Why Swine?

Some religions follow the practice of not eating Pork. Some do not. Those who do, do so because God commanded them to abstain from eating it. Both Jews and Muslims share this view.

There are those that argue that God commanded that you should not eat swine for reasons ranging from parasites to unclean slaughter practices… and so now that this is no longer a big deal, it doesn’t matter anymore. However, the fact remains that God commanded it.

Why did God command that we should not eat swine? Does it go deeper than parasites or slaughter practices? Many meats back in the day were easily subject to rot, disease, and unhealthy slaughter practices and yet God allowed them to be eaten. In fact, in Ancient Times, there were many cases in which spices were more valuable than Gold because of their power to mask the flavor of meat that was heading south.

Perhaps God had other reasons for commanding us to abstain from SWINE. Consider the very word s-w-i-n-e. “Swine” and “Yummy” just don’t seem to go together.

Pigs eat garbage, their own feces, and the feces of other animals, carrion, or anything else that is placed in front of them. They are the world’s garbage disposal. We don’t eat vulture, and they aren’t half as nasty as a pig.

Modern scientists and forensics experts use pigs in the place of humans in experiments because of the many similarities between the two. In fact, scientists are working on something in order to use a Pig-Human hybrid to grow parts for Xenotransplantation (animal to man transplants).

Think about that for a moment… PIG-HUMAN HYBRID; that is the same thing as saying a PUMAN, or a HIG, or a PIGMAN. In case you think that statement is going too far, allow me to correct you.

Kept fairly inconspicuous but posted in science and medical publications is the fact that when pig eggs are injected with human DNA not only do they work together well, 60% of the cells of the Pig-Human embryo (YES a child develops) become HYBRID (a blend of human and pig) DNA.

The goal is to grow these abominations and harvest parts from them for Humans to make use of. I will let you contemplate that for a moment before I proceed.

Furthermore, the scientists discovered that the Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus (aptly referred to as “PERV”) also exists within the Hybrid (PIGMAN) cells. While PERV in Pigs cannot infect human cells the disease in hybrid cells might.

You can draw your own conclusions as to why God commanded that we not eat SWINE. I have drawn mine, and I gave up eating swine a few days ago. When asked why, I will simply say “Because God said so”.

George Washington was NOT the first President of the United States

If you were to ask just about anyone in the entire world who the first President of the United States of America was, if they were able to answer at all, 99% of them would most likely say “George Washington”. This, however, is not exactly true. George Washington was actually the 11^th President of the United States.

Most everyone reading this are probably either scratching their heads or shaking their heads with a smirk of disbelief… however, please indulge me long enough to make my case.

In 1774 the Continental Congress was formed so that the British Colonies could speak with a common voice about the “Intolerable Acts” (a series of laws established by British Parliament in response to “uprisings” and unrest in the Colonies). The First Continental Congress convened from September 5^th, 1774 to October 26^th, 1774.

The first major success of the First Continental Congress was the establishment of “The Articles of Association” which formed a compact between the colonies and provided for boycotts and other economic hardships for Britain. The second major success was the establishment and formation of the Second Continental Congress.

The Second Continental Congress was a group of Legislators sent on behalf of the various Colonies. The Second Continental Congress had the power of the legislative, executive, and judicial branch all in one; and was headed by The President of the Continental Congress.

The Second Continental Congress convened on May 10^th 1775, just after the Revolutionary War had started (April 19^th). The Continental Congress then raised the Continental Army on June 14^th and made General George Washington the Commander in Chief the next day.

On July 4^th, 1776 the Continental Congress, under the leadership of John Hancock, adopted the Declaration of Independence. On November 17^th, 1777 the Continental Congress passed the Articles of Confederation, which took until March 1^st, 1781 to get ratified by the States.

On March 1^st, 1781 Samuel Huntington (who had begun serving as the President of the Continental Congress on September 28^th, 1779) became President of the United States under The Articles of Confederation.

Upon ratification of The Articles of Confederation, The Second Continental Congress became “The Congress of the Confederation” (aka The United States in Congress Assembled). The Congress of the Confederation remained in place until March 4^th, 1789 when the new Constitution of the United States became operative.

On April 30^th, 1789 George Washington was sworn in under the new Constitution as President of the United States. Washington may have been the first President under the new Constitution, but the first President of the United States was Samuel Huntington.

The First Ten Presidents:
Samuel Huntington (March 1, 1781 – July 9, 1781)
Title: President of the United States in Congress Assembled

Thomas McKean (July 10, 1781 – November 4, 1781)
Title: President of the United States (“in Congress Assembled” being dropped)

John Hanson (November 5, 1781 – November 3, 1782)

Elias Boudinot (November 4, 1782 – November 2, 1783)

Thomas Mifflin (November 3, 1783 – October 31, 1784)

Richard Henry Lee (November 30, 1784 – November 6, 1785)

John Hancock (November 23, 1785 – May 29, 1786)

Nathaniel Gorham (June 6, 1786 – November 5, 1786)

Arthur St. Clair (February 2, 1787 – November 4, 1787)

Cyrus Griffin (January 22, 1788 – November 2, 1788)

The Myth That The “Civil War” Was About Slavery

There are many myths surrounding the Confederate States of America and the “Civil War”. For example, the terms “Civil War” and “War Between the States” are both an incorrect title to give the war as you shall soon realize.

A Civil War is when two factions are fighting for control over the government. The Confederacy had no desire to control Washington, DC. The CSA was a Nation fighting for its Independence FROM Washington, DC.

A War between States would exist if, for example, Kansas were to be at war with Missouri. The Nation of the Confederate States of America was at war with the Nation of the United States of America. Clearly the war was not between States.

You may be wondering, “What should I call that war?” well, the answer is actually quite simple. Considering the Confederacy was fighting for Independence, an apt title would be “The War for Southern Independence”. Secondly, the North illegally invaded and attacked the South for seceding; therefore “The War of Northern Aggression” would be an apt title as well.

The next thing you may be thinking is, “The War was over Independence? I thought the War was about Slavery?” That is a common myth perpetuated by the Union from the time of Lincoln’s “Emancipation Proclamation” to this very day.

As you have most likely suffered from a Reconstructionist’s view of history, you may find it hard to believe that the war was not about Slavery. However, Abraham Lincoln’s own words should go a long way to making my point:

“If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount objective in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.”

You may then counter with “Ah ha! Even if the war was not about Slavery, it was about ‘preserving the Union’”; however, you would be wrong. Lincoln was not trying to “save the Union”; Lincoln was trying to save his tax base as you will soon see.

The Confederacy seceded from the Union for many reasons political, religious, philosophical, cultural, historical, and economic. Discussion of Slavery played a role in those areas of debate, but in order for you to put everything in perspective, you have to understand the issues that led to secession, and ultimately war. I will be briefly summarizing the areas of contention below, before settling on what was probably the biggest reason the South seceded… Economics:

Historical and Cultural Differences:

Those who settled in the North were primarily of English and Danish decent. Those that settled in the South were primarily of French, Scottish, and Irish decent. As you know, the English and the Danes had a long history of animosity with the French, the Scottish, and the Irish. That animosity continued during the settling of the United States.

The North has always been more “progressive” in terms of culture, while the South has always been more conservative.

There were, and still are, vast differences in cuisine, music, slang, etc.

Political and Philosophical Differences:

The North held a Federalists (Alexander Hamilton) view of government while the South held an Anti-federalist (Thomas Jefferson) view of government. The power of the Federal Beast was growing, much to the dismay of the South.

Religious Differences:

The North was primarily of a liberal theological belief; and Unitarianism thrived within the populace. The South was primarily of a conservative theological belief, and Unitarianism was primarily rejected.

The Economic Issues that Lead to Secession:

Here is where we get to the crux of what pushed the South over the edge; just like our forefathers in 1776.

There are a few facts you should know before we proceed in order for you to keep everything in perspective.

In 1861 the population of the North was about 20 million, while the population of the South was about 9 million.

The South had an agrarian economy which relied heavily on exports to Europe. The North, however, was heavily industrialized. Comparatively, the South only produced about 10% of all manufactured goods. Regardless of these facts, if the South of 1860 was assessed as its own Nation, it would have been the 4^th wealthiest Nation in the world with Southern exports accounting for over 70% of all exports from the United States up to the time of Secession.

Tariffs:

Tariffs were in effect since the inception of the US Constitution of 1787; however they did not begin in earnest until after the War of 1812. The North had a “Protectionists” attitude when it came to tariffs which contradicted the South’s desire for “Free Trade”. With the South being the chief exporter of goods, high tariffs hurt them the most.

A tariff enacted in 1816 of 25 cent per yard of cheap cotton cloth (a major export of the South) was used to shelter New England mills from English competition by making Southern cotton so expensive to buy that it virtually removed it from the American marketplace.

The fierce opposition of New England shipping interests and Southern plantations led to the Tariff of 1828, called the “Tariff of Abominations”, which almost caused the South to secede at that time. The Tariff of 1828 forced the South to buy manufactured goods at inflated prices, while at the same time facing reduced income due to the loss of sale of raw goods.

In late 1832, South Carolina attempted a protest by enacting an Ordinance of Nullification stating that the States had a right to nullify a Federal law that the State found aberrant. The Order essentially made null the Tariffs imposed in 1828 and 1832.

President Andrew Jackson responded by sending seven naval vessels and a man-of-war to Charleston. He then issued a proclamation against the nullifiers stating they “stood on the brink of insurrection and treason”. President Jackson then appealed to the citizens to reassert their allegiance to the Union. Congress then passed a “Force Bill” authorizing the President to take whatever action he deemed fit to enforce the law.

The situation was defused in early 1833 by Senator Henry Clay (a protectionists and rival of Jackson’s, and who would serve as a mentor to Abraham Lincoln) who pushed through a compromise measure. The compromise stated that the Tariffs would be steadily reduced over the course of 10 years to the level of the 1816 Tariff.

The conflict in 1832 and 1833 showed the South that they did not have to put up with the Federal Government, which planted the seed of secession.

In 1857 the biggest of many “Panics” occurred when Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Co. collapsed due to embezzlement. On top of this event, there was a series of other setbacks, including British investors removing money from the US Banks, the fall of grain prices, Russia’s re-entry into the global markets after the Crimean War, the stockpiling of manufactured goods causing layoffs, and widespread railroad failures; all of which contributed to severe economic setbacks which primarily impacted the North.

In 1857 a new, lower tariff was put in place to allow the South better income, however, the North then instituted higher interest rates on the South; essentially burdening the South with the task of pulling the North from its economic problems. Tensions between the North and South began to increase dramatically.

By 1860, the South was paying 87% of all tariffs, 83% of federal fishing bounties paid to New England fishermen; as well as payments totaling $35 million to Northern shippers who had a monopoly on shipping from Southern ports. The South was essentially paying all of the bills.

In 1860, the final straw was placed on the camel’s back… the Republican Lincoln was elected President. Among the Republican platform was a call for higher tariffs; which was enacted as the Morris Tariff in 1861, signed by President Buchannan prior to Lincoln taking the oath of office.

The Morris Tariff was the highest tariff in US history, imposing a 50% duty on iron, 25% on clothing, with other rates averaging about 47%.

The Tariff was imposed in March of 1861, and the South seceded by April of 1861.

Was the war about slavery or economic tyranny? You do the math.

References and Further Reading:

www.wikipedia.com

www.answers.com

www.encyclopedia.com

Encyclopedia Britannica

www.nps.gov

What a Government Should Be

Every Conservative and every Confederate should hold at the very base of their political ideology the belief in limited government and fiscal responsibility. Our government’s foundation should be based on liberty, independence, and an acknowledgment of God. Our laws should be based on justice, logic, reason, and time tested tradition. Our values should be rooted in tradition, morality, virtue, dignity, and honor. We as a people should adhere to wisdom, duty, responsibility, accountability, independence, kindness, and a code of conduct. We as Men should put God and Family above anything else in our lives.

From this perspective, I would like to lay out what I truly believe is the Ideal government. The Ideal government, in my belief, is Jeffersonian in nature, with Libertarian flair in its lawmaking and economic policies; and a neutral stance in world affairs. Good government should be formed and maintained under the guidelines listed below:

The Role of Government:
The Government is a necessary evil that exists solely for the following purposes:

1. To prevent Anarchy.
2. To establish and insure Justice.
3. To insure domestic Tranquility.
4. To defend the people against all enemies foreign and domestic.
5. To insure and protect Liberty.
6. To promote the Welfare of the people.
7. To serve the Will of the People.

The Power of the Government:
The Government derives its power from the citizenry and the Citizenry has the right to reform, alter, or abolish their government, and to establish another, in such a manner as shall be most conducive to the public welfare. This right should be guaranteed in any Constitution and enforced by the People.

The Form of Government:
The best form of Government is the Representative Democracy (also known as Democratic Republicanism). A Constitutional Republic that protects individual liberty is the best defense against the tyranny of the majority.

The Composition of Government:
The Government should be comprised in such a manner that there exists a checks and balance to help prevent tyranny. No single person or body should hold supreme power within the government.

The Policy of Government:

1. The Government should never mandate or regulate the political or religious conscience of the populace. Freedom of thought should always prevail.
2. Freedom of speech and the press are vital to prevent tyranny over the people by the Government.
3. An armed citizenry is the best defense against a tyrannical government.
4. The government should fear the people; the people should never fear the government.
5. In times of peace, there should be no more than a limited standing army as is necessary to defend the country, its citizens, holdings, and interests.
6. The military is at all times subordinate to the civil authorities.
7. All votes of the legislature, all laws and ordinances, all government regulations, all government proceedings, all trials, and all government financial matters that do not reasonably require secrecy should be a matter of public record for scrutiny by the citizenry.
8. The Government should never become involved in foreign entanglements; and should remain neutral in world affairs unless the country, its citizens, holdings, or interests are under threat or attack.
9. The Government should have a Laissez Faire economic policy; and should never regulate or interfere with commerce beyond the minimum necessary to insure the citizenry are protected and not abused. Capitalism and a free market should be guaranteed.
10. It is not the Government’s place to establish morality. Morality is something that should be taught not legislated.
11. To make every reasonable effort to write laws that are lucid, concise, and easily understandable.
12. To refrain from legislative indulgence, and only create laws when absolutely necessary, remembering the goal and purpose of the government as outlined in the Constitution.
13. Most laws and ordinances should have an expiration date so that they must be reviewed from time to time. The maximum effective date of most laws should never exceed 20 years.
14. To insure that all laws that are put in place lists a clear definition of its function and purpose, a clear definition of what constitutes an offense against the law, a statute of limitations for being held accountable for an offense against the law, and a range of allowable penalties for committing an offense against the law.
15. To create and maintain a balanced budget and to remain financially responsible.

Any country that builds a government based upon these guidelines, truly will be building a government of the people, by the people, for the people.