Thursday, September 17, 2009
Constitution Day
Constitution Day
The basis of our form of government, the document our President has called "fundamentally flawed" and spawned the longest continuous democracy (democratic republic) in modern history.
In their wisdom, the founders crafted not a "pure" democracy, which would be little more than chaos, but a republic that, with it's "warts," has produced a society to which people the world over long to come and enjoy the freedoms, economic, financial, political and social, protected by those words and ideas 222 years later.
Even as some detour around the methods of amendment built into the document to circumvent the protections embedded therein, we continue to honor the strength of that document, the the foresight and wisdom of the men who pondered, debated, fought for, gave their lives and fortunes and ultimately wrote these sacred words.
"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson
Labels: Barack Obama, Constitution, democracy, Republic
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
What is happening to our Republic?
"Treacherous leaders", "propaganda network." When one hears or reads these words it usually comes from the political apparatus of some third world dictator, not the president of the United States. But that’s exactly where they came from, and it wasn;t some harsh words for the leader of Iran, North Korea or Venezuela.
The Obama apparatus used these terms to demagogue his political opponents. This kind of language has never been used in the history of American politics. This organization is calling on its apparatus to call on their Senators on September 11 to pass the so called "Pubic Option" and "fight back against our own Right-Wing Domestic Terrorists." An amazing affront to the American people on the day we remember and mourn those whose lives were lost in the worst terrorist attack in this nations’ history.
His political apparatus is sending lesson plans to teachers to "guide" the classroom discussion both before and after the broadcast. This has all been characterized as message to "challenge students to work hard in school, to not drop out and to meet short-term goals like behaving in class, doing their homework."
Yet, what is the hidden goal? To build a relationship with children to disarm them and perhaps even divide them and their parents? We’ve seen this happen in other totalitarian societies. Nikita Kruschev warned America that communism would destroy her “from within.” Gain control of the classroom, and you have control of the nation.
"The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next," opined Abraham Lincoln. That works both ways. Obama’s guide, Saul Alinsky, and his friend, William Ayres, both taught that the battle is won in the classroom.
Now, with the battle for the future of America enjoined by the right, Obama and his minions are reaching for our very soul as they make a bold grab for our children. The question for us is, "will we stand idly by and allow this disgraceful and undemocratic, yes, un-American, political ploy in our children's classrooms go unchallenged, or will we stand and declare, 'Enough!'"
The administration already has a program to use the classroom to spread their message to children about the 2010 census. Some would say the purpose is more sinister, to spy on their parents. They have already called on American citizen to spy on each other and report "fishy" email and conversations to the White House.
They have taken bold measures to nationalize part of our finance and manufacturing sectors through "bail outs" and seek to take hold of 15% of our economy through nationalization of health care. In November 2008 the majority of voters succumbed to the sweet elixir of “hope and change.”
Is this the "hope and change" they wanted? To turn the world’s most successful democracy towards a socialist dictatorship? These may seem to be harsh words. But are we willing to speak soft platitudes while our nation is destroyed "from within." I pray not.
"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson
Labels: abuse of power, Barack Obama, Bill Ayres, census, children, classroom, demagogue, democracy, dictatorship, health care, healthcare, socialism, terrorism
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
An open letter to the President
Dear President Obama,
The current attempt by this administration to socialize the medical system is a blatant power grab for 17% of the US economy. The majority of Americans are beginning to see this for what it is and to understand this administration's desire to wreck our free market economy.
I do not support this move by this administration nor do at least 51% of the American people. The more we know about this scheme the less support it engenders. This is a tribute to the intellect of the American people.
That your administration in collusion with the Democrat majority rushes this to a vote before the American people learn more is a testament to your callous disregard for the will of the people.
We will not be dissuaded by high sounding words and misinformation. Stop this insanity, NOW!
"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson
Labels: abuse of power, Barack Obama, Democrats, healthcare, legislation, Obama
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Determining value...
Every individual has intrinsic value. When we get in the business of assigning value to an individual based on an arbitrary standard we come perilously close to adopting the standards of regimes such as Hitler’s Nazis who viewed the sick, homosexuals, and non-Arians as undesired objects to be destroyed.
Next came those who opposed his philosophies. They met their deaths simply because they didn’t agree. Millions gave their lives to bring that regime to its knees.
The idea of human value came up in our own constitution where a black man was only worth 3/5th that of a white man. That awful determination was legally corrected at the end of the Civil War with the 13th and 14th amendments. Though socially things have improved dramatically, there is still struggle in some hearts and minds.
The concept of superiority of one individual over the other, and thus of superior value, is not new. Margaret Sanger’s writings stated the purpose of her 1939 Negro Project that ultimately became the Planned Parenthood of today was that it be a vehicle of “discouraging ‘the defective and diseased elements of humanity’ from their ‘reckless and irresponsible swarming and spawning’.”
When we as a society devalue one segment where their destruction is preferable, it becomes a simple matter of extending that valuation to other “unwelcome” elements.
Healthcare, is it too expensive for everyone to receive healthcare in a government administered program? Triage those desiring help by a standard that determines their worth.
Under that system, those needing the most help, the elderly and chronically ill, will be at a severe disadvantage and the cheap “cure” is sodium pentobarbital. It’s called eugenics.
For those of lesser health issues, perhaps mitigating factors such as political philosophy or income level could be factored in. If you don’t agree with the current ideology in power, if you are of minimal productivity, you’re manic/depressive, you’re outta here.
I know those on the pro-abortion side will say that can never happen. Well, it did, Sanger proved it could happen. Hitler made it part of his party platform. Any time we begin to rationalize our actions we are on the cusp of serious personal moral decline.
And make no mistake; this is a personal issue even more than a social/political issue. It is a matter of what we as individual value. What we consider important. It is individual beliefs that eventually become policy, not the other way around.
Yes, I can justify abortion from a purely economic vantage point, but that places me in a position of arrogant superiority, not compassion. For if you can’t “afford” a child, the burden is placed on society and on me as a taxpayer.
Why would I want that burden? Because a child is more that a bit of tissue whose value hangs in the balance of emotional stress. That “tissue” has the power to become an important individual with all the possibilities afforded him/her in this nation. That “tissue” can achieve any goal desired if given the chance. His or her importance is determined not by what they become, but that they can become what they desire.
In April of 1822 there was a bit of “tissue” growing in a French woman’s womb that grew to study immunology and eventually Louis Pasture discovered vaccines for anthrax, cholera, smallpox and rabies.
In August of 1878 a 20 year old German Jew had a bit of “tissue” growing inside of her. She may have preferred to study the arts or piano, but her focus was on raising her family. Eventually that tissue grew and among other things invented a refrigerator that uses principals still used today in RV and mobile refrigeration.
Had he not moved to the US in 1932, Albert Einstein, who is celebrated as one of the greatest minds of the last century and developed his theory of relativity and unified field theory would probably have fallen to Hitler’s ovens.
In December 1960 another bit of “tissue” began to grow in the womb of a 19 year old single girl. She could have sought out an abortion; it certainly would have been more convenient. The baby’s father was a black man and such a liaison was unacceptable in society at the time. Few would have faulted her, abortion would be the lesser of two “evils.”
But she married the father, kept her child and later raised that child alone after being abandoned by her husband. On January 20, 2009 that child, that bit of “tissue,” Barack Obama, became the 44th President of the United States.
In February 1986 another bit of tissue began to grow. This time in the womb of a young girl from Illinois. She had lived across the mid-west United States, her father was an itinerate worker. She had graduated with honors from college and had a bright future ahead of her. Part of that future included marriage and she and her husband moved to Virginia where he was stationed in the Navy and she worked in a local bank.
Yeah, raising a family was hard work, and would get in the way of plans, but that bit of “tissue” was vastly more important than her original plans and desires. She kept it, raised her son when he was born, struggled through broken marriages where it would have been simpler to not have to deal with children.
Eventually that “tissue” grew into a magnificent young man with more potential and possibilities before him than even he could imagine. Yes he struggled through experiences that no young man should have to, but grew out of them to become talented with multiple abilities even as he struggled to find himself.
No one really knows what this bit of “tissue” will do with his life, he’s not really sure. But one thing is certain, he will have the opportunity to pursue whatever course he desires because his mom, that young girl with so many possibilities, put her life on hold to bring him into the world and give him the opportunity that 30 million other “bits of tissue” have been denied since he first appeared in his mom’s womb. She saw in that bit of “tissue” a value far above her own plans and circumstances.
He may become an engineer, a chef, a General, a titan in business, a politician, perhaps even a President. But one thing is certain, Billy Montgomery has the opportunity to do so because his mother didn’t simply consider him an inconvenience, an unwanted expense, a barrier to her future, a…a bit of tissue.
"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson
Labels: abortion, Albert Einstein, Barack Obama, healthcare, Margaret Sanger, political philosophy, values
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Just say NO!
We must demand our Senators and Representatives vote against any more bailout of private businesses and individuals with government, taxpayer money. It is time for us to bite the bullet and face the consequences of our irresponsible financial behavior. It is immoral for us to pass on to our grandchildren and great-grandchildren this debt.
The American people were sold a "bill of goods" last October, and it's happening again now. Throwing more taxpayer debt at the economic problems our nation faces will only at best delay the inevitable while piling up unconscionable debt on our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Our government now owes more money than all of us in the country put together possess. We now owe nearly $57 trillion while our total net worth is only $56.5 trillion. President-elect Barack Obama has said, "We've got trillion-dollar deficits for years to come even with the economic recovery that we are working on at this point."
Obama's plan, being promoted by Democrats and Republicans alike, is to pass out money, running up debt that our grandchildren will be forced to pay. Their solution is simple. Throw more money at the problem. Many of the projects clamoring for a piece of the "pie" at best are poor investments. Others just don’t make sense or amount to funding of projects no one else wants or sees a legitimate need of.
Where will the government get these trillions of dollars? They will go to the printing press and print more, which means that dollar in your pocket will be worth less. It also means the government will borrow more. From whom? Try China and the rich oil producing countries. At the rate we are going, China will never have to fight us. They will own us.
We don’t need to keep digging the hole deeper and deeper. Where will the bailouts end? We need some leadership from Congress, and we need it now. In the vacuum of statesmanship out of Washington, the American people must show that leadership. We know that in the real world there is no such thing as a free lunch; we must make sure oblivious Washington insiders know that as well.
They must stop feeding the American people a line of $&#@!. Democrats railed against Republicans over federal deficits during the Bush years. Now they are set to allow nearly as much deficit spending in one year than was incurred during the entire Bush administration, and yawn while doing so.
Stop the bleeding now! Just say NO to any more bailouts, "taxpayer investment" and government wealth transfers of all kinds. I for one am sick of the enormous transfer of wealth from this nation to China and the oil producing nations. Every dollar of deficit spending means more for them.
Write your Representatives, Senators and the President-elect. Tell them, "Stop it...NOW!"
"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson
Labels: Barack Obama, Big 3 bailout, Bush, Democrats, federal budget deficit, national debt, politics, Republicans
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Time to come down off the "high"
With the election over, journalists, pundits, commentators, most politicians and most importantly, the President-Elect, Barack Obama, have all begun to scale back the rhetoric. These professionals, for the most part, understand there is an important distinction between campaigning for political office and holding that office.
The words, thoughts and ideas expressed in a campaign are idealistic, crafted to appeal to a candidate’s constituency’s hope and dreams. A political candidate also knows the rhetoric of campaigning will rarely become policy. Therefore he or she must scale back the expectations of their constituencies otherwise those who carried them to office will turn on them when they realize their idealized hopes will not be attained, or at least to the degree they were led to believe during the campaign.
To his credit, President elect Obama began lowering expectations in the final week of his campaign when it became clear that barring unforeseen and hugely inaccurate polling, he would most likely become this nation’s 44th President. The difficulty for Obama is that most of the constituency he has courted, the youth vote and the wealth envy vote, do not understand the difference between campaigning and governing.
Political candidates have since the beginning of politics promised far more than they can deliver. In the form of government in this nation, that fact is inherent in our Constitutional Republic. You see, this is not a democracy, despite the misguided belief perpetuated by the educational system and the media.
Sadly, the constituencies of President-Elect Obama have drunk the “Kool-aid” of “Change” and truly believe that their candidate and our soon to be President will enact all that he has promised. Many remain in “campaign mode” ravenously attacking anyone expressing ideas and opinions even slightly different from their own. They look for attack and disparagement in even the most benign of comment.
Their youthful idealism and expectations, their lack of understanding of the American political process, will lead them to disillusion and disappointment. At the same time, their inability to tone down their rhetoric and attacks will serve only to alienate them from both those who may agree with them as well as those who don’t.
Their friends, families and fellow employees will all soon tire of the constant argumentative attitude and newly empowered political groupies will soon find themselves not only disappointed in their expectations, but distanced from those who would have otherwise been there for them when they finally realize their candidate cannot fulfill the all promises made and their government has failed them despite their hope for change.
"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson
Labels: Barack Obama, Constitution, democracy, dictatorship, government, politics, Republic, voting