Monday, August 15, 2011

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.  

Miracle At Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May - September 1787

7 comments:

  1. Nice post CS. I'm glad to see that I have something in common with George Washington. I too, do not like the political party format. I have views that favor and contrast with both parties. Election days for me are alot more stressful than they should be.

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  2. Sadly, we're stuck electing the clown that we believe will do the least damage.

    With Obama running again, it's not hard to figure out.
    The GOP could actually win by campaigning on OBAMA'S record!

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  3. JOB - It would be wonderful to be able to talk with George or Adams today - I think they would be pissed. In retrospect it's hard to imagine how we could have avoided party politics. We ignore the reality of party at our peril as nearly all the third party efforts have proven.

    Sepp - sadly that is probably the truth in any endeavor. However I'm really beginning to think that Perry is the guy we were waiting for.

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  4. I haven't look into Perry as much as I should be but, so far he's heads above that sorry-assed Romney.
    Even O'drama was taking easy swipes at Romney yesterday because as low as Obama's numbers are, he still sees Mitt as easily beatable.
    Obama knows that Romneycare is the Achilles heel for Mitt that will divide the GOP right down the middle between the RINOs and the conservatives who would take a principled stand.

    "Romney the frontrunner" is a media created animal. I've yet to find a conservative willing to support him.

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  5. I just can't do Romney. When people came by our booth at the fair - early the first day - visitors pointed out that the Democrat booth had pictures of the local candidates but no picture of Barack Obama (they did get one up later).

    I told them "Do you blame them? We could run Freddy Kruger against him and win."

    That was a joke of course and it was a great laugh line - but I don't want to test the theory with Romney.

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  6. It would be impossible to claim a dislike on personal or, constitutional grounds for Obamacare and then turn around and support Romney while pretending he isn't as bad with his own record.
    Mitt may not be "worse" than Obama but, being close to the same thing is just as bad as far as I'm concerned.
    Ambassador to France is more his speed.

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  7. -Sepp --- I'm with you. Can't trust Romney.

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