Posted on 07/04/2002 6:16:32 AM PDT by B. A. Conservative
It is beyond challenge that most, if not all, of the problems America faces today originate in Washington. It is fallacious reasoning to suggest that the problem lies with the people of the United States. Our government is a republic. Our republic is predicated on the theory that those elected to public office have intellectual competence, educational skills or experience that exceeds that of the electorate and that those elected public leaders will do what is right for the country even in opposition to commonly perceived public opinion. During most of the past century, the political class has demonstrably failed to lead, but have instead become political prostitutes selling laws and benefits in exchange for votes transforming our Constitutional republic into a tyrannical mob-rule democracy destined for bankruptcy. Non-producing parasites now use the Democratic Party to prey on their neighbors, the still producing members of our country.
Under our Constitution, the power of the United States resides in We the people. For too long, we have allowed that power to be delegated or sold by the prostitutes in both political parties, primarily those in Washington. Clearly, ours has become a top>down government. As one voice among We the people, I think it is time to withhold the delegation of that power by only delegating it to selected politicians and then only with strings attached. FreeRepublic is a much larger segment of We the people, with a much larger voice. We at FreeRepublic are the roots of the grassroots. Newcomers and some that have been frequenting this site for years may deny that Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives because of the discussions that took place on this web site. They are wrong. Our voice is loud and it is heard in the Halls of Congress and in the Whitehouse. The stain that will be remembered in history is not the stain on Monica's dress; it is the stain of Impeachment. And that stain came from the computer ink that spilled from the hearts of Freepers determined to see justice done. We at FreeRepublic are the roots of the grassroots. The buck starts here.
There has been a great deal of discussion on FreeRepublic lately about what role we should play in this fall's election and that we should cut Bush and the Republicans some slack. Variations of this theme have been discussed on other threads: "THAT which you believe"---"An open letter to Republicans" by redrock. I particularly like the comments by DoughtyOne and "Move the RINOs and we move the party. I really think it's that simple," by NickDanger.
Ronald Reagan won two landslide elections by telling Americans he was going to cut the government in Washington down to size. The Contract with America gave the Republicans control of both houses of Congress for the first time in roughly thirty years. Prior to the Contract with America Republicans only had control of even one house in Congress one other time in 70 years. The lesson that Republicans seem to have difficulty in learning is that the people are conservative and when presented a conservative agenda they will vote for it. And conversely, when pandering is all that is offered, the public prefers the real prostitutes every time. I have a solution to this problem. I call it the
I am not giving my vote to anybody in November. I have decided to auction my vote in this fall's Congressional elections. Politicians are going to have to bid for my vote. I have decided not to exclude any particular politicians or parties from the bidding. And I have decided to attach some rules to the bidding itself:
Minimum Bid:
This is only the Minimum. There are a number of suggested options that politicians could add now or that we will add in future contracts for future elections.
Suggested Options:
Most of these problems would eventually be solved by Term Limits. I think the Term Limits Amendment should be saved as part of the ultimate threat packaged as a part of a package to be presented under Article V to a Constitutional Convention. It takes time to put together sufficient public arousal and support to apply the kind of pressure that we may need to bring to bear on people who are used to exerting power rather than being subjected to it.
Amen!
As an incentive to growing FreeRepublic and to make it truly self-supporting, and to grant M. Thatcher's wish that Jim and FR be independent and not beholding to anybody, I am asking Jim Robinson to look into the feasability of establishing an investment trust fund with an established brokerage firm into which we can contribute money or shares of stock or bonds for the support of FreeRepublic. As an example, I would consider contributing funds for purchase of shares of Novagold (NVGLF). Alternatively, I might consider contributing appreciated shares to the trust fund instead. I suspect that some of FreeRepublic's supporters are knowledgeable investors and would contribute money to buy specific stocks to be held for FreeRepublic. In addition, we could all contribute suggestions for acquistions using funds not donated for specific acquistions. This funding mechanism would eventually make FreeRepublic self-supporting and a self-managed investment fund. Investing beats consumption. Contributors could provide guidelines or limits on how much could be withdrawn from the trust fund on an annual basis to meet operating needs of the web site.
Maybe we would even get Gates or Michael Dell to provide enough stock to the fund to make it self-supporting almost from inception. I think it only a question of months before one or both of these companies will begin to see the light at the end of the dividend tunnel.
It isn't enough to run--one must win. There's the rub, especially in a society addicted to cradle-to-grave nanny government.
Libertarians run every year promising to slash spending and eliminate government programs. Their overwhelming lack of success speaks volumes about the electability of any serious Republican politician who would run on the same platform.
That is by no means certain. I believe many conservatives read too much into the 1994 success of the Gingrich-led "Contract with America." Most Americans will agree generally with the statement that government should be smaller. But when they see the cuts begin to affect their pet programs, all bets are off.
I don't have the confidence in the wisdom of the majority of the electorate that you apparently have.
you said bump
My father shares your opinion. I have told my father that it would be cheap at the price to pay each Congressman and each Senator one million a year while they are in office if they would never show up for a vote and only their existing salary if they voted on any issue even once during the entire year. They would all show up and vote. By voting they get to dispense two trillion dollars each and every year under current government spending. Do you have any idea how much power they get to exercise in spending that amount of money? At one million each, it would only cost us 535 million to pay every Senator and every Congressman one million is salary. In contrast to that, through the government they get to spend ten times that amount each and every day.
To: Tourist Guy
It isn't enough to run--one must win. There's the rub, especially in a society addicted to cradle-to-grave nanny government.
Libertarians run every year promising to slash spending and eliminate government programs. Their overwhelming lack of success speaks volumes about the electability of any serious Republican politician who would run on the same platform.
# 105 by JCEccles
It isn't enough to win. A society addicted to cradle-to-grave nanny government doesn't need another liberal winning under the Republican label.
If I'm going to get a liberal whether I vote Republican or Democrat, I'll vote 3rd party. I won't just stay home, I want those mainstream politicians to KNOW that I voted AGAINST their socialist policies.
Republicans ran in the 1994 elections promising to slash spending and eliminate government programs. Their overwhelming success volumes about the electability of any serious Republican politician who would run on the same platform.
The Contract with America won both houses of Congress for the Republicans. When it became clear that Republicans lied about being conservatives they went from a projected 20 seat gain to losing the Senate when ONE MAN changed parties.
Bill Clinton lied, and everyone knew it. He committed treason, and everyone knew it. With all that, George Bush just barely scraped up a victory over Clinton's proxy, Al Gore. Why?
The people of our nation are by and large conservative, and the people don't trust Republicans to be conservative. When they were caught lying, Republicans lost faith with the people.
If the candidate won't roll back governmental power, why vote for him? If the candidate makes it plain that he supports big government, what good is he to us?
Once people realize that there is no difference between the two parties, they will join me in voting against both Republicans and Democrats, socialists all.
Third party candidates CAN win. All it takes is consistent adherence to your principles, and sooner or later you will gain the trust of the people.
To: exodus
Yeah, right.
# 111 by Jim Robinson
Well, good morning. I didn't think you would get my flag until tomorrow.
We're on the same side; we both want conservatives to be in charge. Where we disagree is on what a conservative "is."
I lost what little respect I had for the Republicans when they allowed Clinton to stay in office. It's going to take a lot more than a Democratic "boogyman" to get my vote back.
I get a liberal if I vote for either major party.
If I vote for a Democrat to protest the direction taken by the Republican party, Republicans will point to my liberal vote as the direction they should go to gain my support. If I vote for a Republican as the lesser of two evils, they'll point to my vote as an expression of confidence in their socialist policies. If I stay home, and don't vote at all, they'll use statistics to decide why I didn't vote this time, and they'll bend those statistics to mean whatever is convenient for their purposes.
I want a conservative, so I'll vote 3rd party. When I vote for a conservative, even a 3rd party conservative, THERE IS NO QUESTION what it takes to win my vote. I want a conservative, and I won't accept anything less.
Republicans will point to my vote as the direction they need to go in order to gain my support. Democrats themselves will move to the right, as Clinton did in 1992, in an attempt to show me that they believe, just as I do, in freedom.
The Republicans can "buy" my vote easily. Return to the promises that won them control of both houses of Congress.
Restore the Contract with America.
To: exodus
Is it possible that the "Contract With America" only passed in the House because it was known that the Senate would torpedo it, thus RINOs felt safe voting for it?
# 114 by 185JHP
The "Contract With America" was a series of promises made by the Republicans. Yes, there is a very good chance that Republicans were lying about the Contract in order to gain power. I suspect as much, myself.
Here's the text of the Contract.
That is why, in this era of official evasion and posturing, we offer instead a detailed agenda for national renewal, a written commitment with no fine print.
This year's election offers the chance, after four decades of one-party control, to bring to the House a new majority that will transform the way Congress works. That historic change would be the end of government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public's money. It can be the beginning of a Congress that respects the values and shares the faith of the American family.
Like Lincoln, our first Republican president, we intend to act "with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right." To restore accountability to Congress. To end its cycle of scandal and disgrace. To make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves.
On the first day of the 104th Congress, the new Republican majority will immediately pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of the American people in their government:
Thereafter, within the first 100 days of the 104th Congress, we shall bring to the House Floor the following bills, each to be given full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote and each to be immediately available this day for public inspection and scrutiny.
1. THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: A balanced budget/tax limitation amendment and a legislative line-item veto to restore fiscal responsibility to an out- of-control Congress, requiring them to live under the same budget constraints as families and businesses. (Bill Text) (Description)
2. THE TAKING BACK OUR STREETS ACT: An anti-crime package including stronger truth-in- sentencing, "good faith" exclusionary rule exemptions, effective death penalty provisions, and cuts in social spending from this summer's "crime" bill to fund prison construction and additional law enforcement to keep people secure in their neighborhoods and kids safe in their schools. (Bill Text) (Description)
3. THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: Discourage illegitimacy and teen pregnancy by prohibiting welfare to minor mothers and denying increased AFDC for additional children while on welfare, cut spending for welfare programs, and enact a tough two-years-and-out provision with work requirements to promote individual responsibility. (Bill Text) (Description)
4. THE FAMILY REINFORCEMENT ACT: Child support enforcement, tax incentives for adoption, strengthening rights of parents in their children's education, stronger child pornography laws, and an elderly dependent care tax credit to reinforce the central role of families in American society. (Bill Text) (Description)
5. THE AMERICAN DREAM RESTORATION ACT: A S500 per child tax credit, begin repeal of the marriage tax penalty, and creation of American Dream Savings Accounts to provide middle class tax relief. (Bill Text) (Description)
6. THE NATIONAL SECURITY RESTORATION ACT: No U.S. troops under U.N. command and restoration of the essential parts of our national security funding to strengthen our national defense and maintain our credibility around the world. (Bill Text) (Description)
7. THE SENIOR CITIZENS FAIRNESS ACT: Raise the Social Security earnings limit which currently forces seniors out of the work force, repeal the 1993 tax hikes on Social Security benefits and provide tax incentives for private long-term care insurance to let Older Americans keep more of what they have earned over the years. (Bill Text) (Description)
8. THE JOB CREATION AND WAGE ENHANCEMENT ACT: Small business incentives, capital gains cut and indexation, neutral cost recovery, risk assessment/cost-benefit analysis, strengthening the Regulatory Flexibility Act and unfunded mandate reform to create jobs and raise worker wages. (Bill Text) (Description)
9. THE COMMON SENSE LEGAL REFORM ACT: "Loser pays" laws, reasonable limits on punitive damages and reform of product liability laws to stem the endless tide of litigation. (Bill Text) (Description)
10. THE CITIZEN LEGISLATURE ACT: A first-ever vote on term limits to replace career politicians with citizen legislators. (Description)
Further, we will instruct the House Budget Committee to report to the floor and we will work to enact additional budget savings, beyond the budget cuts specifically included in the legislation described above, to ensure that the Federal budget deficit will be less than it would have been without the enactment of these bills.
Respecting the judgment of our fellow citizens as we seek their mandate for reform, we hereby pledge our names to this Contract with America.
There would have been a groundswell of support for a rededication to the Contract with America, and the year 2004 would see a real conservative in the White House.
To: exodus
That is by no means certain. I believe many conservatives read too much into the 1994 success of the Gingrich-led "Contract with America." Most Americans will agree generally with the statement that government should be smaller. But when they see the cuts begin to affect their pet programs, all bets are off. I don't have the confidence in the wisdom of the majority of the electorate that you apparently have.
# 106 by JCEccles
Nothing is certain, but I chose to believe that people are good for the most part.
I believe that citizens can be trusted to act in their selfish interests, for themselves, their family, and, by extension, their community and nation. Self-interest creates a just society.
It is akin to the way that the free market works, with market forces producing better results than "progressive" government planning.
You may be right, but ordinary grass-roots Americans have never had a tool for communication and the sharing of information or strategy like the internet before. And we have never had a weapon with the political potential offered by FreeRepublic. We know that FreeRepublic has the potential to attract 100,000 viewers on a daily basis during periods of political activity. We know that the viewers who visit here are more politically engaged than most Americans. If there is any chance at all to recover the Constitutional republic that is our heritage handed down from the Founders, and in the current absence of a charismatic leader, it seems reasonable to me that such a movement should start here. And that it should be our hope that the members of FreeRepublic will spread it to their friends, neighbors, family and co-workers.
If a reasonable plan and effort to save the Constitutional Republic of the United States doesn't start here, where?
If not started by us, by whom?
If not today, when?
Every circle can be virtuous or vicious. Our system of government is predicated on the theory of electing leaders who will not only the enlightened guardians of freedom, but also a source of information and serve as teachers of the electorate to ensure that the electorate will hopefully be able to make the best choices. You are correct in assuming that the system is out of balance and currently a vicious cycle. Think about the various parts of the Contract with Congress, especially the suggested options that could be added now or more likely in subsequent contracts. I included the economic freedom principles with the highest priorities first, because Americans need to be able to work and save the fruits of their labors for themselves and their families if we are to break the vicious cycle of dependence. And we need to deprive government of its tyrannical hold and claim on the wealth created by its productive citizens. The first step is the return of the economic power of America to the people who created it thereby weakening of the economic power of the government who usurped it. We must stop the vicious cycle of allowing Congress to buy the votes of the uninformed or poorly productive using the money of the productive and thereby maintaining themselves in power.
Removing the carrot, makes it easier to change the direction of travel and in turn it will be easier to restore a virtuous circle to change the leadership.
The unfunded accruing liabilities of Social Security, Medicare, and the myriad of other government "insurance" programs is an ever ticking time bomb. Each day brings us closer to a complete public loss of financial confidence in government. 2016 or before is the point where I feel confidant that the people will realize that the ponzi scheme is bankrupt. We win the battle for freedom before then or the United States, like the Soviet Union, will be another evil empire on the Ash-heap of History.
If history is our guide, most Americans did not actively support the Declaration of Independence. I can't cite the references, but I have read that about only one third of early Americans actually were active supporters of our War for Independence, about a third (the Tories) wanted to remain loyal "servants" to the English King, and a third were undecided. Is it any different today? We know that a certain percentage of Americans have been persuaded into a dependent lifestyle by misguided liberals; call the liberals and their dependents, Democrats. We know that a roughly equal number of Americans prefer more freedom and have at least some avowed opposition to socialism or at least the extent of socialism proposed by Democrats; call this group Republicans. And we know there is a large contingent of undecided or simply don't cares; call this group independents or moderates.
Here is the important feature of this political division. Neither Democrats nor Republicans can get sufficient numbers of votes to get the required number of elected officials to exercise power without garnering votes from independents/moderates and the balance of the needed votes from the opposition party be it Republicans or Democrats. And crucially, neither party can possibly get enough votes from the combined forces of independents/moderates together with the votes reasonably available from cross-over voters of the opposition party that would be required to offset any significant loss of votes from their own normal base. REPUBLICANS CAN NOT WIN ELECTIONS WITHOUT THE CONSERVATIVE BASE. REPUBLICANS MUST DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO GET THE VOTES OF THE CONSERVATIVE BASE.
Never lose sight of the fact that elected political leaders are far less concerned about the actual political agenda or political platforms than they are about ensuring that they as individuals are re-elected. The primary priority of ALL elected officials regardless of party or political allegiance is to stay in office. IF REPUBLICAN LEADERS KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE THE CONSERVATIVE BASE, IT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF ELECTORAL HARI-KARI NOT TO COMPLY WITH THE DEMANDS OF A COMMITTED AND DETERMINED CONSERVATIVE BASE!As long as Republicans can take the conservative base for granted, they will do whatever they think reasonable to win votes from the independent/moderates and better yet from the Democrats. Republicans know that independents/moderates don't really exercise much power because they tend to split their votes and when they don't it is unpredictable why or why not. On the other hand votes taken from Democrats represent a real change of two votes in the effective tally. The Democrat gets one less vote than expected, and the Republican gets one more vote than expected. Logic and history proves Republicans will seek the votes of Democrats when they can take the conservative base for granted.
In spite of the unfinished Reagan Renaissance and the 1994 Republican Revolution, the country has continued to slowly and steadily move deeper into socialism with ever growing governments at every level. FreeRepublic had two primary stated goals: impeach Bill Clinton and restore our Constitutional Republic. The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton is now historical fact. I lived through and carefully followed the chronology of events during that period. You will never convince me that the House would have voted for impeachment if it had not been for the display of the evidence against Clinton on FreeRepublic and the public arousal of anger generated by the display of that evidence on FreeRepublic. No other public arena displayed the evidence in its entirety. And the ugly, ominous, repurcussions of it character were not discussed anywhere else. The media for the first time in history was unable to paper over the hidiousness of the perpetrator. Those who conclude that FreeRepublic did not bring about the Impeachment are ignorant, simply wrong, or liars.
But FreeRepublic is failing in its second and far more important mission. Jim Robinson, your unconditional blind support of the Republican Party is understandable, but misguided. And it undermines your stated goal of the restoration of our Constitutional Republic. What does it matter if we delay the descent into slavery or simply slow the rate of the loss of freedom? We are rapidly approaching the point of no return. We have very little more to lose. What will be left that is worth fighting for?
Short of an inspired charismatic leader, the Contract with Congress propagated under the auspices of FreeRepublic is our best and may be our only other shot at the recovery of our Constitutional Republic that you seek. If you or any other Freeper have any other reasonable alternative, now is the time to address the issue. In another two months, you will have to wait another two years to make a difference. We don't have very many more elections until it simply won't matter at all. I am not wrong about the Contract with Congress. I am not wrong about the financial collapse of the United States before 2016. And even if am wrong about the financial collapse and the secessions of states that it will inspire, what will remain of our freedoms, our individual independence and our Constitution? What will be left of our country and the way of life it represented that makes it worthy of the American people?
"They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
At the risk of being wrong, I think only one third party candidate has ever won the Presidency. And I don't think any third party has quickly won control of Congress. The Republican Party has a large contingent of voters who routinely and mindlessly vote the straight or nearly straight Republican ticket. There is also a large contingent of conservatives who routinely vote Republican because they believe there are no other viable options for conservatives to cast a vote that will have an opportunity to elect someone reasonably close to their views; look at Jim Robinson for an example.
Now consider the fact that most of the conservative third parties are simply splinter groups of conservative Republicans who have lost faith that the Republicans will ever be more interested in restoring the Constitution than maintaining themselves in office.
Without debating the finer points, if we can reasonably agree on these two fundamental observations, here is how I see the current status of our ship of state. The Titanic is speeding directly toward the iceburg, but there is still time to steer the course back to iceburg-free waters. Short of a mutiny, only the Captain, and with his consent the crew, can alter the course of the ship. Someone or somebodies are going to have to persuade either the Captain or the crew who may be able in turn to persuade the Captain to change course. And they are going to have to do so while there is still time to turn. At some point before the Titanic hits the iceburg, there will be time to turn, but it won't matter any more; the Titanic will still hit the iceburg. If the passengers over-throw the Captain and install a new skipper, there can be no assurance that the crew will follow the orders of the new Captain and actually change the course of the ship. Some of the crew (the third parties) recognize the danger and are warning passengers to abandon ship. The overwhelming majority of the crew see no need for a change of course and control all of the lifeboats. The splinter groups of the crew have a plan but few people to man the oars even if they manage to find a lifeboat or two. And I would submit that we are so close to the iceburg that we are way beyond the training period required to install a new Captain and train a new crew. I'll let you answer two question: "Is there enough time to elect a new captain and train a new crew before we reach the point of no return?
And my second question: "Is there a means at hand that could quickly convince the existing Captain and crew to change course immediately?"
History is all about recording events of the time. Few of us actually think about the critical importance of time in our lives. I loved my work as a physician, and I made a lot of money at it. But when I had an incredible stroke of financial good fortune that made it possible for me to never need to work again to support our family's daily needs, I spent the better part of two years deciding whether medicine and the income from it were more important to me or the use of my own time. Medicine is a demanding mistress who knows no limits on the consumption or demands of time. I chose time. I wanted the freedom to use my time as I saw fit and not have to feel guilty about slighting or rationing time for medicine, time for my family or simply time for me to make other choices. I made the choice to retire at 44 so that I could make my own choices of how to spend "time". Time and good health are the two most precious commodities of life. They are the essence of life. And the United States is running out of time. If the United States hits the iceburg, there will be survivors when the ship breaks up. But there are simply not enough life boats, many Americans will go down with the ship when it breaks up and sinks. Changing course is the only alternative that will save all of the passengers and the crew. How much time is left? Will the passengers be better served and more likely saved by convincing the current Captain and crew or by training a new crew and overpowering and replacing the existing Captain and crew?
I have staked out a claim on a lifeboat. Is there anybody willing to get on board? And I have offered what I believe to be a workable plan to change the hearts and minds of the current Captain and crew? Tell me of your plan to turn the ship? How many lifeboats can you supply?
Putting all our eggs in one basket carries some risks. So does leaving any stone unturned in the pursuit of freedom. I am working on an alternative plan, one potentially stronger than the Contract with America alone. I don't think there is enough time to change both the Captain and the crew. But if we could find a charismatic, persuasive leader, perhaps he could convince the existing Captain, crew and passengers of the need for a change of course. Or alternatively, perhaps we could prevail on this leader and persuade him of the urgency of the problem, thereby getting him to replace the existing Captain. The test of his leadership skills would be to convince the crew and passengers of the choice for free waters over those of a watery grave. I know such a leader and I know how to finance his campaign. My Plan B should be available in less than a week, two at the most. In the mean time, please share your thoughts on how to turn the Titanic back into free waters.
MY VOTE IS FOR SALE! I THINK IT IS A SELLER'S MARKET AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BECOME BUYERS, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO JOIN ME AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS!
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