Tag Archives: U.S.

Same Old Rut

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What is this country coming to? Before the election we had mainstream news reports flying all over telling us that Hillary Clinton, in her position of Security of State, had a private email server and some classified documents somehow got routed to it.  The FBI was not allowed to check it out but somehow everything that was in this server got hacked and released to the public by possibly Russian hackers.  We had people showing us the law that says it is illegal to send classified stuff to or from a private server.  We had hearings in Congress about this and the FBI could not find anything was wrong.  The Press had a field day saying or printing things from known “sources”.  These same “sources” hinted to the Press that there where agents, possibly foreign or domestic, trying to get information on Trump at the time.  I remember seeing or hearing something like this but unable to find any proof at this time, but I digress.

Now we have Congress having more hearings about the possible wire-tap on Mr. Trump before the election and the same Director of the FBI cannot find any truth to this? We have been hearing from “Sources” within the CIA and NSA that officially nothing of the sort was happening but the same “Sources” from both said it did happen.  It is kind of funny because the CIA, from what I have always heard, are supposed to do all their work outside the borders of the United States.

As a private citizen, it is getting to the point where it is time to just shut off any national news coverage and when the next elections come around, vote for anyone not holding office. That is an option.  Congress was scared right after the elections but they are falling right back into that old groove. The Judicial branch is legislating from the bench again and not even trying to hide it.  You thought the results from the last election was bad.  The next one might be over the top.

Why?

The American citizen is getting tired of all that is happening in Washington. We have permanently elected officials that will not change.  They are not there to represent the people that elected them but are only there to fill their own pockets.  We have political groups that have no idea what they are doing.  We have department Directors that are even now checking which way the political wind is blowing before doing anything.  The propaganda machine is getting ready for another round.  The question is: Will the American Citizen continue to sit and wait?

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Congress was put on Notice

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A show of hands, for those that watched President Trump’s address Tuesday night?

Did you enjoy the floor show that Congress put on?

Did you know that the President could have done the same thing by inviting the congressional leaders and small groups to the White House and spent the next four years trying to get a consensus for his agenda?

Did you know he could have done a Press conference and we would not have heard exactly how something was going to get done? We would have heard a different version, I bet.

Both houses of Congress were present, along with the members of the Supreme Court and some invited guests. President Trump was not there to talk to them.  He did talk about some of the life changes of the invited guests as bullet points to his speech.  All of this was done on live television without the ability of the Press cutting up all the sound bites.

President Trump was talking to the American People. Democrat, Republican, Independent, or whatever political affiliation you want to name them.  He presented his plan to the American Public in the name of talking to Congress.  Because it doesn’t matter what the Congressional members political affiliation is, if the people they represent, start yelling at them to go with or fight this plan, when it is time for reelection, you may see many just quit or actually start listening to their constitute.  President Trump has just put the political elite on the proverbial hot seat.

It is the job of the American Citizen to make our thoughts heard by them in a legal way. Not like some of those so called protesters that some say are being paid to riot in the streets in the name of free speech.  Change is not made overnight but if we keep Congress’s nose to the grindstone, we may see the light at the end of the pit we are in.

Some Study Required

Immigration, Media, Politics, , , , , , , , , ,

After this weekend explosion in the media after President Trump’s latest executive order.  One has to ask, how many of you have traveled outside the country as a normal citizen?

As an American citizen, you may have a opportunity to travel to some other part of our big world that is getting much smaller.  Be it for pleasure or work will make a big difference when you apply for a Visa, if needed, for your destination.  So, you jump through all the hoops, paperwork, travel permits, tickets, vaccination shot sand sometimes a ‘Fee’ when filing for your Visa just to get to your destination with your bright red suitcase and you step up to the local customs official and present them with your paperwork, just to find you have just broken one of their laws.

I am using the “Red Suitcase” as a simplistic version for this case.  In all your preparation for your trip you read about the local customs and laws that may pertain to you or it may have been a change while you were on your flight to the country.  I which case, if you do surrender your “Red” suitcase and carry your stuff in a shopping bag, the local customs officer can have you re-board the plane and send you away.  Just because you get a Visa does not guarantee you will have a good trip.

Before everyone get up in arms about my explanation, I do suggest that you take the time and look it up and read it for your self.  The United States immigration policy is rather large and has been updated by your elected leaders in Congress.  If you want it changed, you better make them do it.  It is just going to be enforced now.

Either option you chose on your trip you are now returning to the U.S. with your passport and other travel documents.  You are now in front of a U.S. Customs agent on U.S. soil, you present him with all the documentation and what you are coming back with.  You answer the agents questions and now find yourself moved to a room for a more in-depth interview.  Did you answer the previous questions right or was there something else?  Was there some medical problem that needs checked out.  Like a disease outbreak just after you boarded your plane.  Did you bring something that is not allowed in this country?  This is just some of the things that the Customs agent has to check off before you can re-enter the country.

That was just for an U.S. citizen, now what if you are an immigrant or refugee.  Many of them will get a Visa just to get them the ability to leave the country they are in, some will try to use this permission slip to get to the United States where up on arrival they have to ask and get the permission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or through their agents at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to actually enter the country.

While having a visa does not guarantee entry to the United States, it does indicate a consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad has determined you are eligible to seek entry for that specific purpose. DHS/CBP inspectors, guardians of the nation’s borders, are responsible for admission of travelers to the United States, for a specified status and period of time. DHS also has responsibility for immigration matters while you are present in the United States.

Much of this information is availibly on line at the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and the Customs and Border Protection website.

Once you are allowed in the country you will have to apply for a Green Card.  A Green Card is needed to continue your application to become a Citizen of the United States of America.  You can think of a Green Card like a probationary period.  There are may rules and ways that you can get a mark against you during this time.  You can find stories on the internet that people with a Green Card’s have done something that if they leave, they may have to do some paperwork to get back in or may not be allowed back in.

Many of these immigrants and refugees need sponsers to step up and be responsible for their requirments while they go through the process of learning to live and grow in the United States.  Wonder how many of the ‘not my problem’ protesting crowd will step up.  Once you start reading about the immigration laws and policies through the years, you won’t believe some of the things that caused immigrants in the past to be turned away for.  Before jumping on the bandwagon, some study required.