Continued from previous post: See Let’s Fix the Problem, America! Part I
Government has a vital role in our society. However, when it begins encroaching on the future prosperity of individuals and corporations, when it starts picking winners and losers (heavily unionized industries, like the auto industry receives bailouts, Green industry receives stimulus funds, homeowners with underwater mortgages receive government-backed re-fi’s, while the coal industry faces impossible, expensive new regulations), government is overstepping its constitutional boundaries.
The federal government has no business performing unfair practices that include propping up certain sectors of the economy and punishing others. In a free society, the free market decides the winners and losers. Some government regulation is necessary to protect consumers against price-gauging and monopolies. But our government today is operating far outside their constitutional reach.
Our founders were no dummies. They knew that a government that governs best is one that governs least. Today, governance rules our lives and personal liberty is no longer a guaranteed right to all but a privilege for the few.
I would rather be poor and free….at risk and free…sick and free…than be at the mercy of an overbearing, all-controlling government. It was sentiments such as these that led our ancestors to break away from Great Britain. Sadly, too many Americans do not see the similarities between the days preceding the American Revolution and the situation our nation finds itself in today.
But unlike our revolutionary ancestors, we already have a form of government in place that guarantees our freedoms so our battle to restore those freedoms, restore capitalism and restore confidence in our economy and our future can and should take place at the voting booth.
It is imperative that we elect representatives, senators, governors, state houses, local officials and a president that don’t just mouth the words about defending our constitution but actually take their oaths seriously.
President Obama and a majority of congress have proven by their actions that the constitution is an annoyance they would rather not be bothered with. And far too many Americans either doesn’t understand what they are giving up or don’t care. In a free society, you are free to be ignorant. And ignorance is not a disqualification for voting. So we keep electing leaders that do our country harm.
The answer is education. If the threat to personal freedom is not a concern, perhaps the threat that the welfare/social security/government housing/food stamps/disability checks are threatened will make voters take notice and demand that our elected officials adhere to the principles of smaller government.
Lest voters worry that smaller government may translate to smaller entitlement checks, we can take a lesson from our current administration and congress and kick that can down the road a bit. There’s no doubt that all entitlement programs need serious reform.
But the fact that the money just won’t be there for entitlements is looming, stuck in the road, and can’t be kicked any further.
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Reblogged this on Boudica BPI Weblog.
Kicking that can down the road has now become that dog that don’t hunt. We are at the end of the line concerning the overall financial health of our America and once the funds dry up for entitlements then we will witness one of the bloodiest protests America has ever seen.
Sadly, it is no longer a matter of if but rather a matter of when.
Rome is Burning and nary a Democrat nor Republican seems ready to fight that fire.
We can kick the can long enough to to elect new people people THIS year. That’s about it. We need to change out these people, if they’ve forgotten who the boss is, they need to be fired, pretty much whoever is running against them.
I’d say dig around and find the one that don’t have the connections to raise megabucks and help them, they are more likely to be honest servants.
” I would rather be poor and free….at risk and free…sick and free…than be at the mercy of an overbearing, all-controlling government.”
Amen, Freedom! I wish more Americans felt that way. Americans were once known for their independence and their work ethic. Not today. I’m afrais.
All great ideas.
All, well and good.
Still,, NONE of it will work – sorry.
Why? I predict no one with any REAL power
Will ever do one constructive thing you listed, as a solution
This stuff was known to my grannie in 1970 when she watched “60 Minutes”
Nothing ever got done
Hell, we can’t even
blogroll each
other lol
Sadly…
I am sorry to be saying this….
Enough Americans are not going to wake up to the direness which is fast approaching (and has already swallowed up many) until more Americans are living under the bridge.
I’m serious with this comment.
The reality isn’t real enough. Yet.
Hi Freedom,
These posts are very thought-provoking and I definitely am in agreement on aspects of it. I don’t have time for a long response at the moment, but I will comment further in the next few days.
The biggest disappointment that I have learned in recent years is that our monetary system is not and never was intended to be in line with our constitution. Monetary architecture in the U.S. (and world) is currently being overhauled because you are right. It is unsustainable. For better or worse for you and me? We will have to see. But if businesses want consumers (they do). I think it will be better. Family values, though, you and I have alot of work ahead of us on that one
Have you watched the Money Masters? You can view it on Google. It’s a two part documentary that completely shifted how I see the bigger financial picture and informs the why I participate in our financial system. Let me know if you are able to check it out.
There is no doubt among all of us that work and pay taxes — who do not work for the government — that entitlements need to be reduced.
I agree, but Firepower’s cynicism has a certain merit. Nonetheless, I suspect he needs to think more about what just happened. In the last several years we have experience huge changes in the way we govern ourselves. These changes have been for the worst, but there is no reason why we cannot press back harder in the opposite direction. If that were not possible, there would be no United States and no United States Constitution.
What we need to consider is what would constitute a improvement in our education system. I think the answer is simple. Let parent choose where they send their children to school. Let state governments experiment in this matter without interference from the Federal Government.
Parental choice in education. That must be the civil rights issue of our day.