On September 11, 2001, my father was in South Carolina on a business trip. I was driving to campus at Tarleton State as the towers were being hit. I think I heard the news of the second hit as I arrived on campus. My world hist prof was cynical about the American response (I imagine he is still today).
All I remember is being alone. I did not have television reception, so I could not get a visual of what actually happened. I called Mom at the high school (which I never did) to check on Dad. I didn't know if this was going to be an attack on the eastern seaboard or what was happening. I couldn't stand it. I skipped the rest of my classes for the day and drove home. Normally I would have gone directly to pick up my baby sister at the sitter's just a couple of driveways down. But I had to see what happened. I had only heard people describe it, but I could not imagine it for myself.
Seven years later, I still can't imagine it. I know it happened. I watch reruns of Friends and see footage of the Twin Towers and make a mental observation that they are no longer there. But I can't still imagine it.
How does the skyline of the most major city in the world get completely changed like that? How does the Pentagon, the greatest architectural demonstration of American strength, get hit by an airplane? How does a randomly place group of people ban together for the good of others to keep a fourth plane from destroying another American building and killing additional American lives?
How can anyone hate another so much that they hijack 4 planes intending to kill thousands of people? How does this happen?
More important, how have we been able to respond to this with such calm and compassion and care? Look at the coverage of the anniversary and see the compassion of everyone involved. We are Americans. We were attacked. I didn't know anyone affected, and I live in Texas. Who's going to attack Clifton or Waco?
Americans come together. Not for any gain. Only to support those that lost a loved one. Only to show our resolve.
Yes, two wars have come of this. But we have only gone after the horrid rulers that hate and wanted to destroy America. We have and continue to help rebuild their countries to leave them better than before we intruded.
Seven years later I am finally writing down my thoughts of September 11th. I now understand the importance of recognizing each year what happened in 2001. No hatred like this should ever be allowed to happen again. By recognizing the events and the loss each year, maybe we can remember why we are Americans!
May God bless America.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
America DOES NOT Need to Change
I am tired of hearing from the Democratic party that American needs change and Obama is going to be the one to do it.
America DOES NOT need to change. America is the freeist and greatest nation in the world. Americans are the most ambitious resourceful people. More opportunities (even those afforded to Obama) are available to the average citizen in America than any other place in the world. There is no greater place on earth than the United States of America!
America DOES NOT need to change. America's GOVERNMENT needs to return to its true form and proper role. See my previous posting. The federal government needs to get its controlling fingers out of our day to day lives and out of free enterprise. The federal government needs to allow the citizens (the rulers) to keep their hard earned income so they can pursue their American dream, instead of taking money and providing services at diminished value. STOP penalizing those who have been successful, allow those with money to put that money back into the economy. Give the people back the power to make decision for themselves!
Government NEEDS to change. The Democratic party won't allow any of this to happen. The Democratic party will continue to cause lower economic class to fight with the upper economic class. The Democratic party will continue to bride the middle economic class. The Democratic party will continue to increase social (socialist) services at a diminished value! The Democratic party will cause us to pay more to get less. The Democratic party will take away the right of the individual to make the best decisions for themselves.
The Democratic party wants to make the American people the subjects instead of the rulers! I will not become a slave to the demands of the government!
Give me liberty or give me death!
Again I refer you to my post "Where Responsibility Lies".
America DOES NOT need to change. America is the freeist and greatest nation in the world. Americans are the most ambitious resourceful people. More opportunities (even those afforded to Obama) are available to the average citizen in America than any other place in the world. There is no greater place on earth than the United States of America!
America DOES NOT need to change. America's GOVERNMENT needs to return to its true form and proper role. See my previous posting. The federal government needs to get its controlling fingers out of our day to day lives and out of free enterprise. The federal government needs to allow the citizens (the rulers) to keep their hard earned income so they can pursue their American dream, instead of taking money and providing services at diminished value. STOP penalizing those who have been successful, allow those with money to put that money back into the economy. Give the people back the power to make decision for themselves!
Government NEEDS to change. The Democratic party won't allow any of this to happen. The Democratic party will continue to cause lower economic class to fight with the upper economic class. The Democratic party will continue to bride the middle economic class. The Democratic party will continue to increase social (socialist) services at a diminished value! The Democratic party will cause us to pay more to get less. The Democratic party will take away the right of the individual to make the best decisions for themselves.
The Democratic party wants to make the American people the subjects instead of the rulers! I will not become a slave to the demands of the government!
Give me liberty or give me death!
Again I refer you to my post "Where Responsibility Lies".
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Where Responsibility Lies
As you can tell the two previous posts, my main argument is where responsibility lies. This is the issue that is being avoided. Democrats do not like the argument, and Republicans are too distracted or unknowledgeable to make this key issue the center of the discussion.
Responsibility in the United States does not ultimately lie in the hands of the government.
Responsibility and power ultimately lies in the hands of the citizens of the United States. Ultimately, we each as individuals have the responsibility for ourselves and for the country.
Conservativism holds and believes that it is the responsibility of the federal government as the collective body of the United States to provide these services specifically identify to it in the Constitution (along with the amendments). Beyond these responsibilities enumerated in the Constitution, it is the individual's responsibility and duty to take care of individual, familiar, and community needs.
Individuals are first responsible for themselves, providing for their own needs and desires. They are then responsible to meet the needs of their family and dependents. If an individual is not able to meet these responsibilities it is next the responsibility of that individual's family to aide them. In the same situation, the neighbor should have a responsibility in the absence of family. The capable individual is responsible to help along with their neighbors for the need of their community.
This chain of responsibility must not and need not to include the federal government. They should be meet by local means, which may even include local and state government. This is the purpose of the federal-state governing system. Local public and private means are crucial.
But we have lost this concept. If there is a problem, people look straight to the federal government. If a parent does not properly raise their child, the solution is sought within the federal government instead of within the family or community. If unemployment rises and the economy is in decline, the solution is sought through federal government and macro regulation instead of local and micro intervention.
The best place to seek solutions is at the most local level. A solution in Texas may not be the best solution in Vermont. A solution in Los Angeles probably will not fix a problem in El Dorado, Arkansas. An issue of concern might not need the same fix for someone in the affluent part of town as the poorer part of town.
There is a place for the federal government, just as there is a place for state and local governments. But government is not by default the solution source. We should look within our own means as individuals and neighbors to find solutions. Examples of this can be found in churches and other religious institutions, non-profit organizations, corporate sponsorship, private enterprise, and entrepreneurship.
We as individuals are free to accomplish anything we choose for ourselves. Together we are the rulers and not the ones being ruled. Why would we want to give up this that the founding Fathers and original patriots fought? The federal government should defend our nation from foreign enemies, protect our individual rights and freedoms from domestic enemies, and to guarantee these unalienable rights and freedoms for the generations to come.
It is a weakness and a fault to rely on the federal government for anything else. It is a voluntary degradation of our society to forfeit our own individual authority provided by our Creator to a lower authority that is the federal government. The authority, rights, and freedoms are ours to be used for our own and our neighbors' best interest. If we return to this fundamental principle, our societal problems will diminish, individuals will be empowered, families will strengthen, and the condition of our communities become whole and united again.
Responsibility in the United States does not ultimately lie in the hands of the government.
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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
--United States of America's Declaration of Independence (www.ushistory.org)
Responsibility and power ultimately lies in the hands of the citizens of the United States. Ultimately, we each as individuals have the responsibility for ourselves and for the country.
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
--Constitution of the United State of America (www.ushistory.org)
Conservativism holds and believes that it is the responsibility of the federal government as the collective body of the United States to provide these services specifically identify to it in the Constitution (along with the amendments). Beyond these responsibilities enumerated in the Constitution, it is the individual's responsibility and duty to take care of individual, familiar, and community needs.
Individuals are first responsible for themselves, providing for their own needs and desires. They are then responsible to meet the needs of their family and dependents. If an individual is not able to meet these responsibilities it is next the responsibility of that individual's family to aide them. In the same situation, the neighbor should have a responsibility in the absence of family. The capable individual is responsible to help along with their neighbors for the need of their community.
This chain of responsibility must not and need not to include the federal government. They should be meet by local means, which may even include local and state government. This is the purpose of the federal-state governing system. Local public and private means are crucial.
But we have lost this concept. If there is a problem, people look straight to the federal government. If a parent does not properly raise their child, the solution is sought within the federal government instead of within the family or community. If unemployment rises and the economy is in decline, the solution is sought through federal government and macro regulation instead of local and micro intervention.
The best place to seek solutions is at the most local level. A solution in Texas may not be the best solution in Vermont. A solution in Los Angeles probably will not fix a problem in El Dorado, Arkansas. An issue of concern might not need the same fix for someone in the affluent part of town as the poorer part of town.
There is a place for the federal government, just as there is a place for state and local governments. But government is not by default the solution source. We should look within our own means as individuals and neighbors to find solutions. Examples of this can be found in churches and other religious institutions, non-profit organizations, corporate sponsorship, private enterprise, and entrepreneurship.
We as individuals are free to accomplish anything we choose for ourselves. Together we are the rulers and not the ones being ruled. Why would we want to give up this that the founding Fathers and original patriots fought? The federal government should defend our nation from foreign enemies, protect our individual rights and freedoms from domestic enemies, and to guarantee these unalienable rights and freedoms for the generations to come.
It is a weakness and a fault to rely on the federal government for anything else. It is a voluntary degradation of our society to forfeit our own individual authority provided by our Creator to a lower authority that is the federal government. The authority, rights, and freedoms are ours to be used for our own and our neighbors' best interest. If we return to this fundamental principle, our societal problems will diminish, individuals will be empowered, families will strengthen, and the condition of our communities become whole and united again.
Future of Energy
My friend included discussion of children the future of energy use and future availability, and here is my specific response to this issue:
On the particular issue of energy, everyone wants to provide energy that is inexpensive and not damaging the earth. We are approaching the ability to attain efficient and effective use of renewable, non-polluting energy, but we ARE NOT there yet. The debate is how do we get there. In my opinion, we are still in need of a transition from carbon-based to renewable energy. And just as important, we need to become self-sufficient. While we transition, we must become self-sufficient and remain self-sufficient.
And again, it is not the responsibility of the government to make these changes but the responsibility of the American people and free enterprise. As consumers demand more renewable energy use, the producers will develop and provide those products and services.
On the particular issue of energy, everyone wants to provide energy that is inexpensive and not damaging the earth. We are approaching the ability to attain efficient and effective use of renewable, non-polluting energy, but we ARE NOT there yet. The debate is how do we get there. In my opinion, we are still in need of a transition from carbon-based to renewable energy. And just as important, we need to become self-sufficient. While we transition, we must become self-sufficient and remain self-sufficient.
And again, it is not the responsibility of the government to make these changes but the responsibility of the American people and free enterprise. As consumers demand more renewable energy use, the producers will develop and provide those products and services.
Responsibility to Children
A friend of mine expressed concern that both parties do not fully appreciated government's role in the lives of America's children. In general, the Democratic party does not recognize a child's unalienable right to be born, and the Republican party does not recognize government's responsibility is their welfare. Here was my response:
With all respect, the philosophy of the Republican party and conservativism is to empower parents to raise their children and to provide for their children and to maintain the parents' responsibility. It is not the government's responsibility to take care of children. Yes, more services need to be provided to the underprivileged, but that is not the responsible of the government. Just as McCain called for during his acceptance speech, it is the responsibility of the American people through private organizations just as the church used to do.
The question is where the responsibility lies. It is not the responsibility of the government. It is the responsibility of each and every American citizen. It is the fault of the American people for these problems. By accusing government of not providing these services, we are collectively denying our each, God-given responsibility.
With all respect, the philosophy of the Republican party and conservativism is to empower parents to raise their children and to provide for their children and to maintain the parents' responsibility. It is not the government's responsibility to take care of children. Yes, more services need to be provided to the underprivileged, but that is not the responsible of the government. Just as McCain called for during his acceptance speech, it is the responsibility of the American people through private organizations just as the church used to do.
The question is where the responsibility lies. It is not the responsibility of the government. It is the responsibility of each and every American citizen. It is the fault of the American people for these problems. By accusing government of not providing these services, we are collectively denying our each, God-given responsibility.
Government CANNOT make your life better
Obama, fresh out of his interview with Bill O'Reilly, came out and said that he and Biden will talk about how the Obama administration will make Americans' lives better!
Government CANNOT make anyone's life better. There are only two things that government can do: make you dependent on government services (by taking all of you money) or by allowing you to make choices for yourself and keep your own money, therefore empowering your own version of the American dream (the pursuit of happiness).
Do not believe is populism (progressive income tax) and socialism (social security, universal/nationalized healthcare). Yes, I know those can be "big" words. The Democratic Party is about class warfare and government control!
Less government, the better!!!!!!
Government CANNOT make anyone's life better. There are only two things that government can do: make you dependent on government services (by taking all of you money) or by allowing you to make choices for yourself and keep your own money, therefore empowering your own version of the American dream (the pursuit of happiness).
Do not believe is populism (progressive income tax) and socialism (social security, universal/nationalized healthcare). Yes, I know those can be "big" words. The Democratic Party is about class warfare and government control!
Less government, the better!!!!!!
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