Labour has taken 13 years of diabolical liberties with Britain ... Individualism and autonomy used to be prized - now they are held in contempt, argues Simon Heffer ... Britain has become increasingly authoritarian. A danger of the government having made such a mess of the economy is that one risks forgetting all the other horrors for which it is responsible.

Between now and the election I shall make a point of discussing some of these other factors that an intelligent voter should want to consider before casting his or her ballot. Despite stiff competition from matters like Europe, immigration, law and order and the near-destruction of our education system, one is perhaps worse than all the others: the insidious and at times quite terrifying assault on our civil liberties. - UK Telegraph

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today called upon Congress to reject any attempts to alter the nation's healthcare system using parliamentary gimmicks and urged members to vote against the bill.  The letter, which was sent to the entire House of Representatives and can be viewed on CCAGW's website, reads as follows:   

"On Christmas Eve morning, Senate Democrats managed to strong arm enough members with giveaways such as the 'Cornhusker Kickback' and 'Louisiana Purchase' to pass Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) healthcare bill.  

Minority Leader Boehner has asked Speaker Pelosi to hold a special 'call of the roll' for the final health care vote this weekend.  Under this procedure, each lawmaker will be required to stand up and declare how he or she is voting on the bill.  The Leader believes the stakes are too high, and this bill too controversial, for anything less than complete transparency and accountability. 

It's time to stand up and be counted. Boehner's letter to Speaker Pelosi is linked and pasted below. Please feel free to share this info with any interested parties. 

Dear President Obama and Congress:

As early as this week, the House of Representatives will vote on the Senate-passed health care bill as well as a reconciliation package making changes to the bill. While Speaker Pelosi asserts that health care reform will create four million jobs, we disagree. In our view, the health care bill contains a number of provisions that will eliminate jobs, reduce hours and wages, and limit future job creation.