It seems that nothing gets the attention of the public like charges of racism. No decent American wants to promote one race over another, or practice the denigration of anyone based on race, sex or national origin. America has always drawn strength from her diversity of legal immigrants, each one bringing unique talents and skills to the melting pot of capitalism. Only a fool would want to live in a world where everyone mirrored themselves in beliefs, talents, preferences, and physical characteristics.
Racism being an extremely volatile subject, it is easy to understand why people don't want to be associated with it. The extremists on the left side of political ideology have not missed out on this. In fact, the charge of racism has become one of their most powerful tools over the years. They have charged Republicans and conservative politicians with being against the poor, the aged, the minorities every time they seek to promote conservative ideas through our legislative system. This has become such a constant mantra that they have even effectively stolen the credit for civil rights legislation that passed in the 1960's by the efforts of the Republican Party.
With the election of President Obama there was a great deal of talk about how we had moved into the era of post-racism in America. As long as their candidate was in office, it was a great step forward in the healing of old racial scars and a better world was dawning. This post-racist era was evidently short lived. The racism, this time however, seems to be promoted by the very same liberals that seemed appalled by it just a few short months ago. These are the people that avoid any debate in the arena of ideas, by focusing on their opponents race and using their telepathic abilities to decipher the true meaning of any conservation. You say you doubt their telepathic ability? How else do you explain Maureen Dowd's interpretation of Joe Wilson's outburst in Congress? Only with her special powers could she know that what Mr. Wilson was really saying was not the audible "You lie", but actually "You lie, boy!".
It seems that this will be the trend for anyone that opposes this President and his agenda. I guess because of their racist attitudes these leftist individuals cannot fathom anyone that would actually oppose someone because they have differing ideas, not because of race. Well, if that be the case, then label me a racist. I will not allow this false accusation to silence my opposition to the fascist policies of our President or his liberal friends.
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Look Who's Protesting Now!
Much like many of you, I have been watching the news and commentators on the various networks and the response to the town hall meetings that some of our elected representatives have been sponsoring lately. I must admit I am encouraged by what I have seen. First of all, just to see people showing up at these meetings is a positive thing. It seems throughout most of my life the only folks that have really taken the time to get involved in the process have been members of some fringe or special interest group, a group that generally doesn't seem to represent anyone that I know and certainly not the mainstream of middle America. Now I am seeing many getting involved that, by their own admission, have never really taken an interest in politics or activism of any type before. This is, in my opinion, a step in the right direction regardless of their political affiliation or ideas. There needs to be involvement by "The People" or the form of self government that we live under (a republic, not a democracy for those of you that went to public school like me) fails to function as it should.
Poor voter turn-out at election time has always puzzled me. I remember the first election that I was able to vote in and how excited I was at the opportunity to finally have a voice and take part in the choosing of leaders that would shape the future of this great country. I also remember so many of my friends that didn't care one way or the other and did not vote. These were the same people that I heard over the next several years complaining about one politician or another and how the country was not being run as they thought it should. It made no sense to me. I do not understand apathy when it comes to something as important as free elections, a luxury that most of the world will never experience, so when I see a greater percentage of the population engaging in the debate and becoming active in the political process I naturally think this is a positive thing.
So why are so many on the left upset over this resurgence of interest in the process? Why is the media so quick to try and portray these people as terrorists, thugs, mobsters and a threat to freedom? Some have even gone so far as to compare the growing movement of citizens against government run health care to the Brown Shirts of the National Socialist Party of Germany (Nazi's). Aren't these the same people that have always been in support of the protests of the past? Where are the great, open-minded liberals that have always encouraged the freedom of speech and protest (right to peaceably assemble) for the minority and fringe environmental, gay rights, animal rights and other groups? Why are they so disturbed over the sight of "The People" exercising their right to make their voice heard? Do they not understand, or do they understand much more than they are letting on?
I believe that the reaction from the left and so-called 'moderates' in both parties is an indication that someone is on the right track. I think they are reacting out of a fear that they are losing their power and privilege. The elite of society that have guided this country farther and farther down a path that leads away from our Constitution, individual rights and limited government are seeing the threat of 'a great awakening' of the freedom that is deep in the DNA of the American people. I hope and pray that this is the case.
Poor voter turn-out at election time has always puzzled me. I remember the first election that I was able to vote in and how excited I was at the opportunity to finally have a voice and take part in the choosing of leaders that would shape the future of this great country. I also remember so many of my friends that didn't care one way or the other and did not vote. These were the same people that I heard over the next several years complaining about one politician or another and how the country was not being run as they thought it should. It made no sense to me. I do not understand apathy when it comes to something as important as free elections, a luxury that most of the world will never experience, so when I see a greater percentage of the population engaging in the debate and becoming active in the political process I naturally think this is a positive thing.
So why are so many on the left upset over this resurgence of interest in the process? Why is the media so quick to try and portray these people as terrorists, thugs, mobsters and a threat to freedom? Some have even gone so far as to compare the growing movement of citizens against government run health care to the Brown Shirts of the National Socialist Party of Germany (Nazi's). Aren't these the same people that have always been in support of the protests of the past? Where are the great, open-minded liberals that have always encouraged the freedom of speech and protest (right to peaceably assemble) for the minority and fringe environmental, gay rights, animal rights and other groups? Why are they so disturbed over the sight of "The People" exercising their right to make their voice heard? Do they not understand, or do they understand much more than they are letting on?
I believe that the reaction from the left and so-called 'moderates' in both parties is an indication that someone is on the right track. I think they are reacting out of a fear that they are losing their power and privilege. The elite of society that have guided this country farther and farther down a path that leads away from our Constitution, individual rights and limited government are seeing the threat of 'a great awakening' of the freedom that is deep in the DNA of the American people. I hope and pray that this is the case.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Charitable Giving - Big Government Style
Okay, I'll admit it. I really, really don't get this. Can someone clue me in please? We were just recently subjected to months of campaigning (or lying, depending on how you look at it) by two politicians, neither of which should even have been running for the top office in this country. During this time I heard so much from a man (that I never believed for a minute) about change and creating a caring culture. A place where we, as Americans, take care of each other and level the playing field so everyone can achieve the American Dream. A culture that supports and encourages those that have traditionally not had access to the prosperity promised by this great country.
Now our beloved President has come out in favor of reducing the tax reduction that we can receive for charitable giving. Is this not completely opposite of what you would do if you really cared about helping others and creating a caring culture? It seems to me that if a person wanted to encourage the citizens of this country to give and help those less fortunate, maybe one way to do this would be to increase the tax savings available for charitable giving. Perhaps if it were more advantageous for people to give to worthy causes that help the poor and needy in our communities, we would actually see an improvement in the conditions of the less fortunate among us. I would think that this would promote more help with education, job training, and life skills and provide more opportunities for those with limited access to economic prosperity.
Why then would the head of the Executive Branch of the government take action in direct opposition to this? The answer, as with most of what we have seen so far is that he, and it would seem most of his political party, have Socialist tendencies. They want more of the money currently headed to charities to go to their big government so they can dictate to you exactly how much you will give, and where and how that money is spent. They believe that this same government that has yet to institute a successful program, should be in charge of every program... public or private. They see this as a way to control behavior and to ensure their long-term power by distributing money only to 'charities' that adhere to their value system and help to advance their cause. A government that controls all the money has significant control of the population. By controlling charitable contributions they also control to some extent our freedom of speech, as they already do with religious organizations. Any organization that does not support their socialist, liberal agenda would obviously not be eligible for funding... that certainly makes their world a better place!
As with every area of life, the less government intrusion allowed the better it is for the people. Taxes are no exception. Taxation should not be used as a tool to shape the behavior of the populace according to some arbitrary set of values dictated by politicians. It is time for serious tax reform and a major down-sizing of our government. This is the answer to stimulating the economy and providing opportunity for those that have been victimized by the failure of the war on poverty.
Now our beloved President has come out in favor of reducing the tax reduction that we can receive for charitable giving. Is this not completely opposite of what you would do if you really cared about helping others and creating a caring culture? It seems to me that if a person wanted to encourage the citizens of this country to give and help those less fortunate, maybe one way to do this would be to increase the tax savings available for charitable giving. Perhaps if it were more advantageous for people to give to worthy causes that help the poor and needy in our communities, we would actually see an improvement in the conditions of the less fortunate among us. I would think that this would promote more help with education, job training, and life skills and provide more opportunities for those with limited access to economic prosperity.
Why then would the head of the Executive Branch of the government take action in direct opposition to this? The answer, as with most of what we have seen so far is that he, and it would seem most of his political party, have Socialist tendencies. They want more of the money currently headed to charities to go to their big government so they can dictate to you exactly how much you will give, and where and how that money is spent. They believe that this same government that has yet to institute a successful program, should be in charge of every program... public or private. They see this as a way to control behavior and to ensure their long-term power by distributing money only to 'charities' that adhere to their value system and help to advance their cause. A government that controls all the money has significant control of the population. By controlling charitable contributions they also control to some extent our freedom of speech, as they already do with religious organizations. Any organization that does not support their socialist, liberal agenda would obviously not be eligible for funding... that certainly makes their world a better place!
As with every area of life, the less government intrusion allowed the better it is for the people. Taxes are no exception. Taxation should not be used as a tool to shape the behavior of the populace according to some arbitrary set of values dictated by politicians. It is time for serious tax reform and a major down-sizing of our government. This is the answer to stimulating the economy and providing opportunity for those that have been victimized by the failure of the war on poverty.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Limiting Compensation
Lately I have been amazed at all the talk about limiting executive compensation. I understand the frustration that some people have expressed over companies that are mis-managed and now have been unwisely bailed out by the federal government, giving large salaries and bonuses to their execs. I also understand the politics of class warfare that so many in D.C. have exhibited expertise in. They always play one class, one race or one sex against the other... seems they use a divide-and-conquer strategy to take more power away from "We the People". They are so eager to limit the income and opportunity that is available to others while making sure that the sky is the limit for the income and excess that they enjoy. I have even heard of some of the brilliant Hollywood crowd getting in on this act.
Aside from the fact that I think this is the worst idea possible in a supposedly capitalist society, maybe we should take a look at their ideas, and even make this a universal application of limiting income. First of all, maybe we should limit income to, say $75,000 annually for anyone in an elected office for the state or federal governments. This would make sure that they are much more in touch with the middle-class that they all say they want to represent. Oh, and of course we would need to eliminate any form of contributions for the maintenance of multiple households, use of any government vehicles or any government paid expenses other than the normal office expenses... you know, things like stamps, stick pens, staples and printer paper. They could all be enrolled in the wonderful Social Security Program and be provided with a modest private provider group health plan similar to what would be provided at a comparable paying private sector job.
Then we could move on to the sports industry. Oh, God forbid we mess with these celebrity superstars! Since a corporate executive has quite a bit of responsibility for the salary that they would be paid under this plan, we must adjust the athletes salaries accordingly. Maybe $100,000 a year would be fair for the best of the best... after all they probably do work more than our elected officials! With the remainder of the multi-million dollar salary that is paid to way too many of these, we could provide free benefits to all the illegal aliens that politicians love so much.
Next would have to be Hollywood! These folks are always so outspoken on how the rest of us should live while they indulge themselves like a divine aristocracy too good for the common folks in fly-over country. How about, in addition to a salary cap of $50,000 per movie, we also hold them accountable for the results of their effort. We need to be fair about this, so perhaps if they make a movie that is a blockbuster at the theaters they get to be eligible for a small additional bonus of say, $1,000 per $1,000,000 of box office revenues. That sounds fair! Oh, but on the flip side is the condition that they loose money if the movie gets poor reviews! We can appoint a 3 person panel to review all films and all starring actors/actresses lose $2,500 for each bad review. That limits them to just $7,500 of risk if they put out a really bad movie... of which there are plenty. This makes it fair for everyone!
Writing this has got me so optimistic about the possibilities that are available when we allow the government to decide how much someone in a free-market society gets paid! I need to come up with something really special for those who just want to save the planet like Al Gore... they are so nice, I am sure they will want to give it all away, except of course for what is needed to maintain their eco-friendly, all natural, mud and straw huts! This is going to be so much fun!
Aside from the fact that I think this is the worst idea possible in a supposedly capitalist society, maybe we should take a look at their ideas, and even make this a universal application of limiting income. First of all, maybe we should limit income to, say $75,000 annually for anyone in an elected office for the state or federal governments. This would make sure that they are much more in touch with the middle-class that they all say they want to represent. Oh, and of course we would need to eliminate any form of contributions for the maintenance of multiple households, use of any government vehicles or any government paid expenses other than the normal office expenses... you know, things like stamps, stick pens, staples and printer paper. They could all be enrolled in the wonderful Social Security Program and be provided with a modest private provider group health plan similar to what would be provided at a comparable paying private sector job.
Then we could move on to the sports industry. Oh, God forbid we mess with these celebrity superstars! Since a corporate executive has quite a bit of responsibility for the salary that they would be paid under this plan, we must adjust the athletes salaries accordingly. Maybe $100,000 a year would be fair for the best of the best... after all they probably do work more than our elected officials! With the remainder of the multi-million dollar salary that is paid to way too many of these, we could provide free benefits to all the illegal aliens that politicians love so much.
Next would have to be Hollywood! These folks are always so outspoken on how the rest of us should live while they indulge themselves like a divine aristocracy too good for the common folks in fly-over country. How about, in addition to a salary cap of $50,000 per movie, we also hold them accountable for the results of their effort. We need to be fair about this, so perhaps if they make a movie that is a blockbuster at the theaters they get to be eligible for a small additional bonus of say, $1,000 per $1,000,000 of box office revenues. That sounds fair! Oh, but on the flip side is the condition that they loose money if the movie gets poor reviews! We can appoint a 3 person panel to review all films and all starring actors/actresses lose $2,500 for each bad review. That limits them to just $7,500 of risk if they put out a really bad movie... of which there are plenty. This makes it fair for everyone!
Writing this has got me so optimistic about the possibilities that are available when we allow the government to decide how much someone in a free-market society gets paid! I need to come up with something really special for those who just want to save the planet like Al Gore... they are so nice, I am sure they will want to give it all away, except of course for what is needed to maintain their eco-friendly, all natural, mud and straw huts! This is going to be so much fun!
Monday, March 16, 2009
We The People
Maybe it's just me, but in the event that it is not... is anyone else sick and tired of hearing about the Economic Stimulus plans, plans to bail out Wall Street, Detroit, the health-care system, small business, etc? I hear something everyday about how the wonderful, benevolent officials we the sheeple have elected are going to bestow economic prosperity on us and fix the economy. Are they really that stupid, or do they just think that we are that stupid? We wasted around $800 Billion on a first plan that did nothing... we wasted more on a larger (understand more earmarks and special interest) plan that was going to get things going... it continues still and there is no end in sight. Now nearly $2 Trillion later, things are the same or maybe worse.
Now I hear our beloved and anointed President saying that we need to spend more to open up lending to small business. Hello!!! Anyone paying any attention? Isn't borrowing and credit what got us into this mess to begin with? Are we going to borrow our way out of it? That's a brilliant idea! How about this for a revolutionary idea... quit taxing everyone into oblivion to pay for more stupid stimulus plans! Want to start the economy? Put more money into the hands of those who actually work and create jobs and wealth in this great country and stop the hand-outs, bail-outs, and give-away programs. Stop paying for condoms and abortions with our tax dollars! Stop pouring money into the false science of Global Warming! Stop the graft and corruption in the District of Corruption and allow the people of this land to take care of themselves, their families and each other!
Now I know that there are some idiots among us that don't have a clue how to earn, spend, or save money. Fine, let them suffer the consequences of their decisions... that is called learning! Quit over regulating the financial and auto industries, telling them what to do, how and when to do it... then blaming them when it doesn't work and bailing them out with our tax dollars and more pitiful oversight and regulation from the people that have ruined everything they have touched! Mr President, Congress, our elected officials at every level... YOU ARE NOT THE ANSWER, YOU OBVIOUSLY DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWER, YOU WILL NEVER FIND THE ANSWER UNLESS WE THE PEOPLE SHOW IT TO YOU!
The American people have always been hard working, ingenious, and productive people and still are today. If "you the government" will leave "We The People" alone we can make this economy work as it should and make smart decisions that will reward the producers and penalize the non-contributing parasites. Stop giving trophies to all the teams in Little League and start rewarding the winners for their hard work and perseverance. Give the also-rans in life something to shoot for. Let this nation full of generous and able people take care of their families and neighbors. Get out of our way and worry about National Defense like you are supposed to. Quit telling me to wear a seat-belt, where or if I can smoke, if I can have a firearm and forcing me to pay into a failed, pitiful supplemental retirement system that you politicians have bankrupted! We make this country run, not you. Get over it!
Now I hear our beloved and anointed President saying that we need to spend more to open up lending to small business. Hello!!! Anyone paying any attention? Isn't borrowing and credit what got us into this mess to begin with? Are we going to borrow our way out of it? That's a brilliant idea! How about this for a revolutionary idea... quit taxing everyone into oblivion to pay for more stupid stimulus plans! Want to start the economy? Put more money into the hands of those who actually work and create jobs and wealth in this great country and stop the hand-outs, bail-outs, and give-away programs. Stop paying for condoms and abortions with our tax dollars! Stop pouring money into the false science of Global Warming! Stop the graft and corruption in the District of Corruption and allow the people of this land to take care of themselves, their families and each other!
Now I know that there are some idiots among us that don't have a clue how to earn, spend, or save money. Fine, let them suffer the consequences of their decisions... that is called learning! Quit over regulating the financial and auto industries, telling them what to do, how and when to do it... then blaming them when it doesn't work and bailing them out with our tax dollars and more pitiful oversight and regulation from the people that have ruined everything they have touched! Mr President, Congress, our elected officials at every level... YOU ARE NOT THE ANSWER, YOU OBVIOUSLY DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWER, YOU WILL NEVER FIND THE ANSWER UNLESS WE THE PEOPLE SHOW IT TO YOU!
The American people have always been hard working, ingenious, and productive people and still are today. If "you the government" will leave "We The People" alone we can make this economy work as it should and make smart decisions that will reward the producers and penalize the non-contributing parasites. Stop giving trophies to all the teams in Little League and start rewarding the winners for their hard work and perseverance. Give the also-rans in life something to shoot for. Let this nation full of generous and able people take care of their families and neighbors. Get out of our way and worry about National Defense like you are supposed to. Quit telling me to wear a seat-belt, where or if I can smoke, if I can have a firearm and forcing me to pay into a failed, pitiful supplemental retirement system that you politicians have bankrupted! We make this country run, not you. Get over it!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
How Fair is "Fairness"?
Why is it that those who claim to be the largest proponents of freedom and personal choice (i.e. liberals) oppose any freedoms that are not granted by the state? Last time I checked we have a country founded on the belief that our rights and freedoms are granted by God, not the Federal Government. Our right to freely and openly oppose our government or express our dissenting opinion is what makes America different, and may I say, better than any other country. In their quest for a liberal Utopia the political left in this country is on a crusade to silence opposition. One of the most obvious examples is their efforts to silence "hate speech". While I don't endorse any speech that is born out of hatred and meant to demean and devalue those of another race or religion, in America we have a right to express dissent and opposition to any person, organization or government institution.
The left in this country continually defends the right of individuals to use any type of crude , obscene or sexually explicit language in the public arena. This is touted as 'freedom of speech'. I would argue that all citizens have the right to any type of language in private, but are required by the laws of decency to eliminate this from public use. The Constitution provides, through the Bill of Rights, free speech in the form of economic, political and religious ideology, basically the type of speech that is most valuable and on the top of the list for liberals to ban. We may very soon be experiencing the reinstatement of the 'Fairness Doctrine' that will take us a long way towards government control of any dissenting point of view via radio. Liberals that spout off about freedom of choice and free speech are working hard to silence talk radio, the only media dominated by conservative political and religious thought. They cannot compete in a free market on the basis of their liberal agenda, and so the only course of action for them is to silence freedom's number one outlet.
Lately this has become an all-out war on Rush Limbaugh. Regardless of what you think about Rush, Sean Hannity, or Glenn Beck, if they are allowed to succeed in silencing conservative political speech on the radio, how long before they move to silence the internet news and bloggers? Or how about the churches that speak out on issues of morality? How long before any anti-abortion speech or the teaching that homosexuality is sin is condemned? Will the left continue to tolerate the homeschooling crowd that is bypassing their state indoctrination program? How soon will we find any speech opposing the liberal, socialist agenda outlawed as 'hate speech'? I am convinced that day is coming, and possibly much sooner than most of us think. Will entertainment addicted America ever wake up? I pray to God that we do.
The left in this country continually defends the right of individuals to use any type of crude , obscene or sexually explicit language in the public arena. This is touted as 'freedom of speech'. I would argue that all citizens have the right to any type of language in private, but are required by the laws of decency to eliminate this from public use. The Constitution provides, through the Bill of Rights, free speech in the form of economic, political and religious ideology, basically the type of speech that is most valuable and on the top of the list for liberals to ban. We may very soon be experiencing the reinstatement of the 'Fairness Doctrine' that will take us a long way towards government control of any dissenting point of view via radio. Liberals that spout off about freedom of choice and free speech are working hard to silence talk radio, the only media dominated by conservative political and religious thought. They cannot compete in a free market on the basis of their liberal agenda, and so the only course of action for them is to silence freedom's number one outlet.
Lately this has become an all-out war on Rush Limbaugh. Regardless of what you think about Rush, Sean Hannity, or Glenn Beck, if they are allowed to succeed in silencing conservative political speech on the radio, how long before they move to silence the internet news and bloggers? Or how about the churches that speak out on issues of morality? How long before any anti-abortion speech or the teaching that homosexuality is sin is condemned? Will the left continue to tolerate the homeschooling crowd that is bypassing their state indoctrination program? How soon will we find any speech opposing the liberal, socialist agenda outlawed as 'hate speech'? I am convinced that day is coming, and possibly much sooner than most of us think. Will entertainment addicted America ever wake up? I pray to God that we do.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Crazy Times
Maybe it's just me... I have always been a little different. My wife has often told me that I am just too extreme! I need to quit being so radical about things. Maybe she's right, I don't want to come off sounding like some wacko razor-wire, compound-livin', bomb-shelter-building, government conspiracy, Republic of Texas nut case. Yet, at the same time, I cannot sit by and just watch some of the crazy things that are going on without commenting. I feel that many like me are no longer heard in our representative republic and it is getting extremely frustrating.
I recently viewed a excerpt from a CNBC broadcast in which the usual talking heads were discussing the economy and the stimulus bills. If you have not seen this, you need to. In this excerpt Rick Santelli starts to actually tell it like it is (can you imagine, on CNBC) and of course is treated like a extremist radical by the elitist news people. You can watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEZB4taSEoA
I have not seen anyone on any mainstream news outlet get it more right than this guy. Of course Hannity, Rush and Glenn Beck have been saying things like this for years... but this was a shot right into the numb-minded, propaganda believing audience of CNBC. Hope someone out there wakes up. I could not agree more with what was said. We have an establishment of elitist career politicians, educators and media pundits that are so out of touch with reality and what I hope is the silent majority of main-stream America that it is no longer even a little bit funny. These people walk around in their rich, elitist, socialist dream world without a clue about what the average middle-class American stands for or believes.
I am beginning to think that for the next presidential election we need to support Tommy. You know, the deaf, dumb and blind kid from Soho? I figure that he could not possibly more detached from what is happening in the real world outside D.C. (District of Corruption) than the idiots we have there now. These people are destroying America and running rough-shod over the Constitution and our rights. Do they not understand they are taxing us into oblivion? Are they really so stupid as to believe that government spending can solve anything besides lining the pockets of themselves and their friends. Taking from the producers in society to give to those that refuse to produce will not stimulate anything except a economic collapse.
Maybe I am a little extreme... but then again, I was raised to believe in a country founded by men of extreme faith and belief. A country that valued freedom above all else. A country that was founded to provide the opportunity (not the guarantee) for all people to work hard, usually against the odds, and to achieve something for themselves and their families. Guess that is a little extreme!
I recently viewed a excerpt from a CNBC broadcast in which the usual talking heads were discussing the economy and the stimulus bills. If you have not seen this, you need to. In this excerpt Rick Santelli starts to actually tell it like it is (can you imagine, on CNBC) and of course is treated like a extremist radical by the elitist news people. You can watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEZB4taSEoA
I have not seen anyone on any mainstream news outlet get it more right than this guy. Of course Hannity, Rush and Glenn Beck have been saying things like this for years... but this was a shot right into the numb-minded, propaganda believing audience of CNBC. Hope someone out there wakes up. I could not agree more with what was said. We have an establishment of elitist career politicians, educators and media pundits that are so out of touch with reality and what I hope is the silent majority of main-stream America that it is no longer even a little bit funny. These people walk around in their rich, elitist, socialist dream world without a clue about what the average middle-class American stands for or believes.
I am beginning to think that for the next presidential election we need to support Tommy. You know, the deaf, dumb and blind kid from Soho? I figure that he could not possibly more detached from what is happening in the real world outside D.C. (District of Corruption) than the idiots we have there now. These people are destroying America and running rough-shod over the Constitution and our rights. Do they not understand they are taxing us into oblivion? Are they really so stupid as to believe that government spending can solve anything besides lining the pockets of themselves and their friends. Taking from the producers in society to give to those that refuse to produce will not stimulate anything except a economic collapse.
Maybe I am a little extreme... but then again, I was raised to believe in a country founded by men of extreme faith and belief. A country that valued freedom above all else. A country that was founded to provide the opportunity (not the guarantee) for all people to work hard, usually against the odds, and to achieve something for themselves and their families. Guess that is a little extreme!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Imprisoned by your Freedom?
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.(Gal. 5:1)
My religious background is a patchwork of various Christian denominations, each slightly different, yet all claiming the same major doctrinal tenets. I attended a Presbyterian church from the age of birth to somewhere around the middle of my grade school years. The next church for our family was a Congregational church where we stayed through the remainder my grade school years and into my freshman year of high school. At age 14 we switched again to a Nazarene church which I attended with my family until, at age 20, I decided to attend a Church of God (out of Anderson, IN) where there were more young people near my age. Somewhere during this denominational journey I made a decision to become a Christian and accept Jesus as savior, although I did so more out of a compulsion to avoid the fiery pit of hell than a clear understanding of what I was really getting into.
In 1985 I was married and began a journey through a few more versions of the Christian church, again with the same basic doctrine (belief in the Trinity, that Christ died for our sins and was raised, etc.) but variations on minor points and practices. Our new family stayed in the Church of God, the denominational affiliation of our college, and we were active in the local congregation for several more years. Upon moving to Texas in 1990, I began attending a Nazarene church again for a short time, then on to a Baptist church where we stayed until moving again around 3 years later. Our next move took us into the crazy world of the Charismatic believers. The freedom from ritual along with the contemporary music drew us in to this church home until we again moved. Since that time in 1993 we have moved several more times, but stayed in non-denominational, charismatic churches.
I tell you all of this denominational history to give you a limited idea of my background in the Christian faith and so you can understand why, to some degree, I have questioned so much of the teaching I have heard. I guess in some ways it has been beneficial to my spiritual development to have such a varied background, since this has allowed me the freedom to search out truths for myself. I know many people that have spent most of their years in one particular denomination and as a result have trouble with questioning their denominational training. They feel almost as though it is sinful to consider that what they have been taught may not be the full truth. Feelings of guilt overcome them if they question the fullness of their experience and start to wonder if maybe God has something more for them. This indoctrination leads to a type of enslavement that Charismatics would label as Legalism or Religiousness. I believe that this type of 'religion' and following ritual, rules and traditions for the sake of conformity is what Christ came to set His people free from.
As of late however, I have seen another form of enslavement that some non-denominational, inter-denominational or charismatic believers seem to be falling in to. It is an enslavement to their supposed new found freedom from legalism or a religious spirit. While it is true that as a believer in Christ, we are free from the strict legalism of the old covenant and the practice of dead rituals, it is also true that we can easily become captivated by our obsession with trying to appear non-religious. We must remember that to follow Christ in a non-religious manner is to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, not to be preoccupied with engagement in worldly activities that will signal to others that we are free. This type of pseudo-freedom actually has another name... bondage. We can be deceived so easily by our flesh into thinking that we should participate in things that will offend the religious legalists to show them what freedom looks like. This is not freedom!
Christ Jesus died on the cross for us so that we may truly be free to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in every area of our lives. True freedom will allow us to make decisions and involve ourselves in activities that bring glory to Him without purposely offending our brothers and sisters that may have differing doctrinal beliefs. We must remember that while all things are permissible, not all things are beneficial. We are reminded in the New Testament that we are to be considerate of those that may be caused to stumble because of our exercise of freedom. While we will not allow ourselves to be resubmitted to the bondage the Holy Spirit has led us out of, we must also take seriously our responsibility to the body of Christ and to avoid pride and arrogance which will lead us into bondage of another sort. I urge you all (as I remind my self) to examine yourself daily and to follow in humble submission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the only true way to the freedom God has for each of us.
My religious background is a patchwork of various Christian denominations, each slightly different, yet all claiming the same major doctrinal tenets. I attended a Presbyterian church from the age of birth to somewhere around the middle of my grade school years. The next church for our family was a Congregational church where we stayed through the remainder my grade school years and into my freshman year of high school. At age 14 we switched again to a Nazarene church which I attended with my family until, at age 20, I decided to attend a Church of God (out of Anderson, IN) where there were more young people near my age. Somewhere during this denominational journey I made a decision to become a Christian and accept Jesus as savior, although I did so more out of a compulsion to avoid the fiery pit of hell than a clear understanding of what I was really getting into.
In 1985 I was married and began a journey through a few more versions of the Christian church, again with the same basic doctrine (belief in the Trinity, that Christ died for our sins and was raised, etc.) but variations on minor points and practices. Our new family stayed in the Church of God, the denominational affiliation of our college, and we were active in the local congregation for several more years. Upon moving to Texas in 1990, I began attending a Nazarene church again for a short time, then on to a Baptist church where we stayed until moving again around 3 years later. Our next move took us into the crazy world of the Charismatic believers. The freedom from ritual along with the contemporary music drew us in to this church home until we again moved. Since that time in 1993 we have moved several more times, but stayed in non-denominational, charismatic churches.
I tell you all of this denominational history to give you a limited idea of my background in the Christian faith and so you can understand why, to some degree, I have questioned so much of the teaching I have heard. I guess in some ways it has been beneficial to my spiritual development to have such a varied background, since this has allowed me the freedom to search out truths for myself. I know many people that have spent most of their years in one particular denomination and as a result have trouble with questioning their denominational training. They feel almost as though it is sinful to consider that what they have been taught may not be the full truth. Feelings of guilt overcome them if they question the fullness of their experience and start to wonder if maybe God has something more for them. This indoctrination leads to a type of enslavement that Charismatics would label as Legalism or Religiousness. I believe that this type of 'religion' and following ritual, rules and traditions for the sake of conformity is what Christ came to set His people free from.
As of late however, I have seen another form of enslavement that some non-denominational, inter-denominational or charismatic believers seem to be falling in to. It is an enslavement to their supposed new found freedom from legalism or a religious spirit. While it is true that as a believer in Christ, we are free from the strict legalism of the old covenant and the practice of dead rituals, it is also true that we can easily become captivated by our obsession with trying to appear non-religious. We must remember that to follow Christ in a non-religious manner is to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, not to be preoccupied with engagement in worldly activities that will signal to others that we are free. This type of pseudo-freedom actually has another name... bondage. We can be deceived so easily by our flesh into thinking that we should participate in things that will offend the religious legalists to show them what freedom looks like. This is not freedom!
Christ Jesus died on the cross for us so that we may truly be free to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in every area of our lives. True freedom will allow us to make decisions and involve ourselves in activities that bring glory to Him without purposely offending our brothers and sisters that may have differing doctrinal beliefs. We must remember that while all things are permissible, not all things are beneficial. We are reminded in the New Testament that we are to be considerate of those that may be caused to stumble because of our exercise of freedom. While we will not allow ourselves to be resubmitted to the bondage the Holy Spirit has led us out of, we must also take seriously our responsibility to the body of Christ and to avoid pride and arrogance which will lead us into bondage of another sort. I urge you all (as I remind my self) to examine yourself daily and to follow in humble submission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the only true way to the freedom God has for each of us.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Peace is the Answer... or is it?
I was raised during the 60's and 70's, a time when changes were coming... and not all of them good. There was a lot of unrest with young people born in the 40's and 50's that were disenchanted with a war they didn't understand and the politicians that were trying hard to lose it. For the first time ever television was showing the horrors of war to the public and they didn't like it. Suddenly peace was the answer to all our problems. If we could just leave the rest of the world, and mankind as a whole, to do whatever makes them happy all would be better off. We just needed to talk, listen and understand each other and everyone would act reasonably and avoid war.
If you believe that man is basically good and desires nothing but the best for everyone, I guess the peace movement all makes sense. After all, if our enemies are basically just good people then there must be a reason why they are behaving in a violent or threatening manner. That reason must be America. Our system of capitalism, freedom, religion and foreign policy must force our enemies to action. We must be the catalyst that makes them behave in such a manner and hate, attack and kill others.
Of course the only problem with this logic is the premise that man is good. The truth is that man is inherently evil and selfish. We are all born with a rebellious nature that is concerned only about ourselves and our pleasure. Unfortunately history is full of people that demonstrated this time and time again. How can we believe that other governments will always be peaceful and benevolent when we see hate and crime everyday? No amount of rationalization will convince a leader bent on destruction of peoples of another class, race or religious belief to behave in a civilized manner. Sometimes nations must be disciplined and punished just as individuals are in most societies.
Peace is certainly an admirable goal and one we strive toward constantly, however, peace at all costs is not worth the price that must be paid. Peace is valuable, but not more valuable than justice. Life is valuable, but not more valuable than principle. I would suggest that without justice and principle, peace is not worth anything except to those that fear death more than their loss of freedom or basic human rights. No, peace is not necessarily the answer. The answer is found in a people that pursue righteousness and are willing to stand up for the rights of others regardless of the price that must be paid. If it means trading our lives for the lives and rights of those less fortunate, then so be it.
If you believe that man is basically good and desires nothing but the best for everyone, I guess the peace movement all makes sense. After all, if our enemies are basically just good people then there must be a reason why they are behaving in a violent or threatening manner. That reason must be America. Our system of capitalism, freedom, religion and foreign policy must force our enemies to action. We must be the catalyst that makes them behave in such a manner and hate, attack and kill others.
Of course the only problem with this logic is the premise that man is good. The truth is that man is inherently evil and selfish. We are all born with a rebellious nature that is concerned only about ourselves and our pleasure. Unfortunately history is full of people that demonstrated this time and time again. How can we believe that other governments will always be peaceful and benevolent when we see hate and crime everyday? No amount of rationalization will convince a leader bent on destruction of peoples of another class, race or religious belief to behave in a civilized manner. Sometimes nations must be disciplined and punished just as individuals are in most societies.
Peace is certainly an admirable goal and one we strive toward constantly, however, peace at all costs is not worth the price that must be paid. Peace is valuable, but not more valuable than justice. Life is valuable, but not more valuable than principle. I would suggest that without justice and principle, peace is not worth anything except to those that fear death more than their loss of freedom or basic human rights. No, peace is not necessarily the answer. The answer is found in a people that pursue righteousness and are willing to stand up for the rights of others regardless of the price that must be paid. If it means trading our lives for the lives and rights of those less fortunate, then so be it.
Monday, October 27, 2008
You Owe Me!
What ever happened to the old America? You know, the one most of us grew up in during the 20th century. I am old enough to have experienced a little of it, yet young enough to still remember. Many of you know what I am talking about but for those of you that don't or are too young and missed out, let me share with you a little about what it used to be like in America. When most of us were proud of our country (despite it's flaws) and not just because our spouse was running for president.
I was raised by parents that were born in the mid-1920's, between two of the largest, most destructive and deadly wars that man has ever known. My father entered WWII by enlisting in the Navy, lying about his age at the time so he could go to war. The second world war pulled us out of a depression with massive defense spending on military items of every description. This was a time when our existence as a country was threatened and countries around the world were falling to fascist regimes. Even then, with the obvious evil perpetrated by the Nazi Party, there were those here in America that strongly opposed any involvement in a war that was none of our business.
It was during these times, I believe, that my father's character and life principles were developed. He learned that some things were more valuable than your physical comfort, finances and life. These were defining principles that led him through life's journey and helped him to make the right choices, even when it was perhaps the hardest choice to make. Although I tried hard at times to escape this influence and choose a path of less resistance and more temporal pleasures, these principles were passed on to me and have become the foundation for my adult life. I thank God that this is the strong foundation that was built for me, and many others, by a hard-working, patriotic generation of Americans.
America has been a place where individuals have been limited only by themselves. Our system of free enterprise and individual freedoms, guaranteed by the Constitution, has provided the best environment ever known to man for reaching dreams, goals and visions. A person lacking the funds for a secondary education can visit free public libraries and educate themselves on a multitude of subjects. Those born in poor economic conditions can work and save to start their own small business. The idea of America has always been (if you don't believe it, read the writings of the founding fathers) a weak central government that does not interfere with the lives of those it was created to serve.
What has me confused is how we have arrived at where we are as a nation today. The politics of class envy is taught to our young at supposed institutions of higher learning. Those in power use the selfish desires of the populace to further their own agenda. Why do some of us feel that it is our inherent right to be given things we did not work for? It is like a demented Robin Hood story with a theme of take from the rich to give to the poor. We have politicians that tell us everyone has the right to a nice home, two cars, free secondary education, free childcare, free healthcare and HD Television. When did our right to pursue happiness translate into the right to have what we have not earned?
I fear that America has fallen asleep. We are missing the conservative moral values and principles that used to guide us to work at being the best and most productive members of society. We are quickly turning into a hedonistic society where the pursuit of comfort and pleasure is replacing what was once a desire to exercise discipline, self-control and to achieve. We have forgotten that adversity is what develops character and motivates us to work for the betterment of ourselves and others. Our educators have been negligent to teach our history, as it really happened, and to remind us of the great men that have been grown from the poorest of conditions.
If America is to survive and once again be that shining light of freedom and God's grace that all the world looks to, we must examine ourselves. We must get back to the foundation of truth and freedom that was laid for us nearly 250 years ago. We can no longer be consumed by self-interests, but must work for what is best for our country. This is the greatest country on the face of the earth and we alone can make it better. We must adopt policies that encourage our citizens to be productive, hard-working and caring. If we don't shake off our complacency soon, I am afraid it will be too late and we will fade from our former greatness into mediocrity and forced servant hood to the state.
I was raised by parents that were born in the mid-1920's, between two of the largest, most destructive and deadly wars that man has ever known. My father entered WWII by enlisting in the Navy, lying about his age at the time so he could go to war. The second world war pulled us out of a depression with massive defense spending on military items of every description. This was a time when our existence as a country was threatened and countries around the world were falling to fascist regimes. Even then, with the obvious evil perpetrated by the Nazi Party, there were those here in America that strongly opposed any involvement in a war that was none of our business.
It was during these times, I believe, that my father's character and life principles were developed. He learned that some things were more valuable than your physical comfort, finances and life. These were defining principles that led him through life's journey and helped him to make the right choices, even when it was perhaps the hardest choice to make. Although I tried hard at times to escape this influence and choose a path of less resistance and more temporal pleasures, these principles were passed on to me and have become the foundation for my adult life. I thank God that this is the strong foundation that was built for me, and many others, by a hard-working, patriotic generation of Americans.
America has been a place where individuals have been limited only by themselves. Our system of free enterprise and individual freedoms, guaranteed by the Constitution, has provided the best environment ever known to man for reaching dreams, goals and visions. A person lacking the funds for a secondary education can visit free public libraries and educate themselves on a multitude of subjects. Those born in poor economic conditions can work and save to start their own small business. The idea of America has always been (if you don't believe it, read the writings of the founding fathers) a weak central government that does not interfere with the lives of those it was created to serve.
What has me confused is how we have arrived at where we are as a nation today. The politics of class envy is taught to our young at supposed institutions of higher learning. Those in power use the selfish desires of the populace to further their own agenda. Why do some of us feel that it is our inherent right to be given things we did not work for? It is like a demented Robin Hood story with a theme of take from the rich to give to the poor. We have politicians that tell us everyone has the right to a nice home, two cars, free secondary education, free childcare, free healthcare and HD Television. When did our right to pursue happiness translate into the right to have what we have not earned?
I fear that America has fallen asleep. We are missing the conservative moral values and principles that used to guide us to work at being the best and most productive members of society. We are quickly turning into a hedonistic society where the pursuit of comfort and pleasure is replacing what was once a desire to exercise discipline, self-control and to achieve. We have forgotten that adversity is what develops character and motivates us to work for the betterment of ourselves and others. Our educators have been negligent to teach our history, as it really happened, and to remind us of the great men that have been grown from the poorest of conditions.
If America is to survive and once again be that shining light of freedom and God's grace that all the world looks to, we must examine ourselves. We must get back to the foundation of truth and freedom that was laid for us nearly 250 years ago. We can no longer be consumed by self-interests, but must work for what is best for our country. This is the greatest country on the face of the earth and we alone can make it better. We must adopt policies that encourage our citizens to be productive, hard-working and caring. If we don't shake off our complacency soon, I am afraid it will be too late and we will fade from our former greatness into mediocrity and forced servant hood to the state.
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