The Founders Alliance

How about this reply by Senator Hutchison to a citizen asking what she was doing about an injustice to a border patrol agent?

From: Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison [mailto:senator@hutchison.senate.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 9:22 AM
To: bcawyer@suddenlink.net
Subject: Constituent Response From Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

Dear Friend:
     Thank you for contacting me regarding the very distressing situation of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jesus Diaz.  I share your concerns.

     On October 20, 2011, Agent Jesus Diaz, Jr. was sentenced to two years in federal prison for improperly restraining a 15 year-old suspected drug smuggler.  Agent Diaz testified that he handcuffed the teenage suspect and used physical force to put him on the ground only after the teenager resisted arrest.  Nevertheless, the Mexican government pressured our government to prosecute Agent Diaz for excessive use of force, and he was subsequently arrested, prosecuted, and convicted of using excessive force.  Key to Diaz’ conviction was the testimony of the teenage drug smuggler, who was given immunity by the federal prosecutor.

     Many people believe that Agent Diaz was unfairly prosecuted and convicted.  Pending legal appeal of his conviction, I have written to Attorney General Eric Holder to ask why the Justice Department pursued the case after Agent Diaz had been cleared of any wrongdoing by two different internal reviews.

     The dedicated U.S. Border Patrol keeps our borders and our local communities safe and secure. Agent Diaz’ case stands in stark contrast to the plight of Americans who have been arrested in Mexico.  In Mexico, there are repeated, credible reports of trumped up or falsified charges, witness intimidation (including murder), constant solicitations of bribes by Mexican officials, routine torture of prisoners, and worse.  These unchecked abuses raise serious questions about continued law enforcement cooperation and relations between our two countries.

     I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue of concern to you.

Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator

284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC  20510
202-224-5922 (tel)
202-224-0776 (fax)
http://hutchison.senate.gov

The Federal Reserve from another point of view.

http://youtu.be/g32ObW8PoOg

Taking Back Our Government One Candidate at a Time

I am the new Texas iCaucus Regional Director. I am organizing a Vetting team for conservative candidates. iCaucus was founded 2008 by 2010 iCaucus citizen driven nationwide organization produced approx. 25 iCaucus State Representatives and 13 iCaucus Federal Representatives this accomplishment is nothing short of amazing. All are welcomed to join iCaucus - A National Citizens Organization focused on Principles over Big Money, Special Interests - taking our Government back one candidate at a time. www.icaucus.org

Salary of retired US Presidents .............$180,000 FOR LIFE
Salary of House/Senate .......................$174,00?0 FOR LIFE
Salary of Speaker of the House ............$223,500 FOR LIFE
Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders ...... $193,400 FOR LIFE
Average Salary of a teacher ................ $40,065
Average Salary of Soldier DEPLOYED IN AFGHANISTAN $38,000
I think we found where the cuts should be made! If you agree... RE-POST

"Money and inflation"

This is a subject which you need to be up to date on. Please watch - maybe you will learn something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0mOTJR_1Lo

Fallacies to Look For In Political Persuasion

We humans have always had to solve various problems which we encounter in our living, especially as voting citizens of a republic.  Typically a problem presents itself.  A solution is proposed.  Reasons for adopting the solution are presented.  A decision is made, hopefully on the basis of sound reasoning based upon actual facts.
Sometimes, through ignorance or through design, a false solution is offered and seemingly proved.  Needless to say, the solution is flawed, sometimes accidently and sometimes deliberately.  In order for the decision mechanism to work, flaws in the decision making process need to be recognized and then avoided.  Listed here are some of the most blatant fallacies.

Fallacies of reasoning:
Ad populum:  Most people agree with the solution so it must be right.  Often used with statistics as “proof.”  The sample used in obtaining the statistical data can be radically skewed, often deliberately.  “Fifty million Frenchman can’t be wrong!”

Ad hominem:  Attacking the person rather than the argument or the solution proposed.  This was used on Sarah Palin in the last election!  The ethical behavior of a member of her family has nothing to do with the quality of her work or her ideas.  We are led to believe that where there is smoke there must be fire even if the fire is faked deliberately.

Appeal to pity:  The pitiful conditions of people are cited as proof that a certain solution is necessary.  Sometimes presented as a Fallacy of Composition in which a single or few cases are demonstrated as proving the need for the entire group to change in the way advocated.  Bill Clinton did this by bringing a needy family into wherever he was speaking as an example of proof for what he was proposing.

Appeal to fear:  If you don’t do what is proposed, disaster will result.  Sometimes presented as “do what I say or you are going to be badly hurt!”

Tu quoque:  Defending one’s behavior on the basis that others have done the same thing.  Tu quoque literally means “me too.”  Since others have done it don’t blame me!

Appeal to tradition:  We have always done so and so, therefore we need to continue doing thus and so.  The Democratic Party has always been for the working class; therefore what we propose will benefit the working class.

Slippery slope:  If we start down this line of reasoning or action we will slide into deep and dire trouble.  The consequences of choosing this or that solution will start us on a slippery slope which will end in disaster.  

Fallacies of miscasting the issue:
Fallacy of composition:  Already dealt with above.  One example does not make a generality.

Fallacy of division:  The opposite of Fallacy of composition.  A general condition does not necessarily apply to every individual example.  

Fallacy of False Dichotomy:  It is either this or that, what I propose or what my adversaries propose.  There is no middle ground, no third alternative.

Fallacies of Misdirecting the Issue:
Shifting the burden of proof:  The other side must prove their point as either right or wrong.  Obama shifted the responsibility of coming up with a budget to the Republicans when it is the administration’s responsibility to propose a budget.

Begging the question:  When the claim of what is needed is cited as the proof of what is needed.  Paint a rosy picture of the future and use that picture as proof that what is advocated should be adopted.  A favorite of Obama’s!

Straw man fallacy:  It is easy to knock over a straw man.  Picture what is proposed in a silly or unfavorable light and then destroy it.  It seems to destroy the argument but has really done nothing to it.

Red Herring technique:  Mislead the argument off onto some side issue, thus avoiding talking about the real issue.      
            
Ambiguity:  Making the issue so ambiguous that no one really understands the issue.  “Pass the Obama medical bill and then you will know what’s in it!”

Scapegoat:  It is their fault not mine!  They did it and I’m trying to rectify the bad situation.  Obama on blaming Bush for everything he isn’t doing.

Personality cult:  Look at me, focus on me, I’m your savior!  All the TV channels were to devote a certain amount of time focusing on Obama.  If they see more of me they will trust me more!

They who control the information source control the populace.  It is key to brain washing, which influences everyone to some degree.  Recognize the technique, realize what it is trying to do to you, and laugh—as you would a used car salesman selling you a car driven only by an elderly lady to and from church!  Don’t blame the attempted snooze job any more that the one who buys into it.

Prepared and used by permission of Lawrence St. Claire