Jim Crow Segregation Raises Its Ugly Head Again, But This Time with Different Actors

We’re in Danger of Repeating History Again

Jim Crow Segregation Raises Its Ugly Head Again, But This Time with Different Actors

Commentary by Robin Wonders

Once again, we find ourselves watching history repeat—but with new faces playing familiar roles. Back in the Jim Crow era, it was about race. Segregated bathrooms, separate water fountains, laws that pushed Black Americans into second-class citizenship. Today, it’s happening again—but the target has shifted. Now, it’s transgender, intersex, and gender-diverse people caught in the crosshairs.

With Trump’s black-and-white approach to gender, we’re heading back into dangerous territory. His policies erase the existence of anyone who doesn’t fit neatly into “male” or “female.” But let’s be clear—transgender and intersex people have existed for as long as humans have been around. They aren’t new. They aren’t some modern invention. They’ve just lived their lives quietly, without feeling the need to broadcast it—until now, when their rights are being attacked.

It’s not the legitimate trans community causing the uproar. It’s the squeaky wheels—the ones who aren’t medically diagnosed, haven’t gone through any process, and treat gender identity like a costume they can throw on when convenient. These are the individuals who jump into women’s sports or make headlines for all the wrong reasons. If they were truly transgender, they’d be living the life. They’d be following the guidelines of WPATH—the World Professional Association for Transgender Health—which has set the standards for gender-affirming care for decades.

Gender dysphoria is a recognized medical condition, listed in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). But don’t let the word disorder fool you. This isn’t about being “mentally unstable.” The medical community has been treating gender-diverse individuals for over a century, going back to the early Harry Benjamin Standards of Care in the 1960s. The WPATH guidelines today reflect a more compassionate, science-based approach that recognizes not everyone fits the same mold.

But Trump’s policies, and the attitudes they inspire, don’t care about the science. They don’t care about the real people who are just trying to live their lives in peace. It’s about forcing everyone back into rigid boxes, even if it means putting people at risk—just like Jim Crow laws did. Back then, it was "separate but equal." Now, it’s “you don’t belong here unless you fit my definition of male or female.”

And it’s not just about bathrooms or sports. It’s about survival.

In healthcare, this kind of black-and-white thinking can be dangerous—even life-threatening. Many transgender and intersex individuals face denial of routine medical care because their documentation doesn’t match their biology. Imagine being told you can’t get a mammogram because your records say “male,” even though you have breasts. 

These rigid systems don’t just erase identities—they endanger lives. This isn’t about special treatment. It’s about receiving the right care for your body, regardless of how the government, an insurance company, or a set of outdated policies tries to define you. When healthcare providers are forced to follow black-and-white rules that ignore the spectrum of human experience, people fall through the cracks.

Just like Jim Crow laws once denied Black Americans access to equal facilities and services, these gender policies deny people the basic right to proper medical care.

This isn’t hypothetical. It’s happening.

Lynn Conway, a pioneering computer scientist and transgender woman, made groundbreaking contributions to microchip design at IBM—work that laid the foundation for modern computing. Her legacy reminds us that transgender individuals have always been integral to progress.

Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, faced discrimination shortly after her election. House Republicans introduced a rule requiring members to use restrooms that correspond with their sex assigned at birth, effectively barring McBride from women’s facilities. She now must use a “neutral” bathroom, just like the “colored only” restrooms during Jim Crow. Yet McBride doesn’t waver, stating: “I'm not here to fight about bathrooms, I'm here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families.”

Yes, there are those who pretend to be women. But there are also people who fully understand their biology, living with a legitimate, medically diagnosed condition. In every interview I’ve watched with trans individuals, they acknowledge the truth: they know they aren’t biological women or men. They know they’re different. But they represent themselves as such because it’s how they survive in a world that often won’t accept them otherwise. They respect the differences. They’re not trying to erase biology—they’re just asking for the space to live their lives without constant fear or judgment.

But if this black-and-white thinking continues, we risk opening the door to a Jim Crow-style society once more—with separate bathrooms and drinking fountains. Different names. Same oppression.

Oregon Expands Food Stamps for Any Immigration Status—Yet Retired Americans Get $39?

 

Oregon Expands Food Stamps for Any Immigration Status—Yet Retired Americans Get $39?

If you've been following Oregon’s latest policy changes, you may have heard about Senate Bill 611, which expands food stamp eligibility to immigrants regardless of their legal status. According to Oregon Catalyst, this means that non-citizens—who may not have contributed to the system in the same way as tax-paying residents—could now receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Now, here’s where it gets frustrating: As a retired American, we qualify for only $39 in food stamps.

Where’s the Fairness?

We worked, paid taxes, and contributed to society for decades. Yet when retirement comes, the system we helped fund seems to turn its back on us. Meanwhile, lawmakers are opening up benefits to people who haven’t necessarily put into the system in the same way. How is this fair to retirees living on fixed incomes?

• The cost of food is skyrocketing.
• Rent and utilities are eating away at Social Security checks.
• Medical expenses don’t get any cheaper as we age.

Yet, somehow, the government thinks that $39 a month is enough for a retiree to survive? That won’t even cover a single trip to the grocery store.

A Pattern of Priorities?

This isn’t just about immigration—it’s about the constant prioritization of new programs over helping the people already here who need it. Time and time again, we see funding go toward expanding benefits for non-citizens, special interest groups, or administrative bloat, while those who spent their lives working get table scraps.

Why is it that politicians will bend over backward to create new entitlements for others while barely maintaining support for the very people who built this country?

Should We Just Stay Silent?

This is exactly why I’m considering reviving my blog—because Facebook isn’t the best place for real discussions anymore. There’s too much censorship, too many algorithms controlling what people see, and too little real conversation.

So here’s my question to you: Should I start writing again outside of Facebook? Would you read, share, and help bring attention to issues like this?

Because I don’t know about you, but I’m getting real tired of being told to "tighten my belt" while politicians hand out benefits like candy to everyone but the people who worked for them.

Debunking Dictatorship Fears: Understanding the Constitution and Presidential Power

Yesterday, June 28th, on the steps of the courthouse, Robert De Niro used a scare tactic, claiming that if Trump were re-elected, he would never leave office and would become a dictator.

It's interesting how people skew their words. Trump once mentioned that if he were elected again, he would be a "dictator for a day" as a metaphor for swiftly reinstating some of his policies and gaining control of the border. However, people have misconstrued this term to mean he intended to become a permanent dictator, just as they misinterpreted his statement about immigrants being "animals."

Robert De Niro's comment about Trump becoming a dictator is concerning, but under the Constitution, it's not feasible. The 20th Amendment ensures the president's term ends at noon on January 20th. If a president refused to leave, enforcement agencies, including the Secret Service, would ensure a peaceful transition of power. Additionally, our Constitution makes establishing a dictatorship nearly impossible. Martial law, an extreme measure, could only be declared under severe national emergencies and is heavily regulated with checks and balances to prevent abuse of power.

Unfortunately, people suffering from severe Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) might actually believe this rhetoric.

In my opinion, whether you like Donald Trump or Joe Biden is your choice. Just be smart, review each candidate, and don't blindly vote for your party.

No on 20-351 road repair bond messure

 No on 20-351 road repair bond messure

Springfield's roads have long had a reputation for being in poor condition, and recent efforts have aimed to address this issue. Now, we're faced with voting on bond measure 20-351, which proposes to fix some of these roads. Supporters argue that the measure would levy a bond of 74 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value, roughly totaling $135 per year ($11.35 per month).

While I acknowledge the pressing need for road repairs—especially considering the costly damages potholes can inflict, such as the $500 repair bill I recently incurred—I'm also grappling with the reality of ever-increasing property taxes. Each year, it becomes more challenging to meet these financial obligations.

Regrettably, after careful consideration, I've decided to vote against this measure. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the matter

**Oregon's New Generator Regulations: A Costly Burden for Consumers in Crisis Times**

🔴 **Oregon and Federal Regulations: A Double Whammy on Generator Access!** 🌩️

In a bid to curb emissions and enhance safety, Oregon’s Senate Bill 525 alongside the CPSC's new proposed rules for portable generators are poised to reshape the landscape of emergency power supply, but at what cost to consumers? Starting January 1, 2026, Oregon will ban the sale of new gas-powered small nonroad engines, including many portable generators, pushing consumers towards more expensive zero-emission alternatives. Concurrently, the CPSC is mandating that all portable generators must include carbon monoxide detection and automatic shutoff features to combat poisoning incidents.

While these measures aim to improve air quality and safety, they introduce a significant financial burden and reduce the availability of affordable and reliable emergency power solutions. This is particularly concerning for areas like Lane County, where residents recently suffered through a freezing spell with power outages lasting more than a week. The new rules could leave many without access to cost-effective generators, forcing them to invest in high-priced alternatives that may not offer the same reliability and ease of use during prolonged power outages.

**Adding Insult to Injury: Overprotection or Overreach?**

Despite warning labels and common sense, there have been tragic incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning from misuse of generators, such as running them indoors or using charcoal grills for heat inside homes. These are clear violations of safety guidelines, yet the CPSC cites these as reasons for stringent new regulations. It seems like another case of the government trying to protect us from ourselves. But as comedian Ron White famously quipped, "You can't fix stupid." These measures, however costly and restrictive, may not prevent reckless decisions but will definitely limit options for sensible consumers who know how to use their equipment safely.

**What Does This Mean for You?**

Expect to see a sharp decrease in the availability of traditional gas-powered generators and a significant increase in the cost of compliant models. For many, especially those in regions prone to power outages and severe weather, the financial impact of these regulations could be severe, limiting access to essential emergency power sources when they are most needed. As Oregon and the federal government push for cleaner and safer technology, they also risk leaving vulnerable populations in the cold—literally and figuratively—without reliable power during critical times.---

This category includes a wide range of equipment commonly used in residential and commercial settings, such as:

• Lawn mowers
• Chainsaws
• Leaf blowers
• Portable generators
• Other similar equipment powered by small engines

Source:

https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/Commissioner/Richard-Trumka/Statement/CPSCs-Groundbreaking-Proposed-Rule-for-Portable-Generators-will-Save-Thousands-of-Lives-and-will-Save-1B-a-Year-in-Costs

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/SB525

9 Roundabouts on Main Street in Springfield

For some that are not aware or just finding out, the city of Springfield is planning on installing 9 roundabouts (yes you heard correctly) between 42nd Street to 72nd.

Why?

"Traffic on Main Street will likely go up by 20-30% over the next 20 years and the risks from crashes will increase… unless we act now to plan changes that will save lives, reduce injuries, and lessen property damage." - Main Street Project

Do roundabouts work?

Actually yes. (Yeah, some do)

But will they work or are they even practical for Main Street?

The answer is NO!

So why 9 roundabouts on Main Street?

The claim: "• There is a serious transportation safety problem on Main Street. Springfield’s Main Street is consistently ranked as one of the most unsafe city streets in Oregon based on the severity and frequency of traffic crashes."(page 47) Springfield Main Street Facility Plan Vol. 1

"653 crashes between 2012-2016, 24 severe crashes and the loss of 6 lives… Only 3% of all crashes involve pedestrians… Intersections with the highest number of crashes, 42nd Street, Bob Straub, 58th Street, and 28th Street." - Main Street Safety Project

Roundabouts -  they're safer, they save lives, they're more efficient, better for the environment.

(Personally, I think the engineers are the same engineers that design the NASCAR raceways. "What's he going to do next? He's going to make a left turn.")

Are they really safer? Well, if you're using a computer simulation to make that determination then it might look that way. But in reality, when you are working with people… Let's just say that not everybody stops at a stop sign.

"You can't fix stupid!" – Ron White

In my opinion, depending on the intersection and the traffic congestion, I feel roundabouts are more dangerous especially when you add pedestrians and bicycles to the mix.

First, keep in mind that "technically" a roundabout is an uncontrolled intersection.

let's take Harlow Road and Pioneer Parkway during rush hour as an example. 

You have two lanes of traffic coming in from each direction. You are forced to stop before entering the roundabout and your main focus is to the left looking for a break in the traffic. Suddenly, one opens up and you prepare to enter the roundabout then out of the corner of your eye, you find that there is a pedestrian to the right of you that entered the roadway WITHOUT using the provided signal devices. (More on those signal devices later)

The car behind you, seeing that you've already started your move, has one eye on you however, their main focus is now on the roundabout and not noticing that you just slammed on your brakes.

If you think Harlow Road and Pioneer Parkway are fun, think about 42nd Street & 126th at Main street during rush hour.

"You need to pay more attention" no argument there, however, you have to take into consideration the different skill levels of drivers and that's why traffic lights are better on high-traffic multiple-lane intersections.

Main street Safety project 

"Springfield’s Main Street is consistently ranked as one of the most unsafe city streets in Oregon based on the severity and frequency of traffic crashes. Over the past several years, the crash frequency on Main Street has been more than double the statewide average for urban arterial state highways. During the five-year studied period between 2012 and 2016 that was analyzed, there were 653 recorded crashes"  (page 31) Springfield Main Street plan https://tinyurl.com/2p965juc 

"The majority of the crashes along the corridor were rear-ended or turning crashes (80%)" (Page 32)

 "79% of all crashes between 2012-2016, 305 rear end – 211 turning – 33 fixed object – 26 sideswipe – 20 pedestrian – 16 Angle – 7 backing – 6 miscellaneous – 3 Sideswipe (meeting)  (page 32)

The fixed object could be items or islands within the turning lane. Example: having to stop short to get into the turn lane to make a left turn. Or, islands that are not highly visible at night during heavy rains.

• Impairment from drugs or alcohol contributed to only five percent of overall crashes on Main Street but accounted for 12.5 percent of fatal or severe injury crashes. 

• Excessive speed and distraction contributed to approximately 10 percent of all crashes but were involved in a small proportion of fatal and severe injury crashes (less than half a percent).

 • Approximately 77 percent of crashes occurred during daylight and just 14 percent occurred in darkness. This reflects typical travel patterns throughout the day – more people are driving, biking, and walking on Main Street during daylight hours– (Page 33)

"Since 2012, the city and ODOT Installed seven enhanced pedestrian crossings with marked crosswalks and medium islands according to recommendations in 2011 Main Street's safety study. The new crosswalks have increased pedestrian access to see for crossing opportunities" – (page 38)

 "safer crossing opportunities" if used properly. However, (Speculation on my part) with the installation of these islands and the "suddenly turned on flashing yellow lights" may be a major contribution to the increase in rear-end crashes as drivers are suddenly stopping for these crosswalks.  In my opinion, that would be like going eastbound on Seventh Street and there is a pedestrian waiting at the corner to cross the street and by law, you are required to stop to allow the pedestrian to cross. However, traffic and other lanes behind you are not expecting you to stop suddenly in the center lane of a non-controlled intersection.

So be on the argument of the efficiency of roundabouts, my argument for not adding any roundabouts on Main Street is that you're going to create more problems than what you're going to try to solve. Even the data that Springfield & ODOT is claiming of why MainStreet is so dangerous does not actually address the issue.

The end result, especially during the morning and evening rush hours, you're going to be backing up traffic for blocks.

One short example would be over by Thurston high school, when the school lets out and there's a lot of foot traffic on the crosswalk behind the 7-Eleven store, traffic has been known to backup all the way on the main street and beyond Walgreens.

And yes, they want to put a roundabout there as well.

Let's talk about roundabouts.

"Roundabouts "may" improve the safety of intersections by eliminating or altering conflict types, by reducing speed differentials at intersections, and by forcing drivers to decrease speeds as they proceed into and through the intersection.... In particular, single-lane roundabouts have been found

to perform better than two-way stop-controlled (TWSC) intersections in the U.S...Although the frequency of reported crashes is not always lower at roundabouts, the reduced injury rates are usually reported... Safety is better at small and medium capacity roundabouts than at large or multilane roundabouts.." - (US Department of Transportation page 103)

The US Department of Transportation refers to these as two different types of conflicts.

• "Queuing conflicts. These conflicts are caused by a vehicle running into the back of a vehicle queue on an approach. These types of conflicts can occur at the back of a through-movement queue or where left-turning vehicles are queued waiting for gaps. These conflicts are typically the least severe of all conflicts because the collisions involve the most protected parts of the vehicle and the relative speed difference between vehicles is less than in other conflicts."

• "Merge and diverge conflicts. These conflicts are caused by the joining or separating of two traffic streams. The most common types of crashes due to merge

conflicts are sideswipes and rear-end crashes. Merge conflicts can be more severe than diverge conflicts due to the more likely possibility of collisions to the side of the vehicle, which is typically less protected than the front and rear of the vehicle." -(US Department of Transportation page 106)

. Graphical depiction of collision types at roundabouts

Source – US Department of Transportation page 115

Conclusion – there are arguments both pro and con. For Main Street? Bad idea.

And we haven't even touched on what it's going to do to the businesses on Main Street. Some are going to lose some of their parking lots, a few others are going to lose their business altogether.

For more information...

 ODOTS TDS - crash reports start page https://tvc.odot.state.or.us/tvc/default.aspx

What is old, is new again

Robin's commentary –

It's been a long time since I posted to this blog and trust me, I miss really doing it and now in 2020  the world has literally been turned upside down, I think it's past time to start blogging again especially since we cannot rely on the traditional news sources and alternatives venues such as Facebook, YouTube and others, as they're being highly censored and preventing people from expressing their views and opinions freely.

Post something that is not politically correct or an opinion that may disagree with the accepted view, and your channel may be de-monetized or deleted.

What I'm leading up to, is a way that we blindly swallow whatever the government feeds us. Months ago, COVID-19 came into our lives and we shut down America because we did not know the dangers of the virus which actually made sense as a precaution however, we have learned a lot since then.

Despite the deaths from the virus, many businesses did not survive the shutdown and people were on edge from being locked in their homes and not knowing when or if they could go back to work.

We relied on our government, WHO, the CDC, and other "educated" officials to guide us through this pandemic. Unfortunately, as we have seen that some governors, including our own Kate Brown, has used this to seize an opportunity for control. 

"SQUIRREL!!"

Nancy Pelosi unveils 1400 page stimulus bill…(Politico) this includes rules for airlines to cut their carbon emissions by 2050, saving the Postal Service, small increase for the Pentagon, and more that really has nothing directly to do with the coronavirus.

Opinion: How can I take the virus seriously if our leaders don't?

As of July 1, 2020 governor Kate Brown ORDERED statewide the wearing of mask or face coverings in public businesses. (source) 

“If too many Oregonians continue to ignore these precautions, we could see an exponential growth in cases, and newly reopened communities and businesses could close again. ..."(source)

(Masses gathering by the thousands don't count)

Obviously, businesses were already teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and permanent closure and may not survive another closure including individuals who are out of work, have not received money from unemployment, and whose savings were exhausted.

Newsflash: Governors of several states in order to force social distancing are now requiring citizens to wear a tutu when visiting public locations, violators of this new ordinance are considered a misdemeanor violation with fines up to $1000 which may include up to sixty days in jail.

Source:Cliparts.co/2343524

 

Obviously, that is not yet a requirement however we have seen images where people have been wearing water weenies on their hats.

The point is that the governor or federal government could actually order this and we have no choice but to comply.

Hopefully, we are at least allowed to select our own colors.

Lane County's vehicle registration fee – crashed

Robin's commentary – Register Guard

Well despite the threats of layoffs, voters have voted 66% against the measure to enacting additional $35 registration fee in order for 40% of it to go to fixing the roads in Lane County.

According to the article, strong opposition came as residents complained that the fee was an unfair penalty on passenger car and small truck owners.

"That perception of unfairness may have tipped the scale against the fee, said Steve Candee, an Lane County College political science instructor who studies local politics... We seen in the past that people are not completely adverse to paying for services that they believe have value…"

BULL SHIT!!!!

It's not that people don't care about our roads in the community, after comments after comments after comments have shown that that for one, [especially people who have lived in the area for the last 10-15 years] that the city of Eugene and Lane County does not exactly have exemplary record of trust with the money that we've given them and we ourselves are hurting for money.

Our expenses are going up as well like increases in our utilities and other fees.

In addition, even though this is not related to this particular issue, I'm just speaking in my own opinion, on one hand when they need money, we hear them threaten fire, police and other essential services while on the other hand [perception] they always seem to come up with money for other nonessential projects such as the millions of dollars for the EmX project just to name one.

One response made by a Lane County Commissioner regarding my example using the EmX project is, [are you ready for this folks?]

"The EmX uses federal dollars!!"

Moreover, where do you think that money came from?

Anyway, I'm sure with the failure of this vehicle registration fee that they will be pushing other fees such as the State of Oregon's per mile fee, which has been approved by the way as an additional means to raise money.

And I love this comment from Lane County Commissioner Pat Farr

"Clearly, at two to one (opposed to the fee), It was something that was ill-fated. If it had been a close vote, we would have said, 'what did we do wrong?' But in a distant vote like this, it's an opportunity for or us to step back and say, 'what's wrong with this approach and how can we regroup?'"

Obviously… He just does not get it.

What are your thoughts on this?

Hillary and Obama ticket?

Robin's commentary –

It is scary enough that Hillary Clinton has the audacity to think that she is a bona fide candidate for the presidency of course, counting on her loyalists to the Democratic Party… But this headline brought shivers to my spine.

Hillary Clinton with Barack Obama as her running mate.

{Hat tip The new Republic}

"The challenge, then, is to make sure Clinton’s age and ethnicity don’t discourage Obama’s youthful, diverse supporters from turning out in November 2016. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to make sure that doesn’t happen. Clinton simply has to select Barack Obama as her running mate."

Even if they were actually thinking about doing this, the question comes into play about whether it the Constitution would allow Obama to run as he would become successor to the presidency.

According to the article, they explain this that the Constitution says that a person cannot "run or be elected" to office however, as they point out in the case of Hillary Clinton and her husband Bill,The Constitution does not prohibit Obama from being elected to a third term.

According to Wikipedia, According to the 22nd amendment which was ratified in 1951, "no president may serve more than two terms plus a maximum of two years acceded as president under some other presidents term…"

Franklin D Roosevelt served three full terms and a brief fourth term which included two months 24 days.

I really hope that in 2016 the people wake-up and don't fall for the "Obama phone" type of rhetoric as Hillary has already started spewing that she's for family, higher wages, etc.

In my opinion, this upcoming election is more important and any other election that we've had in our recent history.

Blind leading the Blind

Robin;'s commentary--

I had a very interesting conversation today on Facebook which is kind of worries some in a lot of respects of how people just blindly follow party lines and it doesn't really matter who the candidate is, they will vote for them.

The same is true with people who still feel that Obama is the best thing since sliced bread however when asked to clarify and backup their statement… They cannot.

Take Obamacare for example.

Being somebody who actually looked at the bill, I have been saying ever since its inception about the penalties if you do not have "qualifying" healthcare you will pay a fine.

You would think that alone would get people upset. However, there was nothing but silence.

We don't think of anything like Nancy Pelosi saying, "You have to pass the bill to know what's in it…"

Now, as many tax preparers such as H&R Block are informing people how much their penalties would be if they did not have insurance, we are starting to read stories that people were unaware that there was a penalty.

As I've been saying from the onset… Wait tell 2016 when Obamacare goes into full effect and your fines will be anywhere from $2100 or 2.1% of your income.

If you don't believe me… Go read the bill.

So today, Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy for the president of the United States.

Why is this a bad idea?

The first thing that comes to mind and we can thank President Obama for sending race relations back a generation or two about racism.

While I will admit that in 2008, I was very excited about having somebody different than the old school become president, I can't help but the once bitten twice shy that if we elect our first female president that sexism will become the new racism.

Is that fair to her to think that way? No! It is not.

I for one would not have a problem with a woman president such as Sarah Palin who given the choice I would vote for over Hillary any day.

But as I said, once bitten twice shy and any woman candidate would have to come out and specify wholeheartedly that sexism is not going to be an excuse.

If there's one thing, that president Obama has shown us is just how out of control our government actually is and how they had gotten involved in issues that should not even concerned the White House.

Trey von Martin and Ferguson are two examples of local issues that never would've made national news or given much attention until the White House came out and make a big deal about it.

"If I had a son…"

An appropriate for president and the attorney general.

Yet, people still blindly support Obama and are afraid to comment against them for fear of being called a racist even though his policies are wrong and damaging.

Let me cite Obamacare again as an example.

According to the Constitution… Only Congress can enact a tax.

Originally, Obamacare had a fine. It was the courts that change that fine to a tax.

Being forced to purchase a commodity was not something that the framers of the Constitution had in mind. Moreover, where does this stop?

Bottom line folks… It's time to look beyond party lines and look at the individual.

Moreover, demand that our elected representatives follow the Constitution and not be above the law.

ARUGGGGGGG!

I can't believe they're at it again!

How may times have we heard that they don't have the money for necessities such as road repair however they always seem to find money for other pet projects? [registerguard]

Using the latest EMX development as an example… And don't give me this that the funds are allocated for this, its city expenditures, or whatever excuse you want to give me because it still OUR money in the long run.

So, as the county claims that they are feeling their financial struggles along with the rest of us, they feel that once again that were wealthy enough that we can afford an extra $35 a year to register our vehicles.

Of course the question is… Is that on top of the already in my opinion outrageous registration fee?

Of course Lane County says that the money will be earmarked basically to repair roads and bridges and not to go towards new roads however, the other 12 cities located within Lane County would be able to split 40% of the revenue without such restrictions.

The Lane commissioners agreed to defer their decision to the May ballot and you can let the commissioners knowing the meantime if you are for or against it by going to the "engage Lane County.org" website

I am very interested in how you feel about this as well.

doing a reboot [again]

There is a lot going on in the news both locally and nationally and I've been biting at the bit to comment on it however, time is always been an issue.

That would change is coming on, including changes with the Internet radio station, KRBN, should soon be getting back into the saddle.

So stay tuned, keep checking back, new stuff coming… I promise.

Bringing Back the Blog

Wow, it has been a while since I have done any blogging and believe me, with everything going on in the world and locally and as usual I have a lot to say about it unfortunately, time restraints have prevented me from properly maintaining this blog.

Times have changed and jobs have changed but things are getting better where my goal is to get all the little stuff wrapped up and to start anew in 2015.

In the meantime, I will be doing some posts on here as events occur and more heavily next year.

So please add this site to your bookmarks as I look forward to once again doing commentaries and reading your views as well.

See you soon.

another US invasion?

Robin's commentary --

According to the dictionary, an invasion in which large parts of armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively in terms of territory controlled by another  generally with the objective of either conquering or reestablishing control or authority over territory forcing the partition of the country, altering the establishment government or gaining concessions of said government.

now admittedly a mob of 150 alone may in itself not construed as an invasion from another country however, this is just only one instance and they are anticipating more occurrences such as this one on Sunday as there is more talks of immigration reform.

hat tip -TownHall.com 

articles of impeachment to be introduced...

Robin's commentary --

Politico --

When I saw the headlines about impeachment, I got excited thinking that the Republicans are finally going to follow through as threatened to impeach Obama.

Well according to political and other replicable news services such as Reuters, yes, papers of impeachment are going to be filed...

On Attorney General Eric Holder.

HUH???

Okay,

I'm confused!

One of the reasons that is cited for the House of Representatives plan to introduce articles of impeachment against Eric Holder is because they said that he lied to Congress as well as fail to uphold federal law.

Are we sure were not talk about Obama?

Texas representative Pete Olson who drafted the articles said, "this is not a decision that I made lightly.  Since the House voted in 2012 to hold Eric Holder in contempt, that pattern of disregard for the rule of law and refusal to be forthright has only continued."

Are you sure were not talk about Obama?

"The American people deserve answers and accountability" said Olson

uh... again... Obama?

Reasons outlined are  "Operation Fast and Furious", Holders decision not to enforce laws on same-sex marriage, on prison sentences for certain drugs crimes and lying to Congress about a Justice Department investigation onto Fox news correspondent James Rosen.

But, what about Obama?

Obama, openly admitting that the Constitution gets in his way and if Congress won't act he will.

Failing to negotiate on Obamacare has devastated thousands of Americans placing some in life's jeopardy because of his failed promise that "if you like your insurance... you can keep it."

And how the "big mouth in the White House" has dramatically ruined several people's lives by commenting on a local crime which was totally inappropriate and I'm referring to the Zimmerman case.

and I could fill up several pages of examples of where he broke the law, violated the Constitution, etc.

But then I see this video as Oprah Winfrey in an interview with the BBC clears it all up for me and explains that Americans are all just racist and that's why we're constantly picking on the president.

Silly me...

yes, a whole bunch of racist Americans elected Obama twice.

I guess we better turn our attention from Obama to Eric Holder as we should all be ashamed for putting down our president.

BUT WAIT...

ERIC HOLDER IS ALSO BLACK...

SIGH!!!

Insert MC Hammer song, "can't touch that"

can't stop Americans when they've had enough

Robin's commentary --

For whatever reason, presumably for uttering the words "God bless America" shut down the Facebook page that I've been following "truckers to shut down America" as a strike scheduled for October 10th through 13th not only to petition the government for issues facing truck driver that also to make the point about the corruption in government such as Obamacare and other government officials failing to acknowledge the Constitution.

One of the things that Americans are good for is coming together in a time of need and Facebook's decision [insert conspiracy here] isn't stopping anything as other Facebook pages are starting to crop up including individual websites.

Citizens in support of the Washington trucker convoy

Canadian truckers to shut down

Just to name a couple

the organizers released this press release...

"on Tuesday February 24, it was publicly announced on The Pete Santilli Show that radio talk show host Pete Santilli; an employee rights advocate and former lead plaintiff in a $2 million class-action lawsuit against Coca-Cola intended to file a class-action against Facebook.Pete Santilli has also indicated that he intends to take legal action against You Tube and twitter on behalf of all truckers, their supporters, as well as all other members of the public who are similarly harmed by these unconstitutional "community standards."

as of this release, despite numerous attempts to appeal Facebook's decision to reinstate the Truckers to Shut down America page, the page remains unpublished.  86,000 supporters as well as over 4 million citizens have been cut off from freely receiving information about this event and expressing themselves." ride for the constitution.org

 in the meantime, in addition to this being the first day of the Obamacare exchanges, it is also the first day of the limited shutdown of the government.

As usual, public services such as museums, national Parks another stuff that is supposed to directly impact the American people have been closed.

They're playing the same game as usual and hopefully this time people won't buy it.

It will be definitely interesting on how this all plays out as "we the people" are starting to say...

We've had enough,

We want you to read the bill...

And NO Nancy Pelosi, you don't have to pass the bill to know what's in it.

Facebook shuts down website over "God bless America" comment

Robin's Commentary --

As predicted, when "Truckers to Shut down America" on October 11-13 went ballistic literally gaining over 80,000 "likes" in under a week and gaining support both in Canada and Germany as well as the group, "Overpasses for Impeachment of Obama", suddenly disappeared from existence when Facebook "banned" the site for using "God bless America" at least so they claim.

every reference on every Facebook page to the site was removed just like this site never existed.

Zeeda Andrews, created a second site "ride for the constitution.org" in order to continue the effort and also is where she tells her story about what's happening.

In addition, she can also be heard on the Internet radio Pete Santilli Show courtesy of guerrilla media network.

So the question remains did Facebook take down the page simply because of somebody using the phrase "God bless America" or was it for something else?

It'll be interesting as we see this unfold and also if anything really does happen October 11-13.

But like I've said when this site came to my attention, as fast as it is growing it won't be long that major media picks it up [which has happened] and hopefully will send a message that the people [peasants] are not happy.

next, we need to find somebody in Washington who really cares.

TRUCKERS TO SHUT DOWN AMERICA October 11-13, 2013

Robin's commentary --



It's really interesting that literally three days ago this website was brought to my attention Truckers to Shut down America since then as of this writing, has grown over 63,000 "likes" on Facebook literally within days and to top that off, Canada has just recently decided to join in to the effort and support Americans, with their website Canadians Truckers to Shut down.

Now before you start thinking that this is just a trucker deal or that the truckers are being selfish and that it's going to cost American businesses money, I wanted to discuss for a moment what the whole purpose of this strike is.

From their website... .

"The American people are sick and tired of the corruption that is destroying America! We therefore declare a GENERAL STRIKE on the weekend of October 11-13, 2013! Truck drivers will not haul freight! Americans can strike in solidarity with truck drivers!"

nobody would dispute that truckers were having a hard time making a living especially the owner operators with all the new regulations, license fees, permits and other fees and a lot of times they barely make their enough money to pay themselves and now you got to put a mandated insurance policy on them thanks to Obamacare.

But as I said on the onset, it's not just about trucks.

The strike is to send a message just like the recent rally known as the "Two Million Bikers" on 9/11 who rode across country into Washington, DC..

Other groups have formed in addition to the Tea Party such as Overpasses.org, Impeach Obama websites and others as Americans are getting fed up with our government and the fact that they are not listening to us anymore.

People are starting to speak up.

Recently with Syria, our representatives were receiving phone calls on an average of 500-1 against going to war.

Not only was the president embarrassed by claiming that he had a red line on Syria regarding chemical weapons and then denied it stating that it was something that the [evil] Republicans or the media drummed up.

Russian President Putin was surprisingly one of doing more to demand peace than our president.

if you have a Facebook account, go to the "truckers to shut down America" website and "like" them and spread the word.

Even if you're not a truck driver, or if you are and you cannot join the strike, you can still support the cause. Remember as the preamble says, "We the People..

Biggest Marijuana Bust in Lane County

KEZI-

3000 plants were found in the Willamette national Forest near Westfir making it one of the biggest marijuana busts it over 15 years estimating to be worth over $30 million.

16 people were arrested and lodged in Lane County Jail on federal drug charges.

"We determined that there were several thousand plants in three separate areas and today we went in and removed all of the marijuana from all three ends," said Sergeant Steve French Lane County Sheriff's office spokesman.

..."Multiple suspects have multiple deportations from the United States back to Mexico,” French said."

Which is a federal crime, not a misdemeanor which really doesn't mean anything anymore.

The sheriff office is trying to figure out if these people have ties to the Mexican drug cartels.

in unrelated news,

The Washington Times -- Obama Adds to the List of the Illegal Immigrants Not to Deport: Parents

You can come up with your own conclusions.

A Little Glimmer of Hope

Robin's Commentary --

The Constitution of the United States... what is it and why should we care?

I mean have you really given it any thought.

I'll be honest with you... most of my life I really have not. It's a document that I've heard of and we talked about it briefly in school [at least from what I can remember] but it's something that's always been there and taken for granted.

Moreover, until I opened up this blog, I really didn't give too much thought about the Constitution and politics. True, just as a lot of people I bitch and moan about taxes and stupid laws that directly affect me but as for the Constitution and the federal government... never really gave it much thought.

UNTIL THIS ADMINISTRATION!

This is when I really started reading the Constitution and tried to understand it better especially under this administration when we hear the president stating, "if Congress won't do it, then I will."

The Constitution, being the law of the land was something that I thought was written in stone. Then I got to thinking about what happens when the people who enforce the law... don't.

We rely on the Supreme Court and Congress to enforce the Constitution but apparently, that system is starting to break down when the people that enforce the Constitution no longer believe in it. I cite an example in 2008 when Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsberg told an Egyptian TV station that she would not recommend the U.S. Constitution as a model for Egypt's new government.

"the problem, you see, is that the U.S. Constitution is a rather old Constitution..." " The Heritage Network"

Nevertheless, we as a society have gotten to the point beyond what President Kennedy has said, "ask not what your country can do for you, but would you can do for your country." Those words did not have that much meaning until you start hearing people crying, "I'm going to vote for Obama because he gave me a free phone."

The Democrats for example are hoping to gain more votes because they feel they can't stand on their own legs so they have to offer amnesty to an approximately 11 million + illegal immigrants who illegally cross international borders for their own personal gain.

I recall a coworker of mine when we were discussing the upcoming Memorial Day holiday who asked me, what is it and why should I care?"

We have represented John Conyers “I love these members, they get up and say, ‘Read the bill, What good is reading the bill if it’s a thousand pages and you don’t have two days and two lawyers to find out what it means after you read the bill?” referring to Obama care which in my opinion is going to bankrupt America after goes into full implementation in 2016.

[Mr Conyers, if you didn't read the damn thing... then don't vote for it!]

Nancy Pelosi commenting that "you have to pass a law to know what's in it..."

If this were a Saturday night sitcom, it would be funny.

However, these are people that actually have a great influence over the policies that affect every person within the United States and these are just obvious examples.

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and others constantly use the phrase, "the people of the United States wants..." insert agenda.

I'm referring to Harry Reid's recent comment regarding Republican filibustering.

How many people know what filibustering is? I didn't, I had to look it up.

It can seem rather hopeless at times doesn't it?

While I am very proud to say that I've gained a little hope recently when I had the pleasure to meet one-on-one for coffee with a candidate for Senate for the State of Oregon Ms. Jo Rae Perkins.

I've had the pleasure of having numerous conversations with her online and after I've had the opportunity to meet with her in person, unlike other candidates that I have had the pleasure of meeting, I truly feel that she is real and that she honestly believes in the Constitution and for what America stands for.

I'm hoping to get her on the radio program one of these days for an interview.

It's going to be a tough journey for her but we need to elect candidates and replace candidates who do not believe in the Constitution first.

Too many people have gone into office and have come out millionaires.

That's not why we send these people to Washington. We send them there to do a job, READ THE BILL, and to defend the Constitution. These words, "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States, and to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

These are not just words without meaning.

The office of the President or any other high-ranking official is not there for his or her own personal gain or forum.

Disrespecting the office by commenting on local cases such as the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case is just one example.

Being in high office does not make you a rock star Mr. President.

It's time for change and it's time for America to pull their head out of their ass and insist and get involved that our elected officials [Representatives] do what we hired them to do.

Until then, one day you will wake up from a little bubble wrap society box as you're standing in line for your mandatory implant [don't think it can't happen, the technology now exists] as you blindly comply and wonder what happened because you were more concerned about America's Most Talented or football.