Posted on 02/22/2009 12:07:49 AM PST by Syncro
Jim DeMint's gentlemanly air and refined tone belie a power and an urgency in his words.
The stately senator from South Carolina sees America's unique centuries-old system of freedom dying out.
And he thinks we may have to take to the streets to save it.
"I would think it's time to start thinking about peaceful demonstrations," he told us last week.
Seriously?
"Seriously.
"The power of the people is there. Freedom is in the people's hands right now, and it's about to slip through."
Of course, the recent "stimulus" debate is what's fresh on DeMint's mind. Despite DeMint's putting 15 aides on it overnight, no one in Washington was able to read the bill, which was the most expensive in American history -- as well as being perhaps the most irresponsible.
The worst since the adoption of the income tax, DeMint figures.
It's not just the amount of money involved, some $780 billion -- although that, alone, is corrosive enough to American freedom. "I've seen it happen inside government agencies: 'What can we do to get it spent?' It's the only way (the agencies can get money)," DeMint says. "I see that happen in Afghanistan and Iraq, where our aid programs are basically based on people being able to spend the money within a certain period of time so we can say we did something. And it just leads to a bunch of waste."
Perhaps even worse than the money is the strings that come with it. It's the growth of the federal government's reach and influence too. The "stimulus" bill has increased the federal role in, among other things, education -- and gets the government's nose fully in the tent of private medical decisions.
The slab has been poured underneath what some want to become nationalized health care.
"Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system," writes Betsy McCaughey, adjunct senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. "Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.
"But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and 'guide' your doctor's decisions."
In short, rationing.
In truth, the leviathan that is the stimulus bill is just the most recent in a chain of actions by an aristocratic and arrogant Washington that is eroding our freedoms.
With our tacit permission.
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism," American socialist Norman Thomas famously once said, "but under the name of liberalism they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened."
DeMint sees it -- from a front-row seat in the U.S. Senate.
"We're being drawn in with a lot of promises -- and the fact that so many people are already dependent on the government and so few actually pay taxes," DeMint says.
Sadly, DeMint saw that dependence in full bloom -- in the faces of South Carolina leaders who tried to twist his arm to vote for the stimulus bill to get their own goodies.
"Just about everybody who came in my office, even the mayors from all over the state, they would usually say, 'DeMint, I agree with you -- this is a bad bill. But it's got this in here for us, and we want our piece.'"
Historically, the federal government has been about 18 percent of the gross domestic product. By next year, it could grow to nearly 40 percent, according to Newsweek .
"The late sociologist Seymour Lipset," writes National Review editor Rich Lowry, "wrote a brilliant book on why the U.S. didn't embrace socialism, called It Didn't Happen Here. In a few years, its conclusion might look premature."
DeMint is hopeful -- but not when he looks around Capitol Hill.
"I've become increasingly aware that the thoughtful, well-informed leaders are very few and far between in the Congress -- people who seem to be well-read and continuing to kind of grow their skills. It's become rhetorical and political ..."
Instead, DeMint is looking to the people -- where he still sees a "remnant" of freedom-loving still stirring.
Only a remnant?
"That's all it is," he concludes. "But that's all it takes.
"Freedom is in our hands; it always has been. We've entrusted it to people in Washington, and increasingly they have picked our pockets and pulled power from us. We're just going to have to take it back.
"The real shame of all this is, I feel Republicans had said that we were going to carry that banner of freedom -- and they completely betrayed that. And it's going to be hard to get it back."
But with all except three Republicans in Congress voting against the stimulus bill, perhaps getting that banner back has started. There are a few rising conservative stars on the national scene, including Reps. Jeff Flake of Arizona, Jeb Hensarling of Texas and Mike Pence of Indiana.
Still, DeMint says star power isn't what we need. "I think what we need to look for first is to find the principles that will bring us together. I'm not looking for a face right now."
Continued below.
That and the biggest most influential Wing of the DNC---The leg tingling MSM.
Conservatism needs someone to get it...and the sooner the better. I agree, leadership on a national level is severly lacking, and the RINOs just roll over and play dead when confronted by the rats like the paper tigers they are. It is their nature to do so. I never understood why my father referred to the Republicans as the “wimp party” when I was growing up, but thanks to folks like John McCain, Christie Whitman, George Pataki, etc, I understand what Dad meant.
Sanford is good too. Alan Keyes is also sounding the alarm.
” Talk radio gives the illusion we are doing something, when in fact all we do is listen and vent and feel better...”
Right on the money. But interestingly enough, I have found that my listening habits have dropped considerably post Nov. 4, for that exact reason. I have not been able to shake the feeling, that all they do IS talk...
I want to DO something, and so I have been working to keep in touch with the Senate and Congress, if for no other reason, than to let them know that some of us, ARE watching them now : /
Tatt
Good thinking my friend. WE ALL NEED TO WRITE today .
DeMint/Palin 2012....what a great conservative ticket!!
If you don’t pay your taxes, you might be nominated for a job in Obama’s cabinet!!! :-)
It shouldn’t be called the ‘FAIRNESS DOCTRINE’ - it should be called the ‘LIBERAL DRIVE BY MEDIA PROTECTION ACT’.
Alan Keyes helped get us Obama — Alan Keyes STFU, please!!!! You caused this mess...
Or the "LIBERAL MAIN STREAM MEDIA PROTECTION ACT"
For those that are not familiar with our colloquialisms
What are you talking about? Do you have any clue?
Obama’s operatives at the Tribune got Sen. Ryan’s divorce unsealed. This made Ryan toast. The GOP recruited Keyes at the last minute because Ditka was not interested. Keyes did his best but the media were in 100% Obama pander mode back then.
That’s how Jim Demint won in SC, because our family prays for him and lifted him up to win due to his conservative nature, and I’m pleased with the result. Lots of prayers for Gov Sanford as well, but sadly we no longer live in that state.
Hear, hear!!
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world only to lose his freedom and dignity.
Not exactly my point. Those 60% you chose to malign are not gaining the world, they are making ends meet for themselves, family and the 40% not paying taxes already.
In New York, it is over 50% of eligible tax payers not paying anything and 30% of the over 50% are receiving a rebate of tax monies supplied by the slaves who are carrying the load for the slave masters.
All of this is past tense freedom and liberty are already gone gone gone, and until all people earning a living in this country and enjoying its freedoms are required to participate in the tax system whatever that might be in the future, those who do contribute are liteally the slaves of the recipients of government largess, and the government itself.
Slaves are not permitted to protest, they are too busy keeping the masters fed. Just how would it look, if the slaves appeared to have time for anything other than slavery. /sarc only for last paragraph
That's a great idea! I realize that not all people can participate, but if this gets set up, those that can take the day off should do so. Those that can close their business for a day should do so. And don't shop that day either. Shut 'er down!
DeMint Ping.
Reinforcement Ping.
Get the word out if you can.
April 15th would be a terrific day to do it on. Or May 1st could also be appropriate which is May Day. Change it to “Mayday, Mayday” and use it as a day to signal distress of America's Taxpayers.
It just got a little worse, yes we still have jobs but our employer cut salaries by 5 percent.
Hey, to look at it from a left, dem, Obama point of view, you just got a tax cut. Awesome!
From my standpoint, you have a job, but you are still a slave as you and your labor are still supporting the over 40% of eligible tax payers who thoroughly enjoy your labor and your subsidy of their lifestyle.
There is no one that begrudges the poor their circumstances, but poor in this country is certainly relative when cable TV, eating out, movie rental, processed food, and a lot of stuff deemed luxuries, are seen as absolute necessities.
Government bailout of masses of humanity without local input and control of the funds would seem to me to be foolhardy in the extreme. I like the Lord’s financial system where 10% of your increase belongs to him, and no one is exempt. No class warfare.
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