Certainly there are parallels between the War of Northern Agression and our current situation. Boiling away all the peripheral issues, it came down to a matter of who was in control of business, commerce, politics and MONEY — the several States and We The People, OR the Federal Government?
The conclusion of the last “civil war” actually set us on the course and lead us to the place we are today. We are just 150 years further along the road to Central/Statist control over our affairs. Washington DC has repeatedly tried to push that control to it’s logical extremes...
After the Civil War, there was Reconstruction, then the Progressive Movement which gave us Teddy Roosevelt (Republican) and Woodrow Wilson (which gave us the income tax, direct election of Senators, the Fed, and the beginning of internationalism). Next came FDR and the “New Deal” which gave us massive government beauracracies, Social Security, Interstate Commerce Clause corruption and the imperial presidency. This was followed by LBJ’s “Great Society,” which Nixon did almost nothing to reverse, and in fact solidified, producing the Welfare State and HUGE entitlement programs, and unpegged us from the Gold Standard. And then there was the failed attempt of Carter and Clinton to nationalize portions of the economy, and the apparent ascendence (for now) of the Obamunist evolution into a true Marxist/Socialist state that had finally all but discarded the Constitution and mocked the will of the people.
We have to see these things as a long continuum, not isolated events in our history. Our present circumstances are the END result of efforts that have been going on for a century and a half. Now, we have to ask — can anything be done to stop it? What MUST we do to stop it?
Here is one thing I will NOT do — that is, INITIATE any kind of violence as a means of fighting it. Like the Minutemen at Lexington and Concord, MA, standing on the greens PREPARED and determined is one thing. Firing the first shot is another (The “shot heard round the world” remains a mystery — but it was NOT likely an intentional shot fired by a patriot). The mistake made by the Confederacy (though I fully understand WHY they made it) was firing ON Fort Sumter, instead of trying to starve out the Feds in the intermediate/long term. They could have worn out Washington, but their fervor for secession didn’t allow for that. One campaign, against all odds was successful, the other was not. There are lessons to be learned there. If we REALLY are contemplating something as serious as civil unrest, perhaps even “civil war,” we would do WELL to learn them.
Had Beauregard not fired on Sumter, but instead opted to “starve out” the garrison (i.e., blockade the fort), how would that have been different? A blockade is an act of war as much as firing cannon is. And don’t misunderstand me: I would have fired on Sumter, as well. When Lincoln in reality provoked the Charleston batteries into firing — which was his intent — he in essence started the hostilities.
I agree in your analysis, post War of Northern Agression. Your thoughful insight, tying of the ends, are appreciated. I, however, disagree that this is the “END result”.
If you think about it, the only reason for a government to build such an onerous bill is to enslave “we the People”.
We cannot any longer starve, courtesy of Wilson, Fort Sumpter (District of Columbia).
Keep your powder dry!
After the Civil War, there was Reconstruction, then the Progressive Movement which gave us Teddy Roosevelt (Republican) and Woodrow Wilson (which gave us the income tax, direct election of Senators, the Fed, and the beginning of internationalism). Next came FDR and the “New Deal” which gave us massive government beauracracies, Social Security, Interstate Commerce Clause corruption and the imperial presidency. This was followed by LBJ’s “Great Society,” which Nixon did almost nothing to reverse, and in fact solidified, producing the Welfare State and HUGE entitlement programs, and unpegged us from the Gold Standard. And then there was the failed attempt of Carter and Clinton to nationalize portions of the economy, and the apparent ascendence (for now) of the Obamunist evolution into a true Marxist/Socialist state that had finally all but discarded the Constitution and mocked the will of the people."
That's a fairly good summary of where the federal government has been taking America for the last century. I blame the corrupt "public" (government) education system that is now almost entirely controlled and run by people who hate capitalism, free enterprise, individual liberty, Christianity, God and independent thinking. These rotten people controlling the school systems of America have consciously destroyed civic pride and respect for our history and country in the minds of America's youth, especially in high schools and the colleges. That's why the federal government can foist "health care" legislation and new taxes and all the other "Obaminations" on a clueless and frankly stupid public.
Good post. We should let them fire first. Then we fight. Hopefully, the Supreme Court can forstall this fight. If not, then all bets are off.
thats precisely why we're in this mess today...we choose life vs a foe determined to dominate and exterminate us...
unfortunately, i believe time is gettin short as the tyrants are really feelin their oats and soon wont tolerate any 'uppity' remarks from the trash in the streets, much less allow us to say 'hell NO' to being robbed at gunpoint...
for those listening, its time to seek the Lord Jesus and repent so that we might go forward with the proper Will in our hearts and minds, prepared for anything...
although it aint time 'yet', we dont have the luxury of knowing exactly when or where it will be, but He or they will surely let us know, probably sooner than later...