Category Archives: Musings

THE DEBT and DEFICIT…


BLOG POST 1 - Debt

Both political parties own this and should ‘own up’ to owning it.  This was not done by Democrats alone nor by Republicans alone, but by politicians falling prey to the temptation to use our money for political purposes and power solidification.  Sadly, many politicians of all stripes have gone to Washington, DC only to become rich, influential, and powerful.  Their windfalls from the graft and corruption in politics have not benefitted the average American or America, it has fed their avarice and lust for money and power.  I believe that our Founding Fathers and the Framers of the American Constitution would be turning over in their graves if they could see where we are today.  They warned, and we failed to heed their warnings, now we are paying!

With a national debt of over $21 TRILLION and no relief in sight, many of us realize the crime that has been perpetrated against future generations and lament.  However, it appears that our lamenting did not reach the level or has come too late to efficiently and effectively deal with the issue.  The two-headed monster (debt and deficit) rising out of an out of control federal government is more frightening than any Horror Movie presentation.

The Treasury Department’s “Debt to the Penny” release shown below is alarming.

blog post 1 - dEBT AND

It is reported by various governmental agencies and independent auditing organizations that of the almost $22 TRILLION national debt about two-thirds of that is held by the public.  Our government has written IOUs, so to speak, in the form of U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds to individuals, companies, and foreign governments.  We Owe Ourselves more than we can ever pay and if it were not so serious I would think of it as Wimpy cartoons, “I’d gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.”  Sadly, that would be quite a hamburger and I wish I could just laugh it off.

The remaining third of the national debt is intragovernmental debt. Our government owes itself and especially the Social Security Trust Fund an enormous amount of money.  If the various governmental agencies and departments such as Social Security were left alone they would have surpluses in their coffers.  However, since Lyndon B. Johnson, the federal government has been ‘borrowing’ money from Social Security to pay other departments.  I say, ‘borrowing’ because it is too troubling to say, ‘stealing’ from those of us who paid into that system for years.  Call it what you will, it is bankrupting Social Security and other governmental agencies and politicians seem oblivious.  Sadly, the public only sees the TOTAL not the why and how we have gotten there.

The past thirty years have been disastrous for us regarding the national debt.  How did we let this happen?  One of the ways is lack of information by the voting public.  Another is lack of concern or sufficient concern to move us from our apathy to involvement.  The national debt has largely been ignored at the voting public.  Possibly because many did not want to touch the ‘golden goose’ that was feeding them or because we wanted to ‘leave the politics to the politicians.’  Bad Mistake and possibly a fatal one.

From 1989 to 2017 the national debt rose 608.61%.  It is not just paper debt, it is real, and the doubly troubling aspect is that the secured national debt is a drop in the bucket for what we owe.  America has the largest ‘sovereign debt’ in the world.  It is equivalent to the European Union’s debt and that is a unified trade body with about 28-member countries.  If that doesn’t get your attention, nothing I can say will.  But alas, I must try.  The question is not how large the debt is but how did we get there and is there any solutions short of catastrophic cuts and crippling many parts of the American economy in an attempt to get control?

The growth of our national debt skyrocketed under former President Barack Obama and it grew the most dollar-wise under him.  The largest percentage increase came under former President Franklin D. Roosevelt with an increase of 1,048% but only $236 BILLION.  That should get your attention realizing that comparative smallness of our national debt in the World War II era and now.  Former President George W. Bush had the second largest deficit.  Every president, for a long time, has borrowed from the Social Security Trust Fund.  The SSA took in more revenue than it needed from payroll taxes and should have been left alone and reinvested to the benefit of the retirees and future retirees, but it wasn’t.  It has been pillaged by Democrats and Republicans.

Countries such as China and Japan are happy to buy our Treasuries to keep their currencies low relative to the American dollar.  We are their largest customer and their open-door lending keeps us buying their products and keeps them strong.  Even China has issued warnings to the U.S. to lower its debt, but alas, politicians turn a deaf ear to the warnings of other nations and economist worldwide.  They have found a means to buy votes and refuse to relinquish that stranglehold on America.  They know that to seriously reduce the debt they would have to dramatically reduce the deficit and take some austere measures that would likely get them voted out.  NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

We need to step away from, no run from the ‘baseline budgeting’ and run to the ‘zero-based budgeting’ plan.  In the current system every department and budget receives an automatic increase and if the politicians cut the size of the increase they claim they are cutting the budget, but it is still larger than the year before.  Where is the cut?  In the Zero-Based Budget Plan, every department and foreign aid recipient would begin at ZERO and be required to present valid arguments and realistic budgets for the year.  In that system, some would receive ZERO and go the way of the dinosaur into extinction.

In our personal budgets, we are not able to spend more than we take in, at least not for very long.  If our income is less than outgo we end up bankrupt and lose virtually everything.  Individually, if we are wise, we force ourselves to live within our means.  If there is something we need or want, we budget and save for it and when we can afford the payments or the price we buy but not until.  The federal government never thinks about affordability but demand that which they deem is needed.  We are in this mess because we keep electing politicians who are willing to bury us in debt.  We need to send people to Washington, Republicans, and Democrats who will have the intestinal fortitude to ‘do the right thing’ and REDUCE the Debt and Deficit.  My friends, money does not grow on trees!

God bless you and God bless America!

IN MY PERFECT POLITICAL WORLD…


BLOG POST 5 - perfect world

No, I am not hallucinating only dreaming.  I don’t normally play, ‘what if’ games because they are fruitless and offer little redeeming value.  I like to, as much as possible, rely on the facts and face current realities in life.  I find that by facing the present, having learned from the past, helps me shape my future and keep my focus.  However, for the sake of expression, I will indulge in offering what some of the aspects of my ‘Perfect Political World’ would look like.  Play along if you’d like or not.

In that perfect political world, the politicians would all be honest, demonstrate integrity, and refuse to make promises they know they can’t or won’t keep and keep those they make.  That would likely disqualify about 90% of all politicians currently in today’s landscape.  I had a friend tell me that once when he was preaching and recounted some stories as illustrations a woman came to him after service and asked, “Pastor were those the truth or were you just preaching?”  WHAT?  May that never be that a preacher would embellish the truth and exaggerate a story.  Sadly, it happens, and it is not relegated to the pulpit but extends to the pew, business, society, and the political world too.

I find it objectionable that a politician will take one stance in Maine and another in Texas or wherever depending on what their polling data suggests the people want to hear.  I find it objectionable that a politician will promise to defend certain positions while campaigning but turn their backs on those promises once in DC and vote strictly partisan.  In my ‘Perfect Political World,’ whatever a politician said, he or she would devotedly stand by those promises and principles.  But, alas, this is not Never Never Land and there is no Yellow Brick Road.

In my perfect political world, politicians would openly and honestly discuss the issues without descending into name-calling and mud raking.  I do want to know where each candidate stands on various issues but as I have told Christians for years, “Don’t tell me what someone else is doing or not doing and don’t tell me what you do not believe, tell me what you believe and stand for.”  If what a politician stands for can be contrasted to what the other side stands for the choice gains crystal clarity, at least for me.  I am very much an issues man.  In today’s political world we can discount 90% of what they say on the campaign trail knowing that once they get to Washington they will likely become good soldiers of their party.  That is not political perfection, in my view.

In my perfect political world, All Lives Would Matter, including those babies in the womb.  The most defenseless of all in our society.  I am not discounting the plight or historical discrimination any have experienced.  I am not discounting any disparities existing in today’s society and the need to discuss and deal with those issues.  If All Lives Matter then we would seek to return to the position and follow the principle that “All men are created equal,” and seek to ensure that America returns to or become “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”  Yes, that is Utopian but remember I said in “My Perfect Political World.”

In my perfect political world, Government would return to being limited, operate within its means and be a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Politicians would return to be ‘citizen representatives’ rather than career politicians seeking power, position, and purse.  In today’s political world much of it reminds me of the Sanhedrin when Jesus was rising to the height of His popularity. They said, “If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”  They were less concerned about what people believed than losing their PLACE!  Politicians are Power Driven Creatures and once entrenched in power they find it lines their purses, feeds their egos, and gives them control.  In my Perfect Political World, a politician would remain a citizen, serve a term or two and return to private life and produce there, like the rest of the citizenry.

In my perfect political world, our Constitution would be the Rule of Law for the Nation and would be interpreted by Original Intent, not personal or political agendas.  Justices would be fair and impartial not a judicial activist.  Politicians would pass laws consistent with that document’s intent and letter and would be held accountable to the same laws as the citizenry.  The government would be prohibited from infringing upon any of our Inalienable Rights and we would once again recognize the hand of divine providence in our Republic’s birth and existence.

In my perfect political world, we would eliminate much of the poverty now existing because welfare and entitlements would virtually disappear.  We would return to personal benevolence and churches, communities, and families would assume that role, as it both biblical and constitutional.  The expectation of the citizen and the politician would be that it is honorable to work and earn a living.  The biblical view would be restored that if one would not work they do not receive handouts.  The key word is WOULD NOT! The church, the community, families, and individuals would return to being the caretakers of the needy, not the government.  Government run anything, except in a politically perfect world does more harm than good.

In my perfect political world, we would find it possible, desirable, and encouraged that everyone could and would pursue their God-given Right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.  Politics would no longer be a four-letter word or epithet but an honorable service to the Republic.  The manipulation of various sectors of society, pitting them against each other for political purposes would become extinct and civility would return to the discourse.  In that condition, the seeds of sanity and civility would be planted and over several generations, we could overcome the generational hate that now exists.  People could disagree without resorting to name-calling and violence.  Real solutions could be uncovered and what America was envisioned to become a reality.

Yes, I just embarked on and engaged in a trip down fantasy lane.  However, I continue to hope and pray for America, the land that I love, and you love to return to her founding principles and the guiding precepts we once knew.  Just because we have drifted from them does not mean they are unreachable.  What can you and I do as one person?  We can do what we know to do and believe that our shift in attitude will affect another and then another and another until we impact an entire generation.  Most of us would never see the fruit of that endeavor but our Grandchildren and their posterity would.  Lord, what can I do to leave a legacy of hope for my children and beyond?

God bless you and God bless America!

THE 14TH AMENDMENT DOES NOT GIVE BLANKET BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP…


BLOG POST 4 - Birthright Citizenship.PNG

Because of the hoopla over President Trump’s declaration that he would be issuing an Executive Order ending “birthright citizenship” I feel compelled to once again wade into this.  This is a recycling of an old blog post but one that I believe is necessary today.  Most on the Left and some on the Right fail to comprehend the actual wording and the intent of this amendment.  It, like many things, has been morphed into something other than the Original Intent.  I offer my two-cents hoping to bring some clarity to the argument.

Illegal Immigration and Amnesty are not secondary issues in today’s political climate as some seem to think, including Bret Baier of Fox News in the past presidential election.  It is an economic issue, a national security issue, national sovereignty as well as a social issue.  At one time I thought that if a person was born in the United States they were automatically afforded citizenship by the Constitution of these United States.  As a student of history in college and over the past 50 plus years I have discovered the writings of the authors of the 14th Amendment and their view of what that amendment was designed to do. 

The 14th Amendment, as per Senator Jacob M. Howard of Michigan in 1866 wrote, “…every person born within the limits of the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction, is by virtue of natural law and national law a citizen of the United States.  This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons.” 

Blog Post 1

Subject to the jurisdiction does not simply mean being in the country physically but means “not owing allegiance” to any other foreign nation.  It is not just the physical jurisdiction but the complete jurisdiction of the United States of America.  Illegals cannot make that claim for they are ILLEGAL!  In 1866 Senator Edward Cowan wrote, “A foreigner in the United States has a right to the protection of the laws; but is not a citizen in the ordinary acceptance of the word…”  

The words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” was intended to exclude American-born persons from automatic citizenship whose allegiance to the United States was not complete.  The Native Americans were not initially included although born here because it was not perceived that their allegiance was not complete to the United States but to their own tribal councils.  Regarding illegal aliens in the United States unlawfully, their native country has a claim of allegiance on the child.  Therefore, the completeness of their allegiance to the United States is impaired and precludes automatic citizenship.  The proper interpretation of the 14th Amendment is that an illegal alien mother is subject to the jurisdiction of her native country, as is her baby.

In the “Slaughter-House Cases” the Supreme Court confirmed this restricted interpretation of citizenship.  In 1884 Elk v. Wilkins, the phrase, “subject to its jurisdiction” was interpreted to include “children of ministers, consuls, and citizens of foreign states born with the United States.”  In Elk, the American Indian claimant was considered NOT an American citizen because the law required him to be “not merely subject in some respect or degree to the jurisdiction of the United States, but completely subject to their political jurisdiction and owing them direct and immediate allegiance.”  The Courts essentially declared that the status of the parents determines the citizenship of the child.  To qualify children for “birthright citizenship”, based on the 14th Amendment, parents MUST owe, “direct and immediate allegiance” to the United States and be “completely subject” to its jurisdiction.  Simply, they must be citizens of the United States of America.

BLOG POST 1A

The argument that simply being born here automatically affords “birthright citizenship” in the United States is to ignore the wording and intent of the Amendment.  One cannot simply self-immigrate ILLEGALLY and then claim jurisdiction because they are here.  They are citizens of another country and subject to the jurisdiction of that country.  They become subject to our laws but that does not give them citizenship.

The 14th Amendment ratified in 1868 was primarily directed at extending citizenship to the freed slaves.  The Amendment’s wording was derived from the 1866 Civil Rights Act, which provided that “all person born in the United States, and not subject to any foreign power” should be considered citizens.  The Amendment was intended to give citizenship ONLY to those who owed their allegiance to the United States and were subject to its complete jurisdiction.  Senator Lyman Trumbull, R-IL, a key figure in its adoption stated, “subject to the jurisdiction” meant not owing allegiance to any other country.

American Indians did not become citizens UNTIL Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924.  There would have been no need to pass such legislation if the 14th Amendment extended citizenship to all people born in America, no matter what the circumstances of their birth, and no matter the legal status of their parents.  I pray that everyone, including the Supreme Court Justices, considers that fact and realize based on the wording and the declarations of the framers the original intent.  Birthright Citizenship is not part of our Constitution, politicians have made it so not the document itself.

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 defined citizens of the United States as, “all persons born in the United States and not subject to any foreign power, excluding American Indians not taxed.”  The question of American Indians Senator Howard argued, “…have always been in our legislation and jurisprudence, as quasi-foreign nations”. Senator Lyman Trumbull (D-IL) agreed with Senator Howard stating, “…it would be a violation of our treaty obligations… to extend our laws over these Indian tribes with whom we have treaties saying we would not do so.”  Trumbull insisted that the Indian tribes WERE NOT subject to our jurisdiction in the sense of owing allegiance solely to the United States.  He stated, “…it is ONLY those persons who come completely within our jurisdiction, who are subject to our laws that we think of making citizens.”

BLOG POST 1B

The clincher in this is that in Section 5 of the 14th Amendment it reads: “The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.”  That includes Section 1 deemed the “citizenship clause”.  Would a liberal Congress pass legislation granting “birthright citizenship” to the children of illegal aliens?  Do wild bears live in the woods?  The Liberal Leftist Democrats most assuredly would and now insist on it as well as Open Borders for one and all.  However, if they follow the arguments of the authors of the clauses and amendment they would not but if they follow present-day political correctness they would.  What do you think would be the case if the Democrats and RINO’s control of Congress and/or the White House in 2020?  You get the Gold Star it would be Amnesty and Anchor Baby Citizenship automatically.  If Congress passes such a law and it is enacted, so be it but until then, it is not Constitutional.

May God bless you and God bless America again!

 

WHO IS DIVIDING AMERICA???


BLOG POST 3 - Divided America

Before all the Leftist, Liberal Democrats and the Never Trump Crowd tries to slam me saying that it is all Donald Trump, let’s take a trip down memory lane.  We will also, address some of the more recent comments by Democrats that are racist and full of vitriolic hatred.  But, alas, those groups will still deny any blame and continue pointing the finger or giving the finger to Donald Trump.  Blindness is one thing, but willing blindness is a denial of the worst kind and is possibly the greatest divider of modern times.  That being said, there is plenty of guilt by all sides to last ten lifetimes.

In July 2016, BEFORE the 2016 Elections then President Barack Obama said on MSNBC, “If Republicans bring a knife to the fight, Democrats should bring a gun.”  Please, do not try to suggest that is benign and not incendiary.  In 2008 President Barack Obama challenged and urged his supporters to increase their attack on John McCain said, “I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors.  I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican.  I want you to argue with them and get in their face.”  Benign?  Hardly, everyone from Kindergarten onward understands that getting in someone’s face is caustic and hostile.  He was urging hostility.  But that was Trump’s fault, right?  Trump wasn’t in the political mix at that time.  So, who is dividing America?

How about in 2009 when Attorney General Eric Holder was speaking during Black History Month that America is “essentially a nation of cowards.”  He said, “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.”  That was fanning the flames of hate and stirring up racial biases.  It was uncalled for and unnecessary, but he was excused because he was a black man.  Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama’s pastor preached hate, racism, anti-Semitism for decades with the Obama family in the pews but Obama said nothing.  Silence, in that case, seems more to express agreement than objection.  If he disagreed, that was real cowardice.  So, who is dividing America?

Eric Holder, in October this year, declared that while Michelle Obama said, “When they go low, we go high.”  Holder said, “No. No. When they go low, we kick them.”  He later tried to walk it back a bit, but the message was as clear as Obama’s ‘get in their faces’ and ‘bring a gun to the fight’ comments.   Hillary Clinton recently said, “You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for.”  Hillary, would that not insist on incivility from both sides?  She went on to say, that when the Democrats win back the House and Senate that’s when civility could begin.  I can only interpret that to mean she endorses violence and incivility until she gets her way.  So, who is dividing America?

We have had a myriad of Hollywood celebrities calling for violence to the President and his family including rape, sodomy, and murder.  Recently Don Lemon of CNN said, “We have to stop demonizing people and realize that the biggest terror threat in this country is white men, most of them radicalized to the right, and we have to start doing something about them.”  Mr. Lemon, you said we must stop demonizing people and then your demonized an entire group of people, namely WHITE MEN.  What exactly did you have in mind with your remark of ‘dealing with them?’  You want a travel ban on White Guys.  So, who is dividing America?

Most of the things President Trump has said has come in a pushback from something said first by the Left.  Do I justify incendiary comments by anyone?  NO!  I don’t justify them from either side.  I am becoming increasingly concerned about the safety of my wife, daughters, and grandchildren over the intense hate that is being stirred up.  The Black Lives Matter, New Black Panthers, and other hate groups have called for “open season” on whites.  That is so volatile it cannot be overlooked.  To blame Donald Trump over the anger of the Liberal Leftist Democrats in losing an election is not being intellectually honest.  It is engaging in willing blindness that exacerbates the problem.

The Main Stream Media Outlets including some commentators on Fox News like Shepard Smith, Juan Williams, and even Chris Wallace, at times, continually hammer the President.  They ignore the violent outbursts, the riots, the hateful language of the various activist groups and rip him for his responses.  People like Louis Farrakhan, Maxine Waters, Al Sharpton, Keith Ellison, Cory Booker, and others continue to issue statements, allegations, and assertions that can only be interpreted as condoning violence.  If you justify, a bully or a terrorist, you embolden them.

The rhetoric of today has become so volatile that we are teetering on the brink of a full-scale civil war with blood in the streets.  I cannot fathom any Freedom Loving American desiring that. The end would be so catastrophic we might not survive as a nation.  Our enemies are loving the caustic atmosphere.  The Democrats claimed civility would return if they won and now they have won the House.  So let’s see if they are civil and truly seek to work on bipartisan measures.  I suspect we already know the answer.  I suspect that for the next two years, we can expect an escalation of the unrest and barring a genuine move of God bringing a spiritual revival we are in deep trouble as a nation.

Who is divining America?  There is enough blame to go around and we should all do some deep introspection and evaluation of how much our own personal bias and animus toward people and political parties are affecting our interactions.  Can we heal?  Of course.  Will we heal?  That remains to be seen.  We will not heal, with the Liberal Leftist Agenda in place and we may not with the Conservative and Constitutionalist policies.  I know the damage done by the Socialist Leftist agenda and the benefit of the Conservative and Constitutional approach.  I also know that those on the Left have tasted blood and now believe that violence will achieve their end, so look out, here it comes!

I pray that America can somehow come to grips with our differences and return to God and He will return to us.  If and when the pot boils over both sides will have blood on their hands and that is something I strongly urge we never allow to happen.

 God bless you and God bless America!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SELF-DEFEATING SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS…


BLOG POST 2 - SElf Righteousness

The mid-terms are over and rather than specifically talk about them I feel that I need to take a little different path today.   I am a preacher, a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a Christian, a Vietnam veteran, an American, a patriot, a husband, father, and grandfather.  I have strong opinions regarding Faith, Family, and Freedom and voice them as I feel the situation warrants.  I have and will speak about politics, religion, family, morality, and life without fear and even in the face of threats.  I know what I believe, in whom I believe, and understand what my ministry and purpose are, at this juncture in my life.  I am who I am by the Grace of God and hope that I am charitable to all without compromising my convictions.

We have all heard that we are to “love the sinner but hate the sin.”  Some have questioned if that is even possible and I say, “It is, but add the caveat that “loving the sinner” does not mean compromising your convictions to accommodate their disagreement.”  Forgiveness does not mean a license to do whatever one wants for repentance is to do a 180-degree turn and do what is needed to modify behavior and actions.  In the matter of sin, it is to cease following the desire of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and being dominated by the pride of life (following the evil one and/or the flesh) and to focus on God and His precepts.  But, that is another subject for another time.

As a preacher, I learned long ago that it is not only possible for preachers to engage in self-righteousness but a likelihood at some point in life.  I would suggest that few, if any, realize they are guilty of that sin and believe they are following God’s standards while others are falling short.  We, preachers, are prime targets of the enemy of our souls, to fall prey to that mentality and thereby damage lives or produce Pharisees who follow us, and we become like the Pharisee and the Publican praying.  We thank God that we are not like them rather than focusing on our own failings and asking mercy.  It is my belief that everyone must follow the dictate of their hearts in seeking to fulfill their purpose and assignment in this life.  God has not called or appointed all of us to do the same thing, otherwise many of us would be unnecessary.

I had a fellow minister lecture me about my active voice about political matters and insisted that I was outside the will of God, violating Scripture, and he even questioned my relationship with God.  I listened to the brow-beating for what seemed to be an eternity as he proclaimed his righteousness, which I saw as self-righteousness.  He paraded his personal beliefs about what a Christian and a minister should do regarding politics including that we were prohibited from disagreeing with government and our mandate from heaven was Obedience and Prayer.

He spoke of the medium of Facebook, my use of jokes offended him, it was not becoming a minister in his mind.  My political blogs and posts were objectionable because Christians were to have nothing to do with politics and we were to pray, vote, and leave the politics to politicians.  In his view, anything other than actively proclaiming the Word of God, the Gospel message, and calling believers to prayer was taboo for the believer.  In his mind, I was being an apostate and an embarrassment to the ministry and a hindrance to the advancement of the Gospel and Evangelization.

I waited, like Job as his comforters, demeaned him until I could take it no longer and at one of his pauses to take a breath asked if I might ask a question or two?  He, apparently believed he had reached me and I was having a “come to Jesus moment” so he consented.  I asked several questions that I will list:

  • If we see someone in danger are we to warn them and seek to help them avoid and avert danger or are we to simply say, “God bless you, I will pray for you,” and leave them alone?  He said with obvious incredulity, “Of course we are to help them.”
  • I continued, “If I saw a child playing near a busy street and no adults around, should I simply utter a prayer for the child or warn the child and attempt to get the attention of the adults charged with his/her care?”  He was even more animated and said, “You cannot allow a child to suffer injury or death if you can prevent it.”
  • I asked, “What are we to do with James 4:17?” He paused a moment to think and asked, “What do you mean?”  I quoted the passage and asked, “If I know to do good and do not do it, what does that make me?”  He, with obvious aggravation, demanded angrily, “Just what do you mean?”

That opened the door for me to address what I believe God has called me to do.  That is to be a Watchman on the Wall.  If I see something in violation of biblical principles being pursued by the government am I to be silent?  If it endangers lives, and livelihoods am I to passively fall into line with the edict?  If the nation is drifting away from her moral moorings, and disregarding the Creator God and His precepts am I not to try to bring her back on course by making as many as possible aware of that drift?  Likewise, if I see good I need to highlight it.

I asked about Ezekiel 33:9-11 where God spoke to the prophet and by implication to each of us regarding sounding the alarm.  In that passage, we are reminded that if we “see something and say nothing” and they perish their blood will be on our hands.  I understand that this is immediately applied to the Gospel message and Salvation, but does it not cover all of life.  How righteous are we if we see people’s lives being destroyed as they blindly follow governmental edicts and we sit in silence without attempting to sound the alarm?

I use jokes to lighten the load and heavy weight of life for as many as possible.  I have learned, first-hand, that Laughter is Good Medicine.  I have experienced numerous times when some true friends would call or come by during a time of crisis where ominous clouds were hanging over and I wanted to run for cover. They would tell me a joke and as much as I did not want to laugh, I found that as I laughed the sunshine broke through the clouds, my attitude changed, and I saw hope again.  I present scriptures and devotionals to address the spiritual needs of people because I know that without God, we have no hope.

It is my conviction and contention that because we as occupants of this world and are to occupy until Jesus comes we must deal with life as we find it.  That is one of the reasons I address matters political.   Does that make me lesser of a Christian and an embarrassment to the ministry?  I hope not.  I believe that it is the mandate for each of us to pursue the call of God upon our lives.

At this juncture in my life, I believe that I have heard the Macedonian Call to observe what is happening and Sound the Alarm when I see dangers.  I am also to observe what I see deficient and needy in the Church and call for believers to return to our first love and devotedly stand on the principles and precepts of the Bible.   I am to strengthen the feeble hands and encourage good behavior too.  If the Church is silent, evil will prevail, lives will be ruined, the Gospel message diluted, and Salvation becomes elusive.  Therefore, what I do I do as unto the LORD.

I attempt to refrain from a self-righteous attitude.  That is something each of us should do.  I do not suggest that everyone should do what I do, they should not, for that is not their call or assignment.  I want to be objective, honest, ethical, biblical, and speak the truth.  I never want to become closed minded and refuse to hear the objections and arguments of others.  I may disagree, but I might also see something I have not seen before and modify my position.  The foundation upon which I try to build my life is “What Does God Say?” and “What Does God Want?”  If I sit in silence, according to God’s word the blood of the innocent will cry out to God as a witness against me and I never want that to happen.

Some may read this and wonder why I am writing this and others will be encouraged by what I am saying.  America is too great a prize to not invest ourselves in the fight for Faith, Family, and Freedom.  Elections are not the only time to pay attention to what is happening.  We have been given a treasure in the Republic and our System of Government and we dare not take it lightly or leave it to the politicians to determine the fate of the nation.  I ask that you Pray about your purpose in this cause and do what your heart demands.  I ask that you become informed as to what is happening and follow the demands of your heart.  I ask that you invest yourself in America by voting in each election and vote according to your conscience not according to personality preferences.

God bless you and God bless America!

 

REMOVE THE POLITICAL TAGS…


BLOG POST 1 - Political Persuasin

Today is election day.  I want to offer this for any who have not yet voted and hope it resonates with you.  I have contended for years that the Political Tags of Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, and even Independent should be stripped away when considering who to vote for in America.  I readily acknowledge that the Tags are meaningful in some situations because they suggest how the candidate will vote on various issues.  In today’s political climate the Democrats vote in a bloc once in Washington so we cannot ignore that tag.  However, I contend that if we truly want to know who the candidate is we must strip away the Tags and view the policies and agenda they are embracing and campaigning on.  The problem with that is too many of them say one thing in one city and another in another trying to be all things to all people and offend none.  That alone is often enough to cause me to dismiss them.  Unfortunately, even then, when I compare their positions, I find one less dangerous than the other.

Let’s attempt to place some of the policies, agendas, and ideologies of today’s political arena without the Tag and see if that helps to expose or solidify our confidence in one Party or another.  It may be an exercise in futility, but I’m tired of beating my head against the wall and shouting from the rooftop with zero response from too many.

TAXATION is a very important issue in these or any election or should be.  Do you believe that the government has the right to ‘confiscate’ what you have earned and ‘redistribute’ it to those who do not produce?  Do you believe that it is beneficial for you and your family to keep more of your hard-earned income rather than seeing your taxes go up?  Do you believe the statistical evidence that lower taxes spurs, the economy, encourages investment, and produces more revenue for the federal government?   One party supports higher taxes and embraces the ‘Death Tax’ which requires the heirs to pay taxes a second or third time on the money their benefactors bequeathed to them.  One party believes that the only way to meet the demands for entitlements and spending is to increase taxes and dismisses the idea that a booming economy with lower taxes actually produces more revenue for the federal government.  A dispute that the historic facts refute.  Which do you prefer, lower taxes or higher taxes?  Then you have a clear choice today.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is another hot topic in today’s political arena.  There is the argument that to secure our borders is lacking compassion because those seeking to come are simply trying to win a better life for themselves and their families.  Open borders remove the national sovereignty of the nation that eliminates their borders.  Do you believe that the Constitution guarantees citizenship to anyone born on our shores even if neither parent is a citizen?  The facts do not support the view of ‘birthright citizenship’ and require that one or both parents be a U.S. Citizen.  Do you believe in the Rule of Law?  If there are no borders and anyone and everyone is allowed to come into this country do you believe that is a threat to our safety, economy, and system of government?  One party is promoting an elimination of all borders, citizenship for everyone, and even allowing those here illegally to vote in our elections.  Which do you prefer, a Sovereign and Safe America or an America that is under the governance of some world entity such as the United Nations?  Then you have a clear choice today.

FREE STUFF FOR EVERYONE is another call of today’s political world.  There is a certain hint of compassion to declare that everyone should have health care, access to the doctor of their choice and treatment for all conditions.  That sounds noble but in considering Medicare for All one should ask, “What is the cost?”  We should be asking the politicians that demand we are the only industrialized nation in the world without such a plan.  I must ask how that has worked out in other nations?  We should also be asking, “Can we afford it?”  If you believe that healthcare is a basic right, then you probably support Socialized Medicine or Medicare for All regardless of the cost.  However, if you are interested in the viability and sustainability of such a program you are asking, “What is the True Cost?”  With that in mind, you have a clear choice today.

The cost of Medicare for All, Free College for Everyone, Unlimited Welfare, and Entitlements will more than double if not triple the current national debt and leave our economy in shambles for generations to come.  The cost is astronomical not to mention the inherent delay in treatment, access to doctors, and the denial of care for certain segments of society.  If you believe that the Free Market approach of competition and portability in health care is the best approach you reject the FREE STUFF because nothing is FREE!

INALIENABLE RIGHTS are on the ballot even when they are not specifically named.  If you believe, as did our Founding Fathers and the Framers, that we have certain Rights that come from God, not the government you want those rights recognized and protected.  When it comes to ‘gun violence’ or ‘deaths via gun violence’ one party lumps all the numbers into one category and use that to sell their agenda of ‘gun control’.  One candidate used a number that was 66% higher than the reality to advance the idea that ‘gun control’ is needed while insisting that the candidate was a defender of the 2nd Amendment.

What about the Right to Freedom of Speech regardless of political, ethnic, economic, or religious beliefs?  One party wants to restrict the ability of some to voice their opinions and labels those opinions as ‘hate speech’ while allowing almost unrestricted access to public forums by those with whom they agree.  Do you believe that Speech must be free for everyone or it is free for no one?  Then you have a clear choice today.

THE CONSTITUTION is on the ballot in these elections.  No there is no actual vote for or against that document, but the philosophies, policies, ideologies, and agendas place it on the ballot.  If you believe that the Constitution is a living ever-evolving document, then you like one party more than the other.  If you believe in Original Intent and want to keep the system of government, the provisions and even restrictions on politicians afforded you find the living document argument objectionable.  Then you have a clear choice today.

I personally stand on the side of Limited Taxation and believe that the government’s confiscation of our money is often a bad thing.  I can appreciate the need for everyone to pay their fair and proportional share but not the use of government funds for the purpose of buying votes.  I am pro-immigration, but it must be LEGAL and want secure borders to keep America safe, our economy strong, and our nation sovereign.  I follow the Bible directive that all able-bodied persons work and not receive handouts.  I am opposed to Socialized medicine and freebies.  Things given to those who refuse to work engenders that mindset and makes it a generational problem.

I believe that we have certain rights that come from our Creator and the government has no right or authority to attempt to restrict or repeal those rights.  Government is to be limited and of the people, for the people, and by the people.  In that, I am a proponent of Term Limits for politicians.  I am Pro-America, a Vietnam Veteran, a Patriot, a Christian, and a Husband, Father, and Grandfather.  I have found that my beliefs place me at odds with the party that promotes Big Government, Open Borders, Gun Control, Higher Taxes, and Socialized Medicine.  If you don’t know which party that is I’m not sure my telling you would convince you.  I have voted and voted against the liberal leftism of the Democrats.

I ask that you VOTE and hopefully you will vote informed and for America!  God bless you and God bless America!

 

 

 

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IS DESTROYING AMERICA…


BLOG POST 2 - Political Correctness

That is a statement that I believe from the bottom of my heart.  I believe that Political Correctness has run amuck and is ripping the very foundations of our Free Constitutional Republic and Society apart.  It is, frequently, making civil discourse possible and the PC Police seem to be everywhere monitoring everything.  Well, everything that a Republican, Conservative, Constitutionalist, or Christians says while excusing the Leftists.  I have come to accept the reality of hypocrisy as being a normal part of today’s political world.  No, I do not mean that I embrace it but that I acknowledge it is prevalent and possible permanent but reject its validity or value.  It has none!

I agree with the assertion of columnist, Joy Pullman in her article “80 Percent of Americans Think Political Correctness Is A Problem In America.”  No, I do not know if 80% or 10% think that but that it is a problem.  However, her research was drawn from 8,000 survey respondents, 30 one-hour interviews, and six focus groups.  That is impressive!  YouGov has released a report called, “Hidden Tribes.”

What I found interesting in this report was that the strongest objections came from racial minorities and those who had never attended college.  Is there a correlation with the college educated crowd of today and this philosophical view?  I believe there is.  High-income college graduates were the most supportive of political correctness.  The people in those groups were also more likely to identify as agnostics or atheists as well and they were extremely liberal in their political ideologies.

I have contended for a very long time that Political Correctness is a breeding ground for both Toxic Liberalism and Hate.  I believe that it is a breeding ground and a launching pad for the incredible ‘hate speech’ that is flummoxing many in today’s America.  Within the various minorities the report indicated that Asians opposing it was 82%, Hispanics were even more opposed at 87% and American Indians even more opposed at 88%.  The interesting but understandable statistic was that white Americans opposed political correctness at a mere 79%, but alas you have to account for the devoted and irreconcilable liberals within that group.

This report indicated that Progressive Activist “have an outsized role in political discourse, even though they compromise a small portion of the population (about 1 in 12.)”  I guess the squeaky wheel truly does get the grease.  With the complicity of the Media hawking the talking points of Leftism, Liberalism, Progressivism, Socialism, and Globalism it is no wonder that the major idea presented is that of the Politically Correct World View.  Sadly, there are still thousands if not millions of well-meaning Americans who believe that if it is on the Internet or News it must have some validity.  They have a utopian view that is demonstrated in naivety and blind trust.  That is a sad condition, but one that I believe exists in today’s world.

When this mindset and mandate is pressed to its limits you some astounding examples review.  In Washington State, the prisons no longer refer to those incarcerated as inmates or prisoners but ‘students.’  Students?  Students of what?  Did they skip class and wind up incarcerated?  I guess that makes sense to the followers of political correctness and liberalism but not to me.  According to the National Review, student leaders at the University of Oregon considered removing the Martin Luther King, Jr. quote, “I have a dream.”  Why would they do that? Was it racism?  Hardly, it was because of Political Correctness and insisted that it should be removed because it did not address discrimination based on gender.  I am not making this up.

The United States Air Force appears to be caving to the Political Correctness Police and has issued a warning against using the terms, ‘boy’ or ‘girl’ because they are offensive.  In Seattle, there are numerous examples including mandating police to refrain from using the word “suspect” and use the term, “community member.”  That is Political Correctness Insanity.  Everybody is a community member but not a suspect and there needs to be a distinction.  Princeton University has banded, the use of ‘Man’.  There are clearly examples where the word man might be replaced with something more appropriate but when it comes to ‘man and wife’ insisting that this become ‘spouses’ and ‘partners’ is a bit much, in my view.  Other examples are ‘manmade’ is now ‘artificial’, ‘workmanlike’ is now ‘skillful’ and ‘layman’ is now ‘non-specialist.’ 

The British Medical Association has told its members that they are to no longer refer to a woman as an ‘expectant mother’ but simply a ‘pregnant person.’  In 2015, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee declared the phrase “politically correct” as taboo.  They stated they considered the use of the term microaggression.  Wow!  You are required to be politically correct, but you cannot call it political correctness.  That is laughable!  Let me give you another that should blow your mind.  In the summer of 2017, middle-school math teachers were able to take an online course entitled, “Teaching Social Justice through Secondary Mathematics.”  According to CampusReform.org, the concepts include recognizing that, “For centuries, mathematics has been used as a dehumanizing tool,” and “math is a powerful tool for advocacy or oppression.”  What was the bottom line in their argument?  It was Mathematical Identity which, they argued, “raises the issue that when we think of renowned mathematicians, many of us reference educated Western white males.”  There you have it, the dastardly educated Western white man is the root of the problem.

In totalitarian states, the use of limiting free thought and speech is one of their prime tools and political correctness is such a weapon.  The totalitarian seeks to prevent the individual from developing and engaging in free thought and limiting their freedom of speech.  That is anathema to the American Constitution but embraced by the Leftists of today’s America.  In the totalitarian state, any form of thought alternative to the party’s construct is classified as a “thought crime.”  We are bombarded daily by the MSM, politicians, activist, entertainers, the Hollywood liberal elitist that there is “appropriate speech” we must all follow.  Appropriate to whom?  To the liberal leftist, not the 1st Amendment expression of Free Speech but the Liberal definition.

Today it is virtually impossible to navigate the minefields of political correctness and avoid an encounter with the PC Police.  We can no longer say, “Merry Christmas” because it might offend someone.  If we are to follow the mandate of the madness of Political Correctness, we must cease identifying a person as a homeless person but as an outdoor urban dweller.  A Prostitute is a to be identified as a sex worker or sex care provider.  I guess an Illegal Immigrant would be an irregular immigrant or undocumented worker.  A Left-Wing Riot is simply a peaceful protest regardless of the violence and chaos.  It has become obvious that the names ascribed to all Conservatives by the Liberals are a part of their new dictionary.  A Racist, Nazi or Fascist is anyone who disagrees with those on the far left.  Simple enough, right?  There are hundreds of words and phrases that could be inserted I will leave their discovery to you.

In November we have the opportunity to challenge the political correctness totalitarian posturing of the Democrats and those following the toxicity of liberalism and socialism.  We dare not allow them to return to power if we have any hope of restoring sanity and/or civility to our Republic.  If we want to protect and defend our inalienable rights we MUST defeat the Liberal Leftists in November.  Please, Vote!  Vote for America!

God bless you and God bless America!

WHO IS ROBERT ‘BETO’ O’ROURKE, REALLY?


BLOG POST 1 - Who is Beto

I believe that is a fair question since he is traveling all over Texas claiming to be one who is neither Democrat or Republican but Texan.  He has offered ‘feel good’ diatribe and rhetoric and enlisted the support of college students and others convincing them he is the best man to get them what they deserve.  Basically, that seems to be freebies and some of his support has come from Texans who either do not like Trump or Cruz.  How much support does he truly have, November will be the deciding factor?  How energized are his supporters and how energized are those who support Cruz, November will give the final verdict?  I pray that he does not win this election for many reasons.

Beyond Mr. O’Rourke’s taking liberties with the truth regarding his DWI arrest and attempting to leave the scene.  Beyond, his shady deals in El Paso that were personally lucrative rather than in the best interest of the people of that city.  Beyond, his attempt to paint himself as a good-old-boy from Texas, he has a record that needs to be considered.

I have attempted to dig into his voting record as a Democrat Congressman from El Paso and was found nothing that moved the needle for me to support him.  Instead, I found some things that moved my needle to the Right significantly.  He voted in favor of the Omnibus Spending Bill of 2016 to increase foreign workers.  This bill increased the number of low-skilled, non-agricultural guest worker visas from 66,000 to 264,000.  It also increased the refugee resettlement to allow for an increase of 10,000 refugees in 2016.  He repeated that vote in 2018 which allowed the Department of Homeland Security to double the number of H-2B visas in FY2018.

Regarding inviting or repelling illegal aliens he voted against the bill Republican Representative Mo Brooks of Alabama presented to remove military amnesty from the National Defense Authorization Act in 2015.  The provision encouraged the Secretary of Defense to waive military enlistment requirements of illegal aliens who received amnesty through Barack Obama’s DACA program.  The amendment passed 221-202.  He voted in favor of funding Executive Amnesties.  The House had placed riders on the bill to stop President Obama’s unconstitutional Executive Amnesties, but the Senate stripped them out and O’Rourke supported allowing Obama’s illegal and unconstitutional actions.  He voted against the Aderhold Amendment to H.R. 240 to defund President Obama’s November 2014 amnesty for illegal aliens.  I do believe we can see a pattern of his being a good Democrat soldier in his voting record.  Yet, he is telling Texans that’s not who he is.  Sorry, Beto, you get four Pinocchio’s.

He also voted no on the Blackburn Amendment to H.R. 240 an amendment to defund Barack Obama’s DACA amnesty for illegal aliens.  He voted against H.R. 240 designed to defund the processing of applications and renewals of Obama’s DACA program making it impossible for DACA recipients to continue to receive legal status.  He co-sponsored H.R. 3130, legislation to weaken interior enforcement in 2013-2014.  There were a few good things and many bad things in the bill.  But, again, Beto wants us to believe that is not who he is as he travels around the State telling his feel-good stories without substance.

NumbersUSA, an organization that is fighting for legal not illegal immigration graded Representative O’Rourke as “F-“.  Not just an “F” but a minus added to it to show how horrific he has been regarding our borders and the security and sovereignty of the Republic.  Texas, do we really want to entertain someone like that for the United States Senate?  Not if we want to remain the Free Constitutional Republic.

Conservative Review graded Representative O’Rourke with an F in his Liberty Score and scored him as one of two from Texas receiving a paltry 14% score.  Let’s wade through a few more of his votes in the House of Representatives and let you determine if he is someone that shares your values.  He voted “nay” on the bill to protect family and small business tax cuts 2018.  He voted “nay” on the Family Savings Act of 2018.  He voted “nay” on Community Safety and Security Act of 2018.  He voted “nay” on the bill to increase access to lower premium plans and expanding health savings accounts act of 2018.  He is for a ‘carbon tax.’  He voted “nay” on Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018. He voted “nay” on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.  I guess he views, partial birth abortions and even endorses killing the baby if it survives a botched abortion.  So much for not being Republican or Democrat but Texan.  That is not, in my view, remotely Texan!

He voted “nay” on the World Bank Accountability of 2017.  He voted “nay” on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts of 2017.  He voted “nay” on the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017.  Wait, he claims to be Pro the Second Amendment and does not want ‘gun control.”  Somehow that does not jive with that vote, but alas, politicians tend to speak out of both sides of their mouths. He voted “nay” on stopping the Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017.  I guess that means he wants Congress to continue paying hush money for sexual allegations against members of Congress.  Isn’t that a bit hypocritical?  He voted “nay” on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.  Another abortion vote it would seem.  He voted “nay” on the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act.  I suppose you cannot be for illegal immigrants, for open borders, and for citizenship for anyone and everyone and want to protect Americans at the same time.

He voted “nay” on the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act.  He voted “nay” on Kate’s law dealing with criminal illegals being deported immediately.  He voted “nay” on the Republican healthcare plan preferring Obamacare.  He voted “nay” on the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Rights.  Mr. O’Rourke, please stop telling Texans you are pro 2nd Amendment with votes like this.  He voted “nay” on the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2017.  He voted “nay” on the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act.  He voted “nay” on the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015.

Mr. O’Rourke has a consistent record of voting just like Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Bernie Sanders, Maxine Waters, Cory Booker, Diane Feinstein, and Elizabeth Warren.  He is a dyed in the wool Democrat and that leopard has not and will not change his spots.  If you are now an O’Rourke supporter I ask that you consider what we need in Texas and ask yourself a few pertinent questions.  Do you want higher Taxes?  Beto does.  Do you want abortion on demand?  Beto does.  Do you want open borders?  Beto does.  Do you want gun control?  Beto does.  Do you want Sanctuary Cities?  Beto does.  Do you want your religious rights and freedoms protected?  Do you want your right to personal property protected?  Do you want the Constitution to be interpreted as was originally intended?  Then you need to ask your candidate when he changed his position on those matters.  His record indicates that he is not what he is claiming to be.

Ted Cruz has stood for the Constitution, the Rule of Law, our Rights under the Constitution and those deemed inalienable.  Ted Cruz has been a strong voice against the corruption of Washington, D.C. and has resisted the Establishment when it went against the promises to the voters.  He has been a positive voice for Texas, Conservatism, and America.  It is my intent to vote YES for Ted Cruz and I pray that millions of my fellow Texans will do the same and prevent this Leftist, Robert ‘Beto’ O’Rourke from becoming the junior U.S. Senator from Texas.  Texas and America cannot afford that.

God bless you and God bless America.  I might add, God Bless Texas too!

IF YOU WANT YOUR REPUBLIC, THEN…


BLOG POST 5 - Spin Machine

Remember Barack Obama’s declaration promoting Obamacare, “If you like your health plan and/or your doctor, you can keep them?”  That was a farce and he knew it, those in Congress knew it, and I’m quite sure some in the MSM knew it.  However, it was packaged and sold as a factual reality.  Then, when it was discovered by the public that was a very misleading statement, they began to promote it as, “look at the benefit it does for the uninsured, so you need to take a bullet for your fellow man.”  Sounds noble, right?  Well, that bullet has been more of a cannon shot rather than a 9mm round fired at us.  It was, is and will continue to be a total disaster.

The Democrats are highly skilled at promoting ideas, rhetoric, and spin they believe will resonate with people and cause them to react favorably to them.  Their spin and snake oil are designed to do one thing, ‘get votes’.  Their proposals are not launched with the best interest of people in mind.  If it is, they are even more delusional than I have given them credit and that might be more troubling than them simply being sinister.  Both are bad, but if they are that out of touch with reality and sinister too, we are in deep trouble.

Today their mantra and talking points seem to be a rehashing of old trial balloons and a repeating of some beyond the ones I will mention but virtually every Democrat is trying to package and sell them.  Is the public buying what they are selling?  I guess we will have to wait until well into the night on November 6th to find out.  If there is a Blue Wave, then the answer is yes.  If there is a Red Wave, the answer is not.  If there is just a ripple and we remain pretty much in the status quo, then the answer is both yes and no.

I cannot believe that I am, once again, feeling the need to deal with some of their prime talking points but meeting and talking to people daily, I see and feel the confusion of many.  When you add the calls for incivility by Hillary Clinton and physical violence by Eric Holder it makes the situation even more dire and dangerous. Don Lemon’s calling white men the greatest terrorist threat to America.  Maxine Waters has been going off at the mount in delusional rages for so long that most on the Right and Left simply dismiss her as an angry deranged woman who is out of touch with reality.  But Eric Holder and Hillary Clinton are more mainstream Democrats and that makes them incredibly dangerous.

The Electoral College continues to be one of their prime targets.  Dr. Walter Williams gave an excellent argument shattering their claims and objectives and you can find it at https://www.thenewamerican.com/reviews/opinion/item/30356-the-electoral-college-debate?fbclid=IwAR3XbxIHeY0VIH_dKtruZu-We4sUrqegd9TezKdpZ_r2avjFlOtt4DdhSzc#.

It is excellent reading and something everyone should read.  We have a Republic and our Framers and Founders were adamantly opposed to a Democracy.  The Democrats do not seem to have a grasp on the difference.  In every contest there are rules, and everybody is supposed to play by the same rules.

The Democrats demand “Fairness” but seem to be oblivious to the Fairness of the Electoral College and its necessity to preserve our Republic and prevent us from becoming a Grecian Democracy.  In a baseball game scoring runs is the objective.  Not who had the most hits, strikeouts, or the fewest errors.  Those things matter, only in how they helped score or prevent the runs.  When you discover that the huge electoral college states of New York, California, and Illinois have a solid lock of 104 electoral Democrat votes.  If we do away with the electoral college, we allow California and New York to run up the score with popular votes and remove the smaller states from any consideration.  The electoral college gives each state a voice and votes proportional to their population thus preserving the Union and the Republic.

Stacking the Supreme and Lower Courts are another prime objective of the Democrats and as most of them have acknowledged including the Democratic Senate Candidate in Texas Robert Francis O’Rourke they want Justices and Judges who agree with their political views.  The concern with the constitutionality of those views takes a back seat to achieving their objective.  That is foreign to the intent and design of the Founding Fathers and the Framers of the American constitution.   Today, President Trump has shown the courage to buck the Democrats and nominate Justices who are more originalist in their views.  This contrasts with former Republican Presidents who capitulated and nominated the likes of Harry Blackmun, William Brennan, John Paul Stevens, and David Souter.  There is the talk of the Democrats, should the regain power and the White House to increase the Court to eleven and packing those new positions with liberal activist Justices.  Maybe, the Republicans should do that now!

The two-pronged Impeachment demand is nothing short of a last-ditch effort and a desire to overthrow a legitimate election. They want to Impeach both Donald J. Trump and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.  Forget the idea of “innocent until proven guilty” for they have already deemed both guilty and worthy of impeachment if not the firing squad.  One Supreme Court Justice (Samuel Chase) and two Presidents have been impeached and none received the required two-thirds vote in the Senate to convict and oust from office.  They decry Justice Kavanaugh’s temperament and his going full bore against the Democrat railroad job as disqualifying but Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s libelous railing on Donald Trump is acceptable. Talk about double standards or no standards.

Senator Dick Blumenthal presented a double-edged sword in saying: “Falsus in Uno, falsus in omnibus.”  This is the Senator that lied about a Vietnam record, which he does not have.  One might question their use of that in trying to trap now Justice Kavanaugh when there was a serious question as to the veracity of Dr. Ford’s installation of a front door and presumed fear of flying.  Both, have been called into question and in the minds of many totally refuted.  However, the Democrats have learned that proof is not required on innuendo and allegation to destroy a conservative and/or constitutionalist’s reputation.

Then, they hark that Voter Identification is somehow disenfranchising to blacks and especially blacks who do not read.  They also, decry any black who would support President Trump and his agenda because they might influence those poor illiterate blacks who would simply follow his lead.  That is or should be demeaning to blacks to have that allegation made by the very people who are supposed to be their champions.  However, the Left has no problem with Taylor Swift, the Dixie Chicks, Robert De Niro, Kathy Griffin, Snoop Dogg, and a host of others who influence people for their side.  Kanye’s powerful statement both surprised and resonated with me.  He said, “I stand for what I believe in, and I will not be intimidated by the Left mob.” 

When racial bigots like Don Lemon can laugh while a guest on his show would blast Kanye and insist that Mr. West reflects what “happens when Negros don’t read.”  That is or should be insulting to everyone black, white, brown, or any other ethnicity or skin pigmentation.  If it isn’t it should be.  The insinuation that Kanye does not read is ludicrous.  He writes songs.  I remember when Susan Rice insisted that traitor Bo Bergdahl “served with honor and distinction.”  If that is honor and distinction then I have no clue what Honor is.  Mr. Lemon, would you say she was an example of when blacks don’t read?

America if we allow the Liberal Progressive, Socialist Leftist Democrats to return to power in this election we are driving nails in the coffin of the Republic.  Hate me if you will.  Disagree with me if you please.  But, before you attack me, get the facts and try to lay aside your bias and consider where the road they are offering ends.  It ends in the dismantling or ‘fundamental transformation’ of the Republic.  I want America to be and remain the Free Constitutional Republic we were given through the Revolutionary War and the Constitution of these United States of America.  I ask you to vote and to vote for America.  The only path for that to be a reality is to reject the National Leftist Democrats.  I am praying for an extension of this window of opportunity to restore much of what has been taken from us.

God bless you and God bless America!

SILENCE – Virtue or Fault?


BLOG POST 4 - Silence

Edmund Burke is credited with saying, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”  In the Ecclesiastes 3:7, we are told there is a time to keep silent and a time to speak.  Many of us have experienced situations where some people, we presumed were friends, could have spoken in our defense or joined our argument but were silent.  Their silence gave the appearance of agreement with the charges against us and the impact on our hearts was traumatic.  That pain was expressed in Psalm 41:9, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.”  That Hurts Deeply!

I have experienced situations in which I stood up when I should have shut up.  I have spoken without hearing the whole matter and it caused pain and problems that were difficult if not impossible to rectify.  I have also experienced times when I wanted to sit down but knew that I must speak up and it brought about a resolution that would not have otherwise been realized.  There are situations when “good people” for whatever reason choose to be silent and their silence emboldens the adversaries and allows evil to triumph in that situation.  At Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the people were shouting and praising God for the Messiah.  The Pharisees challenged him that He should tell the people to be silent.  Jesus said, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

Although I do not expect the stones to begin crying out in today’s political climate, I do believe that the Spirit of God is grieved when we cower into the shadows and are afraid to let people know where we stand on key matters.  Especially matters that clearly run counter to the teachings of Scripture.  We have silently allowed the politicians and activist to advance their agenda when we could have spoken up and possibly influenced some or encouraged them to Think rather than react.  In that we become complicit and the fruit of our silence will be reaped by everyone.

One of the major problems in today’s world, as I see it, is the failure to honestly and openly Listen.  Someone said, “we were given two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak.”  That is not the nature of most, but if Fear comes into the equation many, become mute.  The Fear of Rejection is incredibly powerful, and many believe that if they just don’t rock the boat they will be accepted.  I have witnessed people trying to straddle the fence and not engage in the debate or discussion and found that both sides turned on them and rejected them.  Their path to acceptance became the path to rejection.

I have engaged in discussions on political matters with people who were diametrically opposed to what I stood for.  As a result, I’ve been told by some Leftists that they respected me because I was willing to risk the voicing of my views.  They respected the fact that I refused to engage in name-calling, shouting matches, and unbridled anger, but attempted to argue my position from a biblical and factual position.  They still disagreed but respected my courage and commitment to that which I believed.  Jesus addressed that, in a measure, in the Revelation 3:16, “So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”  I fully comprehend that He was speaking about our relationship and commitment to Him but that applies to every dimension of life.  Silence is not always Golden.   Sometimes it is Cowardice!

In the Bible, we find God’s view regarding the importance of sounding the alarm when there is a clear and real danger.  In Ezekiel 33:9-11, He speaks to that and warns the prophet that if he were to sit in silence when he saw a danger, the blood of the victims would be on his hands.  On the other hand, if he were to speak up and sound the alarm he would escape that judgment.

In America, there are political situations, ideologies, agendas, and platforms that run counter to the principles of God’s word and if the Church, Pastors, and Believers sit silently their silence aids and abets those pushing those agendas.  You may protest and say, “Roy, we have to honor the Separation of Church and State.”  You may argue that we are commanded to “pray for those in power and then obey even if we disagree.”  I would argue that our Founders and the Farmers never intended the Church to refrain from any input into the political debate.

History reveals that they usually began their sessions with prayer.  They frequently sought out the counsel of the clergy.  They argued against a State Religion or a State Church.  They took impressive steps to prevent the State from infringing upon the ability of the Church to follow their core convictions rather than attempting to prevent the Church from influencing the political.  I do not want the Church to run the State and do not want the State to run the Church.  However, I do want the ministers and believers to sound the alarm when the State takes a position that violates the principles and precepts of God’s word.

If we see legislation that hurts people and effectively enslaves them locking them into conditions and positions of poverty, should we blindly accept that in silence?  If we see the slaughter of innocent babies in the womb knowing that it contradicts the directive of Scripture, should we blindly accept that in silence?  If we see policies and legislation that endangers the citizens such as open borders and Sanctuary cities, are we to sit silent?  If we see overreaches of government in infringing upon our right to privacy and see moves to silence the church or control what can be preached, are we to sit silent?

I want to speak to Churches, Pastors, Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and ask, “at what point and on what basis do you sit in Silence while this nation is led down the path of destruction and into godlessness?”  I cannot, and I hope that rather than demanding people like me sit in silence, you join us and take a visible and verbal stand for God, Good, and Right.  We are fighting for our Freedom in more ways than many realize.

I am less concerned as to whether anyone seems themselves as a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Independent than I am about inappropriate silence.  If I know to do good and fail to do it, the Bible tells me that is a sin.  If I saw a grown man abusing a child or a woman, I would not say, “Well, it is none of my business and ignore the situation.”  I am fully aware of the inherent danger of becoming involved in a domestic dispute.  If I saw a child about to enter a busy street I would not feel justified in ignoring that situation.  If I saw a fire in a house, I would not say, “Well it is not my job to deal with the fire, I’ll leave that to the authorities.”  I would try to find out if anyone was in the house, and if the authorities needed to be called.  

 Silence would not be justified in those situations.  If I see policies, agendas, and legislation that threatens the livelihood of citizens and threatens the ability of Churches and Believers their 1st Amendment Rights of Freedom of Religion, I cannot sit in silence.  If I see objectives advanced that seek to ‘fundamentally transform’ this Republic into something other than a Free Nation with a government of the people, for the people, and by the people, I cannot sit in silence.  I contend that we are under siege today politically and call upon Churches, Believers, Patriots, Veterans, and Americans to break free from your Fear and take a stand.  This November is possibly a deciding factor in the direction and future of our Republic.  Choose wisely!

May God bless you and God bless America!