Archive for June 30th, 2008
Christian the Lion
June 30th, 2008
Posted in 
Political Independence Sets Politicians Free
June 30th, 2008
We recently had Senator Jim Jeffords of VT change from Republican to Independent, caucusing with the Democrats.
Joe Lieberman was forced to change to Independent from Democrat, caucusing with the Democrats, because he lost the Democratic primary and knew the people of CT would re-elect him.
Bob Barr has changed his registration from Republican, heading up the Clinton impeachment proceedings, to Libertarian, even though he voted for the Patriot Act and for the Iraq War.
It seems when someone changes parties they are suddenly set free to say what they really believe instead of repeating the party line.
Take a listen to Joe Lieberman as he appeared on Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer on Sunday:
Would he have said those same things eight years ago? Or even three years ago? No, because he had to be loyal to his party.
Would Bob Barr be criticizing the actions he supported while in Congress five years ago? No, because he had to be loyal to his party.
Jeffords is different. He never said much of substance as a Republican or an Independent, but he used Republican money to get elected and then switched the balance of the Senate for a chairmanship and still didn’t get what he was after.
President George Washington, the Father of Our Country, warned against partisan politics and political parties. I think he was right. If we were all independents we would more freely say what we really feel rather than what the party wants us to say, and that would indeed be better for our country.
We Owe So Much To Our Brilliant Forefathers
June 30th, 2008
July 4th is just around the corner.
A day known for picnics, vacations, fireworks, patriotic music and this:
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
Just imagine Thomas Jefferson sitting on a hill in Massachusetts and listening to the Boston Pops on Independence Day.
Think for a moment what Adams, Washington or Franklin might feel at the sight of the Presentation of Colors or the many residences and businesses adorned in red, white and blue.
Would it not be fun to sit beside the framers and signers of this revered document and view the elaborate colors and designs bursting in the sky each Fourth of July and simply say “thank you.”
All information above was gleaned from the National Archives where there is also offered an excellent opportunity for children (or adults) to add their name along side the original signers and print out a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
