The article below was written by By Alan Caruba for the July 26, 2009 edition of Canadianfreepress.com.
Page after Page of Reasons to Hate ObamacareHere are just a few very good reasons to hate Obamacare:
• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!
• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)
• Page 42: The “Health Choices Commissioner” will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.
• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
• Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.
• Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)
• Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.
• Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)
• Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens
• Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.
• Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.
• Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No “judicial review” is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.
• Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.
• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.
• Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.
• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll
• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll
• Page 167: Any individual who doesnt’ have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.
• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).
• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
• Page 203: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it really says that.
• Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor most affected.”
• Page 241: Doctors: no matter what speciality you have, you’ll all be paid the same (thanks, AMA!)
• Page 253: Government sets value of doctors’ time, their professional judgment, etc.
• Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.
• Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.
• Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!
• Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.
• Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.
• Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in healthcare companies!
• Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.
• Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on “community” input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.
• Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.
• Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc.
• Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone).
• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?
• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.
• Page 425: Goverment provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.
• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient’s health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.
• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
• Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marria ge.
• Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services.
A tip of my hat to my friend, Ben Cerruti, for providing this look at the Obamanation called Obamacare. Write, email, fax or call your Senators and your Representative and tell them to vote NO!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Democrat's Shock and Awe Strategy
We've been so busy lately trying to keep up with all the bullcrap being thrown at us from Washington; i.e., socialized healthcare, cap and tax, etc., that it's inevitable that the liberals will try to slip something by us while we are occupied elsewhere. Below is a link to an article entitled The Democrats Want Your Kids written by Ashley Herzog for Townhall.com. If Obama’s Education Secretary, Arne Duncan, has his way, your kids will be in government schools eight hours a day, twelve months a year. The liberals are also proponents of starting your children in government-run schools as young as three years of age. The democrat elite, however, prefer to send their own children to private school. Hmmm...that sounds familiar. Oh yeah, it's kind of like Congress wanting to socialize medicine for us little people, but refusing to be a part of it themselves. Why give up their excellent taxpayer-funded healthcare? But we digress. As far as we know, there isn't legislation being considered at this time to extend the amount of time children will be required to spend in public school, but there is an experimental program in place in Massachusetts. It seems to us that the next step of the liberal strategy would be to outlaw home schooling. Please write your Congressional representatives if you hear any comments from Washington about legislation on these issues.
http://townhall.com/columnists/AshleyHerzog/2009/07/29/the_democrats_want_your_kids
To read the article in TIME magazine entitled Summer School: What? No More Vacations? Written by Gilbert Cruz, click on the link below:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1910973,00.html
http://townhall.com/columnists/AshleyHerzog/2009/07/29/the_democrats_want_your_kids
To read the article in TIME magazine entitled Summer School: What? No More Vacations? Written by Gilbert Cruz, click on the link below:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1910973,00.html
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Look Whose Chickens Are Coming Home To Roost
At a townhall meeting in Missouri, a soldier reminded Senator Claire McCaskill's staff that Article one, Section eight of the U.S. Constitution does not give Congress the right to mandate health care to the American citizens. This is the video:
At a Kathleen Sebelius townhall meeting regarding healthcare, an attendee responds "It will be a cold day in hell before he socializes my country."
Missouri representative, Russ Carnahan, gets laughed at during a townhall meeting on healthcare:
At a Kathleen Sebelius townhall meeting regarding healthcare, an attendee responds "It will be a cold day in hell before he socializes my country."
Missouri representative, Russ Carnahan, gets laughed at during a townhall meeting on healthcare:
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Saving Our Senior Citizens
Just when we thought that the plan to socialize healthcare couldn't get any worse, today we read that the version of President Obama's universal health care plan pending in the U.S. House would require "end-of-life" counseling for senior citizens. At issue is section 1233 of the legislative proposal that deals with a government requirement for an "Advance Care Planning Consultation."
Betsy McCaughey, the former New York state officer, told former president candidate Fred Thompson during an interview on his radio program the "consultation" is no more or less than an attempt to convince seniors to die.
"One of the most shocking things is page 425, where the Congress would make it mandatory absolutely that every five years people in Medicare have a required counseling session," she said. "They will tell [them] how to end their life sooner."
The proposal specifically calls for the consultation to recommend "palliative care and hospice" for seniors in their mandatory counseling sessions. Palliative care and hospice generally focus only on pain relief until death.
We've said it before, but we're saying it again: Call, write, and/or e-mail every elected official you can and demand that this quest for socialized be stopped. Evidently it's up to us to protect the elderly from this insidious piece of legislation.
Betsy McCaughey, the former New York state officer, told former president candidate Fred Thompson during an interview on his radio program the "consultation" is no more or less than an attempt to convince seniors to die.
"One of the most shocking things is page 425, where the Congress would make it mandatory absolutely that every five years people in Medicare have a required counseling session," she said. "They will tell [them] how to end their life sooner."
The proposal specifically calls for the consultation to recommend "palliative care and hospice" for seniors in their mandatory counseling sessions. Palliative care and hospice generally focus only on pain relief until death.
We've said it before, but we're saying it again: Call, write, and/or e-mail every elected official you can and demand that this quest for socialized be stopped. Evidently it's up to us to protect the elderly from this insidious piece of legislation.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Legislating "health" and "care" out of the options
It seems as if the American people are spending more time than ever before having to write and call their Washington representatives. We vote for these people to handle our government affairs so that we can take care of our families, further our careers, and some day retire with a nest egg. That's how we want to spend our time -- and we want to be able to trust that, while we're taking care of our personal business, our Washington rep's are reliably taking care of our country's business.
Many people voted for change and the people in Washington took that to mean they could change everything. But the people didn't vote to drastically change the country; they voted to change Washington. They thought that change in Washington meant more transparency in government and more responsibility in spending. What they got for their vote is a group of people who are attempting to drastically change the country to socialism so that they can have more power and control over the American people.
President Obama promised healthcare reform, but he didn't author, nor did he read, the healthcare reform. He has stated that we will be able to keep our current doctors and current healthcare plans; however, that's not what the reform bill states. If the proposed healthcare bill passes, we will, eventually, all be on government healthcare.
So, it's time again to write and call your Washington representatives. Let them know that this healthcare reform bill is not the reform that you want.
David Limbaugh wrote the following regarding the healthcare proposal:
"Here are some inconvenient truths Obama must conceal from the American public:
--Despite White House-generated hysteria about the urgency of reform, the only urgency is in preventing this fiasco because it would destroy America's economy and liberty. Doing nothing -- even given the many problems that exist under the present system -- is far preferable to adopting this monster.
"--Proponents claim the present system leaves 47 million people without insurance and unable to get it. Bull. Almost half of these uninsured could afford coverage but choose not to obtain it; almost half only remain uninsured for four months; and millions are noncitizens. Moreover, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that 17 million would remain uninsured after the plan is implemented.
"--Obama says his plan is not socialized medicine because he's just providing a 'public option' to make the private insurers more competitive. Well, he's stacking the deck with mandated coverage -- which, by definition, reduces competition -- and subsidizing the public option. He would provide incentives to businesses to move employees to the public plan. Also, once you lose your insurance, your coverage choices would no longer be grandfathered, and you'd be forced to buy a plan that includes Big Brother's mandates -- meaning most would gravitate toward the government plan. A single-payer system is virtually inevitable.
"--The plan is being sold as a necessary element of reviving the economy. No one, including the Congressional Budget Office, believes this bill would improve our economy, and most believe it would exacerbate our problems. The bill, with its taxes on successful small businesses and its Draconian regulations, would destroy job creation, as would increases to the deficit and debt the bill would cause.
"--Health care costs would not be reduced, but increased -- and shifted. Studies show that preventive care measures would not reduce costs. More importantly, the CBO says that even with the planned confiscatory taxes on higher-income earners (which no one can deny constitute real costs to them) and the penalties on employers who don't provide coverage, the plan would fall $239 billion short of covering its initial cost estimates of $1 trillion. And that's assuming everything goes well. But cost estimates for government programs are always understated. The actual costs for Medicare Part A were $67 billion, seven times higher than the government's 1965 projections of $9 billion. Even worse, the Medicaid special hospitals subsidy was $11 billion, more than 100 times the government's projection of $100 million in 1987, just years earlier. The only efforts at cost containment would come from artificial price controls, which would result in rationing -- most likely for the elderly.
"--The quality of socialized health care would not be improved as promised, but would necessarily deteriorate, as it has in all countries that have tried it and in our own government-run experiments of veterans care, Medicaid and Medicare. It's inescapably true -- as noted by Dr. Thomas Sowell -- that price controls would reduce quality care because they would reduce the incentive to provide quality.
"--Health care choices would not be expanded, but essentially eliminated, by government mandate. The White House isn't even denying it would force taxpayer-subsidized abortions.
"The apathetic and complacent among us must understand that once this anti-American outrage is passed, it will be enormously difficult to reverse legislatively, even with decisive Republican congressional victories in 2010 -- a task made more difficult with ACORN's stimulus-fed election fraud operation firmly in place and an ever-growing dependency class voting itself money from the public trough. It will likely require supermajorities in both houses."
http://www.davidlimbaugh.com/mt/archives/2009/07/new_column_more_3.html
And here's another good article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203946904574298661486528186.html#mod=djemEditorialPage
Many people voted for change and the people in Washington took that to mean they could change everything. But the people didn't vote to drastically change the country; they voted to change Washington. They thought that change in Washington meant more transparency in government and more responsibility in spending. What they got for their vote is a group of people who are attempting to drastically change the country to socialism so that they can have more power and control over the American people.
President Obama promised healthcare reform, but he didn't author, nor did he read, the healthcare reform. He has stated that we will be able to keep our current doctors and current healthcare plans; however, that's not what the reform bill states. If the proposed healthcare bill passes, we will, eventually, all be on government healthcare.
So, it's time again to write and call your Washington representatives. Let them know that this healthcare reform bill is not the reform that you want.
David Limbaugh wrote the following regarding the healthcare proposal:
"Here are some inconvenient truths Obama must conceal from the American public:
--Despite White House-generated hysteria about the urgency of reform, the only urgency is in preventing this fiasco because it would destroy America's economy and liberty. Doing nothing -- even given the many problems that exist under the present system -- is far preferable to adopting this monster.
"--Proponents claim the present system leaves 47 million people without insurance and unable to get it. Bull. Almost half of these uninsured could afford coverage but choose not to obtain it; almost half only remain uninsured for four months; and millions are noncitizens. Moreover, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that 17 million would remain uninsured after the plan is implemented.
"--Obama says his plan is not socialized medicine because he's just providing a 'public option' to make the private insurers more competitive. Well, he's stacking the deck with mandated coverage -- which, by definition, reduces competition -- and subsidizing the public option. He would provide incentives to businesses to move employees to the public plan. Also, once you lose your insurance, your coverage choices would no longer be grandfathered, and you'd be forced to buy a plan that includes Big Brother's mandates -- meaning most would gravitate toward the government plan. A single-payer system is virtually inevitable.
"--The plan is being sold as a necessary element of reviving the economy. No one, including the Congressional Budget Office, believes this bill would improve our economy, and most believe it would exacerbate our problems. The bill, with its taxes on successful small businesses and its Draconian regulations, would destroy job creation, as would increases to the deficit and debt the bill would cause.
"--Health care costs would not be reduced, but increased -- and shifted. Studies show that preventive care measures would not reduce costs. More importantly, the CBO says that even with the planned confiscatory taxes on higher-income earners (which no one can deny constitute real costs to them) and the penalties on employers who don't provide coverage, the plan would fall $239 billion short of covering its initial cost estimates of $1 trillion. And that's assuming everything goes well. But cost estimates for government programs are always understated. The actual costs for Medicare Part A were $67 billion, seven times higher than the government's 1965 projections of $9 billion. Even worse, the Medicaid special hospitals subsidy was $11 billion, more than 100 times the government's projection of $100 million in 1987, just years earlier. The only efforts at cost containment would come from artificial price controls, which would result in rationing -- most likely for the elderly.
"--The quality of socialized health care would not be improved as promised, but would necessarily deteriorate, as it has in all countries that have tried it and in our own government-run experiments of veterans care, Medicaid and Medicare. It's inescapably true -- as noted by Dr. Thomas Sowell -- that price controls would reduce quality care because they would reduce the incentive to provide quality.
"--Health care choices would not be expanded, but essentially eliminated, by government mandate. The White House isn't even denying it would force taxpayer-subsidized abortions.
"The apathetic and complacent among us must understand that once this anti-American outrage is passed, it will be enormously difficult to reverse legislatively, even with decisive Republican congressional victories in 2010 -- a task made more difficult with ACORN's stimulus-fed election fraud operation firmly in place and an ever-growing dependency class voting itself money from the public trough. It will likely require supermajorities in both houses."
http://www.davidlimbaugh.com/mt/archives/2009/07/new_column_more_3.html
And here's another good article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203946904574298661486528186.html#mod=djemEditorialPage
Monday, July 20, 2009
If You Don't Laugh, You'll Cry
We received the following analyses in an e-mail from Personal Liberty Alerts. The author, Chip Wood, is the geopolitical editor of PersonalLiberty.com.
Believers in the coincidence theory of history will have fun with this one. It was 60 years ago this month when witnesses claimed that something fell from the sky and crashed on a ranch outside of Roswell, N.M. Ever since July 8, 1947, rumors have persisted that the unidentified flying object, or UFO, contained visitors from outer space. Allegedly, their bodies were hidden away by government agents and became the object of various secret experiments. I scoff at such preposterous allegations, of course. Nevertheless, it gives me pause to realize that nine months later, March 1948, witnessed the births of Barbara Boxer, Bill Clinton, Howard Dean, Al Gore, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Rodham. Hey, have you got a better explanation?
We looked up the birthdays--all those folks weren't really born in March of 1948, but you've got to admit that it's rather humorous nonetheless.
We also heard last week, but we haven't been able to find out who said it so we can give proper credit, that Joe Biden was referred to as a bull who carries around his own china shop.
And to think that the Bureau of the Public Debt had determined that a new government position needed to be created to give seminars on how to have humor in the workplace. Seems to us that as long as there are democrats, there will be plenty to laugh at.
Believers in the coincidence theory of history will have fun with this one. It was 60 years ago this month when witnesses claimed that something fell from the sky and crashed on a ranch outside of Roswell, N.M. Ever since July 8, 1947, rumors have persisted that the unidentified flying object, or UFO, contained visitors from outer space. Allegedly, their bodies were hidden away by government agents and became the object of various secret experiments. I scoff at such preposterous allegations, of course. Nevertheless, it gives me pause to realize that nine months later, March 1948, witnessed the births of Barbara Boxer, Bill Clinton, Howard Dean, Al Gore, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Rodham. Hey, have you got a better explanation?
We looked up the birthdays--all those folks weren't really born in March of 1948, but you've got to admit that it's rather humorous nonetheless.
We also heard last week, but we haven't been able to find out who said it so we can give proper credit, that Joe Biden was referred to as a bull who carries around his own china shop.
And to think that the Bureau of the Public Debt had determined that a new government position needed to be created to give seminars on how to have humor in the workplace. Seems to us that as long as there are democrats, there will be plenty to laugh at.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Be Prepared
The Lord has told us that "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear" (D&C 38:30), and "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing" (D&C 109:8).
With that in mind, the below YouTube videos are not meant to scare, but to encourage people to get prepared.
With that in mind, the below YouTube videos are not meant to scare, but to encourage people to get prepared.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Be Warned
Ezra Taft Benson, Mormon Prophet and Secretary of Agriculture to President Eisenhower, warned us that communism is coming. We may have linked to this video before, but it's worth the repeat.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Socialist HealthCare
It's time again to write and phone your Washington representatives and let them know that we do not want their healthcare reform. The U.S. may not have a perfect healthcare system, but we have the best in the world. People from other countries come to America to receive medical attention for issues not covered under the socialized system with which they live. The healthcare that Washington wants to shove on us will only give us more taxes and less care since care will have to be rationed in order to keep costs down.
Call, write, or visit you senators and representatives. Ask them if they intend to give up their current healthcare to join you in universal healthcare. Ask them if they would allow their families to use the proposed universal healthcare. Let them know that you will not support their future elections if they vote for government-sponsored healthcare.
Here are a couple of articles about the House proposal presented this week by Nancy Pelosi:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a4.kYDWV9erc
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124759535535340189.html
Call, write, or visit you senators and representatives. Ask them if they intend to give up their current healthcare to join you in universal healthcare. Ask them if they would allow their families to use the proposed universal healthcare. Let them know that you will not support their future elections if they vote for government-sponsored healthcare.
Here are a couple of articles about the House proposal presented this week by Nancy Pelosi:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a4.kYDWV9erc
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124759535535340189.html
Monday, July 13, 2009
We Love A Parade
We just returned from a restful and relaxing week and a half at our home in Southern Utah. One of the highlights was the small-town parade. All of the parade pictures were taken from our front porch.
Parade Royalty
Little ones riding little wheels
*
Not so little ones with bigger wheels*
Obligatory horse picture*
Let's not forget what the Fourth of July is all about
Watching the parade was seven minutes well spent.
While we were gone, Ines, Sandy's daughter-in-law, sent us a picture of Jonas at the Montessori preschool where Ines teaches and where Jonas will be attending this fall. He was sweeping the floor but stopped to wave at us.
What a cutie!We quilted and crocheted...
Baby afghan made by Edie
Baby rag quilt made by Sandy
We also worked in the yard, planned our cross-country travels for next summer, and shopped and went to lunch in a town a little farther north that actually has stores and restaurants. We hated to leave, but we're back nonetheless--heavy sigh.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Freedom Isn't Free
The following article is by Brion McClanahan at www.townhall.com http://townhall.com/columnists/BrionMcClanahan/2009/07/02/this_july_4th,_remember_the_founders
"While Americans are busy enjoying ice cream, hot dogs, cold drinks, and fireworks on July 4, I’m sure very few consider the following questions: What would the Founding Fathers say about the modern United States, and what is the meaning of independence? Certainly the United States would not be here without the Founders, the greatest generation in American history, but perhaps a better way of answering the questions is by simply considering whether the United States is the federal republic of the Founders’ design or has it been “remade” as Barack Obama continues to suggest.
"The dichotomy between the Founders’ republic and the federal leviathan in Washington D.C. could not be more pronounced than it is in 2009. The Founding Fathers would all be considered conservatives today, even the most ardent centralizers in the bunch. They recognized the need for government, but with few exceptions believed in local and state sovereignty and as little government as possible. They would not have accepted the rash of federal bailouts—or in many cases central banking in general (the FED)—or modern welfare capitalism and the public debt that accompanies hundreds of “social” programs designed to redistribute wealth. They seceded from the British government in part because of unconstitutional (and miniscule by modern standards) taxes and would be appalled by the current level of taxation in America on all levels of government. They were a God-fearing generation jealous of individual liberty and believed through their understanding of history that without constitutional restraint government could be the most dangerous enemy of liberty and freedom. They would have been wary of the unconstitutional powers of the modern executive branch and would have been suspicious of a man who promised “Hope and Change.” As Benjamin Franklin said, “He who lives on hope will die fasting.”
"The Founding Fathers also understood that a sound republic depended on an educated, virtuous, civic minded citizenry, and their government and society reflected their values. Patrick Henry often reminded his fellow Virginians that the 'ancient constitutions' of their forefathers provided the best example for the future. He was guided, as he articulated during his famous 'Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!' speech, by the lamp of 'experience.' John Dickinson, an important but forgotten founder, considered 'Experience to be our only guide. Reason may mislead us.' These men broke from the British Empire in order to preserve the traditions of their communities, not create something new. They participated in government because it was their duty to serve, and they often resisted. Both George Washington and George Mason, for example, preferred retirement to politics, but humbly served when called and gave up power willingly. And, since this generation tended to be suspicious of government, government did very little. Forgotten founder George Clinton, arguably the most popular governor in New York history and no relation to Bill or Hillary, often celebrated that New York freeholders paid no taxes for eighteen years while he was in office. The founding generation disagreed on many things, but the right of self-determination and limited self-government was not one of them. Most viewed their state as their country and believed people had the right and duty to determine their own destiny, government included.
"Moreover, the Founders were not egalitarian romantics with lofty views of human nature. They were men of their times, but the leaders of this generation had a sound understanding of classical history and the nature of man, without question better than the current crop of “educated” Americans. When current college freshmen have a difficult time recalling basic historical concepts or events, thanks in large part to public “education,” one has to wonder if current or future leaders could match the intellectual might of any of the Founding Fathers. Could contemporary Americans honestly rely upon federal or state 'leaders' to write a viable constitution or make decisions without conducting a public opinion poll? When image is more important than substance, probably not. In contrast, the founding generation produced the framework for two federal unions—the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution—and authored a host of state constitutions. History and the nature of man, of course, have not changed since the founding generation, only its interpretation and the willingness of modern Americans to seemingly embrace government involvement in our lives.
"So, how does this apply to our society? If the United States had been 'remade,' and it has, so too have American citizens. Americans have become less independent since the time of the founding generation. We owe thousands to large corporate banks, live in rented or mortgaged homes, and spend 110% of our income each year. We spend hours watching sports on television, ignore our history and civics, shun the vote, and trounce our Constitution. We have given our rights away often without protest to various levels of government and pay half of our money to these same governments in order to 'level' society. We have forgotten the republican (not the same as the Republican Party) ideals of simplicity, frugality, civic participation, and virtue, and have failed to retain simple methods of survival, believing that the trough will always be full, our bellies always fat and our wallet stuffed with money (or credit). We have, in essence, become decadent serfs to Uncle Sam and in the process have been lulled by 'bread and games.' A people with reckless habits can expect no more from their government and government often reflects society.
"The ability of Americans to understand and emulate the founding generation holds the key to a prosperous future. Battle lines have been drawn. If Americans continue to accept larger and more powerful government, bailouts, government handouts, nationalized industries and restrictions on individual liberty, they move closer to dependence and serfdom and farther from the founding principles of the United States. But, the Founding Fathers would argue that every step Americans take toward decentralization, individual responsibility, and personal independence is a step toward salvaging the republic. July 4 is about independence from a king, freedom from oppressive government and high taxes, and the power of self-determination. All Americans would do well to remember that lesson. We can 'remake' America or preserve the founding principles of the United States, but we cannot do both. "
*******************************************************************************
What are you willing to do to preserve your freedoms? You may have to decide soon. The Fourth of July commemorates the fight for freedom; let's do our part to keep our freedoms.
*******************************************************************************
We are going on vacation and will be away from the blog world until July 13.
"While Americans are busy enjoying ice cream, hot dogs, cold drinks, and fireworks on July 4, I’m sure very few consider the following questions: What would the Founding Fathers say about the modern United States, and what is the meaning of independence? Certainly the United States would not be here without the Founders, the greatest generation in American history, but perhaps a better way of answering the questions is by simply considering whether the United States is the federal republic of the Founders’ design or has it been “remade” as Barack Obama continues to suggest.
"The dichotomy between the Founders’ republic and the federal leviathan in Washington D.C. could not be more pronounced than it is in 2009. The Founding Fathers would all be considered conservatives today, even the most ardent centralizers in the bunch. They recognized the need for government, but with few exceptions believed in local and state sovereignty and as little government as possible. They would not have accepted the rash of federal bailouts—or in many cases central banking in general (the FED)—or modern welfare capitalism and the public debt that accompanies hundreds of “social” programs designed to redistribute wealth. They seceded from the British government in part because of unconstitutional (and miniscule by modern standards) taxes and would be appalled by the current level of taxation in America on all levels of government. They were a God-fearing generation jealous of individual liberty and believed through their understanding of history that without constitutional restraint government could be the most dangerous enemy of liberty and freedom. They would have been wary of the unconstitutional powers of the modern executive branch and would have been suspicious of a man who promised “Hope and Change.” As Benjamin Franklin said, “He who lives on hope will die fasting.”
"The Founding Fathers also understood that a sound republic depended on an educated, virtuous, civic minded citizenry, and their government and society reflected their values. Patrick Henry often reminded his fellow Virginians that the 'ancient constitutions' of their forefathers provided the best example for the future. He was guided, as he articulated during his famous 'Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!' speech, by the lamp of 'experience.' John Dickinson, an important but forgotten founder, considered 'Experience to be our only guide. Reason may mislead us.' These men broke from the British Empire in order to preserve the traditions of their communities, not create something new. They participated in government because it was their duty to serve, and they often resisted. Both George Washington and George Mason, for example, preferred retirement to politics, but humbly served when called and gave up power willingly. And, since this generation tended to be suspicious of government, government did very little. Forgotten founder George Clinton, arguably the most popular governor in New York history and no relation to Bill or Hillary, often celebrated that New York freeholders paid no taxes for eighteen years while he was in office. The founding generation disagreed on many things, but the right of self-determination and limited self-government was not one of them. Most viewed their state as their country and believed people had the right and duty to determine their own destiny, government included.
"Moreover, the Founders were not egalitarian romantics with lofty views of human nature. They were men of their times, but the leaders of this generation had a sound understanding of classical history and the nature of man, without question better than the current crop of “educated” Americans. When current college freshmen have a difficult time recalling basic historical concepts or events, thanks in large part to public “education,” one has to wonder if current or future leaders could match the intellectual might of any of the Founding Fathers. Could contemporary Americans honestly rely upon federal or state 'leaders' to write a viable constitution or make decisions without conducting a public opinion poll? When image is more important than substance, probably not. In contrast, the founding generation produced the framework for two federal unions—the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution—and authored a host of state constitutions. History and the nature of man, of course, have not changed since the founding generation, only its interpretation and the willingness of modern Americans to seemingly embrace government involvement in our lives.
"So, how does this apply to our society? If the United States had been 'remade,' and it has, so too have American citizens. Americans have become less independent since the time of the founding generation. We owe thousands to large corporate banks, live in rented or mortgaged homes, and spend 110% of our income each year. We spend hours watching sports on television, ignore our history and civics, shun the vote, and trounce our Constitution. We have given our rights away often without protest to various levels of government and pay half of our money to these same governments in order to 'level' society. We have forgotten the republican (not the same as the Republican Party) ideals of simplicity, frugality, civic participation, and virtue, and have failed to retain simple methods of survival, believing that the trough will always be full, our bellies always fat and our wallet stuffed with money (or credit). We have, in essence, become decadent serfs to Uncle Sam and in the process have been lulled by 'bread and games.' A people with reckless habits can expect no more from their government and government often reflects society.
"The ability of Americans to understand and emulate the founding generation holds the key to a prosperous future. Battle lines have been drawn. If Americans continue to accept larger and more powerful government, bailouts, government handouts, nationalized industries and restrictions on individual liberty, they move closer to dependence and serfdom and farther from the founding principles of the United States. But, the Founding Fathers would argue that every step Americans take toward decentralization, individual responsibility, and personal independence is a step toward salvaging the republic. July 4 is about independence from a king, freedom from oppressive government and high taxes, and the power of self-determination. All Americans would do well to remember that lesson. We can 'remake' America or preserve the founding principles of the United States, but we cannot do both. "
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What are you willing to do to preserve your freedoms? You may have to decide soon. The Fourth of July commemorates the fight for freedom; let's do our part to keep our freedoms.
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We are going on vacation and will be away from the blog world until July 13.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
We Must Remember Them
It seems as if we are being buffeted on all sides by politics that bears no resemblance to the country that our forefathers founded and that will have the effect of shredding our Constitution. It's difficult for us every day Americans to keep up with all of the policies and programs being thrown at us that, if enacted, will turn the United States of America, a country with a proud heritage, into another socialized country with big government control over almost every aspect of our lives. We keep informed by watching, reading, and listening to news programs on T.V and on the radio, newspapers, and the Internet, etc., we write letters and call our senators and congressmen, and gather together in peaceful tea-party protests to make our voices heard, and yet it seems as if the politicians have turned a deaf ear. The fight to save this Republic sometimes gets weary--we wonder if we're making a difference at all; however, we must continue. Our founding fathers were Divinely inspired and our Constitution is a result of that Divine inspiration. Sometimes we may need reminding of the sacrifices that were made by those who came here from England to escape oppression, many of whom gave their lives so that future generations would be able to live proudly in the home of the free and the land of the brave. We can't let their valiant efforts be in vain--we must fight the good fight and return with honor.
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