Difficult Questions

In my quest to understand the truth about our nation's history and the original understanding of our republic I came to a conclusion. Liberty is a very difficult concept for people to truly embrace. Liberty at its heart is the ability to live as we choose for ourselves. As a nation of laws and not of men we can do so within certain limits. What I am coming to understand is that Liberty also puts a great responsibility on the individual. This is coming to light in the ideological debate that is before our nation today about what role the government should play in our lives.

I believe there are two main issues at play. First is the notion that current politicians in congress are trying to sell; that they are creating the right to healthcare. But this is not the basis of our government. This is a positive understanding of rights rather than a negative one. The US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence explain that our rights are a natural condition of our existence, and that government cannot take them away. This is the basic foundational principle of limited government in our constitutional republic. Rights have been instilled in us from God who created us. Even if one does not believe in God this principle is still valid. The mere fact that you are a human means there are things about your humanity that should not be taken away. In this way those members of congress that are trying to "create" a right for the American people are wrong. Rights don't come from the government. They of course are free to believe this, but our system of government does not allow it. If they (or the reader for that matter) really believe that rights should be determined this way…that is a choice. But they need to have an open and fair discussion about this before they try to pull the wool over your eyes.

This begs the question…How are they able to sell the notion that they create your rights? This is the second issue at play. The answer highlights the importance of the individual in our constitutional republic. We are in danger of losing liberty because we as Americans are beginning to lose our backbone. Living with liberty, as it turns out, takes hard work and courage. Liberty places a great responsibility on the recipient. It means YOU are responsible for YOU. The more you ask the government to take care of you, the more liberty is lost. The problem is that it is not a proportional balance. It is exponential. You may ask for healthcare but what you get in return is the government having control of your body and the status of your citizenship. The current healthcare bills threatening to pass congress put a mandate on people to buy a product as a condition of citizenship. And as a natural condition of government, it will create an enormous bureaucracy to administer healthcare that will necessarily reduce your access to it. Healthcare is only one current and practical example of the ongoing ideological fight in our society now.

This is not a lecture from my high horse, but merely a call to others to think about this concept. For it is the most important concept to ensure our free way of life. It took the improper and aggressive action of congress to wake me up to what is happening. I am trying to share with others what I have learned. That living with liberty means that individuals have to exercise self control and self responsibility, just as God asks us to do. If you’re wondering what this means for those who are poor, can't afford healthcare, unemployed, or live day to day; my answer is stop asking the government to caudle them and treat them like children! Start treating them with respect; treat them like capable human beings. Grab someone's hand and help them get back on their feet. If you have identified a need in your community…do something about it…don't ask an entity with coercive powers to do it for you. Protecting our rights, it seems, is our responsibility. A difficult question to me and the reader is…What are you going to do about it? Comments, as always, are welcome

Well its 2010 and this year will be a big year for politics. According to Politico.com there will be over 500 House, Senate, and gubernatorial seats up for election in 2010. This means that voters will have some decisions to make. The question is: Why should you care? Don't forget that when a politician of any type asks you for your vote they are asking you to put them in a position that will allow them to make important decisions over the way you live your life and the way you spend your money.

Think about that for a Moment. Does that make you nervous? It sure makes me nervous. It should motivate you to know everything you can about the people asking for your vote. Their background, what they believe in, what makes them tick, what ideas and information have influenced them in the past and how they will use that information. Ultimately we try to find out what role they think the government should play in our lives. We use all of these things to make our decisions about voting.

However, I hear a lot of people tell me, "I don't understand these complex issues so how can I choose a candidate?" Then they tell me "I just choose not to vote". I understand this position, but I strongly disagree with it. We all need to do something very important...we need to know what we believe in, what makes us tick, and what ideas and information influence us. If we don't know these things about ourselves how can we choose a representative that most closely resembles our beliefs? If we fail to do so, we are more vulnerable to be swindled by dishonest people. For example if you are not willing to go into credit card debt because it puts you in a compromising financial position then you probably don't want to vote for someone who advocates spending money on social programs when the government doesn't have the money. Common sense goes a long way. Good principles still work when applied to government. Anyone who tells you different is probably either a progressive or a politician...and maybe both.

I don't mean to sound condescending, but I think it is all too common for people to look at political parties and merely vote for their team. I firmly beleive that if more people truly voted for the candidate that had character our political landscape would look very different in America. Political parties have dictated the terms of politics for far too long. I don't think political parties are inherently evil, but because we have allowed career politicians to get fat and happy within the government, political parties have become institutions filled with power hungry fat cats. We need a reset.

I suggest during this voting season that we all do our duty as Americans and inform ourselves. I suggest starting with a website called Project Vote Smart (http://votesmart.org/). Don't just listen to the candidates and believe them...do your homework. This is the perfect moment in America for us to change the face of politics. Liberty and limited government is best safeguarded by our vote.