by: Radley Balko

"There's no way to rule innocent men.The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals.Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them.One declares so many things to be a crimethat it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws."

--Ayn Rand 

Violent crime is down America, across the board, spanning two decades. Earlier this month, the Justice Department announced that the incidence of reported rape had hit a 20-year low. Homicides are down, as are juvenile violence and crimes committed against children. Crime rates have been plummeting since the early 1990s to such an extent that explaining the drop has become something of an obsession among criminologists and sociologists.

Part of the drop can of course be explained by mass incarceration—America leads the world in the percentage of its population behind bars. Putting one in every 100 citizens in jail causes its own problems, and there's plenty of debate over just how much that incarceration has contributed to the fall in violent crime. But there's no question that we've put lots of people in prison over the last 20 years, the crime rate has fallen, and part of the public likely believes (with some justification) that there's a link betweent the two.

But there's something else going on too, picked up in the blogosphere last week by George Washington University political science Professor John Sides. According to Gallup, since 2002 the percentage of the American public who think violent crime is on the rise has been increasing, even as actual violent crime rates continue to fall. Sides notes that from 1989 to 2001, perception and reality somewhat went hand in hand. But 2002 to 2003 saw a 19 percent leap in public perceptions that violent crime was on the uptick, and the figure has been going up in the years since—to 74 percent today. What's going on?

From the time Richard Nixon made crime a national political issue in the 1970s, we've been conditioned by politicians and public officials to live in perpetual fear. Our baseline is that there's too much crime, and that we aren't doing enough about it. Despite that, there was an actually drop in public worry about crime that began in 1992 and continued until 2002. As noted, that drop corresponded with an actual decline in the national crime rate, something that hadn't happened in 30 years. That crime rates going down for the first time in a generation was something new, something worth noticing. The 1990s were also generally an optimistic decade. The economy was humming. We weren't engaged in any major wars. We didn't have many worries, period.

Post-2002, the national mood soured. Terrorism, obviously a form of violent crime, was all over the news. The economy slowed down. Illegal immigration once again became a national issue, along with the false assumption that undocumented immigrants bring violent crime. And so we returned to a state of fear, though the crime rate continued to fall.

These fluctuations in the Gallup poll are interesting, but it's worth noting that the percentage of respondents who believe violent crime is on the rise has dipped below 60 percent only three times since 1991. This, again, despite the fact that violent crime has been in decline over the entire period.

Fear makes for easy politics. It both wins votes and primes us to give government more power at the expense of personal liberty. And that's certainly true when it comes to crime. With the possible exception of an incumbent mayor, politicians only benefit from exaggerating the threat of violent crime. Senators, Congressmen, and even governors are rarely held responsible when the crime rate goes up. But they do win votes by proposing new powers for police and prosecutors to bring it down.

The result has been a one-way ratchet effect on crime policy. We're perpetually expanding police and prosecutorial power, a process only occasionally slowed by the courts. Congress and state legislatures rarely take old criminal statutes off the books, but they're always adding new ones. A 2008 report from the Heritage Foundation estimates that at the federal level alone, Congress has been adding about 55 new crimes to the federal criminal code each year since the 1980s. There are now about 4,500 separate federal crimes. And that doesn't include federal regulations, which are increasingly being enforced with criminal, not administrative, penalties. It also doesn't include the increasing leeway with which prosecutors can enforce broadly written federal conspiracy, racketeering, and money laundering laws. And this is before we even get to the states' criminal codes.

In his new book, the Boston-based civil liberties advocate and occasional Reason contributor Harvey Silverglate estimates that in 2009, the average American commits about three federal felonies per day. And yet, we aren’t a nation of degenerates. On the contrary, most social indicators have been moving in a positive direction for a generation. Silverglate argues we're committing these crimes unwittingly. The federal criminal code has become so vast and open to interpretation, Silverglate argues, that a U.S. Attorney can find a way to charge just about anyone with violating federal law. In fact, it's nearly impossible for some business owners to comply with one federal regulation without violating another one. We're no longer governed by laws, we're governed by the whims of lawyers.

Whatever one may think of Ayn Rand's political philosophy or ethics, her criminal justice prophecy has proven unsettlingly accurate: In our continuing eagerness to purge American society of crime, we've allowed the government to make us all into criminals.

by Kevin Bryant

I’m a racist, you’re a racist, he’s a racist, she’s a racist, and wouldn’t you like to be a racist too.

If we are to believe the most recent comments made by Jimmy Carter: “Everyone opposing Barack Obama is basing their opposition on the fact that he is a black man”, or something like that then guess what, we are all racist. This would include blacks and every other minority in America who think differently from our President. Sticking strictly in accordance with Jimmy Carter’s analysis, then not only would it be possible for a black person to be racist against a black president based solely on race, it would be strictly factual and if it is factual and truthful, then I must be a racist against everyone in America who does not believe in abortion under any circumstance, every gay person who thinks they should get special treatment, every 9/11 truther, every vegetarian, every global warming (climate change) believer, everyone who does not support the military. Crap, I don’t always agree with my wife, my parents, my kids, my siblings……I must be racist against even my own family.

Former President Carter, here is some advice for you….pull your head out of your ____. The year is 2009, not 1849, 1899, 1929 or even 1969. Racism today exists on a very small scale and more often than not, it is fueled by those who would use race based ideology as a reason or excuse for a particular thought or action.

Only 12% of Americans….a whole whopping 12% believe that any animosity towards president Obama is based solely on race. Since President Obama is half black and half white but claims African American as his race, then that would mean that 2/3’s of his own race disagree with Jimmy Carter’s statement. Even if you add in those that said they don’t know or had no opinion, then still less than one half of his own race disagrees with Jimmy Carter’s statement. This even surprised me considering that just over 95% of Black Americans voted for Barack Obama. Now, if you want to see an example of racism, then the election would be a prime example of that. The media would have had a field day if 95% of all White Americans voted for John McCain.

Race based, quotas, exemptions, affirmative action, legislation, organizations…..everything should have died in the late 70’s and early 80’s. One of the main problems with America is that they didn’t die. Instead, they were supported by those in congress and community that saw race as a means to gain favor and wealth by keeping the fires of racism burning brightly.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Martin Luther King Jr

Americans, by large, get it and understand that is meant by Martin Luther King’s words and they practice them daily.

Next month it will be 4 years now that I have sat next to and work almost literally hand in hand with a black woman whom I call my friend. I have a daughter who in a couple of months will give birth to a half Mexican, half white - 100% MY granddaughter. I have another daughter who is currently living with her half Black, half Mexican girlfriend, partner or whatever they choose to call their relationship. Next door to me is a younger couple that I get along very well with who are vegetarians, Obama supporters and global warming believers. I have a really nice black family living a few doors down from me that I would give them the shirt off my back if they needed it or if they just wanted it. My son’s ex ex girlfriend of almost a year was black. The family living directly across the street is from southern Mexico and I have a great relationship with them. We all have different backgrounds, different heritages, different beliefs, live different lifestyles yet are family and friends and neighbors not based on the color of our skin but by our character.

by: D.R. Berry

Depending upon what media source is reporting, yesterday's 9/12 march on Washington drew a crowd estimated at "several thousand", "up to two million", "a sea", or possibly no one because mainstream media preferred to follow President Obama to Minnesota where he continues to try to ram his healthcare agenda down our throats. For those who were unable to make the historic trip to Washington, thousands more flocked to their local tea party events to show support against a government gone horribly out of control.

Avoiding the D.C. march altogether, Obama chose this weekend to travel to Minneapolis' Target Center where he spoke to a crowd of 13,000 in an effort to rally support for his weakening healthcare proposal. Adopting what can only be viewed as a self-important defensive position, Obama said, "I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than improve it. If you misrepresent what’s in the plan, we will call you out.” Really? Do you mean like when you misrepresented the fact that this bill proposes to use government funds to subsidize abortions, or provide healthcare to illegal immigrants? That is until Joe Wilson drew a line in the sand and cried out what those of us watching at home were thinking: "You lie!" How interesting that it is perfectly fine for liberals to say whatever they want about President Bush without having to apologize for it. Joe Wilson immediately apologized to Obama, and his apology was accepted. Not good enough for Nancy Peolsi and Harry Reid, who want him to apologize on the floor of the House. Harry Reid, who called President Bush a liar, not once, but numerous times without any show of remorse. I guess this administration has one set of rules for themselves, and another for the rest of us.

I believe that yesterday's events have shaken Washington's core, although you will not hear them admit it. I believe they completely underestimated this grassroots movement, and thought that by using slander and bullying tactics, they would frighten us back home and into submission. But they were wrong. A newfound patriotic spirit is finding its way into the hearts of the American people. No longer are we willing to passively stand by and let the government get away with taking away more and more of our freedom. We have joined together, one nation under God, indivisible to take back our country and save our Constitution.

But we must not let yesterday's success allow us to get too comfortable. We still have much to do. We need to continue to be vigilant in watching the movements of this administration and the czars that seem to have little accountability to the citizens of this country. We need to work toward firing those in Congress that do not support the Constitution and elect those who are willing to abide by the will of the people that elected them. Do not be complacent, but be tireless. We will get there, we will get our country back on track. We the People.

by Jordan Hixon

Is that they are just words. Every human being has them and we can use them in any way, manner, shape or form. But how much credibility do the words we say have?

Enlightened by an article by Thomas Sowell called "Listening to a Liar, I have pondered the validity of our politicians words. Moreover, I ponder if we can believe anything that they say at all.

Let's take Barack Obama and the health insurance bill for instance. He has made numerous speeches about how our health care system is in crisis and that we have to act now and fast. Why would he say this though when the bill doesn't take place until 2013? Why would he make the bill take effect in 2013 after the next election has passed? It really makes no sense in the grand scheme of things and in truth, contradicts every speech that has been made.

Another example is the climate change bill. As with the health insurance bill, the bill doesn't take effect until 2013. So again, why the urgency?

The truth is that this administration has a craving for power and these bills are just political kindle to fuel the fire of control. None of these bills are made to help the people, Obama and Congress may say they will, but they in essence do not. In fact they do the opposite. Obama and those in Congress throw out false promises of less government control, but in reality they are baiting a hook for you to stick your lip through.

Now more than ever we need to analyze the words of powerful figures and dissect their words for underlying meanings. We cannot just blindly listen to those at the microphone and believe everything they say. Our freedom is at stake and our liberties have a knife to their throat. Those of you who are uninformed and brainwashed, please wake up for the sake of all of us. Listen to the words that people say and try to understand them beyond what's in plain view.

by Harrison Price

Lefties say Conservatives are making it sound like Nazi indoctrination and Righties are saying it is like Nazi indoctrination.  In case you haven’t heard, Obama is going to talk to K-6th graders.  Neither side is completely right or completely wrong but what this little speech does show is that the belief in the omnipotent “talking head” era has passed.

It used to be you read your morning (or afternoon) newspaper, read Life Magazine once a week, and watched a network news program.  If you were very interested you could watch a program on PBS like Crossfire to maybe get some more knowledge or, if you were a true “rebel” you read a free newspaper.  And that was how people learned how to think about topics.  The wise editor someplace would choose what you would learn.  And so it was for many, many years.

After the 60s we all learned about “deconstructionism” whereby nothing really had a set meaning.  Thus the Mona Lisa was not universally a great work and somebody who splashed some paint on the canvas could be mentioned in the same breath as a great, well known painter.  People came up with all sorts of “new meanings” for poetry and prose, and up became down and in became out and college students everywhere were able to cram as much BS into their papers as they could.

The talking head era was drawing to a close.  Its death knell happened when people could go onto a website and see a 50 year, well known writer’s work displayed next to somebody you’d never heard of.  Both, because they appeared next to one another, seemed to have equal authority.  It took the individual reader to determine if what was being presented to them was valid or not.

It is ironic, in this post-1984 1984 world (written in 1948 but ahead of its time) that Liberals, who often put down Conservatives for trying to enforce “universal” values (also called “family values”) would be shocked that the image of a U.S. President on a television monitor telling young children what he thinks is important in life would be objectionable.  After all, when the President of the United States says something, even if it sounds odd, he or she does speak with the authority of the office and most kids in that age group still believe in Santa Claus.

Democrats never believed George W. Bush when he talked about his core beliefs yet they think it is odd many Americans don’t want Barack Obama speaking about what he thinks are important in life.  The ironies are numerous.

Obama may have had good intentions (his “community organizer” history is coming out) but it just looks so nefarious to many who are part of a society that rejects the talking head.

Even if Obama plays it “safe” and says things like it’s good to help your neighbors, you should look both ways before crossing the street, and when you grow up pay your taxes, people will still be upset.

Had places been reversed and George W. Bush was the man on the television in schools across the nation, we’d be hearing the same things from Democrats that we hear now from Republicans.

France’s Charles de Gaulle once said:

“How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?”

And so it has become in America, minus the cheese.

by Thomas Craig

As the Creator of AmericanTusk.com, I'm sure you can guess that I am passionate, not so much about political parties, but America itself.  As of late, I have been questioning my patriotism.  I have been questioning it because my goal was to help America by first reforming the Republican Party, and then by helping the Party regain control of the government.  The problem is (and perhaps I am wrong) that even if the Party regains control, America is too far gone to be saved.  Here is the real kicker though, I DON'T BLAME THE DEMOCRATS.  Radical Liberalism is merely the result and consequence of a populace too ignorant, too weak, and too silent.  We like to think that there is some sort of revolution brewing because a few mid-western conservatives shout out at townhall meetings.  It means nothing.  Congress is full of wannabe dictators and power-hungry imbeciles.  These are people who don't posess any greater intelligence than you or I but they happened to have the time and fundraising capabilities to make it to an elected office where they have no intention of "representing" the fools who elected them.  Once upon a time, America was full of radicals who had the crazy notion that a Country can be run by the people and for the people.  That dream is dead.  It no longer exists and if you believe it does, you either aren't paying attention or don't understand what you are seeing.  This post was originally going to be about President Obama's "speech" to our Nation's youth next week.  I was going to point out how eerily similar it seems to be like Hitler reaching out to the youth of Germany.  Hitler understood that if you can influence the children, you can control an entire generation.  Obama understands this as well and it is one more reason to believe that dark times lie ahead for our Nation.  We are over-taxed, over-burdened, and under-represented.  While I will continue to advocate for the return of true Republican ideals, I have no doubt at this moment that when the GOP takes power again, they will squander it and abuse it like they did during the Bush years.  America became complacent over the years and we are now witnessing something worse than the fall of an empire, but the death of a dream.  Instead of learning from our mistakes, we have repeated and strengthened them.  I have no doubt that a long time ago, many Romans felt that the light of Rome would never fade, regardless of the problems they were experiencing.  We have been standing guard and watching for the wolves, not realizing that the wolves are already in and all that is left are the remains of something once great.  I hope I am wrong but I have yet to see anything that gives me optimism.  What do you think?

by Harrison Price

We’ve all been reading about how the town halls have become “town hells” with angry voters shouting down Democrats who try and preach Obamakare and even seniors turning against AARP meetings (with the AARP shutting them down when the seniors start asking tough questions).  With the Obamakare vote delayed until after Labor Day one has to ask two questions: 1) Will Democrats “get it” and 2) Why do they always think they know best?

To start with the second question first here’s an interesting analysis from the Baltimore Sun:

America’s liberals have gone from swooning over Barack Obama’s ascension to the White House and gloating over their Bush-induced domination of Congress to near-hysteria because ordinary middle-class Americans are rising in anger against the Democrats’ planned hijacking of the nation’s health care system.

How dare these people adopt the tactics of the left, like the ACORN or SEIU organizers, and plan demonstrations of political dissatisfaction. The left would have us believe that such actions are illegitimate if performed by any other than their own supporters.

Liberals (by these I mean the Far Left ones) are generally elitist who are well-educated, high income earners, urban dwellers, “trend” setters, and think they have all the answers.  They remain safe in the knowledge that should Obamakare provide them and their families with inadequate coverage they can simply pay privately for the care they need.  In fact, even President Obama admitted were his family sick he would pay for any care that it took to cure them.  He is a millionaire, he can afford this option just as Al Gore can fly in private jets, burn through enough electricity to power a small town and pay carbon offset “credits” to assuage his guilt.  Like the Tea Parties a few months ago, we are seeing the Silent Majority rise up to overthrow their masters… and the masters don’t like it with many trying to blame Republicans and discredit ordinary Americans by comparing them to NAZI Brown Shirts.

Investor’s Business Daily makes this point:

Their increasing anxiety and fear of failure are typified in the words of the leader of their party, who wants Republicans to keep their mouths shut while he “fixes” health care.

“I don’t want the folks who created the mess to do a lot of talking,” the president said Thursday at a political rally in Virginia. “I want them to get out of the way so we can clean up the mess.”

“The plan for August is to have a discussion, to listen carefully to what people are saying, what ideas they may have to improve the legislation as it affects them,” Pelosi said. In other words, Americans can suggest changes, but the elitists in Washington will not withdraw plans to take over the best health care system in the world.

Earlier in the week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid walked the same line as Pelosi, making it clear that the Democratic leadership had no intention of listening to fed-up voters.

“In spite of the loud, shrill voices trying to interrupt town hall meetings and just throw a monkey wrench into everything,” he said, “we’re going to continue to be positive and work hard.”

How Liberals view Americans.

One has to ask oneself the question as to how Democrats, who yelled for years about George W. Bush trying to threaten and scare the opposition (Democrats) into going along with his “War on Terror,” can adopt much harsher techniques themselves.  I guess that makes them hypocrites on the worst order and no better than jihadists who claim only they know what is right (in the former case it is elitism that speaks the truth while in the latter it is Allah).

As to the first question… will the Democrats “get it” or not?  I certainly hope they don’t until the point when the votes are cast and Obamakare fails.  This way the Democratic party will once again damage itself in the way they did back in 1992-1993 when Hillarykare was making the headlines and the Republicans soon took over Congress.

Americans have a healthy distrust of their government and, indeed, with news that the Democrats just approved over $500 million to be spent on private jets for their personal useage, they should.

Sent to me by email...

We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services for such “luminaries” as Wacko Jacko... I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.

Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty.

His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them. I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . .. " at which point my heart skipped.  At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.

I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say. 

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach.  He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat.  Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.

There was no parade.No big event in Staples Center. 
No wall to wall back to back 24/7 news coverage on MSNBC, CNN, NBC, CBS or ABC. 
No weeping fans on television.

And that's not right.

Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way.  Please forward this post to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

by Thomas Craig

Last night I attended a Tea Party protest in Times Square.  The event was full of good music, great speakers, and a passionate crowd.  I'll post some of the photos I took shortly.  If I had to guess the amount of people who attended, I would probably number it somewhere around six-hundred (of course that is just my guess).  What bothered me was that in a city of twelve million, there was not even enough people to fill up the entire block.  I don't believe that even in a city this liberal, there are not millions of people who are fed up with the way our government works. 

I came across a great quote this morning which represents my thoughts on this.  Rus Walton once said about the difference between our generation and that of our Founding Fathers, "Some claim such spirit is gone from America. That we no longer care enough to pay the price for freedom under God. That we are more enamored with expediency than excellence, more concerned with comfort than courage. That the goodness and glory of this land were of yesterday -- but not of today or tomorrow . . . that we will continue to shun the statesman and the sage and embrace the politician. It is for us . . . it is our task . . . to prove such naysayers wrong. Let this be our declaration."

As we approach our Nation's birthday, we should all consider what it is that we can possibly do to better America.  Clearly, our government has drifted far in it's power and scope from the original intent of our Founding Fathers.  We should all enjoy the holiday and when we return to our lives on Monday, we should take action in one form or another.  Call your representative.  Start a Tea Party protest in your area.  Heck, start a blog and share it with as many people as you can.  Last night I had the honor of standing with true patriots and I saw the anger and desire which filled them head to toe.  It is the same fire, which I imagine, ran rampant through the Colonies and inspired the birth of our country.  It is time that we got off our couches and took real action.  Many before us have sacrificed and it is up to us to make sure that their purpose remains justified and alive.  How will our children think of us in years to come?  Will they thank us for our sacrifices or will they wonder why we sat by and did nothing as our government took more and more control.