So, who is right?

In the weeks leading up to the G20 summit, held in London yesterday, I have been extremely worried about the world-changing policies that could come out of it. I blatantly disagree with the entire premise of this type of organization. The United States is a sovereign Nation, and generations before us have sacrificed many of their finest to ensure that sovereignty. What would they say to us as we willingly give up that which is so precious that they gave their lives for it?

Let's compare some statements of current world leaders to those of our Founding Fathers.

President Barack Obama hailed agreements at the emergency meeting of world powers Thursday as a "turning point in our pursuit of global economic recovery."

Obama said the heads of industrial countries that met in London agreed on "unprecedented steps to restore growth and prevent a crisis like this from happening again."

"I do not buy into the notion that America can't lead in the world," Obama said, but he added that it is "very important for us to be able to forge partnerships as opposed to dictating solutions." [Our founders would not agree to either. America should lead by example and equal friendship, not partnership, to all]

"Today the largest countries of the world have agreed on a global plan for economic recovery and reform," - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown

"We wanted to make sure we had a strong, coordinated response to growth" and "we thought it was important we had a strong, coordinated regulatory response," - President Obama

"I think a new world order is emerging and with it the foundations of a new and progressive era of international cooperation." - PM Brown

"Together with the measures we have each taken nationally, this constitutes a global plan for recovery on an unprecedented scale," - PM Brown

"We will implement new rules on pay and bonuses at a global level that reflect actual performance with no more rewards for failure. We want to encourage corporate responsibility in every part of the world." - PM Brown

And now for the rebutal.

"Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations – entangling alliances with none." - Thomas Jefferson

"The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible." - George Washington

"Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But that jealousy to be useful must be impartial." - George Washington

"It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world." - George Washington

Simply put, either our founders are right or today's leaders are right. It can't go both ways. By following the ideals of the founders as laid out in our Constitution, this country has become the most successful in the history of the world. This country's citizens have enjoyed freedoms few have ever enjoyed; and that freedom fueled the innovation that we enjoy today.

Our leaders today are willing to turn away from the rights, liberties and prosperity that the ideas of our founders produced. Either they think our days are different, or that the founders were wrong. Either way, by choosing to abandon those proven principles, our elected officials are handing over our sovereignty to an international body that not one single American citizen voted for. That is stealing our freedom of choice. That is tyranny.

"The Most Popular Politician On Earth"

It's frustrating to me that racism is only called racism if it's directed at the correct race. While demeaning statements aimed at a black person can easily end an individual's political or professional career, turn that same statement the other way and apparently you score huge points.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil recently made the following statement during a recent visit by PM Brown:

"This crisis was caused by the irrational behavior of white people with blue eyes, who before the crisis appeared to know everything and now demonstrate that they know nothing."

So did Brazil's president suffer any consequences of this statement when he arrived at the G20 summit? Did anybody stand up against him, or threaten to boycott the summit if such a blatant racist were allowed to participate? I don't know if any other country's leader was willing to take a stand against this form of racism, but ours certainly was not. Instead, President Obama had this to say to President da Silva:

"Here’s my man, right here," Mr. Obama said. "I love this guy. He’s the most popular politician on earth."

Racism is racism, regardless of its direction. The lack of conviction to stand against President da Silva's comment is one thing. To praise him is deplorable.

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.

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.

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.