Republicans in the 2012 election cycle are overwhelmingly rejecting Libertarian ideas, going so far as to side with the media in declaring them 'outside of the mainstream'. By and large, the buzz words of the new era of the GOP are "Conservative" and "Tea Party". A simple look into the usage of these terms better illustrates how the GOP has strayed so far from its principles, and why the GOP needs to embrace what it once was.
The 'TEA Party' was a movement started out of the libertarian ideas of sound monetary policy, focusing on ending or auditing the federal reserve and reducing or eliminating the income tax. The Tax Day Tea Parties held in April of 2009, where the TEA Party was birthed, the acronym 'TEA' was used for 'Taxed Enough Already'. The name Tea Party was then created as an historical reference to the revolutionaries of the late 18th century in the American colonies. As such, the Tea Party founding was one of fiscal libertarianism. However, the growth in popularity of the TEA Party and the usage of the Tea Party by the GOP as the crutch to get it out of the 2008 slump muddied the message and the Tea Party became nothing more than an active wing of the GOP establishment. Nothing more.
So the focus needs to be placed on the other buzz word - Conservative. When discussing 'Conservative Candidates', the media and the GOP as a whole is talking about Social Conservatism. Social Conservatism is the deeply held belief in the traditional structure of social issues; Marriage is between one man and one woman; Abortions are immoral; Religion is a key tenant in moral character. To be a Social Conservative is one thing, but to legislate as a Social Conservative takes on another beast all its own... and THIS is why the GOP is distancing itself from Libertarianism.
A Social Conservative will believe in a traditional marriage as an important piece to social structure, child rearing, etc. This is a great belief to have. It can be argued that it is morally upright to follow the Judeo/Christian norms and to embrace the traditional family structure. However, Conservatism begins to conflict with Liberty when Morals are Dictated or Legislated.
The Libertarian may believe the same as the Social Conservative, but voting and leading as a Libertarian they will ensure that the government and the multitude of people do not impede the Natural Right for a person to peaceably pursue happiness. They may not agree with the lifestyle, but they will defend the right for the same-sex couple to live an alternate belief from the Social Conservative crowd.
The power struggle between the left and the right has largely become about legislating morality and less about what is right under the Constitution and the Natural Inalienable Rights endowed by our creator.
The Republican Party used to be the party of smaller government, less intrusion, less taxation. The New Republican Party, instead, dictates morality, forcing a way of life (Social Conservatism) onto a people who simply do not share the same beliefs. It is this constant thumping that has caused the important message of the GOP to be lost in the fray - Less taxes, less government, less spending, strength of nation. The Republicans should embrace their Libertarian roots and stop trying to legislate morality, lest they desire to remain the lesser extreme of the Democratic Party.
Showing posts with label libertarian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label libertarian. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
How the Elephants Died - an Essay on the Broken Republican Party
In 2008, after eight years of George W. Bush, after having lost the House and the Senate, after having lost many State houses and Governorships, the Republican Party teetered on the edge of becoming a long term minority party in the United States. It was not because the Democratic Party had necessarily done anything special to change themselves, nor had they damaged the GOP in some manner as to deal a death blow. Quite the opposite, actually. It was the Republican Party that had been faltering from within.After the crushing losses of 2008 the pundits began to ask the question, “What now for the GOP?” What they were asking had less to do with strategy and more to do with message. What did the GOP stand for? Who were the GOP leaders? The horrible primary set-up a GOP ticket which fronted a liberal Arizona Senator and a half-term unknown Governor from the 3rd least populated State. The GOP was deeply divided after the primary, and there was a large lack of enthusiasm for McCain as the leader of the party, or the nation. During the election, the GOP ticket seemed to be splitting as well, with the Governor of Alaska “Going Rogue” in defiance of the leadership of the Arizona Senator. After the election the depth and breadth of the divide was so obvious that to ask the question about the future of the GOP was not uncalled for.
The state of the Party at that time was one where the party leader and outgoing President, backed by the Party itself, had drastically veered from the “small government/limited government” doctrine which defined its surging success in recent years. No, the Party had lurched so far to the left that figure heads within the party defended the constant erosion of liberties and the perpetual borrowing and bail-outs as staples to the values of the party itself. Perpetual war, Patriot Act, wireless taps, bail-outs, federal healthcare/prescription drugs, No Child Left Behind. The party of limited government was responsible for the largest growth of the (non-essential) government in the history of the United States. After losing power in the executive and legislative branches, the party was at war with itself for what it had done, suffering from a crisis of identity.
During this crisis, however, there was a splinter group within the party which had laid the groundwork for the coming election cycle. The energetic and overly enthusiastic supporters of Ron Paul in 2008 had effected a tone within the party discussion, raising the issue of liberty. The big government GOP leaders were so put off by this message that Paul and his supporters were actually blocked from the national GOP convention. This group of the small Libertarian wing of the ‘Big Tent Party’ splintered from the GOP, holding their own Liberty Convention, where they put in place a long term strategy to retake the Republican Party.
As the Republican establishment selected new leadership and tried to scrape together a message, there was a movement already underfoot, planning Liberty Rallies on Tax day. The general message of the rallies was Liberty, low taxes, and a change to the monetary system. It was the Tea Party. The newly elected left was so afraid of the quick organization and the multitude of rallies across the nation that they immediately went into panic mode, claiming that the Liberty minded rallies were racist or terrorist in nature. The GOP establishment was so disconnected that they did not claim affiliation with the organizations spreading their message across America on Tax Day. This “radical element” was the organization of the Libertarian movement, the Campaign for Liberty. The success of the ‘Tax Day Tea Parties’ did not belong to the established GOP, however, after the movement began to swell in numbers the GOP began to approach the rag-tag leadership with an offer to take the Liberty movement under the wing of the Republican Establishment. As such, the GOP rested its momentum heading into the 2010 elections on the Tea Party. The strength of the Tea Party was brought into question on primary election day, and overwhelmingly the GOP establishment candidates were ousted in favor of the Libertarian Tea Party Conservatives. The narrative of 2010 was, then, that the GOP was now being led by the Tea Party, and as such the Republican Party could only retain the established leadership under the banner of this liberty movement.
After the unprecedented resurgence of the once dead GOP in 2010, the strategy of the established Republican leadership was to retain the talking points of the movement while dismantling the structure and ability of the Tea Party to splinter from the ‘Big Tent’. It was, after all, floated as an idea that the Tea Party itself could actually become a formidable third party, challenging the Republicans for top-tier status against a unified Democratic Party. Such a move, of course, would have ensured Democratic majority in 2012 and beyond. So the GOP establishment took the Tea Party congressmen and senators into their fold, and moved quickly to marginalize the Tea Party movement itself. By mid-2011 it was clear that the Tea Party had been so over-run by the mainstream GOP that the movement was dead under the moniker “Tea Party”. What began as a liberty movement quickly became a social conservative movement with no clear message of opposition. The message of small government, lower taxes, and individual liberty which defined the Tea Party became talking points for established moderate Republicans. The waters were so muddied that the mention of the Tea Party no longer represents a sect of the GOP, rather some ambiguous affiliation from within the Republican Party. You no longer hear about Tea Party candidates heading into the 2012 election cycle, rather you hear about whether voters identify with the Tea party. But I ask you, what does it mean to identify with the Tea Party in 2012? What is the party’s message? You are unable to answer because the GOP successfully dismantled the movement while simultaneously absorbing their talking points. The movement was no longer deemed a threat.
The fractures of 2008 began to reappear in the GOP during the selection of the presidential candidates in 2011. As the party began the process of identifying the next generation of leadership, so returned the animosity of the 2008 election cycle. The media scrambled to identify the leader of the Tea Party movement while the GOP establishment held their breath hoping none would arise. Sarah Palin was the media darling, mostly because of her atypical moves after losing the election in 2008. Michelle Bachmann was a very vocal member of the Tea Party, but lacked the excitement of Sarah Palin, and who could not get her endorsement for the ‘female amongst the males’ spot in the 2012 run. Other first term names were favored by the media, such as Marco Rubio and Rand Paul. It was becoming clear that the incorporation of the Tea party into the GOP had so diluted the movement that when the time came for the Tea Party to front their leader as a challenger to the GOP establishment candidate, the movement found it had been so love-struck with the recognition of the GOP that it was no longer a movement unto itself. It had no leadership. It had no message.
Seeing a sign of weakness from the Tea Party movement, who had developed into an active staging ground for the social conservative wing of the GOP and less of a true liberty movement, the Conservatives began their quest to identify and run a “True Conservative” candidate. Large bands of Conservative Republicans attempted grassroots draft campaigns for Governors from Indiana, Texas, New Jersey, as well as a fleet of Senators and Congressmen. Each draft campaign attempted to sway opinion in favor of their candidate as the Truest “True Conservative”. As the field winnowed, however, even the definition of a “True Conservative” was sullied, tarnished by conservative talking points that do not actually resemble the left-moderate actions which they were being used to describe. The Conservatives, as well, had been marginalized.
Then there are the 2008 hold-overs. Most notably Mitt Romney, who made a calculated decision to yield the 2008 race to McCain after South Carolina, and go directly into 2012 campaign mode. Mitt Romney, who maintained the campaign presence in the early voting states, was identified as one of those who was expected to run and was identified as an early front-runner. His campaign represents the ideas of the moderate-left lurch of the established GOP, and a continuation of those ideals of the ‘Neo Conservative’ era of the Republican Party.
The second hold-over is Texas Congressman Ron Paul, the Libertarian who was blacklisted from the GOP in 2008. Paul’s brand of Republicanism is the Goldwater/Jeffersonian Libertarianism. His strategy was much the same as Romney’s: stay in the early voting states and build a movement with which to roll through them in 2012. He was hated by GOP establishment and feared by the media. His followers were branded, as he was, as being out of touch. But then came the economic collapse. Then came the continued wars under Obama. Then came the financial disasters of the fiat currency system. And the media turned to the one man who had not only predicted the downfall, but was actively building a movement of educating the public to the extent of the failings. His movement, the Campaign for Liberty, gave life to the Tea Party and the GOP wins in 2010. Paul’s decision to enter the Presidential race gave the Liberty Movement a validated and tested leader, and this put fear back into the heart of the GOP. Paul’s early numbers and successes were dismissed as ‘Paul-bot anomalies’, and he was written off as a candidate out-of-touch (again) and unelectable. He was targeted by the media for blacklisting, and painted as outside of the party norm by the GOP. But Paul’s numbers continue to grow, his Campaign for Liberty continues to reach the voting bloc in charge of the future of the party – the youth vote. Where the Tea party movement failed, the original campaign for liberty strategy devised by Paul in 2008 had succeeded, and the Libertarian’s have a movement underway within the GOP.
We turned the calendar to 2012, the election year. We are under the thumb of an unpopular President, a Democrat who is easily beaten should an organized opposition show itself. Herein lies the rub. The fractures made visible in 2008 were never truly fixed, and now we see a Republican party so broken that it is becoming ever impossible to repair, re-establish, and retake the battlefield. The GOP is not organized. It has no leadership. The Tea Party has failed, and the message marginalized. The Social Conservative movement has failed, and the message marginalized. So what is left is a bloody power struggle between the Neo-Conservative elements of the establishment, both sides fighting so viciously to implement their brand of moderate leftism under the brand “Republican”. We see a Republican battle in which the majority has been fooled by the talking points, by the stolen message of the Liberty movement and the Conservative movement. The leaders of the GOP promote a continued growing of the government, increased erosion of liberties (such as the NDAA, SOPA, etc), increased spending, and perpetual war while at the same time using talking points about increasing liberty, reducing debt, cutting spending, and securing Americans by not backing down from saber rattling. The message is unorganized, it does not make sense. The Republican brand has somehow become no different from the Democratic brand, save a few minor means to the ends – but in both cases the end is the same.
When Republicans act like Republicans we win. When we act like Democrats, they win.
As the infighting intensifies, all eyes are on Ron Paul and his growing Campaign for Liberty. There is daily talk about Paul’s brand of Libertarianism splintering from the GOP. With it, Paul will take a national 10-15% of the GOP – those who learned the lesson from his movement and those who are simply tired of the heated divide in the Party. A Ron Paul third party run is the Tea Party splinter nightmare held by the GOP after the 2010 groundswell. But this time the GOP has no control. The movement has a leader. The leader has a brand. The brand has a following that transcends party lines, drawing support from the fiscal right and the anti-war left as well as liberty minded independents. The big story of the 2012 election is going to be the political landscape left behind by the Ron Paul Campaign for Liberty and the lasting effects of a movement within the GOP or established as a third party.
The GOP cannot contain the core of this movement, the Libertarians.The atmosphere is ripe for a fracture of the party. The stress of an undefined party to define itself, a party who is historically on the conservative-right but who has recently lurched moderate-left, a party who has largely gone without a notable figurehead, without any true leadership for too long is the stress that continue to fracture the party from within. The squelching of the conservative right and the ignoring of the libertarian movement threaten a party so divided against itself that it will not beat this sitting President nor will it retain control of the either chamber of congress, no matter which Moderate-Leftist you prop up on Election Day. What we are witnessing may be the end of the ‘Big Tent’ GOP, where libertarians and social conservatives need not apply, where they are catered to during elections but ignored while in power. The minority blocs of the GOP are growing wise to the new Republican brand. They are growing less patient with the lurch and less tolerant of the lip-service. The Party has moved past the crossroads and is heading full-speed toward the political cliff. This may very well be the narrative on how the mighty elephant died.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Why "They" Are Scared of Libertarians
Ron Paul stated in his New Hampshire speech, "They're scared of us because we're dangerous to the status-quo." Who are 'they' and what was Ron Paul, the figure head for the Libertarian movement within the GOP, talking about?
Libertarianism is a political philosophy aimed at making decisions based on a simple principle - personal responsibility and limited government intervention. It is greatly misunderstood and misconstrued by pundits, stirring the sheep into a frenzy, but when asked one-on-one you will find that a majority of Americans are actually Libertarian minded. The political right brands Libertarians as "pro-drug, anti-war lefties". The political left brands Libertarians as "ultra-right-wing extremists bent on taking away government handouts." The brilliance of these labels is that they are both right, and THIS is what the political dividers fear.
We are in a political circus where the change in leadership does nothing to adjust the course of this nation. We are marching steadily to the beat of a drummer taking us into a fiery pit. The GOP and the Dems have done little in the past fifty plus years to correct our course, rather we continue the same game of political wife swapping.
Both political parties, backed by their super-wealthy donors (media and banking elites), have the same agenda: American Imperialism and Absolute Government Control. Even Obama's 'Hope and Change' was no match for the momentum of the true powers of this nation (and the world). His continuation and escalation of foreign wars was a direct continuation of the Bush foreign policy of Nation Building and preemptive warfare, which was the direct continuation of Clinton's foreign policy of Nation Building and World Policing, which was a direct continuation of Bush Sr's foreign policy of Nation Building and World Policing, which was a direct continuation of Reagan's foreign policy of foreign interventionism and World Policing against the Soviets, which was a continuation of Carter's much weaker but still present foreign policy of foreign interventionism and World Policing, which was a direct continuation of Ford's foreign policy... You get the point? Since the dawn of this nation the US has been involved in foreign wars and colonialism. At first it was "Manifest Destiny" that drove the Americans westward, causing mass devastation to a population of natives already settled in the land. After the continental empire was complete, the US became heavily involved in the far east in the later half of the 19th century, directly influencing the events building up to the two World Wars. Post WWII the US military industrial complex was so grand that even Gen. and President Eisenhower warned the US about in his farewell address in 1961. Most recently, over the last ten years, the US population has seen a drastic erosion of the basic civil liberties and a perversion of power by the ruling elite - both parties blaming the other, but neither doing anything to actually stop it. Economically and Socially, both parties are power-hungry leviathans with no real interest in healing the nation or taking up the cause of liberty. They are the status-quo.
Ron Paul said it best, "We do need change in this country - but not something new, something that already existed." What he means is that the cause of Libertarianism is not one of fundamental changes in America, rather a return to liberties that were defined at our founding.
The powers that be, the political parties, fear the idea of Libertarianism because the government has grown "too large to fail".
For the GOP, any Libertarian talk of reducing the size of the US overseas presence, ending foreign wars, and putting an end to Nation Building is seen as a threat to the NeoConservative movement that has become the GOP. Drastically cutting spending, ending power grabs and the Patriot Act... all seen as 'threats to national security' by the GOP security/war hawks. How can we ever be safe if the government doesn't regulate and police our every move? This is the GOP. These are the things they do not want to give up.
For the Democrats, any Libertarian talk of reducing government handouts, eliminating unconstitutional departments at the Federal level, and scaling back government intervention into private business and affairs is seen as a threat to the Socialist/Populist movement that has become the Democratic Party. Cutting trillions in spending, phasing out the hand-outs, and returning responsibility to the individual is seen as a threat to the "New Deal Society" aimed at providing a safety net and retirement check for every US citizen (and now world citizen, it appears). How can we ever survive if the government is not there to feed and clothe us? These are the Democrats. These are the things they do not want to give up.
And so they dance their little dances, make their backroom deals, and at every turn each multimillionaire in power becomes a little richer and a little more power hungry. They live by their own set of rules and governances whilst we are subject to their dominion. They are two sides of the same turd... and you all know the old idiom about polishing a turd.
And so they fear the idea that we may have to repay our debts. They fear the concept of increased liberty and personal responsibility. They spread fear and lies of chaos without their "protection" or their "safety net".
They are afraid of letting go of their power. And so they fear the people standing up for the cause of liberty.
Libertarianism is a political philosophy aimed at making decisions based on a simple principle - personal responsibility and limited government intervention. It is greatly misunderstood and misconstrued by pundits, stirring the sheep into a frenzy, but when asked one-on-one you will find that a majority of Americans are actually Libertarian minded. The political right brands Libertarians as "pro-drug, anti-war lefties". The political left brands Libertarians as "ultra-right-wing extremists bent on taking away government handouts." The brilliance of these labels is that they are both right, and THIS is what the political dividers fear.
We are in a political circus where the change in leadership does nothing to adjust the course of this nation. We are marching steadily to the beat of a drummer taking us into a fiery pit. The GOP and the Dems have done little in the past fifty plus years to correct our course, rather we continue the same game of political wife swapping.
Both political parties, backed by their super-wealthy donors (media and banking elites), have the same agenda: American Imperialism and Absolute Government Control. Even Obama's 'Hope and Change' was no match for the momentum of the true powers of this nation (and the world). His continuation and escalation of foreign wars was a direct continuation of the Bush foreign policy of Nation Building and preemptive warfare, which was the direct continuation of Clinton's foreign policy of Nation Building and World Policing, which was a direct continuation of Bush Sr's foreign policy of Nation Building and World Policing, which was a direct continuation of Reagan's foreign policy of foreign interventionism and World Policing against the Soviets, which was a continuation of Carter's much weaker but still present foreign policy of foreign interventionism and World Policing, which was a direct continuation of Ford's foreign policy... You get the point? Since the dawn of this nation the US has been involved in foreign wars and colonialism. At first it was "Manifest Destiny" that drove the Americans westward, causing mass devastation to a population of natives already settled in the land. After the continental empire was complete, the US became heavily involved in the far east in the later half of the 19th century, directly influencing the events building up to the two World Wars. Post WWII the US military industrial complex was so grand that even Gen. and President Eisenhower warned the US about in his farewell address in 1961. Most recently, over the last ten years, the US population has seen a drastic erosion of the basic civil liberties and a perversion of power by the ruling elite - both parties blaming the other, but neither doing anything to actually stop it. Economically and Socially, both parties are power-hungry leviathans with no real interest in healing the nation or taking up the cause of liberty. They are the status-quo.
Ron Paul said it best, "We do need change in this country - but not something new, something that already existed." What he means is that the cause of Libertarianism is not one of fundamental changes in America, rather a return to liberties that were defined at our founding.
The powers that be, the political parties, fear the idea of Libertarianism because the government has grown "too large to fail".
For the GOP, any Libertarian talk of reducing the size of the US overseas presence, ending foreign wars, and putting an end to Nation Building is seen as a threat to the NeoConservative movement that has become the GOP. Drastically cutting spending, ending power grabs and the Patriot Act... all seen as 'threats to national security' by the GOP security/war hawks. How can we ever be safe if the government doesn't regulate and police our every move? This is the GOP. These are the things they do not want to give up.
For the Democrats, any Libertarian talk of reducing government handouts, eliminating unconstitutional departments at the Federal level, and scaling back government intervention into private business and affairs is seen as a threat to the Socialist/Populist movement that has become the Democratic Party. Cutting trillions in spending, phasing out the hand-outs, and returning responsibility to the individual is seen as a threat to the "New Deal Society" aimed at providing a safety net and retirement check for every US citizen (and now world citizen, it appears). How can we ever survive if the government is not there to feed and clothe us? These are the Democrats. These are the things they do not want to give up.
And so they dance their little dances, make their backroom deals, and at every turn each multimillionaire in power becomes a little richer and a little more power hungry. They live by their own set of rules and governances whilst we are subject to their dominion. They are two sides of the same turd... and you all know the old idiom about polishing a turd.
And so they fear the idea that we may have to repay our debts. They fear the concept of increased liberty and personal responsibility. They spread fear and lies of chaos without their "protection" or their "safety net".
They are afraid of letting go of their power. And so they fear the people standing up for the cause of liberty.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Alaskan Libertarian Party Offers Nomination to Murkowski?
Did I miss something? Liberal Republican incumbent Murkowski was offered a nomination by the Libertarian Party of Alaska if she could not overcome Tea Party candidate Joe Miller's 2.5% primary election lead. Other than to ensure a possible Libertarian (in name only) Senator, I cannot, for the life of me, guess as to why they would do this. Why would the Libertarians endorse an established know-nothing RINO?
It is such a crazy story that we are talking about it down here in Seattle!
It is such a crazy story that we are talking about it down here in Seattle!
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Price of the "Big Tent" Revealed
If I wasn't clear before, let me be perfectly clear now: SUPPORTING LIBERAL REPUBLICANS (aka RINO's or "Moderates") FOR 'BIG TENT' STRATEGY IS ABSOLUTE INSANITY.
Gingrich, Steele, and many others backed the NY Congressional House District 23 Republican Scozzafava, a self proclaimed Moderate Republican. On the surface this seems harmless enough, but once one delves into her true colors, it is any wonder why she is a Republican at all.
HD23 in New York has been held by Republicans for 120 years. It is a conservative stronghold in a liberal state. To win in HD23, you must be a Republican. In this case, democrats are disguising themselves as republicans in order to win votes, and even using party rules and assemblies to win support of the party without the electorate's support of the values which they represent.
Scozzafava the "Republican" was anti-gun, pro-abortion, pro-govt. healthcare, pro-Obama... which is no wonder why Charles Schumer and Rahm Emanuel successfully counseled her to support THE DEMOCRAT in the race after withdrawing over the weekend. That is right, the "moderate" Scozzafava endorsed the very liberal Democrat Bill Owens over the NY Conservative Party candidate Douglas Hoffman.
I reject the argument that we should embrace moderates where conservatives can't win to "build a big tent"...lest we end up with liberals where a conservative best represents the republican values.
To be a Liberty Republican is not to be a radical Right Wing Extremist. Rather it is to embrace the radical concept of freedom from government, freedom of self determination, freedom of property protection, and freedom of personal protection.
A "moderate" social conservative may be an acceptable candidate if they can adequately build a case based on liberty and limited government. To show an understanding of the principles of Liberty and the backbone to defend them at all costs makes you a liberty republican... Not just because you place an "R" behind your name on a ballot.
Enough is Enough. 2009 elections are going to reflect the anti-big-government sentiment in the US, and will fan the flames for Tea Party progress moving forward into 2010.
Goldwater reminded us that "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
Is it so extreme to ask our Republican Leadership to listen to the grassroots Liberty Movement and help give Liberty a Second Chance in America?
Or, shall we be so resigned as to accept that even the Republican Party believes that Big Government, more taxes, and more regulation are the only answer to America's future.
If so, I offer you an America with one party rule. The price of the Big Tent, indeed.
Gingrich, Steele, and many others backed the NY Congressional House District 23 Republican Scozzafava, a self proclaimed Moderate Republican. On the surface this seems harmless enough, but once one delves into her true colors, it is any wonder why she is a Republican at all.
HD23 in New York has been held by Republicans for 120 years. It is a conservative stronghold in a liberal state. To win in HD23, you must be a Republican. In this case, democrats are disguising themselves as republicans in order to win votes, and even using party rules and assemblies to win support of the party without the electorate's support of the values which they represent.
Scozzafava the "Republican" was anti-gun, pro-abortion, pro-govt. healthcare, pro-Obama... which is no wonder why Charles Schumer and Rahm Emanuel successfully counseled her to support THE DEMOCRAT in the race after withdrawing over the weekend. That is right, the "moderate" Scozzafava endorsed the very liberal Democrat Bill Owens over the NY Conservative Party candidate Douglas Hoffman.
I reject the argument that we should embrace moderates where conservatives can't win to "build a big tent"...lest we end up with liberals where a conservative best represents the republican values.
To be a Liberty Republican is not to be a radical Right Wing Extremist. Rather it is to embrace the radical concept of freedom from government, freedom of self determination, freedom of property protection, and freedom of personal protection.
A "moderate" social conservative may be an acceptable candidate if they can adequately build a case based on liberty and limited government. To show an understanding of the principles of Liberty and the backbone to defend them at all costs makes you a liberty republican... Not just because you place an "R" behind your name on a ballot.
Enough is Enough. 2009 elections are going to reflect the anti-big-government sentiment in the US, and will fan the flames for Tea Party progress moving forward into 2010.
Goldwater reminded us that "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
Is it so extreme to ask our Republican Leadership to listen to the grassroots Liberty Movement and help give Liberty a Second Chance in America?
Or, shall we be so resigned as to accept that even the Republican Party believes that Big Government, more taxes, and more regulation are the only answer to America's future.
If so, I offer you an America with one party rule. The price of the Big Tent, indeed.
Monday, August 24, 2009
GOP Ahead in Polls, but...
Real Clear Politics latest generic congressional poll shows that the Republican Party holds a 5 point lead over the Democrats, and that on average, the two parties are neck in neck... a far cry from a year ago when Democrats were enjoying a nearly 20 point advantage...
However, headlines such as "Harry Reid may lose seat to Republican Challenger" are meaningless when a vote for Republicans is nothing more than an opposition vote! The GOP has done little to resolve the issues with its leadership since the major whooping it was given in November of 2008. There has been much wound licking, but little actual realization at the top of the party ticket, leading me to believe that, should there be another Presidential election tomorrow, the GOP would still be inclined to run a horrible McCain style candidate and campaign.
What has not been realized is the one thing that is going to be overshadowed by the sudden popularity of the GOP - Consistent Message about Small Government.
The formula is simple: When Democrats act like Republicans they win, when Republicans act like Democrats they lose. Simpler yet, when either party stands against the growth of government, they are the victor - and it usually happens when they are in the minority.
Yes - if we sweep out the new Democrats and replace them with a Republican majority, there would be no change... NO CHANGE.
Sure, the topic of discussion may vary a little, however, the substance would remain the same... "How can we grow government to control one or more aspects of your life in order to obtain our objective?"
Where the GOP stands to make gains is to openly and honestly declare that THEY are the prescription for the ailment that is overbearing government. The GOP MUST make measurable steps in reducing the size of the government, returning it to a subordinate to the people.
The GOP leadership, in order to maintain a permanent majority, must set out a road map to liberty - a plan to return the country to the free men. They must sell this plan to the public, and follow through on every word. What would such a plan look like?
There must be a solid plan to eliminate government programs and agencies which are cancerous, including the Federal Reserve, the Department of Education, and other such money pits.
There must be an increased awareness of the role of the states and the people, stressing the importance of state governments to take the responsibilities to support programs which are needed/wanted by their residents.
There must be a clear message that "Compassionate Conservatism", or forced neoconservatism is over. We must be the party of liberty, not a forced social agenda. We need to draw the line in the sand on forced lifestyles! If we can differentiate ourselves here, we pick up a permanent majority.
As I have said in previous posts, the era of thinking that "our worst is still better than their best" is done. We need to define our message, stay on message, and support leaders for their ability to lead on that message - not merely because there is an R or a D after their name... We must break this style of thinking, and in doing so, we must show competency in our own ability to hold the public trust in a manner that leads to liberty.
Anything less is criminal. Anything less is merely more of the same.
However, headlines such as "Harry Reid may lose seat to Republican Challenger" are meaningless when a vote for Republicans is nothing more than an opposition vote! The GOP has done little to resolve the issues with its leadership since the major whooping it was given in November of 2008. There has been much wound licking, but little actual realization at the top of the party ticket, leading me to believe that, should there be another Presidential election tomorrow, the GOP would still be inclined to run a horrible McCain style candidate and campaign.
What has not been realized is the one thing that is going to be overshadowed by the sudden popularity of the GOP - Consistent Message about Small Government.
The formula is simple: When Democrats act like Republicans they win, when Republicans act like Democrats they lose. Simpler yet, when either party stands against the growth of government, they are the victor - and it usually happens when they are in the minority.
Yes - if we sweep out the new Democrats and replace them with a Republican majority, there would be no change... NO CHANGE.
Sure, the topic of discussion may vary a little, however, the substance would remain the same... "How can we grow government to control one or more aspects of your life in order to obtain our objective?"
Where the GOP stands to make gains is to openly and honestly declare that THEY are the prescription for the ailment that is overbearing government. The GOP MUST make measurable steps in reducing the size of the government, returning it to a subordinate to the people.
The GOP leadership, in order to maintain a permanent majority, must set out a road map to liberty - a plan to return the country to the free men. They must sell this plan to the public, and follow through on every word. What would such a plan look like?
There must be a solid plan to eliminate government programs and agencies which are cancerous, including the Federal Reserve, the Department of Education, and other such money pits.
There must be an increased awareness of the role of the states and the people, stressing the importance of state governments to take the responsibilities to support programs which are needed/wanted by their residents.
There must be a clear message that "Compassionate Conservatism", or forced neoconservatism is over. We must be the party of liberty, not a forced social agenda. We need to draw the line in the sand on forced lifestyles! If we can differentiate ourselves here, we pick up a permanent majority.
As I have said in previous posts, the era of thinking that "our worst is still better than their best" is done. We need to define our message, stay on message, and support leaders for their ability to lead on that message - not merely because there is an R or a D after their name... We must break this style of thinking, and in doing so, we must show competency in our own ability to hold the public trust in a manner that leads to liberty.
Anything less is criminal. Anything less is merely more of the same.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
…and the Home of the Slaves
I was greeted this morning by a wonderful oration by Minn. Rep. Michele Bachmann from the House Floor back in June. This four minute clip covers the fundamentals of the new philosophy of government – the American people exist at the pleasure of the Government.
Echoing the concerns of Rep. Bachmann, I simply ask you, what liberty is there when you cannot freely pursue happiness? That simple right which was acknowledged by our founding fathers as inalienable has been revoked by the government for the purpose of continuing the growth of an infinitely powerful ruling structure.
Where once we were the land of the free, America has quickly become solidified as the home of the slaves. Slaves, we have become, to our ruling class… to a power structure that is growing so large and far reaching that our very livelihood depends on humbling yourself before them, begging to continue your line of work which has sustained your family for generations. We are left pleading for the government to allow us to do a job.
Without paying taxes to the government, you are forced from your land. Without work, you are unable to pay taxes. Without approval from the government, you are unable to work.
The structure of our society is one that no longer supports happiness. It is one that no longer endorses freedom. Freedom, in the mind of our government, is nothing more than orderly consumption of material goods and an abiding devotion to providing labor per your ability. We are free to work in accordance with the government’s social plan.
I ask you… how free will our country be when we overwhelmingly begin to reject this structure currently being forced upon us? When the streets are lined with bodies of the dead, for they no longer were needed for the government’s plan… or their removal after a forced uprising…
The structure is in place. Big brother is truly watching. The heavy hand of the government is upon us. Futile attempts to resist will be met with overwhelming force.
Welcome to America. Enjoy your slavery!
Echoing the concerns of Rep. Bachmann, I simply ask you, what liberty is there when you cannot freely pursue happiness? That simple right which was acknowledged by our founding fathers as inalienable has been revoked by the government for the purpose of continuing the growth of an infinitely powerful ruling structure.
Where once we were the land of the free, America has quickly become solidified as the home of the slaves. Slaves, we have become, to our ruling class… to a power structure that is growing so large and far reaching that our very livelihood depends on humbling yourself before them, begging to continue your line of work which has sustained your family for generations. We are left pleading for the government to allow us to do a job.
Without paying taxes to the government, you are forced from your land. Without work, you are unable to pay taxes. Without approval from the government, you are unable to work.
The structure of our society is one that no longer supports happiness. It is one that no longer endorses freedom. Freedom, in the mind of our government, is nothing more than orderly consumption of material goods and an abiding devotion to providing labor per your ability. We are free to work in accordance with the government’s social plan.
I ask you… how free will our country be when we overwhelmingly begin to reject this structure currently being forced upon us? When the streets are lined with bodies of the dead, for they no longer were needed for the government’s plan… or their removal after a forced uprising…
The structure is in place. Big brother is truly watching. The heavy hand of the government is upon us. Futile attempts to resist will be met with overwhelming force.
Welcome to America. Enjoy your slavery!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
News From Washington DC
This week will be difficult for me to blog - I am currently in a week long leadership training course in Washington DC, with little access to the web.
Since I have this opportunity in between my nightly reading curriculum, I decided to provide a few words of encouragement and insight from the front lines.
First - Democratic over-reach, corruption, and blunders are abound... though it is adding to hardships from our economy, the true nature of their agenda is hung out on the line for all to see - there is no longer a safe haven of hatred for Bush with which to shield their ugliness - The playing field is being levelled day by day... and when the field is level, Conservative Values - Republican Values - will win every day. It may seem discouraging, but we must endure, protest, and endure some more - always offering the logical and sound solution to the increased problems created by the Democrats. It is our goal, not to simply endure, but to live and die by our Conservative convictions - so much so that our credibility returns, and we can regain the momentum and power to return this country to a free nation of states.
Secondly - now is the moment of reflection and introspection for those who truly wish to see the GOP rise from the ashes of 2008. This does not mean inaction - it merely means that every action must be calculated, every inaction must be calculated, and every opportunity must be seized to reflect and spread the message of what we find within ourselves and within what we believe this party needs to be. We must not only be the change, we must first envision the strategy and goal of our change - the strategy and goal of our party. We must not change for the sake of changing... we must change to regain respect and credibility... we must change to return freedom and liberty to her rightful owners... we must change to survive... for liberty to survive.
Lastly - on change - it should never be the message of the party which changes... liberty, freedom, life... Conservative values, Libertarian values - they are connected... we can encourage social conservatism and the return of true liberties - empowering the people to thrive as responsible individuals... This is the platform of the party - the rest is merely politics. Our message should remain the same... what should change is how we communicate the message... we need to become enlightened on the art of communication - our message is already superior.
Since I have this opportunity in between my nightly reading curriculum, I decided to provide a few words of encouragement and insight from the front lines.
First - Democratic over-reach, corruption, and blunders are abound... though it is adding to hardships from our economy, the true nature of their agenda is hung out on the line for all to see - there is no longer a safe haven of hatred for Bush with which to shield their ugliness - The playing field is being levelled day by day... and when the field is level, Conservative Values - Republican Values - will win every day. It may seem discouraging, but we must endure, protest, and endure some more - always offering the logical and sound solution to the increased problems created by the Democrats. It is our goal, not to simply endure, but to live and die by our Conservative convictions - so much so that our credibility returns, and we can regain the momentum and power to return this country to a free nation of states.
Secondly - now is the moment of reflection and introspection for those who truly wish to see the GOP rise from the ashes of 2008. This does not mean inaction - it merely means that every action must be calculated, every inaction must be calculated, and every opportunity must be seized to reflect and spread the message of what we find within ourselves and within what we believe this party needs to be. We must not only be the change, we must first envision the strategy and goal of our change - the strategy and goal of our party. We must not change for the sake of changing... we must change to regain respect and credibility... we must change to return freedom and liberty to her rightful owners... we must change to survive... for liberty to survive.
Lastly - on change - it should never be the message of the party which changes... liberty, freedom, life... Conservative values, Libertarian values - they are connected... we can encourage social conservatism and the return of true liberties - empowering the people to thrive as responsible individuals... This is the platform of the party - the rest is merely politics. Our message should remain the same... what should change is how we communicate the message... we need to become enlightened on the art of communication - our message is already superior.
Friday, January 16, 2009
End of an Error
Let's face it - Obama is not what put "Conservatism in Exile"... it was Bush. George W. Bush killed true conservatism, and replaced it with the idea of "Neo-Conservatism", where strength of nation is not imagined, it is realized - through war, authoritarianism, and increased "national Intelligence".
I voted for Bush - twice. Once in 2000 as the lesser of two evils (Bush or McCain), and once again in 2004 (where Bush or Kerry didn't offer much more alternative than 4 years prior). This is why I worked extremely hard for Huckabee's campaign in the primaries - with my alternate vote being for Ron Paul. My thought was simple: if we continue to front bad candidates, we truly get more of the same.
This blog was inspired by the latest from the Southern Avenger - and when you are right on, you are right on. His video is here:
Bush almost single handedly is responsible for the implosion of the Republican Party. His increase in spending, larger government, authoritarian, Orwellian, Open Borders, war mongering presidency led me to want to leave the party a number of times (unfortunately alternative conservative parties are extreme and ineffective) - but instead of leaving the party, I chose to get involved, in an attempt to drive home some reform from within our own ranks.
Bush Bashing - not without a purpose... To speak the truth should never be ostracized - though this is now a common tactic within our own party (and society as a whole). Bush may not have been the worst president, but he has been a bad one - bad for the party, bad for conservatism, and bad for libertarianism.
I echo the sentiments of my friend - the Southern Avenger - in bidding farewell to the End of an Error... in hopes that we learn from our mistakes and RETURN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO A PARTY OF LIBERTARIANISM and TRUE ECONOMIC CONSERVATISM.
I voted for Bush - twice. Once in 2000 as the lesser of two evils (Bush or McCain), and once again in 2004 (where Bush or Kerry didn't offer much more alternative than 4 years prior). This is why I worked extremely hard for Huckabee's campaign in the primaries - with my alternate vote being for Ron Paul. My thought was simple: if we continue to front bad candidates, we truly get more of the same.
This blog was inspired by the latest from the Southern Avenger - and when you are right on, you are right on. His video is here:
Bush almost single handedly is responsible for the implosion of the Republican Party. His increase in spending, larger government, authoritarian, Orwellian, Open Borders, war mongering presidency led me to want to leave the party a number of times (unfortunately alternative conservative parties are extreme and ineffective) - but instead of leaving the party, I chose to get involved, in an attempt to drive home some reform from within our own ranks.
Bush Bashing - not without a purpose... To speak the truth should never be ostracized - though this is now a common tactic within our own party (and society as a whole). Bush may not have been the worst president, but he has been a bad one - bad for the party, bad for conservatism, and bad for libertarianism.
I echo the sentiments of my friend - the Southern Avenger - in bidding farewell to the End of an Error... in hopes that we learn from our mistakes and RETURN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO A PARTY OF LIBERTARIANISM and TRUE ECONOMIC CONSERVATISM.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Why Jindal may not be the Answer for the GOP
The Southern Avenger hits the nail on the head with this latest commentary... I have been skeptical about Bobby Jindal for some time, in that he is not yet proven to be Libertarian enough (small government, lower taxes, anti-imperialistic)... The GOP, as the SA puts it, does not need to decide on "More Moderate vs. More Conservative"... The decision is "More Libertarian vs. More Authoritarian"
So perhaps it will take more than 2-4 years for a GOP star to rise... on who is truly representative of Libertarian values, which as Regan said, are the Heart and Soul of the Republican Party.
h/t to the Southern Avenger.
So perhaps it will take more than 2-4 years for a GOP star to rise... on who is truly representative of Libertarian values, which as Regan said, are the Heart and Soul of the Republican Party.
h/t to the Southern Avenger.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Democrats Can't Turn it Off! Propose ANOTHER $150 Billion "Economic Bail-out"
In January I posted a blog ripping the United States for the "entitlement" bail-out, and the Fed's answer of simply "printing more money" to stimulate the economy.
The $500 Billion was distributed. The gas prices continued to rise and the economy continued to teeter. The debt incurred did nothing to save the economy, just buy off the Plebs.
In March, I complained about Secretary of Treasury, Henry Paulson's, plan to "streamline" the economy by turning over the US treasury to the Federal Reserve. I stated:
In June I warned about Socialists in the Democratic Party, and their intentions to nationalize the oil industry - following in the footsteps of Hugo Chavez. I suppose I should have also warned of the Socialists in the Republican Party, and their overall intention of seizing absolute power over the United States, and ultimately the world through markets, then politics.
In July I angrily declared my wavering allegiance to a socialist tending government, led by the most liberal Big Government President in the History of the United States, GW Bush.
And NOW, the Democrats are proposing ANOTHER $150 Billion in bail-out moneys to be paid to the states in order to continue funding failed social programs within those states. Luckily, House Republicans are fighting this additional bail-out - but we have seen how easily these clowns buckle if tax breaks are offered to archery shops and bicycle commuters.
Look, readers - I am going to be blunt. This crap has GOT to stop!
The federal budget last year was $2.6 Trillion - and next year's budget is over $3 Trillion. This DOES NOT include the $1.5 Trillion in bail-outs that the Federal Government has raped from the "treasury" in the name of "fairness" or "stabilization". This maneuvering has nothing to do with security or stability... it has everything to do with circumventing the Constitution, creating an expedient government, and granting that new government unlimited power - see Paulson's new role.
Our government has failed, and we are losing our liberties. The government is mired with corruption, greed, and incompetence - and they are using their skills to imprison us in debt - ensuring continued subjugation under this government take-over.
What power do we have to stop these actions?
We have a vote in November, but I fail to see an end with a new Congress. Many incumbents will come back to hen house, foxes all. And the new Congressmen in races across the United States show no drive and no ability to stop this monster.
We have the ability to petition our government for redress of grievances. Alas, no court would uphold a fight against what the government is doing.
And we have the right to take powers from the federal government, granting them to the states in special elections and state constitutional changes - challenging the federal government on their authority over state's sovereignty.
There is a dangerous trend. There seems to be no stop in sight.
So I ask, what are YOU willing to do to secure freedom?
Martin Luther King Jr, while detained in the Birmingham Jail:
Is there no-one willing to do something?
The $500 Billion was distributed. The gas prices continued to rise and the economy continued to teeter. The debt incurred did nothing to save the economy, just buy off the Plebs.
In March, I complained about Secretary of Treasury, Henry Paulson's, plan to "streamline" the economy by turning over the US treasury to the Federal Reserve. I stated:
"What Paulson has done here is set a dangerous precedent, in that the failure of private industry is no longer going to be allowed to happen. What is going to happen instead is that the government will subsidize failing businesses to keep them open, and keep their employees working... on an indirect government salary.The government was intended to be inneficient, so as to protect the people from spontaneous and bad legislature, which would lead to heavy burdens of Tyranny. Streamlining the government is an overt attempt to sidestep the intentions of the Founding Fathers.
THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE COLLAPSE OF THE FREE MARKET."
In June I warned about Socialists in the Democratic Party, and their intentions to nationalize the oil industry - following in the footsteps of Hugo Chavez. I suppose I should have also warned of the Socialists in the Republican Party, and their overall intention of seizing absolute power over the United States, and ultimately the world through markets, then politics.
In July I angrily declared my wavering allegiance to a socialist tending government, led by the most liberal Big Government President in the History of the United States, GW Bush.
"The treasury is being plundered to the thunderous applause of the masses. The burden to bail-out the vain and covetous leeches of our society is being placed on our own pocketbooks... We are being given marching orders by a government that won the vote, but represents no more than 1/4 of the population respectively - that marching order is "On to the Gallows!" - for in this day we are seeing the death of the last best hope in the world."In September, I warned of the dangerous parallel between the recent actions of the United States and the death of the Roman Republic in favor of the Roman Empire. It should also be noted that the same process was followed, legally, in Germany, leading to the rise of the Nationalist Socialist party. Extreme Debt, National Pride, Government Hand-outs and Bail-outs buying allegiance - then the rise of Socialist Hitler to cap it all off.
This month, I have discussed the increased occurrence of violation of the Federal Government's contract with America, the Constitution. The people's liberties are being cast aside in favor of consumerism. Consumerism, of course, is the rally cry for a one-world government supporting perpetual production, consumption, and taxes for political power."The value of the US dollar has decreased by 96% since the inception of the
Federal Reserve, the Federal Debt has gone from $0 to nearly $10 Trillion in the
same amount of time (and has continued to increase an average of $2.32 billion per day since September 28, 2007!) , and the Federal Government is making no plans to stop spending (especially under Obama). The taxpayers of the United States seems not too concerned about this debt, as we have been cultured into a "credit" state of mind, and distracted by commercialism and reality TV constantly demanding that we "watch and vote" - as if it made some sort of a difference in the world! The burden of the debt is over $30,000 per US citizen - more than a years pay for most Americans. Such a burden forces the citizenry into a state of "constant work" in order to survive - thus removing the mind of the masses."
And NOW, the Democrats are proposing ANOTHER $150 Billion in bail-out moneys to be paid to the states in order to continue funding failed social programs within those states. Luckily, House Republicans are fighting this additional bail-out - but we have seen how easily these clowns buckle if tax breaks are offered to archery shops and bicycle commuters.
Look, readers - I am going to be blunt. This crap has GOT to stop!
The federal budget last year was $2.6 Trillion - and next year's budget is over $3 Trillion. This DOES NOT include the $1.5 Trillion in bail-outs that the Federal Government has raped from the "treasury" in the name of "fairness" or "stabilization". This maneuvering has nothing to do with security or stability... it has everything to do with circumventing the Constitution, creating an expedient government, and granting that new government unlimited power - see Paulson's new role.
Our government has failed, and we are losing our liberties. The government is mired with corruption, greed, and incompetence - and they are using their skills to imprison us in debt - ensuring continued subjugation under this government take-over.
What power do we have to stop these actions?
We have a vote in November, but I fail to see an end with a new Congress. Many incumbents will come back to hen house, foxes all. And the new Congressmen in races across the United States show no drive and no ability to stop this monster.
We have the ability to petition our government for redress of grievances. Alas, no court would uphold a fight against what the government is doing.
And we have the right to take powers from the federal government, granting them to the states in special elections and state constitutional changes - challenging the federal government on their authority over state's sovereignty.
There is a dangerous trend. There seems to be no stop in sight.
So I ask, what are YOU willing to do to secure freedom?
Martin Luther King Jr, while detained in the Birmingham Jail:
"We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was "illegal." It was "illegal" to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler's Germany. Even so, I am sure that, had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers. If today I lived in a Communist country where certain principles dear to the Christian faith are suppressed, I would openly advocate disobeying that country's antireligious laws."I would draw on the spirit of this rebellious attitude. I would use this quote to declare:
We are living in a New Socialist Society, where certain principles dear to freedom loving individuals, such as our civil liberties, are being suppressed - and I am openly advocating disobeying this countries coming anti-freedom laws! There will come a time when we all must chose - do what is right, or do what is easy. The Declaration of Independence reads: all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
Are you willing to stand up for this country, or live by the new "laws"? Is the loss of freedom so sufferable that you will openly applaud the actions of this federal government in your silence?
Are there no true patriots left in this nation?Is there no-one willing to do something?
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
When in the Course of Human Events...
The Declaration of Independence, written by men no longer able to idly allow usurpation of their natural right to freedom from tyranny and excessive and burdensome law, has been forgotten by most and ignored by more. What is worse, the importance and relevance of this document is further il-understood in the context of the sequence of events which have recently elapsed.
Over the weekend, the United States ceased to exist as a free nation, as a nation of free men.
This statement has been closer to reality for some time, but the events of the last week have ensured an end to the free society which was so nobly defended by the blood of our forefathers - the same blood that now boils in my veins.
The United States Government, under the guise of security in the financial markets, has simply cast aside the Constitution - a document which identifies the limited government which was allowed by the free peoples of this nation to be established with the limited roles of providing for the common defense of this nation and it's people - and have instituted in it's place an entity with limitless power over finance, business, banking, and the very core of the market system.
This nation ceases to be a Republic, and has now boldly stated that Republics are unnecessary - instead relying on a socialist democracy where the mob rules and the government remains in power of business, jobs, and the once free market. Free thinking minds need not apply - the United States of Freedom has officially gone bankrupt.
Free thinking men continue to do nothing, insisting instead that it is actually a good thing for an entity of once limited power to have unlimited power over businesses - and now has the ability to cease failing businesses for the cause of financial security.
Benjamin Franklin noted: "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"
So what about those of us who acknowledge the error in the government - what choice do we have but to dissolve the political bands between ourselves and the Federal Government - to declare that we are the Harbinger of Liberty, the protectors of our inalienable rights! Experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
Our Federal Government has violated the contract in which WE ALLOW THEIR EXISTENCE. They have proclaimed themselves rulers of their people, masters of the land, and have shown intent to bring slavery and military force upon her people.
The Federal Government is guilty by their own admission of the following:
*It has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies with the purpose of combat against citizens in protest against them
*It has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power, usurping jurisdiction from rightful local citizens.
*It has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving its Assent to their Acts of unwanted Legislation:
- For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us
- For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent
*It has violated the trust of the people, conducting unreasonable search and seizure of persons and property without just cause or due process under the guise of Homeland Security and the "patriot act"
*It has moved to establish itself as superior in all matters where rights and laws are naturally reserved for the people or the states, including but not limited to marriage, education, and local security
*It has established evidentiary proof against itself to be called into question its intention of treason against the good will of the free people of the nation
All these actions occur in violation of the contract between the people and the government. We are under siege, yet we remain distracted and indifferent to action.
My recent near detention at the SeaTac airport in Seattle Washington emboldened me to action. I refused to cooperate with additional screening three hours after I went through security as the TSA agents conducted "random searches" of citizens at my gate. My refusal was on the grounds of the 4th amendment protection against unreasonable search or seizure without probable cause - unless they could present me with a warrant or some other document authorizing such a search of my secure person. They were unable to provide a warrant, and unwilling to show me an authorizing document to conduct this additional and unreasonable full body search. Their response to my protest was to call in their management, who was equally unable to cite any directive or authority to conduct such a search, and when fully frustrated that they could not beat me in a battle of constitutional wits, they threatened to have me arrested. I answered back that there is no need to show unnecessary force, when all I am requesting is documentation of their right to search my person. Needless to say, after a 25 minute stand-off, I took down their names and their position and informed them that i intend to file a full complaint - and allowed them to perform their search under my protest so that I could board my plane. I am currently investigating legal action against the TSA for failure to provide warrant or authority to conduct unreasonable searches under force.
And I call into question any citizen who is unwilling to question the actions of our government. What has this society become? Am I mourning the death of the Republic while others are celebrating the birth of whatever our nation has become?
We should never forget that a government that ceases to act on behalf of the people becomes an enemy of the people. This is just as true today as it was in 1776 - when our Founding Fathers - those brave souls - proclaimed that enough was enough.
Over the weekend, the United States ceased to exist as a free nation, as a nation of free men.
This statement has been closer to reality for some time, but the events of the last week have ensured an end to the free society which was so nobly defended by the blood of our forefathers - the same blood that now boils in my veins.
The United States Government, under the guise of security in the financial markets, has simply cast aside the Constitution - a document which identifies the limited government which was allowed by the free peoples of this nation to be established with the limited roles of providing for the common defense of this nation and it's people - and have instituted in it's place an entity with limitless power over finance, business, banking, and the very core of the market system.
This nation ceases to be a Republic, and has now boldly stated that Republics are unnecessary - instead relying on a socialist democracy where the mob rules and the government remains in power of business, jobs, and the once free market. Free thinking minds need not apply - the United States of Freedom has officially gone bankrupt.
Free thinking men continue to do nothing, insisting instead that it is actually a good thing for an entity of once limited power to have unlimited power over businesses - and now has the ability to cease failing businesses for the cause of financial security.
Benjamin Franklin noted: "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"
So what about those of us who acknowledge the error in the government - what choice do we have but to dissolve the political bands between ourselves and the Federal Government - to declare that we are the Harbinger of Liberty, the protectors of our inalienable rights! Experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
Our Federal Government has violated the contract in which WE ALLOW THEIR EXISTENCE. They have proclaimed themselves rulers of their people, masters of the land, and have shown intent to bring slavery and military force upon her people.
The Federal Government is guilty by their own admission of the following:
*It has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies with the purpose of combat against citizens in protest against them
*It has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power, usurping jurisdiction from rightful local citizens.
*It has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving its Assent to their Acts of unwanted Legislation:
- For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us
- For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent
*It has violated the trust of the people, conducting unreasonable search and seizure of persons and property without just cause or due process under the guise of Homeland Security and the "patriot act"
*It has moved to establish itself as superior in all matters where rights and laws are naturally reserved for the people or the states, including but not limited to marriage, education, and local security
*It has established evidentiary proof against itself to be called into question its intention of treason against the good will of the free people of the nation
All these actions occur in violation of the contract between the people and the government. We are under siege, yet we remain distracted and indifferent to action.
My recent near detention at the SeaTac airport in Seattle Washington emboldened me to action. I refused to cooperate with additional screening three hours after I went through security as the TSA agents conducted "random searches" of citizens at my gate. My refusal was on the grounds of the 4th amendment protection against unreasonable search or seizure without probable cause - unless they could present me with a warrant or some other document authorizing such a search of my secure person. They were unable to provide a warrant, and unwilling to show me an authorizing document to conduct this additional and unreasonable full body search. Their response to my protest was to call in their management, who was equally unable to cite any directive or authority to conduct such a search, and when fully frustrated that they could not beat me in a battle of constitutional wits, they threatened to have me arrested. I answered back that there is no need to show unnecessary force, when all I am requesting is documentation of their right to search my person. Needless to say, after a 25 minute stand-off, I took down their names and their position and informed them that i intend to file a full complaint - and allowed them to perform their search under my protest so that I could board my plane. I am currently investigating legal action against the TSA for failure to provide warrant or authority to conduct unreasonable searches under force.
And I call into question any citizen who is unwilling to question the actions of our government. What has this society become? Am I mourning the death of the Republic while others are celebrating the birth of whatever our nation has become?
We should never forget that a government that ceases to act on behalf of the people becomes an enemy of the people. This is just as true today as it was in 1776 - when our Founding Fathers - those brave souls - proclaimed that enough was enough.
Monday, September 29, 2008
$700 Billion Bailout Fails - Freedom Loving Libertarians Win
The House voted 205-228 on the Wall Street Bailout, sending a resounding voice to Americans, and the world, that you are own your own.
Normally, in a crisis, telling someone that they are on their own would be considered bad - however, Reagan's great one-liner tells the story best (paraphrased): The scariest thing you can hear is "I'm from the government and I'm here to help"...
In this case, the government took the advice of the people and are deciding to let Bush's nationalization of the United States fail - trusting, instead, on the strength of the American citizen (not consumer) to pull themselves up by the bootstrap!
In this case, the bailout was being voted down at the same time that the free-market did what it does best - WORKING. Wachovia banks sold out their failed business to CITIbank, and indication of how the system is set-up to catch itself as the shakedown occurs.
I called it on Friday that this bail-out was a bad idea, and its failure is inspiring - inspiring in that there are those in the House of Representatives who, regardless of political affiliation, are truly freedom loving free thinkers, able to smell a rotten fish coming from the White House.
What now? The market will stabilize if left alone. Bad businesses will fail. Companies will be forced to adapt. Credit will be harder to come by (and rightfully so). Average Joe Citizen will rethink the 52 inch plasma screen tv in favor of the 36 inch version that he can actually afford. And the world will live to see another day... Maybe this is the wake-up call we needed to help us realign our priorities as individuals and Americans!
MEANWHILE - the Federal Reserve is undermining attempts at stabilization of the US market by injecting Billions of US dollars onto the Global market, causing the value of the US dollar to plummet, and increasing inflation in America.
The best plan would be for the Federal Reserve to close, the United States to value the dollar at pre-Federal Reserve levels by proclaiming a currency correction - releasing new currency in exchange for Federal Reserve Notes at an exchange rate of 22:1. All loans, accounts, etc would be adjusted to the new standard rate, wherein One Gold Certificate would physically represent one unit of gold in the National Treasury. The only way to stabilize this market is to stop the globalization of the US market, return to a gold standard, and return to a policy of non-intervention in the free market by the Federal Government!
Normally, in a crisis, telling someone that they are on their own would be considered bad - however, Reagan's great one-liner tells the story best (paraphrased): The scariest thing you can hear is "I'm from the government and I'm here to help"...
In this case, the government took the advice of the people and are deciding to let Bush's nationalization of the United States fail - trusting, instead, on the strength of the American citizen (not consumer) to pull themselves up by the bootstrap!
In this case, the bailout was being voted down at the same time that the free-market did what it does best - WORKING. Wachovia banks sold out their failed business to CITIbank, and indication of how the system is set-up to catch itself as the shakedown occurs.
I called it on Friday that this bail-out was a bad idea, and its failure is inspiring - inspiring in that there are those in the House of Representatives who, regardless of political affiliation, are truly freedom loving free thinkers, able to smell a rotten fish coming from the White House.
What now? The market will stabilize if left alone. Bad businesses will fail. Companies will be forced to adapt. Credit will be harder to come by (and rightfully so). Average Joe Citizen will rethink the 52 inch plasma screen tv in favor of the 36 inch version that he can actually afford. And the world will live to see another day... Maybe this is the wake-up call we needed to help us realign our priorities as individuals and Americans!
MEANWHILE - the Federal Reserve is undermining attempts at stabilization of the US market by injecting Billions of US dollars onto the Global market, causing the value of the US dollar to plummet, and increasing inflation in America.
The best plan would be for the Federal Reserve to close, the United States to value the dollar at pre-Federal Reserve levels by proclaiming a currency correction - releasing new currency in exchange for Federal Reserve Notes at an exchange rate of 22:1. All loans, accounts, etc would be adjusted to the new standard rate, wherein One Gold Certificate would physically represent one unit of gold in the National Treasury. The only way to stabilize this market is to stop the globalization of the US market, return to a gold standard, and return to a policy of non-intervention in the free market by the Federal Government!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
2008: The Need for Libertarians in the GOP
The Republican Party has traditionally been a party of smaller government and lower taxes. Unfortunately, the GOP has loosened their ties with the small government ideals over the last few years - it hurt us in 2006 and it threatens to hurt us yet again in 2008.
Truly the 2006 vote was a referendum on Bush's policy towards Iraq - which resulted in the immediate release of Rumsfeld. However, shortfalls in 2008 are not going to be directly related to Iraq... it is going to be a referendum on the perception of Republicanism... perception that may be right.
The GOP Primary field included some great, and some not so great Republicans... offering Social conservatives, Economic Conservatives, Social and Economic moderates, and arguably Social and Economic liberals. When the dust settled, the GOP had picked the nominee - Self proclaimed economically ignorant, and arguably a Social Democrat. John McCain is the fall-out from the fight for the "True Conservative". The result is a GOP candidate who, for the first time, does not represent his base as much as he represents the undecided middle-of-the-road voters. This may not be a bad thing on election day, but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the libertarian - the true constitutionalists...
I would consider myself a libertarian within the ranks of the GOP. I firmly support the original intent of the founding documents, and believe that the United States has grossly strayed from her founding. I also believe that the Republican Party has to reconcile with it's libertarian base.
The United States was founded on a basis of personal freedom within the rule of law... but what happens when the law makers get "law-happy", voting in ridiculous laws bent on demanding conformity to social behaviors. What happens when the laws cease to represent personal freedom, and fail to promote individual responsibility?
You have a society heavily influenced by socialist norms. As such, liberty ceases to exist.
This is the very reason that John McCain needs to choose his VP wisely. He needs a "good faith" selection indicating a firm understanding of the core principles of the founding of this nation. Hopefully we see the fruits of his wisdom sooner rather than later.
But what about down ticket? What about activism? What about us at the grass-roots? Can the party survive as a defender of capitalism and liberty if we are losing the libertarians in the party?
The answer is a resounding NO... and we had better understand this before November 4th!
Who do I mean when I say "we", though?
I am talking to the libertarians directly. If we leave the party, if we choose to try and change the game instead of fighting harder for change within the party, then we lose... we all lose.
If you are tired of the leftward moving of the GOP... if you are frustrated with the politicking for party purposes rather than country's purposes, fight harder for a course correction within the GOP. Support GOP candidates with a firm understanding of the core principles... libertarian minded Republicans who understand true liberty.
Splitting the party does nothing more than deliver power to the other extreme - further making the "norm" a socialist-minded politician... if your hope is that the pendulum will swing back the other way, I ask you the question - what happens if the pendulum swings too far left and they grab it, keeping it from swinging?
We are not asking for a sacrifice of principle in favor of politics... rather, a reunion of the party in an attempt to right the ship, and move the country back into the right direction (pun intended).
From within the party, we have the power to select candidates in caucus and primary elections that more accurately represent the small government, low taxes ideology that the Republican Party truly represents. From within, we have the power to select candidates that can win, and can influence the course of our Republic. From within, our voice is more than a cry of "foul" from outside the gates... it is a voice of reason on the playing field.
Truly the 2006 vote was a referendum on Bush's policy towards Iraq - which resulted in the immediate release of Rumsfeld. However, shortfalls in 2008 are not going to be directly related to Iraq... it is going to be a referendum on the perception of Republicanism... perception that may be right.
The GOP Primary field included some great, and some not so great Republicans... offering Social conservatives, Economic Conservatives, Social and Economic moderates, and arguably Social and Economic liberals. When the dust settled, the GOP had picked the nominee - Self proclaimed economically ignorant, and arguably a Social Democrat. John McCain is the fall-out from the fight for the "True Conservative". The result is a GOP candidate who, for the first time, does not represent his base as much as he represents the undecided middle-of-the-road voters. This may not be a bad thing on election day, but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the libertarian - the true constitutionalists...
I would consider myself a libertarian within the ranks of the GOP. I firmly support the original intent of the founding documents, and believe that the United States has grossly strayed from her founding. I also believe that the Republican Party has to reconcile with it's libertarian base.
The United States was founded on a basis of personal freedom within the rule of law... but what happens when the law makers get "law-happy", voting in ridiculous laws bent on demanding conformity to social behaviors. What happens when the laws cease to represent personal freedom, and fail to promote individual responsibility?
You have a society heavily influenced by socialist norms. As such, liberty ceases to exist.
This is the very reason that John McCain needs to choose his VP wisely. He needs a "good faith" selection indicating a firm understanding of the core principles of the founding of this nation. Hopefully we see the fruits of his wisdom sooner rather than later.
But what about down ticket? What about activism? What about us at the grass-roots? Can the party survive as a defender of capitalism and liberty if we are losing the libertarians in the party?
The answer is a resounding NO... and we had better understand this before November 4th!
Who do I mean when I say "we", though?
I am talking to the libertarians directly. If we leave the party, if we choose to try and change the game instead of fighting harder for change within the party, then we lose... we all lose.
If you are tired of the leftward moving of the GOP... if you are frustrated with the politicking for party purposes rather than country's purposes, fight harder for a course correction within the GOP. Support GOP candidates with a firm understanding of the core principles... libertarian minded Republicans who understand true liberty.
Splitting the party does nothing more than deliver power to the other extreme - further making the "norm" a socialist-minded politician... if your hope is that the pendulum will swing back the other way, I ask you the question - what happens if the pendulum swings too far left and they grab it, keeping it from swinging?
We are not asking for a sacrifice of principle in favor of politics... rather, a reunion of the party in an attempt to right the ship, and move the country back into the right direction (pun intended).
From within the party, we have the power to select candidates in caucus and primary elections that more accurately represent the small government, low taxes ideology that the Republican Party truly represents. From within, we have the power to select candidates that can win, and can influence the course of our Republic. From within, our voice is more than a cry of "foul" from outside the gates... it is a voice of reason on the playing field.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)