DownsizeDC.org

Does Your Rep Really Believe the Troops Are Fighting for Freedom?

2012-05-25T14:03:00Z

Quote of the Day: "The black Dooms gnashing their white teeth, grim-eyed, fierce, bloody, terrifying fought over the men who were dying for they were all longing to drink dark blood. As soon as they caught a man who had fallen or one newly wounded, one of them clasped her great claws around him and his soul went down to Hades, to chilly Tartarus. And when they had satisfied their hearts with human blood, they would throw that one behind them and rush back again into the battle and the tumult." - Description of "The Keres" in the Shield of Heracles.

Politicians send troops abroad to die. Then they bestow fake honor on them at home. It's called Memorial Day.

Chances are EVERY member of Congress will be back in their district, pontificating and posing as a patriot, who values the sacrifice of the fallen. Yet...

Last week an amendment to end legalized kidnapping failed in the House, 182-238.

You can see how your Representative voted here.

The 238 should be deeply ashamed.

If you see one, I hope you'll tell them so. And don't believe them when they tell you it doesn't apply to Americans. Now, as you'll see below, even a federal judge disagrees.

If you're not going to see them, then write them. We urge you to "Thank or Spank," depending on how he or she voted, using DownsizeDC.org's Repeal Indefinite Detention campaign.

The hardwired letter reads, "Repeal the detainee provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (Sections 1021 & 1022)."

Then, choose the appropriate text below.

Representative voted "Aye"...

Thank you for supporting the Smith-Amash Amendment to the 2013 NDAA.

Last week a federal judge placed an injunction against the 2012 NDAA "indefinite detention" provisions, based on the likelyhood that they violate the First and Fifth Amendments.

By supporting repeal, you followed your oath of office and the Constitution.

Stand firm on this issue. Please tell your Senate colleagues to insist on restoration of this amendment when they consider the NDAA. In the House, you must oppose the 2013 NDAA Conference Report unless indefinite detention is repealed.

I need you to keep fighting!

Representative voted "No"...

It is Memorial Day weekend. I am angered. You cast a troop-dishonoring vote against the Smith-Amash Amendment that would end _kidnapping_. You euphemistically call it "indefinite detention."

The vote came a day AFTER a federal judge placed an injunction on the practice based on First AND Fifth Amendments grounds! Don't you read the papers?

The hearing testimony and the judge's ruling are instructive.

* Opponents were proven right; Americans were at risk of a military kidnapping at the President's whim.
* Members of both Armed Service Committees misled you about Sections 1021 and 1022 of NDAA 2012.

Now, thankfully, Section 1021 can’t be used within our borders.

Let me ask you...

* Have _you_ been lying about the bill?
* Are you ignoring the real, textual concerns of civil libertarians, choosing instead to believe the false propaganda of the Armed Services Committee? (The text matters more than their intentions.)
* Did you originally misunderstand the bill, yet STILL ignore the federal judge's ruling?
* Did you abandon your oath of office to support the Constitution and instead decided to "let the Supreme Court sort it out?"

You'd agree that the Supreme Court gets things wrong. That's why it's YOUR responsibility to stop unconstitutional legislation before it even reaches the courts!

There's another thing I wonder about...

You will give AT LEAST one Memorial Day speech this weekend. Chances are you will honor our nation's war dead by saying they "fought for our freedom."

* Do you see ANY contradiction between your vote and your freedom rhetoric?
* Isn't a country where the commander-in-chief can kidnap anyone at will the definition of an UNFREE country?
* Are you dishonoring those who've "died for our freedom" by your delinquent legislative actions?

I demand you reconsider. Repent for what you've done. Going forward, support repeal of the kidnapping provisions. Tell your colleagues and the Senate that you will do this.

END LETTER

You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

DC Downsizers, have a great holiday weekend!

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

Budget Update: We need another $16,094.94 to reach our May GOAL. If you can help, here's our secure contribution form.

Transparency in Defense Spending

2012-05-22T19:21:00Z

DownsizeDC.org joined dozens of other organizations in urging the Senate to have open, transparent hearings on Defense spending.

You can see the letters (in PDF format)...

Cybersecurity: Your Pressure is Working

2012-05-22T16:22:00Z

NOTE: Downsize DC President Jim Babka guest-hosts a syndicated radio show tomorrow (Wednesday). Details in the P.S.

Quote of the Day: "To be governed is to be watched, inspected, spied upon, directed, law-driven, numbered, regulated, enrolled, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, checked, estimated, valued, censured, commanded, by creatures who have neither the right nor the wisdom nor the virtue to do so." - Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

We have some good news to report...

The Senate had planned to pass a cybsersecurity bill this month.

Instead, they put it off until June at least. They can't agree on what should be in the bill.

YOU played a role in this. With your calls and letters, YOU protested privacy invasions and onerous regulations.

We must keep up the pressure.

That's why I wrote another letter to Congress using DownsizeDC.org's "Hands off the Internet" campaign. I encourage you to do the same.

You may borrow or copy from this...

The "cybersecurity" bills considered in Congress are intrusive and unnecessary.

* CISPA (HR 3523), which passed the House, isn't really about cybersecurity at all because it allows the feds to collect personal data to prosecute non-cybercrimes.
* The Lieberman-Collins bill (S 2105) imposes unnecessary standards and regulations on private firms that already have a self-interest in protecting themselves from cyber threats.

I also oppose the SECURE IT Act (S 2151), which threatens my privacy and civil liberties. Among its many problems, SECURE IT...

* encourages private companies to monitor Internet usage, seeking ill-defined "cyber threat information," even when this would violate their contracts with their customers.
* exempts private companies from current privacy and tort laws by allowing the sharing of my personal records with the Megastate.
* sets no standards to anonymize private information.
* facilitates the sharing of my personal information with the NSA and the military.

And it does these things, even when the information gleaned has ZERO to do with cybersecurity.

Private companies would enjoy legal immunity even when they break their own contracts. Citizens will have no legal recourse if the government abuses its new powers under the bill.

Worst of all, SECURE IT also circumvents the Fourth Amendment. It gives the Federal Leviathan access to my personal information – data that would normally require a search warrant to obtain.

If "cybersecurity" was really a concern, Congress could have passed a narrowly-tailored law that allows information sharing to prevent cyber-attacks, yet also protects my privacy.

Congress has not done this. This has gone MUCH further. Is it an accident?

This makes me suspect that "cybersecurity," like "terrorism," is a scare word designed to frighten me into surrendering more privacy and liberty.

I do NOT consent. I insist that you REJECT ALL of these cybersecurity bills.

END LETTER

You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

We encourage you to forward this message to like-minded friends.

James Wilson
Policy Research Director
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

P.S. Tomorrow (Wednesday), Downsize DC President, Jim Babka, guest-hosts Straight Talk w/Jerry Hughes on the Accent Radio Network.

His guest will be Dr. Mary Ruwart, a research scientist and author of “Healing Our World.” Dr. Ruwart also wrote “Short Answers to the Tough Questions,” based on her web column for the Advocates for Self-Government. She is currently Chairperson of the International Society for Individual Liberty.

You can listen live at 2:07 PM Eastern (1:07 PM Central, 12:07 PM Mountain, and 11:07 PM Pacific).

To hear the show on the web, or to find a local station, visit the network's website.

Affiliates can be found in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Oregon.

You can also listen on your phone! Toll free at 1-386-524-0333.

VICTORY: You Win in Court Again!

2012-05-18T14:19:00Z

Can you handle another victory? We've had a bunch this year. Now here's one more . . .

We just won a big verdict in the Chris Hedges case against the legalized kidnapping provisions of the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Remember, Hedges meets with and writes stories about terrorists. He's afraid that this could lead the U.S. military to arrest him and hold him without trial. So Chris filed suit seeking to deny the military this power. But that raised a legal question. Does Chris have "legal standing" to challenge this law, or must he be arrested first?

The Judge asked for briefs to argue this question. We were invited to submit one of those briefs. You helped fund it, and our legal team wrote it. In fact . . .

We filed the ONLY amicus brief in the case.

And we got what we wanted!

PLUS MORE!

And get this . . .

The Judge agreed with two of our main arguments. We said the new law is . . .

Illegally vague. The Judge said there has to be a precise definition of who is subject to the law, and this law fails.
Unfair, because it subjects people to detention even when they had no intent to cause harm or knowledge that they were risking such detention.

Now here's the PLUS part . . .

The Judge not only gave Hedges standing to challenge the law, she also issued an injunction to halt the legalized kidnappings!

That's right. Barack Obama and Company are now prohibited from using these powers on American soil, or with Americans, until either Congress fixes the bill or this trial ends!

Moreover, the Judge's approach vindicates our position: these NDAA provisions really do apply to American citizens, no matter what your Congressional reps have been telling you. So you see . . .

We get everything we wanted and MORE!

Mr. Hedges and his fellow plaintiffs have standing. NDAA kidnapping will go on trial.

And we got the injunction and vindication as a bonus!

This is just one more example of how we've become masters at doing a lot with a little.

But even in the shadow of this victory, there's a problem. Each month...

We have a goal of raising $1 for every subscriber, about $30,000.
Our budget goal, the money needed to pay all the bills, is $20,250.

This month...

We've raised less than $5,000. Pledges will still come in, and we'll top $10,000.

But if the current trend continues we'll still end up about $10,000 short.

Someone reading this message could contribute $10,000 right now. If that speaks to you, I hope you'll act.

But what we really want is large numbers of small monthly donors, because that fits with our overall strategy. We're trying to reduce the cost you must pay to fight State criminality. Could you start a monthly pledge today, bearing in mind that the definition of "small cost" will vary from person to person? https://secure.downsizedc.org/contribute/

Our largest pledger gives $250 each month.
The average pledger submits $14.
Your pledge can be for as little as $1!

And we've just reduced the "risk" of pledging. Your Downsize DC Toolbox now includes a feature that lets you modify or cancel your pledge whenever you want. You're in complete control.

Of course, since we're running so short this month, we'll need more than new monthly pledges. It will take donations of varying sizes.

Repeatedly, you've been there for us. I can only hope you're pleased with our output and thrilled by the results.

Whatever you can give, we'll do our best to use it wisely. You can contribute to DownsizeDC.org here.

Or, if tax-deductibility is important to you, then make your donation to the Downsize DC Foundation here.

Thanks again for making our progress possible.

Jim Babka
President
Downsize DC Foundation
& DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

URGENT: House Vote on Repealing NDAA Kidnapping

2012-05-17T15:21:00Z

Quote of the Day: "One of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the great struggle for independence." - Charles A. Beard (1874-1948)

The House is considering the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2013.

Remember that the 2012 NDAA contained language that allowed the military to kidnap people -- even on U.S. soil.

Representatives Adam Smith (D-WA) and Justin Amash (R-MI) will propose an amendment that explicitly repeals this language.

The vote on this amendment could be TODAY.

Please tell your Representatives to support this amendment, using DownsizeDC.org's Repeal Indefinite Detention campaign.

You may borrow from or copy this letter...

The 2012 NDAA essentially declared all American soil a war zone. That bill sanctioned the illegal powers that this President and the former President claimed to possess. It is unconstitutional and dangerous to use the military to kidnap and imprison anyone the President chooses.

Some Senators were even gleeful about this! Sensible Americans, like me, were outraged. Who wants to live in a country where the State could make our loved ones "disappear?"

Regrettably, the 2013 NDAA, as reported in the House, does not repeal these legalized kidnapping provisions. That's why I support the Smith-Amash Amendment.

What does this amendment do? It...

* bans so-called "indefinite detention" (kidnapping) on American soil. Those arrested must be charged or tried.
* terminates the use of military commissions for those detained on U.S. soil. Instead, they would enjoy the due process rights provided in the Constitution and would be tried in regular federal criminal courts.
* prevents civilian law enforcement from transferring U.S. suspects to the military for indefinite detention.
* clarifies that neither the 2012 NDAA or the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force gives the military authority to detain persons on U.S. soil.
* repeals Section 1022 of the 2012 NDAA, which _REQUIRES_ the military to put some civilian suspects into military detention.

Constitutional procedures protect ALL persons in the United States, not just American citizens. That's because human rights are "pre-constitutional." (http://tinyurl.com/7utzq35)

The Smith-Amash Amendment is the ONLY one that addresses my concerns with the 2012 NDAA. It restores due process rights to citizens and non-citizens alike.

Your failure to support Smith-Amash will tell me that you would prefer a military dictatorship to a free society. I do not consent to being governed in this fashion. I will be watching your vote.

END LETTER

You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

We urge you to forward this to like-minded friends, and to go to our blog and and share this post with your friends.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

Pro-War Resolution Vote TODAY

2012-05-15T13:45:00Z

NOTE: Downsize DC President Jim Babka guest-hosts a syndicated radio show tomorrow (Wednesday). Details in the P.S.

Quote of the Day: "I believe we should only go to war when it is in our national interest based upon an actual and imminent threat to the United States." - Sen. Rand Paul

The House is cornering President Obama into attacking Iran with a resolution that would undermine his diplomatic efforts.

A vote is scheduled TODAY to do just that.

That's why I sent this letter to Congress using DownsizeDC.org's No Conflict With Iran campaign...

Please do the same. You can borrow from or copy this letter...

I know that H Res 568 has 315 sponsors in the House.

But it does NOT have my consent. Nor does it possess the consent of the American people.

H Res 568 is irresponsible and reckless, especially considering that Iran will be meeting with the U.S. and other powers on May 23. A resolution like this will undermine diplomatic efforts.

H Res 568 rejects "containment" of a nuclear weapons "capable" Iran. This makes no sense. EVERY country with a peaceful nuclear program is similarly "capable" of developing nuclear weapons.

If "containing" Iran isn't an option, then war is the only other option. Remember...

* Iran has the right to a peaceful nuclear program under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
* U.S. and Israeli intelligence agree that not only does Iran NOT have a weapons program, but its leaders haven't yet decided to start one.

What, then, are the legal and ethical grounds for war on Iran?

This is pure political cowardice. H Res 568 pressures the President to attack Iran, but won't give explicit authority for him to do so. This way, Congress can blame the President when the war goes badly.

If the resolution is NOT intended to be an authorization of force, then put in explicit language that says so.

Even if you are a co-sponsor, you must oppose H Res 568 if it isn't amended with language explicitly clarifying that it is NOT an authorization to use force.

I also insist that you put in similar language in the National Defense Authorization Act.

END LETTER

You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

TIME IS SHORT. THE VOTE COULD OCCUR TODAY. THAT'S WHY WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL. You can find his or her number when you are logged in to the campaign page.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

P.S. Tomorrow (Wednesday), I guest-host Straight Talk w/Jerry Hughes on the Accent Radio Network.

I'll talk about the Real ID Act with Shelia Dean of BeatTheChip.org.

You can listen live at 2:07 PM Eastern (1:07 PM Central, 12:07 PM Mountain, and 11:07 PM Pacific).

To hear the show on the web, or to find a local station, visit the network's website.

Affiliates can be found in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Oregon.

You can also listen on your phone! Toll free at 1-386-524-0333.

Do you want the Feds to raid medical marijuana clinics?

2012-05-14T13:37:00Z

Obama promised change. He pledged to respect states that permit medical marijuana. He's broken his commitments. Instead, he's maintained or worsened the policies of his predecessor, George W. Bush. And Congress is just as bad.

Last Thursday Congress showed that it has no compassion for the sick and dying, and no regard for the Constitution. They defeated the Rohrabacher-Hinchey amendment, which would end federal raids in states that permit medical marijuana.

Please "Thank or Spank" your Rep.

Deliver praise for a Yea, and condemnation for a Nay.

If you do not act then Congress will assume you consent. Withdraw your consent.

Check your Rep's vote here. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll238.xml

You can then use your own words to "thank or spank" using our Educate the Powerful System, or you may borrow from our sample letters below. Choose the Yea or Nay letter as needed.

Sample letter for Reps who voted Yea:

Thank you for supporting the Rohrabacher-Hinchey amendment. Your vote reflects common sense, compassion, and respect for the 9th and 10th Amendments. I deplore how Congress voted, but I admire how you voted.

Sample letter for Reps who voted Nay:

I deplore your vote against the Rohrabacher-Hinchey amendment. It shows disrespect for common sense, compassion, and the 9th and 10th Amendments, which you swore to defend. I consider this vote criminal. What else could it be? It violates the Supreme Law. You do not have my consent to mis-govern in this manner.

Send your "thank or spank" letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

Perry Willis
Co-founder
Downsize DC Foundation
& DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

Seven Years, Seven Reasons to Repeal REAL ID

2012-05-11T13:58:00Z

On the seventh anniversary of its passage, I sent this letter, below, telling Congress to repeal the REAL ID Act.

I invite you to send one as well.

It's more effective to write a letter of your own, but you have permission to borrow from or copy-and-paste this letter...

Seven years ago, the Senate passed the REAL ID Act.

It passed only because it was attached to a bill authorizing war spending and tsunami relief.

I'm thankful that it hasn't yet been fully implemented. But REAL ID, or some other form of a national ID system, is still possible.

The only real way to prevent a national ID is to repeal REAL ID and order the Administration to stop devising similar programs.

You MUST do this, for these reasons:

1. There is zero Constitutional authority for the federal government to either regulate state ID cards or impose a national identification system.

2. REAL ID would put my personal information into a federal database, making it MORE vulnerable to hacking and theft.

3. When fully implemented nationwide, I wouldn't be able to board a plane without a REAL ID card - even though the Constitution protects my right to travel across state lines.

4. REAL ID imposes unconstitutional, unfunded mandates on the states. That's why, in large part, 25 of them are resisting. This makes REAL ID unworkable and futile.

5. REAL ID creates obstacles to the elderly, poor, divorced women, and others who may have trouble finding all the required documents to "prove" their identity.

6. REAL ID would NOT have prevented 9/11! All but two of the 9/11 hijackers were in the U.S. legally and could have obtained a REAL ID card, and ALL of them had a passport allowing them to fly. (http://tinyurl.com/8xllv7q)

7. If fully implemented, REAL ID will soon be mandatory in order to make a living. One Presidential candidate is already proposing we all need one. And we all know that such an ID will eventually contain tracking technology.

Instead of stopping terrorism or illegal immigration, REAL ID only makes life more difficult for innocent Americans.

Respect your oath of office. Use common sense. Respect human dignity and freedom.

REPEAL REAL ID, and stop every other national ID program.

END LETTER

You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

And we invite you to "like" our Facebook page and share this and other posts with your friends: http://www.facebook.com/downsizedc

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

P.S. Most Dispatches, most days, speak bold truth to power. But everyone has power. When you share these articles with others, you can bypass the tyrants -- speak directly to people who vote and influence those who like to "talk politics."

Or you can forward the letter you send, in response, using our Educate the Powerful System -- because we send you a copy in your email inbox. It's a bonus that you can tell Congress you're withdrawing consent from their illegal and immoral and impractical governing tactics.

So you see, the Downsizer-Dispatch and the Educate the Powerful System empower YOU. It's also in your power to make these tools even more potent then they presently are. Consider making a monthly, credit-card pledge of at least $1 per month.

If everyone did a little, a lot could be accomplished. And you'd be more powerful than ever. YOU could "Downsize DC."

Cyber-spying Bill Still Threatens

2012-05-09T13:55:00Z

Quote of the Day: "Regulation slows progress by freezing innovation. Once the government mandates how something must be done, companies can no longer experiment to find safer, more effective, less expensive ways to achieve the same result." - Harry Browne (1933-2006), Downsize DC co-founder

The disastrous "cyber-spying" bill, CISPA, passed the House last month.

Good news: The President threatened to veto it.

Bad news: Obama favors a Senate version that, in some ways, is even worse. The Senate will be considering it this month.

That's why I wrote this letter telling Congress to keep its hands off the Internet...

I oppose CISPA, the supposed "cybersecurity" bill that actually empowers the Megastate to grab my personal information for reasons that have nothing to do with cybersecurity.

It's a backdoor run around the Fourth Amendment. In your heart, you know that.

And the Lieberman-Collins bill could make it even worse. I would authorize unelected bureaucrats to impose regulatory mandates on private firms.

That provokes questions...

* Do you really believe that regulators will know more than each company's own engineers about the cyber threats those outfits face?
* Doesn't regulation impose compliance costs that an enterprise might otherwise spend on innovative cybersecurity solutions?
* Each company has an interest in protecting itself from cyber threats, doesn't it? Why then, is regulation necessary?

Regulation means inflexible, one-size-fits-all rules.

And it often means lost jobs.

Competition, however, promotes safety, quality, and innovation. Companies would create better cybersecurity defenses at lower cost over time.

It is possible that current federal law is outdated. It's also possible that current law ties the hands of both private firms and governments to protect themselves from cyber attacks. If so, follow Julian Sanchez's advice: allow narrowly-tailored information sharing that addresses cybersecurity threats only, yet protects my privacy. (http://bit.ly/JYtXKv)

Neither CISPA nor Lieberman-Collins achieves this. Instead, they go in opposite directions.

Oppose both! And know that your vote is a Constitutional matter. Make the wrong choice, and I will tell others of your contempt for the Fourth Amendment and hostility toward job creation.

I will be watching what you do.

END LETTER

You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

James Wilson
Policy Research Director
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

More TSA Travesties

2012-05-07T13:51:00Z

"Okay, I now have definitive proof that al Qaeda has actually won. It hasn't achieved the dissolution of the United States, or succeeded in murdering millions of Americans, or re-established the Caliphate, but it has caused our government to debase itself in the name of security." - Jeffrey Goldberg

I told Congress to abolish the TSA. I sent this letter using DownsizeDC.org’s Educate the Powerful System...

I have four items for you, and some questions.

1. A four year-old girl in Wichita was treated like a terrorist because she violated TSA protocol by hugging her grandmother at the airport. (http://bit.ly/IP6Dv1)

If a private security firm did this, wouldn't it face horrible publicity and lose business? Might Congress call the CEO of that firm to testify before a committee, so your colleagues could grandstand?

2. Rep. Francisco Canseco (TX-23) got into an altercation with an overly-aggressive TSA agent. (http://bit.ly/Ic4bP7).

Rep. Canseco asks, "What on earth is a U.S. congressman going to do on a plane? Pull out a gun and shoot everybody?" (http://politi.co/JG1zsK)

He's right; no Congressman is going to shoot up the plane. But wouldn't private security firms compete with each other to be less invasive, and respect the dignity of all passengers?

3. TSA agents asked a 79 year-old woman about "an anomaly in the crotch area" -- loud enough for others to hear. Refusing a pat-down, she passed through the scanner again. (http://bit.ly/IuzWI2)

Again, wouldn't private security firms compete with each other to be less invasive, and respect the dignity of passengers?

And why are the body scanners so unreliable?

4. Current and former TSA employees are under indictment for receiving bribes from drug couriers in Los Angeles and New Haven. (http://lat.ms/IMQIxS)

Wouldn't a private security firm be more interested in detecting weapons and explosives, instead of drugs?

The TSA is a typical government agency. It has no incentive to please the customers. If airline security was completely privatized, airlines would compete with each other to provide not only safety, but also a dignified process and a pleasurable trip. Customer satisfaction would be their priority.

Don't "fix" or "reform" the TSA. Abolish it.

END LETTER

If you agree with us that the TSA should be scrapped, please send a letter as well. You can borrow from or copy the above letter.

And, we invite you to follow us on Twitter and retweet our posts: https://twitter.com/#!/DDCDispatch

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

P.S. If you could reduce the size, scope, power, and expense of the federal government by pushing a button, would you do it?

Well, there is such a button, and it's a click of your mouse.

Everyone thinks change is hard. They're right, it is. But it's becoming a whole lot easier!

In the past, it's been too expensive and too hard to organize -- to stop crony interests from milking the State for favors. The incentives have been for government to grow and liberty to recede.

At DownsizeDC.org we're devoted to changing that. We're the ONLY group working for small, limited government that FOCUSES on the problem of Concentrated Benefits of lobbying special interests) vs the Dispersed Costs of the regular taxpayers who pay for all this crony activity -- taxpayers like you.

The bigger and better-equipped DownsizeDC.org becomes, the more YOU power you will have in the national debate.

But the DownsizeDC.org plan won't work if it's something else that's hard to do. Therefore...

If DownsizeDC.org can do just three things -- 1) Raise an average of $1 per month, per subscriber, 2) Use those funds to grow even larger, and 3) Return to repeat step 1 -- then we WILL win.

You CAN reduce the size, scope, power, and expense of the federal government by pushing a button. Simply click go our secure web form and make a monthly pledge of $1 or more.

The CISPA Swindle

2012-05-02T15:10:00Z

Quote of the Day: "You need to read the bill because many times people are shocked, ‘I can’t believe that this bill is having this unfortunate, unintended consequence!’ What are you talking about? That’s what the bill said when you signed it." - Ed Begley, Jr., from Jerrol LeBaron's film Fools on the Hill

Despite growing protests, the House passed Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) last Thursday, 248-168. The House ignored you and bought the hype. You can see how your Representative voted: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll192.xml

The bill, and the process in passing it, was a fraud. And, like the Iraq War and NDAA, it seems the House EAGERLY WANTED to be lied to about CISPA.

Your so-called "representatives" are monkeys who can see no evil and hear no evil (they can still speak evil, unfortunately).

But our numbers are growing, and the fight isn't over. Let's get to the root of the issue, as we DC Downsizers are prone to do.

DownsizeDC.org's Read the Bills Act protects you from Congressional fraud.

As it turns out, we NEEDED it in the fight against CISPA.

And that's why I wrote this letter to my Representative and Senators...

The Read the Bills Act would have exposed the lies that led to the House passing the CISPA "cybersecurity" bill (HR 3523).

I'll name just two of the lies.

Lie #1: The House Majority Whip's website said that the CISPA vote would take place on Friday, April 27. (http://majorityleader.gov/floor/weekly.html)

Instead, on Thursday, the vote was unexpectedly moved up to that evening, less than an hour after amendments were passed.

Why the rush?

Isn't this exactly the kind of stunt Republican leaders used to complain about when the Democrats controlled the House?

Yes, it is.

Lie #2: CISPA is about cybersecurity.

The Quayle Amendment exposes this lie. It essentially changed the very purpose of the bill, by expressly permitting the federal government to use the information it collects to investigate certain crimes that have absolutely NOTHING to do with cybersecurity.

At first impression, the Quayle Amendment seemed to set some limits on the feds. But in reality it broadened CISPA's purpose and scope. (http://bit.ly/J0k5N7). This means...

If you voted for the Quayle Amendment and for the bill as a whole, you have admitted that CISPA was never really about cybersecurity at all.

CISPA is a scheme to allow the feds to collect and use more of my personal data.

How, then, can I trust the legislative process?

How can I trust anyone in Congress?

And if you voted for it, how can I trust you?

I can't. You can begin to redeem yourself by introducing and passing the Read the Bills Act.

Under RTBA, final votes on bills will be voted on at least seven days after all amendments have been considered -- instead of mere minutes.

And, the seven-day period gives the public time to express their opinions to you. Final versions of bills would be posted online.

Most importantly, it would give members of Congress time to read bills. In fact, it would require that they have read the bills for which they intend to vote YES. After all, why should I be accountable to know and follow laws that you haven't even read?

The RTBA might well have prevented swindles like CISPA. If you'd like to earn my trust, introduce the Read the Bills Act.

END LETTER

I urge you to tell Congress to introduce and pass the Read the Bills Act. You may copy from or borrow from the above letter, and send it through DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

DownsizeDC.org keeps track of bills passed by Congress. Go to our blog to see what the Senate and House passed, as well as the number of pages of the bills. Today we have posted the bills for:

March
April

Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

P.S. Jerrol LeBaron is the "star" of "Fools on the Hill," a movie about how legislators do their jobs. He focuses on how they don't read their bills, and he's charged up about making them do just that. The film contains powerful ideas, including...

State legislators are in the minor leagues; someday, some of them will be members of Congress.
Not only do they fail to read the bills, but in a stunning scene, you'll see they don't even vote for the bills.
Bills are written, with multiple subjects, to buy votes, then rushed through so opposition lacks time to organize.

Jerrol's non-fictional character is a political everyman. The story is told with a healthy mix of celebrities and media figures, and it's designed, from start to finish, to share these ideas with people who aren't overtly political.

You can view a trailer and learn how to order the DVD at FoolsOnTheHillMovie.com.

Bills Passed in Congress, April 2012

2012-05-02T14:48:00Z

BILLS PASSED IN CONGRESS

The following are the bills the House and Senate passed last month. The bills were passed by voice vote except where indicated. Roll call votes for the House are found here, and for the Senate here. The descriptions of bills are essentially taken verbatim from the Congressional Record Daily Digest ((Index).

Page numbers of bills are based on the pdf display of the latest version from the Government Printing Office.

SENATE 15 bills, 756 pages

Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1021, to prevent the termination of the temporary office of bankruptcy judges in certain judicial districts, and the bill was then passed, 4 pages

Surface Transportation Extension Act: Pursuant to the order of March 7, 2012, Senate passed H.R. 4348, to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such programs, as amended, 128 pages

21st Century Postal Service Act: By 62 yeas to 37 nays (Vote No. 82), Senate passed S. 1789, to improve, sustain, and transform the United States Postal Service 192 pages

Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act: By 68 yeas to 31 nays (Vote No. 87), Senate passed S. 1925, to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, 388 pages

Army Specialist Matthew Troy Morris Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 298, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 500 East Whitestone Boulevard in Cedar Park, Texas, as the ``Army Specialist Matthew Troy Morris Post Office Building''. 4 pages

Specialist Micheal E. Phillips Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 1423, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 115 4th Avenue Southwest in Ardmore, Oklahoma, as the ``Specialist Micheal E. Phillips Post Office''. 4 pages

John J. Cook Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 2079, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 10 Main Street in East Rockaway, New York, as the ``John J. Cook Post Office''. 4 pages

Sergeant Jason W. Vaughn Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 2213, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 801 West Eastport Street in Iuka, Mississippi, as the ``Sergeant Jason W. Vaughn Post Office''. 4 pages

Corporal Steven Blaine Riccione Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 2244, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 67 Castle Street in Geneva, New York, as the ``Corporal Steven Blaine Riccione Post Office''. 4 pages

Tomball Veterans Post Office: Senate passed H.R. 2660, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 122 North Holderrieth Boulevard in Tomball, Texas, as the ``Tomball Veterans Post Office''. 4 pages

William T. Trant Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 2767, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8 West Silver Street in Westfield, Massachusetts, as the ``William T. Trant Post Office Building''. 4 pages

Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3004, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 260 California Drive in Yountville, California, as the ``Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Post Office Building''. 4 pages

Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3246, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15455 Manchester Road in Ballwin, Missouri, as the ``Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building''. 4 pages

Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3247, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1100 Town and Country Commons in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the ``Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos Post Office Building'' 4 pages

Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver Post Office Building: Senate passed H.R. 3248, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 112 South 5th Street in Saint Charles, Missouri, as the ``Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver Post Office Building''. 4 pages

HOUSE 21 bills, 584 pages

Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Celebration Act: H.R. 3001, to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Raoul Wallenberg, in recognition of his achievements and heroic actions during the Holocaust, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 377 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 152 10 pages

Providing for the award of a gold medal on behalf of Congress to Jack Nicklaus: H.R. 4040, to provide for the award of a gold medal on behalf of Congress to Jack Nicklaus in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship in golf, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 373 yeas to 4 nays with 1 answering ``present'', Roll No. 153. 10 pages

Lena Horne Recognition Act: H.R. 1815, to posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lena Horne in recognition of her achievements and contributions to American culture and the civil rights movement, 8 pages

Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act: H.R. 2453, amended, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of Mark Twain. 10 pages

Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012: The House passed H.R. 4089, to protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing and shooting, by a yea-and-nay vote of 274 yeas to 146 nays, Roll No. 164. 26 pages

Providing an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs: The House passed H.R. 4348, to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such programs, by a recorded vote of 293 ayes to 127 noes, Roll No. 170. 130 pages

Small Business Tax Cut Act: The House passed H.R. 9, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a deduction for domestic business income of qualified small businesses, by a yea-and-nay vote of 235 yeas to 173 nays with 1 answering ``present'', Roll No. 177. 16 pages

Providing for the release of the reversionary interest held by the United States in certain land conveyed by the United States in 1950: H.R. 2947, to provide for the release of the reversionary interest held by the United States in certain land conveyed by the United States in 1950 for the establishment of an airport in Cook County, Minnesota; 4 pages

Modifying the boundaries of Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico: H.R. 491, to modify the boundaries of Cibola National Forest in the State of New Mexico and to transfer certain Bureau of Land Management land for inclusion in the national forest; 6 pages

Facilitating a land exchange involving certain National Forest System lands in the Inyo National Forest: H.R. 2157, to facilitate a land exchange involving certain National Forest System lands in the D391Inyo National Forest, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 376 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 178. 4 pages

Digital Accountability and Transparency Act: H.R. 2146, amended, to amend title 31, United States Code, to require accountability and transparency in Federal spending and for other purposes, as amended. 86 pages

Small Business Credit Availability Act: H.R. 3336, amended, to ensure the exclusion of small lenders from certain regulations of the Dodd-Frank Act, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 312 yeas to 111 nays, Roll No. 180. 10 pages

Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II: The House disagreed to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 4348, to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such programs, and agreed to a conference with the Senate. 130 pages

Lowell National Historical Park Land Exchange Act of 2012: H.R. 2240, amended, to authorize the exchange of land or interest in land between Lowell National Historical Park and the city of Lowell in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 4 pages

Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection Act: H.R. 2050, to authorize the continued use of certain water diversions located on National Forest System land in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho. 6 pages

Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act: The House passed H.R. 3523, to provide for the sharing of certain cyber threat intelligence and cyber threat information between the intelligence community and cybersecurity entities, by a recorded vote of 248 ayes to 168 noes, Roll No. 192. 28 pages

Federal Information Security Amendments Act of 2012: H.R. 4257, amended, to amend chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, to revise requirements relating to Federal information security. 28 pages

Cybersecurity Enhancement Act: H.R. 2096, amended, to advance cybersecurity research, development, and technical standards, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 395 yeas to 10 nays, Roll No. 193 34 pages

Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2012: H.R. 3834, amended, to amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to authorize activities for support of networking and information technology research. 28 pages

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Backcountry Access Act: The House agreed by unanimous consent to discharge and pass H.R. 4849, as amended, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue commercial use authorizations to commercial stock operators for operations in designated wilderness within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Earlier, agreed to the Hastings (WA) amendment to H.R. 4849. 4 pages

Interest Rate Reduction Act: The House passed H.R. 4628, to extend student loan interest rates for undergraduate Federal Direct Stafford Loans, by a recorded vote of 215 ayes to 195 noes, Roll No. 195. 4 pages

Bills Passed in Congress, March 2012

2012-05-02T14:44:00Z

BILLS PASSED IN CONGRESS

The following are the bills the House and Senate passed in March. The bills were passed by voice vote except where indicated. Roll call votes for the House are found here, and for the Senate here. The descriptions of bills are essentially taken verbatim from the Congressional Record Daily Digest (Index).

Page numbers of bills are based on the pdf display of the latest version from the Government Printing Office.

SENATE 7 bills, 253 pages

Nonmarket Economy Countries: Senate passed S. 2153, to apply the countervailing duty provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 to nonmarket economy countries. 8 pages

Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act: Senate passed S. 1886, to prevent trafficking in counterfeit drugs, 6 pages

Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act Reauthorization: Senate passed S. 1855, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize various programs under the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, 88 pages

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century: By 74 yeas to 22 nays (Vote No. 48), Senate passed S. 1813, to reauthorize Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs, 88 pages

Reopening American Capital Markets to Emerging Growth Companies Act: By 73 yeas to 26 nays (Vote No. 55), Senate passed H.R. 3606, to increase American job creation and economic growth by improving access to the public capital markets for emerging growth companies, 26 pages

Surface Transportation Extension Act: Senate passed H.R. 4281, to provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a multiyear law reauthorizing such programs. 33 pages

Southwest Waterfront in the District of Columbia: Senate passed H.R. 2297, to promote the development of the Southwest waterfront in the District of Columbia, 4 pages

HOUSE 22 bills, 343 pages

St. Croix River Crossing Project Authorization Act: S. 1134, to authorize the St. Croix River Crossing Project with appropriate mitigation measures to promote river values, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 339 yeas to 80 nays, Roll No. 93, 3 pages

Roy Schallern Rood Post Office Building Designation Act: H.R. 3637, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Old Dixie Highway in Jupiter, Florida, as the ``Roy Schallern Rood Post Office Building'', by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 362 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 95; 4 pages

Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office Designation Act: H.R. 3413, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1449 West Avenue in Bronx, New York, as the ``Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office''; 4 pages

James M. Fitzgerald United States Courthouse Designation Act: S. 1710, to designate the United States courthouse located at 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska, as the James M. Fitzgerald United States Courthouse. 4 pages

Applying the countervailing duty provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 to nonmarket economy countries: H.R. 4105, to apply the countervailing duty provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 to nonmarket economy countries, by a yea-and-nay vote of 370 yeas to 39 nays, Roll No. 96. 8 pages

Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act: The House passed H.R. 2842, to authorize all Bureau of Reclamation conduit facilities for hydropower development under Federal Reclamation law, by a yea-and-nay vote of 265 yeas to 154 nays, Roll No. 100. 8 pages

Reopening American Capital Markets to Emerging Growth Companies Act: The House passed H.R. 3606, to increase American job creation and economic growth by improving access to the public capital markets for emerging growth companies, by a recorded vote of 390 ayes to 23 noes, Roll No. 110. Consideration of the measure began yesterday, March 7th. 46 pages

Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act: H.R. 4086, amended, to amend chapter 97 of title 28, United States Code, to clarify the exception to foreign sovereign immunity set forth in section 1605(a)(3) of such title; 6 pages

Allowing otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E-2 nonimmigrant visas: H.R. 3992, to allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E-2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 371 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 111 4 pages

Excess Federal Building and Property Disposal Act: H.R. 665, amended, to establish a pilot program for the expedited disposal of Federal real property, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 403 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 114. 26 pages

Removing restrictions from a parcel of land situated in the Atlantic District, Accomack County, Virginia: The House passed H.R. 2087, to remove restrictions from a parcel of land situated in the Atlantic District, Accomack County, Virginia, by a recorded vote of 240 ayes to 164 noes, Roll No. 117. 4 pages

United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act: Concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 886, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the establishment of the Nation's first Federal law enforcement agency, the United States Marshals Service, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 409 yeas to 2 nays with 2 voting ``present'', Roll No. 120. 4 pages

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act: The House passed H.R. 5, to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system, by a recorded vote of 223 ayes to 181 noes with 4 answering ``present'', Roll No. 126. Consideration of the measure began yesterday, March 21st. 38 pages

Feds Punish Business Owner for Making Bank Deposits

2012-05-01T13:57:00Z

Quote of the Day: "Asset forfeiture is a mockery of the Bill of Rights. There is no presumption of innocence, no need to prove you guilty (or even charge you with a crime), no right to a jury trial, no right to confront your accuser, no right to a court-appointed attorney (even if the government has just stolen all your money), and no right to compensation for the property that's been taken." Harry Browne (1933-2006), Downsize DC co-founder

I am angry. This letter (which you can copy and send to Congress, just like I did) explains why...

"Civil asset forfeiture" is the polite-sounding name for blatant government theft. It means the State takes property that it CLAIMS might have been used in a crime, even if the owners are never even charged with a crime.

Forfeiture is a medieval practice of monarchical tyrants. It was reintroduced in America thanks to Alcohol Prohibition and then Drug Prohibition. (http://www.rfslawoffices.com/CivilForfeiture.pdf)

Among the victims of asset forfeiture are people whose only "crime" is carrying around large amounts of their own cash. (https://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/end-asset-forfeiture/)

In a shocking new development, State thieves are even stealing money from people who deposit their money in banks!

Vijaykuma Patel, owner of an Alabama convenience store, often made multiple bank deposits per day. The total daily deposits were usually in excess of $10,000, although the individual deposits were not.

Banks are required by law to report to the feds when individuals make cash deposits of $10,000 or more; Patel's bank apparently failed to do so.

Instead of blaming the bank, the feds declared Patel guilty of possible money laundering and confiscated $107,000 of his own money. Yet they wouldn't even charge Patel with a crime. This isn't a made up story! (http://forfeiturereform.com/2012/03/28/they-can-take-your-money-if-you-put-it-in-a-bank-too/)

Therefore...

* If we don't use a bank, we're a "criminal"
* But if we DO use a bank, we're still a "criminal"

Of course, we're not REALLY criminals. We're just treated as if we are. We lose our property without due process.

Too bad, right? Such is the logic of civil asset forfeiture "law."

This isn't law. It's blatant theft, cloaked in the pretense of crime control.

And I think YOU don't care because otherwise, you'd put a stop to this immoral practice.

Asset forfeiture is a disgrace in a free country and a stain on your personal record.

It hasn't even worked in stopping crime or the trade in prohibited goods. Instead, it’s created a perverse profit motive in our "public servants." Men and women who've done nothing illegal have been victimized by the same government which (allegedly) is supposed to protect them.

How much longer will you side with the aggressors?

As one of the "innocent, until proven guilty by due process" crowd, I withdraw consent to be governed in this way.

Your lack of concern for the American people will be the undoing of your power.

END ASSET FORFEITURE NOW.

END LETTER

I sent this letter using DownsizeDC.org's End Asset Forfeiture campaign.

I invite you to send a letter to protest this evil practice as well. Remember, you may borrow from or copy the above letter, or better yet, write one of your own.

And we encourage you to "like" us on Facebook and share this and other posts with your friends: http://www.facebook.com/downsizedc

James Wilson
Policy Research Director
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

How close did we get on Friday?

2012-04-30T13:43:00Z

Quote of the Day: "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." -- Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoi (1828-1910) Russian writer

I wrote on Friday to say we needed $2,800 to make our April budget. Here's the response . . .

34 one-time contributions for $875.28
4 new pledges for $106
Total income: $981.28

Balance needed today: $1,819.00

Can you help?

Last Friday's appeal generated a bunch of encouraging notes, several with a familiar theme: "I'm short on funds, and this is all I can do."

We greatly appreciate that! We're trying to do a lot with a little. In our unique plan, everything counts -- even a dollar per month as a pledge on Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

When you go to our secure form, you'll also see how to invest in DownsizeDC.org using PayPal and Bitcoin, or how you can mail cash or check.

Congress has been especially bad, lately. I'm eager to get past this necessary business and to get back to our primary work.

Thank you for your support,

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

Deadline

2012-04-27T12:46:00Z

This is April's last Friday. We've raised $2,800 less than our budget need. Can you help?

We've delivered good news. But there's also progress we haven't reported. For instance, two major tools are nearly done . . .

Software to allow monthly pledgers to edit their pledges whenever they want
An interactive mechanism that will measure persuasiveness instead of mere agreement

Other great projects are pending. We'll describe them soon. Can you keep us going?

Today, $2,800 is merely a hurdle. But it could become a problem if I don't raise it.

You've been there for us before, and that's why I know I can count on you again.

You can contribute here.

Thank you for your support,

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

Cybersecurity Vote Friday

2012-04-26T13:16:00Z

Quote of the Day: "If you believe in privacy and free markets, you should be deeply concerned about the proposed marriage of government intelligence gathering with private, profit-seeking companies. CISPA is Big Brother writ large, putting the resources of private industry to work for the nefarious purpose of spying on the American people." - Rep. Ron Paul

Thanks to you . . .

Rep. Mike Rogers has embraced good changes to his cybersecurity bill (CISPA). You can see the changes here.

You caused this. DC Downsizers were part of an army that "withdrew consent" from CISPA. And Rogers addressed some of your concerns.

Congratulations!

But . . .

* There are STILL fundamental flaws to the bill.
* And the House Rules Committee has refused to allow amendments to address these flaws.

This means CISPA must be defeated... and the House vote is scheduled for Friday.

Please call your Rep. You'll see the number when you log in at our "Hands Off the Internet" campaign.

You can say this . . .

I'm calling to oppose the CISPA cybersecurity bill. I don't want companies spying on me, and then sharing my private info with the government. I don't see how this protects me from cyber attacks.

It's that simple. And while you're on the page of our "Hands Off the Internet" campaign, please send a letter too.

You can copy or edit this one . . .

Oppose CISPA (HR 3523). I don't want companies spying on me and giving my private info to the Feds. I'm shocked that this bill would allow my Internet activities to flow directly to the NSA. If I want to talk to the NSA I'll call them. Otherwise the Constitution and common sense says they need a warrant to spy on me.

I don't even trust the motives behind this bill. As TechDirt asks (http://bit.ly/J9piUB): Why should I be afraid of cyber-attacks if Congressmen don't even secure their own websites? You're a more likely target than I am. I think this bill is a fraud.

I withdraw my consent to be governed in this way. Oppose CISPA!

END LETTER

You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

We thank you for taking action, and for sharing this with your social networks and friends.

James Wilson
Policy Research Director
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

The powerful brief we filed in the Hedges case

2012-04-25T13:37:00Z

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges is suing Barack Obama. Hedges wants to overturn the legalized kidnapping provisions in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Hedges meets with and writes stories about terrorists. Could this lead the U.S. military to arrest him on American soil? Could he be held without trial? And does he have to be arrested first, before he can have "legal standing" to challenge this law?

A court hearing was held to decide this issue of "standing." The Judge asked the federal attorneys a crucial question . . .

"Are you telling me that no US citizen can be detained under 1021 (of the NDAA)?"

The Judge asked this question several times in several ways. Even though a specific denial would have ended Hedges' case, the Federal attorneys failed to answer directly. Instead . . .

The Judge asked for briefs to argue the question of standing. We were invited to submit one of these briefs. You helped fund it. We filed it. Our brief uniquely argues that the NDAA's detention provisions...

Are illegally vague
Violate an enumerated power
Are based on a previous unconstitutional act

You can read the brief here (pdf): http://www.downsizedc.org/blog-content/hedges-amicus-brief-as-filed.pdf

Here is a summary . . .

Vagueness

The kidnapping provisions contain broad, undefined terms that seem to target people like Mr. Hedges. EXAMPLE: If Hedges publishes a terrorists group's aims has he "substantially supported... associated (enemy) forces?"

The Feds intended to be ambiguous so they can kidnap and detain without restraint. The brief you funded quotes their surprising confessions, chapter and verse.

But this vagueness is illegal. The State has to prove intent in a criminal case. Yet, under NDAA, it's possible for The State to kidnap or prosecute you for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The kidnapping provisions re-write the Constitution

The Constitution's Article III, Section 3, limits Federal powers with regard to treason charges. It specifically . . .

Defines TREASON
Sets strict evidence rules
Limits penalties
Stipulates that being friends with a traitor is NOT TREASON

If the military kidnaps you and holds you without due process, treason will be the essential reason. And yet, the NDAA kidnapping provisions violate all the aforementioned constitutional limits on treason charges.

The Constitution cannot be re-written by mere legislation. The brief you helped fund cites James Madison's views regarding Article III, Section 3. The quotes are compelling. One attorney, seeing our work, wrote us the following:

The discussion of the Article III requirements for prosecuting treason and the contrast with the NDAA's treatment is especially excellent and compelling in discussing the historical grounding of this limitation. I wish I had written it myself!

Extending the Un-constitutional "Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF)"

After 9-11 Congress gave the Executive Branch a blank check to wage any war it wants. This was illegal. Each war with each entity requires a specific Congressional declaration. Congress cannot delegate this power to the President. The brief you helped fund demonstrates this and makes the connection to the kidnapping provisions.

We show that the kidnapping provisions are directly tied to the illegal AUMF. The NDAA specifically states that the new kidnapping powers will only end when the AUMF ends. In other words . . .

The illegal kidnapping provisions are an extension of the illegal AUMF.

As far as we know, the brief you helped fund is the only one to make this point.

Your Role

Your support plays a unique role. Our briefs . . .

1. Oppose bad precedents
2. Encourage Constitutional fidelity
3. Make unique arguments
4. Seek principled victory

Few briefs do numbers one, two, or three. Almost none do number four. Most briefs are trapped in precedent-bound compromises, intended to make things slightly less bad. That's why . . .

* Our briefs were influential in history making decisions like the Antoine Jones and Citizens United cases.
* I wish we could do ten more of these per year!

We must all thank the William J Olson firm for devising and executing our legal strategy.

And thanks to all who granted the funding. I hope we can count on your continued support, at whatever level fits your budget. Specifically . . .

If the Court grants standing to Mr. Hedges, then we will need to do more work on his case. That could happen soon. Get ready.

In the meantime, you can read the first Hedges brief here (pdf): http://www.downsizedc.org/blog-content/hedges-amicus-brief-as-filed.pdf

Jim Babka
President
Downsize DC Foundation

P.S. As I finished this Dispatch, I learned that our brief was prominently covered in a media report about the case.

Not only did Downsize DC Foundation help finance the brief, we also recruited some of the groups signing the brief. Once again, you made that possible, so thank you.

Should the IRS take your passport?

2012-04-24T14:24:00Z

NOTE: Downsize DC President Jim Babka guest hosts a syndicated radio show tomorrow (Wednesday). Details in the P.S.

Quote of the Day: "A free and prosperous society has no fear of anyone entering it. But a welfare state is scared to death of every poor person who tries to get in and every rich person who tries to get out." - Harry Browne

There's a new highway funding bill.

It's full of measures unrelated to highway funding. Some parts are draconian.

This bill, called MAP-21, passed the Senate.

This is exactly the kind of bill that prompted DownsizeDC.org to develop the One Subject at a Time Act (OSTA).

OSTA was introduced in Congress by Rep. Tom Marino and now has seven cosponsors.

I wrote a letter telling Congress to pass OSTA and urge you to do the same.

The hard-wired message says,

I would notice and appreciate your co-sponsorship of the "One Subject at a Time Act" (OSTA), HR 3806.

I added these comments, from which you may borrow or copy...

The "MAP-21" bill (S.1813) is the type of legislation that makes OSTA necessary. OSTA requires that...

* each bill or joint resolution shall embrace no more than one subject.
* the subject of a bill or joint resolution shall be clearly and descriptively expressed in the title.

In contrast, MAP-21 ...

* has a title that is as vague and un-descriptive as you can get -- "Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act."
* is mainly about highway funding, but has other dangerous measures buried in its 1,676 pages.

Such as...

* Authorizing the IRS to confiscate passports from those who ALLEGEDLY owe $50,000 or more in back taxes.
* Requiring all new cars have "black box" data recorders

The passport confiscation (Sec.40304) offends me...

* Confiscating a passport without due process is a violation of the fundamental liberty of the right to move, a violation of the Fifth Amendment; anyone who is NOT charged with a crime should be free to leave the country.
* In a 77,000 page tax code, not even IRS officials can know all the laws or know exactly how much each person owes. (http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/american-income-tax-tyranny)
* This will lead to selective enforcement, such as targeting critics of the Federal State.
* This will create a precedent, where the $50,000 standard will fall to $10,000 and then to $1,000 or less.

The "black box" requirement (Sec.31406) is also disturbing...

* It will jack up the price of cars that don't already have them.
* It will pretend to protect our personal information - except when the government claims it needs it.

Besides, where does the Constitution say that traffic accidents are a federal responsibility?

Keep in mind...

* The idea of not letting people leave the country is repugnant. Do you share the ideology of those who built the Berlin Wall?
* If black boxes are essential, then auto manufacturers and/or insurance companies would make sure every car had them. The Megastate's intervention wouldn't be needed, right?

I demand that you oppose "MAP-21" as presently written, and that you pass the One Subject at a Time Act to prevent bills like it in the future.

END LETTER

You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

P.S. Tomorrow (Wednesday), I have two guests, both columnists, as I guest-host Straight Talk w/Jerry Hughes, on the Accent Radio Network.

* What should Ron Paul do next, especially if the regime media is right that Romney is the nominee? Ron Holland joins us to share his opinion.

* Suicide. Is it your right? Garry Reed finds cultural response to various types of suicide interesting. For example, one group says it’s wrong, yet applauds certain practitioners as heroic. How is this possible?

You can listen live at 2:07 PM Eastern (1:07 PM Central, 12:07 PM Mountain, and 11:07 PM Pacific).

To hear the show on the web, or to find a local station, visit the network's website.

Affiliates can be found in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Oregon.

You can also listen on your phone! Toll free at 1-386-524-0333.

CISPA: Stop the Cybersecurity-Industrial Complex

2012-04-23T14:05:00Z

Should Congress commission private companies to spy on you?

As John Perry Barlow wrote, "Relying on the government to protect your privacy is like asking a peeping tom to install your window blinds."

This week the House (our peeping toms) will be considering CISPA, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. This is the same bill, HR 3523, we warned you about last week.

There will almost certainly be last-minute changes to the bill, or a cybersecurity bill with a different name or bill number could pass.

We have grave doubts that ANY "cybersecurity" bill is necessary. As the following letter shows, it will likely do more harm than good.

That's why I sent this letter to Congress using DownsizeDC.org's Hands off the Internet Campaign, and invite you to join me.

You may borrow from or copy this...

I object to CISPA, the "cybersecurity" bill that will be considered this week. As Anjali Dalal explains, CISPA... (http://balkin.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-of-cyber-intelligence-sharing.html)

* Authorizes private companies to share "cyber threat intelligence" with the feds, without defining what that means. If I use a word like "bomb" in an IM, could that be detected and shared with authorities?
* Puts surveillance authority in the hands of private entities, circumventing the protections of the Fourth Amendment.
* Gives private companies legal immunity for snooping on us.
* Places almost no limits on what the feds can do with the personal information it collects.

Moreover, I fail to see why we need any "cybersecurity" bill...

* There is ZERO credible evidence that the nation's vital infrastructure is vulnerable to cyber attacks (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/02/yellowcake-and-cyberwar/)
* It may actually STIFLE cybersecurity innovations as companies spend resources complying with regulations rather than investing in innovative new tools. (http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/222783-moving-too-fast-on-cybersecurity)

I agree that networks have the right to defend themselves from attacks. But they should ALSO compete with each other to provide the most privacy protections for consumers. Decentralized, diversified cybersecurity systems in a free market is the best way to minimize the damage of any particular attack.

Instead, it appears that too many big firms are only too willing to merge with the Federal Megastate to form a multi-billion dollar "Cybersecurity-Industrial Complex." (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/02/yellowcake-and-cyberwar/)

Make a stand for the Fourth Amendment! Make a stand for free markets!

Stop CISPA!

END LETTER

You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.

You can also tweet members of Congress. Our allies at the Electronic Frontier Foundation have a tool with which you can find your Representative's Twitter handle: https://cyberspying.eff.org/

We invite you to follow us at https://twitter.com/#!/ddcdispatch and tell us of your anti-CISPA activisim with the hashtags #cispa and #downsizedc

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.