Iceland, the Mouse that Roared

By Szandor Blestman

I thought I heard something the other night. It was a distant sound, a low rumbling, a roar from some far off beast that had finally pronounced its presence. It woke me for a second, but it was so distant I felt no threat and simply rolled over and went back to sleep. The next morning I learned that Iceland was taking a stand. It was refusing to pay its British and Dutch debts. It is claiming the debts are a result of fraud, and it's right. They have made the offer to pay some years from now, if they can afford it at that time, and only as a percentage of their GDP. This offer has been, of course, declined by Iceland's creditor banks as they demand payment in the form of real assets.

The Icelanders have grown a pair, so to speak. They are doing something I wish Americans would have done, or will do in the future. They are standing up to the privately owned banks that seem to think they are above the law, that they can change the rules at their whim, and that they alone know what's best for the world, which of course happens to empower them and help their profits. I may not agree with all the politics of Iceland. It might not be the bastion of freedom one looking to get away from intrusive government might run to, but I do admire their stance against the banksters.

Let's examine the situation a little closer. The Icelanders claim that private banks owe the money to other private banks, not taxpayers. The people who own the private banks should be responsible for paying back the creditor banks, not the people of Iceland. I agree wholeheartedly with that assessment. Furthermore, I would take it a step further and make the assertion that any government official voting for any public borrowing that requires payment of public funds for interest be held responsible, or their family be held responsible, should the loans go into default. In other words, these public officials should not be allowed to maintain their fortunes while the common folk are expected to pay for the mistakes they made. Perhaps that would help stop the corruption. FULL STORY

So why did the Congress of the United States commit the American Citizens to paying for the corruption and private bankers creditors. Lets examine what our Constitution has to say.

Article I Sec. 9 Claus 7 of the Constitution of the United States of America clearly states:

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States; and no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Yet...

E-Newsletter July 8, 2008

The Netherlands Honors Hoekstra

Hoekstra the Congressional Caucus on the Netherlands Chairman, was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. by Dutch Ambassador Chirstiaan Kršner.

The Order of Orange-Nassau was created in 1892 as a royal honor by the Dutch monarchy to recognize extraordinary service to society. Her Majesty the Queen is Grand Master of the Order. All nominations for the Order of the Orange-Nassau are elevated on a national basis by the Civil Honors Advisory Commission of the Netherlands.

Hoekstra emigrated from the Netherlands with his parents in 1956 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen at 9 years old, making him the only Dutch immigrant serving in Congress.

Order of Orange-Nassau

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Orange-Nassau

In 1841 William II of the Netherlands, as Grand Duke of Luxembourg, created the Order of the Oak Crown. Although this was officially not a Dutch order, honours were regularly conferred on Dutch people. After the death of William III, Luxembourg became an independent state. There was a need for a third Dutch order, beside the military Order of William and Order of the Netherlands Lion, so that royal honours could be conferred upon foreign diplomats and people from lower ranks and classes.

The Order of Orange-Nassau has two divisions, civil and military, the former denoted by a wreath of laurel on the badges, and the latter by crossed swords on both the badges and the stars. The Order of Orange-Nassau can therefore be considered the Dutch equivalent of the Order of the British Empire.

First Hoekstra voted against the bailout and then he voted for the bailot. Who put pressure on Pete Hoekstra to change his vote? Who does the Congress of the United States of America represent?

Was this the reason for the passage of the "Original Thirteenth Article of Amendment To The Constitution For The United States"

"If any citizen of the United States shall accept, claim, receive, or retain any title of nobility or honour, or shall without the consent of Congress, accept and retain any present, pension, office, or emolument of any kind whatever, from any emperor, king, prince, or foreign power, such person shall cease to be a citizen of the United States, and shall be incapable of holding any office of trust or profit under them, or either of them." [Journal of the Senate]