The Price of Freedom

July 4 is the birthday of our nation. It is the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the document by which the American colonies declared their independence from British rule, which had become burdensome if not tyrannical.

This was, however, not an end but the beginning of a struggle for freedom that would last for more than seven years and cost many of the brave men who signed that document their comfortable homes, their land, their fortune, their children and — for some — their very lives.

The men who met in Philadelphia that fateful day in 1776 to sign that document were not poor, malcontent scalawags. These were men of means who risk everything to give us this nation where

“all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights …”

It is important to remember that, while these men were declaring their independence from Great Britain, they were also declaring their dependence on the God who created us. And in case that was not clear enough in this declaration of rights, they closed the document in such a way that it could not be missed.

“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 years that followed were difficult and victory would have been impossible without the direct intervention of the hand of God. Those who doubt this simply do not know their history. How else could a rag-tag army of colonists defeat the powerful British? The miracles that followed are too numerous to mention such as the blinding fog that allowed Washington’s men to escape from Brooklyn or just the right amount of snow and thaw on the icy Delaware River that paved the way for — not one — but three miraculous crossings. Continue reading “The Price of Freedom” →

A Valentine for Michael

This is the time of year when we send expressions of love to those we hold dear: sweethearts, relatives and special friends.

I’m offering this Valentine to a friend I will not meet again this side of Heaven, a friend who served as a mentor to me and hundreds of conservatives in the trenches all across America, in Washington,D.C., and in the halls, offices and meeting rooms of Congress.

He help write legislation, make policy and shape public opinion, all in relative anonymity. He was brilliant, thoughtful, sensitive and witty. I can’t tell you how many powerful one-liners he’s given me over the years. He couldn’t use them in the positions he held so he freely passed them on to those of us who write columns, host TV and radio programs and make speeches.

Michael Schwartz was a treasure. Although separated by 2600 miles, when I needed insight on a pressing issue, advice on a column or simply encouragement, I would pick up the phone and dial Michael.

As the country lost its moral underpinnings, as we headed off a financial cliff, as the electorate swooned over a sweet-talking, handsome, left-wing ideologue and I was tempted to throw up my hands and say, “What’s the use!” I would dial Michael.

For many conservatives like myself, Michael was our plumb line. I used to tell him, “When you turn out the light in your office then, and only then, will I know it is time to pack it in.” Continue reading “A Valentine for Michael” →

Obama needs a Sister Souljah Moment

The occupiers of Wall Street were silent as the President of the United States approached the podium in downtown Manhattan and begin to speak. Obama was expected to embrace the protesters bu,t much to their surprise, he delivered a stinging attack.

“You have disgraced yourself by your public displays of indecency, the disrespect for your fellow citizens who live and work here and by trashing this park and the restrooms of nearby merchants. Just look at some of the signs you are carrying. ‘Jump you F—ers,’ pigs in police uniforms and ‘Shoot Sperm not Bullets.’ Is that who you really are? Continue reading “Obama needs a Sister Souljah Moment” →

Earth to “Occupy Wall Street”

“Occupy Wall Street” is a movement in search of a goal. The growing hoards of malcontents offer a convenient stage for anyone or any group with a cause.

It’s a street fair for the disenfranchised with too much time and money on their hands. This may seem incompatible with one of its reoccurring themes: social and economic inequity, but hear me out. The hoards that have gathered in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Boston, etc. do not appear to be the underclass. They are not malnourished or diseased. As street mobs go they are well-dressed and appear quite comfortable.

If anything, they resemble their brethren in Greece. They are coddled, overpaid and over subsidized by the very systems they despise. If this were not the case, how in the world could they afford these extended vacations? To be sure, many are sleeping on the street. However, many have more conventional accommodations and use their state of the art pop-ups as a convenient place to hang with the crowd in order to whine about their lack of power, political influence, wealth or whatever. Continue reading “Earth to “Occupy Wall Street”” →

Needed: A 2nd Declaration of Independence

On July 4, 1776, the American colonists boldly declared their independence from Great Britain.It is that act that we will celebrate over this long holiday weekend. But, let us not kid ourselves. We are no longer free.

Over the years, we have sold ourselves to China, Japan and a host of other foreign powers.
The noose is slowly being tightened. As yet, we have not felt its sting but the rope has already been lowered over our heads and, make no mistake, it will not be long before we begin to feel its tight squeeze about our collective throats.

As of January, foreigners owned a whopping 47% of our debt of more than $14 trillion and the lion’s share of that foreign debt is held by the central bank of China, a communist power.

Our ancestors thought the British were tyrants. What are our children likely to experience under the Chinese?

“Do it for the children,” has been the siren song used by liberal socialists in this country to take over more and more of our daily lives: education, after-school care, food, shelter and now health care. Are there any essential needs that this president and the Democrats who control the Senate would leave to the individual?

The truth is we haven’t done it for the children we have done it to the children. Unless, we throw off the noose of big government – and quickly — our children will be slaves to the Chinese.

But before we can balance our books and get rid of our debt, we must realize that many of our citizens already have become slaves to the government. Granted, the life these slaves live is not all that bad for now. In fact, it is quite good when you consider they don’t have to work for their daily bread. All they have to do is show up with their hands out. There is no other requirement.

Until recently, most of our citizens preferred freedom and a shot at what was commonly referred to as the “American dream” to handouts. However, in these difficult times, the number of people who have become complacent as wards of the state has increased dramatically.

In hard times, charities used to care for the poor and help people get back on their feet. Now, even the charities have their collective hands out. It is so much easier to take a large government grant than it is to raise funds from individual contributors. Yes, fund-raising is so 20th Century!

Of the true charities that do exist, few require accountability. It’s way too much trouble. Far too many of these charities are now part of the problem, heaping loads of food and other goodies on those who already are on the receiving end of a plethora of government handouts. They ignore Biblical principles like the one in II Thessalonians 3:10 “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.”

We would do well to revisit the words of our charter, the Declaration of Independence:

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

Our founders deemed it an obvious truth that we are created by God as equal individuals and should be guaranteed (as later spelled out in the Constitution) equal treatment under the law. It goes on to say that each of our citizens should have an equal opportunity to succeed which is defined as the “Pursuit of Happiness.”

The definition of success or the “Pursuit of Happiness” is different for everyone. To some success is material. To others it is fame or influence. Still others believe it is a balance of work and simple pleasures.

The right to the “Pursuit of Happiness,” the opportunity to succeed, carries with it the opportunity for failure. Failure is not a permanent state from which one must be rescued by the government. It is an opportunity for one to assess one’s mistakes and redouble one’s efforts in the next pursuit.

There was no attempt in our charter or the Constitution to make everything equal for everyone. That is the goal of socialism or communism, which has never turned out very well for those so governed.

It is time for us to decide if we want to completely bankrupt this country by burying our collective heads in the sand. It is time for us to decide if we want to keep going down this road toward socialism, which ends in slavery. It is time for another declaration of independence – independence from big government.

2010: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly . . . and the Extraordinary

In 2010, the U.S. suffered through another 12 months of weak economic activity, record home foreclosures, high unemployment and financial uncertainty. Nevertheless, there were many seminal events that fell into the following categories.

The Good:

The November election gave Republicans a “do-over.” They will take back control of the House of Representatives in the 112 Congress. The new leaders have pledged to end earmarks, to cut runaway federal spending and bring the country back in line with the Constitution.

The Defeat of the $1.1 trillion Omnibus Spending Bill: This bill bypassed the normal budget process. It was loaded with pork and new projects that would have been difficult to cut or eliminate and it would have provided funding for some of the most onerous provisions of the unpopular health care law that the new Congress will try to eliminate.

The Defeat of the (bad) Dream Act: Another back-door amnesty bill.

The Bad:

Wall Street Reform: Imposed $19 billion in new taxes and fees on banks (which consumers will end up paying) and failed to address Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (a major cause of the housing meltdown).

The Food Safety Bill: It grows the government, increase food prices and drive small producers out of business without making our food any safer.

The extension of unemployment benefits: Why the rush to pass another 13 months of unemployment benefits with no work or job training requirements? While many people have had trouble finding work and need extra help, extending unemployment benefits in this manner will discourage many from taking “less than the perfect” jobs because they can now afford to wait. Also, many people, who can and would have retired, will be living on the public dole for three years now . . . because they can.

The Ugly:

ObamaCare: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a misnomer. Reliable studies show that this unpopular bill will drive up the costs and reduce the quality of our health care. The bill failed to address the primary reasons for our spiraling health care costs. It burdens providers and insurers with regulations that reduce consumer choice and eventually will drive everyone into a one-size fits all government program.

The recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick to run Medicare and Medicaid: This man is enamored with the British health care system. He has made it clear that rationing is one of the ways that he will control costs.

The confirmation of Elena Kagan as a Supreme Court Justice: In her confirmation hearing, Kagan gave us proof that she believes the Constitution is nothing more than Silly Putty that can be twisted or bent into any shape desired by “progressive” justices. She believes even wrongly decided Supreme Court decisions trump the original intent of our founders. She pledged her support for the unconstitutional welfare state that has taken us the brink of financial collapse and refused to endorse the concept of “natural law” or “inalienable rights” contained in our charter, the Declaration of Independence. Nevertheless, the Senate confirmed her and she will be around to pervert our laws for the balance of her life.

The elimination of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: In passing the bill that allows homosexuals to serve openly in the military, the outgoing lame duck Congress overruled the objections of the majority of our service chiefs and put an additional burden on our military during a time of war. This was a cheap political payoff to the Democrats’ radical base. It puts our military and our country at risk.

The Extraordinary:

The tea-party movement motivated average citizens to rise up and take back the government. As a result, in the historic 2010 election, 58 incumbents were defeated and many more entrenched congressmen and senators chose to retire rather than face sure defeat at the hands of an angry electorate.

New Year’s Resolution:

While the results of the November election and the promises made by the incoming House Republican leaders and some of their Senate colleagues are encouraging, don’t be lulled into political inactivity. Clearly some lawmakers are committed to smaller, more efficient government. However, the majority will go along only if we hold their feet to the fire. Join a local tea-party group. Sign up to support one or more of the watchdog organizations like the National Taxpayers Union and Citizens Against Government Waste. Read and act on their e-mail alerts.

Bear in mind. Some lawmakers remain openly defiant when it comes to cutting the government down to size. They need to be defeated in their next election. Now is the time to begin looking for worthy challengers to support. The future of this country depends on it.

Angry Santas

It’s that time of year. Every child knows that Santa is watching his or her every move. He’s making a list and checking it twice. He’s going to find out who has been naughty or nice.

This year, there is a new kind of Santa in every city and town across America. These Santas are not watching the children. These Santas are watching our lawmakers in Washington. They remember the unwanted present (Obamacare) that arrived last Christmas Eve and they are determined to do whatever it takes to return it. Continue reading “Angry Santas” →

Republicans, Can We Trust Them?

Republicans have gained control of the House of Representatives. They now have the ability to cut the federal budget down to size and put us on the road to fiscal stability. This is their stated goal.

It doesn’t matter what kind of budget President Obama turns in. In doesn’t matter what the Senate does. Not a dime can be spent unless it is approved by the House of Representatives.

All the Republican-led House of Representatives has to do to control federal spending is put its collective foot down.

Bottom line: There can be no deficit spending next year, unless House Republican’s cave. Continue reading “Republicans, Can We Trust Them?” →

After the 2010 Election: The Follow-Through

Every athlete knows the importance of the follow-through. Once you hit or release a ball, it will not reach its intended target unless the athlete stays engaged until the projectile is well on its way to the desired destination.

If the 2010 election was about cleaning out the entrenched political elites who have run up a staggering national debt and mortgaged our future, then the 2012 election must be about the “follow through.”

Gone are the days when voters can afford to wake up a couple of weeks before an election and, once it’s over, hit the snooze button for another two years. Continue reading “After the 2010 Election: The Follow-Through” →

The 2010 Election: Us versus Them

Along the road of spending, the government either takes over, which is socialism, or dictates institutional and economic life, which is fascism.– Herbert Hoover

Off-year elections are usually yawners. Not this one. Our economic problems have awakened voters and ignited political passions.

In the last two years, the country has taken a hard left turn and is traveling at the speed of light away from the free market, which isn’t perfect but has given us the highest standard of living in the world.

The new destination is socialism, a system that has brought much of western Europe to the brink of economic collapse and thrown Greece and France into chaos.

This election is not about political parties. It is about ideology. Continue reading “The 2010 Election: Us versus Them” →