Sunday, August 23, 2009

Washington Town hall with a Marine Vet

An excellent video - representative of the changing times in America. The silent majority are becoming vocal and are demanding that their elected representatives listen... This is not about Republican vs Democrat - this is about right and wrong, about the future of our red, white and blue; it's about being a good American regardless of political affiliation.

These truly are tectonic times folks. As I stated to my father in an email earlier today:
"We are no longer a government of the people, by the people and for the people. We are a government that is controlled, bought and paid for by corporations, banks and special interests groups - but I don’t think these elected leaders will really wake up until they see a few of their brethren hanging from lamp-posts. Now I don’t condone this action, but I do anticipate we will see it in the not too distant future, as I smell a revolution brewing."


With that said, enjoy the video below - where a disabled Marine vet tears his congressman (Brian Baird, 3rd District, Washington) a new one...

Better listen up dear elected leaders - you swore to defend the Constitution and your constituents plan to ensure that you do!



Comments below from the young Marine vet posted on his youtube video page:

I, David William Hedrick, a member of the silent majority, decided that I was not going to be silent anymore. So, I let U.S. Congressman Brian Baird have it. I was one questioner out of 38, that was called at random from an audience that started at 3,000 earlier in the evening. Not expecting to be called on, I quickly scratched what I wanted to say on a borrowed piece of paper and with a pen that I borrowed from someone else in the audience minutes before I spoke. So much for the planned talking points of the right wing conspiracy.


Well done David - Semper Fi! (translation for those uninitiated: "always faithful")

And to all my readers, please remember: Your freedom is anything but free!

"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." - Thomas Jefferson

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

boy! this guy let him have it! he laid out a lot of great points...i hope everybody is listening.

TCatella said...

Thank you David for your service and you words. The more our leaders hear this viewpoint the more serious they will take it.

Better yet, let's replace all the congressional leaders who are forcing this agenda down our throats.

Anonymous said...

He's wrong. National Socialism was NOT a left wing movement but it was right wing. The nazi's never nationalized car companies. In nazi germany not a single factory/enterprise was nationalized. The nationalisation of all enterprises happened in the Soviet Union.

But don't you see the contradiction ? E.g. if Congress would listen to the people and do what the people wanted them to do then no car company (like GM) would be allowed to go bankrupt.

The new healthcare bill is ALL about controlling the ever increasing costs of healthcare. If Congress really wants to limit the costs of healthcare then they should kick out the lawyers and the Health Management Organisations (HMOs).

Anonymous said...

I don't understand the previous comment: "If Congress would listen to the people and do what the people wanted them to do then no car company (like GM) would be allowed to go bankrupt."

If I am one of those "people" (and I believe I am), ANY company should be allowed to go bankrupt.

You can't possibly believe that every company ever formed should be allowed to stay solvent. Or maybe you mean just the big ones. Define big. The ones that make the most money? (In that case, logically, they wouldn't be bankrupt.) The ones with the most power? With the most political pull? The ones whose special interests happen to coincide with your own?

How about this for a scenerio: the ones that make a product people want to buy don't go backrupt. The ones who don't are out of luck.

If only Congress had listened to THAT!

Anonymous said...

The American government -- which we once called our government -- has been taken over by Wall Street, the mega-corporations and the super-rich. They are the ones who decide our fate. It is this group of powerful elites, the people President Franklin D. Roosevelt called "economic royalists," who choose our elected officials -- indeed, our very form of government. Both Democrats and Republicans dance to the tune of their corporate masters. In America, corporations do not control the government. In America, corporations are the government.

This was never more obvious than with the Wall Street bailout, whereby the very corporations that caused the collapse of our economy were rewarded with taxpayer dollars. So arrogant, so smug were they that, without a moment's hesitation, they took our money -- yours and mine -- to pay their executives multimillion-dollar bonuses, something they continue doing to this very day. They have no shame. They don't care what you and I think about them. Henry Kissinger refers to us as "useless eaters."

But, you say, we have elected a candidate of change. To which I respond: Do these words of President Obama sound like change?

"A culture of irresponsibility took root, from Wall Street to Washington to Main Street."
There it is. Right there. We are Main Street. We must, according to our president, share the blame. He went on to say: "And a regulatory regime basically crafted in the wake of a 20th-century economic crisis -- the Great Depression -- was overwhelmed by the speed, scope and sophistication of a 21st-century global economy."

This is nonsense.

The reason Wall Street was able to game the system the way it did -- knowing that they would become rich at the expense of the American people (oh, yes, they most certainly knew that) -- was because the financial elite had bribed our legislators to roll back the protections enacted after the Stock Market Crash of 1929.

Congress gutted the Glass-Steagall Act, which separated commercial lending banks from investment banks, and passed the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, which allowed for self-regulation with no oversight. The Securities and Exchange Commission subsequently revised its rules to allow for even less oversight -- and we've all seen how well that worked out. To date, no serious legislation has been offered by the Obama administration to correct these problems.

Instead, Obama wants to increase the oversight power of the Federal Reserve. Never mind that it already had significant oversight power before our most recent economic meltdown, yet failed to take action. Never mind that the Fed is not a government agency but a cartel of private bankers that cannot be held accountable by Washington. Whatever the Fed does with these supposed new oversight powers will be behind closed doors.

Obama's failure to act sends one message loud and clear: He cannot stand up to the powerful Wall Street interests that supplied the bulk of his campaign money for the 2008 election. Nor, for that matter, can Congress, for much the same reason.

Consider what multibillionaire banker David Rockefeller wrote in his 2002 memoirs:


"Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure -- one world, if you will. If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it."

Read Rockefeller's words again. He actually admits to working against the "best interests of the United States."

more at link below

Common Sense 2009

Anonymous said...

Good post Randy.

Sir Scott of Swingle

Anonymous said...

I would like to thank this Marine for his loyal service to our country. He has earned his taxpayer funded V.A. medical benefits. Pretty nice to have that safety net should he choose to use it. I sure hope he or one if his family never need an organ transplant if they are insured by a private "for profit" health insurance company because if that happens they'll find out the true meaning of "Death Panel" Sorry but I an not a fan of the "for profit" health insurance cartel.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't anybody understand the problems the US is facing ? FDIC, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and the US government, they all are broke. And this guy thinks he can make a difference by critizising one member of Congress ? It wouldn't have made a difference when Bush or McCain were president of the USA. The government simply forced to cutback on spending, to ration healthcare. That's the bottomline !

If you don't like the cutbacks on these programs then something else should be cut, e.g. US military spending. US military spending is over $ 1 trillion and has increased under Obama by another 4%.
But the US citizens haven't got a lobby group in D.C. but the military and the defence contracters do have a very strong lobby group. So, military spending goes up and spending on Medicare and Medicaid and other programs are cut. Yes, it's time to make those folks in D.C. clear there are still people living in the US who don't like what Congress is doing. Time for a second american revolution !

Willy2 said...

This is what Nancy Pelosi wants.

Anonymous said...

We have to begin to make a list of all the names who have contributed to our country's economic and political crises we are facing now, which includes Alan Greenspan, Hanke Paulson, and all the way to Nancy pelosi, Christopher Dodd and Barney Frank. When our political system changes, they should be accountable for their deeds and appropriately judged.

Frank said...

First-of-all,its-the-STATE-of-Washington,and
NOT-Washington,D.C.!!!Sheez...
No.2:Anonymous-sez:"National Socialism was NOT a left wing movement but it was right wing. The nazi's never nationalized car companies."
The-state-controlled-the-economy-and-THAT-is
the-defination-of-FASCISM.The-only-difference
in-these-untied-States,is-that-the-corporations
control-the-government.It-is-still-fascism,you-just-don't-know-it-yet.Wait-until-we-have-martial-law-this-fall-w/the-so-called-"Swine-flu-vaccine".

Randy said...

Good catch frank - corrected!

myself said...

"hanging from lamp-posts. Now I don’t condone this action"
Why not?? Jefferson said that the tree of liberty needed to be fertilized by the blood of patriots AND tyrants.
So far, we haven't stopped them with peaceful means,,, what's left?

Anonymous said...

"hanging from lamp-posts. Now I don’t condone this action"
Why not?? Jefferson said that the tree of liberty needed to be fertilized by the blood of patriots AND tyrants.
So far, we haven't stopped them with peaceful means,,, what's left?

You cannot argue with Tyranny, you must defeat it.

GOT ROPE!?!

Jack.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to know the Marine's level of education. According to Thomas Ricks "Making the Corps," the Marines, of all the armed services, usually recruit from the lowest of the low strata of society (but granted turn out a superior product).

Why does he say "keep your hands off my health insurance" which sounds like a Republican sound byte. Does the Marine not understand he's got the VA health system? Why does he mention "health insurance" unless he's just a mindless babbler and can't think?

Randy said...

Re: "I'd like to know the Marine's level of education"


In this case, I don't think it matters much, as the American people are relating - how do I know this? His video has gone viral (Youtube only showed 15K hits last night - when I first saw video - and now there are > 141K hits and the trend line is going parabolic)

Anonymous said...

What people realize but don't expound is that politicians aren't pushing Health Care reform to cut costs but to expand it to cover anyone and everyone with no good plan to cover the costs. This is just a huge play to buy off taxpayers for the next election, like Hugo Chavez promising everything possible to the poor. There is no substantive talk on how to curb rising health care costs. People see the nation falling ever deeper in debt with a marginal ability left to correct the course before inevitable calamity (the destruction of their standard of living). We currently expect third world nations to make are "stuff" without pensions systems and health care and not expect to lose jobs to them. Globalization means you will have to compete with people who live at a much lower standard of living. Health care and eating are not a right! Only the opportunity to work is.

Phil

article marketing said...

I am in awe of your job list. I keep reading it over and over and over.

Anonymous said...

@Frank: I agree. What's happening in D.C. is indeed fascism. But the marine in the video says national socialism is something from the left and that's wrong.

In fascism the corporations are cozying up with the government and they are using the government for their own corporate interests. Like profiting from the waging of wars against countries like Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan. Do the words "Military Industrial (Congressional) Complex" (Pres. Eisenhouwer, 1960) ring a bell ?

Fascistic regimes always want to wage war(s). Don't you think that the US today with its military spending of over $ 1 trillion resembles in that way the fascists in nazi germany as well ?

Big Pharma wants a piece of the action in the new healthcare bill as well. In other words: Again fascism at work ! And that's why healthcarecosts for the US citizens will increase.

Anonymous said...

If only the silent Majority had a real direction or point of view... Too many of these people are allowing their anger directed by groups that do not have their interests in mind. They end up being used as tools and working against themselves.

Its a shame, I'd like to see some righteous indignation and action, but these people scare me because they're so volatile and easily led.

Anonymous said...

Wait and see what happens when the dollar suffers its collaspe. It will and part of it will be sudden 20 to 30 %. The streets won't be safe. I getting ready I have a family.

Anonymous said...

The Marine states he's disabled. He strides back up the aisle. What's his disability?

Anonymous said...

God bless you!! And Thank-you!

Anonymous said...

After reading some of these comments it is blantant how so many just don't get it. It aint anger folks, it is realisn. The realization that our elected officals are no long representing the consitution but there own self interest and those who paid the millions to get them elected.
When will Term limits get into the picture? Give them two terms like the President. Get the old gizzers out of there and make them live with all the same laws and social services that they put in place for the rest of us.
It is too bad America has become so divided. United we stand divided we fall. One Nation Under God.

rant1 said...

What's this gung ho herow complaining about.He's getting a free ride on uncle sam for his meds.Seems to be like most,glory hounds who never got a life.

Anonymous said...

Facism, communism, advanced socialism, all are the same thing, tyranny.

Many are rushing to tyranny, because they do not understand liberty, nor the natural human condition.

At that townhall, KXL 750 broadcast it live here in the Portland area from 7pm to 9:30pm I think. I heard many other good speeches as well.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, David for your service & speaking your mind.

Point #1 - I don't think the man is "getting a free ride on uncle sam for his meds." I think he paid quite a price for it.

Point #1 - Have you ever had to be treated at at VA Hospital? I'll make no further remark other than to say, I don't want the government overseeing MY healthcare.

Point #3 - Do you really mean to say that you can tell whether or not a person has a disability just by watching them "stride" back up the isle? Damn you're good. I've got a family member who lost their leg in an accident and wears a prosthesis and you can't tell they are disabled just by watching them "stride" up the isle. I also have a family member who suffered PTSD and you can't look at them and see that they are disabled, but those of us who know and love this person can tell you that the person who returned from duty is NOT the same person we sent off to serve his country.

"The realization that our elected officals are no long representing the consitution but there own self interest and those who paid the millions to get them elected."


To the person who posted the comment above, you are right on the money with that one.

Why should the people attending these meetings be attacked for speaking their mind? Why must their level of education be questioned? Why must their disability or lack thereof be questioned? We should be questioning why our elected officials are signing things they haven't even read, but they signed it because it was urgent. Would you even sign a rental agreement for a Rug Doctor without reading it? We should be attending these town hall meetings to express our concerns about the decisions that are being made by men and women who are SUPPOSED to be representing us. I'm from Houston, and one of our representatives appeared at a town hall meeting and spoke on her cell phone while people were trying to speak to her questions regarding this proposed healthcare reform. Her excuse was that she was on the phone with a hotline of sorts, getting answers to the questions that people were asking about this bill. Is this comforting to you? I am in NO way comforted by the things that are taking place in this country, and I'm appalled by some of the reactions that I've seen to the people who are standing up and speaking their minds. You should enjoy the freedom of speech before someone figures out a way to take that away from us too!

Anonymous said...

Thank you Marine. You said what I feel.

To someone above, perhaps you have never heard of the Volkswagon. As I understand it, It started life as Hitlers Peoples car.
To some of the others above;

Maybe you don't understand that we are under attack from a mentality which would have us assumed into a world wide taxing athority where every thing from cradle to grave will be dictated to you. Like In China where baby girls are killed to balance populations.

Maybe you don't understand that a countries natural resorces are its only real exchange value in the world and since we are one country which has abundant resorces we are capable of great things and have experianced great wealth, if and when we are allowed to use them!

Maybe you don't understand that you are being over run and manipulated and all this enviromental activisim has crippled our ability to feed and support our own people. Don't get me wrong here I am for clean water too, but radical enviromental activism is very bad for our country.

Maybe you don't understand that health care is not a right granted by govenment. Which I should have to go beg for from or be compelled into by my masters in Washington. There is only one master to me.

Maybe you don't understand that medical insurance has only been around since about the 50s. That and medical law suits may be a big reason for the escalating health care costs. That insurance companies have stock holders too and need to make a profit to servive. Prior to that Doctors did what they could and worked for you and would make deals or trades to assist you as necessary. Few got sued untill the attorneys figured out it paid to chase amblances. Unfortunatly most of the congress are now attorneys.

Maybe you don't understand We desperatly need "Tort Reform" first and "the fair tax proposal" adopted next to get this country back on track.. But we likely will not get either because they won't cut there own purse strings.

Maybe you don't understand it is Time for all to go. Sweep the house, elect only those who support and defend the constitution 100% and hold them to it. Its the only chance to save this country we have left.

Respects.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I know that VolkswagEn was Hitler's peoples car, yes. But the car was produced by a PRIVATE company, NOT by a state owned company, like in Soviet Russia. The word "volks-wagen" is literally german for "People's car".

Did anyone know that both Ford & GM owned carmanufactering plants in Germany even before WW II and that these companies produced cars for the nazi war machine DURING WW II ?

Robert Woodburn said...

As for walking down the aisle, I am rated as 100% disabled, due to Prostate Cancer (Agent Orange). Current Psa 256, Had hormone and radiation treatments, won't have chemo. I still mow the yard and walk to the stores. They give me about 18 months left.
Robert Woodburn Msgt. Retired

Randy said...

Robert Woodburn - Point well made. Thank you for your service to this country!