It is Time to End the Fed
By Brian Harris
“The greatest threat facing middle and working-class Americans is our depreciating paper currency.” Dr. Ron Paul penned that statement as the opening line in his 1981 Minority Report to the Gold Commission. It rings more true today as we all are paying more for groceries, gasoline, and everything else.
We seem ever so close to the complete collapse of the dollar, our economy, and possibly our American way of life. The debt clock is spinning toward 31 trillion dollars. Inflation is at 9.1%, which is a 40-year high. How did we get here? How do we fix it? The answers to both questions are surprisingly simple.
We must first step back in time to identify how we got to the economic precipice. The framers of the American Constitution had just finished birthing a nation. They shed blood, sweat, tears, and treasure in this endeavor. During the revolutionary war, the Continental Congress issued paper money. In the beginning, the value of one paper dollar equaled one gold dollar. And after four years of war, it took 1,000 paper dollars to equal one gold dollar. If you recall the phrase from civics class, “not worth a continental,” you can fathom why the framers were averse to a paper currency system. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 5 of the Constitution states that Congress shall have the power to “coin money and regulate the value thereof.
In support of that clause, the Mint Act of 1792 was enacted, which established the US Mint, the standards for minting coins, and the standardization of our currency system. The law also carried the death penalty for officers of the mint if they debased or embezzled the nation’s coinage. As a result, the American money system was based on hard money (metals of intrinsic value). This system propelled the growth and prosperity of our young nation.
In 1913 the Federal Reserve Act was passed, creating the Federal Reserve System. This system benefited the mega bankers and robbed “we the people” of the power over our economic system. Every dollar printed by the Fed is loaned to the US Treasury for circulation, and the Fed gets to charge the government (us) interest on every dollar. If you think this sounds like a racket, you would be correct. At least until 1971, the dollar was tied to a gold standard. Between 1913 and 1971, both parties had a hand in destroying our economic prosperity. FDR confiscated gold from the people in 1933, and Richard Nixon finally decoupled the dollar from gold completely in 1971. Now every dollar loaned to the Treasury by the Federal Reserve is literally created out of thin air, but we have a very real debt to pay back. Just look at the 30 trillion dollars in national debt.
The federal reserve system opened the door for inflationary practices that can be manipulated by politicians, special interests, and mega bankers. When the dollar was pegged to gold, there was at least some restraint on the printing press. Unfortunately, the very real inflation we are all experiencing today is due to an out-of-control Congress borrowing from the Fed to print all of the Monopoly money that we call Federal Reserve Notes. Remember those Covid checks we all got last year and the year before? Yep, money was created out of nothing and added to our national debt. The same goes for the billions our government is sending to Ukraine. America is literally bankrupt. Every dollar printed to pay for social programs, federal employee paychecks, the military-industrial complex, and pork barrel projects is added to our debt.
In summation of the first question: We reached this point because we departed from a sound, constitutional money system in 1913 and ceded our destiny to politicians and bankers.
We fix the problem by returning to a gold standard and abolishing the Federal Reserve. Economist Murray N. Rothbard stated, “Our present system gives the federal government and its Federal Reserve System the unlimited power to counterfeit.” Coincidentally, counterfeiting is one of the few crimes identified in our federal constitution. We must return to a constitutional money system whereby the Treasury controls the coining and/or printing of money that is tied to precious metals. I also believe that we should seriously consider defaulting on our debt to the Federal Reserve and wiping the slate clean. Dr. Ron Paul points out, “Congress alone is responsible for inflation, and Congress alone can stop it.” Inflation will be eliminated by returning to a sound money system and destroying the printing press.
The current Federal Reserve System is immoral and hurts all of us. To this point, the politicians in Washington have not demonstrated the fortitude to do the right thing. They are getting too rich off of the scam. Therefore, it is time for us to muster the courage to regain our economic future. The first plank of the Convention of States platform calls for imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government. Abolishing the Fed and returning to a gold standard would accomplish this goal.
For more information, I highly encourage you to read Dr. Pauls: Gold, Peace, and Prosperity- The Birth of a New Currency, as well as his fantastic book, End the Fed.
Tennessee State Strategy Meeting
By Jim MacDonald
At this time each year, Tennessee holds its annual State Strategy meeting. Leaders from around the state get together for teaching and fellowship. It’s good to see the life-size figures of each leader rather than the two-inch square picture we see every week on the Zoom call.
The meeting is typically a one-day event spread over two days. On Friday, July 15, about ten people met at the Grace Lutheran Church in Murfreesboro to set up and decorate the room and then assembled at Puckett’s restaurant for an outstanding meal with all who could join us.
However, the event’s success began weeks prior to the meeting with Ramona DeSalvo, SD Legislative Action, John Taylor, SGC, and Lyle Hill, SD, preparing and strategizing for the function. Thank you all for your hard work because the training was terrific.
My favorite part of any event like this is breaking bread together, especially with like-minded patriots. Food and fellowship bring people together like nothing else. Blessed were the disciples who had the opportunity to break bread with Jesus for nearly three years. And I would argue that family meals are essential to developing a strong family unit.
This meal was no different. Here are some pictures from the evening together.
We began promptly the following day at 8:00 am with coffee and, of course, food to enjoy more fellowship.
After some opening remarks and introductions from Ramona, Tom Riordan, DC, began his talk on leadership. Tom was a pilot in the Marines and shared some outstanding insight on the importance of being a strong leader. Tom is dedicated to the Convention of States because he knows that “this is not the country he fought for.”
We were all blessed with this next speaker. Kristen Stanciu, ELP Administrator, is an 18-year-old college student from Texas who is part of the COS Emerging Leaders Program. Kristen spoke about reaching the young men and women in America with conservative ideas and shared some of the struggles they are up against. Among many things she said, the overwhelming reaction from everyone listening to her was—that we can find great hope in our young people today if we don’t give up on them.
Jonathan Viaud, Regional Director, flew in from Vermont to speak to us about the success of the Telepatriot missions program. He talked about the direction the program will take in the coming months due to the COS patriots’ outstanding accomplishments in this program.
Ramona DeSalvo, SD Legislative Action, discussed the Faithful Commissioner Law. Tennessee passed the resolution to call a convention of states in 2016, and currently, nineteen states have passed. Therefore, we need to work on the Faithful Commissioner law. This law will include how the commissioners are selected and the rules and guidelines they must follow, including penalties if they divert from the instructions given to them by the state legislature.
Developing a solid and cohesive team is critical to the growth of COS. In Tennessee, the leaders epitomizing this role are Jay Walling, RC, Dean McGhan, DC, and Sandy Reno, DC. Enthusiasm and determination to do whatever it takes shined through their speech. People are easily attracted to them.
Lyle Hill, SD, then awarded Marshall Willis, RC, with years of service pin after dedicating seven years to the COS cause for liberty. Thank you for your service, Marshall!
Mark Meckler dropped in on Zoom to bless everyone in attendance with his wisdom. He stated that America is in an epic battle between good and evil. Mark explained the bees would attack, and how we react is critical to America’s survival (inside story…ask an attendee). First, returning to federalism is vital. The power is at home with the state legislature. Second, COS is the tool the Founders gave us to make this happen. And finally, like our Founders, we must pledge our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to one another to accomplish this mission.
Mark then presented two Challenge Coins to Jay Walling and me. We were honored to receive these coins and thankful to our leadership for nominating us for them. I will discuss more on this in the following article.
It’s an honor to serve on the COS Tennessee team with terrific people of character. Please consider joining us if you are reading this article and haven’t become active with this cause. Unfortunately, America is only a stone’s throw from being transformed into a Marxist regime. It will take every patriot, united with God, to overcome the evil that’s dominated our nation. But, our posterity is counting on us to fight the good fight.
Leadership Moment
– as presented at the 2022 Tennessee State Strategy Meeting
By Thomas J Riordan, Jr. Major, US Marines Retired, COS DC
20-year Marine, nine enlisted, 11 years officer. Marine of the quarter multiple times, meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant, and Staff Sergeant. Marine Corps MECEP Scholarship at the University of Illinois received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. NROTC Battalion Commander and distinguished military graduate. KC-130 Pilot worldwide missions, all-weather multi-crew tactical missions. Air Officer and H&HS Company Commander, Marine Barracks Guantanamo Bay Cuba, T-34 Primary Instructor Whiting Field, FL. T-34 Standardization and check pilot. CNATRA T-34 Chief Instrument Flight Instructor. Financial advisor. US Government pilot, Afghanistan. Corporate pilot. Business owner.
Today I will focus on leading the team and following the mission. The COS’s mission is to build the largest Grassroots Organization in the United States. Each leader has defined tasks to accomplish their part. Leadership is the art and skill of convincing people to help you to complete the mission.
COS has adopted Servant Leadership as the leadership style they would like to employ in the organization. Servant Leadership is very similar to Leadership taught in the US military. The big difference is that the author added the influence of the bible and the life and message of Jesus Christ.
Servant leaders decide what is best for the whole group and the mission. Everyone who is a leader has the responsibility to be honest, factual, and mutually supportive of each other. One leader should not criticize another leader to their peers or volunteers. If they have a problem with a leader, they must address that leader confidentially. Maybe, they don’t have all the facts or know all the responsibilities of the leader they criticize. After they talk to the leader and find that they still do not agree, they should do their stated mission for their role and not criticize.
What happens to a unit or organization when leaders and members criticize their leaders. It sows the seeds of discord that destroys unit cohesiveness, Esprit de corps, and confidence of those in charge. As a result, such a unit cannot defeat an enemy nor survive attacks from the enemy. Nor accomplish its mission.
Definition of esprit de corps: the common spirit existing in the members of a group and inspiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for the honor of the group.
Example: Toward the end of my Marine Corps career, I was the operations officer for a Navy Primary Training Squadron in Pensacola, Florida. I was the senior Marine in the unit and one of the most experienced instructor pilots. Every Hurricane season, we are usually hit by a monster storm. Our hangers are designed to handle hurricane winds. However, even though they pack the planes together, usually a dozen or so planes must be flown to an airport out of the hurricane impact zone. The junior Marine pilots were grumbling that the Navy leadership always waits until the last minute to decide. If they wait until the last minute, they will not fly. This will result in damaged aircraft, lost sorties, more extended flight training, and grumbling shared with other instructor pilots and students that the Navy Brass doesn’t know what it is doing. They came to me in protest. I asked the Skipper, an affectionate and accepted term for a Naval Unit Commander, to ask the Commadore to make the decision early. The Commodore was the Admiral in charge of the whole Flight Training Fleet.
Unfortunately, the Commodore decided at the last possible moment. My Skipper asked me to select four pilots to take four airplanes north. I said: ”aye aye, sir, I will be one of those pilots.” When I asked for volunteers, seeing that I was taking a plane too, I had more than I needed. We moved 13 airplanes to Knoxville to wait out the storm between the three squadrons on the airfield. The tentacles of the Hurricane were already upon us. But the winds and icing forecast were not beyond the aircraft’s capabilities. I was one of the first to take off and reported the conditions to the pilots coming behind me. While it was a wild ride, none of the flyers experienced any serious problems, and all had a great story to tell their kids.
Many instructors had doubts about what they and the aircraft could do. However, the Commodore knew the capabilities of the plane and pilots. And the pilots who went learned what they and the aircraft could handle in adverse weather.
Challenge Coins
By Jim MacDonald
The pictures above are both sides of the prestigious Convention of States Challenge Coin. This coin was minted in 2013, producing only 300 coins, after which the mold was destroyed. The front of the coin features George Mason, the Founding Father, who recognized America would need a method for draining the swamp once the federal government usurped the power from the states and the people.
The back of the coin prominently displays the original logo for the Convention of States Project.
The coin comes with a certificate signed by the Co-Founders of the Convention of States: Mark Meckler and Michael Farris. The Certificate states:
Convention of States Challenge Coin
Certificate of Appreciation
Awarded to
--- Recipient's Name ---
for continuing the legacy of our Founding Fathers who labored to form “a more perfect union.”
Just as they pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor for the cause of liberty
and self-governance. So have you given deeply of yourself for the very same cause.
Let the coin that accompanies this certificate serve as a token of the enduring work
you have done to preserve our Republic for future generations.
Mark Meckler says: “The coin and the recognition it bestows are at the root of what we are…grassroots. And recognizing servant leadership, greatness, and sacrifice by our grassroots has always been a defining imperative for us.”
On July 16, 2022, Jay Wallings and I were honored and humbled to be awarded this coveted Challenge Coin by Mark Meckler via a Zoom call during the Tennessee State Strategy meeting. Mark stated that more than one coin is rarely given to a state team during the same year. This is a tribute to the success and hard work of the whole Tennessee team. Though Jay and I received the honor, this was not possible without every member of the leadership team. I’m sure Jay would concur; we are both grateful to work with patriots who, like us, love our country and will do whatever it takes to preserve her exceptionalism.
Side note: Mark Meckler awarded the coin to Jay and his wife, Debbie, and myself along with my wife, Debbie. He called us: Power Couples. And I couldn’t agree more!
Tennessee on the Move...
Farragut Patriots on a Block Walk
Patriots from Knoxville
Patriots from Murfreesboro
Patriots from Sevierville
Patriots at the Springfield Freedom Fest
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Gallatin, TN. Saturday, August 13th, at the Gallatin Public Library, 123 East Main St. Gallatin, from 10:00 a.m. Contact: Debbie at debbie.macdonald@cosaction.com
Loudon, TN. 1st Wednesday of every month at the Tellico Village Rec Center, Room D at 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at 145 Awohili Dr. - Call Terri Hult for more information: 865-304-6997
Maryville, Tn. Saturday, August 6th, 10:00 till 12:00 pm. Contact Anita Airee
Springfield, TN. Sunday, July 30th, El Molcajette Restaurant, 1706 Kirby St. Springfield, TN 37172 from 6:30 pm till 8:00
Spring Hill, TN. Monday, August 8th, at Martins Bar B Q from 6 to 7 p.m.
BattleCry
Join Mark Meckler for the BattleCry every Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. EST on Facebook and Rumble.
For the most up-to-date schedule, visit the Tennessee COS Facebook page.
Convention of States Tennessee
