Good afternoon, all! Hope everyone is having a great day... please take a moment to read yesterday's post that is just below this one. Also, join the Present Day Patriots fan page on Facebook (now has over 70 fans!) and become a follower on Blogger! :)
At first I wasn't going to post today, but then I remembered a quote of Thomas Paine's that I particularly love. It is from "The Crisis", written during the Revolutionary War prior to the publishing of the infamous "Common Sense" pamphlet. This phrase in particular is a favorite of mine, and highly applicable to America's situation today.
"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated."
I ask now, will YOU be a sunshine patriot? Or stand by your country, your beliefs, and what you know is right even when the world is against you and those that think like you? As I said yesterday, those who side with big government, "spreading the wealth", and corrupt leadership may have won the most recent battle--health care--but this American Revolution within the hearts and minds of the PEOPLE has just begun.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Fearful yet Optimistic...
Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay in posting this next blog entry... I want to thank all of you who return to read and comment on this blog... I appreciate it!
So, it's been one week since the passage of "Obamacare"...half the country seems to be in a shocked daze, while the other is celebtrating. I, for one, have some mixed feelings about this. Obviously, I'm incredibly fearful for the future of this country. The President and Congress won the battle of overhauling the healthcare system... in which Americans will be required to purchase insurance or face a fine...and government will have the power to come between you and your doctor, your child/family member/loved one and their doctor...that cost $940 billion...(don't for get the trillion dollar deficit)...and just to top it all off, 73% of voters wanted Congress to scrap the bill and start over! Yes, the healthcare system IS flawed. It NEEDS work. Not placement in the hands of the government. Over half of the American public was against this bill, and yet the politicians that were elected to represent the PEOPLE kept pushing and got it passed. Our rights are at stake. The future is at stake. My future, and my generations future is at stake. The freedoms that are given to us by our Creator, NOT our government, are at stake now that the leadership of this country has shown they will stop at nothing to adhere to their sick, twisted, government-growing agenda.
However, the other half of me is slightly optimistic on this. Yes, I know, that sounds rather surprising. But I've been doing a lot of thinking. We have reason to be optimistic because the agenda of the politicians supposedly 'leading' this country we've been suspicious about all along, is now being revealed. The "mask is off" as Glenn Beck said just a week ago. He also said, and this I firmly believe, that the health care "battle" may have been won by Obama, Pelosi, Reid, etc.... but the 'war' between right and wrong, truth and deception is nowhere near over. It has just begun. I believe a "sleeping giant" has been awakened in the American people. We are sick and tired of corrupt "politics as usual". We are sick and tired of elected official's phone lines being seemingly "too busy" to answer our calls. We are sick and tired of faulty campaign promises and fancy rhetoric and teleprompter-speeches taking the place of real efforts to further the republic. We are sick and tired of our voices being ignored by those elected to represent us.
Prior to the vote on healthcare, President Obama offered his fair share of bribes to get the votes needed to pass this bill. I don't want to delve into this too much because a corrupt politician is a corrupt politician... but, today I heard a comment that really made my hair stand on end. At school, a random political discussion broke out, namely abaout some of the bribes the president offered in exchange for votes. One particular Obama-fan said something like, "Do you really think other Presidents in the past haven't offered bribes for things?" ...insinuating that this practice is "okay". This just really made me wonder. Just because someone pushes their neighbor off the roof of a building, does that make it acceptable? WHY has the idea of politicians--PUBLIC SERVANTS-- doing their jobs, representing the people, listening to the people, gone out of style? Just something that made me think about the general order of things, and thought I'd share!
Lastly on today's post, I bring you the "Al Sharpton Socialism Shocker" that... actually, isn't all that much of a shocker...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqojWrtnieI&feature=PlayList&p=278EC343E9BC04B0&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=27
Apparently, according to Sharpton, the American people voted for socialism when they voted for President Obama. Really? Nice move, Sharpton... I think you confirm our suspicions on the goals of the Obama administration. And anyway, the "will of the American people" didn't elect him, the electoral college did!
I leave you with a quote by Ronald Reagan, one the greatest Presidents of our time...
"Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves."
God Bless America, and Long Live the Republic.
So, it's been one week since the passage of "Obamacare"...half the country seems to be in a shocked daze, while the other is celebtrating. I, for one, have some mixed feelings about this. Obviously, I'm incredibly fearful for the future of this country. The President and Congress won the battle of overhauling the healthcare system... in which Americans will be required to purchase insurance or face a fine...and government will have the power to come between you and your doctor, your child/family member/loved one and their doctor...that cost $940 billion...(don't for get the trillion dollar deficit)...and just to top it all off, 73% of voters wanted Congress to scrap the bill and start over! Yes, the healthcare system IS flawed. It NEEDS work. Not placement in the hands of the government. Over half of the American public was against this bill, and yet the politicians that were elected to represent the PEOPLE kept pushing and got it passed. Our rights are at stake. The future is at stake. My future, and my generations future is at stake. The freedoms that are given to us by our Creator, NOT our government, are at stake now that the leadership of this country has shown they will stop at nothing to adhere to their sick, twisted, government-growing agenda.
However, the other half of me is slightly optimistic on this. Yes, I know, that sounds rather surprising. But I've been doing a lot of thinking. We have reason to be optimistic because the agenda of the politicians supposedly 'leading' this country we've been suspicious about all along, is now being revealed. The "mask is off" as Glenn Beck said just a week ago. He also said, and this I firmly believe, that the health care "battle" may have been won by Obama, Pelosi, Reid, etc.... but the 'war' between right and wrong, truth and deception is nowhere near over. It has just begun. I believe a "sleeping giant" has been awakened in the American people. We are sick and tired of corrupt "politics as usual". We are sick and tired of elected official's phone lines being seemingly "too busy" to answer our calls. We are sick and tired of faulty campaign promises and fancy rhetoric and teleprompter-speeches taking the place of real efforts to further the republic. We are sick and tired of our voices being ignored by those elected to represent us.
Prior to the vote on healthcare, President Obama offered his fair share of bribes to get the votes needed to pass this bill. I don't want to delve into this too much because a corrupt politician is a corrupt politician... but, today I heard a comment that really made my hair stand on end. At school, a random political discussion broke out, namely abaout some of the bribes the president offered in exchange for votes. One particular Obama-fan said something like, "Do you really think other Presidents in the past haven't offered bribes for things?" ...insinuating that this practice is "okay". This just really made me wonder. Just because someone pushes their neighbor off the roof of a building, does that make it acceptable? WHY has the idea of politicians--PUBLIC SERVANTS-- doing their jobs, representing the people, listening to the people, gone out of style? Just something that made me think about the general order of things, and thought I'd share!
Lastly on today's post, I bring you the "Al Sharpton Socialism Shocker" that... actually, isn't all that much of a shocker...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqojWrtnieI&feature=PlayList&p=278EC343E9BC04B0&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=27
Apparently, according to Sharpton, the American people voted for socialism when they voted for President Obama. Really? Nice move, Sharpton... I think you confirm our suspicions on the goals of the Obama administration. And anyway, the "will of the American people" didn't elect him, the electoral college did!
I leave you with a quote by Ronald Reagan, one the greatest Presidents of our time...
"Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves."
God Bless America, and Long Live the Republic.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
"Abridgements of freedom..."
Hi everyone! I have returned from the West Coast... and what do you know, it's raining in Missouri. Wish I was back on the beach!
Anyway, I just wanted to post a quick update since I have been gone for a few days. I found a quote by James Madison that is shockingly applicable to the recent passage of "Obamacare"... read it and think about the reprecussions of this government-expanding legislation... and the future "reforms" that the left has in store for this country.
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
I pray that those believe the government "knows better" than the American people and those that believe the government is capable of "taking care" of the American people and their families realize, before jumping on the Obama bandwagon, that NOTHING in life is "free".
Anyway, I just wanted to post a quick update since I have been gone for a few days. I found a quote by James Madison that is shockingly applicable to the recent passage of "Obamacare"... read it and think about the reprecussions of this government-expanding legislation... and the future "reforms" that the left has in store for this country.
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
I pray that those believe the government "knows better" than the American people and those that believe the government is capable of "taking care" of the American people and their families realize, before jumping on the Obama bandwagon, that NOTHING in life is "free".
Monday, March 22, 2010
God Bless America
Hello from Monterey, California, everyone...
Well, what is there to say? The bill that was predicted to fundamentally alter, possibly bankrupt the United States has passed. The Democrats may have won this battle; they most definitely have not won this tacit war between right and wrong. In my opinion, this only means the REAL Americans, the TRUE Americans are going to have to fight even harder to preserve the Republic and take back our country.
The West Coast is beautiful, on a lighter note... I've seen the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, the cliffs edging the Pacific Ocean, Monterey Bay...in the back of my mind was the thought that America, even with all of her internal conflicts and imperfections, is a beautiul place. It's a beautiful, liberating idea of personal freedom, self determination that we often take for granted. It is sickening to me that such self-absorbed, power hungry, socialist leaning politicians that believe they "know better" than the American people themselves want to virtually change the land of the free and home of the brave to fit their agenda, and to become the proprietors of freedom, the givers of rights.
I will post some more commentary on the passage of this bill within the next few days, but I want to leave you with a quote that has really influenced me, and one that I believe we must consider if we are to "bring back" our country.
"Only those afraid of the truth seek to silence debate, intimidate those with whom they disagree, or slander their ideological counterparts. Those who know they are right have no reason to stifle debate because they realize that all opposing arguments will ultimately be overcome by fact." -Glenn Beck
Good night, and God Bless America. :)
Well, what is there to say? The bill that was predicted to fundamentally alter, possibly bankrupt the United States has passed. The Democrats may have won this battle; they most definitely have not won this tacit war between right and wrong. In my opinion, this only means the REAL Americans, the TRUE Americans are going to have to fight even harder to preserve the Republic and take back our country.
The West Coast is beautiful, on a lighter note... I've seen the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, the cliffs edging the Pacific Ocean, Monterey Bay...in the back of my mind was the thought that America, even with all of her internal conflicts and imperfections, is a beautiul place. It's a beautiful, liberating idea of personal freedom, self determination that we often take for granted. It is sickening to me that such self-absorbed, power hungry, socialist leaning politicians that believe they "know better" than the American people themselves want to virtually change the land of the free and home of the brave to fit their agenda, and to become the proprietors of freedom, the givers of rights.
I will post some more commentary on the passage of this bill within the next few days, but I want to leave you with a quote that has really influenced me, and one that I believe we must consider if we are to "bring back" our country.
"Only those afraid of the truth seek to silence debate, intimidate those with whom they disagree, or slander their ideological counterparts. Those who know they are right have no reason to stifle debate because they realize that all opposing arguments will ultimately be overcome by fact." -Glenn Beck
Good night, and God Bless America. :)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
A Word on Health Care...
Hello! I will be out of town for the next few days so I wanted to leave an update in case I do not get to a computer until I return.
I found this quote by Thomas Jefferson and I thought it rather appropriate...
"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government".
With the epic vote on the health care bill just hours away (Sunday morning) I hope members of Congress realize what their vote will mean to the United States, and I hope they keep in perspective that the "first and only object of good government" is the "care of human life and happiness, not their destruction". This morning, watching Fox News, I saw an unofficial vote count for the Health Care bill... 214 "no" and 217 "yes"... let's hope and pray for the future of the country that a few undecided members of Congress decide to side with the PEOPLE they were elected to represent and vote against this bill.
Also while watching the news, I saw an amazing thing that, if I lived closer, I would have been a part of... nearly 2,000 Americans gathered on Capitol Hill to protest the health care bill, fully exercising the beautiful rights to free speech and assembly. As I watched, I realized the people holding signs reading "Big Government-NO!" and "Kill the Bill" all looked similar... they were all AMERICANS, concerned for the future of their country, their families, their children. They were Americans who DON'T want the government coming between them and their doctors, who DON'T want this $940 billion overhaul to change the United States, who DON'T want government to overstep it's boundaries any further.
Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security calls them "right wing extremism"... any other clear-thinking American knows their mothers, fathers, grandparents, husbands, wives, small business owners... the every day hard-working American who just wants representation by their government. All I can say is, if standing up for your beliefs and your Constitutional rights is considered right wing extremism, make the most of it!
May the collective voice of the people prevail... God Bless America.
I found this quote by Thomas Jefferson and I thought it rather appropriate...
"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government".
With the epic vote on the health care bill just hours away (Sunday morning) I hope members of Congress realize what their vote will mean to the United States, and I hope they keep in perspective that the "first and only object of good government" is the "care of human life and happiness, not their destruction". This morning, watching Fox News, I saw an unofficial vote count for the Health Care bill... 214 "no" and 217 "yes"... let's hope and pray for the future of the country that a few undecided members of Congress decide to side with the PEOPLE they were elected to represent and vote against this bill.
Also while watching the news, I saw an amazing thing that, if I lived closer, I would have been a part of... nearly 2,000 Americans gathered on Capitol Hill to protest the health care bill, fully exercising the beautiful rights to free speech and assembly. As I watched, I realized the people holding signs reading "Big Government-NO!" and "Kill the Bill" all looked similar... they were all AMERICANS, concerned for the future of their country, their families, their children. They were Americans who DON'T want the government coming between them and their doctors, who DON'T want this $940 billion overhaul to change the United States, who DON'T want government to overstep it's boundaries any further.
Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security calls them "right wing extremism"... any other clear-thinking American knows their mothers, fathers, grandparents, husbands, wives, small business owners... the every day hard-working American who just wants representation by their government. All I can say is, if standing up for your beliefs and your Constitutional rights is considered right wing extremism, make the most of it!
May the collective voice of the people prevail... God Bless America.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A Government Big Enough to Give You Everything...
Hi again, all… if you’re just visiting my blog for the first time, check out my previous posts and become a follower, and a fan of the Present Day Patriots page on Facebook! (It already has around 55 fans after just one week!) Before I go any further, I have another favorite quote to share that I think is very relevant to many of today’s current debates…
“A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.” –Thomas Jefferson
That brings me to today’s topic: the epic battle over health care. I think I’ll begin with the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of, or read about, this debate. Turn on the news and listen to something regarding this issue… so-and-so will vote yes on the most recent bill because so-and-so won’t support their campaign in the next election, or will ruin their careers if they vote no. It’s sickening; those who were elected BY the people no longer seem to be LISTENING to the people, but rather, their colleagues. In fact, it doesn’t seem to even be about the people anymore. It’s a matter of power, of political parties, of endorsement promises. Around 55% of voters in a Rasmussen poll (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform) … “would rather see Congress scrap the original plan and start all over.” And yet these “civil servants”—a term to be used loosely—never seem to be able to keep up with citizens phone calls; they have turned a deaf ear to their constituents and continue to press forward with the most recent healthcare bill.
There ARE problems in the health care system. It DOES need work. But this bill, and government-run health care in general, are not the answer. Our system is one that has drawn citizens of countries that have universal health care TO the United States to receive decent care. Our system needs refining, not total annihilation and replacement.
Everything about this bill, including the American people it will affect, is screaming NO, but Congress is still fighting. It is estimated that this plan is capable of putting the country in bankruptcy within four years (http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/governor-races/87061-cahill-blasts-dem-healthcare-bill). As a teenager, I find this incredibly alarming… along with the ridiculous deficit, who will be paying for this? My generation, and the generations that follow.
Equally disturbing, nearly 45% of doctors polled in a Fox News poll, “said they would consider leaving their practice or retiring early if the proposed health care bill was to pass.” (http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/09/16/45-of-doctors-oppose-proposed-health-care-bill/)
If—and by if, I mean, God forbid—this bill passes, it will virtually change the United States… and I fear, not for the better.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi recently stated that citizens offering up their opposing views of healthcare reform are “un-American”. (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/10/tight-spot-pelosi-calls-health-care-critics-american) Tell me, what is “un-American” in exercising the right to free speech and assembly? What is American in ignoring the will of the American people? Also, something else that really made my hair stand on end… the “Pelosi Surprise”… “…we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.” Check out a video clip here… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoE1R-xH5To Does anyone know what's in this 1,990 page "surprise"?
I feel that the Founders and those in history who have fought so relentlessly to ensure a “government of the people, by the people, for the people” (The Gettysburg Address) would roll over in their graves if they knew the danger the republic faces at present.
I’m not saying I know the answer to this problem, but I know what its not. I return to the quote, “A government big enough to give you everything you want is capable of taking away everything you have.” There IS a problem with healthcare; the system does need improvements. But the answer does not lie in more government intervention!
I'm sure I will recieve a lot of flak for the opinions and facts stated here, but I know I speak for many, many Americans when I say that We the People want Congress to scrap this bill and start over...We the People want representation...and
We the People want our voices heard by those elected to LISTEN and REPRESENT the people!
“A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.” –Thomas Jefferson
That brings me to today’s topic: the epic battle over health care. I think I’ll begin with the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of, or read about, this debate. Turn on the news and listen to something regarding this issue… so-and-so will vote yes on the most recent bill because so-and-so won’t support their campaign in the next election, or will ruin their careers if they vote no. It’s sickening; those who were elected BY the people no longer seem to be LISTENING to the people, but rather, their colleagues. In fact, it doesn’t seem to even be about the people anymore. It’s a matter of power, of political parties, of endorsement promises. Around 55% of voters in a Rasmussen poll (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform) … “would rather see Congress scrap the original plan and start all over.” And yet these “civil servants”—a term to be used loosely—never seem to be able to keep up with citizens phone calls; they have turned a deaf ear to their constituents and continue to press forward with the most recent healthcare bill.
There ARE problems in the health care system. It DOES need work. But this bill, and government-run health care in general, are not the answer. Our system is one that has drawn citizens of countries that have universal health care TO the United States to receive decent care. Our system needs refining, not total annihilation and replacement.
Everything about this bill, including the American people it will affect, is screaming NO, but Congress is still fighting. It is estimated that this plan is capable of putting the country in bankruptcy within four years (http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/governor-races/87061-cahill-blasts-dem-healthcare-bill). As a teenager, I find this incredibly alarming… along with the ridiculous deficit, who will be paying for this? My generation, and the generations that follow.
Equally disturbing, nearly 45% of doctors polled in a Fox News poll, “said they would consider leaving their practice or retiring early if the proposed health care bill was to pass.” (http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/09/16/45-of-doctors-oppose-proposed-health-care-bill/)
If—and by if, I mean, God forbid—this bill passes, it will virtually change the United States… and I fear, not for the better.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi recently stated that citizens offering up their opposing views of healthcare reform are “un-American”. (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/10/tight-spot-pelosi-calls-health-care-critics-american) Tell me, what is “un-American” in exercising the right to free speech and assembly? What is American in ignoring the will of the American people? Also, something else that really made my hair stand on end… the “Pelosi Surprise”… “…we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.” Check out a video clip here… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoE1R-xH5To Does anyone know what's in this 1,990 page "surprise"?
I feel that the Founders and those in history who have fought so relentlessly to ensure a “government of the people, by the people, for the people” (The Gettysburg Address) would roll over in their graves if they knew the danger the republic faces at present.
I’m not saying I know the answer to this problem, but I know what its not. I return to the quote, “A government big enough to give you everything you want is capable of taking away everything you have.” There IS a problem with healthcare; the system does need improvements. But the answer does not lie in more government intervention!
I'm sure I will recieve a lot of flak for the opinions and facts stated here, but I know I speak for many, many Americans when I say that We the People want Congress to scrap this bill and start over...We the People want representation...and
We the People want our voices heard by those elected to LISTEN and REPRESENT the people!
Quote of the Day...
Good morning everyone! I hope everyone had a great St. Patrick's Day... hope you wore your green! (I forgot.) I'm working on a new entry at the moment but until then I wanted to share a quote and some links with you.
Here's a classic Benjamin Franklin quote that I think is very appropriate for current times...
"Any society that would give up a little libtery to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."
Also, here are some stories I found rather interesting...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0LSHNfmnWDnZ_JylqiFxeT5GKEQD9EGLNDO0
...All I can say is, Go Idaho! Power to the people.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hFNcC7dde6DREm6fdWhjfr3cqCDwD9EGNS980
...Our Vice President might want to do some research next time... oops...
http://cbs3.com/local/soda.tax.philadelphia.2.1568225.html
...The debate to tax soda in an effor to "not only raise needed revenue, it would also help fight childhood obesity". Let parents be parents and feed their own kids. And if I want to drink soda all day every day and get to be 550 pounds, thats my own choice! :)
Have a great day, keep checking back for a new post soon! :)
Here's a classic Benjamin Franklin quote that I think is very appropriate for current times...
"Any society that would give up a little libtery to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."
Also, here are some stories I found rather interesting...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0LSHNfmnWDnZ_JylqiFxeT5GKEQD9EGLNDO0
...All I can say is, Go Idaho! Power to the people.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hFNcC7dde6DREm6fdWhjfr3cqCDwD9EGNS980
...Our Vice President might want to do some research next time... oops...
http://cbs3.com/local/soda.tax.philadelphia.2.1568225.html
...The debate to tax soda in an effor to "not only raise needed revenue, it would also help fight childhood obesity". Let parents be parents and feed their own kids. And if I want to drink soda all day every day and get to be 550 pounds, thats my own choice! :)
Have a great day, keep checking back for a new post soon! :)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The "Obama Chart" ...
Hello again, I was watching the Glenn Beck Program today and saw something of interest. Check out the "Obama Chart"... www.obamachart.com
...scary, and sad... just a testament to how out of control government is getting, and how it no longer seems to be a government by, for, and of the people...
...scary, and sad... just a testament to how out of control government is getting, and how it no longer seems to be a government by, for, and of the people...
The Words of Thoreau
Hey everyone! I have been a bit swamped with school work this week, which is why I have been slow to post. Thanks for finding Present Day Patriots, and double thanks to the readers that keep coming back! :) If this is your first visit, take a look at my previous posts, and become a follower or a fan of the Present Day Patriots page on Facebook!
I am currently in the process of writing a political essay for my AP English class. During my research I have found a few quotes I think you will find interesting. From Henry David Thoreau's "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience"...
-"I heartily accept the motto,--'That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which I also believe--'that government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient."
-"Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed on, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage. It is excellent, we must all allow. Yet this government never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. IT does not keep the country free. IT does not settle the West. IT does not educate. The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way."
-"But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but AT ONCE a better government."
-"The authority of government, even such as I am willing to submit to... is stil an impure on: To be strictly just, it must have the sanction and consent of the governed. It can have no pure right over my person and property but what I concede to it. The progress from an absolute to a limited monarchy, from a limited monarchy to a democracy, is a progress toward a true respect for the individual."
Each of these quotes can be applied to today's current state of affairs. In general, I found Thoreau's argument in favor of small government rather fascinating! If you're interested, here's a link to "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience": http://www.constitution.org/civ/civildis.htm
Spring Break is coming up, so keep checking back for new blog posts! Have a great day!
I am currently in the process of writing a political essay for my AP English class. During my research I have found a few quotes I think you will find interesting. From Henry David Thoreau's "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience"...
-"I heartily accept the motto,--'That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which I also believe--'that government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient."
-"Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed on, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage. It is excellent, we must all allow. Yet this government never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. IT does not keep the country free. IT does not settle the West. IT does not educate. The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way."
-"But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but AT ONCE a better government."
-"The authority of government, even such as I am willing to submit to... is stil an impure on: To be strictly just, it must have the sanction and consent of the governed. It can have no pure right over my person and property but what I concede to it. The progress from an absolute to a limited monarchy, from a limited monarchy to a democracy, is a progress toward a true respect for the individual."
Each of these quotes can be applied to today's current state of affairs. In general, I found Thoreau's argument in favor of small government rather fascinating! If you're interested, here's a link to "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience": http://www.constitution.org/civ/civildis.htm
Spring Break is coming up, so keep checking back for new blog posts! Have a great day!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
A Note about "Becoming a Follower"...
Good morning... don't forget Daylight Savings Time! :)
I have been clicking around Blogger and trying to figure out how to send email notifications to my Followers when I post a new blog, and evidently this is not possible. So... if you would like to recieve email updates when I post a new blog entry, send me an email with your email address and I will send a mass email to everyone so you can go to the site and check out the new entry.
I'd appreciate if my readers would still become Followers, as well! :) Thanks so much for your support everyone! :)
And a quote to think about... inspired by an AP English essay I will be writing today... “Do not put such unlimited power in the hands of husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could.” –Abigail Adams
Have a great day!
I have been clicking around Blogger and trying to figure out how to send email notifications to my Followers when I post a new blog, and evidently this is not possible. So... if you would like to recieve email updates when I post a new blog entry, send me an email with your email address and I will send a mass email to everyone so you can go to the site and check out the new entry.
I'd appreciate if my readers would still become Followers, as well! :) Thanks so much for your support everyone! :)
And a quote to think about... inspired by an AP English essay I will be writing today... “Do not put such unlimited power in the hands of husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could.” –Abigail Adams
Have a great day!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
If You Want to Help Obama...
By the way, here is something laughable that my mom and I found while perusing through the History and Politics section of Barnes and Noble...
...among the "50 Ways You Can Help Obama Change America"...."Reach Out To Convservatives"... "Hold Extremists Accountable" (I wonder to whom they are referring to as 'extremists'?) ..."Throw A House Party for Change"..."Rescue a Pound Puppy!"..."Support Political Art"... and of course, "Respond to Obama's Call for National Service"! (I'm really not making this up!)
Quality reading, available at a book store near you! :P
Common Sense...
Here is Present Day Patriot's daily quote! Sorry it's late... but here's a favorite quote from the author of Common Sense...
“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.” -Thomas Paine
If only there was a little more common sense to be found in today's world!
**Also... I encourage any of my blog fans to "become followers" if you haven't already there is a link just to the right of this column.
Have a great weekend!
“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.” -Thomas Paine
If only there was a little more common sense to be found in today's world!
**Also... I encourage any of my blog fans to "become followers" if you haven't already there is a link just to the right of this column.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, March 12, 2010
To our Military
With a family member soon to be deployed to Iraq, I wanted to dedicate this blog post to the men and women, past and present, that have risked everything in defense of our country.
If one is not directly affected, it is relatively easy to forget that the United States is fighting a war with a faceless enemy that has proven they will stop at nothing to alter, if not destroy, our way of life. The whirlwind that is daily living and our generally safe and secure quality of life causes us to forget that American troops risk everything daily for America. At home, we take the most important things for granted, we complain about the most trivial, and often forget that we owe our possession of every necessity, every luxury, every right, every freedom, to those that have served and presently serve as American soldiers.
They fight so we don't have to. As we sit comfortably in our homes, they willingly face unspeakable dangers, half a world away. We plan vacations, they plan the next enemy assault. The nation is nearly put on hold for Michael Jackson's funeral, media obsesses over celebrity break ups, scandals, and deaths, yet the soldiers that pay the ultimate price are only a statistic on the six o'clock news.
If you enjoy being able to speak your mind, thank a soldier. If you enjoy being able to pray to the God you believe in, thank a soldier. If you enjoy being able to assemble peaceably, thank a soldier. If you appreciate the right to bear arms, thank a soldier.
I found this in the Facebook page "I Will Always Put My Country First. Plain and Simple." ... it is so, so true.
Remember,
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the organizer,
Who has given us freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
I don't care if you're a pacifist. I don't care if you don't support the war. Support our troops. Thank a veteran. Respect the men and women that believed enough in this great nation to lay it all on the line to defend our way of life. As the saying goes... "If you don't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them!"
God Bless America.
If one is not directly affected, it is relatively easy to forget that the United States is fighting a war with a faceless enemy that has proven they will stop at nothing to alter, if not destroy, our way of life. The whirlwind that is daily living and our generally safe and secure quality of life causes us to forget that American troops risk everything daily for America. At home, we take the most important things for granted, we complain about the most trivial, and often forget that we owe our possession of every necessity, every luxury, every right, every freedom, to those that have served and presently serve as American soldiers.
They fight so we don't have to. As we sit comfortably in our homes, they willingly face unspeakable dangers, half a world away. We plan vacations, they plan the next enemy assault. The nation is nearly put on hold for Michael Jackson's funeral, media obsesses over celebrity break ups, scandals, and deaths, yet the soldiers that pay the ultimate price are only a statistic on the six o'clock news.
If you enjoy being able to speak your mind, thank a soldier. If you enjoy being able to pray to the God you believe in, thank a soldier. If you enjoy being able to assemble peaceably, thank a soldier. If you appreciate the right to bear arms, thank a soldier.
I found this in the Facebook page "I Will Always Put My Country First. Plain and Simple." ... it is so, so true.
Remember,
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the organizer,
Who has given us freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
I don't care if you're a pacifist. I don't care if you don't support the war. Support our troops. Thank a veteran. Respect the men and women that believed enough in this great nation to lay it all on the line to defend our way of life. As the saying goes... "If you don't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them!"
God Bless America.
Good morning all, today I decided to post a quote from one of the greatest American Presidents of all time... Ronald Reagan. :)
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
New blog post coming soon, so keep checking back! :) Have a great day.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
New blog post coming soon, so keep checking back! :) Have a great day.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Thought for the Day...
“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” - Patrick Henry
I thought this quote rather appopriate for today... if only politicians 234 years later could understand this and LISTEN to their constituents.
Have a great day! :)
I thought this quote rather appopriate for today... if only politicians 234 years later could understand this and LISTEN to their constituents.
Have a great day! :)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
A Blurb on Education...
With my most recent blog post regarding the Texas textbook debate, I would like to bring up another topic of discussion concerning public school education, specifically in the area of American History. (Note—I am a little hesitant to post the following experience, but I feel instances such as this should be revealed. Names have been change to protect the not-so-innocent. :) )
So, here are my experiences in an incredibly biased history classroom. At the beginning of my Junior year, I was a student in an American History class (a class required of all high school students in order to graduate) taught by an individual as I will refer to as Ms. Tyrant. Being the history nerd I am, I was unbelievably excited to start learning more, especially since the first topic of study was to be the American Revolution (my absolute favorite!). However, after a week or so of listening to Mrs. Tyrant’s lectures and copying down her hardly-legible notes, I started to get the feeling something was extremely wrong. Here are just a few things that were taught within the first few weeks of the class:
• The Sons of Liberty was a secret terrorist organization.
• The colonists of the original 13 colonies, specifically in Boston, were “selfish” and “simply did not want to pay their taxes.”
• The colonist’s lack of representation was a “slogan.”
• Washington, Adams, Paine, Jefferson, and other Founders were portrayed ONLY as radicals.
• The Declaration of Independence was depicted ONLY as propaganda.
Now, I totally understand that, in the viewpoint of those in Britain in the 18th century, the colonists that favored separation from England WERE most likely viewed as radicals, and the Declaration was not viewed with reverence across the ocean in front of King George, either. My issue with Ms. Tyrant’s methods of teaching was the bias that existed against the people that founded this country. The bullet points above were the ONLY representations of early American history that were taught in this class.
To me this just was not right. I can honestly say that I got a little teary eyed when the Declaration was never read with the intention of explaining its significance, the Founding Fathers contributions were never discussed, nor was the basic significance of the American Revolution itself.
If I had the opportunity to experience that over again, I would have handled it differently. However, I am now in an American History class that is taught in a totally neutral manner by a phenomenal teacher that teachers BOTH sides of every story.
Personally I think the lack of respect for our Founders in the said classroom was sickening. I understand the method of teaching from different perspectives, but it is upsetting that my generation and future generations are being deprived of the knowledge of where their freedoms came from. As I stated in my previous post, citizens will not appreciate the liberties they have if they do not know where they came from and the sacrifices the generations before us made to protect those freedoms.
I’m not a teacher, and I definitely do not claim to be someone that knows all the answers. However, I believe American history classrooms—that have not already—must wake up and realize what an important role they play in society. If we do not clearly understand the past, how will we ever survive in the future? We should rely not so heavily on the often biased, “politically correct”, watered down text book versions of history and turn to a more credible source, such as the writings of the people were part of history, the people who made the history. Again, I know, I’m a history nerd and I definitely don’t expect everyone to be as obsessed as I am. But it is the responsibility of EVERY American citizen to understand their nation’s past; and to understand the government that We The People have a say in.
If you have opinions on this topic, please comment! I would like to hear your views or any similar stories of bias in the education system.
Oh, and just another tidbit… President Barack Obama visited St. Louis today. He first made a stop at St. Charles High School to continue his quest for health care reform (which is another debate entirely, but I’ll save that for another day!) and later attended a “fundraising dinner” for Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill. Wait. Really? A fundraising dinner for McCaskill? Our economy is buckling at the knees, we have troops fighting—dying—in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as of February, the unemployment rate sits at 9.7%... and the Commander in Chief is bellyin’ up to a table at the Renaissance Grand Hotel for the Missouri senator. I’m sorry, something is really not right with this picture. One word: PRIORITIES!
AND… let’s talk about carbon footprints! I wonder how many harmful chemicals Air Force One, the presidential motorcade, etc. spewed out into our fragile ozone with this little jaunt to the Show Me State to support an old buddy? It seems that “being green” goes out the window when it comes to the White House. Well, that’s all for tonight… I’m going to go take out my recycling bin.
Sources:
http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13307
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2010/03/08/daily50.html
So, here are my experiences in an incredibly biased history classroom. At the beginning of my Junior year, I was a student in an American History class (a class required of all high school students in order to graduate) taught by an individual as I will refer to as Ms. Tyrant. Being the history nerd I am, I was unbelievably excited to start learning more, especially since the first topic of study was to be the American Revolution (my absolute favorite!). However, after a week or so of listening to Mrs. Tyrant’s lectures and copying down her hardly-legible notes, I started to get the feeling something was extremely wrong. Here are just a few things that were taught within the first few weeks of the class:
• The Sons of Liberty was a secret terrorist organization.
• The colonists of the original 13 colonies, specifically in Boston, were “selfish” and “simply did not want to pay their taxes.”
• The colonist’s lack of representation was a “slogan.”
• Washington, Adams, Paine, Jefferson, and other Founders were portrayed ONLY as radicals.
• The Declaration of Independence was depicted ONLY as propaganda.
Now, I totally understand that, in the viewpoint of those in Britain in the 18th century, the colonists that favored separation from England WERE most likely viewed as radicals, and the Declaration was not viewed with reverence across the ocean in front of King George, either. My issue with Ms. Tyrant’s methods of teaching was the bias that existed against the people that founded this country. The bullet points above were the ONLY representations of early American history that were taught in this class.
To me this just was not right. I can honestly say that I got a little teary eyed when the Declaration was never read with the intention of explaining its significance, the Founding Fathers contributions were never discussed, nor was the basic significance of the American Revolution itself.
If I had the opportunity to experience that over again, I would have handled it differently. However, I am now in an American History class that is taught in a totally neutral manner by a phenomenal teacher that teachers BOTH sides of every story.
Personally I think the lack of respect for our Founders in the said classroom was sickening. I understand the method of teaching from different perspectives, but it is upsetting that my generation and future generations are being deprived of the knowledge of where their freedoms came from. As I stated in my previous post, citizens will not appreciate the liberties they have if they do not know where they came from and the sacrifices the generations before us made to protect those freedoms.
I’m not a teacher, and I definitely do not claim to be someone that knows all the answers. However, I believe American history classrooms—that have not already—must wake up and realize what an important role they play in society. If we do not clearly understand the past, how will we ever survive in the future? We should rely not so heavily on the often biased, “politically correct”, watered down text book versions of history and turn to a more credible source, such as the writings of the people were part of history, the people who made the history. Again, I know, I’m a history nerd and I definitely don’t expect everyone to be as obsessed as I am. But it is the responsibility of EVERY American citizen to understand their nation’s past; and to understand the government that We The People have a say in.
If you have opinions on this topic, please comment! I would like to hear your views or any similar stories of bias in the education system.
Oh, and just another tidbit… President Barack Obama visited St. Louis today. He first made a stop at St. Charles High School to continue his quest for health care reform (which is another debate entirely, but I’ll save that for another day!) and later attended a “fundraising dinner” for Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill. Wait. Really? A fundraising dinner for McCaskill? Our economy is buckling at the knees, we have troops fighting—dying—in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as of February, the unemployment rate sits at 9.7%... and the Commander in Chief is bellyin’ up to a table at the Renaissance Grand Hotel for the Missouri senator. I’m sorry, something is really not right with this picture. One word: PRIORITIES!
AND… let’s talk about carbon footprints! I wonder how many harmful chemicals Air Force One, the presidential motorcade, etc. spewed out into our fragile ozone with this little jaunt to the Show Me State to support an old buddy? It seems that “being green” goes out the window when it comes to the White House. Well, that’s all for tonight… I’m going to go take out my recycling bin.
Sources:
http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13307
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2010/03/08/daily50.html
Thought of the Day...
I will be trying to post a thought provoking quote from one of our Founding Fathers, or another pivotal figure in history each day... today I found this particular Jefferson quote rather fitting for modern times. Enjoy! Thanks for reading! :)
"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."
Thomas Jefferson
"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."
Thomas Jefferson
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Just a few threats to the republic...
Hi everyone, thanks for returning to Present Day Patriots! If you are visiting the site for the first time, I encourage you to read my previous posts!
The Texas State Board of Education will begin discussion on Social Studies curriculum this week for new textbooks for the state. A number of ideas have been proposed, and several in particular caught my attention. From http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6526101.html ...
“…biographies of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Stephen F. Austin have been removed from the early grades’, said Brooke Terry of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The early draft, which is likely to change multiple times in the coming months, also removes Independence Day, Veterans' Day, and anthems and mottos for both Texas and the United States in a section on holidays, customs and celebrations, she said.”
The fact that these omissions are even a possibility really scares me, to be honest. I admit, I’m a bit of a history nerd… I’ve been obsessed with American History literally for as long as I can remember. My parents raised me with an enormous respect and reverence for the ideas and the people and that created America…
But no child is too young to learn of their country’s founders and those that defended the republic. The past must be taught so that it may teach us how to live in the present and ensure a secure future. If future generations of America remain ignorant on their history and do not know from where their freedoms and liberties came, if they do not respect the sacrifices it took to establish the rights we take for granted everyday, how will such freedoms and liberties be respected, defended and preserved in the years to come?
I do not expect everyone to be as history obsessed as I am… but I do believe that every American has the responsibility to be educated on their nations past and the men and women that sacrificed everything us.
As celebrated author David McCullough said, “History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”
By the way, if you want another scare, check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEEtScHIC1U This caught my attention on Glenn Beck’s show yesterday. Just listen to this whack job, Jed Brandt, an American Communist. His radical opinions are disturbing, and a prime example of the danger our republic is in.
The Texas State Board of Education will begin discussion on Social Studies curriculum this week for new textbooks for the state. A number of ideas have been proposed, and several in particular caught my attention. From http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6526101.html ...
“…biographies of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Stephen F. Austin have been removed from the early grades’, said Brooke Terry of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The early draft, which is likely to change multiple times in the coming months, also removes Independence Day, Veterans' Day, and anthems and mottos for both Texas and the United States in a section on holidays, customs and celebrations, she said.”
The fact that these omissions are even a possibility really scares me, to be honest. I admit, I’m a bit of a history nerd… I’ve been obsessed with American History literally for as long as I can remember. My parents raised me with an enormous respect and reverence for the ideas and the people and that created America…
But no child is too young to learn of their country’s founders and those that defended the republic. The past must be taught so that it may teach us how to live in the present and ensure a secure future. If future generations of America remain ignorant on their history and do not know from where their freedoms and liberties came, if they do not respect the sacrifices it took to establish the rights we take for granted everyday, how will such freedoms and liberties be respected, defended and preserved in the years to come?
I do not expect everyone to be as history obsessed as I am… but I do believe that every American has the responsibility to be educated on their nations past and the men and women that sacrificed everything us.
As celebrated author David McCullough said, “History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”
By the way, if you want another scare, check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEEtScHIC1U This caught my attention on Glenn Beck’s show yesterday. Just listen to this whack job, Jed Brandt, an American Communist. His radical opinions are disturbing, and a prime example of the danger our republic is in.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
What has happened to America?
I write to you not as an arrogant teenager, not as a member of any specific political party, not as someone who thinks they know all the answers, but as an American. I write to you to implore my fellow American citizens to WAKE UP … and realize just what kind of “change” our nation has undergone.
What has happened to America? A nation that used to lead the world by economic and political example now has a failing economy, a falling dollar, a staggering deficit. A nation whose citizens were among the most educated and possessed the highest standard of living now take backseat to those residing illegally within the nation’s borders.
At one point in time, an individual with a dream could, with good old-fashioned hard work and American ingenuity, work his or her way up the ladder to be a successful and prosperous individual despite all odds. Now it is believed that, in order to be “fair” we must spread the wealth… what has happened to America, a federal republic, a nation founded on the blood, sweat, and toil of men and women who earned what they worked for?
Politicians concerned over carbon footprints, fighting to limit the carbon emissions of large companies ignore the carbon emissions their own private jets release on transcontinental flights. A nation founded on the principle of the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness now is more concerned with the life and well-being of a bird or bear species rather than that of an unborn child. What has happened to America?
We rely on countries that house terrorist groups that pose the highest threats to our subways, our airspace, and our citizens for oil rather than drill reserves on American land… in an effort to be “green.” Respect for the men and women serving overseas and on American soil in the armed forces that lay it all out on the line to defend our freedoms has diminished to a sickening level.
Those elected to serve the public seem to only be serving and advancing their political agenda. Those elected to serve the public seem to think they know what is best for America’s families… to point that these “public servants” believe it is time that politics come between you and your doctor, your child and your doctor, when any number of nations with universal health care have previously flocked to the United States to receive decent medical attention. I ask again, what has happened to America?
It is not a matter of political party. I am not aiming to bash Democrats nor Republicans. I only pose these questions in order for Americans to stop and think… is the America we are living in today the same America that our Founding Father envisioned? Is it still the land of the free and the home of the brave, or rather, the land of those with crippling debt and a “go-green” mindset? Is this the America that millions of soldiers—men and women, fathers, husbands, mothers, sisters, children—sacrificed everything for on a hellish Pacific island or mine-covered European beach?
In my mind, the answer is a resounding NO. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Paine, Revere… they fought for liberty and justice for all, not crippling taxes and an oversized government, screaming the need for “political correctness” at every turn. They did not pledge “their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor” for Americans 234 years later to have their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness buried within an over 1500 page Stimulus Package that few, if any, of the supposed “civil servants” in Congress had ever read thoroughly.
The Founding Fathers gave us a government for the people, by the people, and of the people… and it is slipping out of reach at a terrifying speed. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 framed a document as “an instrument for the people to restrain the government,” in the words of Patrick Henry; a document giving you and I the right to speak, write, pray, assemble, vote freely. The man who swore to “preserve, protect, and defend” the United States Constitution, the piece of parchment that gives us the rights we so lavishly enjoy every waking moment, is quoted in saying the document contains “deep flaws”.
The president is also quoted in saying, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” To this, I say with deepest sincerity, no, Mr. President, it is not change that we seek. The United States is in desperate need of revival; revival of the ideas our Founders possessed when they created this great nation, revival of the idea of liberty and justice for all that is America. We the People do not need a stimulus package, more taxes, government intervention, a jobs bill, the Green movement, political correctness… We the People must refocus on what it means to be an American; not government handouts and unemployment checks, but the audacity to have a dream, a goal, and go for it without restraint. We the People must never forget the lives that have been lost to preserve and protect our precious freedoms that allow us to do so, and that makes America the great nation that she has been, and, God willing, will continue to be.
America. Say the word, say it over and over and over, several times if you have to. America is not just a place, not just fifty states, not just a nationality. It is an idea. An idea that liberates, that sets one free, a dream that became a reality when brave individuals stood up against injustices and fought for what they believed in, regardless of the cost.
The republic is in danger of being eradicated by those who no longer believe, or never believed, in the idea of personal freedom that is America. Right now, our country is covered in a veil of deceit, under which corrupt politicians are functioning to create a government-dependent population… yet I, for one, believe that with the same faith and determination our predecessors in breeches and tri-cornered hats possessed, that veil can be lifted to revive the principles upon which this country was founded.
At the close of the Constitutional Convention, a bystander asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got—a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin answered, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Well, friends, it is now not a matter of whether we can or we cannot, it is a question of whether we will.
What has happened to America? A nation that used to lead the world by economic and political example now has a failing economy, a falling dollar, a staggering deficit. A nation whose citizens were among the most educated and possessed the highest standard of living now take backseat to those residing illegally within the nation’s borders.
At one point in time, an individual with a dream could, with good old-fashioned hard work and American ingenuity, work his or her way up the ladder to be a successful and prosperous individual despite all odds. Now it is believed that, in order to be “fair” we must spread the wealth… what has happened to America, a federal republic, a nation founded on the blood, sweat, and toil of men and women who earned what they worked for?
Politicians concerned over carbon footprints, fighting to limit the carbon emissions of large companies ignore the carbon emissions their own private jets release on transcontinental flights. A nation founded on the principle of the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness now is more concerned with the life and well-being of a bird or bear species rather than that of an unborn child. What has happened to America?
We rely on countries that house terrorist groups that pose the highest threats to our subways, our airspace, and our citizens for oil rather than drill reserves on American land… in an effort to be “green.” Respect for the men and women serving overseas and on American soil in the armed forces that lay it all out on the line to defend our freedoms has diminished to a sickening level.
Those elected to serve the public seem to only be serving and advancing their political agenda. Those elected to serve the public seem to think they know what is best for America’s families… to point that these “public servants” believe it is time that politics come between you and your doctor, your child and your doctor, when any number of nations with universal health care have previously flocked to the United States to receive decent medical attention. I ask again, what has happened to America?
It is not a matter of political party. I am not aiming to bash Democrats nor Republicans. I only pose these questions in order for Americans to stop and think… is the America we are living in today the same America that our Founding Father envisioned? Is it still the land of the free and the home of the brave, or rather, the land of those with crippling debt and a “go-green” mindset? Is this the America that millions of soldiers—men and women, fathers, husbands, mothers, sisters, children—sacrificed everything for on a hellish Pacific island or mine-covered European beach?
In my mind, the answer is a resounding NO. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Paine, Revere… they fought for liberty and justice for all, not crippling taxes and an oversized government, screaming the need for “political correctness” at every turn. They did not pledge “their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor” for Americans 234 years later to have their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness buried within an over 1500 page Stimulus Package that few, if any, of the supposed “civil servants” in Congress had ever read thoroughly.
The Founding Fathers gave us a government for the people, by the people, and of the people… and it is slipping out of reach at a terrifying speed. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 framed a document as “an instrument for the people to restrain the government,” in the words of Patrick Henry; a document giving you and I the right to speak, write, pray, assemble, vote freely. The man who swore to “preserve, protect, and defend” the United States Constitution, the piece of parchment that gives us the rights we so lavishly enjoy every waking moment, is quoted in saying the document contains “deep flaws”.
The president is also quoted in saying, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” To this, I say with deepest sincerity, no, Mr. President, it is not change that we seek. The United States is in desperate need of revival; revival of the ideas our Founders possessed when they created this great nation, revival of the idea of liberty and justice for all that is America. We the People do not need a stimulus package, more taxes, government intervention, a jobs bill, the Green movement, political correctness… We the People must refocus on what it means to be an American; not government handouts and unemployment checks, but the audacity to have a dream, a goal, and go for it without restraint. We the People must never forget the lives that have been lost to preserve and protect our precious freedoms that allow us to do so, and that makes America the great nation that she has been, and, God willing, will continue to be.
America. Say the word, say it over and over and over, several times if you have to. America is not just a place, not just fifty states, not just a nationality. It is an idea. An idea that liberates, that sets one free, a dream that became a reality when brave individuals stood up against injustices and fought for what they believed in, regardless of the cost.
The republic is in danger of being eradicated by those who no longer believe, or never believed, in the idea of personal freedom that is America. Right now, our country is covered in a veil of deceit, under which corrupt politicians are functioning to create a government-dependent population… yet I, for one, believe that with the same faith and determination our predecessors in breeches and tri-cornered hats possessed, that veil can be lifted to revive the principles upon which this country was founded.
At the close of the Constitutional Convention, a bystander asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got—a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin answered, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Well, friends, it is now not a matter of whether we can or we cannot, it is a question of whether we will.
Hi readers, that is… if I have any readers! I regret that I have not kept up on this blog as I intended when it was first created. Travel, school, and equestrian competitions have kept me extremely busy over the past few months; however, recent events are drawing my attention back to the state of affairs in our nation. I hope to find myself updating Present Day Patriots much more often.
If you are a first time visitor to this fascinating political blog, welcome. Present Day Patriots is a blog written by a teen for teens… and for those of all ages, for that matter. I aim to provide a fair and balanced analysis of today’s most debated political topics … and anything else I feel like writing about. J
Keep checking back, as I will be posting a new blog entry soon.
If you are a first time visitor to this fascinating political blog, welcome. Present Day Patriots is a blog written by a teen for teens… and for those of all ages, for that matter. I aim to provide a fair and balanced analysis of today’s most debated political topics … and anything else I feel like writing about. J
Keep checking back, as I will be posting a new blog entry soon.
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