Friday, September 30, 2011

A Day of Peace


In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and in honor of the gentle spirit who authored this legislation, John Conyers, Jr., I present this piece, again, to pray for all to recognize that we, as humans, are many in body, but may only become united under the universal care for the peaceful health of society.

The issues surrounding unruly town hall meetings and angry mobs were addressed over 200 years ago in the Federalist Papers, specifically #9, Hamilton and #10 Madison.

Hamilton #9The utility of a Confederacy, as well to suppress faction and to guard the internal tranquillity of States, as to increase their external force and security, is in reality not a new idea. It has been practiced upon in different countries and ages, and has received the sanction of the most approved writers on the subject of politics.

What Hamilton basically says is that an insurgent faction disrupts consolidation and consensus of groups, better known as a republic. This idea was expounded and refined in Madison #10.

Madison identified the "inner tranquility" of the consolidation and consensus of groups as the "majority".  He further spoke of the futility of non-peaceful protests as they disregarded established legislative processes, having elected government representatives.

"Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages, and then betray the interests, of the people."

Historically, civil disobedience only works when functioning under the policy of peace. These protests are not peaceful in language or activities, an early presentation of failure of the insurgence.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise therof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.The Bill of Rights: First Amendment

The key word is "peace". Once this tenet of the First Amendment is violated, peace, the government is empowered to protect the people, pursuant to the General Welfare Clause in the U.S. Constitution. The following is an excerpt of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States, called the General Welfare Clause:

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

Violence, be it verbal, emotional, physical, or economic, becomes grounds for government intervention, or rather the calling of the police to maintain the peace. When this happens you have an insurrection, pursuant to the General Welfare Clause. Under this light, health care as commerce, or rather Universal Health Care, is seen as a "provision for the common defense social disease, meaning maintainability of individual and social health, becoming interchangeable with the temporal terminology of General Welfare.

Quintessentially, Universal Health Care is one in the same with the Common Defense and General Welfare of the people of the United States of America. Here is a visual model for greater understanding:

Universal = Common

Health = Defense

Care = General Welfare

There is a lack of organization and understanding, as the insurrections constantly demonstrate a significant failure in mastering a rudimentary education of the social mobilization.

Peace.

Conyers Encourages Service Members To Submit Claims For Stop Loss Paymentsl

Conyers Encourages Service Members To Submit Claims For Stop Loss Payments

October 21st Deadline Fast Approaching

(DETROIT) – Today, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) urged service members and veterans to apply for retroactive stop loss benefits they have earned before the October 21st, 2011 deadline.  

Service members, veterans and beneficiaries of service members who were involuntarily extended under stop loss between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2009 are eligible for retroactive stop loss special pay of $500 for every month or partial month served in stop loss status.

“As a veteran, I understand the large sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform,” said Conyers.  “Our country is indebted to them for their service.  It is critically important that they receive the full benefits they have earned.”

For more information about eligibility and applications, please visit: http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0710_stoploss/

Bank of America to start charging monthly debit card fee in January

Bank of America confirmed yesterday they will begin charging all debit card users a $5 monthly fee in January as the troubled financial institution looks for ways to replace funds lost through Congressional action.
It is a reaction to new banking rules that take effect tomorrow limiting what banks can charge retailers per card swipe.
Bank of America will charge the fee to anyone using the card in their billing cycle. The fee will be per billing cycle, not per use, meaning the fee applies with the first usage in the billing period and all additional uses are free.
The only exception is for using the debit card as an ATM card. If this is the only usage in the month there will be no charge, according to the Bank of America spokeswomen, Betty Reiss.
The charge would be waived for certain premium accounts, Reiss added in a Thursday statement.
As “big business” continues to be made out as villains by some in Congress the reality is that business pays nothing that it does not first receive from its customers.
Michigan Congressmen John Dingle, Gary Peters, John Conyers, and others have been firm in their stance that bank charges are out of hand. The Democrats in the Michigan Congressional delegation to the House of Representatives and both Senators are united in their support of the bank reform that limits the bank fees on credit card swipes.
Yet the struggling banking industry, including Michigan-based Flagstar and Comerica, faces continual federal regulations that drive up their cost of doing business. They assert that fees must be captured in order to remain solvent.



Tony Bennett Lobbies For Radio Payment



Tony Bennett Lobbies For Radio Payment

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Legendary jazz singer Tony Bennett visited Capitol Hill Tuesday evening to lobby for legislation that would end a longstanding copyright royalty exemption afforded to AM and FM radio stations. He attended a reception organized by the MusicFirst Coalition, which drew a handful of House and Senate members and their aides. Read more about the hot topic in National Journal magazine's April 18 issue here (subscription required). Music industry stakeholders who support the legislation expect a mark up in the House Judiciary Committee soon. Judiciary Chairman John Conyers is pictured above with Bennett and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas.
More photos after the jump...
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Tony Bennett's wife, Susan Crow, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Bennett
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Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, with Tony Bennett
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RIAA's Mitch BainwolCary Sherman and Tony Bennett

Grammys on the Hill Calls for Better Copyright Protection


Grammys on the Hill Calls for Better Copyright Protection

BMI was proud to partner with the Washington, DC Chapter of the Recording Academy to host its annual signature advocacy event, Grammys On The Hill, recognizing outstanding legislators and artists who have improved the environment for the music community. The gala evening took place September 8 at the Willard Inter-Continental Hotel in Washington, DC.
Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), BMI's Fred Cannon and Del Bryant
The BMI-sponsored event honored three outstanding and outspoken women for their contributions to American culture. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), who could not attend due to her husband's illness, was honored for her work promoting the arts as both a Senator and First Lady. Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) was recognized for pursuing strong copyright protection in Congress and Grammy Award-winning BMI artist Natalie Cole was honored for her exceptional 30-year music career. The evening also included performances by Judy Collins (in honor of Sen. Clinton) and Cowboy Junkies (in honor of Rep. Bono).
BMI lobbyist Mike Remington, Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Congresswoman Linda S�nchez (D-CA), BMI's Del Bryant and Fred Cannon


NARAS Philadelphia Chapter Executive Director Mark Schultz, BMI's Del Bryant, and MusiCares Director Dee Dee Acquisto


BMI's Fred CannonBMI Artist Natalie ColeRecording Academy President Neil Portnow


Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Representative Mary Bono (R-CA), Fred Cannon


Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Representative Mary Bono (R-CA), Recording Academy Chairman Dan Carlin, Del Bryant, Fred Cannon


Del Bryant and Dan Carlin


Neil Portnow, Judy Collins, Representive Mary Bono (R-CA), Natalie Cole, Dan Carlin, Recording Academy Vice Chairman Kurt Elling


Neil PortnowNatalie ColeRep. Mary Bono


Neil Portnow, Representive Mary Bono (R-CA), Natalie Cole, Del Bryant


Del Bryant, Representive Mary Bono (R-CA), Natalie Cole, Fred Cannon, Kurt Elling


Del Bryant and Congressman Chris Holland


Fred Cannon, Congressman Chip Pickering, Robbin Ahrold


Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and Del Bryant


Representive Mary Bono (R-CA), Fred Cannon, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)


Representive Mary Bono (R-CA) and Fred Cannon


Natalie Cole and Neil Portnow


Natalie ColeNARAS DC Chapter VP Daryl Friedman


Representive Mary Bono (R-CA) and Fred Cannon