“Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day), is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is normally observed on September 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia.^[1]” That’s according to left-leaning Wikipedia. But why it matters more this year than others is illustrated by numerous recent headlines and what follows. For example, in Florida, a landlord has banned residents who do not provide proof of vaccination status. That runs that landlord afoul Florida’s new law forbidding businesses to mandate a “vaccine passport.” On the U.S. Mexican border a “manmade” crisis has emerged, says Senator Ted Cruz, due to Biden Administration policies that undid much of the containment measures established during the Donald J. Trump Presidency. The debacle in Afghanistan is another reason to peer more deeply into the U.S. Constitution. So too is the uproar caused by published claims that have now been essentially admitted by General Mark Milley. Milley, while serving during the Trump Administration, contacted his Communist Chinese counterpart to say he would warn them if President Trump ordered an attack on their country. These and numerous other dystopian headlines would hardly have been thought impossible in the USA some 24 months ago, much less 234 years ago – when the U.S. Constitution was ratified by the states.

The Library of Congress (LOC.gov) website says that the first law passed under the new Constitution was to establish the oath of office. Per LOC, “the first law passed by the first Congress was “An Act to regulate the Time and Manner of administering certain Oaths” (1 Stat. 23).  The oath prescribed in this law was quite simple: “I, A.B. do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States.”  Congress directed that within three days of the passage of this law (June 1, 1789) the oath should be administered to one of the Senators who would then administer the oath to the President of the Senate who would swear in the other senators.  The Speaker of the House was directed to administer this oath to the representatives in the House.  This simple version of the oath remained in effect until 1862 and the Civil War.”

To grasp how several of the critical situations afflicting our country in housing, employment, finance, health, other domestic and foreign policies can be traced back to failure to keep the oath of office that everyone in federal service is required to do, a bit more from LOC will prove useful.

“In July 1862, Congress passed a law prescribing a new oath of office which sought to ensure the loyalty past, present and future, of all persons appointed or elected to office in the U.S. government (ch. CXXVIII, 12 Stat. 502).  This law became known as the Ironclad Test Oath.  The first section of the law required the oath takers to swear they had never voluntarily borne arms, or given aid to those engaged in armed hostility against the United States, or supported any pretended government within the United States.  The affirmation section of the oath was also longer:

• And I do further swear (or affirm) that, to the best of my knowledge and ability, I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God

That is straightforward. Note that God, loyalty to the country and fidelity to the constitution are invoked. But when the Civil War ended, that needed to address those former breakaway states. LOC Says:

“In practical terms, the oath had to be amended after the conclusion of the Civil War and the return of the Confederate states to the Union.  Congress took a first step towards modifying this oath in 1868….

The Revised Statutes, published in 1873-74, reflected this split.  Sections 1756 and 1757 cover “[e]veryone person elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit … excepting the President.”   Section 1756 reiterates the terms of the Ironclad Oath – requiring the oath taker to affirm he has never borne arms against the United States since he was a citizen, nor supported any hostile government.  Section 1757 reflects changes made in 1871.  In this section anyone who is not disqualified from office by the terms of the Fourteenth Amendment but who on account of “his participation in the late rebellion” cannot take the oath in section 1756, may  take a modified version of the oath of office:

• I, A.B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.  So help me God.

But what is the practical meaning today for an oath of office when many who take it could not pass a citizenship test? Hold that thought for now, because it’s near the core of several current controversies.

The U.S. Constitution enumerated and defined the powers of the three branches of government. All other powers, as will be shown below, are reserved to the states or to what the Constitution described as “We the People.” Sadly, public surveys reveal many can not correctly name those three branches: the executive branch, led by the President of the United States of America; the Congress, which is divided into to chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the judiciary branch, which has the U.S. Supreme Court as the final arbiter of the judicial system.

Why two houses in Congress? Because part of the premise of the federal system was to make passing federal laws more complicated, not easier. Keep in mind that the powers not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution were retained by the states, or be the people. Who says? The Tenth Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights that made the enactment of the Constitution by the first thirteen states possible.

The Tenth Amendment says: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” That’s per Constitution.Congress.gov. That source explains the original meaning.

“The Tenth Amendment was intended to confirm the understanding of the people at the time the Constitution was adopted, that powers not granted to the United States were reserved to the States or to the people. It added nothing to the instrument as originally ratified.1 The amendment states but a truism that all is retained which has not been surrendered.”

So, the federal system respected states rights and the rights of “sovereign” citizens.

So, the federal system respected states rights and the rights of “sovereign” citizens. Keep in mind that under out Constitution, only Congress can pass a law. Presidents and courts have no rightful power to create a law on their own authority. Congress can only pass a law within the confines of the Constitutional authorities delegated to it by the states and “We the People.”  Here is what the Cornell University law site says about the text of Article 1, Section 8 about what the Congress has the power to do. Note that the reason Article 1 Section 8 is important is based on the Tenth Amendment, cited above, which clearly bars anything that is not specifically granted to the Congress is by definition forbidden. As you read this list, and ponder our nation’s problems and headlines, problems that have occurred due to breaching these limits becomes apparent.

 

As Cornell’s introductory comments explain: “Article I [including Section 8 of the Constitution] describes the design of the legislative branch of US Government — the Congress. Important ideas include the separation of powers between branches of government (checks and balances), the election of Senators and Representatives, the process by which laws are made, and the powers that Congress has.”

 

Section 8.

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes;

To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures;

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States;

To establish post offices and post roads;

To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations;

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;

To provide and maintain a navy;

To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces;

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings;–And

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.”

As a relevant aside, Thomas Jefferson and others among the founders, wanted to limit the power of actual or would be monopolists.

 

By various court rulings and other subterfuges over the years, the meaning of Article I and this specific section has been obscured and arguably breached. As a result, a goliath of a federal government has taken root. There should be not doubt that correcting this is not an overnight or easy task.  But let’s quickly examine why that process of bringing Congress, the executive and judicial branches of government back into line with the actual language of the Constitution must begin if Americans are to reclaim their lost liberties.

Because we are an affordable housing and manufactured housing focused website, we’ll begin with the subject of housing, and then move onto others in no particular order of importance.

Housing policies. After hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent on housing policies, Americans trail dozens of other nations in the percentage of home ownership of its citizens. HUD PD&R department’s recent admission that some 5 decades by both major parties has failed to move the known core issues is all the reason one needs to realize that big government isn’t doing the job that its supporters claim. So, there are reasons to curtail federal power in housing policy because the free market can better serve and is more in keeping with the Constitution too. As matters stand, HUD money is often at present a funnel, per HUD insiders to MHProNews, to various corporate and nonprofit interests.

 

 

 

 

 

How has federalizing health and related security protected Americans?

The short answer is that after untold billions have been spent on the CDC, the FDA, various intelligence services and years of U.S. support for the World Health Organization (WHO) have all proved that it has not protected Americans. Big government has failed and done so badly. Furthermore, unconstitutional use of wrongfully claimed ‘federal power’ has routinely benefited larger firms at harm to smaller ones. Coincidence?

 

 

Taxation and monetary policies. Federal spending ‘requires’ more federal taxation to sustain it. The income tax amendment (16^th), which some historians claim was never properly ratified, was ‘needed’ to pay for more big government. Note that prior to the 16^th Amendment, much of the federal government was supported by tariffs. Tariffs protected U.S. businesses and production. When tariffs became less important, over time, American jobs and businesses were lost to often hostile foreign powers, such as Communist China.

 

 

There is more that could be stated about the Federal Reserve system – which several of the founders would have opposed, because they opposed its earlier iterations – and other aspects of federal overreach. When the facts and trends are examined, what emerges is this. Federal intervention in various aspects of the economy or American system have arguably undermined the opportunities of everyday Americans. They have demonstrably harmed more than they have helped. Once upon a time, such matters were common discussions in Congress. Not so much any more.

On issue after issue, insider corporate powerhouses are benefiting by manipulating and undermining the free enterprise system.

Part of the solution? Understanding what has gone wrong and sharing that with those in your circle. That can begin by sending out a link to an article like this to other you know and then having them do the same. Such an email doesn’t even have to ‘endorse’ this, that could be accomplished by sending out the link with a simple question. ‘What do you think of this?’ plus the link.

• Then, hold your public officials accountable. If they refuse to adhere to the Constitution, work to remove them in the next election cycle.
• For those who can, consider encouraging those you know and trust or running for office yourself. Even local positions can be useful in restoring an understanding of the constitution.

The problems our nation faces were ironically summed up by Warren Buffett. He bluntly said that politicians and businesses want more power. Note that money was not so much mentioned, because with power – money will follow.

That’s not new, Buffett has said similarly before, as MHProNews has shared with its readers.

 

 

This is not a left right issue. It is an American rights issue. Indeed, the case can be made that bringing similar concerns together that span the left and right are part of the solution. Because the evidence strongly reveals that decades of issues that federal policies claim to want to solve are no better, or in some cases worse.  They also often happen to violate the Constitution.

 

The solution must include breaking up and legally punishing those who have manipulated the system for far too long. See the report linked below. ##

 

 

 

Next up is our business daily recap of yesterday evening’s market report, related left-right headlines, and manufactured housing connected equities.

The Business Daily Manufactured Home Industry Connected Stock Market Updates.  Plus, Market Moving Left (CNN) – Right (Newsmax) Headlines Snapshot. While the layout of this daily business report has been evolving over time, several elements of the basic concepts used previously are still the same. For instance. The headlines that follow below can be reviewed at a glance to save time while providing insights across the left-right media divide. Additionally, those headlines often provide clues as to possible ‘market-moving’ news items.

 

Market Indicator Closing Summaries – Yahoo Finance Closing Tickers on MHProNews…

Headlines from left-of-center CNN Business – evening of 9.16.2021 

• China’s Lehman moment
• People walk in front of the Evergrande headquarters in Shenzhen, China's southern Guangdong province on September 15, 2021, as the Chinese property giant said it is facing "unprecedented difficulties" but denied rumors that it is about to go under.
• A massive Chinese developer is on the brink of a $300 billion default. Wall Street is totally unfazed
• Some Tesla owners doubt Elon Musk’s promises of ‘full self-driving’
• Microsoft will now let its users log in without passwords
• United CEO: Employer mandate is the best way to raise vaccination rates
• Cigarette giant Philip Morris takes control of asthma inhaler maker
• UAE invests $14 billion in Britain as it tries to look beyond oil
• Retailers are gearing up for a huge holiday season
• The SpaceX Inspiration 4 crew is in orbit, but they may not get astronaut wings
• This is how you can experience zero gravity without going to space
• Apple’s iPhone 13 secret weapon is, surprisingly, its price
• Rivian beats Tesla, GM and Ford to build the first electric pickup truck
• Some small businesses are happy about Biden’s vaccine mandate
• Bud Light hopes this beer is the next big thing
• Piers Morgan is rejoining Rupert Murdoch’s media empire
• Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Facebook Inc., speaks during the virtual F8 Developers Conference on a tablet computer in Tiskilwa, Illinois, U.S., on Tuesday, June 2, 2021.
• Jaw-dropping moments in WSJ’s bombshell Facebook investigation
• Mega mansion once worth $500 million defaults on $100 million in debt, forcing a sale
• Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik will host ‘Jeopardy!’ for the rest of the year
• DEALS
• The Mailchimp website on a laptop computer in an arranged photograph in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, U.S., on Friday Sept. 3, 2021. Intuit Inc., the maker of TurboTax and QuickBooks software, is in talks to buy email marketing firm Mailchimp for more than $10 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.
• Intuit is buying Mailchimp for $12 billion to focus on small businesses
• JPMorgan is buying a restaurant review platform
• Blackstone drops $3B bid for Chinese property developer
• PayPal snaps up Japanese buy-now-pay-later unicorn
• Chinese investors pour $1 billion into BlackRock’s new fund
• ON THE ROAD
• 2022 Grand Wagoneer Series III.
• Here’s what it’s like to drive a new $100,000 Jeep
• This Bentley is $2 million, roof not included
• Nissan unveils a new retro-styled Z sports car
• Audi unveils a shape-shifting concept car
• Biden wants an aggressive transition to electric vehicles. A surprising ally is pumping the brakes

 

Headlines from right-of-center Newsmax – evening of 9.16.2021

• 1/6 Panel Members Will ‘Carefully Evaluate’ Milley’s Actions Around Capitol Breach
• Two key members of the selection House panel investigating the deadly siege at the Capitol on Jan. 6 plan to look at Pentagon actions before and after the event. A focus of the deep dive is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, whose actions at that time have been called into question as potentially undermining to then-President Donald Trump. [Full Story]
• Newsmax TV
• Stewart: Milley Actions Show ‘Outrageous’ Lack of Judgment
• Malliotakis: Don’t Believe Blinken on Taliban’s Capabilities | video
• Tenney: Milley Must Face Action If Book’s Claims Proven | video
• Roy: ‘Critically Important’ For Fauci to Testify on Wuhan | video
• Meuser: Court-Martial Milley If Reports ‘Close to True’ | video
• Zeldin: Gen. Milley Acted Outside Chain of Command | video
• Burchett: Gen. Milley Violated Logan Act | video
• Walberg: Milley’s Reported Actions ‘Concerning’ | video
• More Newsmax TV
• Newsfront
• Polls Suggest Biden May Face Uphill Battle in 2024
• Recent polls show a dip in President Joe Biden’s job approval rating and a consenus that the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction, which could be bad news for congressional Democrats and Biden in 2024, according to the Washington Examiner. A Quinnipiac University national…… [Full Story]
• US Judge Blocks Expulsions of Migrant Families Under Trump-Era Order
• A U.S. district judge on Thursday blocked the expulsion of migrant [Full Story]
• Thompson, Cheney to ‘Carefully Evaluate’ Facts About Milley’s Actions Around Jan. 6
• Bennie G. Thompson, D-Miss., the chair of the select commission [Full Story]
• Related
• Trump: ‘Milley Never Told Me’ About His Calls to China
• Milley’s Contact Was One of China’s Biggest Saber Rattlers
• 123 Texas Landowners Allow State to Put Border Fencing on Their Property
• The state of Texas has some new allies in its battle against illegal [Full Story]
• TSA Bolsters Airport Security Ahead of Saturday Rally at Capitol
• Travelers arriving at the airport nearest Washington, D.C., will face [Full Story]
• 642 People Charged in Jan. 6 Capitol ‘Insurrection’ – But What Are the Actual Charges?
• More than 600 people – and counting – have been charged with various [Full Story] | platinum
• Noem to Biden: If You Mandate Vaccines, ‘See You in Court’
• South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem issued a direct warning to President [Full Story]
• Missouri Police Officer In Training Slain By Wanted Suspect
• A Missouri police officer who was still in training was shot and [Full Story]
• Permanent ‘UFO Investigations Office’ Has Bipartisan Support to Resolve Mystery
• The United States may soon create a permanent government agency to [Full Story] | platinum
• Mayim Bialik, Ken Jennings to Host ‘Jeopardy!’ for Rest of 2021
• Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings will be hosting “Jeopardy!” for the [Full Story]
• Tom Brady on Playing Until 50: ‘I Think It’s a Yes’
• Tom Brady appeared pretty spry during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ [Full Story]
• Dem Sen. Sinema Quietly Holds Out on $3.5T Bill
• While Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is widely regarded as the public [Full Story]
• Damian Merlo: The Biden Double Standard in El Salvador
• What credibility does the Biden administration have to call out [Full Story]
• Chauvin, Convicted in Floyd’s Murder, Pleads Not Guilty to Violating Teen’s Rights
• The former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George [Full Story]
• Reports: Pence Seeks $18 Million Campaign Fund for Potential WH Bid
• Former Vice President Mike Pence is looking to raise $18 million in [Full Story]
• Women Nearly Half of New Gun Buyers, Study Shows
• With gun ownership rapidly expanding in the United States, a new [Full Story]
• McConnell Warns Yellen That GOP Won’t Help Raise Debt Limit
• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has warned Treasury Secretary [Full Story]
• House Panel to Probe Oil Companies Over Climate Disinformation
• S. Democrat lawmakers on Thursday asked the chiefs of four major [Full Story]
• White House Plans New System for International Travel, Contact Tracing
• The United States is developing a “new system for international [Full Story]
• DHS Watchdog: Failure to Screen Migrants for COVID Put Staff, Towns at Risk
• The Department of Homeland Security put employees and border town [Full Story]
• Ashli Babbitt’s Husband Discourages Violence at Upcoming ‘Justice for J6’ Rally
• The husband of Ashli Babbitt, who was killed during the Jan. 6 [Full Story]
• Florida Woman Missing Following Cross-Country Trip With Boyfriend
• Gabrielle Petito, a 22-year-old woman from Florida, has been reported [Full Story]
• Pelosi Tweaks Trump: ‘What’s His Name’ Would Fail in a ’24 White House Run
• Former U.S. President Donald Trump might make another White House run [Full Story]
• Florida Sheriff: Traffic Stop Ambush Shows What’s Wrong With Criminal Justice System
• A routine traffic stop that turned violent after two Florida [Full Story] | video
• WH Praises Fox for 90 Percent Staff Vaccination, Daily Testing
• The White House commended Fox Corporation on Tuesday night for [Full Story]
• Comer Demands Intel From Biden’s Inconclusive COVID-19 Origin Report
• The ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform has [Full Story]
• Elizabeth Warren: Regional Fed Banks Must Stop Leaders From Trading Stocks
• Elizabeth Warren has called on regional Federal Reserve Banks to [Full Story]
• Oldest US World War II Veteran Celebrates 112th Birthday
• Lawrence Brooks, America’s oldest living World War II veteran, this [Full Story]
• Putin: Dozens in Inner Circle Infected With COVID
• Russian President Vladimir Putin says dozens of his staff have been [Full Story]
• UN: World Likely to Miss Climate Targets Despite COVID Pause in Emissions
• The pace of climate change has not been slowed by the global COVID-19 [Full Story]
• WH Offers Nicki Minaj Phone Call After Viral Vaccine Claims: Reports
• Trump Issues Free Gift to All Supporters, (Liberals Are Demanding It Be Banned!)
• Apple Fanfare Over iPhones, Watch, AirPods
• Apple will hold its annual iPhone launch event on Tuesday, according to reports. Analysts expect Apple will unveil new iPhones with 5G connectivity and a more squared-off look; a brand-new Apple Watch with 16I% more pixels and a blood-pressure sensor; and AirPods. [Full Story]
• Facebook Boosts Fight against Conspiracies and Violent Groups
• Biden Admin Probing Why Gasoline Prices Are Not Falling
• GM Extends EV Bolt Production Halt to Mid-October
• Western Water Crisis Demands a Strong Federal-State Response
• More Finance
• Health
• Even A Third-Degree Relative With Colon Cancer Raises Your Risk: Study
• Colon cancer risk runs in families, and it’s not just a parent or sibling having had the disease that should concern you. If you have a second- or third-degree relative who had colon cancer at an early age, your odds of having the disease substantially increase, a new study… [Full Story]
• Many Parkinson’s Patients Unaware of Strategies to Improve Walking
• Cholesterol-Lowering Statin May Help Fight Ulcerative Colitis
• COVID-19 Patients in ICUs Haunted by Regret
• Social Support Key in Those at Risk for Alcoholism

 

 

Manufactured Housing Industry Investments Connected Equities Closing Tickers

Some of these firms invest in manufactured housing, or are otherwise connected, but may do other forms of investing or business activities too.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • NOTE: The chart below includes the Canadian stock, ECN, which purchased Triad Financial Services, a manufactured home industry lender
                        • NOTE: Drew changed its name and trading symbol at the end of 2016 to Lippert (LCII).
                        • NOTE: Deer Valley was largely taken private, say company insiders in a message to MHProNews on 12.15.2020, but there are still some outstanding shares of  the stock from the days when it was a publicly traded firm.  Thus, there is still periodic activity on DVLY.

 

 

 

Summer 2021…

Berkshire Hathaway is the parent company to Clayton Homes, 21^st Mortgage, Vanderbilt Mortgage and other factory built housing industry suppliers.
· LCI Industries, Patrick, UFPI, and LP each are suppliers to the manufactured housing industry, among others.
· AMG, CG, and TAVFX have investments in manufactured housing related businesses. For insights from third-parties and clients about our publisher, click here.
Enjoy these ‘blast from the past’ comments.

MHProNews. MHProNews – previously a.k.a. MHMSM.com – has celebrated our 11th year of publishing, and is starting our 12th year of serving the industry as the runaway most-read trade media.

 

 

Sample Kudos over the years…

It is now 11+ years and counting…

Learn more about our evolutionary journey as the industry’s leading trade media, at the report linked below.

· For expert manufactured housing business development or other professional services, click here.
· To sign up in seconds for our industry leading emailed headline news updates, click here.

Disclosure. MHProNews holds no positions in the stocks in this report.

That’s a wrap on this installment of “News Through the Lens of Manufactured Homes and Factory-Built Housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, stock, investing, data, metrics, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) (See Related Reports, further below. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)

By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship along with numerous awards in history. There have been several awards and honors and also recognition in manufactured housing. For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com. This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position, and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.