Friday, March 27, 2009

Where Do Rights Come From?

Washington seems to think that the rights we enjoy as citizens of this country come from the federal governing body. Sadly, too many of us are fooled into thinking likewise. However, our Founders understood Natural Rights along with their source - which is why they set up a Constitution to defend them, not provide them.

Consider the following statements from two influential founders:

Rights are not gifts from one man to another, nor from one class of men to another...It is impossible to discover any origin of rights otherwise than in the origin of man; it consequently follows that rights appertain to man in right of his existence, and must therefore be equal to every man. - Thomas Paine

Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? - Thomas Jefferson

I took these quotes from an incredible discourse on our country entitled "The Proper Role of Government" by Ezra Taft Benson. If you have not yet read it, I highly recommend that you do so. A simple internet search of the title and author will help you find the text.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Does President Obama understand the power of the presidency?

While speaking to a group of small business owners at the White House, President Obama said the following:

"And as president I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that you have the opportunity to contribute to your community, to our economy and to the future of the United States of America."

In my opinion, nearly every decision that has been made regarding the economy dating back to the last few years of the Bush administration has been wrong. Now the current administration is taking those bad decisions and amplifying them 100 times, all the time hiding behind the statement that these problems were "inherited" and are not their fault.

I think most conservatives would agree that current decisions are taking the economy in the wrong direction, but might wonder why I have a problem with the statement referred to above. Isn't it good that the President is now sticking up for small business?

I stand by the principle that the government's role in the economy should be limited to ensuring the public that businesses are competing on a level playing field, and that those who break the law for any reason are punished to the full extent of the law. That's it, not one inch more. We have to stand up for that principle, no matter what side the President is taking. If we allow that principle to be ignored just because we like the group it will help, what right do we have to stand by that principle when we don't?

President Obama's power, as given by the Constitution, requires that he allow businesses to compete fairly but otherwise stay away. Big business, small business, it doesn't matter. Uphold the laws, stay out of the way, and you will do more for small business and America as a whole than all your stolen trillions can do. And yes, you stole those trillions from my children. You will be held accountable for that.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

This Blog's Charter

Every time I read the words of one of our Founding Fathers, I immediately feel two conflicting emotions. First I feel encouragement knowing that this country was founded in principles that protect the freedom and natural rights that we are bestowed with from God. However, I also feel frustration with our current politicians who either do not know about, care about, or believe in those founding principles.

Our country is great, and the founding principles of this country guarantee a society that will be able to grow and prosper as much as we will allow ourselves to do. Unfortunately, too many of our current public servants fail to follow the principles laid out by our Constitution and Founders.

This blog will not take sides on the ridiculous right vs. left debate. This will be a forum where politicians today, regardless of political leaning, will be forced to live up to the standards that their oath of office requires of them. They must stand up for the Constitution and the principles of our Founding Fathers. When they do so, this blog will support them - Democrat or Republican. But when they fail to preserve those principles, they will be exposed. I will encourage you to join me in letting them know that they have failed us, and are about to be fired.