Visiting Our Southern Borders

by Ron Spangler
After visiting our Southern Borders and speaking with agents fresh out of the academy and agents with ten or more years service, I have a new perspective of our Border Patrol. Like most of the agents that have served for ten or more years the new agents feel they are serving their country the same as if they were serving in the military or any other law enforcement organization. They are exactly right.

Being older I can still remember how Americans looked down on our Border Patrol as nothing more than under payed security guys with the sole missions of harassing migrant workers and confiscating fruits and vegetables from law abiding citizens traveling between Arizona and California. Unfortunately some Americans today still view our agents not as Federal Law Enforcement agents fully trained in Federal Law but see them more as a security force with no law enforcement responsibility. A large portion of Americans are misinformed about the primary mission of the Border Patrol. Since the attacks on 9/11 the Border Patrol has become our primary defense from terrorists entering our country along our borders. Along with this new mission has come the responsibility of understanding and enforcing our laws and procedures in both Federal and Civil apprehensions of wanted suspects trying to enter or exit the United States. Not one agent that I spoke to harbored an ill will or hatred for any illegal that was trying to enter the US for a purely economical reason. On the other hand they are extremely dedicated to stopping the flow of drugs, illegal weapons, human smuggling and any terrorist trying to cross our borders.

While it may sound funny, I have had people ask me if agents are allowed to carry guns. When I explained that Border Patrol Agents have much of the same responsibilities and authority as the FBI, ATF, DEA, or the Federal Marshals Service people seemed shocked. Maybe with the increased numbers of young men and women joining the Border Patrol, people will have a better understanding of what they do every day and every night year end and year out. Having a better understanding for some of the things agents see and do may have an impact on how they are treated when they are accused of some horrendous act like shooting a drug smuggler or accidentally hitting illegals hiding in the brush in the middle of the desert.

We hear a lot about cases like; Father Of Girl Killed by Border Patrol Truck Sues but we hear very little about anything else.

In the case of the little girl getting killed, the lawyers and media want to leave out the fact that the father was hiding his little girl in the bushes. The agent was pursuing a group of people suspected of being smugglers or possible terrorists. The trucks they drive off road in the desert must set high off the ground and sometimes impairs the vision of the agent, especially when people are hiding trying to avoid detection. While our hearts go out for the loss of life of such a young innocent child, I would ask who is really in the wrong. Is it the parent that placed the child in the dangerous situation or the agent that was trying to do his duty. I would remind people that all of these agents are Americans with families too.

While I was on the border here are some stories you didn't see in the national media:

Tucson Sector Border Patrol Agents Deliver Baby
Border Patrol agents assigned to the Naco Station found 20 illegal aliens in a remote area of the Coronado National Forest. Before the group could be transported to the Naco Station, one of the women stated that she was pregnant and that her water had broken. Before Emergency Medical Service personnel could arrive, the woman gave birth. Border Patrol agents at the scene assisted with delivering the child and provided medical assistance. EMS arrived and transported the woman and child. Border Patrol agents are all certified as First Responders prior to graduating from the Border Patrol Academy. Through July 31, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents have rescued 382 individuals.

Furniture Stuffed with Drugs in Arizona
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers foiled a sophisticated smuggling attempt at the Naco port of entry yesterday when they discovered 1,595 packages of marijuana hidden inside wooden entertainment centers coming from Mexico. Estimated street value of the seized drugs is more than $2.7 million. The driver of the vehicle was arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.

Border Patrol Agents Find Deceased Man in Desert

Border Patrol agents were tracking a group of four individuals who had made an illegal entry into the United States by walking across the border through the open desert. With assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine pilots, Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien who was spotted running in the desert in the general vicinity.

After Border Patrol agents apprehended the individual he told agents of a second person who was suffering from heat related illness and guided agents back to the victim’s location. Agents were able to locate the second man, who was unresponsive. The Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue team was quickly activated but was unable to resuscitate the individual.

While on scene with the victim the remaining two aliens from the original group surrendered to agents trying to revive the victim. It was determined that the surviving three individuals were illegal aliens and were subsequently detained. All were given water then transported to the El Centro Border Patrol Station for processing.

During processing, it was learned that the suspected smuggler guide was among the three individuals that were rescued and is now being held at the Imperial County jail.

Border Patrol Arrests Armed Human Smugglers

Tucson Station agents arrested a U.S. citizen and four illegal aliens, three of whom were concealed in the trunk of the vehicle. In this incident, as the driver exited the vehicle, a loaded 9mm pistol was discovered under the seat.

All individuals were taken into custody and transported to the Tucson Station for further processing. The U.S. citizen driver was arrested for alien smuggling and endangerment.

Border Patrol agents from the Douglas Station, stopped two female U.S. citizens on Highway 191 approximately 38 miles north of the border. While questioning the driver agents noticed a handgun lying by the side of the driver and movement under a pile of blankets in the rear seat area. Agents then discovered two illegal aliens hiding on the floor board under the pile blankets.

The two U.S. citizen females and the two illegal aliens were placed under arrest. Agents then searched the vehicle and people under custody, discovering drug paraphernalia and a small bottle containing marijuana.

One of the U.S. citizens will be held pending prosecution for alien smuggling with endangerment.

Border Patrol Agents Assist Injured Dune Enthusiast

Border Patrol agents rendered assistance to a sand dune enthusiast who suffered an accident in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area on Sunday.

About 12:15 p.m., Border Patrol agents were flagged down by a friend of the victim near the Buttercup Valley in the Imperial Sand Dunes. The agents arrived on scene and found that a female United States citizen was on the ground and having difficulty breathing after an apparent ATV accident. Upon further evaluation by a Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue team agent, it was determined that she had possible neck and spinal injuries.

A “Life Flight” medical helicopter was requested and she was flown to the Palm Desert Hospital in California for more advanced medical care.

There are a lot more stories that need to be told, these are only a few. They should be a reminder to the American public that agents are not guarding our borders to harass poor Mexican immigrants but are there to Protect and Serve America.

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Nothing To Be Ashamed Of, A LIfe To Be Proud Of

Author: Ron Spangler

This is in response to a blog recently sent to me from a friend, Conservative Politics Today

Being a Vietnam Vet myself, I have always understood how John McCain's experience in Vietnam shaped not only the man but also the rest of his life. In the case of Sen McCain once he had been broken, like so many other POWs before and after him, he had the good fortune of receiving the understanding and support from fellow POWs. After our return home Vietnam Vets had a choice to make. Like every veteran that has seen how disgusting war really is we had to decide whether we would let the bad experiences we had been through destroy the rest of our lives or learn from the experience and try to create a better world for our families and our country.

Most combat veterans do not glorify war or their personal experience in war with the general public or strangers. Upon their return home vets talk to vets, and John McCain was no exception. Most of the time it takes years for vets to open up and speak about their experience, some never do. Over the years I have met and had the privilege to work alongside former POWs. I still remember the images of Vietnam POWs being paraded before cameras signing documents denouncing the war and confessing to all types of criminal acts. Only those POWs can understand how ashamed they are to admit they were broken and forced to say things they never thought they could ever say. They have nothing to be ashamed of, they should have nothing less than our respect and admiration for being able to endure and carry on a respectable life committed to making the world a better place and serving their country first.

John McCain's experience of being broken by his captors is nothing new. Every man or woman has their breaking point and in every war there have been POWs that have reached that breaking point. Our enemies have always used prisoners as propaganda to win a war by demoralizing Americans at home and our troops on the ground. It happened in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Unfortunately our history books no longer teach the younger generation the complete story of why we go to war or how our soldiers are treated by their enemies. By never telling the story of people like John McCain young soldiers entering harms way and people that have never experienced military service or the atrocities of war may find themselves believing they would never break in similar circumstances. Maybe the story of John McCain and fellow prisoners of war will give Americans a better understanding of America and what makes the American people so proud to be Americans.

Through his story average Americans are discovering John McCain is more like us than any Presidential candidate running for office. Every American will face one point in their life that will be their breaking point but more than likely Americans will use this experience to pick themselves up and carry on with a productive and better life. Like John McCain we are not a one size fits all society. We must put our country first and not be beholding to any single political party or person but be beholding to all Americans and America itself. I too have had my difference with Sen McCain, but I have found that he is not only brave enough to go against his party he is also brave enough to listen to the people, change his mind and commit to do the will of the people.

I have spent over two weeks on our southern borders talking with Border Patrol Agents, new graduates of the Border Patrol Academy and citizens living along the border states. The promised commitment to secure our borders is becoming a reality. After speaking with new graduates and seasoned older agents I cannot express enough how proud I am of them for their dedication, sacrifice, belief in serving their country and willingness to pay the ultimate sacrifice for protecting our country. Sen McCain has committed himself to support their efforts and secure our borders, I trust and believe he will see this commitment become a reality.

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Campbell Brown Latest Tabloid Journalist

Meet CNN' latest tabloid journalist Alma Dale Campbell Brown. She likes to call herself a respectable journalist but since joining CNN with her own show Election Center 2008 she has become nothing more than a Obama surrogate at best and just another tabloid journalist at their worst.

With her latest attacks on Governor Palen and her lack of knowledge on responsibilities of governors around the country, Campbell Brown's credentials as a unbiased creditable journalist have been burned in the political fires of 2008. Seldom do I get so upset with so called journalist that I would lower myself to respond to some of the incredible stories they try to perpetuate as true journalism onto the American public. The self righteous rantings that have been coming out of this woman's mouth have left me dumb founded. She is nothing more than a female Keith Olbermann.

I wander how she would like people delving into her family history and looking down on her for mistakes her family members have made?

Example: Her father Louisiana Democratic State Senator, Secretary of State, and Insurance Commissioner James H. Brown Jr was indicted, convicted and served a federal prison sentence for lying to the FBI during a routine investigation in 1999.

How about lying or misleading her fans while she was on NBC News Weekend Today?

Example: Her excuse for leaving NBC was I'm pregnant and I am taking time off to be with my family. The truth was she had already signed on with CNN but her contract was not up with NBC. Brown announced July 22, 2007 on Weekend Today, she would be leaving NBC after 11 years to devote time to her family and expected baby. The next day, CNN confirmed it had hired Brown, and that Brown would start work for CNN in February 2008.

The truth is Campbell Brown has loyalties to nobody but herself and her Democrat Party. She will do and say anything to get Obama elected. She questions how Governor Palen can handle a family and be Vice President yet forgets her child was born in December of 2007 and she started work 2 months later with CNN.

She believes she has a home at CNN but I predict like so many before her, her time with this organization is limited. Maybe her next stop will be MSNBC or The National Enquirer.

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Alaska Rich In Resources Rich In People

Since the announcement of Governor Palen's selection as John McCain's running mate a lot attention has been focussed on the governor's personal life and on Alaska. It is sad that the left wing media and Obama hit men and women like Jack Cafferty, Campbell Brown, and the entire MSNBC staff have decided to attack and destroy governor Palen before the nation has a chance to know anything about the woman. Her biggest sin seems to be that she is a Conservative Republican with five children and has the audacity to think she could be the first woman to be elected Vice President, before a female Democrat has a chance to be elected President. Instead of blaming the Alaskan governor I suggest they blame Barack Obama and the Democrats that selected him over Hilliary Clinton.

This election cycle has become the ugliest election in recent history. It has just been reported that some low life has released Governor Palen's social security number. It wasn't bad enough to attack her family now they are trying to destroy her life and place her very identity in jeopardy. Anyone that has been the victim of identity theft is aware of how dangerous it is when your social security number is stolen.

Will the governor step down and give in to these vicious attacks by Obama supporters? Only time will tell if Governor Palen has the guts to stand up to these cruel and unfair assaults on her family and her honor. I suspect she will act like so many Alaskan residents before her and welcome the fight with open arms.

Alaska and its residents have a long history of meeting adversity and challenges head on. This state is one of the richest states in not only natural resources but human resources. Seward's 'folly' only became a state in 1959. The people of Alaska said at the time, we will be a fully self sufficient state not dependent on the federal government if you allow us to join the United States as a free state. Ever since they were admitted they have been fighting the federal government for control of their state. Alaska is not only rich in oil and natural gas, it is also rich in coal, copper, nickel, platinum, timber, wildlife and fisheries. Due to the federal government and over zealot liberal courts the people of Alaska have been denied their natural resources and any opportunity to develop their state into a self sufficient state capable of standing on their own two feet. The people are resilient and refuse to give in to outside pressure. They have withstood natural disasters like earthquakes, floods and blizzards. They have been ridiculed and looked down on as illiterate backwoods people by some in our own society. This is evident today when you here people like Campbell Brown belittle the state by referring to its small population in comparison to other states.

I have known people in the military that have been lifelong residents of Alaska and I can tell you first hand they are smart, brave, tough people every bit American as any other American in this country. I sincerely hope the governor steps up to the challenges and smears from the far left and Obama supporters. I also hope true Americans that believe in fair play will come to the governor's aid.

I also have news for Campbell Brown, governors do have control and are part of the decision making process for their State National Guard. In her interview of Tucker Bounds she stated General Petraeus and the Pentagon controlled the National Guard, nothing could be farther from the truth. Up and until the National Guard is called upon by the President during a war sanctioned by Congress, the State National Guard is under the control of the respective state and its governor. Unlike the President, the governor as Commander In Chief of their State National Guard can use the national guard for not only disaster relief functions but also law enforcement within their respective state. As witnessed during the recent hurricane Gustaf, governors can loan their State National Guard units to other states and place that unit under the command of the governor for which the unit has been temporarily assigned. These decisions are solely and constitutionally the responsibility of the governors of each individual state.

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Azerbaijan or Ukraine Next Russian Target

Looking at the political landscape in the west it should be perfectly clear to Prime Minister Putin that neither NATO or the United States will come to the aid of Georgia. Putin has always been the darling of the Left Wing Liberals of the western world. In their eyes he and Ahmadinejad are the only leaders that have stood up to President Bush. The world understands Putin is the real power in Russia and whatever Putin says becomes law. The Liberals of the West hate President Bush so much that they are siding with Putin in Russia's invasion of Georgia.

Here are some of the Liberal sites supporting Putin:

The Populist Party

Global Research

Prison Planet

The Guardian

These are only a few, there are many more. After reading these articles it is clear the left is willing to see Georgia fall and return to Russia's area of influence. What they don't understand is Georgia is nothing more than a test of NATO and the first stepping stone to an eventual linkup with Iran. Russia and Putin will not stop until they regain control of the former Republics of the old Soviet Union. After some of these countries announced their desire to be part of the European Union and eventually NATO, Russia made it clear they would not allow this to happen.

The only question that remains is who is next, Ukraine or Azerbaijan? The Ukraine made a mistake and announced they will support Georgia and Azerbaijan announced they would like to become full members of NATO. Will Russia turn its attention to Ukraine first, since the Russian fleet is based in the only deep water port off of Ukraine? Or, will Russia turn its attention to Azerbaijan under the pretext they are protecting Armenia?

It is my guess Putin will direct his attention on Azerbaijan. After seeing Georgia fall without NATO coming to their aid, Ukraine will be reluctant to take on Russia. Azerbaijan being smaller than Ukraine and having Iran next door will be more willing to capitulate to Russian aggression. Once the overland link between Russia and Iran has been established Russia will flex its muscle back toward Latvia, Belarus and Ukraine. It is clear to Putin and Ahmadinejad NATO is weak and will not stand in their way. They are also betting the hatred and mistrust for President Bush is so great that the American Congress will not allow United States intervention.

They are assuming 2009 will see a President Obama administration in the White House and diplomatic negotiations will be the only response an Obama administration will attempt.

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Putin Ahmadinejad Another Hitler Mussolini

In a fictional book I wrote in 2006 and was published in early 2007, I predicted Vladimir Putin would retain control of Russia by stepping down as President and becoming Prime Minister. I also predicted he would dismantle the government and eventually combine the office of President and Prime minister. I continued in the book to predict he would, through military aggression, resurrect the old Soviet Union. Russia's recent invasion of the tiny country of Georgia supports my prediction that Putin will continue in his efforts and nobody will stop him.

Much of what Putin is doing comes straight out of the Hitler era. In order to gain control of Germany Hitler first gained control of the German people by intimidation and economical stability after the Great Depression. After the death of President Hindenburg, Hitler gained control by combining the office of the Chancellor and the office of the President. Hitler aligned himself with Mussolini and sent the Italians loose to distract the rest of the world while Hitler began his conquest of neighboring countries.

Much of what Putin is doing has a great deal of similarity to the Hitler/Mussolini era. As President Putin dissolved the Russian government. He basically installed the current President through a rigged voting system and clamping down on any opposition. He has aligned himself with Ahmadinejad, controls the Russian President, and started his conquest of former Soviet Union provinces. His attack on Georgia was not the first act of aggression. It began with Chechnya and with all eyes on Iran (Ahmadinejad), Putin has escalated the crackdown on all former provinces of the Soviet Union by invading Georgia.

Like Hitler used Mussolini, Putin is using Ahmadinejad to distract the world. He stated his goal in a 2007 article in The Guardian. "Vladimir Putin announced ambitious plans to revive Russia's military power and restore its role as the world's leading producer of military aircraft yesterday."

I believe this was only a prelude to his desire to resurrect the Soviet Union to its original design of global power by any means, including military domination. Unlike Hitler, Putin is not a madman and can be stopped before his global desires overtake his common sense. If the European countries unite with the United States and send a strong message to Putin that expansionism of Russia into neighboring countries will not be tolerated, the dangers of an all out war within the next four years can be avoided. If we stand by as we did during the Hitler/Mussolini era and do nothing, the next President will have to make one of two decisions. Will we capitulate to Putin and Ahmadinejad or risk a World War?

For too long we have focussed all of our attention on Ahmadinejad and overlooked Putin. The reality is both are joined at the hip. One is using the other as a distraction to gain what each desire separately. Ahmadinejad seeks the destruction of Israel and control of all of the Middle East, while Putin is intent on rebuilding the Soviet Union and gain control of Europe. A weak or timid United States President in 2009 may give both exactly what they want.

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Border Patrol, Protecting America

For too long some Americans have looked down on the Border Patrol as if they are nothing more than hired security guards. Some think the only purpose agents serve is to inconvenience the traveling public. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The individuals serving in the Border Patrol are Federal Agents with a very clear mission. They are there to stop terrorist from entering our country, stop drug weapons and human smuggling, and preserve the sovereignty of our border.

After the latest incursion of the Mexican military and their blatant act of disrespect for the sovereignty of the border, it is clear our Border Patrol Agents are standing alone. Another message has been sent to the drug cartels, Mexican Military, and the Mexican criminal enterprise at large. The message is, America is weak and our Border Patrol is for show and show only. In January 2007 our National Guard were attacked on US soil by armed individuals from Mexico and forced to flee their position. Nothing was ever done about the incursion and the matter was quickly forgotten by our government, the media, and the general public. Now we have another incursion by the Mexican Military but this time they have the nerve to hold a Federal Border Patrol Agent at gun point, threatening to shoot the agent on US soil.

Like some other media outlets the Arizona Republic is downplaying the "incident." Reporting the events the paper says:

"The soldiers held their weapons on the agent for several minutes until he identified himself in Spanish, whereupon they lowered their guns and walked back across a gap in the fence, [Border Patrol spokesman] Scioli said."

Border Patrol Agents at the scene dispute this version of what really happened. According to other agents that were there, the agent being held called for backup and it wasn't until backup arrived that the four Mexican soldiers lowered their weapons and returned through the fence to Mexico. Yes, they actually crossed through an opening in the fence separating the US from Mexico.

According to the Republic:

"In Washington, D.C., State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said the encounter "stemmed from a momentary misunderstanding as to the exact location of the U.S.-Mexican border."

In reality they crossed through an opening in the fence commonly used by smugglers and illegals.

According to the Washington Times:

"the soldiers returned to Mexico without incident when backup agents responded to assist."

According to U.S. law enforcement authorities current and former Mexican military personnel have been hired to protect drug and migrant smugglers. The times quotes Border Patrol Union sources:

"Unfortunately, this sort of behavior by Mexican military personnel has been going on for years," union Local 2544 of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) said on its Web page. "They are never held accountable, and the United States government will undoubtedly brush this off as another case of 'Oh well, they didn't know they were in the United States."

"It is fortunate that this incident didn't end in a very ugly gunfight," NBPC continued.

The Times points out:

"Since 1996, there have been more than 200 confirmed incursions by the Mexican military into the United States."

Will it take our own agents getting killed before action against this blatant act of war is taken seriously? Or maybe it will not be until one of our border towns or cities is taken over by the Mexican Military, that our government will act?

What do you think would have happened if the Border Patrol Agents had opened fire on the Mexicans and arrested them for illegally crossing the border? Would our government or the media have supported the action of our agents? Probably not.

If you don't think our agents face a clear and present danger form Mexico, consider the following as reported by the Times:

cThe incident occurred in the same area where heavily armed Mexican soldiers riding in a Humvee shot at a Border Patrol agent in 2002. A .50-caliber bullet ripped through the agent's rear window as he sped away.

Mexican officials denied at the time that the shooters were Mexican soldiers, saying they were criminals using military uniforms. It is a position they steadfastly have maintained.

But the agent who reported encountering the gunfire was certain he saw soldiers, said Mr. Tuffly. He said at the time that the agent was able to identify their attire "down to a T, and it matched exactly what they [Mexican soldiers] wear."

That purported incursion began after a Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation police ranger reported being chased by men in a Humvee.

cA year ago, U.S. law enforcement authorities were confronted by gunfire from automatic weapons as they chased and caught a drug-smuggling suspect in Texas trying to flee back into Mexico, the Hudspeth County (Texas) Sheriff's Office said.

cIn November 2007, the Border Patrol chased a dump truck full of marijuana in the same area when it also got stuck in the river while trying to return to Mexico. While agents sought to unload 3 tons of marijuana, the driver - who had fled - returned with a heavily armed group of men wearing Mexican military uniforms and carrying military-style weapons.

The soldiers backed the agents away and bulldozed the truck back into Mexico.

Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr. of Zapata County, Texas said three of his deputies in 2006 spotted 25 men dressed in military uniforms in the U.S. during a late-night patrol. He said the men marched two abreast and carried duffel bags and automatic weapons, and that his "outmanned and outgunned deputies" were forced to retreat.

It is time Sen Obama and his left wing party begins to understand we are facing a serious threat from not only terrorist but from a host of countries that consider America weak and divided. Today Russia has invaded Georgia, confident that America will not interfere with their act of war against this small country. Their timing for this act coincides with the President's visit to China for the opening of the Olympic games and the division of our country during this election year.

It is clear to me, President Bush should immediately return to the United States and call Congress back into session. He should hold a meeting with both candidates and leaders from both the House and Senate to discuss our immediate need to become self reliant on our own natural resources (oil). They should display to the world that America will no longer stand divided when our National interest is being threatened, albeit attacks along our borders or attacks on our friends and allies. It is time we as Americans support all of the people that work everyday to protect us, this includes our Military and Federal Law Enforcement Agents.

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Mr. Obama: American Voters Are Not Children

News flash to Sen. Obama, American voters are not children. We do not need to be reminded that keeping our tires inflated will save on gas. To think that simply inflating our tires will save us from high gas prices is ludicrous. To think if every driver would check and properly inflate our tires every time we drive our cars would solve our dependence on foreign oil is childish in itself.

American voters have it right, drill at home and get off foreign oil. Relax the bureaucracy surrounding oil and refineries. Stop all of the frivolous lawsuits and let the oil companies drill for oil and recover the oil from shale. Make it easier for companies to expand and build new refineries.

Obama, call on the Speaker and Majority Leaders to call both houses back in session and solve the problem by allowing a vote to expand new drilling. Blaming the shortage of oil and high gas prices on the American consumers and automobiles is a bogus argument. As I have said before, all of the products we use in America must be transported by air, land, or sea. The vast majority of our transportation needs is accomplished with diesel fuel. Nothing we do in the next 30-50 years will change this fact. Trucks, trains, or heavy construction vehicles cannot be replaced with new unproven technology at the drop of a hat. The government (taxpayer) or private business cannot afford to switch all their equipment from diesel to electric or alternative fuels hoping they will be efficient and as productive as their current equipment. Transportation in America is something you cannot gamble with.

America is not Europe. Little electric scooters and cars may be fine for some parts of Europe but they will be a dismal failure in America. Normal Americans have too far to commute to be able to depend on this type of technology. It will be decades before private business like service stations will be able to provide all of the different alternative fuels that are being presented as an alternative to gas. Putting in new and safe equipment to store these fuels are both time consuming and expensive. Each new alternative fuel requires its own storage system and its own means of distributing it from its storage tank to the vehicle. With this in mind it should be obvious that we will not see a change in our driving needs anytime soon.

In the mean time we must depend on low cost fuel, if we are to survive as a world power. The American voter is not the problem, politicians and the 'save the planet crowd' have forced us to become dependent on the goodwill of foreign countries for far too long. It is time we did what should have been done 30 years ago, become a self sufficient country that relies on no one except ourselves. Call back both Houses and do what 75% of Americans are demanding, VOTE ON USING OUR OWN OIL.

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Vectrix Electric Scooter Another Failure?

With the high cost of gas I have spent the past month looking into alternative transportation. With the Vectrix Electric Scooter getting so much attention locally and nationally I have read and talked to local dealers, trying to determine if they are really worth the investment. For a variety of reasons I have decided the Vectrix Maxi is not worth the price, at least not now.

In my state they are considered a motorcycle and must be treated as such. The same laws that apply to all motorcycle riders in the state i.e. motorcycle endorsement, license and registration, insurance, etc. applies to scooters. This is a good thing, since these vehicles are designed for use in normal traffic and on public roads. As sales for scooters have increased a problem with driver's license endorsement has come to light. The scooters by their very nature and size are far more maneuverable during a road test than larger less maneuverable motorcycles. This makes receiving a motorcycle endorsement easier. People that have no experience with motorcycles sometimes believe, since they have the endorsement, they can simply jump on a larger Harley, Honda, or some other motorcycle and it will be the same experience. Most find out there is a world of difference.

You will find on other sites glowing reviews for the electric scooters but I have found there is more hope and marketing hype than there is truth. Sites like boston.com, nytimes.com, and the Office of the Mayor Providence, RI are not being completely honest. This is also true of the local dealers I have spoken to in my state. It seems they are more interested in making a sale than full disclosure of the capabilities the Victrix Maxi. There are plenty of other misleading ads currently running on youtube.

Sales have risen in 2008 but in 2007 out of 2,002 vehicles built only 123 sold to actual customers. Reference autobloggreen.

Checking out the official website of Vectrix I discovered the truth may not be the same as all the hype I have read and been told by the dealer. One local dealer told me you could achieve 50 miles on a single charge at 62 miles per hour. He said the hills and mountainous terrain would have no effect on the range or speed. He also lead me to believe the warranty on the battery was 10 years. Here are the facts from Vectrix:

Constant Speed	Range
25 mph	65 miles
35 mph	54 miles
40 mph	48 miles
45 mph	44 miles
50 mph	36 miles
60 mph	20 miles

Notice that for every 10 mph increase, your range decreases an average of 11 miles before the battery is depleted.

In the Q and A section the following info came out concerning range:

Q: Does Acceleration Affect Range?

A:

Acceleration is the rate which you are attempting to increase the speed of your Maxi-Scooter. The greater the acceleration the faster you are depleting the energy in the battery pack. The harder and more frequently you accelerate the more adversely you will affect the range of your Maxi-Scooter. Being "first off the line" means you will also be the first to drain your energy supply.
Hard Acceleration = Reduced Range

Q: Does Weight Affect Range?

A:

The Vectrix Maxi-Scooter at approximately 500 lbs plus a 180 lb driver equates to a gross vehicle weight of 680 lbs. If you add 50 pounds of cargo the total weight you are attempting to move is 730 pounds or 7.3% increase in weight. If then you add a 175 pound passenger the total weight is 905 lbs or a total weight increase of 33%! The more mass you are pushing/lifting the more energy it takes to accomplish the mission. Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your Maxi-Scooter since it will impact your range.
Added Weight = Reduced Range

Q: Why Do I Get Less Range at Higher Speeds?

A:

It takes more energy to push a Maxi-Scooter faster because you encounter aerodynamic resistance. The faster you attempt to travel the more important this factor becomes. Also it is a fundamental characteristic of battery energy storage systems that the amount of energy you are able to extract from the battery is inversely proportional to the rate at which you drawing out the energy. If a battery pack is rated for 30 Ah if you draw 10 amperes of current you will deliver more energy that if you are drawing 100 amperes of current. Bottom line is that the more conservative you drive the further you will travel on single charge.
Faster Speed = Reduced Range

Factor in all of these variables and the distance I could travel would be extremely limited in my area. Another reason I have my doubts about Vectrix or any other electric scooter came from reading some of the posts of people that own Maxi Scooters, most are not good. Anyone interested should go to: V is for Voltage Forum.

It is hard to tell if this type of vehicle will last with the general publics interest or not. At a cost of $11,000 one thing is for certain, sales will not pick up in this area for years to come. These type of vehicles may be fine in Paris, Rome, or Berlin but I don't see a future for them in America.

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Credit Card Help plus Money Saving Ideas: How we saved gas money on our vacation

Credit Card Help plus Money Saving Ideas: How we saved gas money on our vacation

If you are interested in saving a little money on gas this summer, Terry has a great blog with links that identify gas prices around the country. If you are planning on making a trip or just want to check the price in your area the map is great.

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