America's Megalomaniac President

As I view America today I see that our government, under the Obama administration, has more in common with the mafia than it does with the government of a democratic republic.  People have often referred to Obama as a Socialist/Marxist and felt that his goal was transforming the United States into a socialist Nation.  I believe that the truth is much darker and more sinister, Obama is a megalomaniac whose interests does not lie in governing but in absolute power in order to satisfy the needs of his narcissistic personality. The cronyism being employed results in Obama's most trusted and ardent supporters being placed in positions of control and authority, just like the mafia.  The bailout of the auto industry was nothing less than a bailout of the United Auto Workers union where the pension of union members was funded by the bailout while non-union members were left to suffer and fend for themselves.  We see Obama's EPA being used as nothing more than a sophisticated protection racket against the energy sector.  Both of these illustrations reflect a pay-to-play mentality and a system of rewards for support that fills the coffers of the Democratic party and ultimately are designed to insure Obama's re-election. 

I have read commentaries where Obama is referred to as the “most dangerous President in American history”, and unfortunately, I don't believe that people realize just how true that statement has become.  Through out the last three and a half years, of accomplishing nothing positive for America, Obama has succeeded in deflecting the general public's attention away from the major issues with ease by the same slight of hand routines one sees from accomplished magicians.  Misdirection is an invaluable tool if properly applied, with the proper timing, and in the proper circumstances.  To put it bluntly, Obama's well oiled Chicago political machine has had Republicans chasing their proverbial tails, going from one inconsequential crisis to another.  When one is talking about the virtual survival of this great Nation why is anyone in the GOP worried about any subject that does not revolve around the loss of Constitutional rights or our current economic dilemma.  We need to quit allowing the Democratic party to control the conversation that is put forth to the American electorate.  We have spent more time addressing same sex marriage and Bain Capital than we have addressing the issues involved with the Law of the Sea Treaty which calls for technology transfers and wealth transfers from developed to undeveloped nations or the UN Small Arms Treaty which eventually will erode if not vacate our Second Amendment rights. 

Where is the leadership of the Republican Party, and more importantly where is the leadership from the presumptive Republican nominee at the time of the greatest crisis that has ever faced this Nation.   Where is the righteous indignation over such items as Operation Fast and Furious or the usurpation of the powers of Congress by this mafia chieftain.  Our elected leaders have stood idly by and watched Obama seize power and violate the Constitution, doing nothing more than giving a speech on the floor of Congress.  We as Americans should expect and demand more than this from our elected representatives.

When one steps into the voting booth on November 6 and starts to vote for that third party candidate one should ask themselves if they are doing what is best for this Nation or is it being done out of uncompromising principles.  This election carries with it a solemness seldom seen in American politics and one in which every vote will play monumental importance, possibly deciding the outcome.  Has the time come for a true third party?  Probably, as both parties appear to have lost touch with the very fabric on which this nation was founded, but this election is too vitally important to throw away a vote for principles. I have no idea what drives Mr. Romney to aspire to be President but have observed first hand what damage can be done to a nation in less that four years by someone such as Obama.  I can't even imagine, nor do I want to, what damage could be done in a further four years under Obama. What I do know is without returning to governance by the Republican party we will continue to see the consolidation of power by Obama as he seeks to turn our Nation into his personal fiefdom. 

Although I enjoy the same views on most subjects as Ron Paul, on Election Day I will be casting my vote for Mitt Romney and hope all Republicans stand united behind him if for no other reason than to insure our Nations survival and its return to greatness.

 

Why the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is Dangerous

First of all lets put accountability where it deserves to be, because if Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard cannot institute policies to manage and control his Police Department then maybe its time that the citizens of Indianapolis took back control and replaced Mayor Greg Ballard with someone who is more responsive to the needs of the community. With that said let's get into my dealings with and observations concerning the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. 

It seems Police Departments across the country are always complaining that they don't understand why the citizens no longer have respect for the law or law enforcement officers. In the case of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department it is blatantly obvious. I've included the article below from Indianapolis television WRTV (http://www.theindychannel.com/news/30762800/detail.html) to show that this is not something that should come to any great surprise to those of us unlucky enough to have to call upon Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for assistance or have other encounters with their officers. As a person with 26 years of law enforcement service it pains me to say I have never dealt with officers and their supervisors, from a modern era department, who feel that they are more above and exempt from the law than the IMPD and who feel that the citizens they are charged with “Protecting and Serving” have no Constitutional or Civil Rights. 

The Indianapolis police of today are no better that prohibition era police in Chicago. They are obviously groomed within the department to develop an attitude that they are above the law, after all who investigates the police but their fellow officers. 

For you see in Indianapolis officers are allowed to travel at excessive speeds, both on and off duty, in their marked units even with their families, they are apparently allowed to run over and kill motorcyclists while driving DUI in their patrol vehicle (apparently someone in IMPD thinks storing a blood sample of an officer who is the suspect in a unrefrigerated location is okay), they are allowed to use the taxpayers purchased vehicles for personal use and in the course of their second jobs, they are allowed to use their emergency equipment to go through intersections so they don't have to wait for the light to change and then pull into eating establishments, they are allowed to park where they please regardless of signage, and the best one of all they are allowed to double park downtown with their rear deck lights on while using the ATM machine at the bank. The list of violations is far too long to cover here but is indicative of the problem in Indianapolis.

Based on their comments when they arrive on scene it is apparent that they have already predetermined what action they will take and it usually revolves around what requires them to do the least amount of work. They are interested in neither the truth or the facts only their opinion matters and I have also found them to have a limited understanding of the laws they are responsible for enforcing. Today was my latest encounter with the the less than sterling or efficient officers of the IMPD but definitely not my first encounter, always as a complainant, witness or bystander, with them or their supervisors. Also today was not the first time I realized, and it was made abundantly clear by by the IMPD officer, that the residents of Indiana apparently do not enjoy the First Amendment protections that citizens in the rest of the United States enjoy. Apparently in Indiana a citizen is not allowed to voice their opinion when it offends the officer, which I have found to normally follow the old adage “the truth hurts”. I was also ordered, under the threat of arrest, to leave the public sidewalk I was standing on, on private property in front of a local business with the on duty business manager because the officer who was sitting in his car writing his “report” could hear what I was saying to my wife and the manager and apparently it displeased him. As you can see from the article below, in which an auditor stated that IMPD has a “system that can only be seen as inhibiting the filing of complaints against officers,” filing a complaint against an officer or officer(s) is a practical impossibility for as the audit noted that "Indianapolis’ system is flawed from onset because the department does not allow citizen complaints against officers".  Today was the first incident where I had an IMPD officer get within a foot of me, place his finger in my face and began shouting at me as if I was a small child. When I asked him to remove his finger and lower his voice because he was being rude he became visibly irate and stated he was shouting because I was not listening, the entire occurrence of this situation was denied when the Sergeant arrived. If you are willing to lie over something this trivial where does it end. After succumbing to the intimidation and threat of arrest for whatever reason he could come up with I complied with the “nice” officer's instruction and went and stood by my vehicle in the parking lot to await the arrival of a supervisor that I had requested. From past experience with IMPD supervision I knew this would be an exercise in futility but thought I would give it a shot anyway. 

Upon arrival the Sergeant spoke with the primary officer before walking towards my location. I later was told by a witness to this conversation that the sergeant stated “He's not gonna like what I have to tell him”, so I guess that shows his mindset before speaking with me. To my amazement my wife was then instructed not to come over there but to remain on the sidewalk. I'm starting to get confused at this point about the whole get off the sidewalk stay on the sidewalk thing that's going on. I explained the situation to the Sergeant including the reprehensible conduct of his officers with which he appeared to have no problem with anything other than accusing me of “stirring the pot”. I guess berating people, talking to people in a condescending manner, putting your finger in someone's face and shouting at them out of frustration is just another day in the sterling level of community service we have come to expect from the IMPD. 

I know for me I am through standing by and watching people intimidated, threatened and verbally abused by power hungry little men because they wear a badge. We as citizens have a right to expect nothing less than professional and courteous service from our public employees. I have stood by silently for long enough, to include an incident where an IMPD officer berated and yelled at an 80 year old female loud enough for me to clearly hear his side of the conversation from across the street on my front porch. This type of conduct cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. I think it is time that we the people start exercising and demanding the freedoms that we are guaranteed under the Constitution. It is time that we start holding elected officials responsible on a national, state and local level. As for me I am prepared to request, through the U.S. Attorney's Office, a FBI investigation of the systematic and wholesale violation of the Constitutional rights and Civil Rights of citizens within the jurisdiction of the IMPD. Rest assured that from this day forward any dealings I have with IMPD or observe will be supported by video along with any other abhorrent conduct on their part. Enough is enough.

MPD Audit: System of accountability is extremely flawed

Posted on March 27, 2012.
From WRTV
INDIANAPOLIS – A scathing audit of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s internal investigation process found a flawed system that’s created frustration throughout the ranks.
The Indianapolis Department of Public Safety contracted with Altegrity, an outside consulting firm, to review IMPD’s Professional Standards Division following a May 2011 incident in which a lieutenant made inappropriate remarks against a deputy chief.
Read: IMPD Internal Review
According to the audit, a number of missteps while handling the complaint caused the matter to become “exacerbated to the point that it caused disruption within the department and brought public discredit to the IMPD as a whole,” which then sparked the internal review.
The auditors said that while they found people of good faith working hard to do the right thing within IMPD, they are operating in a system that is “fundamentally defective and well outside the realm of national best practices for these critical police systems.”
“What we found is significant and problematic. In many ways, the current system of managing and ensuring police accountability in the IMPD is significantly flawed, if not broken,” the audit reads.
The auditors noted that frustration with the system affects employees at all levels, from rank-and-file officers who are upset with the time it takes for internal investigations to be done, to members of the Citizen Police Complaint Board, who feel they have little effect on the outcome of a case when they disagree with the department.
“While not everyone agrees on the solutions, there is a united view that the current system is broken, and we agree,” the audit reads.
The audit noted that Indianapolis’ system is flawed from onset because the department does not allow citizen complaints against officers.
Citizen complaints are referred to the Citizen’s Police Complaint Office, which has significant restrictions on who can file a complaint and when they can file, and is a “system that can only be seen as inhibiting the filing of complaints against officers,” auditors found.
The audit also noted that the Internal Affairs investigators, who are tasked with most serious complaint cases, must both investigate and judge whether the accused officer’s conduct was improper, while command officers are generally left out of the process altogether.
The auditors recommended that the relationship between the merit board, the Disciplinary Board of Captains and the Citizen’s Police Complaint Office and board needs to be adjusted, with the Captain Board eliminated and replaced by internal departmental processes and the CPCO’s focus and processes revised.
“The recommendations will strengthen meaningful civilian review and oversight while eliminating wasteful and non-productive processes that, while purporting to provide both citizen involvement and officer due process, in fact accomplish neither,” the audit reads.
Department of Public Safety Director Frank Straub said in a news release that the review provides a road map for IMPD to improve its practices.
“The report creates an opportunity to recognize environmental, policy and procedural issues, that, if properly addressed, will improve morale, enhance public trust and continue to move the IMPD toward becoming the leading police department in the Midwest,” he said. “We don’t move cases in a timely manner. We have investigations that go on for 12,18, 24 months.”
Auditors agreed that IMPD has the personnel in place to make major changes.
“We find it most promising that everyone we spoke with was committed to putting a better system in place,” the audit reads. “This is the opportune time for Indianapolis to take the necessary steps to positively impact the way its community is policed for the foreseeable future.”

The Rise of Socialism

We have all heard the quotation “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing“. This quotation is from Edmund Burke an 18^th century Irish political philosopher, Whig politician and statesman who is often regarded as the father of modern conservatism The quotation is as true today as it was the day it was written.

We as Americans and as a Nation face one of the greatest political challenges of our history. Which path we as citizens choose to follow will determine the future of this great Nation. Unfortunately liberties and freedoms, that our forefathers fought and died for, may hang in the balance, It is important for everyone to remember that once freedom is surrendered it it rarely returned.

Does this sound familiar?

A country with a high unemployment rate that removes people from the statistics in order to create a false sense of unemployment reduction. A country that runs huge deficits to fund national works projects, like infrastructure repair and replacement, in order to drop unemployment rates. The banning of labor unions. A country that's military spending is a large percentage of the GDP. A country that blames financial institutions and capitalism for its economic condition.

Ironically this is not referring to the United States but rather Germany at the rise of the National Socialist Party (NAZI). As a history buff I could not help but notice a striking similarity to what is occurring in the US today.

Today we have an unemployment rate (official version) of 8,5%, however those no longer looking for work have been deleted so the statistical results are inaccurate to say the least. We have infused billions into the states for infrastructure repair which further skews the unemployment numbers. We have spent billions of dollars on bailouts to no avail, We currently have defense spending at approximately 40% of GDP. Not to mention a budget (or lack of one) running in the red and a deficit spiraling out of control.

As one can see there is a dangerous parallel between what brought the Nazi's to power and what is occurring in the United States today. As with Germany, people are looking to the government for answers to our economic crisis. People have begun to accept the intrusions of the government, the wasteful spending on stimulus packages that don't work, fairy tales of who is to blame for the on-going crisis, and the trampling of our rights.

The last decade has seen numerous attacks on the civil liberties of every American, and the loss of basic rights afforded to every citizen under the Constitution. These include the Patriot Act and its blatant violations of the 4^th Amendment, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and its violations of the 6^th Amendment, ObamaCare and its health insurance mandate, and attacks on gun ownership and freedom of speech, just to name a few. In the words of Benjamin Franklin “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Unfortunately the assault on our way of life does not stop here. We have seen an unprecedented use of the Executive Order in an attempt to bypass Congress and impose one man's will on the multitudes. The Executive and Legislative branches were established as equals in our government. When one person begins making the laws without the consultation or approval of the elected legislators then you have a dictatorship. The redistribution of wealth is a core belief of socialism and we have all too frequently seen the attacks on the wealthiest Americans in the mainstream media as a mouthpiece for the current government. If there truly exists a tax inequality, then adding new taxes is not the solution fixing the current tax system is the solution. Our great nation is energy dependent on foreign oil, a vast quantity of this comes from countries that do not support our freedoms or way of life. This is not to say we don't have natural resources available in our country. We have the resources but pander to every environmentalist whim to receive the almighty political contribution. I submit to you, what is the value of clean air if you do not have the freedom to enjoy it. There has to be a balance between environmentally sound decisions and national security interests, besides we do not live in a bubble, every fossil fuel using country on the planet impacts the air and water quality.

This is an extremely important year for the future of America. The people will have to make the choice of which path we follow. I hope that we can get past labels (Democrat or Republican) and vote for someone based on their convictions and the content of their character. Our Nation is not without hope if everyone will choose a candidate that exemplifies the beliefs on which this Nation was founded. It is time to stand strong and stand united and demand adherence to the Constitution.