Readers to my blog will know I enjoy Glenn Beck. I know he can be a bit crazy but I agree with a lot of what he says. I don’t have time to write much today but I love this new “refounding” message he is talking about. The idea is our country can have a rebirth by reaching back to the principles and values of the founding. Beck is offering anonymous truth-telling with the hope of finding 56 people (the number of the original founders) that are willing to weed out excess and corruption. He talks about atonement and that we can get off the disastorous track we are on both financialy and morally. I will write more later but I was moved by Beck’s message. I love my country, and I want it to be back to the values we started with. My worry is that Beck won’t be able to find the 56 people in Congress willing to stand up. More and more it seems politicians are finding ways to stretch half-truths or outright lies to the American public. We’ve even reached a point where Governor’s can run off to Argentina without telling anyone and not get punished, where news shows have to air fact-checking, “keeping them honest” sessions after the President’s speeches, and where the Christian principles this country was founded on are treated with disdain and contempt. Before we know it the family is going to be watered down to nothing, our freedoms will be curtailed and there won’t be anybody to trust leading our nation. It’s sad that we turn tea partiers into extremists, town-hall visitors into non-patriots and brave soldiers into potential terrorists. I hope beyond hope that Beck is right. I pray for it every night. I will be curious for your thoughts. Will write more later.
Today is a holiday in Utah. We celebrate the arrival of the Mormon pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. This first party led by Brigham Young was called to leave their homes for the third or fourth time- most of them in a matter of hours. Gathering their few meager possessions and loved ones, they willingly left all for a better, more free life. This exodus on the heels of the murder of the prophet Joseph Smith and the extermination order by the governor of Missouri Lilburn W. Boggs calling for the “the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State”. In the country founded by religious pilgrims and Christian ideals they were literally kicked out because of their faith. Making things harder is that the initial party only knew they were heading west – no more. Brigham Young didn’t even have an exact idea of the final destination. While on the way Brigham Young happened upon famed tracker Jim Bridger who discouraged the Great Basin as an eventual landing place for the Saints. Bridger claimed the soil was too salty for crops and the winter’s too frigid. He recommend they move on to California’s more furtile lands. However, Brigham Young knew the Saints needed a place that other’s found undesirable, so the Saints could have the peace and space to prosper. Eventually arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham and his counselors climbed Emigration canyon and exclaimed by revelation “this is the place”.
The Mormon pioneers continued the exodus until the arrival of the railroad in 1869. While still difficult, most groups traveled without serious problems. This all changed in 1856 when two handcart companies, leaving late, found themselves in the middle of a brutal Wyoming winter. Hundreds died of exposure, fatigue and even despair. Finally, word came to Brigham Young of the suffering and he sent relief parties out immediately- halting all further addresses at the General Conference, which was occurring when he found out. To rally the people Brigham Young said:
“The afternoon meeting will be omitted, for I wish the sisters to go home and prepare to give those who have just arrived a mouthful of something to eat, and to wash them and nurse them up. You know that I would give more for a dish of pudding and milk, or a baked potato and salt, were I in the situation of those who have just come in, than I would for your prayers, though you were to stay here all the afternoon and pray. Prayer is good, but when baked potatoes and pudding and milk are needed, prayer will not supply their place on this occasion; give every duty its proper time and place.”
Even with relief, hundreds died in the Martin and Willie handcart companies. The suffering and sacrifice was great. Here is an emotional video with President Gordon B. Hinckley describing the price that was paid for religious freedom by the pioneers:
I often think- “Could I have done it? Could I have been a pioneer?”. I know that I am a pioneer in some aspects of my life, but I do not physically suffer for my beliefs. Could I do it? The simple answer is- “I don’t know”. I suppose many of the pioneers didn’t know if they could do it before they were forced on the path.
The closest I can come to estimating my physical stamina for my faith is my mission. Compared to the thousands of miles walked by the pioneers, it is nothing, but to me it was a grueling experience. With my foot condition I was in serious pain everyday. Sometimes I handled it well and at other moments I wept in pain. This was one of the many difficulties of a my mission. Why did I keep going? The simple answer is I knew it was true. I wanted to tell the people of Indiana that God does speak to a prophet today, He does love us, the Book of Mormon is true, and His gospel has been restored. This was worth any sacrifice . The few people I was able to teach made all the achy feet seem like a small price to pay (or at least medium price!). I am grateful to my companions for walking slow with me and putting up with my bad days! I wonder if the pioneers had bad days where they complained about their aching feet and muscles? They probably did!
Still, as a group they were amazingly optimistic- even taking time for joyous events while on the trail. When I think of my mission I had tough days when I wanted to give up, and I was certainly not pushed as hard as the pioneers in any way. How did they do it? How did they hold on to their faith so hard that they not only kept walking but danced at night and held concerts to sing the hymns? They even had a band, which preformed along the way. It’s an inspiration!
I hope I can face my small challenges with the same courage, happiness and religious devotion as the pioneers. I challenge all of you to look at their example and with me, try a little harder to serve the Lord each day. This way their legacy will not be wasted or counted for naught.
The pioneer anthem was Come, Come, Ye Saints . Please listen to it and remember the sacrifices they made on this pioneer day!
About the Constitutional Convention Benjamin Franklin said:
“I must own I have so much faith in the general government of the world by Providence that I can hardly conceive a transaction of such momentous importance to the welfare of millions now existing, and to exist in the posterity of a great nation, should be suffered to pass without being in some degree influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent, omnipresent, and beneficent Ruler.”
How quickly we have moved from this foundation of faith to denying God’s influence in almost everything we do- the exact opposite of what Founder’s like Franklin believed. In my opinion, the further this nation gets from God the harder it will be to invoke His power and influence as we seek to govern.
The article below makes me sad in so many ways….
Atheists sue to keep ‘In God We Trust’ off Capitol Visitor Center
WASHINGTON — A California Republican congressman wants to do a little writing on the walls of Washington’s newest federal building. If Rep. Dan Lungren gets his way, Congress will spend nearly $100,000 to engrave the words “In God We Trust ” and the Pledge of Allegiance in prominent spots at the Capitol Visitor Center .
Lungren’s proposal drew only a whimper of opposition last week when the House of Representatives voted 410-8 to approve it. Now, however, Lungren finds himself tussling with a national atheists and agnostics group.
The Wisconsin -based Freedom From Religion Foundation Inc. sued this week to stop the engraving, accusing Lungren of trying to force his religious beliefs on as many as 15 percent of all U.S. adults. That comprises “atheists, agnostics, skeptics and freethinkers, none of whom possess a belief in a god,” according to the lawsuit.
“It really is a Judeo-Christian endorsement by our government, and so Lungren is wrong,” said Dan Barker of Madison, Wis. , a co-president of the foundation. “Lungren and others are pro-religious, and they want to actually use the machinery of government to promote their particular private religious views. That is unconstitutional, and that’s what we’re asking the court to decide.”
The Senate has approved a similar plan introduced by Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina . The congressional directive orders the Capitol architect to make the changes in the design of the $621 million center, which opened last December.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation , which has 13,500 members, sued in U.S. District Court in Wisconsin . It alleges that Congress is trying to make belief in God synonymous with citizenship and “discouraging nonbelief” among Americans, a contention that Lungren rejects.
Lungren said that the phrase “In God We Trust ” had a long history and was consistent with the beliefs of America’s founding fathers. He also said that the Declaration of Independence referred to rights given by a creator.
Lungren, a former California attorney general, said that while the proposed engravings incorporated religious references, they didn’t violate the Constitution.
“What we’re doing is making a specific historical reference to the beginnings of this republic,” he said. “To ignore this or to forbid this statement or something like it to appear is to distort history. . . . We’re not trying to change history. We’re trying to enshrine history in the Capitol Visitor Center .”
Barker said history was better left to others.
“It’s not the job of our government and our government buildings to do that,” he said. “Historians can point out that many of our founders were indeed religious. But saying ‘In God We Trust’ in the visitors center of the Capitol is not just some historical reference. It’s actually government speaking for all of us Americans.”
Barker said the foundation had been waiting for the right case to challenge “In God We Trust .” He said government actions could be challenged on state-church grounds if they had specific religious agendas. In this case, he said, backers of Lungren’s plan have provided “the smoking guns” by giving specific, overt religious reasons for doing the engraving.
Barker said that atheists regarded the phrase “In God We Trust ” as rude, uncivil and un-American.
“Tens of millions of really good Americans don’t believe in God,” he said. “In fact, there’s many more nonbelievers than there are Jews, and we wouldn’t think of offending Jews on our national monuments. . . . Why is it wrong to offend a Jewish minority but it’s not wrong to offend those of us who serve in the military and sit on juries but we don’t believe in God?”
He said no hearing had been set.
Lungren is confident that a federal judge will allow the engraving to proceed.
“I never thought I’d see the day when someone would sue to stop us putting in the United States Capitol a statement of the national motto and the Pledge of Allegiance,” he said. “Suggesting that the Pledge of Allegiance and the national motto is un-American in some way — talk about turning ideas on their heads.”
My friends, you are reading the blog of a right-wing extremist. At least that is what the media would have you believe. On April 15th I proudly attended a tea party held in Provo, Utah. Along with 700-1,000 concerned citizens I gathered in the cold snowy weather to protest for the first time in my life. As I have mentioned many times on this blog- I am not a die-hard Republican. In fact, I have realized lately that I lean more Libertarian than any other party; however, I do not define myself by a party. I define myself by my core values of faith, charity, integrity, hard work, and liberty. I have a deep patriotic vein within me, and I feel the United States of America is a sacred land. I believe it was founded by men inspired by God as a sanctuary for freedom.
What does freedom mean? I don’t know what it means to you, and I could go on a mini-rampage about the various theories, but I will spare you. I can tell you what freedom means to me.
One of my favorite books is called Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs or Linda Brent. In this stirring narrative Harriet Jacobs tells her story of fighting for freedom. Even as a little girl Harriet Jacobs refuses to concede the idea she is a slave- that she is property. Despite terrible trials she keeps the pursuit of freedom as an unending goal. Eventually she ends up hiding from her owner in a garret under her grandmother’s porch for 7 years- watching her children grow up, unable to mother them or help in any way. Why does she do it? Because she believes that freedom is worth the price. Of course, such a price should not be required of anyone, but it proves the point that freedom is a precious gift from God- worthy of sacrifice.
Harriet Jacobs wanted the chance to pursue happiness- to create her own life. That is what she and many others fought for. One of most famous phrases from the Declaration of Independence is:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
To me this phrase means that we are born equal and with the same potential for greatness- the same potential to pursue happiness. This is something Harriet legally did not have but she created it anyway. The triumph of her character would not be stifled. Just imagine what she could have done without the grasp of slavery trying to throw her down. Amazing. In many ways our current President, Barrack Obama, is proof that the potential for greatness is available for any American. He is the son of single mother who grew up in Hawaii. Of course, he is also the first African American president. Nothing stopped him from becoming a success.
So, back to my extremist activities. I believe this country is great. I want to keep it great. I want to be able to pursue happiness- to be free to own a business, raise a family, or live singly and happy. It is my opinion that the current over-spending in Washington is removing some of that ability from my life. They want to burden me with debt, regulation and my neighbors mortgage- something I resent as I have sacrificed to be debt-free. I feel strongly that 12.8 trillion dollars in debt (caused by both parties!) is drowning our country’s future. My sweet nieces will not be able to pursue happiness the way I have and certainly not the way the founders intended.
We have become a country that has twisted the Constitutional idea of equal creation with equal outcomes. Perhaps part of this is a result of the unequal beginnings groups such as African Americans, women, and other minorities clearly had. For years they had an unequal opportunity to succeed; therefore, the outcome was inherently unfair. Government intervention in such a situation is appropriate and fair. Today’s situation is mostly different (and where it isn’t intervention is still appropriate). For the most part, equal opportunities exist for all but naturally so do unequal outcomes. This is part of life in a free society. The government has decided to step in and create equal outcomes, which is not only costly but it strips freedom from citizens under the guise of equality. Because we are unwilling to see people (and yes big corporations) fail we are piling on more debt each second. We forget that part of freedom is the potential for unhappiness too.
It is my belief in freedom that pushed me to attend my first government protest- coined a “tea party” by the organizers. The tea party refers to the Boston Tea Party of the Revolutionary War, where angry citizens dumped tea in the Boston harbor because of the unfair tax Britain was imposing. This was a violent act perpetrated by men who were angry at having their freedom to chose taken. They were angry at being forced to pay for programs and a government they didn’t want or believe in. They felt their voice was marginalized and ignored.
In this modern movement the protesters ALSO FEEL MARGINALIZED AND IGNORED BY BOTH PARTIES. Instead of doing something violent, however, these men and women including myself peacefully gathered. I was proud to be there. I was proud to be waving my sign, and I will never forget the moment of connection I felt with my country. It was a great moment.
On a lighter note, it was also a lot of fun. I brought my sign and a couple of boxes of warmers and made friends with the crowd. I even got a few hugs! My friend Bethany Maddox and her family were there and we cheered together. It was interesting that even in Republican Provo, UT there were democrats in the audience waving signs. This is about anti-spending, not anti-Obama, or anti-Democrat. It is about pursuing happiness which according to some very wise men is my “unalienable right”. These were not weirdos or extremist as the media would have you believe. It was men and women who want small government, want less taxes and believe both parties have let them down. This is how I feel and I will do whatever I can to continue in this cause- even if it means running for local office down the road. It is like they said at my rally as they announced “This is the end” someone said “No, this is the beginning”. That is how I feel, so I guess this extremist is going to keep on being extreme until I see a difference. I am going to do my part that’s for sure.
Jason Chaffetz (who I just love) spoke at my event and here is some video I took of what he said. (sorry you can’t see him and the camera is shaky but you will get the idea).
Here is Jason again. I agree with what he is saying. He is the kind of representative I believe in.
The tea party was wonderful!! I encourage all to take part in anyway you can.
OK. I promise this will be my last political post for a while. So just skip it if you don’t like those posts.
Today I heard about a report made by the Missouri Information Analysis Center. In this report they study the dangers of the “Modern Militia Movement“. Now this is not just an analysis of radical groups such as those that follow the Turner diaries. This is a study of anyone who forms a group to protest the government. The study even includes those who read Tom Clancy novels and watch the movie Rambo. The report says such things have “glorified white males and portrayed them as morally upright heroes who were mentally and physically tough”. Given this definition I suppose Jack Bauer would be a terrorist and the 12.92 million viewers as suspects! For goodness sakes Tom Clancy has sold 55 million books. That’s a lot of people to be tracking, a lot of potential terrorists.
Now there are certainly groups in the United States that are worthy of observance; however, this report focuses its attention on “right wing extremest and militia leaders”. I contend that left wing extremists such as the wack jobs at PETA could be equally dangerous. With all the surveillance the study could only find 6 examples since September 11th of potential threats caused by right wing militia groups. Most, if not all, were instigated by individual members- not the group itself. Fortunately such attempts were thwarted and no damage or deaths occurred.
The report goes on to point its finger at Libertarians and “third party groups” such as the “Constitutional Party, Campaign for Liberty or Libertarian Party. These members are usually supporters of former Presidential Candidate: Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin and Bob Barr.” The report actually names these three candidates as being the source of “anti-government propaganda”. Since when was having an opinion considered propaganda? Plus, isn’t the whole point of free speech the right to speak out against your government? I believe it is- and that is true for both sides the right and the left. As long as we are obeying the law and are not conspiring to do harm to others we have the right to assemble and believe whatever we want to believe.
As far as Ron Paul goes- I want to stick up for him a little. I was impressed with what he said during the election and out of the candidates I actually agreed with him the most. I am proud to have voted for him in the Primary election. I certainly agreed more with him on the economy and on the war in Iraq than I did with either President Obama or John McCain. Here are Mr. Paul’s main positions and you see if it sounds like a terrorist or just someone who cares about our country?:
Ron Paul talking points (as taken from his website)
On the economy he supports an ending to the congressional pay raise through 2010.
He does not support deficit spending and entitlement programs.
He believes “economic freedom is based on a simple rule: everyone has the right to his or her life and property”
He thinks the bailout are unwise, unfair and will eventually make the economy more sluggish.
On foreign policy he believes:
We need to stop policing the world. He hates preemptive war and interventionist war
We need to bring the troops home from the 700 bases in 100 countries.
We need to protect our borders
On civil liberties he believes:
Economic freedom means economic activity should be free and voluntary and “that government shoudl stay out of personal affairs…and out of our wallets”
Government should protect our right to privacy and to bear arms.
Family should be the instructor of moral character not the government.
Those are just a few of his positions. Now really does this seem like a domestic terrorist to you? Do these positions really seem so out-of-wack? I actually agree with most of his positions and there is nothing but full patriotic blood running within me. I love my country more than almost anything else. Like Mr. Paul, I feel we are going down the wrong track and it scares me. It scares me enough to speak out in anyway I can, but I don’t want to be grouped as some potential terrorist. It’s just nuts!
Whether you agree with his ideas or not, I hope you can see that violating his right to say such things hurts everyone. Policing and analyzing such behavior, looking for unpatriotic holes, only ostracizes the legitimate followers of Mr. Paul and makes the radical nuts more radical. Part of being a democracy is the right to speak our minds- even if it is crazy! The government certainly has the right to monitor such individuals. However, let’s hope in the future they spend their money on the people that could be truly dangerous- not on those they may disagree with or find annoying.
Some may argue that such policing is the result of the Patriot Act, and there may be some truth to that claim. This is the danger in such acts. My main argument here is not on the legitimacy of such surveillance but its intended targets. The government has the right to watch Ron Paul and his fans but is it necessary or pertinent?
Certainly if Ron Paul is the standard of suspect than Bill Maher, Rush Limbagh, Sean Hannity, Al Franken, Oprah Winfrey, Bill O’Reilley, Reverend Wright, and others must also be under constant surveillance for statements they have made. Who knows I could be under surveillance for the posts I did on this blog, which I feel are consistently well thought-out and patriotic. The fact is that me and all of these people have a right to say what they wish, and that’s what makes America great. In China people are limited to what feelings they can express against the government partly because they are monitored on a daily basis. America is better than that- it should be better than that!
Let’s also remember that most of the great movements of change in this country were started by charismatic individuals who fought the status quo. The Women’s movement, the civil rights movement, and even the beginnings of this democracy were all started by radicals who pushed for change. I wouldn’t even put Mr. Paul in such a revolutionary category but this report treats him as a near-fascist instigator.
So to Ron Paul, Tom Clancy, and yes even Sylvester Stallone keep doing what you do. To the government- stop wasting our time and money and get things done!
Here’s an interview with Mr. Paul that I wished we had listened to last year. It makes a lot of sense to me.
I also thought this interview with Penn Gillette was good. By the way, he is no conservative that’s for sure. Glenn Beck also explains in this clip the Missouri Report.
Before reading this post- if you get annoyed at political discussion stop reading now. This is just my opinion. I simply found something that motivated me to be a better person, and I wanted to share it with all of you. Take it or leave it!
Everyone knows I love politics. I enjoy hearing different opinions and arguments on all sides. I have always liked the passion behind a good debate. I am not sure why- just have. If the opportunity presents itself I would love to someday be a public servant in some small way. This would not be for my personal glory but to serve my country and support the values I believe in. Why does the idea of public service seem to be lost on our society? The early founders were practically forced into service and now the career path of a politician often feels like the journey of a Hollywood celebrity.
I think both parties are equally guilty of this game, which is why neither seems to care what public opinion currently thinks. For instance, nobody cares that the public has resoundingly opposed the stimulus package- from November on this has consistently been the case. A recent poll said the support for the package was below 37%. Another sign of discontent is that President Obama’s poll numbers have fallen dramatically in the first 100 days and they are now below President Bush’s at the same time in his presidency. Despite such disapproval nobody in Washington is listening. In fact, many of the politicians seem to think the American public is not educated enough to understand such tough economic conditions. If that is the case than your job as politicians is to educate us!
The problem is many in Washington not only think we are too stupid to understand what they are doing to our economy, but they think we do not care. In my last entry on the stimulus package I posted a video with Senator Charles Shumer. In it he calls the American people “the chattering masses” and says “the American people don’t care”. I found this statement shocking in its candor and disgusting in its implications. And remember this is not some no-name senator. It is the 3rd ranking democrat in the senate. My fear is that he was stupid enough to say what all the Senators and Congressional Representatives feel. They think we don’t care.
What if they are right? There are certainly a lot of people who don’t care enough to vote. The ones that do, rarely take the time to be informed on issues- even though such efforts only take a minute or two. It has always boggled my mind! Do they not understand issues like the stimulus bill effect our lives? They effect ALL of our jobs, investments, property, families and certainly our education.
I am not saying that everyone has to agree with me but CARE! If anything was gained by the election of President Obama it proved that American’s could get excited about a candidate and politics. For several months people watched debates instead of sitcoms and commented on interesting issues. Although I did not vote for President Obama, I felt the excitement of a candidate of change. Now I wonder- what has he changed? Not much. What promises has he kept? Not many. To name one failed promise, he swore time and again on the trail to stop earmarks in bills. Now the spending bill he signed has over 9,000 of them! 9,000! With the President’s current popularity I do not buy his excuse of needing to sign an “imperfect bill”. He had the political capital to at least reduce the earmarks and he failed to do so. I will also add that 40% of these earmarks came from Republicans, so they are equally guilty in ignoring what America wants. In fact, the Republicans are trying to make the Democrats seem like the bad guys while still sneaking in whatever spending of their own they can get in.
I am not writing this to bash President Obama or any other politician. I have hope for them all. Perhaps foolishly, I believe most of them are good men and woman with the right intentions; however, many have forgotten who they work for, and what we as Americans stand for. They have gotten so caught up in money- that it has become a type of panacea for every wound. Just throw more money at a problem and it will all be made better! Selfishness, greed and a loss of vision is leading us into debts both morally and financially. In a sea of money and political correctness, these politicians seem to have forgotten the fundamental values of honor, freedom, integrity, faith, justice and hard work that our government is there to support.
To be honest, this spending bill was making me depressed. I felt like no one was listening to me and millions of other Americans who find it crazy and irresponsible. Even the socialist nations of France and Germany are refusing to go along with the big spending! Now China has expressed worry that the $1 trillion in US treasury bonds they own is a bad investment. The Chinese, the French, the Germans, the majority of Americans all seem to think this is a bad idea! Why doesn’t anyone care?
Well, I found someone who does. I am not usually a talk radio/ tv news person. I love NPR and feel I am an Independent on most issues. However, I happened to catch the latest Glenn Beck Show on Fox News, and was very inspired with what I saw. I have heard Beck speak and been impressed in the past but this was something special. In the program he talks about his feelings after 9/11 (thus calling it the 9/12 project) and then contrasts with his current feelings. He talks about how no one is listening and how nobody in either party can be trusted. He asks every American who still believes in this country to send in their photos- he gets millions. He interviews Iraq veterans, 9/11 victim families and gives 9 principles and 12 values that exemplify the American spirit. I agree with every one of his 9 principles and 12 values. If I worked for a year to summarize my own values and principles in regards to this country they would end up the same as Beck’s. I love that he isn’t afraid to declare his belief in God, family, and America!
He actually gets emotional at several points, and I found the whole thing very moving. He tells us to remember how we felt on 9/12, and how we just knew what to do, and how we could help. Those feelings came out of our core beliefs and values. It is these values that will save America- not spending more on lavish programs or shopping to boost consumer confidence. Real confidence comes from an understanding of why we matter- why each of us matters to this country and to God. I can’t recommend the program highly enough. During the broadcast there were crowds all over the country watching and cheering. I wanted to cheer too! Put it on your DVR this weekend or watch it online if you can. It’s not just a political rant. It’s a reminder of what is good about America, and I felt validated by it.
Beck is a member of my church, so perhaps he presents his program in a way I understand. However, this basic message of integrity, service, friendship and courage is one any American can relate too. I promise it is not a partisan attack. Check it out!
The Nine Principles
1. America is good.
2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
12 Values
Honesty
Reverence
Hope
Thrift
Humility
Charity
Sincerity
Moderation
Hard Work
Courage
Personal Responsibility
Gratitude
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.
Ok so I normally don’t get into politics in this blog, but I can’t go on without stating my peace about this stimulus package. This is just my opinion, so take it for what it is worth. (You’all know I love politics- so it can’t come as much of a surprise!).
Recently President Obama has put forth a $800 billion stimulus package and that’s only a small portion of his $3.5 trillion budget. Even left-to-center media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times has called Obama’s plan and resulting projections “optimistic, even quixotic”. I agree. Do you know this package, inflation aside, is the “largest single spending bill in human history”?
Personally I have always been a believer in low to no debt- purchasing only what I need first and then what I want second. Call me old fashioned but I have lived to 28, gotten myself educated (earned my MBA last year), rent a nice apartment, and live a nice life without scraping up an ounce of debt- not for a car, credit card, nothing. Yes, I have been given some advantages to help me stay out of debt; however, there were certainly moments when I could have gotten credit card and other types of debt if I had let my guard down. For example, I went to an affordable graduate program, and I have always driven cheap cars. The truth is I”m not even that thrifty but on the other hand I have never allowed my spending to get out of control- to build into debt. If I can do it than the federal government can. It just has to be a priority and there has to be sacrifices.
Clearly I understand that debt is a necessary tool for our economy and that balancing the budget at this point with two expensive wars and other problems is an impossibility. However, that does not mean that we need to add to the debt by billions and trillions of dollars. Such a spending spree would be like me maxing out on my credit card when I am low on funds just to boost my confidence. Everyone would think I was crazy. Millions of people like myself feel the same way about the stimulus plan- a giant spending spree when we need to cutback! Why do you think Wall Street has failed to respond to the supposed promise of the stimulus package? It’s because economists know or at least are uncertain of the possible side effects of the plan’s high price tag.
Some will counter my argument by saying that the spending will increase consumer confidence, build public works and provide new jobs. I am not convinced we need to spend this much- if the concept is true to begin with. Obama’s stimulus package is often compared to 1940’s legislation such as the GI bill, which paid millions to educate our troops. Such legislation shows a clear investment benefit that I do not see from the stimulus package- nor do I believe such an investment would cost trillions of dollars. To me it feels like anything whether it is of value or not is being tagged as something that will stimulate the economy. It’s like a giant stimulus parade that keeps growing and growing- right along with our debt. Take a look at this interesting article in the Wall Street Journal about this over-spending. In it the author argues that such reckless spending actually hurts our economy and will force us into “a longer period of recession”:
“But after five weeks in office, it’s become clear that Mr. Obama’s policies are slowing, if not stopping, what would otherwise be the normal process of economic recovery. From punishing business to squandering scarce national public resources, Team Obama is creating more uncertainty and less confidence — and thus a longer period of recession or subpar growth.”
Others will argue that the New Deal of the 30’s and 40’s was an example of government stimulated growth. I used to think this to but in recent reading I have done there appears to be much debate on this topic. Economist’s Christina and David Romer (who incidentally actually work for Obama on his Council of Economic Advisers) said “a simple calculation indicated that nearly all of the observed recovery of the US economy prior to 1942 was due to monetary expansion. Huge gold inflows in the mid- and late- 1930’s swelled the US money stock and appear to have stimulated the economy by lowering real interest rates and encouraging investment spending and purchases of durable goods.”
Isn’t that interesting? My whole life I have been taught that the Roosevelt spending and the war got us out of the Great Depression. (Despite my mother arguing the opposite!) In fact, the National Bureau of Economic Research did a a study on the effect of the economy from military spending during World War II. They found that “military spending had virtually no effect”. Even if you do not accept such an argument, the stimulus presented in the 30’s and 40’s paled to what is being offered now- and my fear is that we’ve only just begun.
I do think that some of the New Deal programs had a positive economic impact merely for the motivation it gave melancholy unemployed workers. Massive groups of unhappy citizens are bad for democracy and create shaky policy, even revolutions; therefore, some government spending in this regard is appropriate- just not trillions of dollars.
There are clearly items such as stabilizing the credit market that need to be addressed- but wasn’t that what the $700 billion was for that we already spent? $700 billion we did not have? Now we are adding to it! To me it is outrageous. Do you all realize that with just this $700 billion you could give every American $3500 to spend how they wish? Doesn’t that put it in perspective!
Again, I recognize the need for some intervention and spending but I just think the stimulus plan and the budget are out of control. The fact is that before this our government was already in debt to China and other countries. Now we could end up as a pawn in their international games. I want a fiscally independent America. One that can look at this crisis and actually plan for a productive economy in the future- instead of building mountains of debt for future generations. Let’s have a little bit of perspective here and be willing to sacrifice pork programs (and even good but non-essential programs) for the plans that will truly build up the confidence and strength of Americans and our economy. I love this country and I want to see it succeed not flounder in wasteful debt!
Take a look at this video. It is admittedly right-wing but I think the statistics make some good points. To Senator Shumer- I am one of the chattering class, and I care:
The enemy is anybody who’s going to get you killed, no matter which side he’s on.
Joseph Heller- Catch 22
Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.
John Adams
I concluded an interesting experience this evening. It is always intriguing when I am presented with two contrasting views and then forced to reconcile my own feelings. This has happened to me regarding the subjects of patriotism, honor and courage. To begin with, I just finished reading the “classic” novel Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. At the same time I have been watching the new miniseries on John Adams based on the popular biography by David McCullough.
On first glance the two may seem completely different and to a certain extent they are ( Catch 22 being a dark comedy and John Adams a dramatic real life biography). Still, I could not ignore the contrast in philosophies the two stories bring up. In Catch 22 the main character Yossarian’s objective in life is to not fly missions, to not serve. His rational for this decision makes sense- the less he goes into battle, the greater his chances for survival. The now famous “catch 22″ by which the title gets its name (and the phrase was invented) refers to the idea that if a man wanted to fly more missions he’d be crazy; however, if he didn’t than he was sane and would have to fly the missions. It’s a circular argument that is interesting and certainly one I hope to never face.
Here is my problem with Heller’s book and the argument- how come honor, patriotism, the good of mankind, never even comes into play? There is not a single character in the novel with honor or courage. They are all simply trying to live. Surely in a battalion of men there would be a few soldiers who believed in the nobility of their task, who believed that freedom is worth paying the ultimate sacrifice for if needs be? In addition, what about those people that are not required to literally die but are asked to sacrifice their life in the form of their time, talents, energies and passions? What if all of these people took a Yossarian philosophy and did only the bare minimum- just enough to get by but not enough to make a real difference? Would this not have a terrible effect on our country?
In contrast I looked at the amazing life of John and Abigail Adams (as well as so many others featured in the film). They spent their entire life serving their fellow citizens. These missions put them in great physical harm and required personal hardships including separation from their children for years. Adams, Jefferson, Washington all were reluctant servants and yet they did it because they knew it was right. As much as I admire many politicians (and anyone who has talked to me knows I love politics!) I don’t think I know of one that could be called a reluctant servant.
Maybe I am too idealistic in my views but I feel this country was founded on the idea that individual citizens, individual voters would not only make wise decisions but would hold democracy and freedom above all else. I hope we are not as the characters in Catch 22- merely watching our own backs, making sure we come out ahead of everyone else. Look at the legacy of the early heroes, look what principles they taught generations through their sacrifice. It is difficult to deny that their courageous choices were nothing but of the highest importance. For example, if Washington had been selfish he could have become a King and been called “Your Highness” (Adams even put such a measure before congress). He refused, and we are all the better for it.
I am sure that if I was ever called into battle such choices would not be made lightly (as they are in Catch-22) but I hope I would have the courage needed to protect liberty. The only thing in my life that has been even a tiny bit similar to battle was my mission where everyday we were required to sacrifice time, family and home for a higher principle- for something I believe in strongly. During my mission I received great inspiration from the stories of the Mormon pioneers who sacrificed everything for religious freedom. I have always wondered if I could do what they did. I sincerely hope so. Just as I have a religious passion I also have a deep patriotic vein within me, and I hope like the many soldiers who have died to protect my country and freedoms I would be brave and do all that is required of me. Either way, I would like to think that the honorable route would be the most common- not the exception to the rule as in Catch 22.
I highly recommend watching the miniseries John Adams. It is remarkable on every level. The acting is superb- even in the small parts. The make up and costumes is some of the best I have ever seen. Before seeing the film I knew a bit about Washington, Hamilton, and particularly Jefferson; however, not much about Adams. I found it moving, personable, and non-vitriolic. In fact, all of the founding fathers except maybe Hamilton and Franklin, are portrayed in the film as simple men who served their country as best they could. This is what I expect out of myself and those around me each day. It is my greatest goal in life to live in a way that matters- that makes a difference for good. I am not perfect, and I certainly lead a small life; however, on occasion I have moments of decision, of integrity and faith. It is at these moments I pray that I think of future generations, of my loved ones, and of my country and hope I make the correct, if difficult choice.
One slight caution on the film- there is some adult content and I would recommend adults see it before children. I would actually feel comfortable showing most of it to older children and teenagers but it depends on the child. A few of the scenes including a surgery in the last film are tough to watch.
