THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD. HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE? #1.

If you are the Type of Person who likes GHOST STORIES, TALES OF ALIEN VISITATION, LEGENDARY MONSTERS etc, AND OTHER SUCH  STAPLES OF POPULAR FICTION, OLD TIME RADIO SHOWS, FEATURE FILMS, AND OF COURSE T.V., YOU ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE COME ACROSS DISCLAIMERS LIKE:

-  "BASED ON ACTUAL EVENTS."

-  "ACCORDING TO WITNESS TESTIMONY."

-  "REPORTED BY RELIABLE PERSONS, WITH

    NO REASON TO LIE."

-  "THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COULDN'T ALL BE WRONG."

     AND SO ON...

The Problem is, you have almost no way of knowing the Accuracy or the Truth Contained Within these Statements.  You Hear the Characters, (or the Witnesses, if it is some form of Documentary), relate information that seems Genuine and Sincere, but is, in Fact, Unreliable Dialogue promoting a Particular Point of View.

This could lead to an Individual Making a Decision Based Upon Factors that have been placed within the Content of the Story, encouraging them to be less OBJECTIVE, and MORE ACCEPTABLE OF SHODDY, UNRELIABLE, AND INADEQUATE ANALYSES OF THE SUBJECT MATTER, THAT CANNOT STAND UP TO PROPER SCRUTINY. (WHICH, IN MANY WAYS, MIRRORS THE STRATEGY OF POLITICIANS RUNNING FOR OFFICE.  HOWEVER, YOU CAN READ ABOUT THAT ON OTHER PAGES OF THIS WEBSITE.)

#1.  GET THE REAL STORY-  Researching the Paranormal, to find information that has A Direct Relationship or Bearing on the Truth of the Given Legend or Myth, is not always easy.  The Lack of Supporting Evidence on Many Claims Leads Some Adherents or Believers to MANUFACTURE, CREATE, OR EMBELLISH INFORMATION AND DATA THAT LENDS CREDENCE TO THEIR CLAIMS. This can become more Prevalent Depending on the # OF TIMES IT HAS BEEN RETOLD OR REPUBLISHED, WITH EACH SUCCEEDING "AUTHOR," ALTERING THE STORY TO REFLECT THEIR PERSONAL BELIEFS, AGENDA, OR PERSPECTIVE AUDIENCE.

For Example, Researching the BERMUDA TRIANGLE LEGEND IS PERHAPS THE MOST TIME CONSUMING, WITH THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF DISAPPEARANCES VARYING BETWEEN AUTHORS. Explanations for the Losses run from the Mundane and Commonplace, to the Bizarre, Irrational, and quite frankly, Stupid. 

However, the BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO OVERCOME IN VERIFYING THE TRUE NATURE OF THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE MYTH, IS FINDING THE ORIGINAL SOURCE MATERIAL THAT PROVIDED THE INITIAL INFORMATION REFERENCED FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL EVENT.

FEATURE ARTICLES. WHAT DOES THE U.S. CONSTITUTION ACTUALLY SAY ABOUT RELIGION? PT 1.

When Americans discuss religious freedom as it is referenced in the constitution,  they generally refer to the First Amendment.  However, Religion is also addressed in one other place in the body of the document.  This is Article Six.  In my opinion, this section is of great importance, even more than the first amendment, when determining what role religion would play in the formation of public policy and law in the new republic.

To clarify, let me quote the part of Article six that is essential to the discussion; "The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

In the next part of this article, I will analyze the words contained in Article six and see if they conflict with the what is written in the first amendment.  However, sometimes it is also beneficial to analyze what is not included.  To be more specific, what words or phrases are not found in the Constitution and what we may infer from these exclusions.(Continued in a future posting.)

TAX DAY. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DAVID CICILLINE.

Dear David, 

Wednesday was Tax Day – the day all Americans are required to submit their taxes to the IRS. But this year, we are all too aware that the tax code has been tilted in favor of the wealthiest Americans and most profitable corporations at the expense of working people. The GOP tax scam will cause 86 million more middle class families to pay more in taxes, while billionaires and special interest take home a $1.5 trillion tax cut. That is not how our system is supposed to work. We need a tax code that is fair and makes certain that the richest amount us pay their fair share and middle class families get a real and permanent tax cut. 

And even worse – now Republicans are trying to use the deficit that they created as an excuse to cut Medicare and Social Security. That’s a rotten deal, and I am going to do everything I can to stop them. 

You can watch me discuss Democrats’ Better Deal for the middle class here . 

Buffett Rule 

Our tax code is skewed in favor of the wealthiest Americans, and the GOP tax bill only makes it worse. Right now, billionaires often pay a lower share of their income in taxes than do nurses and teachers. As legendary investor Warren Buffett has pointed out, he pays a smaller share of his vast income in taxes than does his secretary. Like most Americans, I think it should be the other way around, and I’ve introduced legislation in Congress, along with Senator Whitehouse, to implement the so-called Buffett to ensure that the richest Americans are paying their fair share by guaranteeing that the company CEO doesn't pay a lower tax rate than his secretary or company salesperson. 



Special Counsel 

As President Trump continues to threaten the Special Counsel’s investigation, there is a clear need to ensure he cannot bury any evidence that’s already been uncovered. That’s why I am joining with my colleagues in the House to introduce the Special Counsel Transparency Act , a bill to preserve Special Counsel Mueller’s work regardless of any action the President takes in the days ahead. 

The Special Counsel Transparency Act would:

• In the event the Special Counsel is removed, require the Special Counsel to provide a report to congressional leadership and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees detailing the status of the investigation and facts found as of the date of dismissal. 

• This report shall include any evidence of criminal activity that implicates the President, any person within the Executive Office of the President, or any political officer, including evidence protected by grand jury secrecy rules. 

• Prohibit the prosecution of the Special Counsel for any disclosures made to Congress pursuant to this bill. 

• Require the Department of Justice to provide a comparable report to Congress detailing the status of the investigation and facts found.

The Special Counsel Transparency Act has been endorsed by Open the Government, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, the Sunlight Foundation, and Project on Government Oversight. 

Reminder...

Don’t let the US Census discriminate. CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE JASON RITTEREISER.

 

David,

 

The Trump Administration has proposed adding a troubling question to the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census: “What is your citizenship status?”

 

This kind of question hasn’t been asked on a Census since the 1950s, and for good reason: It’s designed to scare our immigrant neighbors and keep them from being accurately counted.

 

This is just the latest discriminatory proposal from the Trump Administration... demand that Congress oppose this action.

 

This blatantly racist tactic could have consequences for decades to come -- including the number of representatives each state gets in Congress, the number of votes each state gets in the Electoral College, and the amount of federal funding for essential programs like Medicaid, Head Start, and the National School Lunch program. 

 

This seemingly-small move from President Trump hurts all Americans and will drive our immigrant communities into the shadows for ten years.

 

We have to stand up and fight Trump’s latest discriminatory action:...demand that Congress oppose this proposal.

 

Thanks for your support, 

-- Team Jason