It’s Complicated

On Facebook you are allowed to state your political leanings in your profile. A friend of mine has “It’s complicated” as his. It doesn’t have to be.

The root of all problems in politics stems from the misunderstanding of the role and purpose of government. It’s actually very simple. The role of government is to secure and protect the liberties and rights of the individual. It is nothing more than that and when government assumes more of a role than this, it is usurping power.

It isn’t complicated.

Bless My Homeland Forever

I haven’t blogged here in months. With all that’s been going on in our county, I guess I’ve been shell shocked. My values haven’t changed nor have my convictions. However, I suppose I have been disillusioned by the sheer audacity of the political class in Washington, D.C.

However, tonight I was watching a movie with my children. We were watching The Sound of Music. If you aren’t familiar with the underlying story, it deals with a widower and his children who are caught up in the politics of pre-Nazi Austria, all set to music. The widower, Captain VonTrapp, is a famous hero in the Austrian Navy and is being pressured by the local Nazi party and ultimately by the Nazi high command to sail for the German Navy. Captain VonTrapp is fiercely loyal to Austria and resents everything the Nazi’s represent. He completely understands the underlying treachery of the Nazi party. He does everything but outright refuse to take a command in the German Navy, to which the Germans attempt to force him into submission. He finds the occupation of his homeland so repugnant that he openly defies Nazi authority and destroys the Nazi flag displayed upon his house (without his permission).

This recurring theme is emphasized throughout the movie by a simple but powerful song, Edelweiss. It is sung twice by the Captain, once for his children and the second in front of a music festival attended by several hundred of his fellow Austrians, prominent members of the Nazi party and local Austrian politicians who are Nazi sympathizers. During the second performance, the Captain, being openly defiant of his Nazi overseers, becomes overcome with emotion by the situation facing his homeland.  His voice falters. His family and the audience step in, pick up the song, and begin singing in unison, all to the chagrin of the Nazis in attendance.

It is a very moving moment in the movie and reminds me very much of the troubles we are experiencing here. However I can’t help but believe in the old saying that life imitates art. I believe that we are in the Edelweiss phase of our country.

Here are the lyrics. They are very simple and, as written, don’t have much in common with our country. Its the context in which they are sung that is relevant. As our country goes through these trying times, please sing them to yourself and carry the meaning in your heart. It isn’t about the words, its about the sentiment they represent. When it is time for you to pick up the mantle and stand up for the values and principles upon which our country was founded, please, please do so.

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me

Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

Those of us who hold the traditions of our republic and the virtues upon which it was founded as sacred, need to find our Edelweiss. When one of us falters in carrying the tune, others must step in to take up the song. We must do what is necessary, no matter how difficult, no matter how  painful, no matter how sacrificial. It is the only way we will get our country back. I implore you to Stand up. Please, stand up!

Never Forget 9/11

Never forget those innocent souls lost at the hand of a ruthless enemy.

Never forget that our country was attacked by those who desire to destroy us.

Never forget that our country has enemies within as well as without.

Never forget those who shed their blood and their lives for the freedom and security we enjoy

Constitutional Ignorance

My ten-year-old daughter asked me to help her study for a U.S. history test. Her teacher gave her a list of 100 questions to study. The teacher had been going over the list with the students for several class periods, giving, and I suppose discussing the answers.

We came to question 43 – “Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?” The answer: “William Rehnquist (?)” I thought for a moment and looked at my daughter and sadly informed her that he couldn’t be the Chief Justice since he’s been dead nearly 4 years. The answer, of course, is “John Roberts”. The fact that the teacher, who teaches U.S. History and Civics, gave her students the incorrect answer is only half the story.

Next, we came to question 64 – “Where does the freedom of speech come from?” The answer: “The Bill of Rights (?)” WHOA! NOW!

Over the years, I have discovered that I am one of the few Americans who has actually read and studied the United States Constitution and I can say without a doubt that The Bill of Rights DOES NOT give us the right of free speech. In fact, here is the text of Amendment One:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Notice the part in bold text. The First Amendment specifically states what Congress can’t do, not what We, The People can do. This isn’t a granting of rights. The Bill of Rights doesn’t grant rights. It specifically enumerates certain rights or prohibits the Congress from taking certain actions.

So, where do our rights come from? Thomas Jefferson so eloquently wrote in The Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Notice again the bold text. Our rights do not come from the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution does not grant rights.

Remember I said this was only half the story; here is the rest.

The questions on the study guide looked a little suspicious. That’s when I noticed the title at the top of the sheet: “INS 100 Questions and Answers”. Uh Oh, time to do a Google Search. Here is what I found – INS Citizenship Test Questions. It appears that this was the question pool the Immigration and Naturalization Service was using to test citizenship applicants prior to October 2008. Scary huh?

I am happy to report that the new Question Pool is much more appropriate.

Why our government is the way it is….

If you look at all the active amendments to the United States Constitution (I’ll discuss the Eighteenth below), they all deal with procedural matters, clarifying or extending individual rights, or clarifying or extending states’ rights.

The Eighteenth is an interesting case study in how the U.S. Constitution is “supposed” to work. “We” (the people and states) gave the Federal government the power to prohibit alcohol sales. The Tenth Amendment says that all powers not delegated to the Federal government are retained by the people and the states, so we gave the Federal Government the power by amending the U.S. Constitution.

Well, we all know how Prohibition turned out – Gangs, bootleggers, the Kennedy fortune and very little effectiveness. The reason it was enacted was because the States and the people had not given the Federal Government the power to regulate alcohol sales (remember the Tenth Amendment Governor Perry was talking about a while back) when enumerating its power and responsibility in the U.S. Constitution . When “we” realized that the Eighteenth Amendment was a mistake, “we” passed the Twenty first Amendment to take the power away.

Now, given that “we” had to give the Federal Government power to control alcohol (and then subsequently take it away), where in the constitution did we give the Federal Government the right to control firearms, narcotics, food, medical care, marriage, etc.? I can’t find it anywhere.

Why the Second Amendment Matters

This video speaks for itself.

Don’t be a Fool

I confess. I’m a news junkie. Much to the chagrin of my wife, I have the TV or radio tuned to news or political talk shows all during my waking hours. When I get up, the first thing I do is turn on the TV to watch the news. I usually fall asleep to, you guessed it, the news.

I don’t, however, take everything that is said as the gospel.

I have always had a strong cynical bent. Any time a fact is spewed by either a politician or a talking head, I cast a jaundiced eye. My first thoughts are almost invariably “What? That can’t be true! Prove it!” Then a flurry of activity ensues while I try to research the truth.

Unfortunately I believe that I’m in the minority. I have many friends who watch the news and then without any thought of their own, spew it as the truth. They take sides of an argument based upon the thoughts of others, not their own.

Are you in this group? Or do you think for yourself?

Never has it been easier than now to research the facts. No longer are you required to visit one or more libraries to find the complete answer to a nagging question. With the right setup, you can do all your research from the comfort of your own home, when you can find the time.

Here is how you think for yourself:

1. Don’t believe everything you hear. If Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity or any other politician or talking head throws out a fact a yellow flag should go up.
2. Open up your browser, go to Google AND Yahoo and do a search. Avoid the sites which take a position one way or another. If you can’t find many neutral sites, then read BOTH sides of the argument. You can bet that the truth lies somewhere in the middle. If there is associated documentation, then read it. Now, read it again.
3. Read your local newspaper. It may be biased, but it does contain information.
4. Read The Constitution of the United States of America and all its amendments. Study it.
5. Read The Declaration of Independence. Study it. Learn why it was written. Learn why the signers wrote it the way they did.
6. Read John Locke, especially the Second Treatise on Government.
7. Read about our Founding Fathers, especially Jefferson, Adams and Franklin.
8. Form YOUR OWN OPINION and be prepared to back it up with your own thoughts and arguments. I have yet to meet any two people who agree on every topic.

So, are you going to continue to be one of those who lets others think for them?

I hope not. Think for yourself!

The Politician’s Contract

Its time to turn the tables on our elected politicians. Instead of the usual campaign promises, I propose that we choose a candidate who is willing to sign the following “Politicians Contract” before being elected or appointed to ANY elected position in the Federal Government.

Here it is:

“Upon signing this document, I agree to uphold the values of my constituents and to the best of my ability carry out my responsibilities of office with their interests and only their interests as my standard. I am a servant to my constituents and I understand that they insist upon my loyalty to them and no others while carrying out the duties of my office.”

While in office I shall follow these principles in every action I undertake:

I shall uphold the Constitution of the United States of America as the supreme law of the land and shall interpret it as written. I believe any and all laws that are in contradiction with the U.S. Constitution are not enforceable.

I believe that the Federal Government has overstepped its original mandates as specified in the U.S. Constitution and I shall do everything in my power to return it to its original purpose.

I shall live by the same laws as my constituents – no exceptions.

I shall vote “no” for any expenditure which increases spending beyond currently generated revenues, effectively enforcing a balanced budget. I realize that unbalanced budgets burden the children, grand-children and great-grand-children of my constituents and endanger the pursuit of the American Dream for future Americans.

I believe that everyone has the right to life, liberty and property and everyone should be allowed to freely exercise these rights unless doing so would infringe upon the rights of others to do the same. I shall vote “no” on any legislation which would curtail or limit any of these rights.

I believe that a no one has a right to expect others to supplement their livelihood. Confiscation of any property from one person for the purposes of supporting another is theft. I shall vote “no” on any legislation which would allow this to take place and will work to repeal any existing law that allows this to take place. Charity is the responsibility of private charitable organizations, not the Federal Government.

I believe the current income tax system is unconscionable and should be abandoned by repealing the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I shall work to repeal the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution upon taking office.

I believe that the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution upset the balance of power in the Federal Government as originally envisioned by The Founders and should be repealed, returning the selection of Senators to their respective states. I shall work to repeal the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution upon taking office.

I agree that I shall abide by the terms of this contract and that should I breach any part my constituents have the right to be made whole by pursuing damages through the court system within the state in which they reside and I represent.”

Thoughts? Revisions?

Money in Your Pocket

Whitehouse Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

I just finished watching the daily press briefing by Whitehouse Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. In his discussion with reporters, he made the statement that the adminstration wanted to put more money in the pockets of Americans.

How about this idea. Instead of putting money in taxpayers pockets, why don’t you just leave it there to begin with? It has been proven time and time again that lowering taxes stimulates growth in the economy.

The Honeymoon is Over…Its Business as Usual for the Obama Administration

Tom Daschle

Campaigning with the promise of  “clean break from business as usual”, it seems that President Obama’s adminstration will be likely be more of the same.

Several of his nominees have been plagued with tax problems, the latest being notorious former Senator turned pseudo-lobbyist Tom Daschle. Daschle has subsequently withdrawn his nomination, however, tax problems aside, according to Obama’s own promises of not allowing lobbyists in his administration, Daschle should have never been nominated in the first place.

Since being removed from office by his constituents, Daschle has been paid over $5.2 million by health concerns. For someone who was nominated to head the Department of Health and Human Services, how could we ever believe that he would not play favorites with those who used him as a health care consultant?