We the People A survey released for Independence Day in the U.S. shows that Americans cherish their freedoms. The poll, conducted by Vanderbilt University’s First Amendment Center, found the most important Constitutional right to Americans is the freedom of speech, followed by the freedom of religion and the right to bear arms. But when asked to name any of the guarantees in the Constitution’s First Amendment (freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble and the right to petition the government for the redress of grievances), 49 percent could not name even one. Worse, 53 percent said the press has “too much freedom,” and 35 percent thought the government ought to have the power to approve stories that newspapers publish, up from 20 percent just two years ago. (AP) ...“Ignorance, forgetfulness, or contempt of the rights of man are the only causes of public misfortunes and of the corruption of governments.” —Declaration of the Rights of Man (French National Assembly, 1791). - Copied from i.thisistrue.com
I have received two more responses, one from the Sacramento FBI Office and the other from the DIA. The Defense Intelligence Agency response surprised me, as I assumed, incorrectly I might add, that their letter would contain similar language to the CIA's. The DIA may be a member of the alphabet soup of agencies, but their response is more honest and straight-forward. View for yourself below.
Each item is less than a megabyte in size and each is two pages, the first being the envelope and the second being the letter.
DIA FOIA response
FBI Sacramento Office resonse
I am surprised by the speed of the government's response. I submitted my FOIA paperwork at the beginning of the month. I like how the DIA apologizes for the delay. Personally, I think this is rather quick. Anyways, I submit these for you to laugh at. That is all.
WJR
After submitting several requests for info about myself to various gov't agencies, here are the responses I received. The one that makes me really laugh out loud is the NSA. A two-page response to say that I am not privileged to know what they do or do not know about me. I hate secrecy and I do not believe our government has a right to "national security" protections. Read these and let me know what you think.
Three PDF files, between 855K and 1753K in size.
FBI response
US DOJ Marshall's Service response
NSA response
I got my letter to the Denver FBI office returned unopened with the notice that it is "Not Deliverable As Addressed. Unable To Forward." Not sure why that is, I am certain that the address is correct. Oh, well, still waiting on two more: the Secret Service and the CIA. The CIA response will probably be similar to the NSA, I am thinking.
WJR
I received this email and thought I would share it with everyone. I am on the C4L email list and I support the cause of liberty.
March 26, 2011
Dear Liberty Activist, In the past, I've written of abuses by the TSA, including its belief that you check your 4th Amendment rights the moment you purchase a plane ticket. The TSA's invasive screening tactics shame passengers into their potentially harmful porno scanners with the horrific thought of being groped by an agent if you refuse. As it turns out, while conducting tests on the radiation levels of these scanners, a number of them were coming back with higher levels than expected. "It would appear that the emissions are 10 times higher. We understand it as a calculation error," TSA spokesman Sarah Horowitz told Wired. A "calculation error." And yet, these are the people we are told are "keeping us safe?" Nevertheless, without hesitation, the government continues to install these scanners in airports across the country. If you thought virtual strip searches were a violation of your privacy, just wait until you hear the latest claim from the Department of Homeland Security. During oral arguments in a lawsuit filed by EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center), the DHS counsel claimed they have authority to "strip search every air traveler. The agency also stated that it believed a mandatory strip search rule could be instituted without any public comment or rulemaking." Have we given up enough of our liberties yet? Just when you thought flying couldn’t possibly get worse, union bosses are now trying to force union representation on TSA employees with a "vote" that is clearly stacked in the bosses' favor. In other words, that creepy TSA agent that almost seemed to enjoy feeling up you and your child will now be virtually impossible to fire for inappropriate behavior. From now on, security and passenger rights will play a secondary role to the union bosses' demands for "screener's rights." Remember when House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica claimed the solution to TSA abuses was for airports to "opt-out" of the TSA? Well, his "solution" turns out to be nothing more than a distraction to appease angry constituents. In reality, it rings hollower than Jimmy Hoffa's coffin. The "private screeners" are required by law to follow the same screening procedures as the TSA; in other words, even if the airports opt-out, nothing will change except the names and faces. The only viable solution here is to abolish the TSA. Since 9/11, blue-shirted, rubber-gloved government agents have not thwarted the major terrorist attempts on our airlines. In the real world, only alert passengers and flight crews stopped these attacks. It's time to bring a halt to our government's security theater. When the government claims to have a monopoly on keeping us safe, the chances of average people slipping into apathy are higher. Airlines have a responsibility to keep passengers protected and their planes safe and in the sky. After the TSA is abolished, we must return the responsibility for security to where it belongs - the private sector. Please consider chipping in $10 to help Campaign for Liberty continue to spread the message about the abuse of the American people's civil liberties by the TSA. Before the TSA becomes a protected, public-sector union unlikely to ever be downsized or replaced, the American people must demand swift action to reign in the unaccountable, rogue agency. In Liberty,
John Tate
President
P.S. C4L must expand its efforts if you and I are to stop the TSA and its assault on civil liberties. If you're able, please chip in just $10 to help my staff and me recruit even more Americans to this fight.
I suggest we all chip in a little something for this fight.
Will J. Robertsonriker17@yahoo.com
about.me/riker17
Every year, GoDaddy.com publishes a video in honor of our Independence Day and this year is no different. Only thing, the videos get better and better. View here: Happy July Fourth!
Happy 234th Birthday America!
WJR
Tomorrow, the flags will be waving and the bands will be playing, all in celebration of a day in history which does not involve America. The fifth of May is marked every year by legal and illegal alike and I don't like it. Wave your Mexican flags somewhere else, please!
The following is from an email that I rec'd recently:
MOVING TO MEXICO
Dear President Obama:
I'm planning to move my family and extended family into Mexico for my health, and I would like to ask you to assist me. We're planning to simply walk across the border from the U.S. Into Mexico, and we'll need your help to make a few arrangements. We plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here. So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Calderon, that I'm on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following: 1. Free medical care for my entire family. 2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not. 3. Please print all Mexican government forms in English. 4. I want my grandkids to be taught Spanish by English-speaking (bi-lingual) teachers. 5. Tell their schools they need to include classes on American culture and history. 6. I want my grandkids to see the American flag on one of the flag poles at their school. 7. Please plan to feed my grandkids at school for both breakfast and lunch. 8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services. 9. I do plan to get a car and drive in Mexico , but, I don't plan to purchase car insurance, and I probably won't make any special effort to learn local traffic laws. 10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from their president to leave me alone, please be sure that every patrol car has at least one English-speaking officer. 11 I plan to fly the U.S. Flag from my house top, put U S. Flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals. 12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, or have any labor or tax laws enforced on any business I may start. 13. Please have the president tell all the Mexican people to be extremely nice and never say critical things about me or my family, or about the strain we might place on their economy. 14. I want to receive free food stamps. 15. Naturally, I'll expect free rent subsidies. 16. I'll need Income tax credits so although I don't pay Mexican Taxes, I'll receive money from the government. 17. Please arrange it so that the Mexican Gov't pays $4,500 to help me buy a new car. 18. Oh yes, I almost forgot, please enroll me free into the Mexican Social Security program so that I'll get a monthly income in retirement. I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all his people who walk over to the U.S. From Mexico. I am sure that President Calderon won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely. Thank you so much for your kind help. You're the man!!!This makes perfect sense!WJR
Found at the Warriors for Truth website:IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.If you don't agree with this for fear of offending someone....You are part of the problem! Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice?We celebrate Christmas....but because it isn't celebrated by everyone.....we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas vacation, it's Winter Break. We've gone so far and bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that we are now being offended. This is an editorial written by an American citizen, published in a Florida Newspaper.
IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.
I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However... the dust from the attacks had
barely settled when the "politically correct!" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America.
Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity.
As Americans we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan.. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women....on Christian principles....founded this nation... and this is clearly documented.
It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home...because God is part of our culture.If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so! But once you are done complaining, whining and griping about our flag... our pledge... our national motto...or our way of life....I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other Great American Freedom......THE RIGHT TO LEAVE. It is Time for America to Speak up If you agree -- pass this along.
If you don't agree -- delete it - You are in the WRONG Country! AMEN
I suggest you forward this message to all your friends and family. Let the world know that America will not go quietly into the night!
IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.
I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However... the dust from the attacks had
barely settled when the "politically correct!" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America.
Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity.
As Americans we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan.. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women....on Christian principles....founded this nation... and this is clearly documented.
It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home...because God is part of our culture.If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so! But once you are done complaining, whining and griping about our flag... our pledge... our national motto...or our way of life....I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other Great American Freedom......THE RIGHT TO LEAVE. It is Time for America to Speak up If you agree -- pass this along.
If you don't agree -- delete it - You are in the WRONG Country! AMEN
I suggest you forward this message to all your friends and family. Let the world know that America will not go quietly into the night!
WJR
I have added a car magnet to my vehicle. The Gadsden and Culpeper flag is iconic and indicative of our nation's peril. We must stand and fight those who wish our country harm! The time to take up arms and engage the enemy is nigh! Be prepared to defend your territory, as that is your last hope for awesome resistance. To arms, to arms, I say unto all of you!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
We must not allow the Health Care Reform bill now before the House to pass! Read it for yourself, if you have the time. This is a monster that must be killed!
Stop the death of America!
Have any of our Congresspeople read it? I highly doubt it.