It seems like we live in a different country than we did only a few short years ago. The spirit of America is being re-defined by a central government that is in total opposition to the founding principles of our country and history. Our founders put in place the documents necessary to keep us from the current “transformation” but we have failed to learn them, understand them, and enforce them.
The Declaration of Independence which we celebrate this weekend established the determination of the new alliance of American colonies to be independent from central authority, and instead replaced it with individual rights to self determination. Where are those principles today?
I still believe there are more people that believe in free markets, individual liberty, self reliance, and the idea of a limited central government, but we no longer measure the activity of our federal government in those terms. We have been fractured into self interested groups who have become dependent on the largesse of a central government’s ability to take money from one individual or corporation and hand it over to another with nothing more than a stroke of the pen and a political contribution in an envelope. We have been corrupted to accept the immoral taking of our neighbor’s wealth.
We have started to accept the “right” to healthcare, the “right” to a particular wage, the “right” to an education, the “right” to a prosperous retirement, the “right” to food and shelter without even a whispering of constitutional or moral authority. The declaration and constitution are prudent in the rights that are outlined because our founders understood rights must stand independent of intrusion on other people’s rights. Our founders understood history well enough to know that the only true rights we have are Life, Liberty, and the PURSUIT of happiness. They knew no man or government could guarantee the outcome of happiness for anybody. They understood every human being would define the outcome differently but insuring the opportunity to pursue happiness would unleash the economic power that has resulted in the most prosperous nation on earth.
As we continue to accept the abject poverty of government intrusion on individual desire and potential, we should consider why we have so many people dependent on the government for their current miserable existence. As we have drifted further from our founding principles the principles that have replaced them have been determined not by individuals but a central bureaucracy determined to create equal misery throughout the land.
By implementing programs that guarantee government payments but reduce individual incentive we have shackled generations of Americans that were once ancestors of slaves into a new slavery of government dependence. The once open promise of this great American Dream has been stolen by an out of control central government. To return to true happiness every individual must determine if they or the government are going to be the source of their happiness. The people that choose the government will limit their potential to what a politician and bureaucrat can steal from others. If they choose to place the pursuit of happiness in their own hands the potential for happiness is unlimited.
We must reject the current move to “transform” America, and return to our founding principles so we can again celebrate true independence. Too many people today are dependent on government for their existence. We must all celebrate July 4th for what it truly represented to our founders; freedom from government, freedom to pursue individual happiness, and limited government intrusion into our lives.
God Bless America and thank you for giving us the men that were smart enough to know and document the rights you bestowed on us… Now it is our responsibility to understand them, reaffirm them, and protect them…
True knowledge of American history is necessary to insure the future of the America we love… This is an important time in our country's history. We must be wise and measured as we choose our leaders going forward.
Showing posts with label liberty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label liberty. Show all posts
Friday, July 2, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Freedom of the Press VS. Subsidizing Newspapers…
The founders knew the best check on government was the ability of the people and press to speak out against the government and its representatives freely. At the time of our founding, the press (newspapers, pamphlets, letters, etc…) were the only organized vehicles to speak through at the time. Without the “press” of the time, the general public’s ability to get information about issues would have been crippled if not for the traditional means of communications was not protected.
Subsidizing the “business” of the press was not their intention. The only consideration for the founders was protecting liberty by protecting the ability of individuals and organizations like the press to speak out against an oppressive government, and by limiting the power of the government to control the speech against the same government. To suggest that the government should have any role in ensuring a media company’s success in the market place is a total distortion of original intent.
Today, we have the internet, radio, TV, all what the founders would have labeled as the press. Every one of the new medium unknown to the founders at the time is a support for the original intent which was protecting speech and limiting the power of government. Because the traditional press has squandered their prestige by becoming political arms of party politics is the reason they are failing. They have greater competition, yes, but the real reason for their failure is their drifting from truth and facts to opinion and advocacy. Once you take a side you limit your audience. A very simple concept to understand.
So for the tax payer to subsidize a press that is no longer objective and separate from the government it is supposed to “protect” us from is in absolute contradiction to the original intent of our founders. We don’t need the traditional press, although I believe they still have an opportunity to reform themselves, we have what the founders were trying to truly protect which was the ability to speak out against our government through the expanded mediums we have today. Today’s technology has made speech safer from the perspective of holding government accountable. That is why the argument has shifted to protecting the internet from government control. Because the internet is more like the original press our founders wanted protected. A free interchange of ideas without government influence.
Let the traditional press models fail if they can’t compete, we have an outlet to speak against our government. Once the government is subsidizing the traditional press, we no longer have an independent advocate protecting our liberties. They will become an arm of the government, and that is definitely not what the founders intended when protecting the press in our constitution.
Subsidizing the “business” of the press was not their intention. The only consideration for the founders was protecting liberty by protecting the ability of individuals and organizations like the press to speak out against an oppressive government, and by limiting the power of the government to control the speech against the same government. To suggest that the government should have any role in ensuring a media company’s success in the market place is a total distortion of original intent.
Today, we have the internet, radio, TV, all what the founders would have labeled as the press. Every one of the new medium unknown to the founders at the time is a support for the original intent which was protecting speech and limiting the power of government. Because the traditional press has squandered their prestige by becoming political arms of party politics is the reason they are failing. They have greater competition, yes, but the real reason for their failure is their drifting from truth and facts to opinion and advocacy. Once you take a side you limit your audience. A very simple concept to understand.
So for the tax payer to subsidize a press that is no longer objective and separate from the government it is supposed to “protect” us from is in absolute contradiction to the original intent of our founders. We don’t need the traditional press, although I believe they still have an opportunity to reform themselves, we have what the founders were trying to truly protect which was the ability to speak out against our government through the expanded mediums we have today. Today’s technology has made speech safer from the perspective of holding government accountable. That is why the argument has shifted to protecting the internet from government control. Because the internet is more like the original press our founders wanted protected. A free interchange of ideas without government influence.
Let the traditional press models fail if they can’t compete, we have an outlet to speak against our government. Once the government is subsidizing the traditional press, we no longer have an independent advocate protecting our liberties. They will become an arm of the government, and that is definitely not what the founders intended when protecting the press in our constitution.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Social Justice?
What is social justice? What is economic justice? I know what criminal justice is; I think. But I hear these terms and my antenna goes up, especially when I look at the type of groups that are promoting it. They are definitely not the same groups promoting constitutional justice or individual justice.
The term seems so benign and that is what makes it so effective for the groups using the term. Social is simply society, and justice is something we all want, right? Wrong! The people and groups promoting social justice are the same people that believe in collectivism, communes, socialism, and what they really have in mind is the end of capitalism. Social justice is the antithesis of capitalism.
It is the belief that everyone deserves the same even if they have done nothing to earn it. It is the same people supporting the current administration in Washington, government healthcare, the takeover of private property by the government, environmentalists, many church groups, and too many people that don’t understand basic human nature. Social justice, economic justice, socialism, communism, fascism, all have a common goal to control your life and destroy individual freedom and property rights.
Think about a country where there was no right to private property. Think of a country where no matter how hard you worked you could only earn up to a government decided wage, and everything else was taken away to give to others. Think about a country where the government tells you what healthcare you must purchase, what car you can drive, how warm you can keep your home. Even if you believe that any of these things are commendable, who do you trust to decide these things? Therein lies the problem. There goes your freedom. There goes our constitution. There goes our country.
For some this may be attractive, in America we should know better. We have a few centuries of data and results that counter the social justice, economic justice arguments. We know that private property is the foundation of freedom. We know that taxation and redistribution kill’s incentive. We know that it is morally reprehensible to take from one person to give to another against their will. Most of us call that stealing. We know that competition creates efficiency and ingenuity which has fueled our ability to be compassionate and a beacon for the people shackled into socially justified nations.
So when you hear someone say social justice, ask them what they mean by that? You may find they are just ignorant of the implications of such policy. Or you may find a person with a devious motive to steal your right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Don’t be fooled. There is nothing benign about social justice…
The term seems so benign and that is what makes it so effective for the groups using the term. Social is simply society, and justice is something we all want, right? Wrong! The people and groups promoting social justice are the same people that believe in collectivism, communes, socialism, and what they really have in mind is the end of capitalism. Social justice is the antithesis of capitalism.
It is the belief that everyone deserves the same even if they have done nothing to earn it. It is the same people supporting the current administration in Washington, government healthcare, the takeover of private property by the government, environmentalists, many church groups, and too many people that don’t understand basic human nature. Social justice, economic justice, socialism, communism, fascism, all have a common goal to control your life and destroy individual freedom and property rights.
Think about a country where there was no right to private property. Think of a country where no matter how hard you worked you could only earn up to a government decided wage, and everything else was taken away to give to others. Think about a country where the government tells you what healthcare you must purchase, what car you can drive, how warm you can keep your home. Even if you believe that any of these things are commendable, who do you trust to decide these things? Therein lies the problem. There goes your freedom. There goes our constitution. There goes our country.
For some this may be attractive, in America we should know better. We have a few centuries of data and results that counter the social justice, economic justice arguments. We know that private property is the foundation of freedom. We know that taxation and redistribution kill’s incentive. We know that it is morally reprehensible to take from one person to give to another against their will. Most of us call that stealing. We know that competition creates efficiency and ingenuity which has fueled our ability to be compassionate and a beacon for the people shackled into socially justified nations.
So when you hear someone say social justice, ask them what they mean by that? You may find they are just ignorant of the implications of such policy. Or you may find a person with a devious motive to steal your right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Don’t be fooled. There is nothing benign about social justice…
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Entitled to what?
I get angry every time I hear the word entitlement. I have to ask; how am I entitled to anything but my own labor? We have this unhealthy attitude in America that seems to be growing that just because we want it, we should get it. We have politicians feeding this selfish sentiment, and the funny thing is they call us selfish for wanting to keep the money we earn to raise our families. If you want to depend on a government program for your life and family, you will be limited to what a politician can take from others. I suggest you count on yourself. It is a better bet and it the way a moral society works. Teach a person to fish…
I know I am entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I am entitled to speak my mind about my government. I am entitled to constitutional rights because I am an American citizen. But am I entitled to half of Bill Gate’s Microsoft fortune? If not, why not? What makes that different from any social program? What is the purpose of government? Is it to provide the means necessary for each of us to live? Or is it there to provide a set of rules to allow individuals to prosper. In America it was always the latter. We need to get back to taking care of ourselves and our neighbors without government programs. Look at what we have done for Haiti as an example. People are compassionate, government is soulless.
Government programs that were designed to help people through a hard time have become a means of subsistence and that is ruining our country and people. It is not compassionate to get people onto government programs, it is criminal. The American dream is an individual pursuit of excellence. The government has nothing that helps individuals achieve excellence. Government programs are the quick sand into a miserable life.
We are not entitled to other people’s labor unless the people paying agree to support the program as a social contract with their fellow citizen. The current administration and many before it have broken any contract we may have had by taking beyond the agreed upon terms. So now we have an angry citizenry and an entitled class of people dependent on politicians taking at will from the productive citizens. And the productive citizens are saying they are entitled to stop this madness. And believe me; the corporate welfare must end as well.
Today we have a government acting entitled to our money. When is enough, enough? When will we be entitled to keep our money so we can maintain our way of life? If others believe they are entitled to a better life I say; you are entitled to your opinion and opportunity; nothing more…
I know I am entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I am entitled to speak my mind about my government. I am entitled to constitutional rights because I am an American citizen. But am I entitled to half of Bill Gate’s Microsoft fortune? If not, why not? What makes that different from any social program? What is the purpose of government? Is it to provide the means necessary for each of us to live? Or is it there to provide a set of rules to allow individuals to prosper. In America it was always the latter. We need to get back to taking care of ourselves and our neighbors without government programs. Look at what we have done for Haiti as an example. People are compassionate, government is soulless.
Government programs that were designed to help people through a hard time have become a means of subsistence and that is ruining our country and people. It is not compassionate to get people onto government programs, it is criminal. The American dream is an individual pursuit of excellence. The government has nothing that helps individuals achieve excellence. Government programs are the quick sand into a miserable life.
We are not entitled to other people’s labor unless the people paying agree to support the program as a social contract with their fellow citizen. The current administration and many before it have broken any contract we may have had by taking beyond the agreed upon terms. So now we have an angry citizenry and an entitled class of people dependent on politicians taking at will from the productive citizens. And the productive citizens are saying they are entitled to stop this madness. And believe me; the corporate welfare must end as well.
Today we have a government acting entitled to our money. When is enough, enough? When will we be entitled to keep our money so we can maintain our way of life? If others believe they are entitled to a better life I say; you are entitled to your opinion and opportunity; nothing more…
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Jefferson; Thoughts on John and Sam Adams, Hamilton, and why it Matters today…
Thomas Jefferson is considered America’s greatest political Philosopher in the cause of liberty. History scholars, whether they agree with his politics or not, have to agree he was a genius in the discipline of developing government frameworks that protected liberty by harnessing human nature and the propensity of individuals to use government to acquire power. His life was spent studying, defining, determining, and protecting liberty for the America he helped found and loved.
He was a prolific writer and his library contained volumes of books that he read on subjects ranging from farming to the history of the Roman Empire. He used history to support his ideas on liberty, and always argued for limited government based on his knowledge of how government was an avenue to tyranny; always. He also wrote about the other founders and his impression and experience in their joint efforts creating our republic.
On Sam Adams he believed that there was no greater patriot in the cause of freedom and respected Sam Adam’s opinions on many of the difficult issues of the time. Sam Adams was a devout Christian and was driven to freedom mostly due to his belief and defense of religious freedom. Jefferson was very private in his own religion, but respected men like Sam Adams because he knew a free society could only be maintained by a moral society.
On John Adams he respected his ability to argue but knew J Adams had no understanding of human nature and its impact on forming a government. They were often at odds and were seen as rivals but had a mutual respect for the differences of opinion and shared a lifelong relationship that Jefferson treasured and wrote about throughout his life. Their common cause was liberty and forming a “rational republic” form of government.
On Alexander Hamilton he believed and rightfully so, that he would have been content with the British form of government in America, and his true goal of independence was that he should be one of the elite class, not the Englishman sitting thousands of miles away. Hamilton did not believe that government was best ruled by the “common” citizen, and often disagreed with Jefferson on this point. They were rivals in the administration of George Washington, and Jefferson vehemently disagreed with the creation of a central bank not overseen by congress. Jefferson believed Hamilton was content on “force and corruption” in his management of government.
Jefferson never swayed from his belief in self rule and the people’s ability to get most issues right when given the proper information. He knew religion was key for a moral society but a society could not be lead by a religious doctrine. Jefferson knew that a representative republic was the best way to harness tyranny and befriended the leaders that held that belief even though they had limited understanding of the power of human nature. And finally, Jefferson knew that Hamilton was the embodiment of the forces that would need to be harnessed if liberty were to survive. Hamilton’s financial prowess and genius was a skill needed in the first years of the republic due to the accumulated debt of the revolution. But Jefferson often challenged Hamilton’s propensity toward an elite structure of government.
The lessons of Jefferson today are too numerous to state here, but his simple ability to determine the importance of many diverse opinions and skill sets, and direct them for the common good are sorely missing today. Leadership in government is a balance of determining the proper role of government, the emotional nature of the citizens it serves, and never compromising the foundation that makes it all worth the effort; Liberty. We can learn all we need to know about turning our country and its economy around by understanding our history. We can turn our future around by understanding Jefferson and his devotion to liberty…
He was a prolific writer and his library contained volumes of books that he read on subjects ranging from farming to the history of the Roman Empire. He used history to support his ideas on liberty, and always argued for limited government based on his knowledge of how government was an avenue to tyranny; always. He also wrote about the other founders and his impression and experience in their joint efforts creating our republic.
On Sam Adams he believed that there was no greater patriot in the cause of freedom and respected Sam Adam’s opinions on many of the difficult issues of the time. Sam Adams was a devout Christian and was driven to freedom mostly due to his belief and defense of religious freedom. Jefferson was very private in his own religion, but respected men like Sam Adams because he knew a free society could only be maintained by a moral society.
On John Adams he respected his ability to argue but knew J Adams had no understanding of human nature and its impact on forming a government. They were often at odds and were seen as rivals but had a mutual respect for the differences of opinion and shared a lifelong relationship that Jefferson treasured and wrote about throughout his life. Their common cause was liberty and forming a “rational republic” form of government.
On Alexander Hamilton he believed and rightfully so, that he would have been content with the British form of government in America, and his true goal of independence was that he should be one of the elite class, not the Englishman sitting thousands of miles away. Hamilton did not believe that government was best ruled by the “common” citizen, and often disagreed with Jefferson on this point. They were rivals in the administration of George Washington, and Jefferson vehemently disagreed with the creation of a central bank not overseen by congress. Jefferson believed Hamilton was content on “force and corruption” in his management of government.
Jefferson never swayed from his belief in self rule and the people’s ability to get most issues right when given the proper information. He knew religion was key for a moral society but a society could not be lead by a religious doctrine. Jefferson knew that a representative republic was the best way to harness tyranny and befriended the leaders that held that belief even though they had limited understanding of the power of human nature. And finally, Jefferson knew that Hamilton was the embodiment of the forces that would need to be harnessed if liberty were to survive. Hamilton’s financial prowess and genius was a skill needed in the first years of the republic due to the accumulated debt of the revolution. But Jefferson often challenged Hamilton’s propensity toward an elite structure of government.
The lessons of Jefferson today are too numerous to state here, but his simple ability to determine the importance of many diverse opinions and skill sets, and direct them for the common good are sorely missing today. Leadership in government is a balance of determining the proper role of government, the emotional nature of the citizens it serves, and never compromising the foundation that makes it all worth the effort; Liberty. We can learn all we need to know about turning our country and its economy around by understanding our history. We can turn our future around by understanding Jefferson and his devotion to liberty…
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Increase Colorado’s Income…
The federal government shows no sign of understanding the message sent in the Tuesday Massachusetts election that seemed clear to everyone else; stop what you’re doing now! And what they are doing is borrowing, spending, and stealing the liberty and future of this nation. It will not stop even if the republicans take over in 2010 because they have the same propensity toward big government with a few tax cuts sprinkled in. At this time there is no indication that they will do anything conservative or move the country toward constitutional government beyond not doing it as fast as the democrats. The party will not have the nerve to stand up to the barrage of criticism they will get when they attempt to reduce the size of government. We have seen it before. Don’t be fooled.
The only way to stop the growth of the federal government is to stop the flow of money. You have heard the phrase, “follow the money.” The money is the key. If we stop the ability of the federal government to borrow on our behalf without definite requirements, and we limit how much the federal government can tax our incomes, we will not have to worry about out of control central government. They will not have the money necessary to grow. Follow the money.
And the money will be right here in Colorado if we elect the right representatives. As Governor I will ask the voters of Colorado to amend our state constitution to limit what the federal government can take from our incomes to 18% maximum. This will reduce the tax burden to support this out of control administration in DC, and keep the money in the paycheck of hard working Colorado citizens to do with what they believe is right for their family. I will also try to remove the withholding done by employers so that individuals have to pay their own taxes quarterly like small businesses do. This will highlight the amount of money people have to pay by making everyone aware of the true cost of government. This awareness will reduce what politicians can take. Believe me.
It has to begin at the state level. The federal government is so corrupted by special interests that don’t have your interests in mind. If you get to keep your money in your paycheck you will be able to take care of the one special interest I know we can agree to support; your family.
As Governor I will work to stop the money from flowing out of your paycheck and Colorado by reaffirming our Tenth Amendment rights and challenging the Sixteenth Amendment. It is not complicated but it will take resolve and an understanding of our rights as US citizens. They have been trampled by both parties. Support candidates not for their party but for their positions. There will be some candidates from the parties that may deserve support but we must look beyond the parties if we want a real return to limited federal government.
I am the unaffiliated candidate for Governor of Colorado. That is what I will work for…
The only way to stop the growth of the federal government is to stop the flow of money. You have heard the phrase, “follow the money.” The money is the key. If we stop the ability of the federal government to borrow on our behalf without definite requirements, and we limit how much the federal government can tax our incomes, we will not have to worry about out of control central government. They will not have the money necessary to grow. Follow the money.
And the money will be right here in Colorado if we elect the right representatives. As Governor I will ask the voters of Colorado to amend our state constitution to limit what the federal government can take from our incomes to 18% maximum. This will reduce the tax burden to support this out of control administration in DC, and keep the money in the paycheck of hard working Colorado citizens to do with what they believe is right for their family. I will also try to remove the withholding done by employers so that individuals have to pay their own taxes quarterly like small businesses do. This will highlight the amount of money people have to pay by making everyone aware of the true cost of government. This awareness will reduce what politicians can take. Believe me.
It has to begin at the state level. The federal government is so corrupted by special interests that don’t have your interests in mind. If you get to keep your money in your paycheck you will be able to take care of the one special interest I know we can agree to support; your family.
As Governor I will work to stop the money from flowing out of your paycheck and Colorado by reaffirming our Tenth Amendment rights and challenging the Sixteenth Amendment. It is not complicated but it will take resolve and an understanding of our rights as US citizens. They have been trampled by both parties. Support candidates not for their party but for their positions. There will be some candidates from the parties that may deserve support but we must look beyond the parties if we want a real return to limited federal government.
I am the unaffiliated candidate for Governor of Colorado. That is what I will work for…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)