LIBERTY or LEISURE?

Tags

control, COST of FREEDOM, government control, identity, leisure, liberty, The Americans Who Risked Everything, VALUE of FREEDOM

Whether it is the nation as a whole, or my little corner of it (family), the challenge is the same. IDENTITY!

Many of us have been quite active over the last few weeks working toward the defunding of Obamacare. It didn’t matter that logic was on our side. It didn’t matter that the American people were on our side. The media was not, and perhaps, never will be. So … now what?

I saw a discussion on facebook about the creation of a third party. The poster stated, correctly in my view, that the Republicans have left a large segment of their constituents behind and become the old Whig Party, denying the Conservative stand of most Republicans. His claim is that the media ignores or tarnishes anyone who disagrees, and this prohibits contrary views from being part of the public domain. The IRS scandal (which has been quickly pushed out of the headlines) is clear evidence of this “silencing” of views that oppose the President.

The question remains, how do we, the opposition, move into the next election cycle without faith in our leaders? How can we change our leadership? It’s not so much the fiscal issues that divide, but the social issues. Abortion, even after 40 years, is still as hot a topic as it was back when Roe v Wade went to the Supreme Court. In addition, we have now the gay marriage issue which divides us and even gun control.

I don’t know if a third party WIN is possible, but I do know that Americans have to make a decision, the sooner the better, concerning morality and civility. We must decide WHO we want to be. Are we going to be the compassionate, helpful, generous, and kind people we have been until this current President took the reins? Or are we going to continue down the road of hate, destruction, resentment, his false notion of “fairness,” and poverty?

The political actions of this administration are very simply make clear Obama’s hatred for everything America has represented for over 200 years. And, while some people declare him incompetent, he has succeeded beyond expectation in the destruction of America’s economy, America’s middle income industry, and small business. He has brought a depth of jealousy and greed between socio-economic levels that never existed before his regime. He has also brought about a resurgence in racial tensions as he drives false wedges between races and other social differences. We now experience the lowest morale within the military ever known resulting in unprecedented numbers of suicides and untreated PTSD among Veterans. In short, in the 5 years of his presidency so far, he has succeeded in turning Americans against one another in record numbers simply for his (and his party’s) benefit. It’s all about CONTROL!

The Gun laws are all about CONTROL!

Obamacare (The un-Affordable Healthcare Act) is all about CONTROL!

The Global-warming myth is all about CONTROL!

On and on the list grows while the people of this great nation ignore the outrageous scandals, the dismantling of our 235+ yr old brilliant CONSTITUTION, and generally surrender more and more CONTROL to the government. If only those who have sworn to “support and defend” our CONSTITUTION for ALL enemies, both “foreign and domestic,” maybe America could self-correct.

Calling on BOTH Democrats and Republicans
to uphold their Oath of Office

I don’t really understand this mindset. Does it really feel that good to sit around and watch “Let’s Make a Deal,” and collect welfare? Or are we too busy working 2 or 3 part-time jobs (since Obamacare is moving quickly to eliminate our 40 hr week)? Have we all pulled back into our shells in the hope the bad behavior of our leaders will just go away? Or maybe their bad behavior justifies ours?

Who are We Now? Who will We be in a Decade?

If we want our “Representatives” to be honest, WE must be honest!

If we want our Leaders to be KIND, WE must be kind!

If we want our elected officials to respect LIFE, WE must respect LIFE!

We must demand integrity in ourselves first, then we can search for it in those who wish to represent us. We must treat others as we want to be treated if we want our leaders to work together in spite of differing ideals. We must respect our differences if we hope our representatives in government will consider all sides of a debate. It’s up to us! Don’t you see? This is exactly why our Constitution is so BRILLIANT!!! Ultimately, the POWER is in OUR hands. Over the past few decades, we have abdicated our responsibility and surrendered our POWER, but it’s TIME to take it back, don’t you think? The ball is in our court, so to speak. What will we do with it? Will we mature and take responsibility for our lives, our fortunes, and our honor? Or will we continue to yield our Liberty in exchange for leisure?

Perhaps a little reminder of the COST of FREEDOM will help to inspire us.

The Americans Who Risked Everything

Maybe a reality check will help us appreciate the VALUE of FREEDOM.

ADDITIONAL READING:

Thinking Outside the Two Party Box

Obama’s new world order

The Man Who Despises America

Obama’s Hatred for America

What’s Next

Tags

baby boomers, history, identity, NOTHING is FREE, self-reliance

The pundits are scrambling to explain what happened Election Day in America. Dozens of articles written to analyze the anemic turnout, the technology flop, and the “Evangelical flu” that spelled defeat for perhaps the most qualified candidate to run in decades! There are dozens of reasons for Obama’s victory, but the most significant is … HISTORY!

Until the time of FDR, Americans prided themselves on SELF-RELIANCE! HISTORY! Americans worked as long as they could, then families took care of them until they passed. People did NOT retire, they just did something less strenuous. It was understood adults worked. Adults took care of their homes, their family, and their belongings. If they wanted a new car or TV, they saved their earnings until they had enough. Then, and only then, did they make the purchase. HISTORY! It was general knowledge that NOTHING is FREE in this life! True, there wasn’t the constant barrage of temptations from TV and movies for more stuff, and there was a greater sense of “neighbor.

Some pundits explain Gov. ROMNEY’S loss in terms of identity, his inability to “connect” with the average person. With the inexcusable help of the mainstream media emphasizing the negative (which is always easier to believe than the truth,) Romney was billed as an “evil” Bain Capitalist – an image he was never able to overcome while the President, though he hobnobs with the Hollywood elite, never played baseball or bowled, was raised & mentored by card-carrying Communists, was billed as the guy who empathizes with the downtrodden and poor. Go figure!

This Election was billed by some as a choice in the direction America should go in the years to come. So exactly what does the re-election of Barack Obama indicate about our true direction? 

America must decide … and quickly … who she will be in the decades to come. Will we permit an arrogant, elitists government to pick away at our individual liberties as in the recent years? Or will we …

• Identify our priorities. I believe we must back up & regroup, looking inwardly first and get our own hearts, mind, and goals situated. Surely there are a handful of issues that outweigh the others. Prioritize!!!
• Overlook our less vital differences. What blew this election was our inability or unwillingness to organize. It is actually a characteristic of “conservatism” that we must overcome if we are to take back any ground. Evangelicals didn’t get behind Romney because he’s Mormon. Libertarians were reluctant to get behind him because he wasn’t far enough to the Right. Too many Americans bought the lies of the media that fractured the “anyone but Obama” crowd. We MUST get past our differences. We MUST accept there is no such thing as PERFECTION!
• FOCUS on our goal of re-establishing our Constitution as THE rule of Law in the land. The single most fundamental issue to my mind is the re-establishment of the Constitution as the “absolute” Law of the Land! This must be the driving force behind our work, our prayers, and our words.
• Raise up leaders from the local level to rise through the ranks (We must train the next generation for the battles to come). How many of us have never missed an opportunity to vote? How familiar are we with those running in local elections – for city council, school board, etc? THIS is where we can start. Locate the younger men and women with a passion for our nation and encourage them. I’ve met many young people to understand what’s going on. When I hear them complain that a candidate is too old, too left, too moderate, I say then YOU run! if you are not satisfied with those seeking office, consider yourself! Are you willing t make the sacrifice?

As I see it, it is us, the “baby boomers!” We messed things up in the 60’s by tearing down all manner of authority and leaving a wave of irresponsibility in our wake. We are reaping the rebellion we sowed! It’s on us, my fellow boomers, to do all within our power to turn this great ship around, or, at the very least, stop the downward spiral! Can we do it? I am most certain we can, but we must want to …

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
The Declaration of Independence

Conservative vs. Liberal Beliefs ~ A Political Contrast

Tags

conservative, debate, decide, definitions, Human nature, identity, issues, learn, liberal, share, talk

I was working on an article clarifying the differences and positions of Liberals and Conservatives when I came across this piece. It is well done, and I don’t think I could improve upon it, so here it is. Consider carefully the differences. It seems to me that these days, this separation is more telling than the traditional party lines of Democrat or Republican.

The authors of the article preface the piece with these words, to which I wholly agree:

We all want the same things in life. We want freedom; we want the chance for prosperity; we want as few people suffering as possible; we want healthy children; we want to have crime-free streets. The argument is how to achieve them…

Conservative vs. Liberal Beliefs

The only item on this list that I’d make a side-note on is the issue of same-sex marriage. While I agree that marriage has always been and continues to be defined as a legal, union of one man and one woman, I do not believe the government should have any say in what I do within my own home short of illegalities already on the books. However, I encourage same-sex unions supporters to create a word or phrase that will henceforth be defined as “same-sex legal union.” It’s about definitions and words for me, but that is an important point. It is not necessary to agree 100% with either of these stands. The key is FIRST, to define your personal stand. What do YOU believe? Then move in it. Find others with whom you agree. Talk. Share. Debate – respectfully! Listen!!! And learn!

Where do you stand?