Posted on 07/04/2010 4:18:00 AM PDT by rhema
On July 4, we celebrate the great day that our Founders proclaimed Americans' "unalienable rights" to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
This Independence Day, however, many Americans are expressing concern that the system of limited government bequeathed by our Founders is under attack. If the policy course being set in Washington, D.C., continues, the viability of the Founders' vision -- and the American Dream it spawned -- may be in doubt.
In a new book, Arthur Brooks -- president of the American Enterprise Institute -- explains that we're witnessing a clash of visions that will determine America's future for decades. In "The Battle: How the Fight between Free Enterprise and Big Government Will Shape America's Future," he describes the relentless expansion of government that is constricting our liberty and limiting our ability to pursue happiness.
Brooks dubs the two contending forces in this battle the "30 percent coalition" and the "70 percent coalition."
The 30 percent coalition -- led by President Obama, Democrats in Congress, and their allies in academia, the media and Big Labor -- holds the levers of power in Washington. They gained control in 2008, in part, by successfully hijacking the language of "fairness."
The 30 percent coalition rejects our Founders' belief that the role of government is to ensure the rule of law so individual Americans can pursue happiness. Instead, its members want government itself to dispense happiness -- by regulating more and more sectors of American life and by redistributing income, goods and services.
The 70 percent coalition -- the rest of America -- says no. Most Americans want to pursue happiness on their own. They want the opportunity to better themselves through a culture of entrepreneurship that rewards hard work and merit. They know that freedom requires responsibility and brings risk. But
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
The 30 percent coalition's celebration of big government and the welfare state is based on a misunderstanding of the human heart, writes Brooks. Our political class thinks that "money buys happiness, as long as it is distributed fairly." But the secret of human flourishing -- no matter your status -- is not money but "earned success" in life, he says.
"We pledge to serve Communism, the 57 states, and ACORN for our brothels."
This is the Hope and Change the entitlement and liberal tribes are calling for.
They dont wish an opportunity to work, they wnat to sit on their lazy butts and get paid by the government.,
This.......was actually published in the Minneapolis “Red” Star Tribune??????
Just a sec....I need to look outside to watch the pigs flying by. BRB.
Today, our Government is comprised of paper pushers, bureaucrats and control freaks who exist only to exert their power over the masses.
Three hundred million free human beings must be organized into submission - otherwise - it’s just SO UNTIDY!!!
Satan’s on a rampage. He thinks he has his world government of Antichrist within sight. He has his man in the White House and his devils running the UN. I think he’s only waiting for those who are old enough to remember the United States to die off - then he’ll have a well brainwashed people in his hands, like putty.
The only thing that will turn this country around now is its people turning to God. When Israel followed Him, He made all their enemies, external and internal, to be at peace with them. When they turned away from Him, God stirred up enemies here and there and everywhere, as you see it today.
Israel and America could both save their nations by repenting and walking according to HIs Scripture.
>>When Israel followed Him, He made all their enemies, external and internal, to be at peace with them.
And when Israel abandoned Him to worship false gods, He punished them. It’s our decision now. Do we continue to worship the false gods of Obama, Hollywood, sports, and greed—or do we follow the true God?
Limited government bequeathed by our Founders is under attack.Now that’s some thing Obama can take credit for and he can’t blame Bush for it.
We WILL keep fighting! We will never give up! With a little luck, those 30% will stay at home in November and not go to the polls. We WILL crush the statist agenda and all those who subscribe to it. Time to double our efforts. Election day is only 120+ days away. We WILL rout the enemy.
you can't make people happy
I think her analisys is correct - it’s about 30% of the American population that thinks this way (the big government way). Theoretically, that 30% should just be a grumbling minority while the 70% runs the country to favor things like freedom and individual iniative.
I’m still puzzled as to how a group that is such a minority has managed to take over our country.
"May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all), the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. . . . All eyes are opened or opening to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few, booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others; for ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollection of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them." - Thomas Jefferson to Roger C. Weightman, 24 June 1826, Ford, Vol. 10, 390-392
Today, a "favored few," "booted and spurred," and steeped in an ideology that is foreign to liberty, have seized temporary power in Washington, D. C. They must be reminded that "We, the People's" Constitution limits their power to ride, rough shod, over the Creator-endowed rights of American citizens.
May we "refresh our recollection" of the Founders' ideas and give "undiminished devotion to them" on this Fourth of July!
Oh...I think there's this saying....He who has the GOLD, rules....those in charge in Government have our "GOLD"....and they RULE....
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