Sebastian mentions two reasons, in addition to the economy, why this President has to go in the 2012 elections.
Category Archives: Freedom – Loss Of
Quote of the Day
Men rarely admit their fear of freedom openly, however, tending rather to camouflage it – sometimes unconsciously – by presenting themselves as defenders of freedom. They give their doubts and misgivings an air of profound sobriety, as befitting custodians of freedom. But they confuse freedom with the maintenance of the status quo; so that if [an idea] threatens to place that status quo in question, it thereby seems to constitute a threat to freedom itself. – Paulo Freire
A More Refined First Amendment?
Absolutely mind boggling. And these people vote.
Proponents of a more refined First Amendment argue that this freedom should be treated not as a right but as a privilege – a special entitlement granted by the state on a conditional basis that can be revoked if it is ever abused or maltreated.
A Note to the Left and the Right
Something has touched a nerve today, I’m not quite sure why. I was sitting her surfing the interwebz when I, again, became annoyed with the political establishment in this country. For several generations now we, the citizenry, have sat back and allowed our government to become extremely top heavy on the Federal end. In some cases, an extremely vocal minority have called for this increase. In most cases, an extremely apathetic majority simply sat back and did nothing.
We have lost something that the founders had enjoyed and come to love. I do not say founders in meaning the Big Boys of American History, but rather the citizens who supported the Big Boys. The citizens of the original 13 Colonies had spent almost 170 official historical years governing themselves. Lifted from the source of all truth and knowledge, Wikipedia – “Each colony developed its own system of self government. The[y]… voted for their local and provincial government.”
Yes, the early years of American history are not the golden age that many on the right try to paint them. They are not, however, the historical arm pit that many on the left try to paint them. It was imperfect, what with indentured servitude and slavery and what not, but it was 17th and 18th Century America. The one thing they truly got right was local government and a citizenry active in that government.
The British government started poking their nose in where the American Colonials felt it didn’t belong. The Americans rebelled, declaring
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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
The War was fought, the Americans won (with the help of the French who wanted to spite England), and The United States of America was quickly recognized as a nation by Morocco. The people then set out to “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity….” On September 13, 1788 the United States Constitution was confirmed ratified and the country was set on its historical course.
The US citizenry then fought another war about slavery and about independence in government. For the better, the Union won the War of Northern Aggression and the United States stayed intact, to some extent.
So, what am I rambling on about? “Federalism,” the great American experiment, has changed many, many times over the last 235 years (see the source of all truth and knowledge). The authors of the Declaration of Independence were correct when they said, “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.” In modern speak, Common sense (because “common sense” has replaced prudence) tells us that when a government has been around for a long time it shouldn’t be changed on a whim. History also shows us that the people will mumble under their breath against government overreaching rather than giving up the entitlements granted while their rights are being trampled.”
Sound familiar? It should, because we are living it! The Federal Government has gotten too large and overstepped its constitutionally set limitations. Several factors are involved, not the least of which is the ever expanding authority of the Executive Branch, the weakness of the Legislative Branch and its relinquishment of authority to the Executive, and the failure of the citizenry to remember that the Judicial Branch exists outside of the Supreme Court (apart from viewing the Judicial as a tool to circumvent the Legislative). I’m not saying that the Federal Department of Education can’t exist, but I am saying that it shouldn’t under our current Federal Constitution. Do you want a Federal Department of Education? Then convince your state legislature, or your Senator or Representative, to make a push for a Constitutional Convention or Constitutional Amendment so that the Federal Department of Education can be instituted properly.
Your role as a citizen is to read and understand the United States Constitution and your State Constitution. If you haven’t read them then you can’t know when your governments are overstepping their bounds and what their constitutional limitations are. When you know these things then you can become active in your community and allow the private sector to do what the government has no authority to do.
Governments are not all powerful. If you think they should be, please remove yourself to Europe. They favor that type of thinking over there. The United States of America was founded on principles of INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY. To members of the Right and the Left who have special interests, you are partially at fault for the current state of American politics. The apathetic also hold responsibility, as do the political weasels who have found “public service” to be a career and not service.
There, my rant is over. Return to your regularly scheduled programming.
Violence and the Left
While surfing around the intertubes I came across this interesting article in The Telegraph. “UK is Violent Crime Capitol of Europe.” It begins:
Analysis of figures from the European Commission showed a 77 per cent increase in murders, robberies, assaults and sexual offences in the UK since Labour came to power.
Now, yes I know. It’s very crass of me to blame the Left for Britain’s violent crime rate being so high. I’m not blaming them. I’m not pointing to causation but correlation. Discuss.
Quote of the Day
We do not elect Kings, nor appoint prime ministers. We elect executive officers. If Kerrey or anyone else, including Obama, thinks that the task of chief executive of the United States is too messy, too difficult, or too hard for Obama, he should never have run or been supported for the job.
This is what differentiates the European Model from the American Model. Obama doesn’t need a COO, America needs a President!
Calvin Coolidge
When thinking about the past Presidents of the United States, Calvin Coolidge is one of the last that come to mind for many. This is truly unfortunate, especially for conservatives. Here is actual video and audio from a small speech delivered by Coolidge in 1924, the first ever recorded for a President. It gets really good around 2 minutes.
86 years ago, Calvin Coolidge told to the American people that their taxes were too high and that their liberties were were being trampled upon. I ask you, does the current administration think about the individual when it proposes raising taxes or when it forces socialized medicine upon the people? The answer, simply, is No.
Thank you, President Coolidge, for giving conservatives another point in history with which to reference the intent of our Founders.
The Violence of the Left
It is an indisputable truth that the left becomes violent when wanting to enforce what they feel is morally correct. I’m sure that you all remember Audi’s Green Police commercial.
There is a group called 10:10 and they advocate cutting your carbon emissions by 10%. However, they want you to know that there’s no pressure. But they advocate blowing up anyone who doesn’t agree with them, including grade school children. Here’s a video of some of their propaganda:
Also, I take issue with you blowing up Agent Skully. On the other hand, if she was willing to participate in this garbage, then she deserves what she gets.
Now, by way of editorial. This is absolutely REVOLTING! It is not funny, it is not cute. It is horrible and disgusting. Shame on 10:10! No apology that you can issue, even though you have tried, can ever make up for what you advocate – you’re honest intentions of saying “join us or die!” You’ll see just how funny these ads aren’t when you’re burning in the afterlife.
Hope and Change
In a world where the President of the United States doesn’t have to actually do anything to win a Nobel Peace Prize, it’s not surprising that a person with ZERO judicial experience can be nominated by said president to the U.S. Supreme Court and actually get seated. Congratulations, America. You wanted hope and change – you got it.
Three separate branches of government each intended to be a check and balance on the other two. The lines are becoming more and more blurred.
The Bigger the State, the Smaller the Citizen
One thing I enjoy about my job is that I get to catch part of the Dennis Prager program in AM 1430 KLO on my drive home from work.
Not Reading Bills
You’d think that the Honorable District Attorney Eric Holder would have read the Arizona Immigration bill before speaking out against it. Problem is, he hasn’t.
I’ve only made, made the comments that I’ve made on the basis of things that I’ve been able to glean by reading newspaper accounts, obviously, looking at television, talking to people who are on the review panel, on the review team that are looking at the law. But I’ve not reached any conclusions as yet with regard to. I’ve just expressed concerns on the basis of what I’ve heard about the law. But I’m not in the position to say at this point, not having read the law, not having had the chance to interact with people doing the review, exactly what my position is.
It seems to be a growing trend in Washington D.C.
Continuing the Narrative
Tam on the porch points to Mark Steyn:
Don’t worry about Iran’s nuclear program, but if you meet a tea-party supporter waving some placard about the national debt, try not to catch his eye and back away slowly without making any sudden movements, lest he put down his placard and light up his suicide belt.
Hope and Change and Health Care
Gateway Pundit has an interesting article about what the Democrats didn’t want you to know before they passed the health care bill. Smells like Hope and Change.
