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Tea Party Group Dynamics

February 26th, 2010
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Today I am flying the Gadsden Flag, the Patriot Flag I fly when the post concerns Tea Parties or Taxes.  Tea Party gatherings are “groups” and all groups are governed by a basic set of behavioral fundamentals. Summed, this phenomenon is called Group Dynamics.  This post is for Tea Party Groups that are just starting up, or for those who have formed but are demonstrating difficulties.

All groups, be it 2 people or 200, will follow the same basic evolution from start-up to finish. Understanding those steps and the dynamics involved in each are key to a group’s success or failure. Because we hold a great deal of power, other groups will want to control us, so we must
beware of being hijacked by a political party.  We must be vigilant, and if we stay true to our core values and mission statement, we will be successful.  We simply cannot fail, success is our only option!

The Tea Party and Group Dynamics

The Mission Statement:

Start with a mission statement. The National Tea Party Patriots organization probably is one you should adopt:

Mission Statement

The impetus for the Tea Party movement is excessive government spending and taxation. Our mission is to attract, educate, organize, and mobilize our fellow citizens to secure public policy consistent with our three core values of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets.

Core Values

  • Fiscal Responsibility
  • Constitutionally Limited Government
  • Free Markets

Fiscal Responsibility: Fiscal Responsibility by government honors and respects the freedom of the individual to spend the money that is the fruit of their own labor. A constitutionally limited government, designed to protect the blessings of liberty, must be fiscally responsible or it must subject its citizenry to high levels of taxation that unjustly restrict the liberty our Constitution was designed to protect. Such runaway deficit spending as we now see in Washington D.C. compels us to take action as the increasing national debt is a grave threat to our national sovereignty and the personal and economic liberty of future generations.

Constitutionally Limited Government: We, the members of The Tea Party Patriots, are inspired by our founding documents and regard the Constitution of the United States to be the supreme law of the land. We believe that it is possible to know the original intent of the government our founders set forth, and stand in support of that intent. Like the founders, we support states’ rights for those powers not expressly stated in the Constitution. As the government is of the people, by the people and for the people, in all other matters we support the personal liberty of the individual, within the rule of law.

Free Markets: A free market is the economic consequence of personal liberty. The founders believed that personal and economic freedom were indivisible, as do we. Our current government’s interference distorts the free market and inhibits the pursuit of individual and economic liberty. Therefore, we support a return to the free market principles on which this nation was founded and oppose government intervention into the operations of private business.

Our Philosophy

Tea Party Patriots, Inc. as an organization believes in the Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government, and Free Markets. Tea Party Patriots, Inc. is a non-partisan grassroots organization of individuals united by our core values derived from the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America, the Bill Of Rights as explained in the Federalist Papers. We recognize and support the strength of grassroots organization powered by activism and civic responsibility at a local level. We hold that the United States is a republic conceived by its architects as a nation whose people were granted “unalienable rights” by our Creator. Chiefly among these are the rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The Tea Party Patriots stand with our founders, as heirs to the republic, to claim our rights and duties which preserve their legacy and our own. We hold, as did the founders, that there exists an inherent benefit to our country when private property and prosperity are secured by natural law and the rights of the individual.

Know the fundamentals of Group Dynamics

When people come together, especially in a “leaderless” environment, they go through the four stages of group dynamics on their journey from coming together to finally performing like professionals!

1. The Forming Stage:

  • This is the beginning stage of development for any group.  In this stage, people are generally excited about the prospects of coming together to start something new.  At last, their ideas and their goals will be met. There are a lot of introductions, and people start (almost immediately) “selling” their ideas as the group begins discussions.

2. The Storming Stage:

  • Bring together two people and you bring together to separate data sets of ideas.  This because individuals have specific thought processes, the data sets of ideas may be pointed toward the same goal, but vary wildly in methodology. So when one person espouses an idea, it is not unusual for a second person to “oppose” that idea because they espouse a differing idea. The ‘storming’ happens when people realize the group is not going to adhere to their personal ideas. One idea may be accepted, the other rejected … which causes people to “fight” for acceptance of THEIR idea. Hence “storming” or arguments erupting, hurt feelings, sometimes resulting in disgusted persons actually leaving the group.

3. The Norming Stage:

  • This is the point in a group’s evolution where the dynamics begin to cause excitement.  The arguing and storming is in the past, the group is focused on singular ideas for a focused reason and all group members seek ways to streamline the processes so the group can pick up speed toward its goal.  Along the way, there are still “bumps in the road” as conflicting ideas (remnant storming) are worked out and “normed” into a single methodology.

4. The Performing Stage:

  • This is the goal of any group, and without guidance, surprising few actually attain this status. This is when all members of the group know their role, know the guidelines, adhere to the principles and put maximum effort into a focus drive toward the goal.  Groups like this are difficult to sidetrack and being a member of such a group is the greatest reward the process permits.

New Members:

When you have a “performing” group and you add a new member, you will find yourself at the FIRST STAGE again.  Your performing group understands the guidelines because they were part of discovering them … but the new person does not have that knowledge and understanding. So to bring a new person along and assimilate him/her into the group, the easiest way is with a group “mentor” or helper.  This person should be skilled in teaching group dynamics and should carefully mentor the new person into the performance mode.

Walking the Talk

  • The Mission Statement: Make sure every member of the group has access to the Mission Statement, either by a handout, web page, card for the wallet, etc.  For potential (new) members, give the mission statement to the acolyte approaching the group and making it clear that “THIS” is what the group is and stands for will filter out the wrong people and encourage the right people for the group.  People need to know the mission statement almost by heart. For the Tea Party Patriots, this is their “little Constitution” … and example of “how” they will operate and why it is important.
  • Visible Core Values: Also place the “core values” in plain sight of every member of the group during meetings.  When an idea strays from the core values, let it be known that it is “outside the boundary” of the group’s scope.  There will be a few hurt feelings when an idea is rejected because it does not adhere to core values, but soon the group will “learn” their ideas must fit. This is key to keeping the group focused and saves it from being derailed by a good idea that has nothing to do with the purpose.
  • Train Group Dynamics: Next, explain group dynamics to people entering the group and also to those already in the group who have not yet been exposed to it. People need to understand the four stages so they understand their feelings as they interact within the group.

The Hijacking of Energy

The greatest danger to the Tea Party Movement is the hijacking of its ideas. This often comes from outside the group, but you can also see it happening INSIDE a group. If the group is not adherent to its mission statement and core values, then the probability of valuable energy being siphoned off by parasitic elements is heightened.  As stated in an earlier post (Conservatism-The Divided Attack) organizations, political parties, candidates … all are like “vehicles.”   All need energy to “go fast.”  The Tea Part Movement is pure ENERGY … that element all of the vehicles need.  Don’t be surprised if a local politician draws near to siphon off some of the energy … they all need it and recognize the POWER of this movement. They will try. Only GIVE energy if it fits your mission statement and your core values.

Internally, beware of  someone  becoming outspoken about a potential candidate and is “campaigning” for the person rather than adhering to the mission statement and core values of the group.  Campaigning is for political parties and we are not a political party. Let the “campaigner” know this behavior is counter-productive to the mission and core values of a Tea Party group. (Read the mission statement again, campaigning is not a part of it!).  Don’t allow the energy to be drained away or captured. Guard it jealously … it is your political currency. Spend it when you VOTE!

  • Example: In our local Tea Party Group, a politician asked to be a part of a rally. The coordinator for the rally said that we would be pleased to have them participate. She recommended the politician bring a lawn chair so he would be more comfortable sitting and listening to the ideas. Our politician got the drift of her message. They have done all the talking, now they need to do all the listening!  Point made! No energy usurped.

Anger and Leadership Control:

Another common problem will be that there will be strongly opinionated people in the group. People are becoming angry with the government (75% of them, according to CNN think the government is a threat!).  So “anger” is an inevitable element … people ARE upset, that’s why they go to the meetings, why they volunteer their time and contribute their energy. This “EMOTION” is the birth of ENERGY. Channel it toward our enemies, never at each other. So be ready for the anger. Allow it to vent, encourage people to “let it out.” Discuss it, then turn to the Mission Statement and Core Values again.  People with strong opinions will automatically tend to assume leadership. Remind everyone that this is a “populist” movement and EVERYBODY is a leader. The trick is to make sure all the “leaders” are focused on the same goals and core values.  (How many times have I said it?  MISSION! CORE VALUES! Over and over).

Troubleshooting:

There is a tendency, when something goes wrong, to blame PEOPLE.  “Sally, just doesn’t know how to run a group.”  “I wish they would just do it right, instead of the way they are doing it!”  You’ll hear all kinds of disparaging remarks. When you hear them, they are a signal that PEOPLE are being blamed.

In group dynamics … PEOPLE DO NOT CAUSE PROBLEMS …POOR PROCESSES CAUSE PROBLEMS.  Never blame the person, ALWAYS suspect the process.  Then FIX the process so the problem cannot happen again.  Sometimes it is as simple is not having the mission statement available, or the core values are not visible … the most simple flaw in the process can cause immense problems. Too frequently, problems will occur when people stray from the mission and core values … or are not sufficiently trained in group dynamics to know what to expect of themselves and of others.  When you are troubleshooting a problem in the group … these are the places to focus upon and repair.

The Bottom Line

Tea Party Groups are no different from another group and fundamental group dynamics will apply in every case.  Be sure your group understands the dynamics, make sure everyone understands the Mission and keep the core values visible.

Our “friends” on the Left cannot wait for us to fail. They cannot wait to report the next “broken Tea Party group” or the latest “rift” in the Tea Party Movement.  Most of this is typical smoke from the left, if it is not real, they simply invent it. So even if the Tea Party Movement ran perfectly (which it will not because it is made up of real people) … the headlines would still point out the failures. So we have to do everything in our power … as INDIVIDUALS to help keep the movement on track and focused.  If you read the headlines, and believe them, you would laugh at the movement. But if you join a Tea Party Group and see what is really happening, you will ignore the headlines, hold your head proud, and know that you … RIGHT NOW … are just as important as the men who dressed up as Indians and threw the tea into the sea.  This is YOUR TIME and YOUR TEA PARTY ……


Recent Posts, References and Updates

Gadsden Flag - Taxes & Tea Parties!

America Rising and Why

February 26th, 2010
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Today I am flying the “Don’t Tread on me!” Gadsden Patriot Flag.  People wonder why are are joining Tea Parties around the country. Calling us names and mocking us has become a daily ritual of the Left and the Left-Leaning news media. After the so-called “Health Care” summit yesterday, the anger rose to a new level as Liberals threatened to use Reconciliation to pass the bill … IN SPITE of the will of the majority of Americans.  The result is clear in the polls.

The President’s approval rating is now in the 40′s, Congress is down to 10% approval and even CNN is reporting that “Congress is a threat to our rights.”  And people wonder why we act so “strangely?”  Actually, we are not acting strangely, we are acting as normal Americans who are revolted by the thought of this out of control administration and Congress going forward with their agenda without the will of the people. We are not acting “strangely” … we are acting!  America is Rising!

America is Rising – A Must Watch Video.  If you wonder “why?” … here’s your answer!

Congressional Approval Ratings

Rasmussen:

  • Voter unhappiness with Congress has reached the highest level ever recorded by Rasmussen Reports as 71% now say the legislature is doing a poor job. That’s up ten points from the previous high of 61% reached a month ago.
  • 10% Approve! Only 10% of voters say Congress is doing a good or excellent job.
  • Democrats give Congress poor rating: Nearly half of Democratic voters (48%) now give Congress a poor rating, up 17 points since January. The majority of Republicans and voters not affiliated with either party also give Congress poor ratings.
  • 70% dissatisfied with Congress: Seventy percent (70%) of voters say Congress has not passed any legislation that would significantly improve life for Americans, up 10 points over the past month and the highest level of dissatisfaction measured in regular tracking in over three years. Only 15% say Congress has passed such legislation.
  • Rasmussen: Only 25% of people think America is going in the right direction, record low! (03.04.10)

Presidential Approval Index for March 25, 2010: (Rasmussen)

Rasmussen: Overall, 44% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance. That matches the lowest level of total approval yet measured for this President. Fifty-five percent (55%) disapprove.

Even CNN is weighing in …

Washington (CNN) — A majority of Americans think the federal government poses a threat to the rights of Americans, according to a new national poll.

Fifty-six percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday say they think the federal government has become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens. Forty-four percent of those polled disagree.

The survey indicates a partisan divide on the question: Only 37 percent of Democrats, 63 percent of independents and nearly seven in 10 Republicans say the federal government poses a threat to the rights of Americans. According to CNN poll numbers released Sunday, Americans overwhelmingly think that the U.S. government is broken, though the public overwhelmingly holds out hope that what’s broken can be fixed.

The Bottom Line

Look at the numbers!

  • 90% of people do not approve of Congress
  • Presidential approval is at -20%.
  • 56% of Americans think government is a threat to Freedom and Liberty!

So what will Americans do about it?

  1. Some will not notice (but that percentage is becoming VERY small, now an insignificant voting block
  2. Some are finally noticing and beginning to talk about it, this is the “maybe we should do something” crowd.
  3. Some are fed up and doing something about it … this is the growing number that threatens the Democrats. This voting block represents the “do something” people.

Emerging Activism

The second and third groups above are the voting blocks that are growing, and unlike the first block, these are the people who are most likely to vote!  These are also the people who are expressing their anger on their blog and forum posts on the Internet. These are the people sending around the angry emails. And these are the same disenfranchised people who voted in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts … and THREW OUT the people they disapprove of so vehemently.

The Tea Party Movement:

The people from these two groups are the ones joining the Tea Party Movement.  And people, in these  local meetings, are demanding that their group “do something.”  The most often heard question is “What can I do about it?” and “What are we going to do about it?” Waiting until the “next election” is not action enough for these people, they want to do something NOW.  And so the Tea Party movement grows each week.  People want to express their anger (as seen in the polls above) and the QUICKEST WAY to do it is at the local Tea Party weekly meeting.  By going to the meeting, by discussing the issues, by being with other people who also are disappointed and threatened by our government … by attending and getting involved, they are “doing something.”

… and each week, they bring their friends. Friends, at first a little tentative about becoming “activists,” but people who also are realizing there is not other choice if they want to support their vision of the United States of America. Once at the meeting, they realize they are not among “right-wing radicals” as portrayed by the media . There are no strangers in these meeting, they discover the people there are their friends and neighbors … not gun-wielding, wide-eyed radicals! They become “comfortable” with this gentle activism. They volunteer to help, they form study groups, they attend Constitutional  Instruction classes. And they are determined to take back their country!

DO SOMETHING!

In which of the three groups above do you reside?  If you are in the first group, then you shouldn’t be spending time here reading a blog, you should get a life!

If you are in the latter two groups, then you need to DO SOMETHING.  Every person is important, every action and activity counts … and they add up in staggering numbers. (Read First There Were Two of Us).  In the picture below, my son and I are two of the 1,750,000 people you see.  Going to the 912 March on DC was an outward and visible act of doing something. It “made a statement.”  But then what?  What do you do after the march?  You come home, you talk to a neighbor, you join the local Tea Party Group and you too become part of an overwhelming force to take back our country.  Welcome aboard! Be a part of it. America is Rising!

Recent Posts, References and Updates

  1. Pajamas Media 02.28.10 – GOP on Track to Win the Senate

Gadsden Flag - Taxes & Tea Parties!

Adopt-A-TeaParty

February 25th, 2010
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This post for fellow bloggers: Today I am flying the Gadsden Flag. I fly this flag when the blog post concerns the Tea Party Movement or Taxes.  Today, I would like to encourage all bloggers, who have a little extra room on their site, a practical blog template, a little spare time and a wish to “get involved” and “do something!” Solution? Adopt-A-TeaParty!  I did and you can see the result HERE or click on the Bluffton Tea Party “gateway” on the right rail of the blog.  You can also go to the right rail of this post under the “Twitter” Button and click there to “enter” the area reserved for the Bluffton (SC) Tea Party Patriots.

Involved in your local Tea Party Group? Want to be?  As a blogger, you may have a unique opportunity to give a little time and help that could make a BIG difference.

Local Groups Need our Expertise: Because the Tea Party Movement is “populist” and not organized, is leaderless and is grass-roots … few of the small, local Tea Party Groups have the finances or the technical ability to create and keep up a web page.  As bloggers, you and I don’t think much about this problem, we put a “page” up every day if we like and sometimes more if we’re on a roll!  So we take for granted our talents and our expertise that is, for us, as easy as typing an email.

How can a “blogger” help? Many of us are already in Tea Party Groups, or have gone to the “national” Tea Parties, so our level of involvement is as varied as there are blog sites and styles. There is a way for us to do more very easily.  Dedicate one post to your local Tea Party Group.   Post all their information and contact links for them on the site and keep it up for them. Once you are set up, you are talking about “minutes” a day for maintainance and you are offering maximum communications for the little local group.

Setting it up: Here on The Patriot’s Flag, we are lucky to have a template that will easily facilitate a Tea Party Post (BlogPage) inside an active blogging site.  One of the problems with using a blog is today’s post is soon buried in newer posts. So having a “place” for the Tea Party Group soon gets hidden in the blog posts.  There is a way around this.  If you will look on my right rail, right under the Twitter button, you’ll see a “gateway” for the Bluffton Tea Party Patriots to use to go to their information. Clicking on it is a simple link right to the post for the group.  So no matter how many posts I may make, the gateway will be there for them to take them “home” to their page.  Also, my page may hold interest for Tea Party People … and they may get sidetracked to read some of the other things I’ve posted.  No matter how far they may stray into the blog, the Gateway is still right there on the right rail so they can get “home” with a click.  Keep in mind many people will not “understand” being “inside” an active blog. So I have also renamed my “Recent Posts” to “Patriot Flag Posts” … this so a Tea Party person won’t think those posts are for them.  As you set up your Tea Party Blog Page … put yourself into “their” shoes and edit out any confusion.

Blog Mechanics: On the page itself, I made sure they knew there were “home” by creating a big banner for them, (look left).  Under that banner I explain this is “their” area and that anything under that banner is information for the Bluffton Tea Party Patriots.  Then I make sure “outsiders” who stumble upon the page understand that they are welcome to browse through the information. Hopefully other bloggers will check it out and duplicate what we’ve got … or even better, send suggestions on how they have made THEIR adopted Tea Party’s site even better. (My email link is there on the page). Then below that line is the information from the group.

Maintenance is Easy! As you will see (if you care to go look), the page is mostly links.  We are keeping the NEWS in the Newsletter. In our community we have found people pay a great deal more attention to emails than web pages.  So the key communication vehicle will be the newsletter … but all the backup, mostly unchanging information will be on the web page as a refer to site for the group.  This makes “our job” easy.  Once you’ve got the basics set up, there is very little maintenance.  You are doing a very big service for your local Tea Party Group, you become not just a “talker” but a “walker” in the Tea Party Movement yourself.

Vist the Nat'l Tea Party Patriots SiteFinding your local Group: Although “Google” is always available, I hope people go to the Tea Party Patriots national site. Tea Party Groups are listed there for different areas and you can quickly contact people and see if there is any interest in your help.  Also, this is the “internet” … so if you are hosting a blog and living in Iceland … you can still have a page for a local group here in the USA.  (We’ve conquered the time-space continuum.   If you don’t have a local group, Adopt-a-TeaParty group from the list. It does not matter where you live, you can still help out.

The Bottom Line

If you are an active blogger, have a “template” that will handle this idea, and have the wish to become a part of the grass-roots Tea Party movement, here is an easy and most helpful way to become involved.  I would love to hear from you if you Adopt-A-TeaParty … jdlinn@ThePatriotsFlag.com.  You may also, of course, use my site’s example when talking to a group. Some people have to actually “see” it to visualize your proposal. And you can’t steal these ideas, because I’ve offering all the ideas we have for free!  No matter what, Keep on Blogging!

Recent Posts, References and Updates

Gadsden Flag - Taxes & Tea Parties!

Stimulus Dollars at Work (SC)

February 24th, 2010
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Today I am flying the 9 Bar Sons of Liberty flag.  I fly this flag when liberty and freedom is lost. In this case, lost to pure socialism and redistribution of wealth.  If you think it was just media hype, look at the example below. It is real, it is happening and YOU AND I are paying for it directly. Here is an excellent example of your tax dollars “at work.”  It is also an excellent reason for you to contact your representatives and tell the NO on the “jobs bill” (Stimulus II) that is coming next!  S.T.O.P. it!!!

Liberty LO$T

Liberty LO$T

Free Republic Post Wednesday, February 24, 2010 1:15:37 AM by Jet Jaguar

Wateree Community Actions, Inc

  • An Empowering Facility in the Community
  • It builds, rehabilitates and weatherizes houses for clients.
  • It introduces its clients to the political process.
  • It brokers for clients to help them gain access to services and information.
  • It sponsors employment training, hands-on work experience, and does job development for clients
  • It teaches clients self-help and life skills to become self-sufficient.
  • It exposes to clients opportunities available to them
  • An Economic Enhancer in the Community, an Added Value
  • Annually it brings into the area over 11 million dollars, which translates into forty-four million dollars after turning over four times more. These dollars impact lives of citizens, taxes, governments and businesses of the community.
  • A Helping Hand to the Poor
  • It provides and helps clients get food, clothing and shelter.
  • It helps them buy prescriptive drugs.
  • It helps them pay utility bills and house rent.
  • It provides books, educational supplies, health screenings, and developmental opportunities for youth and children.
  • A Spawning Ground for Leaders of Tomorrow
  • Young children are tomorrow’s leaders in the making. The pre-schoolers of the Head Start Development Program are our youngest clients. Our emphases with these future leaders are sociable and cognitive development, nutrition and health care, family service and parent involvement in the life of their children.
  • A Source of Information and Referral
  • It collects, complies and disseminates printed information and informs the public.
  • It displays information exhibits to teach, educate, and instill appreciation
  • It coördinates and collaborates with other community entities to exchange and share ideas and resources.
  • A Source of Inspiration to those Involved
  • It has inspired many clients, employees, and volunteers to acquire career credentials and job advancements.
  • Several board and advisory council members have been inspired to private and public office on local and state levels. Their first exposure to the large picture of community needs was through involvement with Wateree Community Actions.

In Summary:

  • Wateree Community Actions is a necessary unequivocal asset to this community.

However:

  • According to the Recovery.gov website, Sumter, S.C. received $15,827,385 of our tax money. According to the same site, this money was credited with creating or saving 4.91 jobs.

$15,827,385      for     4.91 jobs!

Were did the money go?

  • The county of Sumter got $62,400. The city of Sumter got $253,828.
  • The Santee-Wateree RTA got in excess of $1,000,000.
  • The Santee Lynches regional Council of Governments got $3,103,434 for one grant and another $112,017 for a second.

Then it gets interesting.

  • Wateree Community Action Inc is awarded $700,000.
  • Then awarded $1,076,865.
  • Then awarded $6,435,805.
  • Then awarded $429,049.
  • Then awarded $244,800.
  • Then awarded $2,073,186.

Sumter County has one of the highest unemployment rates in S.C.

My findings:

The Bottom Line

Remember … the Stimulus was to create jobs. Our point here is we are showing millions of dollars given out to specific recipients and hardly any jobs to show for it. Until the jobs “show up” from the first stimulus, we shouldn’t be contemplating a Stimulus II, er “Jobs” bill!  Wateree is just a tiny example of a BILLION$ of dollars problem! We need proof the first stimulus worked before we try it again, (regardless of what we “name” it!).  There is a fear that those of us paying taxes are going to have the money taken from our needs and given to people who are not paying their taxes. Giving out documented millions to “stimulate” jobs that don’t appear only heightens that suspicion.

Why is this man, on the right, smiling? His name is Congressman Jim Clyburn, he is the United States Congressman from the 6th District of South Carolina. Mr. Clyburn is the majority whip for the US Congress. The Wateree Community Action, Inc is within his District, so the tax dollars (sans jobs!) we are questioning went to his district, so he should be smiling. He has brought value to his district.  Perhaps he should also be looking into why so much money could come into his district and only create so few jobs. I’m sure as Majority Whip, he can get to the bottom of this for us.

Why is this man, on the left, smiling? This man is Mr. Willie Bethune, the reported Executive Director of Wateree Community Action, Inc. He is probably smiling because as the reported Executive Director of the group that got the money, money that only created 2 to 4 jobs. I don’t blame Mr. Bethune or his Community Organization for taking the money. If your organization was offered $13 to $15 million “free,” (i.e. no real accountability), you’d probably take it too.  I’m betting everybody on the BOARD of DIRECTORS is smiling as they do their work.  I’m betting most of the 10-19 employees of the organization are  all smiling too. Everybody seems happy.

But Why am I Not Smiling? Some of those tax dollars were MINE and I pay my FULL TAX BILL every year … always have.  I don’t mind giving to people who need my help, and I do so often, but I do mind OTHER people giving MY money to someone without asking MY permission.  It takes all the pleasure of giving away from me, and it makes me feel a little like someone took my money … without my permission … and gave it to their friends … so those friends would support them in the next election.  Do you suppose all the employees of WCA, Inc., who are residents of the 6th Congressional District, would vote for Mr. Clyburn in the next election?  I am very suspicious MY tax dollars are buying votes for people who are committed to taking even MORE of my money to “distribute the wealth.” And I think the data at Recovery.gov certainly helps prove the point.  I would like to come away from this “Stimulus” experiment smiling too. After all, it’s my money they are using.

Go to the RECOVERY.GOV interactive map. Click on your state on the map. It comes up with dots on it each representing WHERE the money went and how many jobs it created.  Click on a dot and you get how much money was given and how many jobs were “created or saved.” The above information is just one very tiny example … the entire program is BILLION$. Once you find the dollars, look at the people who “voted” to allow those dollars to be given away with such poor return on investment.  And ask, “Are they giving the money to secure the votes?”  And, don’t just look under the rocks for Democrats … there are plenty of Republicans up to their ears in this payback also!  First, use the interactive map at Recovery.Gov to find the money. Next let the interactive map show you the DISTRICT it is in, then find out who represents that district. There’s the person with whom you should have a terse conversation … be it only for a few seconds in a voting booth next November. It might even be somebody you voted for!

What’s in your back yard? Go to Recovery.gov and when you are on your state, click on the dots looking at how many of your tax dollars were GIVEN and look at the jobs “created or saved”.  The data shows the Stimulus had NOTHING to do with jobs and everything to do with GIVING AWAY MONEY.  This is the purest form of  The “RE-distribution of Wealth.”  In this tiny example,  only $13,000,000 to $15,000,000 (out of  BILLIONS of tax dollars) was given to other people to create jobs …  and the good it did? “Jet” found 4.91 jobs, I found 2.  How many jobs could you create if you were given a few million dollars?  Now, take a look and see what they’ve buried in YOUR back yard. Go to Recovery.gov and begin your own local search for the truth. Then …

Do Something!

S T O P (Stop The Obama Plan)

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Sons of Liberty Flag - Liberty LOST!

CitiBank – The Canary?

February 23rd, 2010
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Today I am flying the Fort Moultrie Flag, it is the Patriot Flag I fly when there is discussion that risks Liberty and Freedom. Such discussion is taking place in the form of a notification made by Citibank on its statements to its customers throughout the country:

“Effective April 1, 2010, we reserve the right to require (7) days advance notice before permitting a withdrawal from all checking accounts. While we do not currently exercise this right and have not exercised it in the past, we are required by law to notify you of this change.”

Why would a bank notify their customers that they may withhold money if they believe it necessary? This is a security procedure to stop a “run” on the bank  Here is an excerpt from Page 22 of Citibank’s Client Manual:

Withdrawal Refusals

In some instances, we may refuse a request for a withdrawal or transfer from an account. The following list includes, but is not limited to, the most common reasons we might refuse such requests:

  • If we decide to require seven (7) days advance written notice …

    • From Washington;s Blog:

    A top investment adviser, Harry Schultz – who was MarketWatch Peter Brimelow pick for financial newsletter of the Year in 2008 – is now claiming:

    • Some U.S. embassies worldwide are being advised to purchase massive amounts of local currencies; enough to last them a year. Some embassies are being sent enormous amounts of U.S. cash to purchase currencies from those governments, quietly. But not pound sterling. Inside the State Dept., there is a sense of sadness and foreboding that ’something’ is about to happen … within 180 days, but could be 120-150 days.

    Investment advisor and former Army Counterintelligence officer Bob Chapman is saying the same thing, reporting on the possibility of a so-called “bank holiday” planned for late August or early September. According to Chapman’s sources, U.S. embassies around the world are selling dollars and stockpiling money from respective countries where they operate

    Four Sources on this subject:

    1. TheFutureOfCapitalism: John Stossel’s blog
    2. Business Insider: This blog “broke” the story on the subject.
    3. PrisonPlanet: Blog post by Paul Joseph Watson
    4. Washington’s Blog: American Embassies encouraged to stockpile local currencies

    All four are recommended reading to understand the background and intent of Citibank’s warning to customers.

    The Bottom Line

    Does anybody else think something is coming down the tracks?  Is Citibank the “canary in the coal mine” … and has its song changed?  Hmmm, Would I still be paranoid if the train ran over me? My previous thoughts on “rumblings” here:

    Recent Posts, References and Updates

    1. 02.23.10 ZeroHedge.com Greeks Scramble to Pull 8 Billion Euros out of local banks (bank run!)

    Ft Moultrie Flag - Liberty Risky Discussion