Report From Washington - March 8, 2013

Editor: William J. Murray

In this issue: Money for Muslim Brotherhood but not for White House tours for kids / State Department award to anti-Semite / The White House and Saudi persecution of Christians / House bill to protect religious liberty in ObamaCare / Senator slams Muslim Brotherhood / Senator grills Eric Holder on social issues / Leftist congressmen mourn dictator Chavez death / Coptic Christians fear US support of Muslim Brotherhood / Imam who says woman deserve rape tries to rape woman / Boko Haram attacks army garrison dung their "cease fire" / 209 schools destroyed by Boko Haram in one state / Blood runs in the streets of Bangladesh so your shirt from Kohl's can be 100% Muslim
The Presidency
Money for Muslim Brotherhood but none for White House tours - Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has his own personal piggy bank for his totalitarian Islamist goals in the Middle East. Thanks to Secretary of State John Kerry and his boss, Barack Obama, Islamist Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood are being showered with $1 billion in aid from the U.S. We get to pay for the destruction of freedom in the Middle East, while kids are barred from the White House tours for "lack of funds." Read more
State Department award to anti-Semite - The Weekly Standard first reported that the First Lady and the Secretary of State would "honor" a woman who said it was "sweet news" when Israelis were killed in a bus bombing. The woman, Egyptian born Samira Ibrahim, has quoted Hitler on Twitts and frequently proclaims the 9-11 jihad attack on the United States as a great day for Islam. Decisions such as this explain why the State Department is referred to as "Foggy Bottom" here in Washington, DC. Read more
The White House and Saudi persecution of Christians - In the last two weeks I have written a column for WND.COM and appeared on radio shows including Mike Huckabee's national show to expose the persecution of African Christians who are guest workers in Saudi Arabia. I have posted stories on Facebook that have had thousands of visits. I placed an online petition asking congressmen to speak out against the Saudi persecution of Christians. That petition can be faxed for free to your congressman if you will sign it. The net result of my two weeks of work is 14 people who have contacted their congressman. I am flat out ashamed at the response and embarrassed to actually show up at a congressman's office claiming I have support from the American Christian community to stop the persecution and torture of Christians in Saudi Arabia. No wonder Barack Obama is so confident of his support for the Muslim Brotherhood and Saudi Arabia.
Congress
Senator grills Holder on social issues - Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) grilled Attorney General Eric Holder on his views about using armed drones to kill Americans on US soil, and on the Obama Administration's refusal to enforce laws that it does not like - rather than upholding all laws passed by Congress. Cruz noted that Holder's DOJ has refused to enforce voter intimidation laws against the New Black Panthers; has chosen not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act; and has chosen to ignore laws involving illegal immigration. Read more
Bill to protect religious freedom in ObamaCare - Congressmen Diane Black (R-TN), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), and John Fleming, M.D. (R-LA) held a press conference to announce the introduction of the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (HCCRA). This legislation would protect Americans' First Amendment rights and would stop the Obama Administration's assault on religious freedom. HCCRA offers a reprieve from ongoing violations of our First Amendment, including full exemption from the Obama Administration's Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate and conscience protection for individuals and health care entities that refuse to provide, pay for, or refer patients to abortion providers because of their deeply-held, reasoned beliefs. HCCRA has 50 original co-sponsors. Read more
Senator slams Muslim Brotherhood - Sen. John Cornyn (R.-TX) condemned Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood on Sunday evening for "trying to create a new Islamic dictatorship" in the Middle East. "The Muslim Brotherhood president in Egypt is trying to create a new Islamic dictatorship," Cornyn said during a speech before thousands of delegates at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's 2013 policy conference. Read more
Facebook.com/ReligiousFreedomCoalition for daily posts!
Religion and Culture
Congressmen and media mourn Chavez - At news of the death of Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, the left-wing mainstream media and a few Democrat allies came out of the woodwork to mourn the human rights violator extraordinaire. Democrat Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY) led the way with a tweet suggesting that Chavez "was a leader that understood the needs of the poor. He was committed to empowering the powerless. R.I.P. Mr. President." Read more
International
Egypt: Coptic Christians fear US support of Morsi - Thanks to Barack Hussein Obama, Coptic Christians in Egypt are being increasingly persecuted and marginalized under the Muslim Brotherhood regime of Mohamed Morsi. The Obama Administration helped oust Hosni Mubarak, which paved the way for the rise of Islamic tyranny in Egypt under Morsi. Read more
Denmark:- Uncovered women deserve rape - Imam Shahid Mehdi declared on TV that women who don't wear hijabs or burkas or who leave the house deserve to be raped. To prove his pint he actually tried to rape a woman in a public park in Copenhagen. Read more
Nigeria - Boko Haram attacks army during their "cease fire" - At least 20 people have been killed in a foiled attack on a military site in Borno state. The attack happened on Sunday in Monguno village in Borno state. Meanwhile Governor Ibrahim Gaidem of Yobe State said that the Boko Haram has destroyed 209 schools in that state.
Bangladesh - Is that blood on your shirt? - Most of those Khol's shirts for men now come from Bangladesh. Check them for Christian and Hindu blood. Acts of violence, especially against Bangladesh's Hindu minority, and strikes (hartal) continue across the country as Jamaat-e-Islami supporters call for reunification with Pakistan, and the creation of a "pure" state, free of its non-Muslim population.Read more
Join me in a fact finding mission to Israel - A once in a lifetime mission led by William J. Murray, William Federer and Frank Gaffney, all three experts on Israel and Islamic affairs. Not a standard "tour," the mission includes visits to settlements and military bases plus evening panels. Limited time for $400 discount! Read more
More from the Religious Freedom Coalition
New Chairman's Report - Now available, the February 28th, 2013 edition of the Religious Freedom Coalition Chairman's Report. In the current issue: In this issue of the Chairman's Report: Former Mayor Edward Koch warns of the dangers of Islam from the grave / Obama Administration vetoes UN resolution against terrorist car bombing / Car bomb kills dozens in Aleppo - Christians at risk /  Saudi religious police arrest African Christians / Obama sees no Saudi evil / Free fax to your congressman on Saudi evil / Congressman Franks works for release of pastor in Iran.
My Life Without God - William J. Murray's first book, My Life Without God, is now back in print as the 30th anniversary of his atheist mother's lawsuit to remove prayer form the schools approaches. Murray writes of his life in the dysfunctional home of infamous atheist/Marxist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair. Learn more
Christian Bookstore and more - books, CD's, DVD's, cards and much more available at the Religious Freedom Coalition Internet Store. Please visit today!

Report From Washington - January 25, 2013

Editor: William J. Murray

In this issue: CIA specialist claims democracy will make Islam moderate / Obama says nothing about deaths in Egypt / House Out but Senate in session to fix "immigration" / Legalizing the illegals / Rush to get Russian girlfriends to US / Educating Sean Hannity on the Koran / Muslim prayers in public schools / Six year old girl sold to pay debts / French liberate women in Mali / Muslim rapist goes free because he was taught women were worthless
The Presidency
CIA specialist: Democracy will make Islam moderate - The featured column in the Wall Street Journal by former CIA Middle East specialist Reuel Marc Gerecht this week was pure establishment boilerplate, and no surprise. His conclusion was simplistic: Democracy diminished religious influence in the West; therefore, creating democracies in Muslim nations will lead to a weakened, moderate form of Islam. This is the kind of "expert" advice that led George W. Bush into disaster in Iraq, and encouraged Barack Obama to usher the Muslim Brotherhood into Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, with an even worse outcome. In a lengthy column at WND, I responded to Gerecht's ludicrous assertions. See my column here
Obama says nothing about deaths in Egypt - in the last days of President Mubarak's secular government, dozens of protesters died in riots. President Obama was quick to ridicule the Egyptian leader and said he had to go. Now that Obama's Muslim Brotherhood buddy, Mohammed Morsi, has declared martial law and the death toll is almost the White House is strangely silent.
Congress
House out, but Senate in - The House is in "District work session" which means they are either back home in their state offices dealing with constituents, or out fund raising for reelection. Harry Reid's Senate is in session in Washington this week working on "immigration reform."
Legalizing the illegals - Senators Harry Reid, John McCain and a couple others have a bipartisan "comprehensive immigration" bill that most Republicans seem ready to accept. The bill has nothing to do with immigration but rather gives legal status to those who are now here illegally. It does nothing to bring well educated, English speaking workers to our nation. However - those needing good nannies or Russian girl friends should fly them in soon, so they will have legal status when the bill is signed into law.
Religion and Culture
Educating Sean Hannity on the Koran- Sean Hannity has gone after Egyptian President Morsi's anti-Semitic comments for several days on Fox News, but never refers to Morsi source material which is the Koran. Dr. Andrew Bostom attempts to educate Hannity in a well referenced column as to the source of the hatred toward Jews - the Koran. Read Bostom's column here.
Muslim prayers in public school library - In Maryland, the Muslim Brotherhood-founded Muslim Student Association is now on high school campuses, performing dawah and spreading sharia. One of their victories, with the help of terror-linked CAIR, is convincing the school to use the library as a mosque for daily prayers. Read more
Christian Bookstore and more - books, CD's, DVD's, cards and much more available at the Religious Freedom Coalition Internet Store. Please visit today!
International
Afghanistan: Six-year-old girl sold to pay debts - This is happening under the watchful eye of our military on a regular basis. (But so does the drug running.) A poor family unable to pay their debts has sold their six-year-old daughter to a relative for marriage to a boy ten years her senior. You will not hear a word about this outrage from the National Organization for Women (NOW) or other liberals because they only bash Christianity, never Islamic traditions. Read more
Liberated women in Mali - Women in Goa, Mali took to the streets to celebrate after French forces liberated the city from the murdering Islamic terrorists who had occupied it. The big question here is will Huffpost and other liberal outlets declare these women "Islamophobic?" Read more
UK: Muslim rapes 13 year old but no jail time because "He didn't know it was wrong" - In the UK being critical of Islam on Facebook will get you arrested and tossed in jail. However, this Muslim rapes a 13-year-old girl and there is no jail time because his "religious education" taught him that "women are worthless." Read more
Join me in a fact finding mission to Israel - A once in a lifetime mission led by William J. Murray, William Federer and Frank Gaffney, all three experts on Israel and Islamic affairs. Not a standard "tour," the mission includes visits to settlements and military bases plus evening panels. Limited time for $400 discount! Read more
More from the Religious Freedom Coalition
New Chairman's Report - Now available, the January 18th, 2013 edition of the Religious Freedom Coalition Chairman's Report. In the current issue: William J. Murray writes on hot tub multiculturalism / Obama's gay inauguration - no evangelicals allowed / Obama sends tanks to the Muslim Brotherhood / More social conservatives in Congress, including two new Senators / Planned Parenthood got $542 million of your tax dollars last year / Al Gore and Rupert Murdoch make big bucks on Jew hating TV networks
My Life Without God - William J. Murray's first book, My Life Without God is now back in print as the 30th anniversary of his atheist mother's lawsuit to remove prayer form the schools approaches. Murray writes of his life in the dysfunctional home of infamous atheist/Marxist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair. Learn more 
Christian Bookstore and more - books, CD's, DVD's, cards and much more available at the Religious Freedom Coalition Internet Store. Please visit today!

Report From Washington - December 21st, 2012

Editor: William J. Murray

In this issue: Obama and the Newtown massacre / A "commission" of violence? / RINO to run Pentagon? / Anti-war activist to take over State Department / Anti-tax king Grover Norquist calls to raise taxes / The AMT is about to bite taxpayers / Churches not preaching about Hell caused Newtown shootings? / CAIR leaders calls for destruction of Israel / Muslims kill nine giving out polio vaccine / Child killer Mohammed Merah a "hero" of Islam / Thai Muslims hunt Buddhist to kill
The Presidency
The President and the Newton massacre - America is a violent society and if you don't believe that just watch the prime time TV shows each evening that depict gruesome murders and masked militarized police invading homes. (My personal favorite was a real-life show in which over twenty heavily armed masked police invaded the three room house of an unarmed obese female shoplifter.) Human bodies are dissected on detective shows as people watch and eat sandwiches. There is virtually no respect for humanity in our national media and the liberals are all more concerned about tadpoles that may go extinct than feeding poor kids. In response President Obama asks "why" the Newtown shootings occurred and appointed a commission to look into the "problem." The problem is obvious: The problem is liberal public schools that teach situational ethics and no moral absolutes. Read William J Murray's column
RINO to run Pentagon? - Barack Hussein Obama, a Muslim Brotherhood sympathizer, is expected to nominate "Republican" former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel to run the Pentagon after Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta leaves. Hagel once advised the Republican Party leadership that it should have a "big tent" policy that avoids social conservative issues. According to Hagel: "The Republican Party "shouldn't be a philosophy about morals." Hagel has supported by a wide range of anti-Israel forces around the world. Among those are radical Islamists who recently appeared on Press TV, Iran's official government television network to praise Hagel. Read more
Senator John Kerry replaces Hillary - President Barack Hussein Obama nominated Sen. John Kerry as his next secretary of state, saying Kerry's entire life "has prepared him for this role." I wonder if getting "prepared" included demonstrations against our armed services during the Vietnam War and tossing the citations he received while serving in the trash?
Congress
The Norquist factor - "Conservative" icon Grover Norquist, who agrees with George Soros on just about everything except taxes, endorsed Speaker John Beohner's plan to raise taxes on those making over $1 million a year. The Boehner tax bill, called Plan B, was pulled from the floor because Democrats didn't think it raised taxes far enough and Tea Party Republicans thought it raised taxes too much. Oddly Norquist just a few days earlier threatened to campaign against Republicans who "violated" his ATR tax pledge which he then violated himself. We are witnessing the self-destruction of a political party that doesn't have a clue as to who voted them into office. Read more
Alternative Minimum Tax - No one is talking on Capitol Hill about the AMT which will increase taxes on the average family by more than $4,000 in 2013. The tax set up in the 19060's to stop the "wealthy" from paying no taxes by using deductions has never been set to adjust for inflation. Because Congress took no action to raise the income trigger in 2012, as it has each year in the past, those earning as little as 33,750 will be forced to pay higher taxes.
Religion and Culture
The Newtown school massacre - The mainstream media immediately blamed guns and mental illness for the attack that killed so many young children. ABC nightly news asserted that 20% of children in the United States are mentally ill and that huge sums of money must be directed to help them. (ABC News stated that 23% of American women and 17% of American men are mentally ill as well.) It is ridiculous to state that one in five American children is mentally ill, but it would be right to state that more than one out of five children has no exposure to Christian teachings or morals and that is the real problem. I wrote a very lengthy column at WND.COM in which I place a lot of the blame on the churches of America for failing to preach the wrath of God and the existence of Hell. I explained the column and my positions on Mike Huckabee's national radio show. Listen to my segment with Huckabee here.
CAIR leader supports destruction of Israel - Cyrus McGoldrick is the Civil Rights Manager and spokesman for the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations or CAIR in New York. At his Facebook page he repeated has used the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," which of course means the destruction of Israel and the death of all the Jews there. During the November missile attacks by HAMAS on Israel he set up a link at a CAIR site to transfer funds to a terrorist organization. Any criticism of his behavior is, of course, Islamophobia. Read more
International
Pakistan: Nine medical workers killed by Taliban - A ninth medical worker was killed during a wave of attacks on polio-vaccination teams. All have died at the hands of the Muslim Taliban since December 17. All have been killed while distributing free polio vaccine drops. Five of the nine health workers killed were women.
France: Victimhood caused Mohammed Merah to kill kids - "Mohammed Merah, you know, he's a hero, he's a martyr of Islam." That is what the cold blooded killing who shot Jewish kids in the face is called in his olde neighborhood. The New York Times investigated the "whys" and discovered it was not Islam but poverty. The liberal mind is just amazing.Read more
Thailand: Muslims hunt down Buddhist to kill - According to the liberal media in the West the only reason Muslims kill Christians and Jews in because of the existence of Israel. Why then are Muslims hunting down and killing Buddhists? Angry they could not find a Buddhist to kill at a government office the Muslims burned it down. Read more
More from the Religious Freedom Coalition
New Chairman's Report - Now available, the December 6th, 2012 edition of the RFC Chairman's Report is now online. In the current issue: A politician who robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the vote of Paul. The new central planning machine in Washington will run over the GOP / Obama has a vision of an American utopia not of equal opportunity, but of centrally planned equal outcomes / Jihadists target Christians in Syria / Saudi Arabia financing war on Syria / Obama's lesbian wedding at West Point / Benjamin Franklin: "When the people find that they can vote themselves money that will herald the end of the republic."
Constitution or Sharia DVD - This is the complete set of DVD's from the November 11, 2011 Constitution or Sharia conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The Constitution or Sharia: Preserving Freedom Conference was the first true national conference on Sharia and the Islamization of America sponsored by major freedom oriented organizations! It was not just another educational conference. How to deal with and stop implementation of Sharia law in the United states was outlined by speakers and in panels. Order today
Books by William J Murray here

Report From Washington - June 29, 2012

ISRAEL FACT FINDING MISSION - A once in a lifetime mission led by William J. Murray, William Federer and Frank Gaffney, all three experts on Israel and Islamic affairs. Not a standard "tour," the mission includes visits to settlements and military bases plus evening panels. Read more

ObamaCare survives and thrives / My newest op-ed on ObamaCare / Congressmen object to Air Force attacks on religion / Prayer Caucus defends legislative prayers / Muslim graffiti at Ground Zero Memorial / Sudan steals more church property in Khartoum and destroys churches / 85% of Pakistanis view USA as enemy / British Muslims a threat to Olympics / Stay away from London!

Read More Below

THE PRESIDENCY 

OBAMACARE SURVIVES AND THRIVES - To the shock and horror of conservatives and the Republican leaders, conservative Chief Justice John Roberts sided with liberals in support of ObamaCare. Even more surprising is that Roberts used a novel approach which gives the Congress the right to tax Americans for failure to purchase a product the government decides they should buy.

MY OP-ED ON THE THE OBAMACARE VICTORY - WND.com was the first news outlet to publish my editorial on the ObamaCare case. Rather than repeat criticisms of the Court decision done by others, I focused on the effect this will have on conservative election strategy, particularly in the light of the conservative Chief Justice handing Obama a victory. Read my editorial at WND.com.

CONGRESS 

CONGRESSMEN OBJECT TO AIR FORCE ATTACKS ON FAITH - Congressman Forbes joined Congresswoman Diane Black and Congressman Todd Akin in sending a letter signed by 66 Members of Congress urging Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to investigate a pattern of hostility towards faith in the United States Air Force. Over the last year, the Air Force has repeatedly capitulated to pressure from outside groups to remove religious symbols and references to faith from the service. According to Congressman Forbes, "When viewed individually, any of these actions is concerning. But taken together, they highlight an alarming pattern in the Air Force that we do not see in the other branches of the military. Those who sacrifice so much for our nation must be assured that they need not leave their faith at home when they volunteer to serve." The letter calls on Secretary Panetta to issue clear Department of Defense policy guidance, consistent with our Constitution, to preserve the place of religious expression in the military at large. Read letter to Panetta
PRAYER CAUCUS DEFENDS LEGISLATIVE PRAYERS- Thirteen Members of the House of Representatives joined an amicus curiae brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in support of legislative prayer. The Lakeland City Commission in Florida had a policy of inviting clergy to offer invocations at the beginning of its meetings. The Atheists of Florida sued, arguing that because most of the prayers were offered by Christian clergy, the prayers were "too sectarian" and thus violated the Establishment Clause. The brief submitted by the Members asserts that courts do not have the jurisdiction to delve into the inner workings of a deliberative body's meetings because of the constitutional separation of powers between the branches of government.

RELIGION AND CULTURE 

MUSLIM GRAFFITI AT WTC MEMORIAL - The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating after the words "Allah Wakbar" were found written on a granite seat at the Sept. 11 memorial. A custodian found the graffiti, written in pink and black marker, on a seat in the plaza and investigators believe someone wrote the words that same day. The area is not in the view of any security cameras which means the Muslims who defaced the Memorial knew where to do so.

MORE FROM THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COALITION

NEW JUNE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT -Now available, the June 21st, 2012 edition of William J. Murray's Chairman's' Report. IN THIS ISSUE: Updated information on the advertising campaign to expose Barack Obama's war against religious freedom. Social conservatives must work to inform Mitt Romney what is expected of him before he wins in November / The message to Romney: "You must undo the damage done to religious freedom by Barack Obama!" More!
CONSTITUTION OR SHARIA CONFERENCE DVD - This is the complete set of DVD's from the November 11, 2011 Constitution or Sharia conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The Constitution or Sharia: Preserving Freedom Conference was the first true national conference on Sharia and the Islamization of America sponsored by major freedom oriented organizations! It was not just another educational conference. How do deal with and stop implementation of Sharia law in the United states was outlined by speakers and in panels. Order today 

INTERNATIONAL 

SUDAN: MORE CHURCHES DESTROYED - Authorities in Khartoum demolished two church buildings last week, days after confiscating three Catholic schools, sources told Compass. Officials from the Ministry of Planning and Housing of the local government authority on June 18 sent bulldozers that destroyed a church building belonging to the St. John Episcopal Church of Sudan, in the Haj Yousif area, an area source reported by email. A Catholic church building in the area was also demolished the same day. Read more
75% of PAKISTANIS HATE AMERICA - Three-in-four Pakistanis consider the United States an enemy country, a new survey conducted by the Washington-based Pew Global Attitudes Project indicates. The Pew survey, which was published on its website on Wednesday, said that last year 69 percent used to hate the US, but in 2012 the figure jumped to 74 percent. The survey also showed an exceptionally low regard for US President Barack Obama among Pakistanis. Read more
BRITISH MUSLIMS THREAT TO OLYMPICS - The BBC released inside information that a security official has suggested the Olympic Stadium would be the "most sensitive terrorist target in the world" with the event due to take place during Ramadan. Read more
LONDON OLYMPICS - Individuals should visit this year's Olympic games only if they have no regard at all for their safety. Jews in particular should stay away. London has never been a particularly safe city except in tourist areas, but now gangs of Muslim men roam the streets raping non-Muslim women and beating homosexuals and other infidels. Stay away!

 

 

 

 

United States: 'Too big to fail'?

By William J. Murray
© 2009

AIG, the largest insurance company in the world has been bailed out by taxpayers three times. Although it was "too big to fail," it failed. General Motors also "too big to fail," went into bankruptcy. The great Merrill Lynch brokerage went belly up, but was saved by the taxpayers and given to Bank of America by the Bush administration. In turn, Bank of America had to be bailed out by taxpayers. Citibank has been bailed out more than once, as have other banks that were "too big to fail."

The Soviet Union is gone. In the 1960s and 1970s, the CIA reported that this massive nation that covered almost one-third of the land area of the world was just "too big to fail." Presidents were told by our security agencies that America would face this daunting enemy for generations. By the 1990s the Soviet Union was in the trash heap of history. A nation "too big to fail" had failed, and had broken apart into numerous smaller states that began battling each other.

History is full of nations and empires that were "too big to fail." The Roman Empire is gone; the Holy Roman Empire is gone; the Byzantine Empire is gone. The great British Empire on which "the sun never set" is now a tiny Island in near bankruptcy.

But don't worry: The United States is "too big to fail."

The United States no longer has a real manufacturing base, and almost 90 percent of the economy is based on consumption, mostly of imported goods. But don't worry, our leaders say that the American consumer society is so big it can't fail. The leadership believes that the Chinese and the Saudi royals will continue to loan us money to consume because our nation and our economy are just "too big to fail." Congress and the president believe that the leaders of rich nations understand they must bail out America from time to time, sort of the way American taxpayers had to bail out AIG, GM, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, Citibank and others.

Denial is not a river in Egypt. Denial is the state in which the American people and the American leadership live. The trillions of dollars the Bush and Obama administrations have spent to "stimulate" the economy have to be paid back from the future income of taxpayers. Translation: Our children and grandchildren are yoked to a huge debt they cannot possibly repay. Far from being too big to fail, the United States has become too big to survive.

The American problem is not just debt, it is the sheer size of the government. The federal government is so involved in so many of the aspects of the everyday life of Americans that it simply cannot keep track of its own activities, or of how much is spent or even how it is actually spent.

I was present in the Soviet Union for the coup and for the Great Collapse. Soviet communism failed because of the size of government. As a nation the Soviet Union simply could not afford to pay all of the accumulated debt, pensions and health care, and also spy on all dissidents and field an army. Despite being an oil rich nation, the Soviet Union collapsed because of central planning and the inability to pay its obligations. Rather than being too big to fail, it was so big it had to fail.

Having witnessed the Soviet failure firsthand, the parallels with the current path of the United States are all too clear. The more the federal government does, the greater its role in our lives, the greater its debt, the higher the taxes, the greater the central planning – the closer we are to failure as a nation-state.

Fortunately the people of the Untied States have a safety net in the individual states. Once our "too big to fail" federal government defaults and fails, the various states will still remain functioning democratic entities. The states will be able to provide the core services needed by the people, including law enforcement and education. When will this happen? Soon enough that state governments should be planning now for the possibility.

First appeared in World Net Daily on August 24, 2009

Also see the article by Carmen M. Reinhart and Vincent Reinhart
http://www.voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/2568