Monday, April 26, 2010

Twenty-Eight Principles of Liberty

Twenty-Eight Principles of Liberty

The following twenty-eight principles of freedom were understood by our country's founding fathers. These principles must be understood and perpetuated by each and every person who desires peace, prosperity, and freedom.

1. The only reliable basis for sound government and just human relations is Natural Law.

2. A free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.

3. The most promising method of securing a virtuous and morally stable people is to elect virtuous leaders.

4. Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained.

5. All things were created by God, therefore upon Him all mankind are equally dependent, and to Him they are equally responsible.

6. All men are created equal.

7. The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.

8. Men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.

9. To protect man's rights, God has revealed certain principles of divine law.

10. The God-given right to govern is vested in the sovereign authority of the whole people.

11. The majority of the people may alter or abolish a government which has become tyrannical.

12. The United States of America shall be a republic.

13. A constitution should be structured to permanently protect the people from the human frailties of their rulers.

14. Life and liberty are secure only so long as the right of property is secure.

15. The highest level of prosperity occurs when there is a free market economy and a minimum of government regulations.

16. The government should be separated intro three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

17. A system of checks and balances should be adopted to prevent the abuse of power.

18. The unalienable rights of the people are most likely to be preserved if the principles of government are set forth in a written constitution.

19. Only limited and carefully defined powers should be delegated to government, all others being retained in the people.

20. Efficiency and dispatch require government to operate according to the will of the majority, the constitutional provisions must be made to protect the rights of the minority.

21. Strong local self-government is the keystone to preserving human freedom.

22. A free people should be governed by law and not by the whims of men.

23. A free society cannot survive as a republic without a broad program of general education.

24. A free people will not survive unless they stay strong.

25. "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations: entangling alliances with none."

26. The core unit which determines the strength of any society is the family; therefore, the government should foster and protect its integrity.

27. The burden of debt is as destructive to freedom as subjugation by conquest.

28. The United States has a manifest destiny to be an example and a blessing to the entire human race.

[Source: Over 150 volumes of the Founding Fathers' writings. The 5000 Year Leap, A Miracle That Changed the World, National Center for Constitutional Studies, 2009]

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Don't Post Personal Info on Facebook or Twitter

Never Say THIS on Facebook or Twitter


The most dangerous thing you can post to your Facebook page or Twitter account is information about where you're going when you are not at home.

By telling the world you are on vacation in the Bahamas, or even just eating at your favorite local restaurant, you're letting potential thieves know that you're not at home.

Financial writers Ken and Daria Dolan warn that how you use Facebook and Twitter can be hazardous to your wealth!

"Burglars are fond of your constant updates," the Dolans told AOL. "Would you stand up in the middle of a crowd of strangers and announce that you're leaving on vacation for three days and then tell everyone your address? Of course not, but that's exactly what you are doing if you share such information online."

They cite the case of an Arizona man who told his 2,000 Twitter followers that he was leaving town. When he returned, he found his home had been burglarized and video equipment, worth thousands of dollars, had been stolen. "Even saying you are running to the mall, going out to dinner...is too much information," the Dolans explained to AOL.

One Web site recently found itself in the news for bringing attention to the problem. The sitepleaserobme.com was designed to show how easy it is for anyone to sift through Twitter updates for a "feed" of people's current locations. The recent buzz caused confusion, because of course the site was not intended to give criminals the keys to your home. But it did achieve its goal of bringing much-needed attention to the potential danger.

Some insurance companies are catching on. Legal & General Insurance in New England says Facebook and Twitter users could be hit with higher homeowner's insurance premiums. Why? All that blabbing about activities away from home means they face a higher risk of burglary.

The company thinks burglars are actually "shopping" for victims on social media sites, looking not only for an indication you're not at home, but also photos of your home and valuables. That cute picture of your son hugging the dog? A burglar is looking in the background, eyeing your big-screen TV and new stereo system.

And it's not just adults. Teenagers are even more likely to post personal information, so Legal & General has warned that parents who aren't even online themselves could face higher homeowner's insurance premiums if their children are online.


Lyle & Sheila's 50th anniversary

Sheila and I just had our 50th wedding anniversary last Saturday, April 17, 2010, at Pusche Ridge Christian Church, in Oro Valley (Tucson), Arizona.

It was a great time for all; especially for us; it gave us the opportunity to visit with many friends -- some local, others from nearby cities and states, and some from our high-school days who traveled great distances to celebrate with us.

I have posted a number of still photos and videos of the event on Lyle B. McCurdy's Facebook page. Feel free to become a Facebook friend and take a look see.