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EDITOR:
As I listen to the political talk coming from Washington, I am continually outraged by how out of touch most of our elected officials are in trying to correct the country’s social and economic challenges that exist today. Whether it be healthcare or improving the small business environment, the President and both houses of Congress have completely failed. Not only have our elected representatives bankrupted our nation for generations to come, they continually ask the American people to give them a little more power and some more of our money to fix problems they created.
The solution to America’s debt situation seems to be relatively simple; if the government didn’t spend more then they received, our nation would not have a debt problem. Why can’t our representatives figure this out? Maybe our government’s ineffectiveness rests not in balancing a checkbook, but in a deeply rooted moral dilemma. The government has forgotten that the rights of the people, outlined in the nation’s Constitution, are not guaranteed by the political party in power, but by God. By having our rights assured by Him, human dignity is not a passing value, but a principle that withstands the test of time.
The American people cannot thrive by surrendering their rights to the government. Although many in the government would like to believe they possess God-like qualities, they are not God. Rather, they are servants of the people, and receive their power by the consent of the governed. Those who govern are supposed to receive wise counsel from the people, and take this counsel to Washington to perform acts of righteousness and justice that will make our nation stronger, not weaker. Unfortunately, the American people are increasingly having to protect themselves from the ill-advised actions of those in power.
Fortunately, acts of incompetence performed by those who have decided to live in darkness, cannot take place for a long period of time. While our elected officials have been receiving inadequate counsel, the American people have been getting encouragement from each other. They are not only talking about which political party has the best plan to lead our nation, but they have also been talking about the government’s appropriate role in their lives. They realize that the government is not very good at taking care of them, and they have an obligation to invoke individual responsibility.
The November elections will be a turning point for this nation. We, the American people, will decide if we want to truly govern ourselves, or if we want to live under the overarching thumb of bureaucratic government. If we do not answer this question correctly, it may be one of the last free decisions we are allowed to make. Lets not be the generation that one day has to tell our grandchildren that we are the ones that allowed darkness to cloak the greatest light of freedom the world has ever known. The founding generation of this country made great sacrifices to ensure the successful longevity of this nation. They never sacrificed their self worth, and never doubted that God could bring this nation out of the most bleakest of circumstances.
TODD WHITE
Rescue
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
MorrisAugust 20, 2012 - 10:30 am
Mr. White paints such the idyllic picture of his ideal nation. A nation free from pesky government rules, regulations and obligations of a polite and civilIzed society. In this ideal bubble, Mr. White overlooks one basic yet crucial fact: Human beings are - no matter how good - inherently flawed (nee 'sinner') and selfish. (be honest!...he's watching). That said, I see his vision as one in which not a single tree remains standing in El Dorado County, the American River is dead and choked by the silt and debris of strip mining, our wells contaminated by the ever increasing dumping of the ever increasing chemicals needed to ward off the ever increasing chemical resistance and highway 49 lined with the shanty towns of the former middle-class offerring up their worthless possessions for what scraps of food might be exchanged with what is left of the one-percenters. And we would be the lucky ones upwind so to speak. The real hell would be in the valley, a place where we finally got those worthless freeloaders off of welfare. And onto the streets where, in time, they began a fight just to survive. Without our good manners and without our God, our view to the West would see the domino effect of the flames as business are looted and the middle and upper class small business owners one by one begin to flee...here. To us. Where we eventually return to our most base of natures: Survival of The Fittest Armed. But by then, the drain we will too will start to circle as we begin to justify actions once thought impossible in our pride and desire for no taxes, no government rules, no burn permits and freedoms to do anything we wish with our property and our guns. Oh yes, God indeed has told us of our freedom of choice and has even supplied a name for that nation: Hell.
DB SmithAugust 20, 2012 - 3:56 pm
Hey Morris. I just know I've seen a couple of those scary theme movies on the big screen before. Your content sounds like you have too. Your spin on all this was very fitting especially with the drain thing. Have a great day sir and try not to worry so much.
MorrisAugust 20, 2012 - 7:58 pm
@BS Thank you for you concern Mr.Smith. While noted, I can assure you that my life is remarkably absent stress and worry. It wasn't always this way of course and like most folks have had my moments. In fact, at one time I would get rather lathered over an argument or opposing and lob just about anything I could - disinformation, insults, factual inaccuracies, etc - over the fence in attempt to win. At some point it became so second nature I became unaware that this bad habit was even present. Truly unaware. Until I wasn't. Man, that just jumps off the porch and slaps you in the face with a wet squirrel. Yes, i did indeed win that last argument and of such importance too the last word! The price tag upon my 'win'? Simple: Everything. All Sales Final. No Returns. As this transacrion could not, unfortunately, be undone I found that the only way forward was to honor by example this that was lost. That means actively listening to viewpoints that are different, reviewing the facts someone has taken time to prepare and by participating in healthy dialogs. Sure there are times things might be humorously snippy. But you know Mr.Smith, since learning to act with maturity and avoiding insults that add nothing to the subject matter at hand, I have found no need for a last word on anything really. I state my case and perhaps may counter or perhaps may not. As long as I bring facts and concepts to the table that are relavant and meaningful, my role as an adult participant is served and honors my promise. Since that day of realization and billing, there exists no worry. stress or insult that registers within. Not even my former hot button of encountering intentional ignorance is playable anymore. It's a great evening here in Georgetown Mr. Smith. But the dawn of a new day is simply amazing. I highly encourage you to see it with eyes wide open someday.
Jack MartinAugust 21, 2012 - 12:45 am
Ah, Morris..... The quintessential glib Progressive who seeks to paint himself as a mature, reasoned, rational adult. But note how he turns Mr White's original message of oppressive government and a simple faith in God into a doomsday scenario of clear cutting, pollution and dirty air. I've rubbed elbows and locked horns with a lot of people like Morris. The rest of you...go ahead and ask him the hot button questions...watch how fast his light hearted maturity and fair, reasoned intellectual diatribes turn into scathing accusations with 50-cent words. There is nothing new under the sun, Morris.
DB SmithAugust 21, 2012 - 7:34 am
Morning Mr. Morris. Just finished packing to go on a little camping trip. I promise I'll be good and not pollute the lakes and rivers. But I need to tell you that I may have to cut a little tree down so that I can start a little fire to keep the little woman and me warm while we roast our hot dogs. Yes, don't worry I'll have a burn permit and I'll be a responsible fire tender. Dang it! One last thing I need to confess is I will be taking my gun just in case I run into some liberal varmint that tries to do harm to the little woman. I feel insulted sir that that you use @BS to address me. I forgive you though and I truly hope you have a wonderful day.
Al LasherAugust 21, 2012 - 9:43 am
DB Smith, the tag @BS is a kindness. Your comments typically deserve far less respect. You are lucky that Mr. Morris is so kind, as he clearly has more brains than you and jackass Martin combined. You need a gun in a campsite to protect your wife? What a weenie you are.
readerAugust 21, 2012 - 9:47 am
Al Lasher, your language becomes you.
Al LasherAugust 21, 2012 - 9:50 am
Correction: ...Smith, Martin, and Reader combined.
Sean OSullivanAugust 29, 2012 - 9:30 am
I only read the MT Democrat for the entertaining comment section. Your delusional views must be clouded by too much video games n porn. People need to get outside.
Chet RangerAugust 29, 2012 - 10:57 am
No change will occur unless our discussions are honest and forthright and free of emotional finger pointing, be it at the government or each other. Our constitutional statement has been altered substantially since the gold standard was revoked and social programs were instituted. Social programs and welfare of the common man was always intended to be managed by families and churches, not government. Our society has changed, and I don't expect everyone to go to church or profess faith in deity, but I do expect them to care enough for their family to teach them well, be a part of their community and to give back to the same charitable funds which may provide for them in a time of need, be it with volunteerism or currency. Our county was created in a gold rush, and that gold rush has been made worthless by decades of social mandates for morality and those less fortunate. It doesn't matter how many people we help with government aid -- someone, somewhere won't be getting their 'fair share' and more funny money will be printed to foot the bill of each new program. We now have an unbearable tax burden that will never be repaid. Rather, it doesn't matter how much my tax rate is this year or ten years from now. The debt our legislators have allowed is beyond anything my children's children's children will ever be able to repay. Inflation and further bubbles will continue to come and go. More homes of hard-working citizens will continue to foreclose and fall to bank ownership, only to be bought and sold and bought and sold over and over again for 'record new profits ON WALL STREET TODAY AS THE BANKS' STOCKS SOAR YET AGAIN'. But don't blame your local banker or even the banker at the top of the food chain. He's doing what any warm-blooded male or female would in that situation. He's reading the law, liking what he sees ("free government money, inquire within" practically printed on every bureau in Washington) and putting his hand above the common 'ignorant' citizen. So the trickle-down economics of this nation have failed us, when in reality it was never the founding fathers' idea to have government intervene in ANY social programs. They had churches, every last one of them, and those churches were the core of the towns and villages for social welfare, not government. The government doesn't need to be in the business of unemployment, healthcare, or banking. It NEVER had the right to privatize correctional facilities, which gave the judicial system its own opportunity for graft, which was previously only a privilege of the elected officials. Where there's a lobbyist, there's a problem. When we sit idly by and watch billion dollar campaigns for the highest office in the land, when corporate personhood is maintained without so much as a peep from Joe Citizen, we've not only got a problem, we've got no country left to call home. We've got a giant game of charades. Who's going to stand up and stop the game? It sure isn't Washington, or Wall Street, or your local government employee. It's you and me, in our local community churches and our homes, our school fundraisers, at sporting events. It's there we can sign petitions, propose legislation, discuss the welfare of our homes, our wives, our children without fear of reprisal. One of the first rights we commonly overlook -- more important than the right to bear arms or freedom of the press -- is the right to assembly. I have to register my guns and Mr. Big Government knows exactly where to find me if I want to revolt. Mr. Big Government knows who runs the local press, who pays the bills, whose advertising would most easily be 'discouraged' to pay for printing juicy stories on the dishonesty in government. No, I can't expect to get anything done by threatening a violent revolt, and no good would come of that anyway and we all know it. No one wants to shed blood to avenge a foreclosure, repair a failed business, restore our school systems, or create jobs. The baby boomers who still have a home, a pension, a trust fund, an inheritance, any savings at all will continue to ignore these inadequacies as long as the crisis fails to hit them square between the eyes. And they're predominantly the ones holding office. Surprise surprise. A revolution at the government level is nearly upon us, and it won't be a war of traditional means. It's a war of information, a war that will be fought and won at school, at church and most of all -- at home. Funny, it just occurred to me that probably the worst and most sinister scourge upon our society today is the fast food restaurant. Fast food is everywhere, it's dirt cheap ($2 meal deal at Taco Bell anyone?), it's all filler and no substance, and it's washed down by a superdose of caffeine and sweeteners. And it serves a terrible cause - families no longer eat together, and if they do, it's FAST. No time to discuss news, politics, societal events, positive change, much less athletics, music, literature, science, technology. What does that do to the brain? Mom, Dad and kids alike all get high, chatter on about the latest reality TV and continue on with their overly busy lives, while bankers and bureaucrats steal their future a chunk at a time. And there's no one to blame and no one to hold responsible but ourselves. Have you called your folks lately? Have you done anything about these issues? Have you discussed them, made up your mind, determined that change comes from within, taught this principle to your peers, your co-workers, your family and friends? Have you organized, petitioned for change, counted the heads for/against on your own so the government pollster can't cheat you? Have you virtually besieged your local lawmaker on the most important votes? If you haven't (and I haven't), then we're all complicit in business as usual on Capitol Hill, Wall Street, Main Street and OUR STREET. What are we going to do about it?
NancyAugust 29, 2012 - 4:49 pm
Todd White, you said: "The American people cannot thrive by surrendering their rights to the government. Although many in the government would like to believe they possess God-like qualities, they are not God. Rather, they are servants of the people, and receive their power by the consent of the governed." Exactly right. They are servants of the people because we elect them. Unfortunately, our elected public servants tend to forget this. This applies to our BOS as well. I imagine that is part of the reason John Knight was voted to the curb. He forgot who his bosses are. These elected public officials work for us, we do NOT work for them. Are you listening, BOS?
REWAugust 29, 2012 - 7:28 pm
Welcome to GODS spaceship Mother Earth: A ship so ingeniously designed that humans never had a clue that we were on one. The spinning planet spaceship Earth is flying through the universe at a million miles per hour, with a really good water and food source for all. Mother Earth gives all passengers a set of instructions called instincts. All the passengers but one follows these rules. Humans have misplaced their internal handbook. Important rules like don't poison the water, soil or air, overuse resources, deforest massive areas, overpopulate or use dangerous genetically modified organisms and abuse domestic livestock for no other reason than to profit. Mother Earth has from time to time, decided some passengers have finished their flight. Only humans continue to force other passengers to leave because we ignore the handbook, Mother Earth and the other passengers are being very kind to us. We see everywhere in the world there are ordinary people willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds in order to restore some semblance of grace, justice, and beauty to this world. There are many groups and organizations who are working on the most salient issues of our day: poverty, deforestation, peace, water, hunger, conservation, human rights, and more. Possibly the largest movement the world has ever seen. Rather than control, it seeks connection. Rather than dominance, it strives to disperse the concentrations of power limiting the masses from purpose. The world is in our hearts. Life creates the conditions that are conducive to life. We should think of no better motto for a future life and global economy. We have abandoned homes without people and abandoned people without homes. We have failed lawyers advising failed bankers advising failed regulators and Lobbyists advising corrupt politicians on how to save failed assets. We are the only species on the planet without full employment. Every bacteria, insect, plant and animal on the planet has a purpose, yet some humans do not. We have a global economy that tells us that it is cheaper to destroy Earth in real time rather than renew, restore, and sustain it. Humans print currency to bail out financial institutions but unfortunately humans can't print life to bail out a planet. Currently we are stealing the future, selling it in the present, and calling it gross domestic product and leaving the cost to our offspring .We can easily have an economy that is based on healing the future instead of stealing it. We either create assets for the future or take the assets of the future. One is called restoration and the other exploitation. And whenever we exploit the Earth we exploit people and this causes untold suffering. Life on this planet should not be a way to get rich, but a way to be rich in life. Human greed by the few, for far too long has caused senseless suffering to the many. GOD and Mother Earth own and pilot the Spaceship Earth. Our fare is being paid by ordinary compassionate people from all the races and religions of the world. With GODS grace, hopefully their efforts will continue to be enough...