IMPERIAL HOTEL – FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT – EARTHQUAKES – HAITI (ISSUE 341)

By AC | February 3, 2010

The past few weeks, the news has been dominated to some degree about the horrors of the earthquake in Haiti. Like so many other disasters, news report slants are changing somewhat from Rescue and Recovery to human interest stories, some great and heroic and some which leave a bad taste in one’s mouth.

Stories about trafficking of children, for prostitution and slave-labor are particularly disturbing. We can expect to hear more stories about the use of all the money poured into Haiti and the distribution of goods and services.

Apparently Haiti is a country with a corrupt government and absence of building codes, which resulted in large buildings, like the Palace and Montana Hotel, crumbling like matchsticks.

I’m reminded of the great earthquake in Japan in 1923, a terrible disaster which happened before most of us were born. The city of Tokyo was practically leveled and hundreds of thousands lost their lives, but one building withstood the the power of the earthquake and remained standing. The question is, why did it stand, when all around crumbled? The answer lies in the genious of the great architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, and the way he built the grand Imperial Hotel.

I lived in Japan four years and stayed at the Imperial Hotel many times. I always loved going there, staying in a suite, and shopping in the many small shops on the lower level. I have many pictures of the hotel, and a menu from the dining room, plus items I purchased there, like a beautiful beaded purse, which I still cherish.

I always enjoyed sitting in the lobby and seeing all the beautifully dressed guests, many in their native country garb. I recall thinking, this is like the crossroad of the world. The hotel suites were large and very comfortable, the dining room food was outstanding, and browsing and shopping in their shops was great fun.

I understand the hotel has been torn down and reassembled and erected in another area. However it is the original construction of the hotel, in the early part of the twentieth century, and the earthproofing construction, as a result of Frank Lloyd Wright’s design, which I find so fascinating.

Relying upon my memory of the story of the construction, what Wright did was lay a foundation of molten rock, and constructed the hotel in such a manner it moved on its foundation, rather than crumbling, during earthquakes. The structure swayed as the earth underneath moved. I recall seeing areas of floor buckling on the lower level, where all the shops were, a reminder of the 1923 earthquake.

The story goes, Frank Lloyd Wright got the idea for construction from his son’s Lincoln log building playset. Reminded of the story last year playing with my 4 year old grandson and his Lincoln log set.

I’m aware, this is an early aftermath time and focus is on lives and health of the citizenry of Haiti. However, soon will begin an era of rebuilding from the destruction of the structures in the country. And seems to me apropo to consider abandoning any idea of prior flimsy rebuilding, and check into the construction methods of the great architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, relative to future construction. And learn from lessons of his famous Imperial Hotel and how it withstood a huge earthquake, when all around crumbled.

Building of the future can be much improved by heeding history of the past.

LET FREEDOM RING

JUST ME
AC

email: annecleveland@bellsouth.net

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THE GREAT WALL OF OBAMA – THE INVERTED PYRAMID (ISSUE 340)

By AC | January 30, 2010

FOURTH INSTALLMENT IN THIS SERIES

I titled this series “The Great Wall of Obama” because the predicament we are now in reminds me of the Great Wall of China, built to surround China, to keep some in and others out. The current Wall is an invisible one, walling off rational thinking and facing the truth about what is happening to this great Nation. We have followed, like sheep to slaughter, the mind set and rhetoric of those out to dismantle and change this country from a Republic to a Socialist State in favor of a global empire.

I don’t mean to imply this has been done single-handedly by President Obama, however, he and his regime have taken us in his direction faster than anyone before him.

It all began back there in 1913, when Congress passed the graduated income tax and followed that by the creation of the Federal Reserve System. We were on the Gold Standard until the thirties when President Roosevelt took over the reins and removed the gold from the citizens. Later, silver money was taken out of circulation, and printing presses began a grist mill of creating worthless paper dollars with no backing, fiat money.

It was in the sixties when the silver backing was removed. I recall thinking back then, how long can we expect to exchange nothing for something? Worthless paper with no intrinsic value. It certainly lasted longer than I dreamed, when I was living in Reno, where silver dollars flowed like wine, and disappeared out of circulation so quickly.

Disappeared faster than buggy blankets and buggy whips when the automobile came into being.

History teaches us, gold and silver have always been accepted as the medium of exchange, but those in political power defied that notion and created the paper dollar as the medium of exchange. Gold and silver are not manmade and there is a limited supply in the Universe.

This is a country which was built upon laws, universal laws, and economics of gold and silver as the medium of exchange. And a desire for freedom. A desire which required breaking the chains of oppression from a dictatorial political government. The accomplishment of this desire has been written and rewritten many times and left to us in all their very wise writings. Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and many others.

One of the great writers, Fredrich Bastiat, said, “Liberty is power.” We are today living in an era where Liberty, i.e., individual Freedom, has been destroyed and replaced by a centralized government, which rules by legal plunder. Ownership of property Rights have been so destroyed, we no longer own our home, we simply possess and pay for it, while a centralized government in fact owns it.

Bastiat explains legal plunder and how it is committed. “By tariffs, protection, benefits, subsidies, encouragements, profits, minimum wage, a right to relief, a right to the tools of labor, free credit and on and on. All these plans as a whole with their commom aim of legal plunder – CONSTITUTE SOCIALISM.”

He explains the three ways of plunder, “The few plunder the many, everybody plunders everybody, nobody plunders anybody.”

How many times have you heard this past year,”Everybody has a Right to healthcare?” Therefore, the powers that be in the Congress of this country have set out to plunder from everyone for so-called healthcare. Socialism relies upon man-made laws. Accordingly, those elected to serve and protect the Freedoms of individuals, are socialists who decided to practice legal plunder, and make health-care a law.

As I have explained in this series of articles, the centralized power of individuals in Washington not only plunder the American people to enhance their power; their actions have adversely affected so many in other countries. The power to take, use and abuse by a few in the seat of power, is so pervasive, the entire world is affected now. Those in power never act to reduce their power but always to expand it. All is never enough.

One of the most interesting remarks the President of the United States made a few days ago is, he is going to reduce spending. Political power has never reduced itself. It’s not in the nature of political power. The only thing that can change spending, is when and if the American people decide to stop the “taking.” That is a decision to stop the legal plunder.

The “buck” does not stop in Washington, it can only stop in the hearts, minds and spirit of the American people, when they have the desire to regain lost Freedoms and ownership of property Rights. Never will it be voluntarily handed back to us by those who took it. It must be taken back, never will it voluntarily be given back.

Do not fall for this latest rhetoric ploy to “reduce spending.” It is the “taking” which must be addressed by the victims, who have been “taken.” The source of the spending must be addressed.

WAKE up America, and stand up, and speak up. Take back your jobs, your money, your property, your desire to live in Freedom, to live in a country where there is again a voluntary exchange of goods and services. To live in a world where you decide what should be taught to your children, instead of living in a system where they are indoctrinated in a socialistic system. A world where you buy and pay for a home and own and control it. A world where your money has already been earmarked to be plundered before you receive it is not acceptable.

Stop the drainage of money and resources into other countries by continued financing of wars we do not win. We are not entitled to squander the Freedoms provided for us by others who fought and died for them.

Freedom is self-responsibility and self control. No more and no less than just that.

LET FREEDOM RING

Just me
Ac

e-mail: annecleveland@bellsouth.net

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STATE OF UNION OBAMA SPEECH TAKES US TO THE WOODSHED (ISSUE 339)

By AC | January 28, 2010

After the first twenty minutes of President Obama’s SOTU last night, I began feeling like he was taking us all to the woodshed. As he continued it seemed to me his tone distributed a lot of blame on others, while bragging about his accomplishments. Interesting remark, “Saying no is not leadership.” He’s in charge with a Congress who favors him, in control of billions of dollars, Commander-in-Chief of the military, a position to execute laws, plus luxurious Air Force One to roam the world in.

Just before the speech, I read reports of the millions of dollars spent by the Washington gang to go to Copenhagan, a short time back. Therefore I was not in much of a mood to listen to a finger-shaking dressing-down speech, touting all he had done, and complaining about anyone saying “no” to his heart’s desires.

Plus earlier listening to pundits trying to figure out if he’s Left or Right, horse-back or a-foot, turning to the center, or heading south. For me personally, the speech was boring, and I got so tired of watching Nancy Pelosi jumping up and down, like a jack-in-the box, clapping and bobble-heading, I did not stay up to hear all of it.

I couldn’t help but think, Dear Mr. President, I think you have lost your stinger. The charismatic glitter usually emanating from him when making speeches, had dimmed considerably, in my opinion.

After his saying no is not leadership, I wondered if he considered his saying yes to his list of socialist agenda, steering this country away from the Principles of a Republic to be proper and fitting leadership. Obviously he does.

His speech reminded me of a mirage, because his description of the way things are in this country, and the direction he wants to go, is not a reflection of what the American people want. We want government off our backs, we want their finger out of our pie. Not more interference via rules, regulations, policies,and edicts. We want less political government, not more, as he outlined his plans.

This country does not need a “jobs bill.” If government stopped interfering and allowed the free-enterprising system to operate naturally, we would have plenty of jobs and return to the greatest country we once were. The simplicity of the free enterprise, capitalistic system is that it operates on the voluntary exchange of goods and services. Being unhampered it produces goods and services, but not if stymied by political coercion and regulations. It is governmental tampering and hampering of this natural way of doing business which has resulted in this hellish condition in this country.

Now this President makes a long speech about what he plans for government to do to jump-start jobs. When all he needs to do is step aside and allow the system which worked before to operate again. As I understand it, President Obama has never operated a business in free enterprise. Instead his life has been spent going to school and holding government jobs. He has no experience in the free-market place. If he has never experienced the free market operation, how would he know how to fix it? Hearing about it and reading about it is just a poor substitute for the reality.

Therefore his speech last night attempting to express solutions, only furthers government interference, not a tried and true solution. What he expresses is more of the same that got this country in the ditch to begin with. All the hype today by news pundits deciphering his speech and remedies, is a waste of time, like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

I suspect it’s apt to drive the American people more in the direction they have already started, which is contrary to the thinking and law-making in Washington. If this happens, perhaps the SOTU may serve some positive purpose.

Again, I quote from Abraham Lincoln’s speech Feburary 12, 1865: “The people are the rightful masters of both Congresses and Courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.”

LET FREEDOM RING

JUST ME
AC

email: annecleveland@bellsouth.net

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GREAT WALL OF OBAMA – THE INVERTED PYRAMID (ISSUE 338)

By AC | January 28, 2010

THIRD IN THIS SERIES

I have written numerous articles on The Philosophy of Freedom, Political Government and its nature, and Universal Laws.

As we begin this first year of the second decade of the twenty-first century, we are in a crisis in this country. And the direction we are headed is contrary to the Principles upon which this nation was founded. The one thing which has not changed is the “con” game of political government. That is, the keep your eye on this ball, while we are doing something else, mentality. And never has it been more apparent than the events of this past year. Eloquent rhetoric about one thing, and actions relating to something entirely different.

I’m reminded of a time when I lived in Japan in the fifties and played a lot of duplicate bridge at the Tokyo Press Club. Sometimes playing with members of royalty, then having the world’s top player, at that time, John Wong from China, as my partner. Other times I frequently played with young Japanese college students as my partners, and enjoyed many interesting conversations with them. When I was preparing to return to the States, the group of young students gave me a going-away jewelry party and one gift was a specially made, ”Key to Tokyo” pearl pin which I still have.

A conversation I had with them on more than one occasion, was about why the United States was so hated by other countries.

It was during this period that the book titled “The Ugly American” came off the press. The setting was Burma, and at that time my pilot husband was on a nine-month tour of duty in Burma, where he was an instructor teaching the Burmese how to fly helicoptors. He wrote that copies of the book were passed around undercover by American personnel assigned there.

Because I so loved this country, and the Freedom it stood for, I thought we were always trying to do good things to help other countries, but aware of a lot of hatred towards Americans, which baffled me at the time. The conversations with the very smart college students were very enlightening. Here’s how they explained it. The presence, work and money of the United States government was geared to supporting oppressive regime governments in other countries, which prevented the people of other countries from freeing them of the yoke of the oppression.

These young students clearly believed that the work, money and lives spent by the US government in other countries, was no help for the people, but an assistance to the entrenchment of oppression by the governments in power. This was news to me at that time. I had difficulty believing what they were saying.

However, as I have written about in other articles, my experiences in the Orient prompted me to pursue an understanding of The Philosophy of Freedom, and how political governments operate. And in this connection, in retrospect, I understand what they meant.

Just this month, after the news of the horrible earthquake in Haiti, I listened carefully about the extent of poverty and misery of the Haitian people, along with news relative to the millions of dollars this country has spent in Haiti. Plus all the help this country has sent there over the years, and yet the people still live under a corrupt regime as reported so extensively in the news. A corrupt regime which holds the people in bondage of poverty. And I recall the conversations I had with the young Japanese students and their analysis of why we are so hated around the world.

I recall other times, like living in Tennessee, where my husband helped train many many Pakistan soldier pilots. And the many times we invited them into our home for dinner, during their tour of training.

I reflect upon the twenty-four years I spent supporting a military officer through wars, like a year in Korea and a year in Vietnam, and his many assignments, I believed were for the purpose of good to other countries to improve the lives of others and the Freedom of this country. In restrospect, I now view it all quite differently. And no longer believe, the massive amounts of money and lives lost in such places as Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan, and other places, is for the good of the people there, nor is it for the Freedom of this country.

I reflect upon the Principles of The Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, and Bill of Rights, which is a basis for contract Law. Not to encroach upon the lives and property of others. Instead it seems apparent we have so interfered with the lives and business of others around the globe, we have promoted Socialism, at a great cost to the citizens of this country.

I’m saddened by the realization that this government does not appear to go after the murderous factions, now termed terrorists, out to destroy humanity, but more into nation-building in countries where they not only do not want us, but hate us for the interference. And sadly, at the cost of destroying the Principles upon which this nation was founded.

All we need to do to realize what is happening, is listen to the nightly news, relating the cost in money and lives, and the destructive path it has taken this country, to realize those young Japanese students spoke words of truth.

Continued in next installment

LET FREEDOM RING
JUST ME
AC

email: annecleveland@bellsouth.net

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THE GREAT WALL OF OBAMA AND THE INVERTED PYRAMID (ISSUE 337)

By AC | January 28, 2010

SECOND IN THIS SERIES

Sometime back, I wrote an article expressing my opinion and suggesting it appeared to me, President Obama did not act as though he had any interest in a second term. I can’t put my finger on any specific, however, because he seemed to be in such a big hurry to push forth his ideas of extravagant spending, and new laws of such glaring socialist nature, showing little to no interest in individual freedom – the boldness of these moves, did not appear conducive to winning another election. Plus the fact his speeches to other countries lacked rhetoric of pride in the Principles upon which this nation was founded.

Immediately after his inauguration, he seemed to abandon all the promises of candidate speeches, such as changing the way business would be conducted in Washington, change to transparency, etc. Instead, he implemented programs of twelve zeros indebtedness, and a push to socialize health-care. Then appointed dozens of czars to head government departments to carry out his agenda.

He moved so quickly, while riding the crest of popularity, in a direction of defiance of the Principles upon which this country was built, seemingly into a One World Order, that it appeared to me he had no thought of the next election. It was my personal observation, his modus operandi was to acquire so much political power as rapidly as he could, before the American people woke up to awareness and reality of his agenda.

President Obama is a very smart and educated man. To those who keep harping that he doesn’t understand what the American people want, I say hogwash!!! He knows precisely what they want and is well aware of his actions, and results.

It’s a well thought-out wreckingball plan, to lead this country from a nation of freedom of individuals and the free-enterprising capitalism, into a nation of socialism and One World Order method of governing. Granted, he inherited a great deal of this plan already established. Actions and expectations to accomplish this in one term as President, would account for absence of re-election interest. Because one of two things will happen; he will be so entrenched with power, he will be a shoo-in, or if the American people wake up and rebel, he will be so unpopular, he couldn’t be elected dogcatcher.

The American people already have a slight inkling about what’s going on behind this long drawn-out massive expenditure to keep wars going. It’s not about winning, but rather nation-building for other countries. It’s not about protecting this country and preserving individual Freedom and personal property Rights, but a dismantling of these Principles, while promoting nation-building of other countries, who neither want what this government is perpetrating upon them, and hate us for our meddling into their affairs, way of life and religious and political systems.

Other countries already know what it’s all about, and know all the money and resources this country pours into this insanity, is destroying our way of life and reducing us to rubble. If there is any inkling of withdrawing the enemies of freedom will launch another attack, to reignite this notion, of American government pouring more and more resources into their game plan.

We are no longer a nation of The Conquering power over the enemies of Freedom. Instead we have become a nation of Enablers to those out to destroy. Millions have died and are still dying daily, while this country is going down the tube from the heavy burden of over eight years of war being fought, obviously with no indication of victory in sight, nor planned.

Now President Obama is saying, “I’d rather be a one-term President than a bad two-term President.” What a strange remark to make.

Now all of a sudden, after using a wreckingball notion in his first year, begins the second year saying he’s going to put a “freeze on spending.” If he sincerely wanted to curtail spending, he could begin by dismantling all those salaries of all those czars he appointed. Plus curtailing the tremendous expense of Air Force One flying all over the world continuously, which does nothing to protect this country, and only adds to the tremendous debt piling up every twenty-four hours.

According to reports, a 350 billion dollar deficit this year. Where did it go? To provide more jobs for more government employees, finance a no-win war, and support banks who are sitting on the cash.

The “bail-out” agenda is a sick joke. Resulting in a “belly-up” of this once great nation of patriotic productive people.

Tonight is a State of the Union Address by the President. Listen carefully to what is said, but pay more attention to what has been done.

Continued in third article of this series.

LET FREEDOM RING

JUST ME
AC

email: annecleveland@bellsouth.net

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