The Battle For The Soul Of America, Part I
This weekend appears poised to become a landmark date in American Politics. According to the various news outlets, tomorrow will be the Health Care D-day in the House of Representatives. Early reports indicate public pressure has at least caused the leaders in Congress to quit play political shell games, and simply vote on the Health Care bill recently passed by the Senate, plus their own changes to the plan (tweaks, perks and pork). At least America will have a black and white, clear record of each congressman's vote for or against. As it should be.
My opposition to the entire package is well documented, beginning with my own blog last summer (The Health Care Debate). Indeed, this one issue in particular has driven the greatest wedge between the political right and left in our country since the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, perhaps even farther. Several friends have gone so far as to ask me why this one issue has instilled such fire in my veins and seemingly awakened an entire segment of the American populace (see the "Tea Bag" movement).
Well, I can easily answer the question. To me it is simple: it is a battle for the heart and soul of America herself. Personally, I consider it a greater threat to our nation than the one posed by Islamic militants. Because the greatest threat to freedom is not from without, it is from within. It is the insipid slow, bleeding of individual freedoms which has infected our society over the last 60+ years. These freedoms slip so easily from our grasp through apathy, complacency, selfishness, the shirking of civic duty, as well as from the continued erosion of the public perception of true freedom by those firmly entrenched on the extreme political left who favor "equality through government."
There are hundreds of quotes from scholars, philosophers, and America's founders which document their firm understanding of freedom: it's costs, it's virtues, it's principles, and it's true definition. Here are a few which really capture the ideals:
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." - Thomas Jefferson
I am sure Jefferson understood the effect of civic apathy, of those who took freedom for granted and could not be bothered with understanding and debating the issues of the day.
"Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate." - Hubert H. Humphrey
Indeed, I do not wish for the political left to ever disappear from the political landscape. Life and liberty require balance, and the folks help keep those on the right from tipping too far into their own beliefs. We need constant debate, ideas, and vigilance to ensure our freedoms.
"Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority or government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put in this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer." - Ronald Reagan
Well said.
"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." - Milton Friedman
A professor of economics at the University of Chicago, and sadly not someone Barrack Obama ever learned from. His quote here, truly cuts to the heart of the argument, and still rings true today.
"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." - Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln's quote rings quite true as well, in light of the fact he wrote it in 1859, before his election as President. It underlies his conviction in eliminating the scourge of slavery from the United States once and for all. How ironic, 150 years later, there are still those in power who wish to take away our freedoms under the guise of equality.
"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom." - Dwight Eisenhower
Indeed Eisenhower may prove to be prophetic in the near future. He may not have been a Rhodes scholar, or an intellectual giant, but he certainly understood the issue of freedom.
"Americans are so enamored of equality, they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom." - Alexis de Tocqueville
In light of recent events, how ironic the most astute insight into America's soul at the moment comes from a 19th century Frenchman, and a liberal one at that.
Our forefathers who founded this great nation, were running from oppressive governments in Europe and elsewhere. They fled from places where the government took what it liked and limited freedom. They founded a nation built upon the ideals of freedom: freedom of speech, freedom of religion for example. But note these things did not come "free", but rather at great cost through a revolution and the vigilant sacrifice of thousands and thousands of brave and courageous souls.
And yet, now America is more interested in becoming like Europe. Many in the America want the government to simply take care of them and everyone else. Once upon a time our government was called Uncle Sam and sadly it appears today many Americans wish to call it Daddy.
--To be continued...-- And yes, I seem to love dramatic blog titles.
My opposition to the entire package is well documented, beginning with my own blog last summer (The Health Care Debate). Indeed, this one issue in particular has driven the greatest wedge between the political right and left in our country since the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, perhaps even farther. Several friends have gone so far as to ask me why this one issue has instilled such fire in my veins and seemingly awakened an entire segment of the American populace (see the "Tea Bag" movement).
Well, I can easily answer the question. To me it is simple: it is a battle for the heart and soul of America herself. Personally, I consider it a greater threat to our nation than the one posed by Islamic militants. Because the greatest threat to freedom is not from without, it is from within. It is the insipid slow, bleeding of individual freedoms which has infected our society over the last 60+ years. These freedoms slip so easily from our grasp through apathy, complacency, selfishness, the shirking of civic duty, as well as from the continued erosion of the public perception of true freedom by those firmly entrenched on the extreme political left who favor "equality through government."
There are hundreds of quotes from scholars, philosophers, and America's founders which document their firm understanding of freedom: it's costs, it's virtues, it's principles, and it's true definition. Here are a few which really capture the ideals:
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." - Thomas Jefferson
I am sure Jefferson understood the effect of civic apathy, of those who took freedom for granted and could not be bothered with understanding and debating the issues of the day.
"Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate." - Hubert H. Humphrey
Indeed, I do not wish for the political left to ever disappear from the political landscape. Life and liberty require balance, and the folks help keep those on the right from tipping too far into their own beliefs. We need constant debate, ideas, and vigilance to ensure our freedoms.
"Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority or government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put in this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer." - Ronald Reagan
Well said.
"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." - Milton Friedman
A professor of economics at the University of Chicago, and sadly not someone Barrack Obama ever learned from. His quote here, truly cuts to the heart of the argument, and still rings true today.
"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." - Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln's quote rings quite true as well, in light of the fact he wrote it in 1859, before his election as President. It underlies his conviction in eliminating the scourge of slavery from the United States once and for all. How ironic, 150 years later, there are still those in power who wish to take away our freedoms under the guise of equality.
"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom." - Dwight Eisenhower
Indeed Eisenhower may prove to be prophetic in the near future. He may not have been a Rhodes scholar, or an intellectual giant, but he certainly understood the issue of freedom.
"Americans are so enamored of equality, they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom." - Alexis de Tocqueville
In light of recent events, how ironic the most astute insight into America's soul at the moment comes from a 19th century Frenchman, and a liberal one at that.
Our forefathers who founded this great nation, were running from oppressive governments in Europe and elsewhere. They fled from places where the government took what it liked and limited freedom. They founded a nation built upon the ideals of freedom: freedom of speech, freedom of religion for example. But note these things did not come "free", but rather at great cost through a revolution and the vigilant sacrifice of thousands and thousands of brave and courageous souls.
And yet, now America is more interested in becoming like Europe. Many in the America want the government to simply take care of them and everyone else. Once upon a time our government was called Uncle Sam and sadly it appears today many Americans wish to call it Daddy.
--To be continued...-- And yes, I seem to love dramatic blog titles.
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