Posted on 11/08/2006 1:55:58 PM PST by joanie-f
More than two centuries ago, Thomas Jefferson observed, ‘Yes, we did produce a near-perfect republic. But will they keep it? Or will they, in the enjoyment of plenty, lose the memory of freedom? Material abundance without character is the path of destruction.’ Jefferson believed that America's survival lay primarily in the character of her people.
Likewise, Samuel Adams warned future generations by referring to ‘good manners’ as the vital ingredient a free society needs to survive. Adams said, ‘Neither the wisest Constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.’
As the few FReepers to whom I have pinged this probably know, I spent a lot of time over the past three weeks speaking to people about the need to re-elect Rick Santorum. While I was uplifted by the average person’s willingness to listen and comprehend -- and by the number who seemed to be swayed toward voting republican after listening and questioning -- it is still very disturbing to be personal witness to the number of voters who had intended to vote based on superficial perceptions resulting from snippets of campaign advertising, much of which was sheer distortion or out and out fabrication. For every one voter whose door was approached by a conservative intent on informing him, I am sure there were a thousand who entered the voting booth yesterday never having been ‘set straight’. It is beyond disheartening.
So, while I returned home every night uplifted by the fact that people are very one-on-one receptive, the ‘bigger picture’ is pretty grim.
With each succeeding year, the American populace becomes less informed and more special-interest oriented. Combining the ongoing illegal alien problem (whose solution is nowhere in sight) with the ‘education’ that our children are receiving in our public schools (placing less emphasis on our proud heritage, and civics in general, every year – focusing instead on phony, leftist multicultural philosophies), and the Marxist influence in virtually every institution of higher education, exactly what kind of optimistic view can we embrace of the intelligence/knowledge/allegiance of the new (both alien and youth) voters coming down the pike? Where is there a reason to believe that future disingenuous, un-American, anti-liberty candidates and programs will be held accountable by a citizenry that is even more apathetic, disinterested, special-interest-oriented, or leftist-indoctrinated than today’s voters?
Patriotism requires allegiance, education, strength, endurance, courage, resolve, and action. But it does not require the wearing of rose-colored glasses. Until our leadership addresses the illegal alien problem, until the number of voters who feed at the government socialist welfare/entitlement trough (as forewarned by deTocqueville) can be dramatically reduced, and until we determine to educate our children as to their proud heritage and the dangers posed by relinquishing it, election results will continue to fall in favor of powerful liars who can voice the biggest promises to the host of least informed minds.
I believe we are fighting a losing battle. But, unless and until the battle is lost, we are called to continue to do our part to keep the enemies (both foreign and domestic) at bay. To do any less would hold us just as accountable as those passive, 'sideline Americans' who choose not to be a part of the crusade to reclaim this republic from the scoundrels who call themselves leaders, but who bear no allegiance to our Founders and their vision.
I believe the results of yesterday’s election will have strong and insistent implications for the future of our republic. Barring a miracle of God, or a personal/spiritual epiphany on the part of the generally apathetic and/or ignorant-by-choice citizenry (the former is always possible; the latter grows more unlikely with each passing day), I believe that the following events are very likely to occur over the next few years.
Prepare for a dramatic increase in the invasion of America by an irresponsible, parasitic, malevolent army which chooses to thumb its nose at the critical concepts of the rule of law/national sovereignty by illegally crossing our southern border with the over-riding purpose of reaping the benefits of two-plus centuries of courage, moral sacrifice, work, excellence, and unprecedented prosperity … without any intention of contributing their own. In the process, and under the governance of left-leaning American ‘leadership’, they will play an integral role in the realization of the socialization of America. Even worse, we will witness the complete erasure of our borders, and the establishment of a North American Union, in knee-jerk deference to the eventual vision of one-world governance, under which our Constitution will become increasingly ridiculed, mocked, and eventually declared entirely irrelevant, and the vagaries of Marxist/socialist-authored and implemented international law will take precedence.
Personal and corporate industry will find themselves under relentless attack, with government, academia and media working feverishly to revoke the citizens’ right to keep the fruits of their labor, and replace it with a monstrous entitlement state which will ensure a massive, far-reaching, involuntary redistribution of wealth – aimed at punishing personal and business excellence and ambition and promoting personal and business mediocrity, with the end result being a dramatic increase in the power of the state and complete dependence on state largesse for our existence.
There will be continued erosion in respect for, and protection of, the institution of marriage and the nuclear family. Government will become even more of an advocate for homosexual rights, abortion rights, and laws which will continue to attack and destroy any notion of the importance personal responsibility for one’s own actions. Families will find themselves under relentless attack, with the government usurping increasing power over the lives and minds of the children of America, and with parents finding themselves serving simply as biological creators and temporary physical custodians of wards of the state.
Government intrusion into the education of our children will escalate. Despite the unconstitutionality of the federal government dictating education policy, it will continue its aims at leftist indoctrination of the generations to come through the political power implicit in loans, grants, regulations, activist court decisions, and curriculum manipulation. Government-controlled curricula will continue to downplay, if not eradicate, the importance of our constitutional heritage while indoctrinating our children in environmental mythology, globalist doctrine, and sexual liberation. As a result, future generations will not understand their proud roots, nor be willing to defend the noble society which emerged from them.
The federal government will continue to pass laws focused on driving up the cost of medical care, so as to eventually allow the government takeover of that all-important industry. The direct takeover of medical care in programs like Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the free hand that trial lawyers have obtained in dictating the terms of care (while coincidentally lining their own pockets, and those of the politicians to whom they choose to contribute) have played a major role in the destruction of what was once the most excellent health care system in the history of the human race. The government’s interference in the healthcare free market through ERISA mandates related to HMOs and other managed-care organizations, and the medical aspects of our tax code, will continue to undermine healthcare in American, while lining the pockets of the privileged few, driving good doctors out of business, and eventually placing the government in complete control of our health and well-being. When medical care is forced to circumvent government rules and bureaucratic management, it will not be long before the quality of each and every American’s life will be profoundly and inalterably affected.
The left will eventually impose its own brand of ‘faith’ on the American culture – a secular humanist ‘faith’ in which man and his needs and follies are the focus of ‘worship’, and the mention in the public square of the name of the one and true God becomes legally and politically verboten … there will arise an incrementally, governmentally-imposed ‘faith’ in which moral absolutes are deemed criminally intolerant and situational ethics are raised to the level of holy sanctimony.
The war on Islamic fascism will be transformed into a series of compromises with evil, including the retreat of American forces from the Middle East, which will result in brutality against liberty-oriented Middle Easterners that will rival the bloodshed that occurred in the killing fields of Cambodia. Our enemies, in the Middle East and the Far East especially, will become dramatically emboldened, and our genuine allies, Israel and Taiwan especially, will find themselves looking down the barrels of vicious, barbaric, unyielding guns … and, when they turn around to see who is watching their backs, they will see nothing but darkness.
There will be another terrorist attack (if not a simultaneous series of attacks) on America, made possible by a deadly combination of open borders and failed paper-tiger policies, which will make the holocaust of 9/11 seem like a walk in the park. The increased demands for vigilance, defense of sovereignty, and sense of nationalism that occurred five years ago have all but evaporated into the political ether, and the after-effects of what was surely our final wake-up call have fallen by the wayside. There will be no more wake-up calls. There will be death blows, after which America will be brought to her knees, pleading for mercy with barbaric madmen, and no longer capable of even whispering the word ‘freedom’, let alone defending that noble, precious, God-given gift.
The democrats controlled congress for forty years, from 1954 through 1994. Ronald Reagan was entirely responsible for paving the way for the Republican Revolution. The miraculous and providential accomplishments of the Reagan Revolution are now nothing but a fond memory. And, to those who believe that the pendulum will eventually swing back, and that conservatism will regain the prominence and power necessary to reclaim our beloved republic from the scoundrels, I say there is no time to wait to reclaim her again. We have run out of options and wiggle room. The hot breath of a mad and unprecedentedly barbaric and determined adversary, bent on our annihilation, is breathing down our necks now. They will not be denied ... nor does our current leadership – especially after yesterday’s election results – appear to have what it takes to hold them at bay.
The majority of Americans cannot continue to accept, at face value, leadership which says what we want to hear, and then proceeds to do as they wish (which, in the case of the current, and now future, leftist leadership on the Hill, requires the eventual subjugation of American citizens to the state, and the eventual subjugation of the American state to globalist governance). Simply put, the future of our republic will lie in the willingness of her people to take the time, and expend the effort, to look beneath the surface. Believing the words from the mouth of a leader is a conscious choice that must be made by every concerned citizen. As with any choice, it cannot be made without critical thought. Believing their words was okay when our leaders in Washington were virtuous. It is a deadly practice when they are anything less.
Over the last twenty-four hours, I have heard countless references to the need for bipartisanship and building bridges. Bridges are only as desirable and powerful as the relevance of what lies at the other end. I, for one, want no part of bridge-building, when doing so means creating a meandering, but single-minded, path to self-destruction.
For now, adieu.
Einstein teaches that the only laws that matter are the ones that are true under all conditions. This is similar to what Deming called "profound knowledge". Here is where the acorn is found. Once identified, it can grow. History teaches such growth is possible despite all improbabilities.
Reagan did not think in a vacuum. Even if he did not expressly ask what would so and so do? He recogonized principles and tried to reason from them. There is a tradition to the principles recognized by Reagan. My list includes,
Hugo Grotius (1583-1645),
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679
JeanJacques Rousseau, (Contrat social ou Principes du droit politique )
John Locke
Karl Hess
Henry Hazlitt
Milton Friedman
Thomas Jefferson
Edmund Burke
There are surely others.
Optimism is surely part of Reagan's legacy, and when we become pessimists we betray his legacy. Reagan's optimism was not an abstract isolated facet of personality. It was integral to his character, and his character was his political philosophy. Optimism is typical of Celtic leaders. Celtic (creative) culture is especially fond of freedom and a society that values individualism. Communists exude misery. Take a friend to a Castro speech, if you doubt. That was the great political choice of 1980, Carter (malaise) or Reagan (optimism).
Any time an individual, or an organization takes a beating. The correct reaction is always to return to basics and ask where did we go wrong. What do we need to rethink.
This is why your manifesto is important. I say, find the right focus, articulate the right principles, illustrate the real choices facing Americans, and anything Nancy Pelosi and her gang of useful idiots can do in the next two years will only help people to see the wisdom of a well crafted vision. Define the natural laws of our time. Do it in a way that makes the choices facing humanity unmistakeable. Europe is waking up to the fact they have adopted values that are self destructive. Old dogs can learn new tricks.
Natural laws are true in all circumstances. Certain conditions favor human satisfaction and success, certain conditions thwart those outcomes. The left says, so what if we raise taxes on the rich? We can show there will be less jobs and worse jobs as a result, most importantly we can show that their is a principle involved. A moral principle. What right has anyone to make another pay for their way? The left says, too much violent crime less restrict access to guns. We can show, more restrictive gun laws yield more adventurous criminals. We can also show, that morally each of us has right to protect ourselves and our families, and that that right is eviscerated when government restricts us to target shooting and duck hunting.
As Professor Deming once profoundly explained, Americans do not know what they want. This is why most market research fails. Americans, however, can make good choices from alternatives. This is how one product succeeds over another. Americans choose Wal Mart over Sears. We choose Home Depot. We conservatives know and understand that our common beliefs, not necessarily uniformly shared, but our common core values of freedom, individual rights, etc. as expressed in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence, offer a better way of life than any collectivist, government intrusive, strategy. Our message, our presentation of our beliefs, combined with the Republican performance over the last six years, including their responses or lack of response to media attacks, left a majority of voting Americans, unwilling to chose our product, as they understood it. You have to be able to see in this that this is not a failure of conservatism, but a failure of implementation. Optimism derives from two sources. One knowing your are right. Two, understanding that you have made the choice to accept nothing less than what you know is right. After that, it is solely a matter of taking the fight to the enemy in whatever way and by whatever means you have, for as long as you can. Failure is a conclusion. Nathan Hale taught us real optimism.
The American Revolution lasted 13 years, and for most of that time American's were losers on the battlefield.
Lincoln's war with the South was so disastorously unpopular that all expected him to fail to win a second term. Before Gettysburg.
Leaders must have faith, Faith is manifest in optimism, unless you want to live day to day with an expectation of martyrdom like an Islamic fanatic.
This is the West. This is the Civilised World. Conservatives favor conditions and principles that give life to civilisation, or they should. Our enemies, the Left, favor power over others, power at the expense of others, and are terrified at the thought of meritocracy.
The anti quota, anti racial preferences initiative passed overwhelmingly against a 3 - 1 spending disadvantage in Michigan, a democratic stronghold. Conservatism is not dead. It needs to be repackaged. Hence your manifesto should be a labor of optimism tempered by your sincere concern about what is at stake.
I hope this responds fully to the questions you asked about my original post to you, supra.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
And did I imply anything to the contrary? :^)
Placemarker.
Good question, Having been disenfranchised by our corrupt federal government, loyal American citizens will no longer own our country. At that point of realization, I think it unlikely that American patriots are going to suffer in silence.
Public Law 109-364, or the "John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007" (H.R. 5122), was signed by the President on October 17th, 2006, in a private Oval Office ceremony. This Act allows the President to declare a "public emergency" and station troops anywhere in America and take control of state-based National Guard units without the consent of the governor or local authorities, in order to "suppress public disorder."
This new PL also facilitates militarized police round-ups and detention of protesters, so called "illegal aliens," "potential terrorists" and other "undesirables" for detention in facilities already contracted for and under construction (by Halliburton).
So the question must be asked: are these detention camps, which have been and are being constructed, also intended for anyone who resists the foreign and domestic agenda of the NWO/SPP/NAU Washington elitists?
I too find myself in the same "realism" corner. However, I am unwilling to concede victory to the enemy--having the tactical advantage does not always guarantee victory.
America is not owned by our corrupt federal government, it is in fact owned and controlled by loyal American citizens. Our government can pass these disgusting laws that restrict our freedom but we voters can impeach and arrest any legislator that we consider to be corrupt.
The question to be asked is, in my mind, when are we going to stop re-electing these same treasonous bastards and start bringing in loyal citizens who love America and our way of life? People who will obey their Oath of Office, follow the Constitution not the demands of the Federal Reserve, the World Bank and the United Nations.
America is not lost, the people have temporarily lost their way. When we get back on the right road, the road to freedom and democracy, we will correct the past infractions.
Don't be surprised to soon see the Constitution Party step forward and start gathering new members/voters to bring about the needed corrections.
Found it.
"Necessity is the plea of every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
-- William Pitt, Speech on the India Bill, Nov. 18, 1783.
Good post. There is a lot of info in it that I didn't know.
Somehow, I missed the John Warner Defence Act articles.
Thank you!
You're welcome.
Thank you, joanie.
A couple of clarifications:
1- By 'outside the system,' I mean extra-constitutional, extralegal. This is war, not democratic process.
To do otherwise would be to make the same mistake the Left has made--and continues to make--fighting terrorism. (This is in no way a criticism of the Constitution.)
2- I, too, see the disinformed, misinformed, uninformed, disinterested, myopic (and illegal) electorate as the underlying threat to our democratic republic. But transforming it into an informed, educated, vigilant citizenry is not a realistic solution.
Nor is it the only solution.
If we look at this historically, a large segment of the citizenry has always been ignorant and uninvolved. The difference today is that these ignorant, easily demagogued people can be identified, agitated, mobilized in real time. In the past, they didn't vote. Today, they vote... and vote again.
3- The solution, therefore, is not in the ballot box. It is in the battlefield.
" The democratic process being what it is, we cannot be certain that the present conservative trend will continue. Leftists, after all, are most adroit in demagoguery; the half-educated that dominate the mass media have an easy time with the uneducated.
Many American conservatives nevertheless put their faith in the "good sense" of the everage man (Rousseau's 'common man', if you like), hoping that he will vote the "right" way. American conservatives only too firmly believe that if properly informed, nicely educated, and instructed by the right people in the right way, the dear people will vote for the right party."
This is just a little too true to be comfortable, no? But if you'd like to be even less comfortable, then EvK-L goes on to say:
"We all have to face the grim, indisputable fact that the abyss between the Scita - the political, technological, scientific, military, geographical, psychological knowledge of the masses and of their representatives - and the Scienda - the knowledge of these matters that is necessary to reach logical-rational-moral conclusions - is incessantly and cruelly widening."
Painfully true, I think. This ignorance is largely the triumph of the Gramscian 'long march though the institutions' that is only too apparent in the major media and more tragically so in our public educational system.
One further observation on the part of EvK-L: "Generally speaking, the Right cannot win by virtue of its goodness, its truth, or its values, because it cannot enthrall the masses." The true message of life and liberty, and of the values that support it is electrifying when delivered by an inspired and charismatic orator. None exist who can be heard on the republican side these days.
Perhaps that is because those who call themselves Republicans no longer believe in those values.
Am going to be off-line for a few days, but want to thank you for the incredibly insightful comments. Want to respond to each of them, especially, and will do so just as soon as I return.
Continued best to you and yours in these troubling times ...
~joanie
Only Neville Chamberland could be prouder of how we approached this neocon/chickenhawk driven war.
I only wish the politicians would go sit down and let our most capable military go about their noble task of ridding that part of the world of evil.
FYI
In 1988 & for the following 4 years especially.....
..many ordinary citizens of this great country were willing to take a stand.....
...retired folk, school teachers, engineers, housewifes, pastors, business leaders....
..believed that if they didn't try to take a stand against this particular evil.....
...then we who still care about liberty ....would be taking an even more difficult stand in the next few years, whether we wanted to or not.
But although thousands stood up to be counted...
..thousands of law abiding, mild mannered, patriotic, respectful of authority folk ...
... were arrested..
...or lost their businesses from lawsuits by Planned Parenthood, NARAL, etc.
...or RICO....
...the CHURCH corporately did not stand with us....the Nation did not respond.
Now we are at the 'next level'....and IMO, if God does not intervene, everything joanie-f fears will happen.....
Especially check out post #179....
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