It Ain’t a Self-Licking Ice Cream Cone

Benjamin Franklin (the second most important Founding Father) was asked by a fellow American after the Constitutional Convention what kind of government he and the others had designed.  He replied “A Republic is you can keep it.” 

What does “keeping it” entail exactly? 

I believe that it means that we all, each and every one of us, have to invest something to maintain this Republic.  Unfortunately we are surrounded and infiltrated by enemies of the American Republic.  That means that all of us have to do more than simply vote.  While we are all possessed of different talents and capabilities, I think that we all have to leverage some of our strength, time, and treasure to “support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.” 

Think about it – if you don’t walk your neighborhood – don’t worry about it, Moveon.org will pay someone to do it for you.  You won’t like the result, but they are already out there. 

Like it or not, we have fallen into an electoral system that is dependent on political parties.  Our Founding Fathers had experience with the chaos of parliamentary politics and while some of that flavor leaked into our Republic it was overwhelmingly rejected.  Some Founders rejected parties (most notably George Washington and John Adams) but it became the framework on which our elections and to a degree governing is based.  

Sitting in our local GOP headquarters frequently prospective political quarterbacks swung through to tell me how the GOP should be operating, advertising, or politicking.  I never argued with them, I just smiled and said, “We make phone calls, walk neighborhoods, and collect donations from here.  I would be happy to put you on a phone, give you a walk sheet, or the donation box is there.”  Usually they were offering all possible assistance short of actual help.  Winning elections by letting someone else do the work has got to stop.   

The truth of the matter is that Candidate Obama mobilized a passionate minority of the population.  That minority got out to walk, donate, call, and vote in sufficient numbers to overwhelm the majority of Americans who split their vote between staying home or voting for McCain.    McCain and Obama split the 63% of Americans who came out to vote – my math is probably a little rough here but that means that 37% of the electorate voted against America by sitting that one out. 

The sad truth is that in 2012 sixty percent or so of the American electorate will determine whether or not President Barack Obama will continue to ravage our Nation.  If you love America you are going to have to get up off your ass and help save it.