Saturday, July 13, 2013

Open Letter of Challenge to Gov. Rick Perry


Open Letter of Challenge to Gov. Rick Perry


Dear Governor Rick Perry;

You may attempt to disguise your actions behind some ideal of a faith; however, I am not here to debate the question of your faith nor your religious views concerning the issue of the recently passed abortion legislation.  I'm here to call into question the motives, accountability, and responsibility of yourself and the Republican Party Representatives here in Texas.

Within the last few days you have stated, "that some say the measure goes too far but most Texans don't." and "we wouldn't have passed it if we didn't think it was constitutional."  By now I am sure you know your actions of calling an expensive Special Session (for predominantly passing this legislation as you and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst had sworn after it was defeated in the first Special Session) and the under-handed party politics of forcing this bill through regardless of the thousands of people that testified that this legislation wasn't good for Texas, nor desired by the people of Texas, of whom you and the other elected representatives hold an obligation of service, not that of being an overlord.


Let us first deal with the issue of 'constitutional':
Casey v. Planned Parenthood case from 1992, the Supreme Court first declared that a woman's decision to get an abortion implicates important "liberty interests" and "privacy interests" that the Constitution's Due Process Clause protects against state interference. Together, these interests form a "substantive right to privacy" that is protected from state interference in "marriage, procreation, contraception, family relationships, child rearing, and education." This right also protects the abortion decision, the Court again argued, because it implicates equally intimate questions of a woman's personal autonomy, personal sacrifices, emotional and mental health, and fundamental right to define her life.

With the constitutional right to an abortion reaffirmed, the Court next reiterated Roe's (Roe v. Wade, 1973) ruling that, first, states could not ban abortions before the "viability" point (the point at which the fetus is able to sustain life outside the womb), and second, that in no case may states ban abortions that help preserve the life or health of the mother.

Thus, considering precedent, this bill is clearly unconstitutional, unlawful, and violates every common sense respect for individual rights.


Now, let us deal with the question of whether the "people of Texas" want this or not, as the truth of this matter was clearly shown during the days and hours of testimony provided prior to the forced passage of this bill by the Republican Party:

The question of responsible government, party politics, and individual rights is one that every person residing in Texas should be concerned with. The process taken by the current Republican Texas leadership (Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and the Texas House of Representatives) of calling expensive Special Sessions and of refusing to alter the bills, even when such alterations would have garnered greater support, deserves a complete response by the people of Texas.

Gov. Rick Perry quoted, "this is what the people of Texas want." Thus, if this is indeed what the people of Texas want, then why not put this issue to a state-wide vote before you sign it?  Then there will no longer be the lingering question of "do the people of Texas want this legislation?"  If you, and may I also add those that have funded and orchestrated this ordeal, have no worries about the truths of your convictions and statements, then you would have no reason NOT to wait until the entire state has a chance to make their voice heard.  When there is a failure of the elected representatives to duely serve as elected, then the people retain the right to demand those individuals be held accountable.  Thereby, I recommend that you allow and encourage a simple state-wide vote on the issue.  The questions below are designed to bring to light the real questions and reasoning behind the passage of this legislation.  There is plenty of time, so why rush to sign, when you could pull the State of Texas together.

State-wide Interview Questions to determine if Gov. Rick Perry should sign or veto the current legislation marked SB1 and HB2:
1. Do you believe that the current Texas leadership acted in a responsible, civic minded, government role?

2. Do you believe that the Republican leadership should have delayed this bill in favor of reviewing and providing sincere consideration of the numerous amendments presented, instead of ignoring all offered amendments along a party line vote?

3. Do you believe that Rep. Jodie Laudenberg and Rep. Glenn Hegar actually wrote these bills without complete direction from an outside interested party?

4. Do you believe that there is a Conflict of Interest related to this legislation as it regards Gov. Rick Perry and his sister's, Milla Perry Jones, role as Vice President Government Affairs for United Surgical Partners International, who is also on the Board of Directors for the Texas Ambulatory Surgical Center Society?

5. Do you oppose or support this legislation, not on a religious basis of morality, but on a pure individual rights issue?rns over this issue, which really isn't about abortion at all.

Finally, with the knowledge that "just two days after a Travis County grand jury was presented evidence of potential wrongdoing in decisions awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in research funds to Gov. Rick Perry's donors, Perry vetoed the funding for Texas' criminal ethics watchdog, the Public Integrity Unit (PIU) of the Travis County District Attorney's Office. 
Perry also vetoed the Texas Ethics Commission sunset bill, which required disclosure of those donating "dark money" to nonprofits funding attack ads.  
Perry said that he vetoed the funding for this office because he wanted the Travis County district attorney to resign after she pleaded guilty and served time for a drunk driving charge. She seems to be singled out; other DAs, judges and lawmakers have been convicted of DWI since Perry took office, yet he has not gone after their funding."

With so very many questions now firmly attached to your last role as any elected official, isn't it time for you to do one thing right?  Let the people speak, fully disclose the purpose of and the originators of this legislation, and come clean regarding how many people have received 'favors' from the Governor's office?  

As a Christian, you should know 1 John 1:9 (from the King James Bible)
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Now is your chance to gain forgiveness, and now is the time for you ro show the people of Texas the truth.

Thus, what say you?  Are you bold enough to take this challenge or will you continue to hide behind false reasoning?



Articles supporting:
"Landmark Cases - Expanding Civil Rights" on PBS.org - http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_roe.html

Roe v. Wade, 1973, Supreme Court Decision - http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0410_0113_ZS.html

"Perry: TX abortion bill constitutional" on KXAN.com - http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/texas/perry-tx-abortion-bill-constitutional

"Was Governor Perry's Veto of Public Integrity Unit Funding Linked to Investigations of Corruption?" on Burnt Orange Report
http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/13775/was-governor-perrys-veto-of-public-integrity-unit-funding-linked-to-investigations-of-corruption

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The Seven Woes of Hypocrisy


A Modern Day Warning to Politicians and the Religious Right, or more aptly the Religious Wrong.


Today the seven woes of hypocrisy are every day occurrences in those that profess the name of Christ, as Christians, which means a follower of Christ.  Jesus taught not that hate and abuse should rule, but that love and a true, humble devotion to God should rule those that profess to follow Him.

Having been a Southern Baptist Preacher, I have personally witnessed the loving, caring, and gentle nature of those that indeed are true Christians, as they are the very ones that carry the message of Christ in their hearts and live their lives accordingly.  I've also seen an increasing level of hypocrisy, especially among the religious zealots of our day, who seek not to love or honor God, but rather seek to serve their own personal desires, beliefs and for self-gain, all through hate, not love.

Politics and Government are not the avenues to promote one religious belief or system over another; however, such is becoming common place here in the United States as our government has been led by hypocrites favoring an extremist view of Christianity.  When a minority seeks to govern the majority, they implore underhanded tactics to force their views upon the populace completely ignoring what is right, fair and just; not to mention, ignoring the very principles of a religion they profess.

Thus, I say unto all of those today who seek to be the overlords and not the servants, "Woe unto you, Republicans and Christians, hypocrites!  You will receive greater condemnation. You are witnesses against yourselves.  Thus, beware that you do not continue upon a false path of righteousness."


The Seven Woes of Hypocrisy

Jesus present these seven woes or warnings in the Gospel of Matthew 23:1-39.  Matthew precedes the woes with a discussion of the Great Commandment (or two greatest commandments), the first of two commandments cited by Jesus in Matthew 22:35–40.  These two commandments are taken from the Law of Moses in the Old Testament and should be the basis of Christian ethics.  "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

The woes are warnings of hypocrisy and illustrate the differences between inner and outer moral states.

The seven woes of hypocrisy are:
1. They taught about God but did not love God — they did not enter the kingdom of heaven themselves, nor did they let others enter. (Matt 23:13-14)

2. They preached God but converted people to dead religion, thus making those converts twice as much sons of hell as they themselves were. (Matt 23:15)

3. They taught that an oath sworn by the temple or altar was not binding, but that if sworn by the gold ornamentation of the temple, or by a sacrificial gift on the altar, it was binding.  (Mat 23:16-22)

4. They taught the law but did not practice some of the most important parts of the law — justice, mercy, faithfulness to God. They obeyed the minutiae of the law such as titheing spices but not the real meat of the law. (Matt 23:23-24)

5. They presented an appearance of being 'clean' (self-restrained, not involved in carnal matters), yet they were dirty inside: they seethed with hidden worldly desires, carnality. They were full of greed and self-indulgence. (Matt 23:25-26)

6. They exhibited themselves as righteous on account of being scrupulous keepers of the law, but were in fact not righteous: their mask of righteousness hid a secret inner world of ungodly thoughts and feelings. They were full of wickedness. They were like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside, but full of dead men's bones. (Matt 23:27-28)

7. They professed a high regard for the dead prophets of old, and claimed that they would never have persecuted and murdered prophets, when in fact they were cut from the same cloth as the persecutors and murderers: they too had murderous blood in their veins. (Matt 23:29-36)



The term “morality” can be used either
1 - descriptively to refer to some codes of conduct put forward by a society or,
some other group, such as a religion, or
accepted by an individual for her own behavior or
2 - normatively to refer to a code of conduct that, given specified conditions, would be put forward by all rational persons.


Definition of HYPOCRISY
1 - a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially  the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion


Why did I write this?  The answer should be clear.  A false christianity has taken over our government and it is time such is removed before those with such false christianity are allowed to condemn our country and everyone based upon their false ideals.

  • It is my firm belief that the time has long past and religion should be restrained and removed from all forms of politics and government.
  • It is time to pass legislation to ensure that no elected or appointed official is allowed to express a particular religious view, nor allowed to present legislation or rules that would force a particular religious view upon the populace.
  • It is time that churches are no longer provided tax exempt status.
  • It is time that all people be allowed to live knowing that they are free to worship as they please, to be free from other's religious persecution, and to be supported by their government in their right to such freedoms.
  • It is time that politics and government focused on providing for the general welfare of all of the people.
  • It is time for revolution, not through the taking up of arms, but rather through peaceful acts of retaking our government for the purpose of removing the current religious hypocrites that are damning themselves and our country.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

The Truth of Careless Government


Texas government has failed the people, as it has continued to force restrictive and religious forms of legislation.  Everyone knows about what is going on in our great city of Austin, as the controversy over HB2 and SB1 have brought thousands out to protest.  Senator Wendy Davis' fillibuster to prevent the passage of these bills during the 1st Special Session.  After a clear and very public defeat, it only took Governor Rick Perry a day to call an immediate 2nd Session, which is costing Texas tax payers close to $1,000,000.

An article about who is funding Rick Perry - OpenSecrets.org and Talking Points and is Rick Perry Gay?

First, should that tax payers be responsible for paying for what is clearly a fake special session for the purpose of passing legislation that the people do not want?  Should our governor not be faced with some form of legal backlash for his vagrant disregard for what is right and just?

Many politicians hide behind only a name, seldom actually being known.  Thus, I wanted to put faces to the names of those that have failed Texas.  These are the same people that everyone should work to ensure they do not get re-elected.  We need to be proactive, donate funds, and get more civic minded representatives in office, especially more women and more minorities.  Responsible government wouldn't allow a majority of a party to rule over all three areas - House, Senate, and Governor.  So perhaps legislation that prevents such rule over all three areas would best serve the people.

Second, don't you want to know who these people are that voted to restrict women's rights of choice, eliminate affordable healthcare, and to attempt to legislate moralities of an extreme minority of people - the Right-Wing Christians.  Here is a bit of info and then the photos and links to the people that voted FOR HB2

Today the 83rd Legislature 2nd Special Session House of Representatives passed a vote in favor of HB2, the controversial bill "relating to the regulation of abortion procedures, providers, and facilities; providing penalties."  Vote: 2nd Reading Amendment 13 by Herrero Results:
Yea: 93
Nay: 53
NV: 2
Absent: 1

Representative Jodie Laubenberg purposefully tabled every amendment presented, many of which would have provided education, resources, and alternatives to HB2's extremist approach.  Her actions clearly showed no desire to participate in civil development of responsible legislation, and further showed her clear disdain for the principles of the office she holds.  She stated, “That is what gives us the authority and the right to be here, to do this.  This is not about politics. This is heartfelt for every member.”  A thorough review of the bills she sponsored and her voting record on important issues further proves that Jodie Laubenberg has only her own interest in mind, not that of representing the people that elected her.  Read Jodie Laubenberg's Donor records, Another article about her and the "Rape Kit", and more articles about her extremist stance to destroy women's rights.

My major concern is that these are the very same people that voted against programs that would provide better and equal access to healthcare, denied programs funding for better education, and they regularly refuse to ensure our government provides for all citizens.

You can read more about HB2, read the full text, see who voted, and what amendments were presented by clicking here.  The final vote will be on Wednesday, sending House Bill 2 to the Senate, which plans to begin working on the measure Thursday.

Additionally, there is a clear Conflict of Interest concerning these damaging bills and Gov. Rick Perry and his sister, Milla Perry Jones.  A thorough investigation of the links between Gov. Rick Perry and his sister, Milla Perry Jones, with United Surgical Partners International, Inc., which is a subsidiary of USPI Group Holdings, Inc., and Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, Texas Health Ventures Group, LLC, and Physician Hospitals of America will reveal this conflict of interest.  Including looking into Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, the major share holder in United Surgical Partners International, Inc.

Physician Hospitals of America's Secretary/Treasurer:
Milla Perry Jones, Vice President, Government Relations 
United Surgical Partners International
15305 Dallas Parkway #1600, Addison, TX 75001

Founding Member of Physician Hospitals of America:
United Surgical Partners International, Dallas, TX
Brett Brodnax , V.P. Development

Click on the name to learn more about each of these Representatives.

Representatives that voted YES:

Rep. Anderson, Charles "Doc" - District 56 Rep. Anderson, Charles "Doc" - District 56

House Member Rep. Ashby, Trent - District 57

House MemberRep. Aycock, Jimmie Don- District 54

House MemberRep. Bell, Cecil - District 3

House MemberRep. Bohac, Dwayne - District 138

House MemberRep. Bonnen, Dennis - (Co-Author) District 25

House MemberRep. Bonnen, Greg - District 24

House MemberRep. Branch, Dan - District 108

House Member Rep. Burkett, Cindy - (Co-Author) District 113

House MemberRep. Button, Angie Chen - District 112

House MemberRep. Callegari, Bill - District 132

House MemberRep. Capriglione, Giovanni - District 98

House MemberRep. Carter, Stefani - District 102

House Member Rep. Clardy, Travis - District 11

House Member Rep. Cook, Byron - District 8

House MemberRep. Craddick, Tom - District 82

House MemberRep. Creighton, Brandon - District 16

House Member Rep. Crownover, Myra - District 64

House Member Rep. Dale, Tony - District 136

House Member Rep. Darby, Drew - District 72

House Member Rep. Davis, John E. - District 129

House Member Rep. Elkins, Gary - District 135

House Member Rep. Fallon, Pat - District 106

House Member Rep. Farney, Marsha - District 20

House Member Rep. Fletcher, Allen - District 130

House Member Rep. Flynn, Dan - District 2

House Member Rep. Frank, James - District 69

House Member Rep. Frullo, John - District 84

House Member Rep. Geren, Charlie - District 99

House Member Rep. Goldman, Craig - District 97

House Member Rep. Gonzales, Larry - District 52

House Member Rep. Gooden, Lance - District 4

House Member Rep. Guillen, Ryan - District 31

House Member Rep. Harless, Patricia - District 126

House Member Rep. Harper-Brown, Linda - (Co-Author) District 105

House Member Rep. Hilderbran, Harvey - District 53

House Member Rep. Huberty, Dan - District 127

House Member Rep. Hughes, Bryan - District 5

House Member Rep. Hunter, Todd - District 32

House Member Rep. Isaac, Jason - District 45

House Member Rep. Kacal, Kyle - District 12

House Member Rep. Keffer, James L. "Jim" - District 60

House Member Rep. King, Ken - District 88

House Member Rep. King, Phil - (Co-Author) District 61

House Member Rep. King, Susan - District 71

House Member Rep. King, Tracy O. - District 80

House Member Rep. Kleinschmidt, Tim - District 17

House Member Rep. Klick, Stephanie - District 91

House Member Rep. Krause, Matt - District 93

House Member Rep. Kuempel, John - District 44

House Member Rep. Larson, Lyle - District 122

House Member Rep. Laubenberg, Jodie (Bill Author) - District 89  “That is what gives us the authority and the right to be here, to do this," said state Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, R-Parker, the bill's author. "This is not about politics. This is heartfelt for every member.”

House Member Rep. Lavender, George - District 1

House Member Rep. Leach, Jeff - District 67

House Member Rep. Lewis, Tryon D. - District 81

House Member Rep. Lozano, J. M. - District 43

House Member Rep. Miller, Doug - District 73

House Member Rep. Miller, Rick - District 26

House Member Rep. Morrison, Geanie W. - District 30

House Member Rep. Murphy, Jim - District 133

House Member Rep. Orr, Rob - District 58

House Member Rep. Otto, John - District 18

House Member Rep. Paddie, Chris - District 9

House Member Rep. Parker, Tan - District 63

House Member Rep. Patrick, Diane - District 94

House Member Rep. Perry, Charles - District 83

House Member Rep. Phillips, Larry - District 62

House Member Rep. Pickett, Joe C. - District 79

House Member Rep. Pitts, Jim - District 10

House Member Rep. Price, Four - District 87

House Member Rep. Raney, John - District 14

House Member Rep. Ratliff, Bennett - District 115

House Member Rep. Riddle, Debbie - District 150

House Member Rep. Ritter, Allan - District 21

House Member Rep. Sanford, Scott - District 70

House Member Rep. Schaefer, Matt - District 6

House Member Rep. Sheets, Kenneth - District 107

House Member Rep. Sheffield, Ralph - District 55

House Member Rep. Simmons, Ron - District 65

House Member Rep. Smith, Wayne - District 128

House Member Rep. Smithee, John T. - District 86

House Member Rep. Springer, Drew - District 68

House Member Rep. Stephenson, Phil - District 85

House Member Rep. Stickland, Jonathan - District 92

House Member Rep. Taylor, Van - District 66

House Member Rep. Thompson, Ed - District 29

House Member Rep. Toth, Steve - District 15

House Member Rep. Turner, Scott - District 33

House Member Rep. Villalba, Jason - District 114

House Member Rep. White, James - District 19

House Member Rep. Workman, Paul - District 47

House Member Rep. Zedler, Bill - District 96

House Member Rep. Zerwas, John - District 28



Ed. Note: Laubenberg was appointed Chair of the Public Health Committee in 2008, a position she no longer holds, though she still serves on the Committee. However, her comments that the in-utero don't deserve access to health insurance because "they're not born yet" seems germane to the ongoing debate about HB 2 in this second special session.


State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, urged lawmakers to realize that no one is “pro-abortion,” and expressed discontent that some supporters of the bill had labeled opponents of the legislation “baby killers.” She said that the question is not when life begins but rather, “It’s a question of decisions that have to be made along the way.”
Howard said that during the regular session, a bipartisan group of lawmakers came together to increase financing for family planning services, which decrease maternal deaths, infant deaths and unplanned pregnancies.
“What we’re talking about here is going backwards,” she said. “It’s embarrassing that we’re doing this.”

Now that you have seen the faces, and hopefully learned a bit more about each one of them, then you can make your own decision as to whether or not these people deserve to remain in office.  For me, it is time to begin the process of ensuring these people are never allowed in public office again.

You can find out more about the Texas Democratic Party 
Additionally, Why did these Representatives NOT vote?
Rep. Kolkhorst
Rep. Sheffield, J. D. -  Absent

Rep. Straus


Now what:  Get out and volunteer with worthwhile organizations that can change the face of Texas politics.  Become an informed voter, and actually VOTE!