Occupy Harvard

The other evening, Wednesday November 9th, I accidentally witnessed the inception of Occupy Harvard. It started with the gates being on lock down, and a Harvard ID being required to enter the yard at all. Then when I walked into the yard there was a crowd of people in front of the John Harvard Statue. From what they were saying I understood that they were Occupy Harvard, that they would parade around Harvard Yard, and then meet other protesters who were not allowed in the yard (because they did not have ID's) in front of a building outside of the gated in part of campus. I captured this on film then headed off to my Harvard Extension class. Turns out there were hundreds of people gathered that night.

Before deciding whether I was in support or not of this movement I wanted to find out more. So, the next evening, Thursday, I went in the cold rain to see what their intentions are. In the yard in front of the John Harvard statue this time there were tents pitched in addition to a group of people gathering. It turns out I showed up at the exact right time again, right as their General Assembly was beginning, and they were going to talk and come up with exact intentions for their Occupy Harvard movement.

Before having a large group discussion, we broke into smaller groups and discussed specific reasons for the movement. Some people said it was to support the Occupy movement that has spread throughout the country and globe. Another intention was for the Harvard Corporation to have more transparency. Another intention was to bring awareness of the Occupy movement to the Harvard campus. That these are the best and brightest, and are the people to make the changes needed. At this point I had to leave and get to class. I missed them getting back into a large group discussion and deciding collectively what the set intentions would be.

Everyone in my group did agree on this being a peaceful and relatively non-disruptive movement (any protest can not be totally non-disruptive). Mainly, violence and disruption would turn people off to the movement before even hearing what it is all about.

Talking with other people from school, classmates and policemen who are guarding the gates, I have heard mixed opinions about Occupy Harvard. What I have heard is "they don't have any purpose, any goal," or that "they are hypocrites, that they are the 1%". I have also also heard other opinions that this is great, people gathering to make a change on the Harvard campus.

Personally, I would like more clarity when it comes to their specific intentions, and will find out more about this in the days ahead. Though, with that said, it is refreshing to see a group of people gathering together in order to make a change. They see something is wrong in the system in this country, and want to DO something about it. There seems to be way too much apathy going around in this nation. Its about time for people to start marching in the streets (and pitching tents on campus). Maybe people get upset when they see this, and want them to go away, because they want to continue in their apathetic daze. They don't want to take a look at and question the way our country is run.

Its a lot easier to just believe what the media is saying about this Occupy Wall street movement. It is being painted in a very ugly light. They are saying that these are a bunch of dirty, trouble making hippies, who have no set intentions. They they are fragmented, disheveled and won't last long. They are showing only the unsightly images and reporting on unsightly moments.

Its a lot easier to just write them off and pretend their not there and have no purpose, than to open our eyes and realize that their must be something going on here. This movement has spread from Wall Street in New York City, across the country, and across the world. It has literally landed on my path to school. Maybe its time to pay attention and listen up.

Its a lot easier to keep things the way they've always been, rather than take responsibility and do our part in bringing about change. People hate change, even when it's for the better.

To read the official Occupy Harvard Press release click the link below:

Occupy Harvard Press Release

To learn more about the Occupy Wall Street movement click on the link to my blog post below:

"Occupy Wall Street"-First Amendment in Action

Don't Eat the Corn

Genetically Modified Foods (GMO's) have become a growing, mostly undetected, problem in the the American food supply. In almost any processed food that a person pulls off of the shelf there is pretty much a guarantee that some ingredient is genetically modified. What types of ingredients can be found in most foods? Soy and Corn (ie: high fructose corn syrup). What are two of the most common genetically modified foods? Soy and Corn.

Most people consume them blindly because they have no idea what they are eating. There is no law or regulation that makes companies label genetically modified food. The reason for this is because if the food was labeled, people would not eat them.

There are no genetically modified foods in Europe. There is only one reason for this, people took to the street and fiercely protested for GMO foods to be labeled. As a result of the food having to be labeled, nobody ate the and GMO foods are not there.

The problem with GMO foods is that we are playing the role of guinea pigs. Instead of a product being tested on animals, it is being tested on us. In fact, when independent scientists tested the effects of GMO foods on rats, every single rat developed cancer. That scientist was silenced.

To read more about GMO foods read my blog post:

GMO's- what are we eating?

So now, Monsanto, the big GMO company, is taking things a step further. So far people have not been supplied with GMO foods directly. They have consumed them either in processed foods or from eating animals that have eaten GMO corn.

This season GMO sweet corn is being sold right in your local food store. Monsanto came out with the corn and food stores, even Whole Foods, is buying it right up. So, unless it is certified organic, don't eat the corn.

"Occupy Wall Street"- First Amendment in Action

The movement called "Occupy Wall Street" is spreading from New York City to different cities around the country. People are gathering together and exercising their right that was set down by our forefathers.

The First Amendment in the US Constitution reads:

"Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances"


Peaceably assembling they are. This Amendment was not made so people could indulge in idle gossip, it was set down so that when the people of this country see an imbalance of power they have the protected right to peacefully assemble and petition for a change.

The foundation of this movement is the imbalance of wealth in this country. They refer to the "ninety nine percent" and how most of us are on this team. Meaning, that the wealth in this county is held by one percent of the population; and they hold it through a system of greed and corruption. They want changes to be made so that there is a greater possibility of equality.

It seems that right now the movement is in a phase of spreading information. What they need is a plan to put into place a system that will encourage equality.

There needs to be a solid, clear, logical plan to get behind.

This is a perfect case to debate these people's rights under the First Amendment. Protesters ( a group of women who were not acting violently) have been filmed being maced by police officers. Protesters have been arrested. They have been barred off from certain areas. It brings up many questions of what they are able to do. Should they be allowed to march down Wall Street? Should they be arrested for the things they are saying?

Should this movement be stifled and quieted or should it be allowed to grow? (I hope the Constitutional answer to this question is clear)

So far the movement has provoked people to at least question the financial imbalance in this country, and question if there is any possibility to bring about a change. Ideas are being spread and minds are being opened. This is why the First Amendment was created.

Below is a link to the "Occupy Wall Street" movement where you can see how it is progressing and/or would like to contribute to the cause:

https://occupywallst.org/

HLS Event: John Allison on the Financial Crisis: Causes and Consequences

This last Wednesday, September 14th, Harvard Law School hosted an event in which John Allison gave his talk on the U.S. Financial Crisis: Causes and Consequences. He is a retired Chairman and CEO of BB&T Corporation, the 10th largest financial services holding company headquartered in the U.S. To read more about his credentials view the following link:

John Allison

He talked about many issues, here are some of the highlights.


The bailouts during the past few years have done nothing to help this crisis. It is a myth that if Goldman Sacks fails then there would be a ripple effect and all other banks would fail.

Allison talked about how the market should have been allowed to correct itself. That bailouts lead to future problems, and they keep companies from going under that SHOULD be going under.

For example, if Chrysler has been allowed to fail, plants would not have been shut down. They would have been taken over by Ford and other car companies. Not only that, other companies would then have learned from Chrysler's mistakes, and become even better. Instead, companies learn that they can pretty much do what they want and the government will bail them out.

He talked about making it a better economy for people to create new jobs and businesses. He said that lowering taxes would be an incentive for people to create jobs and plan for the future. He also talked about how ObamaCare has hurt businesses because it has created ambiguity. Companies are not hiring like they would have before because they are unsure of future health care costs.

Not only is ObamaCare bad for business, it is essentially the opposite of American ideals. Who is paying for this health care? America was built on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Everyone has the right to work for their own good. The idea behind this is that we will then be naturally kind to other people, without resentment.

John Allison's bottom line is that the "free lunch" (free health care, free housing...etc) mentality we are living in now is leading this country to certain economical disaster. We need to implement changes in order to stop this from happening.

It seems now we are in a vicious cycle. Right now 60% of the country is below the poverty line (this is without counting government financial help). This is greatly due to the failed education system. Many people graduate high school and are not even able to read or write correctly. This country is left with a shortage of highly skilled persons and an abundance of unskilled workers. These unskilled workers are competing with people in other countries who are willing to work harder for less money. One of the things keeping unskilled workers from getting jobs is the regulations. During a recession, minimum wage was raised 40%. So companies who are cuttings costs are going to hire other workers who do not have this restriction. Which in turn leads to more people living below the poverty line.

Allison believes that government needs to take a big step backwards. That 75% of regulations need to be eliminated in the next 6 months (65,000 pages have been added in the last five years alone). We have a massive over regulatory system.

The role of government should get back to three things. A military to protect (as defensive, not out in three wars). Policemen (to get the "bad guys"). An effective Court System ( to enforce contracts). Other regulations should be gotten rid of.

He also spoke about integrity and how we have to do the best we can. Allison said, "when businesses forget their purpose is to make a better place to live, bad things happen."

These are just some points from his talk. It was very thought provoking and has left me with a new perspective, and also with some questions.

Such as, if we no longer have a "free lunch" system, what happens to the people who are getting a free lunch? What would be the steps needed to transfer to a system with less government involvement?

Below is a link to his talk, given at Virginia School of Law this past February

John Allison: The U.S. Financial Crisis: Causes and Consequences

Why "End the FED"?

I dont know how many times I have read and heard this statement, "End the Fed", and never really understood why. I didnt even know exactly what the Fed was. So, I started doing a bit of homework and this is what I have found out.

The Fed, or the Federal Reserve, is the central bank of the United States of America. A central bank produces the single currency for an entire nation. They are able to control interest rates and inflation because they control the money supply. They loan the government money, with interest. They regulate the value of the currency. This is a system that produces one thing, which is debt.

Our central bank is a private corporation, makes its own policies and, like other central banks, loans its money at interest. Some issues with this system are starting to become visible.

In 1933 the gold standard for our currency was abolished and money then became "legal tender" This means that for every dollar printed its equal value in gold was no longer stored away. "Legal tender" is backed by nothing, it is worthless paper. Its value is only in how much is in circulation. This puts a lot of power in the hands of the Federal Reserves. They then had the power to regulate the circulation of money, which then regulates the value of it.

The Federal Income Tax, from what I have been reading, is unconstitutional. It is unconstitutional because the Federal Income Tax is unaportioned; the constitution says that all direct Federal taxes have to be aportioned (apportioned tax= every citizen pays the same lump sum amount). It was also never ratified, which means that not enough states approved it before it was passed.

There is no law that says a person needs to pay this tax. This is no small fee, 35% of the average workers income is taken in this tax; which is about four months of work out of a year. This could be justified if this money was going into our school systems or healthcare systems, but its not. Its goes to pay the interest that the government owes to the Federal Reserve Banks.

There is a lot evidence of corruption behind this central banking system. Congressman Louis McFadded said the following in 1932,

"When the Federal Reserve Act was passed, the people of these United States did not perceive that a world banking system was being set up here. A super-state controlled by international bankers and industrialists acting together to enslave the world for their own pleasure. Every effort has been made by the Fed to conceal its powers but the truth is—the Fed has usurped the government.”

He was then poisoned before he was able to start a movement to end the Fed.

I recommend each of us educating ourselves. Below is the link to Wikipedia, which explains the basic history of the Fed. This is where I started my research

Federal Reserve System

Below is a link that I recommend profusely. This is a documentary that uncovers the hidden truth behind the Fed. I took notes on the information they were saying, and when I googled each piece of info I discovered that it was accurate.

Zeitgeist Part III: Don't Mind the Men Behind the Curtain

After learning all of this, now I understand why I keep hearing people say, "End the Fed."

The Debt Ceiling Crisis in Plain English

So there has been a lot of upheaval over the debt ceiling crisis in the United States. The only thing is, most people don't actually understand what the crisis is all about. So, here it is, broken down into plain English.

In 1913 when the Federal Reserves (the central bank of the United States) was created, a debt ceiling was created. This debt ceiling was the highest amount of money the United States was able to borrow. Since then it has been raised 63 times by Congress. This past week the United States has reached its limit yet again, so the question has been on the table in Congress whether or not to raise it again.

Right now 40% of the money needed to fund the United States and all of its expenses (including war, medicare, Medicaid, federal jobs, etc.) is borrowed. This means that the United States cannot continue functioning as it is now. Either we need to raise the debt ceiling and go into more debt, or spending needs to be cut. Pretty simple.

So where is the crisis?

The crisis itself doesn't actually come from this issue. The crisis comes from Congress stalling and not solving it. The crisis comes from The President, the representative of the United States of America, announcing to the world that we will default (not be able to pay the interest on our loans) if the debt ceiling is not raised, which is bad in two ways. The first being that this is a lie, we do have the funds to keep us from defaulting. The second being that foreign countries are not going to risk loaning money to a country that announces it can't make its payments.

Economist Peter Schiff, who predicted the economic crisis years before it happened (even though other economists insisted he was wrong) has said that the government should cut spending. He says that, "the real cost of government isn't what it taxes, it's what it spends."

I have heard it said the past few days that raising the debt ceiling or not raising the debt ceiling are both like re-arranging the chairs on the Titanic. Either way, its going down. This crisis is just a symptom of an economic system that is not working.

We need to get to the real source of the problem.

Super Congress Unconstitutional- What Can We Do?

A new Super Congress has been passed that is a violation of the Constitution and the Political System of the United States of America. Thirteen people, six from the Senate, six from the House of Representatives and the President will be deciding the solution to this debt crisis. It is set up so that the Congress and Senate will have no choice but to accept the plan this Super Congress comes up with.

The Political System has been changed and no citizen has cast a vote and no great debate took place in either the Senate or House of Representatives.

So what can we do?

First of all, spread the information, as Samuel Adams said, "If Virtue & Knowledge are diffused among the People, they will never be enslav'd. This will be their great Security." Many people don't even know this Super Congress has been created, and even those who have heard of it do not realize that its creation is the death of liberty.

Alex Jones: talking about Unconstitutional Super Congress

Fox News Report: Super Congress Unconstitutional

So what can we do to change this?

Contact our Representatives. If we say nothing we are giving our consent, sending the message that we think this is okay. If an overwhelming volume of complaints are sent in then we can not by ignored.

Email Your State Senators
(select your state, follow the links to contact your two Senators)

Email Your Representative from the House of Representatives

(enter your state and zip code to be taken to your Representatives page)

Below is the email I sent to all three of my representatives (two from the senate and one from the House of Representatives). If you feel the same way as I do please feel free even copy and paste what I wrote, or write whatever feels right to you:

"Dear Congressperson,
The newly created Super Congress is unconstitutional and a violation of the political system of this country. It is your job, as an elected representative of the people, to speak up and stop this. It does not matter what crisis may be going on, there always will be one, the political foundation of this nation must remain intact.

"[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them." -Candidus, Boston Gazette, January 20, 1772

Sincerely,
Kelly Morrow"

Follow this link to sign a petition to

Tell Congress to Permanently Disband the Dangerous, Undemocratic "Super Congress" NOW

Liberty can not exist without our active participation.