I hear a great many people complain that the nation's political system is too polarized. They say that as if Congress existed in a vacuum rather than as a reflection of the electorate. If the middle-of-the-road is hard to find, it's because the right and the left are on completely different highways.

     The Conservative Flyer leaves Union Station at 0800 traveling south at 45mph on track 9. The Liberal Express pulls out of the same station 15 minutes later going west at 65mph on track 7. At what time will both trains arrive at the Tropic of Capricorn? The answer is: the same time a consensus is reached on debts and spending.

     The truth is Americans have very different ideas about where the country is and where it ought to be going. Those differences are nearing the point of being irreconcilable. It has happened before. The question is, what happens this time? A peaceful, no-fault divorce is the contemporary thing to do. But, is liberal America open minded enough to "let the erring sisters depart in peace?" I doubt it. If they were they wouldn't think of representing themselves as the 99%. Conservatives are not simply the unconverted. We are the opposition. We are committed to our vision for the country.

     Jefferson was speaking of human nature not spouting political theory when he wrote:

     "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."

     Will history repeat itself? Time will tell.

Honest Illegals

Lies We Believe

               Some lies make life easier and who doesn’t like easy? Easy is what Man is all about. But, lies have a way of catching up to both tellers and believers. The notion that social welfare is compassionate is a lie. Social welfare programs, as practiced in America, are nothing more than a salve for the conscious of those too self-centered to be bothered with the poor. We draw an imaginary line and say—here’s some money. Now, go away. True constructive help never enters the picture. The reason for this is simple. Building productive people is time consuming, costly, and offers few positive results.

The culture of living on the government runs deep. Sparks of incentive are quickly extinguished; usually at the family level. I’m for helping the poor, but help with no teaching or responsibility attached is no solution. It serves only to prolong dependence and stifle effort. So, do we just boot everyone off welfare? No, but we do set goals for the day benefits stop. In medicine and nursing discharge planning starts on admission. Why not welfare? For those too disabled, mentally or physically, appoint independent guardians or mentors to manage benefits.

Granting independence is not the same thing as teaching it. A child with a credit card, even a limited one, needs instruction in its use. Want can be an excellent teacher, but not long term. We have an obligation to teach or stop enabling.

“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak…”

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”   

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are...?." When you take the devil's money; there's hell to pay. I hear the government is planning to restrict the number of potatoes kids eat at school. To be honest nothing the government dreams up surprises me these days. What troubles me is how easily people accept intrusion upon their lives.
When Christians suggest people "do what's best for them," we're trying to force our standards on everyone. But when Uncle Sam does it, like obedient puppies we all follow along. We darn well better go along with Sam; he's paying the bills and as long as we live under his roof...well, you know how the rest goes.
We are raising a generation indoctrinated in the proposition that government has the right to tell us all what to eat; what to weigh; what habits are bad; what advertisements are safe to see; which companies are too big to fail; and even whether or not we can get a toy with that Happy Meal.
I don't know the answer to the question: "How stupid can a person be?" I've done some study on it, but haven't found the bottom. However, I can tell you exactly where the government is driving the herd--into the branding pen.
"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind...Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."