A Report Card For Congress

Can we grade our current Congress? I will focus upon several players who have helped create the financial mess that we are in today.
Senator Chris Dodd Grade F-. I know an F should be the lowest grade possible but since it is now 110+ days and we still can not get information on his sweetheart deal with Countrywide Mortgage, I have taken the liberty of grading him down. What is even better is his massive campaign contributions from these fallen financial giants and his total lack of understanding of what is actually going on with his industry. Dodd should be recalled by Connecticut voters, censored by the Senate and or resign immediately for his lies to the public about this crisis.
Representative Barney Franks Grade F. Another clueless individual trying to rape taxpayers in this bailout bill. I never heard more twists and turns with policy, who to blame and why than from this man since 2004. Another ignorant politician who has massive power over the financial industry and uses it to his self glorification. Also someone else who needs to resign.
Representative Charles Rangel Grade F. He gives new meaning to ignorance and should be censored also. He just writes tax law but has no need to follow it. Maybe he can squeeze in a few more apartments at a cheap rate after all he deserves it.
Representative Nancy Pelosi Grade F. What a speech yesterday! I guess she is shooting for an approval rating of -9. Resign, what a disgrace to our Congress.
Senator Obama Grade F. Why would you have Franklin Raines as an Economic advisor is beyond my understanding. Raines should be in jail now for his looting of public money.
Finally Representative Maxine Waters Grade F-. If you thought nationalizing the oil industry was bad, try listening to her interrogation of the federal regulator during the Freddie and Fannie corruption hearings in 2004. What lies about Raines. Here is someone who should resign and run in Cuba.
Sadly these self serving, egotistic, corrupt politicians are still in office today and taxpayers from all walks of life will continue to pay for their greed, their self glorification and their ignorance.

Congress and Economics/Finance Do Not Mix

"I understand speed is important, but I'm far more interested in whether or not we get this right,". Chris Dodd said this yesterday at his bailout hearing. I am wondering why he did not comment on his subprime mortgage deal with Countrywide. However after reading what happened at the hearings I can conclude that our Congress and economics/finance do not mix. I can not rationalize the lack of economic knowledge that members of this group displayed yesterday. I can not believe they are that ignorant about how our economy works nor do they have any understanding of how our finance markets work. Barney Franks continues to ignore his own lies about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and still beats his liberal drum sitting in front of his committee working it to his own political glorification. It is pathetic to watch this. Both committees in my opinion are clueless as to what is going on in the financial markets. And both are playing politics as usual (especially Dodd who does not have a leg to stand on) with this financial
bailout bill. Congress really needs to address itself and its failings especially when economics,finance and spending are concerned. And I wish hearings could start today on that.

The Plan With No Strings Attached

I continue to read and watch in amazement the current debate about the $700 billion dollar bailout plan in Congress. In keeping in step with their inability to either lead or make decisions I can see the Democratic Congress coming up with a great deal of pet provisions to throw into the bill and probably a great deal of earmarks that could be added also.
I have to laugh at the pathetic nature of Reid, Pelosi, Franks and Dodd commenting that they are looking out for the self interest of the taxpayer in the bill. I guess this is why Franks has come up with the comical strings attached to the bill that he announced yesterday. My question to Franks and Dodd is why did they block legislation that could have prevented this mess in the first place? So that Dodd could protect his sweetheart mortgage deal with Countrywide? Franks comment in 2003 that the fears of Fannie Mae were "overblown" . At what point does Franks think things are overblown? When his cronies stopped looting the company? Who profited the most from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Franklin Raines and the numerous members of Congress like Dodd and Franks that received donations from these two bankrupt companies?
Thus the bill will come to a vote soon enough and most members of Congress will know virtually nothing about what they are voting for. As a taxpayer this is a disgrace to anyone who chooses to live within their means and pays taxes in our country. A private market solution would work the best rather than a socialistic/capitalistic system that is evolving by a Congress too foolish and too self serving to understand how our economy works.

Please, please bail me out!

Please bail me out. I am out of control. No, my family is not out of control with our spending, but can we get some of that bail out money that is free in Washington. Can we get some of that change (whatever that means?) that is supposed to be coming? Better yet show me some of my cash that I pay in local, state and federal taxes.
A simplistic view of the financial mess that is found in our economy today is that we need to spend less money. We need to live below our means to help create a better financial future. Many CEO's are not worth what they are being paid in these financial companies that are going broke. I realize that this falls onto deaf ears in Washington and Hartford but I can not see governmental ownership of mortgages where in essence, if you have this type of mortgage you are both the creditor and debtor of the mortgage. We are subsidizing those who have lived well above their means. Who really will pay for all this?
As an economist I really would love to see the free market system work again with that invisible hand guiding us along the way. So much for that in my lifetime.

The Energy Bill That Isn't

Oh we will give you an energy bill and what a beauty it is. The Democrats in Congress never cease to amaze with their brazen deception of the American taxpayer and energy consumer. This "new" energy bill allows for drilling offshore, it is too bad that there is no oil where they are allowing oil companies to drill and only with the states approval and only with the bulk of the royalties going to the government. Wow, this should help our energy crisis and we energy consumers are once again being told to drop dead by our leaders in Washington. What is the point of this deception? Why do the Democrats have so many problems in becoming realistic with energy issues? So it just more of the same, no new sources of energy, not now, not then, not never. A great thanks should be given to this most horrific self serving Congress in our nation's history.

Thursday's Quick Thoughts

Some quick thoughts:
Why is the Constitutional Convention in Connecticut a bad idea? We have an unresponsive state legislature along with an equally unresponsive legal and executive branch of government, why not make them accountable? What is wrong with that? I am voting in favor of it.
Speaking of unresponsiveness, Wallingford voters in the 85th district actually have a choice between the incumbent tax and spend liberal Mary Mushinsky and a political newcomer Republican Mike Vitali. In my opinion he has a great chance of unseating Mushinsky who is completely out of touch with anyone who works for a living in Wallingford. Vote for Vitali in the 85th.
Another day and another no response from Chris Dodd and his unethical mortgage deal from Countrywide Mortgage. Why does he still represent us? Why does the media continue to ignore this major issue?
Sarah Palin continues to shine with John McCain. What a great choice and a great team. Compare Obama/Biden with McCain/Palin. The Democrats have to be wondering why they got suckered into this mess of a ticket, ultra liberal, combative, irresponsible, inexperienced, anti-woman, new and higher taxes, no leadership qualities. McCain/Palin will win...

Hey Taxpayer - Got Any More Money?

Hey do you have any more money? Let us say $85 billion? What do you mean you don't? What do you mean you are tapped out from what you as a taxpayer gave to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, JP Morgan and others? What do you mean by a free market system which allows for supply and demand to exist, didn't you learn that in Economics 101 from Professor Swick many years ago? What do you mean that when you went for a mortgage you had to put 20% down for your house or condo and you have to prove you were employed and verify what income you earned? What do you mean that it was legal for these same companies who are going broke and using taxpayers monies that their CEO's are still getting their high salaries and bonuses? What do you mean you lost $25,000+ so far in your 401K? What do you mean by Social Security and the concept of retirement when members of Congress are excluded from Social Security? What is Capitalism? Is it now Government Capitalism?
I truly wish I could wake up from this financial debacle and see how a free market works again...

It is never the Democrats fault...

I know it is never the Democrats fault for anything that happens in our economy. Even though they control both the House and Senate on a national and state level, even though many like Chris Dodd and Barney Franks have been in office for years, they are oblivious to any responsibility for their questionable, unethical and in my opinion illegal actions. I find it incredible that the Democrats now feel that the financial debacle is the Republicans fault. I guess Franks stonewalling of reforms for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac does not count for anything. Dodds sweetheart mortgage deal and incredible political donations from both Fannie and Freddie do not count for anything. His bailout of Countrywide Mortgage does not count for anything either. No it is all the Republicans fault according to their twisted logic. What a pathetic mess these Democrats have made.
I have always wondered what it would be like to have a job and not have to do anything, not have to take any responsibility for anything, not have to be ethical nor have to worry about the laws that govern us. Then again I am not Chris Dodd, Barney Franks or any of the other Democrat Representatives or Senators who have abused their power for their own self interest and self gain.

Will Dodd Ever Tell?

I guess not. I guess we as taxpayers who are currently underwriting one of the largest bailouts of mortgages and banks in our nations history will never find out the true story of Senator Chris Dodd's sweetheart subprime mortgage deal. The media continues to avoid the question, more concerned with his role in a new Democratic administration. What a farce of reporting. What are his qualifications to serve? Actually what are his qualifications to continue to be Senator with this questionable and unethical mortgage deal he received and then his bill which bails out the same mortgage company? Dodd is concerned only with his personal self interest, personal gain and glory. Ethics does not play a role in it. As his power continues to grow in his own mind he is above the law as are most who serve in Washington. And once again taxpayers will pay for this debacle of fraud.

Community Organizer=President?

As an Economics and Business Instructor, I am wondering how much do community organizers for ACORN or other liberal type organizations contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)? What kind of jobs are actually created? And who pays for those jobs, the private sector or taxpayers through government funding of these mysteriously named ultra liberal and anti-business agencies? These are just some random thoughts I as a voter and taxpayer are wondering about Mr. Obama's background. I know he has spent an incredible amount of time campaigning for his seats in Illinois and his failed seat for the House and for his current seat in the Senate. In his employed state position in Illinois, he voted present which apparently means a catch all not to disturb either side of an issue nor be able to actually make a decision. I know he has currently missed half of his votes as a US Senator over the past two years while campaigning for President. His shine as a candidate seems to be fading rapidly as the American voting public is starting to question his credentials and his background. To put it mildly, he is unfit to lead our country.
The tide is turning to two candidates who have the abilities to lead our country, John McCain and Sarah Palin. Not the other two candidates who are leaderless, pompous, arrogant and self serving. McCain=President.

McCain-Palin An Excellent Choice

McCain-Palin. I like the sound of that. I also like the confusion it creates for the Democratic party. So much for their change of nominating two ultra liberal males, one who has no track record and one whose track record is fair/poor at best. Talk about politics as usual.
Sarah Palin brings a great deal for the Republican ticket and in my opinion will lead them to victory in November. She is bright, intelligent, reform minded, not afraid to take on political machines and has a great deal of common sense and love (being a Mother of five children). Whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent, you have to be proud of McCain's choice. Yes it is true that John McCain is ready from day one. And with his choice for Vice President it also shows his future vision, wisdom and ability to lead our country. Yes McCain-Palin, an excellent choice.

Senator Dodd's Non Issue

Senator Dodd has a non issue. His receiving a subprime mortgage at below market rates is a non issue. It is an issue that he has no reason to respond to nor any legal obligation to. Senator Dodd apparently has done nothing wrong. As a matter of fact all United States Senators and Representatives should not be concerned at all with laws, rules, ethics or the like, even the new Democratic candidates for President and Vice President. Secret deals for real estate or plagiarism, not a big deal.
All of our members of Congress need no guidance, upholding of laws, or ethics values. We as taxpayers must understand that they are a ruling elite. They are nobility taking away personal freedoms at a whim in order to further their self interest. They talk all the time using rhetoric to their fullest advantage only to be trying to find the next angle to promote their own self interest.
Enough is enough, we as taxpayers in Connecticut need to force the issue of Senator Dodd's subprime mortgage and his subsequent mortgage bailout deal. It is too bad our local media is blind to this gross ethics violation.

High Electric Rates-All is now well with an OLR report

Why does Connecticut have high electric rates? I read with curiosity the 8/5/08 report issued by the OLR regarding Connecticut having the second highest electric rates in the country. As an economics instructor I found the reading to be difficult, laborious and for the common person they will not be able to understand its technical jargon. Thus I would like to develop with more simplistic terms why electric rates are so high in our state. First, as far as I can see Connecticut generates very little actual electricity as it use to. The deregulation of the industry created small peak power plants with most of our basic everyday needs for electricity being bought on an open market grid from outside of the state. This is automatically more costly since electricity is now transported rather than produced in our state. These small peak power plants operate only when there is a high enough demand for them. The cost of producing this electricity is expensive and is profit driven by the companies that run them. My immediate suggestion here is to build two nuclear power plants to replace the old Millstone plants and generate the bulk of our power in the state through nuclear which is clean and cost effective and efficient. I no longer see from either a business view or an economic view why United Illuminating and or Northeast Utilities are still in business and why they are allowed rate increases since they generate little if any electricity any more.
Demand plays a small factor in the high costs of electricity. As we continue to see a grave economic decline in our state electric demand remains flat with high demand being generated in heat waves (more air conditioning being used)and thus the peak plants go to work and electric costs increase due to this. Also due to stringent air pollution laws electricity must be created in a "clean" manner and thus is much more costly due to the high costs of natural gas.
The state legislature with our tax dollars have passed three separate bills to improve electric efficiency for businesses and home owners, to help build more of these peak power plants and to provide assistance for those in need. These bills in my economic opinion have done little to help either businesses or consumers in the state or to lower electric rates. This is also an example of why the state legislature has no understanding of how our economy works or why Connecticut is in the economic mess that it is in today.
The solution to this problem without this OLR report is to build two or more nuclear power plants in Connecticut immediately. Nuclear power in 2008 is non polluting, cost efficient and highly efficient. It would help lower electric rates in our state, create jobs and help promote economic growth to a state which is badly managed from a taxpayers point of view. However my proposal may be too logical for the self serving, special interest peddling state legislature here in Connecticut.

Russia: Back to Communism

Russia is going back to Communism. If you have been following the tragic news of Russia invading Georgia over the supposed South Ossetia issue, one can see the formations of the old USSR redeveloping in Eastern Europe. I find it interesting that Czar Putin decides to launch his war on Georgia on the day that the China Olympic games start. Unification of our world seems to be a theme in the Olympics yet Georgia as a Democratic free country needs to be eliminated in the eyes of Putin and his military men.
We again view the United Nations as a hapless and helpless governing body which is unable to condemn this brutal attack on innocent and free people nor do anything about it. President Bush equally misplayed his response and belief in this new Russian Dictator who has reemerged as again a threat to the free world.
Senator John McCain spoke the truth in his response to this terror. Putin privately must be worried that a McCain Presidency will spell trouble for him. As a President, McCain will not be weak or meek against this type of unprovoked terror. My heart and prayers go out for the freedom loving citizens of Georgia.

Congress to Energy Consumers: Drop Dead!

Congress to energy consumers: please go away and drop dead. I do not understand the philosophy that the Democrats in Congress have about voting one way or another about increasing energy production in the United States. In economic terms why do they like punishing American energy consumers through excessively high prices? Why can't we drill for our own oil and help our country and economy?
Their excuses are comical. Nancy Pelosi is obviously more concerned about promoting her book rather than helping her country. She continues to show her inability to lead and her desire for her own personal self gain and glory.
I will applaud the small group of Republicans who have shown the courage to put America's interest first when it comes to energy. Voters hopefully will remember this debacle called Congress come November.

Live Above Your Means-Chris Dodd Will Pay For It With Taxpayers Monies!

By all means live above your means. House too small? Pick up a 8000 square foot in a nice neighborhood for $1,000,000. What do you mean you and your wife only earn $200,000 a year? Not a problem sub prime mortgages are for you. Oh you are a Senator and a famous one in fact? Oh you are head of the Senate Banking Committee? Oh you wish to use your influence to get a better rate? Not a problem Senator! And when the market collapses you will help our mortgage company using taxpayer's monies to bail us out. Great! Just sign here...
Congress with the exception of a handful of its 535 members are an egotistical, self serving, self promoting and corrupted bunch of mediocre politicians. Whether it is this bailout or a lack of energy policy or excessive spending Congress has pushed itself to the point of no return. It lacks ethics, it lacks dignity and most importantly it lacks the ability to govern for the good of our nation. What a waste of taxpayers monies.

Free Mortgage Monies Provided By Us-The United States Taxpayers

Free Mortgage Monies Provided By Us-The United States Taxpayers! Yep, us! I am so happy that the elite United States Senate has developed and will enact shortly into law a complete bailout of the United States Banking, Mortgage and Housing industries. Led by our illustrious and corrupted Senator Chris Dodd, taxpayers should be preparing for a grave sticker shock when this bill becomes law. And if you are a special interest group your ship has come in! The reckless amendment to allow Hank Paulson a blank check to bail Freddie Mack and Fannie Mae out is obscene from an economics point of view. What gives him that right?
Maybe, just maybe it is time for the chips to actually fall and clear out the excessive bad debt in these markets and allow real supply and demand to operate in these markets again. The demand is not there at this time for these excessively large homes which have driven our children out of Connecticut since they can not find affordable houses to start their families.
Let the giants fall, our economy will be strong enough to recover without further wasting taxpayer dollars.

Why is heating oil $5 a gallon?

$5. a gallon for heating oil-why? I was asked this by one of my students recently. There are many factors that are falling into play to make heating oil unaffordable here in Connecticut this winter. One area which is complex to understand is the futures market for heating oil. To try to tie in the futures/hedge fund/investment bank market for heating oil, we must understand that most futures are bought on margin while your local oil company who is delivering your heating oil probably had to pay cash up front for his load of oil. I wonder aloud is this fair? The speculator only has to invest a small amount of the actual amount bought while the person making a living from it has to cover the whole amount. Who will make more profit? Obviously the futures trader.
The simplest solution for high heating oil prices is to build more refineries and drill offshore for oil and finally become energy independent in our country. I know 35 years is a long time for Congress to place the good of the country over their personal self interest but enough is enough.
The time has come to drill and produce in the United States. I wonder how many Connecticut citizens will freeze this winter and I truly wonder if Congress has the guts to act.

Maybe Congress Should Read the Declaration of Independence

Happy 4th of July to all! Maybe Congress should read again the Declaration of Independence. 56 brave and futurist Americans decided to form a new country, a new, free country not bound by the tyranny of England. A country in which all would have say in the government not just an elite few who were of nobility. They wished to create a fair and equitable system of taxation not taxation without representation as what was occurring at that time. Our brave country at that time was willing to wage war and die for the sake of freedom for all in our new country. Our history is formed by this unique document and has been challenged repeatedly since 1776. In the course of 232 years of our country, we should all praise those who have fought and have died for this freedom to endure for our well being. We may not have had a perfect history but we have the greatest country which was ever formed. A country which has seen war, catastrophe, freedom, innovation, technology, expansion all in the name of a United States of America. A great land which provides for us if we are willing to work and follow the laws established by our forefathers. A beautiful, unique and enduring country built by those who were not afraid of risk taking, hard work and belief in a spiritual God and religious faith. Yes for 232 years we have endured and we will endure for many, many more years. The majority of our citizens are not silent nor will they accept a new ruling political elite that will damage what was created for us in 1776. Congress needs to go back to actually governing not the quagmire of earmarks and self interest it has become in 2008.

Here is the Declaration of Independence again taken from the United States National Archives. I urge all to reread it and see if we need to create a new Declaration of Independence from our current Congress and Government - written in English only.

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

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IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

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The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:

Column 1
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton

Column 2
North Carolina:
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton

Column 3
Massachusetts:
John Hancock
Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton

Column 4
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean

Column 5
New York:
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark

Column 6
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple
Massachusetts:
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire:
Matthew Thornton

Page URL: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

35 Years To Energy Independence and Counting

35 Years To Energy Independence and Counting. It has been 35 years we have been fighting the war for energy independence. It looks like it will be another 35 years to continue this fight. We as a country need new energy sources, we need to control and promote our offshore oil drilling. We need to build new refineries, exact oil from shale, have only three blends of gasoline not fifty. We need to continue to promote nuclear, hydro, wind and solar energy.
What we really need is a Congress that has the guts to promote and actually act upon energy independence not the tired song of more taxes on oil companies. We need a new Congress as many members have been in office since 1973 and have not done anything to promote our energy independence. Republican Presidential candidate John McCain has it right, we need a new energy policy and to make it work for our energy independence.
Congress has failed us on energy in 2008 and we need to hold them accountable especially here in Connecticut. Rather than worrying about their self and special interests (like Chris Dodd's mortgage deal) they should be worried about an energy revolt by the people they supposedly represent. What do we have to look forward to $6 a gallon heating oil and $7 a gallon gas? What is their solution? Congress and their inaction is tiring and ruining our nation.