The Freedom Bulletin

I didn’t forget – as I have done in some form every year that this blog has been in existence, here is my roundup of the 10 most important / courageous / unique / influential people of the past year, in no particular order. This list is by no means scientific and is based merely on my own (arguably weird) opinions. Enjoy!

1. Ed and Elaine Brown – This New Hampshire couple refused to pay the federal income tax, arguing that it is unconstitutional. They went on trial this year and were convicted but remained as defiant as ever. They broke the law but did so in the name of liberty. Go, Ed and Elaine!
2. Jason Chaffetz – This freshman Congressman from Utah introduced HR 2027, a bill which would prohibit the government from forcing all airline passengers to be strip-searched. We desperately need this bill to be passed, now more than ever.
3. Neda Agha-Soltan – She was the young woman killed by the Iranian government in the streets of Tehran during this June’s protests against the rigged election. She became a symbol of freedom as the people of Iran fought against their oppressive government.
4. Scott Brown – The Republican candidate in the special election for the Massachusetts Senate seat vacated by Ted Kennedy. A former model and current Lt. Colonel in the National Guard, he’s a pretty cool guy, and wouldn’t it be cool if Massachusetts finally had a Republican in the Senate?
5. Joe Kennedy – Not the nephew of Ted Kennedy, but the independent / libertarian candidate for Ted’s old Senate seat. Although he doesn’t have much chance of winning, his libertarian ideas are something Massachusetts really needs to hear more of.
6. John Ensign – No, I’m not including him because of his extramarital affair but because he had the courage and the sense to argue against the individual mandate in the Senate’s health bill and introduce a motion to examine its constitutionality. He is completely right!
7. Simone Davis – She is a 17-year-old girl who was denied permanent residency in the US because she refused to receive the HPV vaccine, which is only beneficial to people who have sex. I salute her for standing up for the rights of asexual and/or celibate people.
8. Joe Wilson – He infamously shouted “you lie” when President Obama said that his health bill would not cover illegal immigrants. Although criticized by liberals as rude, I think that what he said rang true and took guts.
9. Taylor Swift – She’s one of my favorite musical artists and was named AP’s entertainer of the year, as well as winning CMA, VMA, and AMA awards, among many others. Although not directly related to politics/liberty, she has so much talent that she belongs on this last.
10. Michael Jackson - I couldn’t leave the King of Pop off of my list. In addition to being an undoubtedly iconic artist, he was also undoubtedly quirky. Unfairly plagued by child molestation allegations, he is a unique person, for better or for worse.  

Thirty-nine Republican Senators – all but James Inhofe, who did not vote - voted that the individual mandate that everyone purchase health insurance might be unconstitutional. It’s about time!

Unfortunately, all 60 Democrats voted against this, which means that the bill is almost definitely going to be passed tomorrow morning. It makes me feel almost sick to my stomach thinking about that.

According to FoxNews,

The Senate voted 60-39 to reject Sen. John Ensign’s call to examine the constitutionality of a health care mandate central to the overhaul bill. The Nevada Republican wanted to determine whether it was constitutional for the federal government to require Americans to purchase health insurance.

There should be no need to examine the constitutionality of the individual mandate. Anyone with an IQ above 50 would easily be able to see that it is unconstitutional. There is absolutely nothing in the commerce clause, elastic clause, or any other part of the Constitution that even comes close to giving the federal government the authority to force citizens to purchase a product.

John Ensign is a hero for at least trying to stand up for freedom. Olympia Snowe seems to have come to her senses, too, and I praise her for that.

This is a sad moment for America. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson are rolling in their graves. I can’t believe that we fought two wars (Revolutionary War and War of 1812) for our nation’s independence and liberty, only to have it come to this. Despicable.