Judge named to instructions committee

By ANN ZANIEWSKI
Of The Oakland Press

Oakland Circuit Judge Michael Warren has been appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions.

Comprising judges and attorneys, the committee makes sure that jury instructions for civil trials are clear and fair. It has the authority to amend or repeal instructions and adopt new instructions.

Warren was appointed for the 2009-2011 term. Committee members serve three-year terms and can be re-appointed for another two years.

The committee meets quarterly.

Warren was appointed to the 6th Circuit Court in Oakland County in December 2002 and then elected in 2004 and 2006. He is a former member of the Michigan State Board of Education and led the pilot program for the circuit court’s e-filing — electronic filing — project.

Warren is an author. His latest book is “America’s Survival Guide, How to Stop America’s Impending Suicide by Reclaiming Our First Principles and History.”

Contact staff writer Ann Zaniewski at (248) 745-4628 or ann.zaniewski@oakpress.com.

Just What Does $789 Billion Buy You?

Congress has just passed the $789 Billion Dollar Stimulus Package. I've read several newspaper accounts and listened to the radio to figure out just what this buys you. The breakdown of what Congress approved is elusive to say the least. For example, General Motors apparently recieved a tax break, but sources variously report the size of the break from $3 billion, $7 billion, to $10 billion. A range of $7 billion is a bit difficult to fathom - especially since it relates to ensuring that GM need not pay a huge tax bill based on, yes you guessed it, GM's loans from the federal government a few weeks ago. I certainly don't begrudge my hometown company from recieving the tax break or the loans, but you would hope Congress would understand the fiscal ramifications of its actions.



Putting the merits of the spending bill aside, the troubling aspect is that no Congressmen apparently had the time (let alone the inclination) to read the final bill; and there was hardly a whisper of whether the package in any manner conforms with our Founding First Principles - such as limited government and equality. Those two First Principles clearly are tested by the stimulus package, but no one seemed to notice.



For more on why should be concerned about the application of our First Principles any government spending, visit: http://www.americassurvivalguide.com/index.php

Happy 200th Birthday President Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was born 200 years ago today. When he was born, slavery was common and racism rampant. Through his bold, cunning, and ingenious leadership, the Civil War was transformed from a war to preserve the Union to one to liberate the slaves. His legacy has left a strong imprint on America. The Homestead Act, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, victory in the Civil War, Reconstruction - and ultimately the civil rights struggles - are all tied to his vision. He embraced the First Principle of equality, and made America to begin to live up to its promise.

Click on the title of this post to read the Gettysburg Address - likely the most influential - and eloquent - speech in American history.

Happy Birthday Mr. Lincoln.

For more on Lincoln and his legacy, visit http://www.americassurvivalguide.com/index.php

America's Survival Guide Products Available!!

For those of you devotees who can't get enough of America's Survival Guide, through a partnership with the publisher, products proudly displaying America's Survival Guide can be purchased through Cafe Press. The products range the gamut: shirts, hoodies, bibs, clocks, mugs, pet clothes, and even beer steins! Take a minute and look, and hopefully you will find something that catches your eye!

Click on the title of this posting, or under the favorite websites, or copy and paste the following website:
http://www.cafepress.com/MichaelWarren.

For more on America's Survival Guide, see AmericasSurvivalGuide.com.

DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

During these times of financial crisis, some voices of sanity are arising above the din and buzz. Believe it or not, one of them is coming from one of the world's largest financial institutions - ING. Click on the website above to review their Declaration of Financial Independence, which includes several principles on how to SAVE (gasp) money over the long-term. Among these principles are such time honored maxims as "We will spend less than we earn" and "We will take care of our money."

The Founders, of course, believed in fiscal responsiblity and created the foundation on which our prosperity still rests. Perhaps it is time to reembrace Bejamine Franklin's thriftiness and take responsiblity for our own fiscal order.