"Spoken like a true circle queen. See, skinny, socially-privileged white people get to draw this neat little circle. And everyone inside the circle is "normal". Anyone outside the circle needs to be beaten, broken and reset so that they can be brought into the circle. Failing that, they should be institutionalized. Or worse -Pitied."

-Dr.Greg House

For the past few months now I have watched the media become enraptured with Meghan McCain. This is no surprise, mind you, since right before the 2008 General Election there was a similar relationship held between the same media big shots and her father, Senator John McCain, but I digress. In the months following the inauguration of President Obama, Meghan McCain’s message is beginning to gain popularity among some Republicans who believes the Grand Ole Party must ‘re-brand’ in order to survive.

For the sake of full disclosure during the past eight years I was proud to say I voted Republican. At the time, the party represented the values and principles of industry, self-perseverance and faith: the things that I hold dear and I know the Founding Fathers hold dear. The Democratic Party, save for a few decent individuals trying to stay above the progressive red tide, have left too far foul a taste in my mouth for me to ever consider it an option. However, the Republicans have proven that they are no better. They have squandered my vote and their own voices for power and they have rightfully paid the price for their arrogance. Now, nearly completely out of the power and influence they have sold out voters like me to gain, their only plan is to cling to what got them into this mess in the first place.

So now I am an orphan in the world of American politics. Neither Republicans or Democrats speak for me and in time, say another two or three years, I believe that’ll be the case for the majority of Americans. Why? Well, due to the “Big Tent”. The push for more parties to be more diverse and inclusive of the growing melting pot that is America. On the surface it sounds innocent enough, I mean what could possibly be wrong with inclusiveness right? Who among us wouldn’t want to be open-minded and diverse? But open-mindedness in and of itself is not the question as these things are rarely that simple, especially when Washington D.C. is involved. So, as is my way, I did some research.

Many, maybe even Meghan McCain herself would have you believe that a political party following the Big Tent model is inclusive of members that disagree with the party platform. I’ve heard it said that it cannot be expect for members to vote 100% with their party anymore and have success and that is wrong. As much as they like to lecture each other on this elusive inclusiveness both the Democratic and Republican Parties have a political line and expect all of their members to toe it. Senator McCain was more or less a Republican outcast (see ‘Maverick’) during the Bush Administration for his positions. On the other side of the aisle are former Senator Zell Miller and Senator Joe Liberman: both lifelong Democrats and both felt the wrath of the ruling progressives when they dared to support the War in Iraq. Senator Liberman was more or less forced from the Party in 2006 Connecticut Primaries and had to be re-elected on his own as an Independent.

No matter what the size of the Tent is, dissent will never be welcomed. At the end of the day if you are a Democrat and the Party needs your vote, you are expected to do as you’re told. It’s the same for the Republican Party so this discussion that makes it seems like all voices and opinions are welcome is false. Period.

That leaves us with the question at hand: what does it mean to have a Big Tent ideology? Here, Meghan McCain has yet again answered my question for me ironically completely inadvertently.  Quoting Ms. McCain;

‘Republicans using Twitter and Facebook isn’t going to miraculously make people think we’re cool again. Breaking free from obsolete positions and providing real solutions that don’t divide our nations further will. That’s why some in our party are scared. They sense the world around them is changing and they are unable to take the risk to jump free of what’s keeping our party down.’ (Revenge of the RINOs, April 18, 2009)

If you’ve been following along with me so far, you know where this is heading and no: it’s not a knock on Meghan McCain. Here’s the thing, the reason why the Democratic Party has been successful is that their Secular-Progressive speckled band have a circle inside of the Party where they maintain and exercise power. The quote from Ms. McCain isn’t anything new: they’ve used it well before now. Like we’ve previously covered, having a Big Tent has nothing to do with issues and differences of opinion. This is about power. This is about taking the things that divide We the People: Race. Religion. Age. Sexuality. Gender. Economics. Pick a number. Those issues feed into the statistics that are passed among those inside of that same Progressive circle and from that they will decide who they can support that will best play to those issues and win elections for them.

At the end of the day, the Democratic Party can successfully claim ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusiveness’ bought with a bench of Congressmen and Senators that have no platform, no new ideas, and nothing to owe their victory to other than manipulating those they have sworn to serve. And if they want to win again in two or four years, then they better listen to the ones in the circle otherwise the elite few will find someone else to let into the Tent.

But no matter. It’s not about what you thought it should be, you see. It’s Victory. Victory at all cost. Victory no matter what. That is the goal. And you? My fellow Americans, where does this statistical game that puts once coveted positions in our country in the same vision as an MLB game leave you? Folks, welcome to your new life as pawns.

This is the Big Tent that, in all likelihood, will be the centerpiece of both parties very soon. This is how the Progressives on both sides have perverted the process, twisted our Founders intent and created a new autocracy in the heart of a city named for a man famed for fighting against autocracy. Forget what you’ve been told; you know all of that crazy stuff about beliefs and principles and that ‘old’ idea of representatives representing you. Power is the name of the game and the people who can best dictate that power is not you or I, but the Circle Queens of both parties. They will dictate what is right and wrong. They will tell you what to believe and what not to believe. They will put your finger on the button and tell you who to press it for.

It’s Socialism. Switch the Elephant with the Donkey and it is still Socialism that we are slowly but surely being chained to by those stuck in their little circles.

I truly believe Meghan McCain is doing what she believes is right. I also believe that this path she is promoting is the best path for the Republican Party to be influential in Washington again. But, that does not make her or this Big Tent system right. I can only watch her and the other ‘progressive’ thinkers continue their encroachment and wonder if it was really so bad? Is the original design for this system of government, the one that the Founding Fathers put in place, really so much of a relic?  Do people really want a government that proudly proclaims compromise as a solution? Or would they rather have as many sides as possible argue it out in those hallowed halls like they did decades ago until they collapsed from their effort but a solution was reached? Is unity so precious and so fleeting that it must be preserved under any cost? Or is this the same country whose bloodline was forged through dissent among its own well before dissent with its colonial masters? Does the American public really want a cast of politicians custom-made to bring out the worst in us? Or do they want 535 representatives, prepared to serve regardless of what the Circle Queens on either side tell them to do?

I believe the latter, for all of the above. Yes, I am clinging to successes of the past but only because our success today lies in that past. For far too long my generation has deified progress and demonized the past without realizing the foundation we’re standing on now wasn’t built in our short lifetimes. We are literally standing on the formula for freedom and success and all of us are morally obligated to those that have come before us to protect and preserve what they fought and died for. We must stand now and serve as they did to preserve and protect what thousands across the world die to be a part of.

But, I have to remember that to a growing number these are all old ideas. And if the Circle Queens have their say soon those ideas, and I, and you, will be crushed under the greed and indulgence tied to the progressive jackboot. I can only pray that this one time those who sacrificed for this country turn their heads from this country so that they may not see what has become of their labor until, in the words of Sir Winston Churchill, ‘in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the Old.’

As for this week there are many stories crossing the wires however many of them seem to be tied to the same source: Congress. Regular listeners to Armchair Politics (available for listening on JPTruss.com!) know that I have my share of problems with Congress. On both sides of the aisle, both Republicans and Democrats, Congress has repeatedly shown to be inept with everyone working for their own interests instead of trying to solve the issues plaguing the United States. In a time when families across this nation are tightening their belts, Congress has yet to stop spending: topping the trillions of dollars in bailout and TARP money with their own billion dollar spending packages. And as far as I'm concerned nothing shows their cowardice more clearly than the bonuses they allowed AIG to give, only to later use the company they virtually control as a scapegoat in order to avoid responsiblity for their decision.

Currently according to Real Clear Politics.com 60% of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing. Only 30% approve, which is generous to say the absolute least. The simple truth is that all Americans on all sides of the spectrum are beginning to realize that Congress is being corrupted. My friend Vic Sibley, who co-hosts Armchair Politics, often says we need to dissolve both parties. I think you can safely say I'm on the other end of that extreme. I don't want to get rid of political parties; I want more. At least five or six parties in Congress. We?re often told that a vote for a third party is wasted and I often wonder why. Is it inscribed in our Constitution the legislature will accept members from only two separate parties? In fact I would go a step farther and say that having a two party system violates the intent of our Founding Fathers.  

Remember, the Congress we have right now is not the original design. In the beginning Congress mirrored the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Senate was not elected by the people, but appointed by the states to represent their interest: much like the House of Lords. The House of Representatives is a near perfect reflection of the House of Commons in the UK. Both Lower Houses hold the bulk of legislative authority and both are beholden to the temperment of the people with our House of Representatives being the extreme case, having to have elections every two years.Our system of government was originally designed for every faction of the people to have their say, at least in the House as it is in the United Kingdom. That has since become twisted with the two party system.

I'm not advocating here for the formation of a 'Prime Minister' or any fundamental change of government. All I'm saying is that we are ill-served by the current system. Because, as I've pointed out before, anything outside of the mainstream two parties are mocked as a waste. But when you look at the Israeli Knesset or the Italian Chamber of Deputies or even the British House of Commons every faction and belief of the people in those countries are represented. No government can survive without a coalition and the same thing ultimately  goes for the opposite as well so the various parts of the spectrum have their say ultimately. We also have an advantage because the Executive Branch is elected outside of the Congress and therefore immune to the instability of these pure parliamentary system.

However, to date these things have beeen ignored in favor of the current scheme. I think now though that the sense of disenfranchisement is growing there will be some shifting in the system because the current parties do not get it. The only way to force Congress to serve is to dismantle the two party system that protects their status quo with our own hands and what you'll see is more Independents, Reformists and Libertarians (maybe Greens, I doubt it though) be taken more seriously and find themselves as serious challenges on the federal stage. Only then will the haze from their drunken power trip subside and our current 'leaders' realize that pay day has arrived.

So those are my thoughts for this week but most likely not the end of my political science lectures.  Armchair Politics will go on hiatus for a while but we should return to the air in a few weeks. Until next time!

JPT

This past Earth Day allowed me to reflect on what has now been four years on my part of watching American's energy infrastructure literally crumble. For eight years under George W. Bush, ANY attempt to make this country energy independent was met with criticism and scorn. What we were told then was the only benefit of any Bush energy initiative would be to companies like Exxon Mobile and Chevron. We were told countless times any exploration into oil and coal would only further damage the fragile ecosystems we humans have recklessly plundered and that the only true hope was in 'Green' energy: environmental friendly, renewable sources of energy. 

Now, for better or worse most Americans bought the environmentalists' side and for eight years America's energy infrastructure further cripple from neglect. So now we've come to the Obama Administration and the promises to resurrect American in a country powered by Green Energy. Under that banner, new legislation is beginning to push through Congress to federally regulate the emission of carbon dioxide. Known as Emissions Trading or 'Cap and Trade', this legislation would create a cap on the level of emissions certain companies could produce. Those that lower their emissions to what the federal cap is are granted what are called "allowances" that they can sell to other companies so that they can produce emissions above the federal limit.

Proponents of this system argue that it'll help cut carbon emissions by 20% and it has been proposed as a part of the 2010 Federal Budget. I highly, highly doubt what we are being told is what will actually happen. I'm not calling anyone a liar, I'm just saying that their best laid plans can only lead down a single path and today, on Earth Day of all days, I'm going to explain.

The core of the Emissions Trading system is 'allowances' or carbon credits. As stated before, these carbon credits are issued to companies that comply with the federal emissions cap as a reward, however they can also be given among organizations that don't produce any emissions at all to be traded at a later time; like, let's say, an environmental pressure group. (Convenient huh?) So you have these allowances and eventually emissions testing time comes around and of course whatever the cap is a handful of companies will be above the cap. This is a system designed to lower emissions, not make it easy for the corporations. After all, they're the ones hurting Mother Earth remember?

So, as I was saying, there will be a handful of companies if not the great bulk of them that will be over the cap. At that point they will have two options. Option A: pay a punitive fine to the federal government. Or Option B: buy carbon credits to avoid the fine. Now if I'm the CEO of ExxonMobil and I've just been handed a notice with this options; I'm going with Option B to avoid whatever charges the Feds want to throw at me. So whoever the government grants these carbon credits to under the Cap and Trade system will undoubtedly make a good deal of money seeing that they  will control the price for them.  

And wait, because it gets even better.

Now we have a situation where the organizations and companies under the cap are in a position to profit. The government is controlling the entire system so they will get their piece of the profits eventually and can safely claim they are working to be "greener". That leaves companies like ExxonMobil and again I, temporary CEO of the company, have another decision to make. Until ExxonMobil can safely stay under the emission cap, which could or could not lower over time, we have no choice but to continue buying and selling carbon credits. That will hurt the bottom line and could cost me my job if it gets out of control. I, as the CEO of ExxonMobil, have to ensure my company stays profitable but how? Well, there's an easy way to make it happen: raise the cost of our product in order to cover the expense of training carbon credits.  

So here we are at the rub. "Green" corporations and environmental organizations are now making money hand over fist thanks to the government. Corporations like ExxonMobil are just trying to survive under the cap. And you, the consumers, get the privilege of paying more for gasoline and other products to keep the system.

We were told by the Environmentalists that a conspiracy between Big Oil and the Bush Administration was destroying the environment. Now without President Bush in their way, the Environmental movement and their cohorts in Congress are creating the exact same conspiracy for themselves. They are hoping that they can profit from the fear they have done their best to install in us through the horror stories of Global Warming.  This has nothing to do with protect the planet. This has everything to do with a group of individuals hungry for power and the politicians they helped elect giving it to them on a silver platter, all at the cost of the people they are supposed to be representing and we cannot allow it.

Here is the Bottom Line: there is a conspiracy to control energy in America. However it isn't who you think it is. Like so many things concerning current American politics, this entire situation involves hoarding power and not bringing solutions to our energy issues. Many experts believe we are abouit ot enter a 'Green Hell' where fear of Global Warming drives the profit for a select few 'environmental conscious' citizens. All I can ask is that you do not be fooled. We can do better by the planet, but as individuals. Anyone who tells you otherwise clearly just want their hands in your wallet. 

JPT  

Wow, the first ever blog for my website! First I want to say thanks you all for coming by and checking us out. This blog and this site is something I've wanted to do for a while now but anything works while takes time to build. But everything is finally together and I can think of no better time to start it than on April 15th when thousands of Americans in all 50 states come together to reclaim our Republic. That right folks, our Republic. Not about reclaiming a political party or reaffirming the divisions that quite frankly we've been programmed into believing that we can't live without. Today was about Americans returning to the mindset that our Founding Fathers had hundreds of years ago when they began the great experiment known as the United States of America: that the government is accountable to the people and not the other way around.

First I want to say thanks you all for coming by and checking us out. This blog and this site is something I've wanted to do for a while now but anything works while takes time to build. But everything is finally together and I can think of no better time to start it than on April 15th when thousands of Americans in all 50 states come together to reclaim our Republic. That right folks, our Republic. Not about reclaiming a political party or reaffirming the divisions that quite frankly we've been programmed into believing that we can't live without. Today was about Americans returning to the mindset that our Founding Fathers had hundreds of years ago when they began the great experiment known as the United States of America: that the government is accountable to the people and not the other way around.

Today, as citizens across this country hand over more money for our government to throw into the never-ending pit that has become Washington, D.C. hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets to speak against a government that has quite frankly become the biggest pornographic machine on the face of this Earth. No longer able to fulfill what has been demanded not only of the Constitution but of the people that they are beholden to the bulk of our politicians are content to sit back in the halls of Congress and vilify the best of us in order to escape their own greed and impotence and for too long we have taken that instant gratification. We accepted the empty pleasure of watching the pillar of Capitalism be tainted while our politicians strangled my generation and the next generations under the price for their incompetence.

No more.

The American Republic was founded on two basic principles; the first is Capitalism and the second is public sovereignty over those we elect. Without one, the other cannot hope to survive and our Founding Fathers knew it. Which is why, unlike their homeland Great Britain, they enshrined this principles in the second greatest document ever written; the United States Constitution. The document that forever enshrined who answers to who in this country. Before any thing is said about the Congress, the Courts, the States, and the President himself it is written We The People. We The People ordain You The Politicians to act; never the other way around. That is the way it was and now, finally, that is the way it will be again.

So, what does that have to do with this website? JP Truss.com follows that model. I am setting up this site as a clearing house for those who are more concerned with the success of the nation and not the temporary success of a single political party. Along with that information will be Armchair Politics, a collegiate talk radio show hosted by myself and my good friend Victor Sibley. You can find that show archived here as well as on iTunes. Of course, the biggest feature on this site that will start very soon is my weekly podcast; Common Sense. I have done two talk shows so far in my short career, and Common Sense will be my first solo effort and I'm looking forward to getting it off the ground.

Why? Why am I, just an average guy, doing this? I said it before; We The People ordain You The Politicians to act; never the other way around. April 15, 2009 was undoubtedly a great day for those who came before us who, up until now, had to be spinning in their graves. Now we, who stood on that day, must keep it going until this nation is once again a country of the people, by the people and for the people.

JPT