If You Can Keep It
Dear Editor,
One of two things is going to happen with the Mar-A-Largo raid. Either there was a violation by the Trump organization and everything is justifiable, or we are witnessing the beginning of the end of our constitutional republic form of government and the beginning of a socialist state. If it’s the latter, it may very well be the beginning of a second American Revolution.
How have we gotten here? I believe the major reason is too many people became complacent and failed to do the primary duty of every legal citizen, which is to participate. Serving in office has gone from a duty to a profession. Doubt me? Look at what these “public servants,” both D & R, have set up for themselves. It’s gone from public service to a profession. And now we are paying the price regardless of the outcome of the current situation. And we have no one to blame but ourselves due to a lack of interest and action by the majority of people.
Politics as a profession needs to end. I never thought I’d be saying this, but we need term limits. Too many of these people have developed a “this is my job” attitude. Wouldn’t you like a job where you get to set and raise your own salary, give yourself perks and have other people pay for it all? What’s wrong with this picture?
We the people are slowly being returned to the status of subjects, like we were before the American Revolution. The difference is it’s being done using the frog in the pan tactic. Put a frog in a pan of water on a stove and slowly turn up the heat until you boil the frog. Instead of a king, we will have a collective of people who know what’s best for us, or so they think.
Our biggest hope is the Republican Party, but only after two things happen. One, grow a pair, and two, clean house and get rid of the RINOs in the party. I’m not saying toe the party line, I’m saying do the work of the people as they demand.
After the vote to adopt the Constitution, Ben Franklin was asked if we now have a monarchy or a republic. His reply, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
That’s the question. Can we keep it, and how far will we go to do so?
Alan Marshall
Feed The Right Wolf
Dear Editor,
A Cherokee elder sitting with his grandchildren told them: “In every life there is a terrible fight – a fight between two wolves. One is evil: fear, anger, envy, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment and deceit. The other is good: joy, serenity, humility, generosity, confidence and compassion.” A child asked: “Grandfather, which one will win?” The elder looked at him in the eye and said: “The one you feed.”
With that as a backdrop, it’s obviously a very discouraging time for America, but we must still believe in the power of the people to create change for the betterment of the country and the world. We all need to be upset and channel that emotion into positive energy and constructive action. We are in danger of losing our democracy, thus silence and inaction aren’t viable options.
Bob Kollar
Right To Vote Questioned
Dear Editor,
Something to think about as Greensboro has just finished City Council elections and passage of five bonds worth $135 million. Many do not know that residents of several retirement facilities vote on these bonds but the facilities they live in are non-profit facilities and pay no property taxes in Greensboro or Guilford County. They each have their own polling places for elections. The question? Should these residents be allowed to vote on bonds that they pay no taxes on?
Max Madrin
2 very positive and well-intentioned articles from Marshall and Kollar. Yet if the truth will set you free, what kind of truth is there is their assumptions that we have a republic (as intended) or democracy (which wasn’t intended)?
We are a million miles from being either. The FBI, CIA, FDA, CDC, NIH et al. are as corrupt as they could be, and we cannot do anything about it. The ruling class is above the law. In the interest of progress, we need to recognize that the US is effectively a corrupt oligarchy. Look at the behavior of the Obiden Gestapo and the raft of political protestors in dirty DC jails in solitary confinement, not allowed to see the light or talk to a family member on the phone.
“Our democracy” is just something to repeat to soothe the sheep I’m afraid. The voting just a ploy to create the illusion you had a say.
You’re right, Healey. As armed agents of the state storm the home of the regime’s primary political opponent, it’s no longer credible to claim that the US is a pluralistic, tolerant, free country. This is Stalinism.
As the regime surreptitiously purchases hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition and thousand of guns for the IRS, and then DOUBLES the number of IRS staff – for “enhanced enforcement” – it is clear that they are weaponising the state against the people. They’re not going after the billionaires. That’s not where the real money is because there are so few of them. They’re going after the waiters & waitresses, the Uber drivers, the small business owners, and the folks who mow lawns and sell Tupperware to make ends meet. They’re going after you and me.
America is descending into tyrannical totalitarianism. And these neo-fascists dare to call themselves “liberals” and “Democrats”…
You are so right. They are not liberal or democratic in any sense, but fascistic and tyrannical. And indeed, their pose as being for the poor is a lie as well. Their recent tax increase didn’t touch their private equity ruling class friends. Their money printing destroys the honest wage earner and his attempt at savings, for the benefit of the ruling class–loot for their well-connected green friends, big Pharma, & the military-industrial complex.
By political protestors, do you mean people that used violence to break in and disrupt congress because they believed the lies told by the republican party? Funny how modern republicans love to preach Law and Order when it comes to BLM but NOT when it comes to those trying to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power because their loser lost in a free and fair election.
Those that believe the Big Lie are the sheep.
People who engaged in a political protest on Jan 6th (2021) are guilty of nothing more than entering “the People’s House”, and are incarcerated – in solitary confinement – because of their political stance. That makes them political prisoners.
Meanwhile, thugs who burned down businesses, looted, and even occupied Police Stations are walking free – because they’re BLM & AntiFa supporters.
The FBI, DOJ and the entire apparatus of the state have one set of rules for Leftists and another set for people on the Right. We’ve become a banana republic.
Chris, you’re a stupid son of a bitch! You a a damned fool.
You seem so simple minded and easily led to slaughter. If the election of 2020 were fair and free then Hunters laptop is a Russian hoax and Hunter isn’t really a DAMNED CRACKHEAD! These crooks led by Obama and the Clinton crime cartel are so fortunate that stupid over educated white people are so soft and easily led to believe ANYTHING “they” tell them. It’s no wonder your grammar and spelling are so elementary. Stupid son of a bitch! Respond with a time and place if you would like to debate up close. I would love yo meet a real communist up close.
Remember Healey, the form of government we are Supposed to have is a Constitutional Republic, not a Democracy like almost everyone keeps saying. There’s a big difference.
The US is historically both a republic and a democracy.
Alan the alarmist at it again. Again you fail to make any attempt to link your thoughts that flow from idea to conclusion. More of the same ramblings using the same tired quotes etc… Here is a example of idea linked through to conlusion (even if you don’t agree with it).
I strongly disagree with Alans ramblings…this is not a sign of doom. Trump is a crook. Has always been a crook. He refused the traditions of the office. He couldn’t stand the scrutiny applied against those that hold the office so he ‘invented’ the term fake news to combat negative reporting of him and now he likely removed documents from the WH for similar reasons. Trump tried to control the DOJ to weaponize it for his own nefarious desires (such as overthrowing a freely elected President of the United States). The professionalism of people who hold the higher offices of the DOJ knew better and thwarted his attempts. Of course the Cult45 crowd will want to say Biden has weaponized the DOJ (because that is what Trump tried and failed) when he is simply letting the DOJ do their job.
Funny how the Cult45 crowd hates law and justice when it comes down on ‘their own’.
This is all a sign of our republic returning to normal versus the waste and trash that Trump left behind. Just more unprecedented events resulting from an unprecedented President45.
See. Not complicated.
“Trump tried to control the DOJ to weaponize it for his own nefarious desires (such as overthrowing a freely elected President of the United States). ”
I would like to refer you to the Steele Dossier and the multiple impeachments which utilized that sham of a document as the sole basis for their proceedings when everyone knew it was a sham document. FBI agents texting each other about taking him down no matter what, etc. Now tell me the Dems didn’t spend the entirely of Trump’s term in office trying to delegitimize his presidency. The Dems weaponized the FBI and the DOJ and continue to do so.
Classic deflection approach to an argument you can’t win. Trump keep moving bodies around in the DOJ and almost did so at the last minute to appoint an Election Denier but smarter heads block his move given how it would be the first overthrow of a free and fairly elected president of the United State. THAT is attempting to weaponize the DOJ.
All partiers use ‘investigations’ now as standard practice to attack the other parties leaders. That doesn’t make it right. So go deflect on some other party loyalist. I believe in people before Party as both parties abuse the investigative arm of government….Trump is the first to try weaponize it to overthrow a free and fairly elected president of the united states.
Chris’s quote of the day, “Trump is the first to try weaponize it to overthrow a free and fairly elected president of the united states.”
I will once again refer you to the Steele Dossier and the multiple impeachments that evolved from it. And you still wanna say that Trump was the first?
Here is a little quote for you from CIA Director John Brennan when briefing President Obama on July 28, 2016 about a purported proposal from one of Hillary Clinton’s campaign foreign policy advisers “to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security service.”
This is a quote from the Counterintelligence Operational Lead referral itself: “An exchange discussing US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s approval of a plan concerning US presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian hackers hampering US elections as a means of distracting the public from her use of a private email server.”
THAT led to the Clinton funded Steele Dossier and THAT was the basis for them wasting an entire four years of their terms and Trump’s to make him as ineffectual as possible during his term, or in your terms, to overthrow a free and fair election.
Everyone thinks that the attack on Trump was done solely to foil him. It’s not that at all. The attack on Trump was done to dissuade anyone from ever daring to come to Washington and truly shake things up. They want anyone considering something as bold as draining the swamp to see how miserable they have made Trump’s life, and to decide not to bother.
Thanks for helping multimillionaire “government servants” Clinton, Biden, Pelosi, Schumer, McConnell et al (Both R’s and D’s) to keep the swamp intact because you think Trump is the crook. Biggest joke ever told.
No, only the Dems weaponize the Deep State… against political opponents, against political protesters, and against the American people.
They are Fascists, like the National Socialists of 1930’s Germany.
[ Hitler was very popular and was democratically elected in 1933. So much for democracy. ]
Chris? Chris? Gone again. Can’t take stand the truth I guess.
Max, so you think old people are housed without having to pay for the services? That is like saying people who pay rent don’t pay property tax. Just because they don’t pay property taxes directly doesn’t mean their monthly rent or fees don’t go to cover taxes as well.
In all facilities the money pair to the non profit for rent is tax free because of how these retirement facilities are set up. Go to the IRS website, pull up Friends Home, Well Springs or the Masonic Home as examples and you will that they pay zero taxes that include fees and rent that is collected from the occupants. The occupants do not receive tax bill from GSO or Guilford County, so why should they vote on bonds? This too could include college students that pay no property tax in GSO/Guilford county and can also vote on bonds.
To the author of if you can keep it. I agree with most of what you say about politicians on both sides making a career of it. It’s supposed to be about public service and not sitting on your butt and giving yourself raises and perks
Term limits need to be put in place as well as stop letting them govern themselves as far as raises etc.
I disagree with the part about the republican party being the best hope, only because of who mostly represents the party right now. We know who that is and o absolutely cannot understand how anybody can support him.
I’ve asked on several platforms. I understand supporting the republican party but why Trump?
Someone with no values unless it’s the almighty dollar, and no character. We all know by now the things he has done or promised to do and didn’t.
It is important to know that Alan Marshall is who represents the Republican Party right now.
Juan I am proud to say I stand with Alan as a true American b
Yup…Sheep who live in an echo chamber full of the lies told by their dear leader Drump.
Michael,
Let me make a minor correction to my statement based on your valid point. Of the existing options the Republican party is the best option. It’s not perfect but compared to the other options is the best. We would still need to keep an eye on them.
As for Trump, I’m sort of mixed on my feelings. He did good things for the country but then let his ego get in the way and gave the other side some valid ammunition. I will state here and now that I am leaning towards Desantis.
Regarding cleaning the Republican party of RINOs ….
What is the simplest and clearest means to identify a RINO? Liz Cheney voted with Trump 93% of the time. So it can’t just be voting record that makes someone on the outs in the party and a RINO. Is a RINO a Republican that did not vote to overturn election hours after Jan6 insurrection? Can any of them, like Lindsey Graham, be forgiven? Or is it a Republican that won’t vociferously claim there was massive election fraud in 2020 and cite election fraud conspiracies deemed not credible to ludicrous by President Trump’s own appointees? (Attorney General Barr said they were BS.) Or it something else?
Maybe one way to clean Republican party of RINO’s is to rename it the Trumpian party and require a formal loyalty oath to Trump over any other oath. That might clean out the RINO’s. And since they will still call themselves Republicans, it will make clear of their misaligned loyalties and priorities. What do you think?
Perfect! I might add that real republicans should be required to wear their hoods and robes in public at all times and carry their tiki torches as well.
I hope we see Cheney and Joe Manchin in the election for President. Both put their constituents and integrity before Party as it should be done.
Glad you think that Chris just got mine back from the cleaners I’ll wear it in your honor. Come by and see me.
No surprise here Rebel. Do you carry your White Nationalist membership card in your wallet or do you wear like a name badge?
Again Chris, I must take your slanderous comment here about robes and torches as a personal insult. The KKK were and are a group of ignorant individuals who are basically sheep from way back.
And remember, ignorance can be cured with education. Stupidity is terminal.
It is only slanderous if not true. Not all republicans are racist. But all racists are republicans.
That seems like a stereotype, which is half a step from bigotry, but keep impressing us, Chris.
Don’t forget that the democrats have historically been the racists as far as law creation goes.
The KKK was a band of Democrats. Fact.
Chris (who falsifies evidence) now wants to re-write history, like all Leftists.
Alan Marshall – EXCELLENT commentary, as usual; totally agree! If we don’t turn things around in November, America is lost forever.
Thank you for the kind words
https://amac.us/inflation-reduction-act-pure-gibberish/?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=daily-news&dderh=1d5ca7702d92ed31af4bd10175416cd3
The Republic, we are about to lose is America which is currently being led by a senile old politician that is in over his head . I am not sure but there is one or more persons behind the curtains pulling strings and writing notes to our President telling him what to say and even when to sit or stand. With this incompetence we need to have a complete cleansing of all Democrats in the US that hold any position and replace them .Just who are the 77,000 IRS agents going after!! You and I will be the proud recipients of the IRS earning their pay.This does it include extra taxes we wil be paying just to pay their salaries.Government just keeps getting bigger and bigger,under these Dems.
The cost in the bill is off set by increased corporate taxes on those firms that report 1 Billion or more in profits.
Using the phrase ‘Cleansing’ has a tone to it that I hope you didn’t mean to imply. Or do you carry Tiki Torches out at night with your buddies?
Sorry but you’re wrong about the tax statement.
Oh, i forgot you can’t read unless typed by your Alt Right shepherd. I will type slower for you Will….the b i l l h a s a f u n d i n g f e a t u r e i n c l u d e d.
And who pays the price for those increased corporate taxed, Chris? You really think the business will just shrug its shoulders and eat the cost? Or will they pass it on to me and you with higher prices? Taxing corporations is nothing more than taxing the consumer amd I habe no idea why the “for the people” liberals refuse to acknowledge that.
Stop taxing them because it just punishes me.
The companies that made record profits during this period of historic inflation? Yup. Those guys.
Amazing you have been trained to believe companies set prices…a neat trick by the right to make you hate the poor and love the rich…the market sets prices. Supply and Demand. Not the President, Not the Companies, Not the Imaginary Lizard People…..Smith called it the invisible hand…the free market.
Companies made record profits during the inflationary period because prices rose…because supply and demand go out of sync…not because they are greedy (as the progressive want you to believe). The opportunity created itself….Now they just need to pay their fair share of taxes!
I think you missed my point. Let’s say a soda costs $1. Of that dollar, the business makes 10 cents in profit and pays 10 cents in taxes, 80 cents in costs. Government says let’s make it 30 cents on the dollar in taxes. The business says that’s fine. Soda now either costs $1.20 or your soda starts coming in a smaller serving size. Thats how it works Chris. Businesses do not eat costs. The customer does as long as they are willing to eat the cost, hence why I can no longer eat out.
Have some more Kool-Aide Chris
Again Alan shows lack of ability to make any supporting statement to either make his point or refute someone else. Paint me shocked.
Changing names of buildings, streets, parks, schools and removing statues due to the lack of modern morals and ethics by our forefathers is like condemning the Stone Age Man for not using a scoped rifle to hunt with.
Let’s all worship and honor those that would rather destroy the US so they could keep slaves! /s Whooo Hooo and Yeee Haaaw for horrors of slavery in the name of economics! /s
That is the most modern republican thing you could say.
They did not want to destroy the US.
The US wanted to destroy the CSA, which sought only to leave the Union.
What kind of union holds you in it at gunpoint?
I believe that the state (in the generic sense) has no right to play favourites among the people. Therefore all must be taxed equally, including so called non-profits, charities, and yes, churches. Why should organizations that forever preach about supporting the fabric of our society be exempted from supporting the fabric of our society?
Isn’t that hypocrisy?
Churches pay taxes on all things other than offerings (donations). If they run a daycare, they pay taxes. If they own land not specifically used for the church, it is considered investment and therefore taxed. Pastor salaries and benefits are taxed except for a housing allowance.
Since you don’t like government caring about the poor and less fortunate, it is good that churches aren’t taxed as many (agree that not all) do a great deal of good for our community.
Funny thing about that just look at how wealthy the Catholic Church was and is but look at the sexual abuse that happened and the emotional terror it has caused the country thru the abuse from the priests. And as a footnote it’s not just the Catholic Church that this happened in.
Why should they not pay tax on their “offerings”, or their income?
I pay tax on my income.
They are non-profit and serve their community. Either all non-profits pay taxes or none do. Not complicated. Not about religion. About long standing tax principles.
For example, during covid, schools had to disable their water fountains and service bottle water. There was no budget for bottle water so our church has long supported a local elementary school and provided pallets of water throughout the school for both students and teachers/staff.
Public good. No strings or politics attached.
What absurd gibberish.
If your criterion for tax exemption is that the entity should “serve their community” then my business should be tax exempt. It’s been serving the people of central North Carolina for 30 years.
Not complicated. Not about religion.
About fairness. Right?
PS
Yes, all “non-profits” should pay taxes. They make tons of money, tax free, while they sing their own praises about how saintly they are! Have you seen the salaries of the people in “non-profits”? They are obscenely overpaid – because the corporation doesn’t pay any tax!
Got it now?
Austin Morris, churches will never pay taxes, for the same reason that corporations have never paid taxes and never will. Only PEOPLE pay taxes. Animals don’t pay taxes, land doesn’t pay taxes, and neither buildings nor machinery pay taxes. Only people do. We don’t need to collect more taxes. The government already takes too much from us and spends it on programs and actions that are unconstitutional, and not just wasteful, but harmful to our society. Most of the spending is geared toward either A. buying votes, or B. lining the nests of our overlords, or C. both.
For every additional dollar the US treasury takes in, congress will spend well over a dollar. It’s a non-stop game to see how much we will let them get away with.
Cracks me up when people rant that something is unconstitutional just because they don’t like it or agree with it…
Most govt. spending is geared towards Military Spending, Social Security, Medicaid / Medicare and Financing Debt. Buying votes is done with private dollars by big business helping congressmen and women increase their personal wealth.
Welfare is buying votes, Chris. Some might even say it is another form of slavery. The economic downtrodden are kept under the government’s dole and are trained to keep voting their masters back into office so they can keep getting that gub’ment cheese. Been there, done that, learned my lesson.
Welfare should be a temporary system for people who lose a job, get hurt, or are otherwise down on their luck. It should be a helping hand while they get back on their feet. Other than permanent disabilities, it should not be an option for anyone for more than a few months in an entire lifetime.
Dependence on the government for your food, your house, your medicine, your survival is nothing more than slavery to that government.
Thank you Don…you have shown true knowledge
Comparing welfare to slavery is the most ignorant thing i have ever seen written here. You really should get out more and stop reading Alt Right, White Nationalist, and Modern Conservative echo chamber talking points.
All those programs I mentioned are NOT welfare and are supported by BOTH parties.
And by the way….there are more poor white republicans that receive welfare than democrats. Poverty is as much a white rural community problem as it is a black inner city problem.
I never mentioned race, just welfare as enslavement. Throughout history all races have been subjected to slavery. It’s not an exclusively black thing. Interesting that you went there though. What’s my race again anyway? I’m sure you think you know but you’d be wrong.
Whatever you’re smoking Chris I want some.
Sounds like chris stout .
I think folks are looking at the raid the wrong way. Trump will benefit. He is pleased.
There was some great TV coverage of Mar-a-Lago, some great overhead shots promoted it. Any publicity is good publicity. I’m more interested in going than I ever was before.
This will give him some new twisted rage juice patter to promote his victimization and FUNDRAISING $’s. You might think … Well why does someone who says he is worth $10bil needs donations? Well, if you can get, why not?
The raid could spark some great new MAGA merchandise concepts.
You can be sure his place has video surveillance. I bet he has the FBI on video planting evidence … or carelessly tracking mud.
He will cleverly make the case that he as President is entitled to take home any classified documents he wants. If he sells them …. well, he sacrificed a lot of income being President …. so he is entitled and we have a capitalist not socialist system. And they weren’t that secret anyways. And what about Hillary’s emails?
There is indeed video footage and the FBI is trying to prevent its release. Interesting.
Careful what you wish for.