Generation Zero Documentary Explores Roots of Financial Meltdown

One of the most talked about documentaries today is Generation Zero. It was a sleeper hit at both the Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend and at the Tea Party convention in Nashville. Sean Hannity devoted his entire Fox News program to the documentary Tuesday night.

The full-length feature examines the roots of the 2008 financial meltdown in the U.S. and posits the idea that what happened is NOT a failure of America's economic system of capitalism, but rather a failure of our culture and the values held by many in the Sixties generation.

For more information about Generation Zero, visit http://www.generationzeromovie.com/ or view the minute-long trailer below.

Big Brother Marches Forward in America

In light of the federal government's ongoing efforts to force a nationwide transition to electronic records for all students in the public schools (assisted in Oklahoma by Education Secretary Kathy Taylor's Race to the Top grant application) and for all American citizens (via President Obama's health care reform proposal) this quote from former Jimmy Carter adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski in his 1970 essay, Between Two Ages: America's Role in the Technetronic Era, literally jumped of the page:

"It will soon be possible to assert almost continuous control over every citizen and to maintain up-to-date files containing even the most personal details about health and personal behavior of every citizen, in addition to the more customary data. These files will be subject to instantaneous retrival by the authorities. Power will gravitate into the hands of those who control information."

McCullough: Lawmakers Must Face Divorce Issue

Rep. Mark McCullough released the following statement today (unedited):

As lawmakers deal with the budget shortfall, they must also face the issue of family fragmentation, state Rep. Mark McCullough said today.

“Clearly, legislation alone will not solve the problem of divorce and family fragmentation, but we cannot afford to ignore the issue as it drains hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars,” said McCullough, R-Sapulpa.

House Bill 2634, by McCullough, would require two hours of pre-marital counseling before the issuance of a marriage license and provide a $45 dollar discount on a marriage license for couples getting more than eight hours of pre-marital counseling. The measure also allows for a “covenant marriage” license and requires court directed pre-divorce education classes for couples with children.

McCullough noted the counseling and divorce education provisions are already in state law, but are permissive and currently do not require participation.

House Bill 2634 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee this week on a 6-5 vote.

However, a similar measure was defeated on the House floor on Monday. House Bill 2543, by state Rep. John Wright (R-Broken Arrow), would have required couples to go through one hour of divorce counseling before they can file for divorce. The measure was defeated 37-57.

“Some are hesitant to support this legislation because of concerns about government becoming involved in this issue,” McCullough said. “Unfortunately, the state is already involved – big time. State government spends more than $400 million every year on the fallout of divorce.”

A recent study, “The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed Childbearing” conservatively estimates divorce has a dramatic impact on the cost of state government (largely through public assistance programs) – up to $430 million annually in Oklahoma.

“The bills Representative Wright and I filed each have a simple theme: reasonable, rational, and quite frankly, pretty mild proposals to encourage people to be deliberative about the marriage and divorce process,” McCullough said. “These are two simple proposals that could help Oklahomans that have no real downside.”

A third measure, House Bill 2279, by state Rep. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City), would have slowed the divorce process for couples with young children where just one spouse seeks a “no fault” divorce. That bill was defeated 3-7 in the House Judiciary Committee.

“Representative Kern knew it was controversial to challenge no fault divorce, but her perception is that the consequence of no fault – 40 years on – has been nothing less than catastrophic to the institution of marriage,” McCullough said. “Why not challenge the axiom of no fault’s supremacy?”

McCullough noted that research shows children from broken homes are 12 times more likely to be incarcerated, seven times more likely to live in poverty and three times more likely to be expelled and receive lower grades. They also are more susceptible to substance abuse and mental health disorders.

“Government will not solve this problem but government is already heavily involved,” McCullough said. “We cannot pretend the state does not have role in the increasingly clear problem of family fragmentation.”

HB 2543 Fails in State House Vote

Yesterday, HB 2543 failed to win approval in the state House of Representatives.

The bill, authored by Rep. John Wright (R-Broken Arrow), would have required couples contemplating a divorce to obtain one (1) hour of counseling before a petition for divorce could be filed.

The House vote was 37 for, 57 against, and 7 members were excused. More Republicans voted for the bill than Democrats, but the vote was bipartisan, with some Republicans voting against the bill.

To learn how your particular representative voted, click here and, then, find Feb. 22 vote for HB 2543 on Third Reading.

President Obama's Newest Health Care Proposal

The White House today released its newest health care reform proposal.

The President's proposal mentions taxes at least 35 times, includes new fees for users of brand-name drugs, and continues the move toward a new electronic government database for all our medical information — something that, coincidentally, is now happening to public school students in the realm of K-12 education, as was discussed yesterday by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, at a meeting of the nation's governors.

You can read a PDF summary of the health care prepared by the White House by clicking here and looking for Key Documents February 22, 2010.

A health care reform meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, Feb. 25. President Barack Obama will be attempting to sell Democrats and Republicans on his newest health care reform proposal, which, if approved, still puts America on the path toward a takeover of one-sixth of the economy.

It remains to be seen whether good faith negotiating between Congressional leaders and the White House will be encouraged this Thursday or whether this new meeting is just an opportunity for the President to use Alinsky-style tactics to take proponents of real, free-market based health care reforms to task for their unwillingness to agree to Mr. Obama's newest proposal.

Lady Liberty Enlightening the World

Broadcaster Glenn Beck really knocked it out of the park yesterday at CPAC. If you didn't see the speech, you really owe it to yourself to see the reruns on C-SPAN or to view the entire speech on YouTube.

Here's a snippet. In this clip below, Beck talks about the Statue of Liberty, now we ususally — and wrongly — think of it today, and how it was originally intended to be received when it was given to the U.S. in 1876 by France on the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of our American Independence. It's a "barn-burner"!

Newt Gingrich and Glenn Beck to Speak at CPAC Today

Today, both former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and popular radio talk show host Glenn Beck are scheduled to speak in Washington, D.C., to attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference. For over a quarter of a century, CPAC has been the premier educational and training conference of the Conservative movement.

C-SPAN will carry their speeches live today, Feb. 20th, and we invite you to watch and listen if your Saturday schedule permits.

Gingrich will speak today at 1 p.m. CST. A former history professor, Gingrich is an excellent speaker and always full of ideas and strong opinions.

Beck is scheduled to take the podium at 5 p.m. CST. It is expected that Beck, also a Fox News Channel personality, will talk about the origins and impact of the Progressive political movement of the early 20th century.

He will also likely educate attendees about its continuing huge impact on our nation and its governance, including Progressive assaults on the U.S. Constitution.

If you miss Gingrich and Beck the first time, expect for C-SPAN to replay them later tonight and tomorrow.