2 Comments on “Wake Up America – Artist Jon McNaughton”

1. 
   James Hogan said at 6:50 pm on February 4th, 2012:

   In case anyone wants the spoilers / too lazy to go find the hidden keys…

   Reverse Defecit Spending

   The national debt is one of the greatest challenges that threaten our country today. We are currently at almost 15 trillion in debt and its gaining speed. The bus is headed for a cliff and we can’t just slow down–we need to come to screeching HALT! This may sound drastic, but how can we expect to survive the fallout of a devalued dollar and debt obligations if we don’t wake up? Our debt is projected to reach 20 trillion in just three more years! [1]

   In 1994 Congress pushed for a balanced budget as part of the Republican “Contract with America” campaign and working with Clinton were able to balance the budget. The nation enjoyed a federal budget surplus for the first time since the 1960’s. Why can’t we do that again?

   Our first step should be to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment. To pass a Constitutional Amendment through Congress an amendment must get “two thirds” of the House and Senate and then has to be ratified by “three fourths” of the states. The U.S. economy is already on a path for bankruptcy, so let’s make it our goal to get it done!

   We also need to take a stand against further debt ceiling increases. The entire mentality of Washington needs to change. But I’m worried. The solution to paying off our debts has always been to print more money and lessen the value of the currency to make paying off the debt easier. Eventually, all governments that attempt to do this fail because of their inability to control the inflationary results of too much monetary devaluation. Controlling our monetary policy will need to be considered. (One of the keys.)

   Let’s stop the spending and get our house in order! Its crunch time America!!

   [1] http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/06/08/usa-treasury-debt-idUSN088462520100608

   Stop the Entitlement Mentality
   It seems to be a common idea now days that those who are successful somehow owe the common person a living. They should “pay their fair share,” as President Obama would put it. [1] This entitlement mentality gives some people the idea that it is the government’s job to take care of our every need. It is referred to as the “redistribution of wealth”… because it’s fair.

   Even now, as the Occupy Wall Street protesters are marching through the streets we see this mindset at play. I can almost envision the chains around them as they reach up to Obama and the government, demanding free handouts. Why? Because we owe it to them. The sad thing is that the same chains are around you and me because of the policies our
   elected leaders have placed on all of us over the last hundred years.

   Those who have the “entitlement mentality” may tend to think as follows:

   They do not appreciate the sacrifice of others. Often they criticize the military or those who have worked hard for where they are in life.
   They do not except the consequence of their actions. It’s more of a “live in the moment” attitude. It makes life fun until the piper comes to call.

   Often there is a lack of responsibility for their actions. They live in state of denial. They blame others for their problems.

   i Support for wholesale expansion of government social programs as a cure-all for
   perceived “injustice.”

   Usually a complete misunderstanding of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They often imagine rights that are in no way guaranteed such as “right to have a job,” or the “right to not be offended.”

   They believe that it is the government’s job to take care of the individual. For example, if they lose their job they might seek government assistance before trying to find another job. [2]

   In our country today this entitlement mentality has entrenched itself not just among our young, but all ages. How many of us expect the government to provide for our healthcare and retirement needs? How many are angry that I even bring this up? Unless we break the cycle of entitlements (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) our country’s debt will implode around us and our children will wake up destitute. [3]

   The solution: I would suggest starting with the Heritage Foundation’s plan called “Saving the American Dream”[4]

   [1] http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/09/if-obama-wants-americans-to-pay-their-fair-share-then-what-about-the-47-who-pay-no-taxes/

   [2] http://www.conservapedia.com/Entitlement_mentality

   [3] http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/vasko-kohlmayers-globe/2011/jul/19/entitlement-programs-consume-revenue-leaving-debt-/

   [4] http://www.savingthedream.org/

   Eliminate Our Dependency on Foreign Oil
   The United States is spending about a billion dollars a day overseas on oil where we could be spending it at home where it would help us the most. Currently, about 50% of our consumption comes from imported oil. Faced with high energy costs and confronted by a huge trade imbalance, reducing our dependency on foreign oil would stimulate our limping economy. Imagine the jobs and savings we would incur by being self sufficient. Aside from creating millions of jobs, a move toward energy independence would begin the process of rebuilding the U.S. industrial base.

   If we can become energy efficient through developing our own oil resources and also including natural gas, coal and nuclear energy, our economy will boom, our national interests will be secure and we will avoid the security risks that come from being entangled in foreign countries.

   http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/international/trade/2011/pdf/trad1210.pdf
   US Energy Information Administration

   Stop Unfair Trade Agreements
   Currently, the U.S. has over 7 trillion in trade deficit that is crushing our country. [1] Our trade deficit is almost 10 times worse than any other trade deficit country! This money is not even counted in our national debt. This has led to an outsourcing of jobs from the U.S. creating a serious loss of tax revenue which leads the U.S. to even more debt. Between 2001-2010 China alone cost Americans an estimated 2.8 million jobs.[2] Until we have a trade policy that helps bring back U.S. manufacturing jobs, we will keep empowering foreigners to cheat and to buy up American businesses with the reinvested U.S. dollars they earn from our own stupidity.

   I believe in free trade, but this is the kind of trade that benefits special interests.

   But the blame is not all on China. The overall use of fiat currency which allows manipulation by removing the backing of precious metals has allowed this trade deficit to occur. If we resolved this problem, China’s currency manipulation would be of no matter. The fact that the U.S. dollar is the reserve currency of the world gives us some benefits. We can export paper dollars and import goods manufactured in foreign countries with cheap labor. We can get cheap loans through China and Japan buying our treasuries to fund our military and welfare programs. When the dollar finally becomes so weak that nobody wants to buy our debt–things will get ugly.

   Why has Obama done nothing to fight the unfair trade practices that are destroying America? If he truly wanted to help bring back jobs he would act against the following:

   Many countries subsidize national industries and our government lets them get away with it. This puts our companies at a huge disadvantage.

   The U.S. has the highest corporate tax rates in the world.
   Many foreign countries don’t require businesses to fund healthcare for their employees. That saves their companies a lot of money.
   The U.S. has some of the most stringent regulations in the world. Sure, we don’t want slave labor, but give me a break!
   Don’t allow a trade deficit…period. Pass some legislation.

   We are expected to have a trade deficit in 2011 in excess of half a trillion dollars. If the trade deficit were eliminated it is estimated that it would create 8.4 million jobs inside the United States. [3] Now there is a “Jobs Plan.”
   [1] http://voicesof.us/2011/commonsense/1638/
   [2] The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) briefing paper stated: Growing U.S. trade deficit with China cost 2.8 million jobs between 2001 and 2010 by Robert Scott, EPI’s Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Research.
   [3] http://www.economyincrisis.org/content/obama-lays-out-jobs-plan

   Stop Manipulating the US Dollar
   As citizens, we pay interest on every dollar that circulates in our economy to a privately held bank called the Federal Reserve. Also, did you know that the FED is the only for-profit corporation in America that is exempt from both federal and state taxes? Every time the Fed creates more money by borrowing it, the U.S. Government owes more because of interest. The U.S. government currently owes about 1.6 trillion to the Federal Reserve.

   Since the inception of the Federal Reserve in 1913, our dollar has been devalued by 95%, trillions of dollars have been poured into our economy without any oversight and Congress has not been allowed to check the books. Much of the debt problems our country faces are because of our going off the gold standard and allowing the Fed to print more money and devalue our currency. All the while the Fed makes money on the backs of American citizens. The Federal Reserve Notes are loaned to our government and circulated into our society–like money falling from the sky.

   Over the past decade the Federal Reserve has held interest rates at artificially low levels in order to stimulate our economy. The problem is that this always leads to a short term situation and the bubble always bursts. Why don’t we wake up? Our national debt of near 15 trillion dollars is due to our borrowing from the Federal Reserve Bank.

   Our Constitution only allows the US Treasury to issue money, therefore the Fed is unconstitutional and we should discontinue printing Federal Reserve Notes. John F. Kennedy passed Executive Order 11110 to print US Treasury Notes to begin dismantling the Fed and was killed three months later. All the notes were destroyed. He had the right idea.

   Thomas Jefferson said, “If the America people ever allow private banks to control the issuance of their currencies, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their prosperity until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”

   http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h41/current/

   Vote Out Obama in 2012

   The question has been asked, “Is there anything Obama has done well as President?”

   I think the answer is “Yes.” We now have more people dependant on government assistance than any other president.

   There have been many that have benefitted from Obama’s stimulus: the auto industry with GM, Wall Street, the banks, GE, all eager to get their piece of the pie. In less than three years Obama has increased the national debt by over 4.2 trillion. Where did all the stimulus money go? Have you heard of companies like Solyndra? But despite all this crony capitalism, Obama’s supporters still fawn over his talk about spreading the wealth around. Today we have our Occupy Wall Street Protesters shouting out their hate for the rich, but what do they want? Simply their own piece of the action–more freebies!

   Today, the jobless reports have unemployment at 9.1% and we know that the actual numbers of those needing work are more than double this. Obama’s plan is more of the same. Give away more money and tax the rich. This will not help our country to prosper and will only worsen the situation.

   More than ever, our country needs new leadership. Vote out Obama in 2012 and let’s WAKE UP AMERICA!!

   Or otherwise, change the link below to the key number:
   http://www.mcnaughtonart.com/artwork/list_of_symbolism?artwork_title=Wake+Up+America&key=1

2. The United States Budget Could Deficit Trillion Or More - American Today's Headlines said at 7:43 pm on February 4th, 2012:

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