Posted on 01/01/2005 2:21:20 AM PST by Exton1
It is, afterall, about feeling good, and to alleviate the guilt that comes from becoming comparatively wealthy and stable in a world of poverty and chaos.
This was presented in a thread yesterday about charity extended by the U.S. to those countries affected by the tsunami.
Col. Crockett was correct in his conversion to the idea that congress shouldn't be giving away the peoples money in that they have no constitutional authority to do so.
On the other hand it is a long standing practice that will not be changed even though in many instances it has gotten completely out of hand.
Sure, it's gotten out of hand...& it's OUR fault! We refuse to elect people with the character & backbone of Col. Crockett into Congress (w/ the ONE possible exception, the very honorable Representative RON PAUL!).
It is up to us to make this change. Since the House of Representatives controls the purse strings, all we hafta do is find & ELECT enough members throughout the country into the House who will "just say no" to any & all unconstitutional spending. It's as simple as that--there is nothing the Senate, White House, Supreme Court, of MSM could do about it, because it's written in black & white that all spending bills must originate in the House.
Are we going to start doing that, or will we continue to vote for Representatives who will "bring home the bacon" back to OUR district, using our federal tax money for programs that benefit us or our local area? I'm not gonna hold my breath that it will be the former.
We agree.
Can it be long before "we the people" demand to all be made instant millionaires by the government?
I mean, with this unlimited taxpayers cash floating around, why not?
I'll be glad to pay you tomorrow for the price of a hamburger today. ;)
It's more than that, I'm afraid: I'd say it also comes from a deep-seated anger, hatred, bitterness, or jealousy that comes from those who want America's succes but refuse to work for it. By & large, the American people have a giving spirit & WANT to help others...but the Marxists around the world (& here at home, too) who despise our form of government, way of life, religious values, & good intentions will NEVER be satisfied, regardless of what we do. Their plans of changing every aspect of our lives may be subtle & utopian sounding, but sinister nonetheless.
PING
Money with them is nothing but trash when it is to come out of the people.
About your "millionaires" question: I remember back in the 2000 election (maybe it was '96???) that the guy running for the Presidential nomination for the Green Party--a punk rocker whose name is Jello Biafra, who came in 2nd place against Ralph Nader--said that not only should America's minimum wage be increased significantly (up to what he called a "living wage" of around $11/hr), there should also be a MAXIMUM wage!
In his corny little "progressive" socialist world, NO ONE would be able to earn more than $100k a year!!! I'm not kidding! I heard him say this on C-SPAN @ the Green Party Convention while he was stating his case for why he should be their nominee.
And I get stomped on for calling for a thinning of the herds! ;)
Respectfully, I think it is much deeper than that.
There aren't many in this great country like farmer Horatio Bunce.
We, as a nation, have lost Mr. Bunce's ideals of hard work and self reliance.
Instead, we have become a nation with an "if it's free, it's for me" attitude.
The pigs are feeding at the trough and will continue doing so until the trough is empty.
Brother ... can you spare few thousand?
Congress has authority to give money to other countries. We have from the very first congress.
Those who think they know better than the authors and ratifiers of the Constitution what is constitutional are self-professed fools by definition.
Of course many miss the point that Davy is not talking about aid to foreigners.
About the term limits thing: I strongly disageree, because a changing of the guard makes little difference when the "newbies" are as ignorant of the Constitution & its limits on federal spending, war, & police powers as the members they are replacing. Federal involvement in education (which President Bush supports wholeheartedly) could have something to do w/ that, among other things.
On top of that, should we ever get another member of Congress with the honesty & backbone of Davy Crockett (which we do, & his name is Rep. RON PAUL), I don't wanna be forced to vote for someone else, one who has less respect for the Constitution, due to his being term-limited from office. If he decides VOLUNTARILY to term limit himself (which Rep. PAUL has in the past, & he has followed through on his promise), fine...I may not like it, but that's his choice.
I say we need a REVIVAL of constitutional knowledge in this country instead: didn't you notice how back in Davy Crockett's day that Horatio Bruce, an ordinary "blue collar" guy who may or may not have had the finest lifestyle or education, seemed to know more about our Constitution than well-educated white collar movers & shakers of our age do? & how he based his voting preferences on Congressional candidates who would obey their Constitutional Oath of Office, rather than some special interest/single-issue voters of today (which fill the ranks of BOTH the Dim & GOP constituencies)?
Little harsh today arent we?
Before you get all excited about Davy Crockett's "Libertarian" pronouncments, realize this was a Whig who supported the National Bank, internal improvements, the tariff, and especially dedicated his congressional career to providing government subsidies for land purchases by artificially lowering the market prices for western lands. So if you celebrate one of his nostrums, perhaps you need to celebrate all?
Here is your opportunity to rise above all of us "self-professed fools", quote Chapter and Verse from the Constitution where the fedguv is authorized to give my money to anyone. You seem to think this is a clear cut case, so it shouldn't take more than a minute or two of your time. Right? I'm anxious to sit down and STFU this morning so make your case. Blackbird.
I first read this piece on the Constitution Society's webpage. They have a TON of information there, & one that is especially fitting for our time is their printing of Frederic Bastiat's political premise called "THE LAW", written back in 1850 (pay special attn. to the section called, "The Book & Its Author"). What Mr. Bastiat had to say there is INCREDIBLE!
Notice how he praises the United States of 1850 & forecasts the upcoming War for Southern Independence--11 years before it happens, & in most part, for the right reasons! Reading this booklet (???) fills my heart with love of country every time.
Common sense dictates otherwise, try it sometime. No one is correct 100% of the time, are they? Blackbird.
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