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On Memorial Day Weekend, What Are We Fighting For?
By Gregory Koch, We Are 1776, Contributor Memorial Day Weekend is now underway, and Monday is a federal holiday to remember the American soldiers who have died in combat. But what did they die for? Did those who have died die in vain? Or is there actually a purpose to all of this violence? Let’s analyze it war by war. Revolutionary War: This is the first war American soldiers fought in, and is by far the most justified. Back in 1775, the British king ruled over the American colonies. The British tyrant taxed us without representation, took away our guns, and much…
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Common Core Initiative: The Education Reform We Don’t Need
By Ryan Bell, We Are 1776, Contributor In November of 2012, Pearson, a world renowned education firm, released an eleven page report called “The Learning Curve”. The report rated 40 different countries in education. The report ranks the United States 17 out of 40, with Finland and South Korea taking the number one and two spots. The report takes in numerous factors, including calculated data and other forms of research from leading educational professionals from all around the world, with some of the data dating as far back as 1990. Nevertheless, it has been apparent for quite some time that…
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Mozart, The Libertarian?
By: Michael Gray, We Are 1776, Contributor Every year, many Americans attend opera productions for the rich music, riveting stories, and intriguing ambience. Others view the art venue as a gathering place for the societal elite; a place to declare affluence. It is hard to pinpoint exactly what aspect of opera draws people to the classic compositions. One facet that many may not consider is the cause of liberty. In the years preceding the American and French revolutions, Mozart was using his operatic compositions as a vessel for the message of human equality, justice, and freedom. From The Magic Flute to…
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Why Politicians Need to Legalize Hemp
By: Marc Connuck, We Are 1776, Managing Partner Marijuana has an extraordinary number of uses, and while it Can be grown for use by the individual to get “high,” marijuana can also be grown for use by industries with little to no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC.) Marijuana with little to no THC is known as hemp. Industrial hemp will, at the end of the day, benefit the economy of the Untied States of America. To detail the effect that marijuana can have in your life, an analogy is made below to illustrate some of the more common uses for industrial hemp. Now,…
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The Good Guys Are NOT Coming To Save Us
By: Paul Rosenberg, The Project to Restore America A lot of Americans know that the U.S. government is out of control. Anyone who has cared enough to study the U.S. Constitution even a little knows this. Still, very few of these people are taking any significant action, and largely because of one error: they are waiting for “the good guys” to show up and fix things. Some think that certain groups of politicians will pull it together and fix things, or that one magnificent politician will ride in to fix things. Others think that certain members of the military will step in…
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On Memorial Day Weekend, What Are We Fighting For?
May 24, 2013
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Common Core Initiative: The Education Reform We Don’t Need
May 24, 2013
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Mozart, The Libertarian?
May 21, 2013
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Why Politicians Need to Legalize Hemp
May 21, 2013
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The Good Guys Are NOT Coming To Save Us
May 21, 2013
Domestic Policy
“Real legalization” initiative set to fully legalize marijuana in WA State
OLYMPIA, WA – Approved by voters last November, Initiative 502 pseudo-legalized recreational marijuana use for any individual over the age of 21 in Washington State. It did not address, however, these critical cannabis-related issues: The domestic growth of the plant for personal use, The sharing, on a not-for-profit basis, small amounts of marijuana between adults age 21 or older, The fact that any individual under 21 is subject to being charged with their first marijuana-related offense, something which is not a crime if you are 21 or older, The prohibition of parental choice when it comes to choosing the safest and most effective medical…
WA State DREAM Act: Promoting illegal immigration with college aid
OLYMPIA, WA – House Bill 1817, (“Washington State DREAM Act”) sponsored by Representative Hudgins and co-sponsored by 30 other representatives, would allow undocumented students that have been granted either Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival or “resident student” status (RCW 28B. 15. 012 (2)) to receive college aid through the State Needs Grant (SNG) program. Undocumented students are currently prohibited from receiving federal financial aid; though, they are eligible for state-level student aid in: California, New Mexico, and Texas. If H.B. 1817 is passed by the Senate and signed into law by the governor; Washington will become the fourth state offering state-level financial aid to undocumented students. “Crossing an international…
Columbia River Crossing project on “life support” upon transportation budget compromise in Senate
OLYMPIA, WA – On April 19, 2013, the Senate closed its partisan debate over the transportation budget by throwing the Columbia River Crossing project onto the funding back burner – putting the Senate and the rest of the legislature one step closer to finishing up their business in Olympia. Passed unanimously (47-0), the $8.7 billion Senate transportation budget compromise withholds $80 million from the project until the Coast Guard decides whether or not it will issue a permit for the proposed bridge. The compromise will also require an audit of the project, serving as somewhat of a relief to Clark County residents and watchful taxpayers. The…
Gun Control
Libertarian Candidate William Russell Officially Ballot-Certified for Mayor of Norwich, Conn.
The Connecticut Secretary of State’s office certified the petition of the Libertarian Party candidate, William Russell, for Mayor of Norwich, Conn. Russell will join a Democrat and the incumbent Republican on the ballot in November. According to the official website of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut, the Party is also seeking to run a full slate of candidates for city council. Therefore, it is forming a town committee in Norwich. The first meeting was held on May 16, and more will follow. The incumbent is Republican Peter Nystrom, who will run for reelection in November. Two Democrats, Charles Jaskiewicz and Debery…
Beretta Leaving Maryland over Gun Politics
By Michael Gray, We Are 1776, Contributor The Newtown Shooting has spawned new gun-control legislation at the state and federal levels throughout 2013. From New York’s magazine cap and ban to attempted federal legislation of Universal Background Checks, the anti-gun lobby has been gaining ground in respect to their agenda. Maryland was one of a half-dozen states to pass new restrictions on firearms after the Newtown tragedy. The Maryland General Assembly passed Senate Bill 281, legislation that is supported by Governor Martin O’Malley, that is set to do the following: – Requires all stolen firearms be reported 72 hours after…
HB 357- The Commonwealth Will Not Side with President Obama’s New Gun Control Measures
By Mike Gabrieli, We Are 1776, Contributor “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.” -Section 21, Pennsylvania Constitution This is our right to bear arms under Section 21 of the Pennsylvania Constitution (Constitution). It is very similar to the second amendment to the U.S. Constitution, although not nearly as controversial probably because it is just not as widely known as the Second Amendment. However, this particular right to bear arms still has significant meaning for the gun owners of Pennsylvania since most…
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin is Engaging in Fraud, Lies, and Bribes to Advance Gun Control
By Gun Owners of America, Action Alert Within the past two weeks, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin and his staff have openly lied about the status of talks with two Republican senators. Manchin is claiming that two Senators who originally opposed his background-registration check amendment would flip their vote if superficial changes were made to the text. But at the request of Gun Owners of America, a prominent constituent spoke with his U.S. Senator in regard to the allegations that Manchin was making about that particular Senator. The constituent reported that his Senator called Manchin’s representations a lie. In a…
Economic Policy
Federal
Foreign Policy
Legalization
Nullification
South Carolina Senate Nullifies Obamacare
By Devin Barras, We Are 1776, Contributor The “South Carolina Freedom of Healthcare Protection Act” passed the Senate in a close 23-19 vote today. This legislation has risen through the South Carolina House recently in its approval of a 65-39 vote. The bill declares that South Carolina has the “absolute and sovereign authority to interpose and refuse to enforce the provisions of the Patient Protection and the Affordable Care Act of 2010″. The legislation goes as far to say that the state of South Carolina is prohibited from cooperating with federal officials from implementing the Affordable Care Act: “No agency…
California NDAA Nullification Bill (A.B. 351) up for Appropriations Vote
SACRAMENTO, CA - Assembly Bill 351, introduced by Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-Twin Peaks), passed the California Public Safety Committee unanimously on April 9, 2013. It is now up for a vote in the Appropriations Committee next week, May 15th, 2013. A.B. 351 would nullify the indefinite detention provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act (Sections 1021 and 1022.) Take Action Now Respectfully urge the Appropriations Committee to pass A.B. 351: Mike Gatto (Chair) Dem – 43 Contact Assembly Member Mike Gatto Capitol Office P.O. Box 942849, Room 2114, Sacramento, CA 94249-0043; (916) 319-2043 Diane L. Harkey (Vice Chair) Rep – 73 Contact Assembly Member Diane L. Harkey…
Texas House Votes to Nullify Federal Gun Control, 102-31
By Tenth Amendment Center Daily Updates AUSTIN, TX – Today, the Texas State House approved a bill that would render almost all federal gun control measures toothless. House Bill 928 (HB 928), by Representative Matthew Krause, was approved on thrid reading by a wide margin. The final vote was 102-31 (roll call here). If passed into law, HB928 would require that the state refuse to enforce almost all federal gun control measures enacted at anytime – past, present or future. It reads, in part: An agency of this state or a political subdivision of this state, and a law…
Constitutional Tender Act Passes Missouri House 107-47
By Tenth Amendment Center Daily Updates JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A bill that would make gold and silver coin legal tender in Missouri overwhelmingly passed the House Tuesday. HB 421 exempts any capital gains income included in Missouri adjusted gross income from the exchange of gold and silver issued by the federal government at a nonbank depository from state individual and corporate income taxes and allows the use of silver coins issued by the federal government as legal tender at face value. The silver coins of the United States are hereby declared a legal tender, at their par value, fixed by…
Texas Action Alert: 2nd Gun Control Nullification Bill Hits the House Floor on Saturday
By Tenth Amendment Center Daily Updates Joining HB1076 for a full Texas State House vote on SATURDAY, May 4th, is HB928. Both are based on the same principle – that no one working for government in the state of Texas will enforce federal gun control measures. 1076 focuses only on new federal gun control enacted on or after January 1, 2013. But HB928 makes no distinction – and virtually all federal gun control measures will be unenforceable within the state of Texas. This would make a HUGE dent in any new federal effort to further restrict the right to keep and…
