that contained an unverified allegation about Manafort being paid in cash for work in Ukraine.
Anti-Trump figures in Ukraine connected to Fusion GPS, the American opposition research firm behind the debunked Steele dossier.
The Democratic National Committee employee who sought dirt on Trump from anti-Trump elements in Ukraine, Alexandra Chalupa.
"None of that is definitive, but it is also not debunked," York writes. "And it is not a denial of Russian interference but a recognition that in addition to that interference, some in Ukraine also tried to influence the election."
Leaks widely welcomed
The brief quotes special counsel Robert Mueller's report that the Trump campaign welcomed Russian help because it "expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts."
While Trump did welcome leaks about the Clinton campaign, it was because the media were enthusiastically embracing and repeating Russian-based leaks about the Clinton campaign, York argues.
York noted some of the headlines:
"CNN Cuts Ties to Analyst as Emails Show She Tipped Off Clinton Allies" (11/1/16)
"Leaks Lay Bare a Longtime Clinton Adviser's Unflinching Straight Talk" (10/29/16)
"Chelsea Clinton's Frustrations and Devotion Shown in Hacked Emails" (10/28/16)
"Donations to Foundation Vexed Hillary Clinton's Aides, Emails Show" (10/26/16)
Trump "wasn't welcoming something that everyone else was condemning."
"He was welcoming something that everyone else was welcoming, too," York says. "And now, in retrospect, that is a terrible offense, part of the foundation for removing the president from office?"


wnd--2020-01-20--Why are so many young people unhappy?

Why are so many young people unhappy?

Here are some unhappy statistics : • In America between 1946 and 2006 , the suicide rate quadrupled for males ages 15 to 24 and doubled for females the same age .
• In 1950 , the suicide rate per 100,000 Americans was 11.4 .
In 2017 , it was 14 .
• According to Grant Duwe , director of research and evaluation at the Minnesota Department of Corrections , in the 1980s , there were 32 mass public shootings ( which he defines as incidents in which four or more people are killed publicly with guns within 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were 42 .
In the first decade of this century , there were 28 .
In all the 1950s , when there were fewer controls on guns , there was one .
Fifty years before that , in the 1900s , there were none .
• Reuters Health reported in 2019 , `` Suicidal thinking , severe depression and rates of self-injury among U.S. college students more than doubled over less than a decade , a nationwide study suggests . ''
The study co-author Jean Twenge , a psychology professor at San Diego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggests that something is seriously wrong in the lives of young people . ''
These data are not only applicable to Americans .
As social commentator Kay Hymowitz wrote in City Journal in 2019 : `` Loneliness , public-health experts tell us , is killing as many people as obesity and smoking .
… Germans are lonely , the bon vivant French are lonely , and even the Scandinavians – the happiest people in the world , according to the UN 's World Happiness Report – are lonely , too .
British prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Loneliness . '
...
Consider Japan , a country now in the throes of an epidemic of kodokushi , roughly translated as 'lonely deaths . '
Local Japanese papers regularly publish stories about kinless elderly whose deaths go unnoticed until the telltale smell of maggot-eaten flesh alerts neighbors . ''
Though people have more money , better health care , better health , better housing and more education , and live longer than at any time in history , they – especially young people – are unhappier than at any time since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened ?
TRENDING : Woman abuses red-flag law , lies about innocent man to have his guns confiscated There are any number of reasons .
Increased use of illicit drugs and prescription drug abuse , and less human interaction because of constant cellphone use are two widely offered , valid explanations .
Less valid explanations include competition , grades anxiety , capitalism and income inequality .
And then there are young people 's fears that because of global warming , they have a bleak , and perhaps no , future .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of values and meaning over the last half-century .
America – and much of the rest of the West , but I will confine my discussion to America – was founded on two sets of values : Judeo-Christian and American .
This combination created the freest , most opportunity-giving , most affluent country in world history .
This is not chauvinism .
It is fact .
And it was regarded as such throughout the world .
That is why France gave America – and only America – the Statue of Liberty .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earth so wanted to immigrate to America – and still do .
Chief among American values was keeping government as small as possible .
This enabled nongovernmental institutions – Kiwanis International , Rotary International and Lions Clubs International ; book clubs ; the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts ; bowling leagues ; music societies ; and , of course , churches – to provide Americans with friends and to provide the neediest Americans with help .
But as government has gotten ever larger , many of these nongovernmental groups have dwindled in number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values is what is referred to as `` middle-class '' or `` bourgeois '' values .
These include getting married before one has a child ; making a family ; getting a job so as to be self-sustaining and sustain one 's family ; self-discipline ; delayed gratification ; and patriotism .
All of these have been under attack by America 's elites , with the following results : One in 5 young Americans has no contact with his or her father ( not including fathers who have died ) .
In 2011 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born to unmarried mothers .
In 1965 , it was 24 % .
In 2012 , 29 % of white children were born to unmarried women .
In 1965 , it was 3.1 % .
The majority of births to millennials are to unmarried women .
Yet , according to a 2018 Cigna study , single parents are generally the loneliest Americans .
Marriage and family are the single greatest sources of happiness for most people .
Yet , the percentage of American adults who have never been married is at a historic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not get married , or they will marry so late they will not have children .
In 1960 , 9 % of blacks ages 25 and older had never been married .
In 2012 , it was nearly 40 % .
And I have n't even mentioned the biggest problem : the loss of meaning in young people 's lives .
I will discuss that in part two .

Here are some unhappy statistics:
In America between 1946 and 2006, the suicide rate quadrupled for males ages 15 to 24 and doubled for females the same age.
In 1950, the suicide rate per 100,000 Americans was 11.4. In 2017, it was 14.
According to Grant Duwe, director of research and evaluation at the Minnesota Department of Corrections, in the 1980s, there were 32 mass public shootings (which he defines as incidents in which four or more people are killed publicly with guns within 24 hours). In the 1990s, there were 42. In the first decade of this century, there were 28. In all the 1950s, when there were fewer controls on guns, there was one. Fifty years before that, in the 1900s, there were none.
Reuters Health reported in 2019, "Suicidal thinking, severe depression and rates of self-injury among U.S. college students more than doubled over less than a decade, a nationwide study suggests." The study co-author Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, said, "It suggests that something is seriously wrong in the lives of young people."
These data are not only applicable to Americans. As social commentator Kay Hymowitz wrote in City Journal in 2019: "Loneliness, public-health experts tell us, is killing as many people as obesity and smoking. … Germans are lonely, the bon vivant French are lonely, and even the Scandinavians – the happiest people in the world, according to the UN's World Happiness Report – are lonely, too. British prime minister Theresa May recently appointed a 'Minister of Loneliness.' ... Consider Japan, a country now in the throes of an epidemic of kodokushi, roughly translated as 'lonely deaths.' Local Japanese papers regularly publish stories about kinless elderly whose deaths go unnoticed until the telltale smell of maggot-eaten flesh alerts neighbors."
Though people have more money, better health care, better health, better housing and more education, and live longer than at any time in history, they – especially young people – are unhappier than at any time since data collection began.
Why has this happened?
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There are any number of reasons. Increased use of illicit drugs and prescription drug abuse, and less human interaction because of constant cellphone use are two widely offered, valid explanations. Less valid explanations include competition, grades anxiety, capitalism and income inequality. And then there are young people's fears that because of global warming, they have a bleak, and perhaps no, future.
But the biggest reason may be the almost-complete loss of values and meaning over the last half-century.
Let's begin with values.
America – and much of the rest of the West, but I will confine my discussion to America – was founded on two sets of values: Judeo-Christian and American. This combination created the freest, most opportunity-giving, most affluent country in world history. This is not chauvinism. It is fact. And it was regarded as such throughout the world. That is why France gave America – and only America – the Statue of Liberty. That's why people from every country on Earth so wanted to immigrate to America – and still do.
Chief among American values was keeping government as small as possible. This enabled nongovernmental institutions – Kiwanis International, Rotary International and Lions Clubs International; book clubs; the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts; bowling leagues; music societies; and, of course, churches – to provide Americans with friends and to provide the neediest Americans with help. But as government has gotten ever larger, many of these nongovernmental groups have dwindled in number or simply disappeared.
Another set of values is what is referred to as "middle-class" or "bourgeois" values. These include getting married before one has a child; making a family; getting a job so as to be self-sustaining and sustain one's family; self-discipline; delayed gratification; and patriotism.
All of these have been under attack by America's elites, with the following results:
One in 5 young Americans has no contact with his or her father (not including fathers who have died).
In 2011, 72% of black children were born to unmarried mothers. In 1965, it was 24%. In 2012, 29% of white children were born to unmarried women. In 1965, it was 3.1%.
The majority of births to millennials are to unmarried women. Yet, according to a 2018 Cigna study, single parents are generally the loneliest Americans.
Marriage and family are the single greatest sources of happiness for most people. Yet, the percentage of American adults who have never been married is at a historic high. More Americans than ever will not get married, or they will marry so late they will not have children. In 1960, 9% of blacks ages 25 and older had never been married. In 2012, it was nearly 40%.
And I haven't even mentioned the biggest problem: the loss of meaning in young people's lives. I will discuss that in part two.