"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
~The First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Capitol Hellway Company was founded in 2010 by John Stuart Edwards to replace The Book of all Knowledge blog that he created in 2009.
The purpose of the new small business was to influence the outcome of U.S. congressional elections in the Virginia 7th congressional district.
Success!
In less than four years, Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was defeated in the Republican primary after outspending his opponent by one million dollars in a race where his primary opponent had less than $100,000 in his campaign coffers. Cantor was completely surprised by the grassroots movement that defeated him – led by all the refugees of the 2010 Tea Party revolution that Cantor blew off.
Beginning in 2010, the year we formed the Capitol Hellway Company, my family’s personal tax returns were audited by the Internal Revenue Service for past years, the personally identifiable information of relatives and close friends was leaked from my security clearance documents, and the harassment continued every year until President Obama left office.
On December 27, 2017, the Capitol Hellway Media Company LLC was formed as a Florida Domestic Limited-Liability Company. The new adventure involves writing fiction, textbooks, journalism, art, music, poetry and anything else that pops up along our way.
In January 2019, we launched our first subsidiary – Cathy Edwards Art to fulfill Cathy’s passion for painting Pet Portraits.
On Labor Day 2020, we published our first textbook.
Based on direct evidence contained in the book, “Petition to the Government for a Redress of Grievances”
“Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart violated 5 U.S. Code § 3331, the oath of office, by not
defending the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
CHECK OUT OUR PRODUCTS!
in the works…
Please Visit our new website for More!
https://www.capitolhellway.com
Capitol Hellway Media Company LLC
A Free Media Company in the 21st Century
Virginia 7th District Voters Steve Edwards & Byron Jamerson
traveling to the 9/12 Taxpayers March on Washington today
Steve Edwards and Byron Jamerson today announced their support for Floyd Bayne for Congress. Both are residents of Henrico County in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Steve is a U.S. Navy veteran and Byron is a plumber in his family’s small business. “I am voting for Floyd Bayne for Congress!” Steve shouted as he held up his sign. Byron added, “Floyd will fight for the regular guy, the small business owner, and the U.S. Constitution. We need people like Floyd Bayne in Congress!”
Both will attend the 9/12 Taxpayer March on Washington rally that begins at noon today in our nation’s capital.
8/28/1963
8/28/2010
Consider: The President supports building a Mosque at Ground Zero. So, why can’t the people of Orange County, Virginia build a Walmart?
The case against it
From “The Free Lance-Star” Saturday August 14, 2010
The Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield and six nearby residents are suing the Orange County, Virginia Board of Supervisors over its approval of a special-use permit to allow Walmart to build a 138,000-square foot Supercenter a quarter-mile north of State Route 3, near the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, about 3 miles from our home at Lake of the Woods. The plaintiffs claim that the Orange County zoning ordinance doesn’t “give reasonable consideration to the objective of protecting against destruction or encroachment upon historic areas” and that the Walmart site is part of the Civil War battlefield.
“We’re arguing that there is a substantive defect in the ordinance,” Rosenbaum said. “The plaintiff wants the county to adopt an ordinance that goes along with the state statute.”
Orange County Attorney Sharon Pandak argues that there is no federal or state law that addresses what needs to be included in a zoning ordinance in regard to battlefields and that it is up to each locality to set historic preservation provisions in their zoning ordinances.
The suit also claims supervisors failed to comply with the county’s comprehensive plan and that the Planning Commission made procedural errors in the course of three separate votes on the permit.
In addition to the county, defendants include Walmart and the owners and developer of the 51-acre parcel where the store is to be built.
The trial is set for January 25, 2010.
The case for it
According to Walmart’s website, here are the benefits of this development project:
The project is expected to create approximately 300 new jobs, the majority of which would be full time positions.
Should Orange County, Virginia be permitted by the court to build the Walmart?
Our federal government is really in a bind. It has become so large now that it cannot fix itself, but that is what it tries to do.
Something that really drives me nuts is this notion that employees of our government must sell things to each other. The sheer amount of money and energy spent selling so called ‘good ideas’ and ‘personal agendas’ is overwhelming. But there are bigger problems.
Our government is broken. It is badly in need of repair. The only way to fix it is to cut off the money. Stop paying for it. Require the budget to be balanced and only spend what it takes in.
Will that be painful…yes! But what is the alternative, more government spending? I think not.
To get the conversation going, why don’t we push senior entitlements out to age 85 for everyone under 55 today and for those under 60 cut all the senior benefits in half. Reduce federal government payroll costs by 25 percent with an immediate across the board pay cut, and cap federal executive pay at $125k for all government employees including the Congress. We must restore the civic duty of service and not continue to bankroll federal corruption.
It’s time for drastic measures America. We all need to step up. There is no easy way out. Government employees and Congress are incapable of fixing it from the inside. They lack the knowledge and the incentive. Reform can’t happen under the current spending arrangements and it won’t happen unless the American people step up.
If you work for the government or a company that works for the government, who is your customer? Is it your boss, or a contracting officer, or some tenured bureaucrat (public or private) that ensures you get paid?
I suggest that if you work for the federal government in any form – military, civilian, contractor, then you work for the American People and your customer is the U.S. Taxpayer. There are many stewards in the government that can claim to represent the people (elected, appointed, and other government officials). How do you think they are serving their customers?
What do U.S. Taxpayers get from their government? Besides security, entitlements, and a range of services, don’t they get to pay for it all? Is the cost of running the government at record highs? Who is to blame for that? The Congress and President for sure… but I think we are overlooking a big part of the problem – government bureaucrats – those tenured pathetic assholes that are stinking up our country. They hide and the American People can’t see them, but like termites they are burrowed in our government departments eating away at taxpayer dollars.
So, whether you work for the federal government or a company that works for the government, the next time you hear about “the customer” – think about the American People and the U.S. Taxpayer.
Are you meeting THEIR needs? Do you even know what they are?
Highlighting the disconnect between the Democrats in Washington and the American people, the President says that if Democrats would just stop watching cable news or reading blogs things would be better for them on Health Care. Senator Harry Reid admits that’s what he has done all along.
Intelligence chiefs all say attempted terrorist attack on U.S. Homeland certain in next 3-6 months. Looks like the terrorists are taking advantage of all their new rights granted by the President and Attorney General Eric Holder.
The right to kill Americans and not be killed themselves.
We’ve all seen the campaign promises and inconsistencies from his administration on video throughout the last year. Those are facts that no one can dispute and will be dealt with at election time. But I think there is a larger issue that is being overlooked. The President called for transparency, it didn’t happen and mistakes were made. It’s true he is in charge of our government and should be held accountable, but the American people need to understand that it is not entirely his fault. He is our President, so I think all Americans should, in spite of any evidence to the contrary, give him the benefit of the doubt about wanting transparency until the next election. We have to work together or our nation will fail, and a transparent government is a good start.
For many Americans who have not worked with the federal civilian workforce this may be a surprise or a shock. In the federal government, it is widely known that outside of law enforcement and security, probably about 25 percent of the people, at the most, do all the real work. The other 75 percent have jobs and that’s about it. It’s an employment program – some insiders call it a welfare program, that’s all it is. Anyone who works with feds knows this – it’s a privately held known fact. Federal workers are paid more than their private sector counterparts and they produce much less.
So when the President calls for transparency in government he might be sincere but there are a lot of folks standing in his way. Take Congress for instance – they are hiding things as we just learned about in health care reform. The President said the other day that some of the provisions that got “snuck in” might have violated his pledge. He said he would fix it, and that’s all we should expect. He is our President, and we should take him at his word, nothing less.
However, the President has an even bigger problem than that. For what I estimate to be the 75 percent of worthless bureaucrats populating the ranks of our government, well, they have a lot to hide. They know what happens when we find out they don’t contribute anything productive at work. And boy, I don’t have to tell you that they are sharp to criticize anything that does. They use their position power to protect themselves from being revealed, and that is what we have to stop.
So the solution isn’t just to cut spending or to raise taxes or anything like that. The solution is to remove the power from the federal government brick by brick. The American people should go line by line in the budget and pick out programs they want and then decide – who does it – a government bureaucracy at the federal level, or somewhere closer to the people like the state, local or even the private side.
It’s not going to be fixed from inside the federal ranks and it’s not going to be fixed fast. To make government transparent the people have to do it from the outside-in. No blue ribbon commission of ex-Senators and Congressman or top bureaucrats can fix the problem from the inside. There are too many strong forces with bullshit jobs and lucrative contracts producing little or nothing to hide. The real fix is for the American people to elect officials who have the guts to make the tough choices and shed the pork.
We also have to look-in at the problem from the outside. We need real transparency. The President has called for it, so we should take him at his word. It’s the only way anything will get fixed.
America, you should learn from your mistakes and not allow people to take advantage of you repeatedly. Oh what a difference a year makes.
Virginia State Senator Phillip Puckett (D) says Democrats across the country need to step back and listen to what the people are saying.
The President submitted his budget this week – and it’s more of the same – TAX AND SPEND. The Republican’s also announced their plan – but you won’t hear about it on the news.
I think the Republican “Roadmap for American’s Future” is ambitious and not without shared sacrifice. I don’t agree with every point – but I think it is a solid plan and points to a better direction for our country. If you support it or are opposed to it let Congress know!
What are the alternatives? If anyone has a side by side comparison of the current system, the President’s plan, and the Republican alternative that would be great to see. We need to have real facts and information.
The GOP plan is presented in short video format – easy to follow and understand and can be found here. Takes about 5 minutes to watch all of them.
We need to get smart about the alternatives America – we need changes that will work.
All comments and additional links are welcome.
Not only are we under attack by Muslim Islamic Jihadist’s around the world who want to murder our military personnel and blow up civilian buildings and planes, we now face increasing attacks by Domestic Terrorists trained and based in Washington D.C.
Their weapon of choice? Higher spending and higher taxes.
We must destroy the enemy. Don’t listen to what they say – watch what they do. Speak up everyday – they are on the ropes, don’t give them a break!
I’m getting more and more emails and participating in conversations daily with everyone I know who say “Vote the Bums Out!” Is there anyone out there in America who thinks their congressional representative is worth a damn? I don’t know of anyone. I think most of the people in Congress are criminals. One way or another we need to take them out of office. They are liars and pathetic losers. My congressman is Eric Cantor – Republican – VA. He’s such an idiot that if Obama was a Republican, Cantor would vote for all this nonsense just to follow the party line. The man has no principles. He has no thought capacity – besides being a blazing idiot, he is Republican establishment all the way and could care less about America – only his reelection. This bozo has been in Congress for nearly 10 years and his two greatest legislative achievements? Can’t name them can you – and this guy is one of the top Republicans in the House (I believe he has introduced 2 bills in 10 years – one to rename a post office, and the other for a commemorative coin).
The entire Congress of the United States is corrupt. And I mean BOTH Houses and I mean Both Major Parties. I realize that a few Members of each House are trustworthy, but, as a group they are absolutely the most corrupt bunch to ever disgrace our Nation.
In November of 2010 the entire House of Representatives will stand for re-election; All 435 of them. One third of the Senate, a total of 33 of them, will also stand for re-election.
Vote every incumbent out.
And I mean every one of them. No matter their Party affiliation.
LET’ S TAKE AMERICA BACK.
Open Letter to Senator’s Warner and Webb (formerly Democrats, now secretly representing the New Progressive Communist Party – VA):
Senators, I apologize for my harsh criticism over the last year. I wasn’t smart enough to see your secret plan. But after Louisiana and now Nebraska landed wonderful deals I think I know what you’re doing. You’re obviously holding out for something even more outrageous and I think I know what it is. You are holding out so Virginia gets three things out of this (maybe we’ll hear about it at the planned 7am Christmas Eve vote):
First, I agree with you that we should be able to keep our military bases. It has been reported that Senator Nelson was threatened by the President that if he did not vote for a health care bill, that Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska would be closed. We want our military bases to stay in Virginia. Good call to hold out for that one.
I have to admit that I was really upset when I heard that Nebraska was able to secure free Medicaid forever. That means that the rest of us Americans will be paying for it. But you guys are being patient and savvy, waiting for the big deal. I know what you rascals are up to.
You’re going to tell the President that you will vote for his bill if two more conditions are met.
First, you’ll tell him that none of the special tax increases for items excluding income apply to Virginia. That’s right. We won’t have to pay for any other state’s medical equipment or special fees for eating hamburgers or visiting tanning salons. Good move… shake him down a bit like he’s used to in Chicago. Then drop the big ball.
Tell the President that Virginia’s wants an irrevocable amendment to the Constitution providing a total exclusion from paying anymore social security, Medicare, and federal income taxes – forever. That’s right; we want a zero tax rate for people and businesses across the state. Virginia will become the economic epicenter of the world! You guys are brilliant. We’ll get jobs, a better economy, and no taxes. To hell with doing anything for our country, the Senate is teaching us it’s just about doing what’s best for our state, right?
You have the power now that your two votes are needed. These guys are really desperate and will do anything. Like the White House is saying today on the news, let’s do it the way it’s always been done in Congress and leave it to the other states to pay since they are dumb enough to pay for Louisiana and Nebraska. We know that the bill is unconstitutional, but let’s leave it to the fools in other states who are voting for all this nonsense to pay for it. Obviously they will. Or even better, leave it to their kids in their states and generations to come to pay for it (and all those unborn masses we used to call a fetus). Why should we care, we’ll be living like fat cats in Virginia. Who cares about the United States anyway?
You know, I really thought you two were dumb enough to go along with this nonsense until I realized you couldn’t be that stupid and had a secret plan to negotiate for the bigger deal. Let me apologize once again.
You fellas are brilliant and I think your plan to hold out for the bigger deal is a good one.
So, is this really what you’re going after or do you have something even more outrageous in mind?
Do tell. Virginians want to know. Answer the question: What does Virginia Get?
Oh,… almost forgot… there is one more item. The next thing you’ll need to do is introduce a comprehensive immigration reform bill to keep those pesky Americans from other states from coming across Virginia’s borders for jobs. I mean, what right will they have to our fantastic economy and health care when we make it better on our own without the federal government interfering?
Senator Webb,
You are a veteran. A Marine. And you have agreed to cast votes that violate the U.S. Constitution? You, Sir, do not have that authority. No one in our country does.
I can understand Senator Warner’s strategy; he’s green and probably banking on having enough time before his next election, hoping people forget… I have to say though; he might be right about that.
I want you to know this has nothing to do with Health Care. It has to do with everything. For all I know, this could be a law enforcement matter for Constitutional Scholars and the real Supreme Court – the American People. We are scheduled to begin testifying next November in the voter’s booth. I expect it to continue for a few years until we’re done – with your reelection.
Remember who you are Marine. There is still time. Do the right thing. Support the Constitution. Put spending on hold and have hearings. Put them on TV and the Internet. Add the meetings to YouTube and Vimeo and every other social networking site. Pass legislation opening up all doors across the government. Post blogs and have a dialog with the people. Hold a national debate about the authority to do the things you’re doing. I mean, isn’t supporting and defending the Constitution your most important job before anything else?
Please help me understand – are you broken? Have you lost your mind? If so, you need to stop serving. It’s time for you to do something else.
Semper fi,
United States Marine Corps – Retired
Can anyone say National Debt or Recession? Federal employees making salaries of $100,000 or more jumped from 14% to 19% of civil servants during the recession’s first 18 months — and that’s before overtime pay and bonuses are counted. At the same time, we hear our President and pay czars admonish private sector employees for making too much money. They do nothing to spark small business growth, and want to raise our taxes sky high. There is a USA TODAY article in which it is revealed that federal workers earn an average salary of $71,206 vs. $40,331 for private sector employees. While those numbers are striking, there is more shocking news. According to the CATO Institute, when benefits are included, federal workers earn far more than those in the private sector and the disparity is growing.
First it was the banks, then the car makers, the environment and health care. Now Washington wants to take over college football.
A House subcommittee approved legislation yesterday aimed at forcing college football to switch to a playoff system to determine its national champion. The legislation bans the promotion of a postseason NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision game as a national championship game unless it results from a playoff. The legislation would also make it illegal to promote a national championship game “or make a similar representation,” unless it results from a playoff.
For all you idiots out there in America who continue to vote for legislators that waste our dollars regulating every aspect of our life – go find another country. You don’t care about America – only yourselves and your progressive-liberal-socialist agenda. You want government to be your daddy? If so, you are pathetic losers and a threat to our national security. Maybe you should be identified and hunted down and destroyed. Can we get a vote on that?
Like many things, people have opinions about college football. It’s called freedom of speech. Now Washington thinks it can regulate that too. What are we doing America? Doesn’t Congress have more pressing matters, like the economy and jobs to work on?
Let’s take our country back from the Progressive Wacko’s in Washington!
Mark your calendar and vote in 2010. Let’s throw the bastards out!
With so much happening sometimes the news is just overwhelming and wears us down so today I’d like to share a few thoughts about the latest news and events.
“You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children’s children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.”
President Ronald Reagan
“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
“That some should be rich, shows that others may become rich, and, hence, is just encouragement to industry and enterprise.”
President Abraham Lincoln
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.
President George Washington
What a wonderful idea!
Send Congress a Pink Slip here: http://www.sendcongressapinkslip.com/
I am saddened when I hear government officials lie intentionally and act like it’s no big deal. I am disappointed when I see government officials deliberately take sub-optimal approaches and spend more time covering their backside than getting the job done. I am perplexed when I see government officials who have taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution wasting taxpayer money without oversight or consequence.
Our government is being dragged into the gutter by our politicians and these pesky little pathetic bureaucrats that are running our government. While I do see leaders at the top here in Washington with promise and positive intent, unfortunately they are surrounded by bozos and losers and liars. The American people should demand a full investigation. The government investigates itself so we need to look outside.
We’re in trouble America. It’s not just the politicians; we must change everything in our civilian government about how it runs and the people who run it. We must elect and hire competent people, set clear expectations, measure results, and evaluate progress.
This year on Thanksgiving Day please pray and give thanks to all Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines serving around the globe to defend our freedom. Pray that our Troops serving in Afghanistan are provided all the resources they need to complete their mission so they can return home safely and victorious to their family and friends.
God Bless America!
Welcome to another edition of News brought to you from the Book of all Knowledge Blog. In this edition I have some BREAKING NEWS!
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote at 8pm tonight to determine whether debate can go forward on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s 2,074-page bill to dramatically change the U.S. health care system. This could be one of the most important votes in the history of our country. I sent an email to Virginia Senator Jim Webb’s office this morning that I would like to share with you today. I encourage all Americans to contact their Senators immediately because time is running out. The vote is scheduled for tonight America. Join me. Stop freedom’s demise!
Here is the email I received from Senator Web last night:
From: correspondence_reply@webb.senate.gov
Sent: Fri, Nov 20, 2009 8:35 pm
Subject: Senator Jim Webb’s Response to Your Message.
November 20, 2009
Dear Mr. Edwards:
Senate Health Care Bill Now Available
Visit http://www.webb.senate.gov
Thank you for continuing to share your thoughts about health care reform and the current debate taking place in Congress. Reforming health care in our country is one of the most monumental undertakings by Congress in decades, and the American public’s participation in this process is critical.
Over the past several months, my staff and I have met with citizens, health care experts and community leaders from across the ideological spectrum. In addition, my office has received and responded to more than 100,000 e-mails, letters and phone calls from Virginians on the health care debate.
Last month, I sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid calling for the text and complete budget scores of the health care bill to be posted on a public website at least 72 hours prior to both the first vote and final passage.
I am pleased that the bill is now available for the American public to review.
I want to continue to hear from you on this pressing issue. I invite you to share your thoughts and ideas with me on my newly updated website: www.webb.senate.gov
Thank you again for your time and interest in this important issue.
Sincerely,
Jim Webb
United States Senator
Here are four simple facts:
What is Washington’s cure?
Those are the facts. Wake up America and take a stand. Let’s take our country back!
What do you stand for?
Please comment and let me know what is inside your head or your heart.
Welcome to the first edition of News brought to you from the Book of all Knowledge Blog . In this first edition, I will talk about a phenomenon I call the Washington – Corruption – Effect.
Here’s a brainstorm I had today after reading the U.S. Constitution again that I’d like to share. I am not a lawyer so contact your state legislatures to find out how this works. I do think it is something we should start talking about as a nation if the folks we send to Washington don’t get the taxes and spending under control. To rattle their cages I think we need to cut off the head of the Washington beast and here is one idea on how to do it with one cut. It may be possible to restrict the feds ability to tax and spend with a Constitutional Amendment. I welcome all comments and revisions and ideas from anyone about the procedures here. It appears from what I’ve read that this has never been done, but it’s in the Constitution and I believe there is a reason for it. Let’s call it the American People’s Nuclear Option.
In my view, Article V of the U.S. Constitution says states can hold a Convention to propose Amendments when two thirds of the states (33) apply and proposed Amendments must be ratified by three fourths of the states (38). Therefore, I propose we contact our state legislatures and demand a Constitutional Convention. Here is the first draft of an Amendment I propose:
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION
Section 1. The sixteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes only when two thirds of both Houses of Congress shall deem it necessary.
Section 3. The Congress shall have power to assume debt only when two thirds of both Houses of Congress shall deem it necessary.
***I know there are risks here but I think that we are reaching a tipping point where we may have no other choice. For anyone knowledgeable or working on this type of thing that has information posted online please post in my comments and I’ll come read your stuff. Thanks!
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” Declaration of Independence
… “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government: of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” Abraham Lincoln
“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country” John F. Kennedy
“The time has come for our nation to refresh our government and get control back to the people. Do not be passive or afraid. We must regain our liberty and freedom starting today for our children and all generations to come. We must restore fiscal responsibility and all individual rights guaranteed in our Constitution. Sadly, our government is too corrupt now to reform itself. The path our leaders are taking today will be the end of our nation and our freedom for all time. To abolish their rule peacefully we must speak out and vote”
Americans, please join me in prayer today for all veterans past and present who have served their country and offer them thanks for their many sacrifices. Please pray for all the families of soldiers who were killed and wounded at Fort Hood as a result of the first major terrorist attack on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001.
I ask all Americans today to please contact your Senators in Washington to call on the President, the Secretary of the Army, the Army Chief of Staff, and the command at Fort Hood to approve recommendations for the award of the Purple Heart to all soldiers killed and all those who were wounded by a Muslim Islamic Jihadist on November 5, 2009 (remember the date, 11/9).
Tell your government to stop allowing poor leadership, political correctness, and poor national security policies to interfere with our military wartime traditions. Our military is fighting a global war on terror and was attacked last week on U.S. soil by a terrorist who infiltrated our military officer ranks and committed an act of treason. We must always honor those who serve.
Please join me in wishing Happy Birthday to all my fellow Marines around the world today.
Semper Fidelis,
Chief Warrant Officer
United States Marine Corps – Retired
A friend just sent me the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Network Challenge and I love it! A $40,000 cash prize will be awarded to the first entrant to submit the latitude and longitude of all ten balloons.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the Internet, DARPA has announced the DARPA Network Challenge, a competition that will explore the roles the Internet and social networking play in the timely communication, wide-area team-building, and urgent mobilization required to solve broad-scope, time-critical problems.
The challenge is to be the first to submit the locations of 10 moored, 8-foot, red, weather balloons at 10 fixed locations in the continental United States. The balloons will be in readily accessible locations and visible from nearby roads.
How to compete:
Schedule:
Announcement October 29, 2009
Registration Opens December 1, 2009
Balloons Launched December 5, 2009
Submission Deadline December 14, 2009
Additional information:
DARPA Network Challenge Website: http://networkchallenge.darpa.mil/ contains latest rules and other links
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT GOVERNMENT INNOVATIONS IN THE WEB 2.0 WORLD ?
I sent the following proposal to both presidential political campaigns (Obama & McCain) in 2008 prior to the election. I received no responses.
September 2008
My fellow Americans.
To be better citizens and informed stewards of our government, we must improve our skills so we can lead our nation through this century and beyond. We need to think and innovate more, and we need to communicate and collaborate more effectively as a nation.
I am not a politician, comedian, psychic, actor, pundit, or expert in any particular area of government. I’m just an American citizen who is trying to take care of my Family and do the right thing. I am writing this article because I don’t know what else to do. All I know is that I believe in America, I believe in Americans, and I believe in the American Dream. The same dream that my parents taught me and the one that I learned about in school. The dream that says I can do anything I want to do if I work hard and am willing to sacrifice.
My dream today is that we come together as one nation. I offer that we start by considering the original pledge of allegiance from 1892, “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”
We have to start somewhere America, so can we agree to be indivisible?
If we can agree not to divide ourselves as a nation, then let us please consider another challenge facing us today. We have made our government too complex. I read the U.S. Constitution again recently, the charter for our country. It is simple and it makes sense to me. Now look at what we did with it over the past two centuries. Federal regulations and the tax code today touches every American and both are too complex and broken. If the regulations and tax code don’t serve us, then they need to be fixed. (one year later in 2009, look at TARP, bailouts, health reform, and cap and trade – all no less complex)
A quick Google search tells me that our U.S. Constitution has 4400 WORDS and the tax code has more than 10 times as many pages. I have no idea how many pages of regulations we have in our government, but my guess is that there are more than needed to make it work for us. The fact that we are beginning a major bail out of financial institutions that probably has many volumes of regulations is perhaps some evidence that quantity of regulation does not necessarily equal quality. With so many financial regulations already, we probably do not need more regulations for the financial industry; we just need regulations that are simple and make sense to the American people.
For example, I can understand a rule that says you have to know how much something you own is worth in the marketplace. Our income tax code requires that I know that rule when I donate to charity or sell something for profit or loss as a small business owner. If I don’t follow that rule, then I hear from the IRS – even if it is not my mistake, and they make me pay just like any other American taxpayer. If we don’t have the money, then we get into trouble. To pay our government, some Americans have to cash in their retirement savings, sell a car, lose a home to foreclosure, and default on loan obligations they made which takes away our pride and tarnishes our honor.
What I cannot understand is how major financial institutions were not required to do the very same thing that every American citizen is required to do under the law, and why the American taxpayer has to be accountable and suffer for their bad behavior. Perhaps it is too complicated for me to understand as a citizen and I should just agree to go along. But if it is too complicated for most other Americans too, then I believe this is a symptom of a larger problem. All Americans don’t have to agree on everything our government does, but we do have an obligation under our Constitution to understand what our government is doing.
I think we need to consider and reflect on what our nation’s founders were telling us as we tackle this latest financial crisis and begin to address the many other problems we face as a nation. In all the words in our Constitution, one important theme that I see is that our founders strived for transparency in our government by devising the shortest written Constitution of any major government in the world. By making it more complex over the last two centuries through legislation, the courts, and our government departments, we, as stewards of our country have drifted from the principle of transparency and we need to get back there.
Can we agree that we need to create transparency in our government? If so, let’s start talking about how we can do it.
Americans agree that there are sixty seconds in a minute, sixty minutes in an hour, and 24 hours in a day. We believe that the moon orbits the earth in about 28 days and we measure a calendar year using 12 months. Most companies report their results every three months called a quarter, and after four quarters companies are expected to report the results of their past fiscal year and future plans. We expect all these things to happen and we can measure them. If something does not happen that we expect or something we did not expect happens, then we know we might have a problem and we will have to work together to fix it. If there was negligence or incompetence, then we punish the offenders.
Can we agree that the American people need to set measurable expectations for our government that allow us to see problems and hold our elected officials accountable?
Our politicians won’t say this so I will. All our problems with our government are our fault – the fault of the American people. We have been asleep at the voting booth. We have elected officials to serve as our leaders and representatives and we are shocked when they do not measure up. It is our problem, we created it, and we have to solve it. Perhaps we have not expected much good out of our government. We have accepted the way it regulates, the way it spends our money, the way it taxes us, the way it prioritizes our needs, and we just sit back and we hope someone is interested enough to fight for us and do what’s right. Or we hope that some small group will be loud and rich enough to carry our cause.
Can we agree that hope is not enough collateral to expect change? Can we agree that if we are going to have real change that we have to be able to measure it?
What solution makes sense for the American people? If we can’t understand why we do something or don’t do something as a people, then maybe we need to pay a little more attention to our government. What I prescribe here is a simple approach, one that may be too simple for our Washington bureaucrats but one that I believe many Americans can understand and support so we can quickly create greater transparency across our government enterprise. If we keep it simple and transparent, we can succeed. Like our pledge to be indivisible, we have to start somewhere America, so why can’t we start here?
A Baseline Report to the American People
Keep it simple. We need to establish some understandable context for our government that allows us as a nation to collectively think and innovate. We need a fuse to ignite participation across our nation not just for the latest crisis, but to start that long journey of national self examination and knowledge that is built from a shared understanding of what our government does, and then on questions and answers that build our knowledge and a new citizenship for every American. We need to be free to identify and discuss our problems and start the process of working through them openly, being limited only by our imagination and courage. We need to simplify and understand what our government does.
All long journeys start someplace, and here is what I propose to get us started.
First, require every federal government department starting at the cabinet level to provide a report that answers the following questions. Require that each cabinet head publish a new report annually under their signature, no later than the anniversary of the first report which should be due within 30 days of the State of the Union each year. Post all these reports on the Internet for everyone to see immediately, and require that they be submitted using 4400 words or less, just like our Constitution. Link these reports prominently to the IRS website and every federal website in the entire government where a citizen might interact so they are easy to find. (or post to social networking sites one time)
All initial reports should be limited to answering five fundamental questions.
1. What is your mission?
2. What is your vision?
and for each of the following:
· Lead and manage
· Organize and assign resources
· Execute policy
· Perform processes
· Use enabling technologies
3. How do you (insert each item above) now?
4. How did your department (insert each item above) 2 years ago?
5. How does your department plan to (insert each item above) in 2 years?
Place the name of the department at the top of the first page and number each page. If the department struggles with these questions or has to make up answers, then that absence of knowledge or the weakness of each response will tell Americans a lot. It will explain our loss of confidence or show us why we should be confident. This is what the Baseline Report to the American People is supposed to show us, now let’s discuss how it will be used.
Provide quarterly progress reports through High Tech – High Touch Town Hall meetings in all 50 states.
American citizens can create transparency by being offered substantive opportunities to communicate and collaborate in their homes, localities, and state institutions with Washington officials both in person and using available technologies. Our mobile phones, televisions, and the Internet have given us a gift of communication and collaboration our founders never could imagine possible. Let us make America better by using all enabling technologies in our homes, schools, and communities in new and creative ways to improve communication and collaboration across our nation. Let us remove all unnecessary barriers to citizen participation and involvement by investing wisely in interoperable solutions and capabilities that ensure every American has a chance to participate in creating transparency of our government. If we are wise, investments to improve our country here can also serve our economy as well. There is no problem we cannot solve together.
To get started, we should exploit all available capabilities across all technologies simultaneously to connect our government through volunteers, community service, and philanthropy for each initial federal report to spontaneously and rapidly create a broad citizen network. There are so many possibilities beyond online blogs and forums, websites, videos, television broadcasts, and mobile messaging and alerts; conducting public meetings and broadcasts; working groups and think tanks. Each cabinet level department head should be accountable for explaining their mission to the public, describing their governance, networks and affiliations, and how they are changing or planning to change our government to serve the public. They need to explain the problems we are facing as a nation and allow the full power of our citizens to participate, provide immediate feedback, and be informed. The public can participate real-time in polling and other data collection to ensure we are focused on the right priorities and issues at the right time. This not a modification to what our founders sought, this is simply transparency of our government inside a modern democracy.
My dream is that we come together as one nation and become better citizens and informed stewards of our government. I believe that all Americans are accountable for our government’s performance and results. We don’t have to agree with everything our government does. But if we can agree to not be divided anymore and take responsibility for what our government does or does not do as a nation, then perhaps we can also agree to unite by sharing a common goal to begin creating transparency of our government by starting with the Baseline Report to the American People. By emphasizing opportunities for communication and collaboration through all available channels, we can foster a solid foundation for renewed citizenship of transparent government that serves as a springboard to a new economy in America and the rest of the world. If we start today, together we can begin to imagine where our nation and the world will be in 100 years and beyond. And that dream can be our American Dream, one we created together that all Americans can believe in and share.
the end
I think character is defined by the value of our word, and integrity is a barometer for trust. To eliminate corruption in our federal government, the American people must seek out and encourage honest people to pursue public office. Politicians who lie to us or play games must be voted out. Let’s draw the line now and put a stop to this damaging cycle. Politicians who take advantage of our trust must not be reelected.
Example: Last night, the House of Representatives passed health care legislation.
Consider:
Candidate Barack Obama said, “When I’m elected president you’re going to see this health care legislation written in the open. It’s going to be on C-SPAN, and you’ll be able to see all the different people arguing to see whether they’re on your side or they’re on the side of the drug companies and the insurance companies and so on. But you’ll be able to see that process on C-SPAN.”
HOWEVER, this is what our President and Congress did over the last year:
And then last night, health care legislation passed the House with the following votes.
H R 3962 RECORDED VOTE 7-Nov-2009 11:16 PM
BILL TITLE: Affordable Health Care for America Act
| Ayes | Noes | PRES | NV | |
| Democratic | 219 | 39 | ||
| Republican | 1 | 176 | ||
| Independent | 0 | 0 | ||
| TOTALS | 220 | 215 |
Full results: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml
FOLKS WAKE UP!!! THE ONLY THING OPEN AND BIPARTISAN ABOUT THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS THE OPPOSITION TO IT. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OPPOSE IT. OUR POLITICIANS LIED!
Everything stinks in Washington, so let’s clean it up! I think we need a government that works better and costs less. The way I see it, there are probably around 545 changes we need to make now as a Nation to make our elected officials follow our Constitution so we can be free. My mother and father gave me this country. For the sake of my sons, I must refuse to not be free.
I am standing up for truth and freedom. What say you?
I had a nice conversation with a Gentleman running for Congress in 2010 last night.
America, get ready to take your country back!
The news is not good for the government and there is no accountability anywhere to be found. It’s really bad. Where are the government leaders who are willing to stake their professional reputations on doing what’s right? Why do taxpayers allow public officials to stand in the way of creating a government that works better and costs less? Common sense escapes too many in our government today, and the one’s who get it can’t seem to do anything about it.
I hear too often, “we’ll try.” WE’LL TRY? How about, we’ll do it. Leaders are paid to lead, and if they can’t lead then get the hell out of the way!
We are told that culture and politics block progress. Everything requires some fancy strategy to get done – as if good ideas are not common sense and obvious. We hear that it is all about approach and presentation and sales – and ends up being a watering down exercise. Many public officials are convinced that doing the right thing and doing it well is not allowed. We’re told that we must tolerate the stupidity and power hunger of bureaucrats. No more!!! Here is where we will draw the line. In the coming months we will take action.
Notice has been served. Either get with the program or be revealed. Stand in the way of progress and you will make headlines across the globe.
Stand up Americans. Join me – we now have the power!
Accountability starts today! Let’s take the fight to the enemy – obstructionist and incompetent public employees can no longer hide and they must be revealed and defeated.
Short Video on Government Corruption at all Levels and What to Do About It
(there is no sound by design)
All Comments Welcome
SHARE YOUR STORIES HERE!
We’ll leave the politicians for another post. I’m interested in our government’s middle management – those mind numbing folks just below the political appointee radar. SES’s and GS-15 levels who manage the day to day in our federal agencies.
Ever met or work for an arrogant, rude, power hungry bureaucrat in the federal government who doesn’t know their ass from first base? You know the type, the stupid SOB that cares only about themselves and not the taxpayer? The person who stands in the way of all innovation and never asks for new ideas? Or who’s knowledge is so dated that they think in old ways.
If you know the type, I’d love to read your horror stories so please comment here. I’ll make another post in a few weeks to hear stories about the good folks out there. This is only the start.
Please do not use the names of people. This is not a hit list – just a place where we begin to cope with the challenges of government reform.
The American People have a right to know what’s going on!
Our government is broken in many places but there are ways to fix it. In this blog I plan to exercise my right to free speech and pass on my thoughts about how to reform our federal government from the inside.
I hope you will follow me.
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The Book of All Knowledge 