Distinguishing the American Left

“Whether this (Independence) will prove a blessing or a curse, will depend upon the use our people will make of the blessings which a gracious God hath bestowed on us. If they are wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable. Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this: and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others”

¹Patrick Henry – written in his will

 

In this blog I have often used the term progressive liberal to reference the radical liberal political philosophy of today. But this article by Dennis Prager, “Leftism Is Not Liberalism”, (printed excerpts below) best defines my stand and why. I have normally distinguished my anti liberal view as progressive liberals because though I don't agree with the liberals of my generation, today's version is much more radical. This piece helps me leave my well-meaning (but misguided) true liberal friends to their ideas, so I may debate the real problem with the "Leftists" who want to destroy America as we true Americans and our founders expect it to be.

 

Here is Dennis Prager.

^2”What is the difference between a leftist and a liberal? 

Answering this question is vital to understanding the crisis facing America and the West today. Yet few seem able to do it. I offer the following as a guide. 

Here's the first thing to know: The two have almost nothing in common. 

On the contrary, liberalism has far more in common with conservatism than it does with leftism. The left has appropriated the word "liberal" so effectively that almost everyone -- liberals, leftists and conservatives -- thinks they are synonymous.

But they aren't. Let's look at some important examples.

Race: This is perhaps the most obvious of the many moral differences between liberalism and leftism. The essence of the liberal position on race was that the color of one's skin is insignificant. To liberals of a generation ago, only racists believed that race is intrinsically significant. However, to the left, the notion that race is insignificant is itself racist. Thus, the University of California officially regards the statement "There is only one race, the human race" as racist. For that reason, liberals were passionately committed to racial integration. Liberals should be sickened by the existence of black dormitories and separate black graduations on university campuses.

Capitalism: Liberals have always been pro capitalism, recognizing it for what it is: the only economic means of lifting great numbers out of poverty. Liberals did often view government as able to play a bigger role in lifting people out of poverty than conservatives, but they were never opposed to capitalism, and they were never for socialism.

Nationalism: Liberals deeply believed in the nation-state, whether their nation was the United States, Great Britain or France. The left has always opposed nationalism because leftism is rooted in class solidarity, not national solidarity. The left has contempt for nationalism, seeing in it intellectual and moral primitivism at best, and the road to fascism at worst. Liberals always wanted to protect American sovereignty and borders.

View of America: Liberals venerated America. Watch American films from the 1930s through the 1950s and you will be watching overtly patriotic, America-celebrating films -- virtually all produced, directed and acted in by liberals. Liberals well understand that America is imperfect, but they agree with a liberal icon named Abraham Lincoln that America is "the last best hope of earth."

To the left, America is essentially a racist, sexist, violent, homophobic, xenophobic and Islamophobic country. The left around the world loathe America, and it is hard to imagine why the American left would differ in this one way from fellow leftists around the world. The left's view of America was encapsulated in then-presidential candidate Barack Obama's statement in 2008. "We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America," he said. Now, if you were to meet a man who said that he wanted to fundamentally transform his wife, or a woman who said that about her husband, would you assume that either loved their spouse? Of course not.

Free speech: The difference between the left and liberals regarding free speech is as dramatic as the difference regarding race. No one was more committed than American liberals to the famous statement "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Liberals still are. But the left is leading the first nationwide suppression of free speech in American history -- from the universities to Google to almost every other institution and place of work. It claims to only oppose hate speech. But protecting the right of person A to say what person B deems objectionable is the entire point of free speech.

Western civilization: Liberals have a deep love of Western civilization. They taught it at virtually every university and celebrated its unique moral, ethical, philosophical, artistic, musical and literary achievements. No liberal would have joined the leftist Rev. Jesse Jackson in chanting at Stanford University: "Hey, hey. Ho, ho. Western civ has got to go." The most revered liberal in American history is probably former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who frequently cited the need to protect not just Western civilization but Christian civilization.

Judaism and Christianity: Liberals knew and appreciated the Judeo-Christian roots of American civilization. They themselves went to church or synagogue, or at the very least appreciated that most of their fellow Americans did. The contempt that the left has -- and has always had -- for religion (except for Islam today) is not something with which a liberal would ever have identified.

If the left is not defeated, American and Western civilization will not survive. But the left will not be defeated until good liberals understand this and join the fight. Dear liberals: Conservatives are not your enemy. The left is. (Emphasis mine).”

¹ http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/09/11/what-founding-father-patrick-henry-would-think-about-americas-new-war-on-history-and-among-ourselves-told-so.html

² https://townhall.com/columnists/dennisprager/2017/09/12/leftism-is-not-liberalism-n2380044

 

Not ObamaCare, Not TrumpCare, But AmeriCare

"We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."

Benjamin Franklin

I’ve seen it in the news, but it was a social media discussion that caused me to reflect, once again, upon what the American experience is supposed to be. There are many who worry about what the Trump administration, and those who support him, means by repeal and replace of ObamaCare. Already we have seen the phrase coined, TrumpCare to reflect what that could mean. ObamaCare is a disaster based on government control, which many people dislike and disagree with. But what happens when the government attempts to fix an ill thought through socialist program that people have come to depend on and expect to take care of them? You might rename it with the opposing parties’ idea of that government repair and it might possibly improve. But a wound inflicted by team aggression is not effectively tended to by the other team, no matter the good intentions, while still playing the game.

So what do I mean by AmeriCare? It’s a philosophical concept based on the foundations that America was originally built on. It shouldn’t take a lot to explain but the concept has been distorted, displaced and damaged by ignorance, ill will (often based in ignorance) and path detours devised by those who don’t agree with the American experiment. It’s probable that Donald Trump has become president because of this AmeriCare attitude. We can hope it’s not only by Trumps strong character. This AmeriCare thinking can be found in the study of our founding fathers.

Everyone should start with getting a grasp of GeorgeWashington’s Farewell Address of 1796. This is the first of many presidential speeches but most accurately reflects the intentions and original path for America. Washington was the first to apply all that the new republic had set up, only nine years earlier.

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports."

George Washington

Our republic (not to be confused with a democracy) works best when executed under the faith our country was built on. This does not mean you need to be a Christian to live here (there was a very diverse degree of faith in our founders). But all our laws, declarations, cultural standards, relationships and civil discourse are guided by principals of Christianity. This alone makes it possible for people of all faiths, belief systems or viewpoints to succeed if its basic moral principles are followed.

Thus, AmeriCare. We have many issues to resolve in our nation, healthcare being just one. Government instituted Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) was destined to fail because it didn’t follow the republic model, as Abraham Lincoln warned.

“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.”

Abraham Lincoln

Under our republic it takes a while for the will of the people to settle out in accordance with the ethics of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. It takes longer when an uninformed people of a republic begins to realize that it’s loosing freedoms only achieved and maintained by its principles.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

Ronald Reagan

Our stumble, to this point in time, is the result of lost focus, incorrect understanding and lack of training about what America is. Maybe people are waking up; learning what is needed to keep our country on course and turn to our foundation. We can hope Thomas Jefferson’s wisdom is ours.

“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never can be.”

Thomas Jefferson

ObamaCare cannot work, TrumpCare (if you wish to call it that) will not, alone, fix it. But AmeriCare, using our founding ideologies along with the many who have great ideas for healthcare, unyoked from an aggressive government, can move us in the right direction, if given time and the focus to apply our nation’s philosophy.

A great resource to learn about our republic is Hillsdale College. 

“Hence it is that democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and in general have been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths … A republic, by which I mean a government in which a scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect and promises the cure for which we are seeking.”

James Madison, Federalist Papers No. 10.

Who’s the Winner; David or Goliath?

“We’ve staked our future on our ability to follow the Ten Commandments with all our heart.”

James Madison

Matt Walsh has it right. Read his piece, “Dear Trump Fan, So You Want Someone To ‘Tell It Like It Is’? OK, Here You Go.” He has effectively put his finger on the pulse of Americans and their politics. Trump fans, read his piece carefully, fully and with an open mind. Americans are great because we have grown great based of our values and principles. Understand what these are. The question of the hour in this political season is this: Who’s the winner, David or Goliath and why? We the People need to make this choice.

Mr. Walsh has effectually painted a picture of Donald Trump that I will tag as Goliath in this analogy. Bigger than life, loud, inconsequential boaster, but the only voice noted because of this. Donald is not afraid, sees he has everyone’s attention and tells them the truth as he sees it even when he has to lie to do it. He has the goals in sight, screams them vociferously over the valley to all challengers asking to prove him wrong, even though he gives no directions how to achieve anything.  Goliath is not afraid but that does not mean he is right.

Now I will insert the David in this correlation. In most ways he is the opposite of Trump. Not the vision, only the honest way to accomplish it. Dr. Ben Carson lives the values that Donald pretends, stands strong and fearless without bulling and bragging. Now David and Goliath are face to face. One will fall. We The People are Ben Carson’s sling and stone. Trump fans are Goliath’s watching minions. Or they could be We the People if they accurately believe the true outsider stands fearless, sling in hand, against forces leading our nation astray.  Support Ben Carson, the real outsider with answers to Heal, Inspire and Revive.

“For my part, I sincerely esteem the Constitution, a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity

of interests.”

Alexander Hamilton

Obama’s America is not American.

“Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” - John Adams

It cannot be said enough: America is not, should not be, a democracy. This needs to be realized before citizens can determine the goals and ambitions of those they vote into office. A case in point is Barack Obama who dwells on a democracy, fights for one and the sad point is that the majority of voters realize too late what he means as he promotes it. When he was campaigning in 2008 he did not hide his intentions.

“… we are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.” (Emphasis added) - Barack Obama October 30, 2008 campaign rally in Columbia, Missouri

And six plus years later he has veered little from his vision as stated in the final words of his 2015 state of the union address.

“Fifteen years into this new century, we have picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off and begun again the work of remaking America. We have laid a new foundation. A brighter future is ours to write.” (Emphasis added) - Barack Obama State of the Union Jan 20th 2015

America has a foundation. We don’t need a new one. We don’t need to remake America, we need to restore it. Again, we are not a democracy but that is what Obama and the secular progressive left is driving for, even if they don’t or won’t recognize it. Our founding fathers were dead set against this avenue of government as John Adams said in the quote above. All his partners agreed.

“A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49%.” - Thomas Jefferson

“The experience of all former ages had shown that of all human governments, democracy was the most unstable, fluctuating and short-lived.” - John Quincy Adams

“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” - Benjamin Franklin (maybe)

“Between a balanced republic and a democracy, the difference is like that between order and chaos.” - John Marshall

“When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.” - Benjamin Franklin

Those who abhor a republic realize a democracy is the path to another form of government.

“Democracy is the road to socialism.”  - Karl Marx

Obama has a vision, but it’s the wrong vision for America. I hope the majority of Americans have come to learn the difference and in our next voting cycle choose a president who will use the sense our founders instilled within our republic. Not that change is bad, it is not. But change by a way that supports and enhances the principles this nation was formed upon and has served us so well for so long. We should seek to change when our principles lead us to understand we are at odds with them. Slavery is wrong and though it took too long, our values helped us recognize and change that. The same thing goes for women’s rights. Our foundational values and principles directed us to do the right thing and it always will when we don’t abandon them.

But we need to put in office people, who understand our republic, our founding moralities, the original vision so well established in the Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights. There are many people who understand this and we need to focus on these people to take offices for us. Just one great example is Dr. Ben Carson and I hope we might elect him as president in 2016.

“Our founders did not believe that our society could thrive without this kind of moral social structure. In fact, it was our second president, John Adams, who said of our thoroughly researched and developed governing document, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” 

Ben Carson, One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America's Future

“We the People” need to learn, spread the knowledge and then elect people who will restore this nation, not remake it, to the republic it was intended to be.

“Perhaps instead of screaming at each other, it is time to engage in intelligent conversation about our desire to preserve the rights granted by our Constitution.” -  Dr. Ben Carson

I leave you with James Madison’s definition of a republic.

“We may define a republic to be - a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure for a limited period, or during good behavior. It is essential to such a government that it be derived from the great body of the society, not from an inconsiderable proportion or a favored class of it: otherwise a handful of tyrannical nobles, exercising their oppressions by a delegation of their powers, might aspire to the rank of republicans and claim for their government the honorable title of republic.”

James Madison

Free Speech Includes Christian Expressions

"The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable." 

James Madison¹

Political correctness that conceals controversial opinions is nothing other than dictatorial cowardice and completely contrary to American free speech. How the general populace of the USA has allowed such a concept to take root in our culture is only a pure socialist draconian success story that most Americans should be ashamed to sanction. Our founding fathers would be aghast about the current state of the first amendment and how easily free loving people cowered to intellectual ignorance over common sense and resign ourselves to the concept of political correctness.

This angst surfaced over a story Todd Starnes published about a fire chief in Atlanta (Kelvin J. Cochran) who was fired for simply publishing his opinion, his Christian view, on marriage; the key word here being, Christian. This poison (political correctness) to American based free speech is well defined by Dr. Ben Carson’s view and similar patriots of our constitutional rights. This is not to say there are some things that should not be proclaimed when it violates safety or contributes to vicious damaging slander. Screaming “FIRE” falsely in a building or lying about a rape is not an inviolable or an inalienable right. But an opinion based on refutable information only contributes to constructive discourse for truth, knowledge and respect for the common wellbeing of everyone. Political correctness is merely an ill used weapon for those who know not, or cannot defend an idea with an acceptable, valid or truthful premise.

Kelvin J. Cochran said it well in the aforementioned article above. “The LGBT members of our community have a right to be able to express their views and convictions about sexuality and deserve to be respected for their position without hate or discrimination. But Christians also have a right to express our belief regarding our faith and be respected for our position without hate and without discrimination. In the United States, no one should be vilified, hated or discriminated against for expressing their beliefs.” - Kelvin Cochran, former fire chief of Atlanta, GA.

Right on Kelvin! Our founding fathers agree.

“Every man has a right to utter what he thinks truth, and every other man has a right to knock him down for it.”

 Samuel Johnson, as quoted in James Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson, Vol. 1 (1791), p. 335.

“Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.”

Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1801.

 “Without Freedom of Thought there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as Public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech.”

Benjamin Franklin, writing as Silence Dogood, No. 8, July 9, 1722

“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” 

George Washington

¹ James Madison (1751–1836), U.S. president. First draft of what became the First Amendment, June 8, 1789. W.T. Hutchinson et al., The Papers of James Madison, vol. 12, p. 201, Chicago and Charlottesville, Virginia (1962-1991).

Voting – The American Voice

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual — or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”

Samuel Adams, in the Boston Gazette, April 16, 1781

Privilege is often the blinding barrier to realizing life’s greatest treasures. The world is jealous of the American’s right to say who speaks for us and we don’t even notice. We can easily squander that right, to not use it or worse, elect those who work to strip us of that freedom. Voting is not just a right but something that deserves our greatest attentions to detail. Ronald Reagan wisely said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction”, and voting is one of the roads that leads’ us to either the American dream, or a deceased America. The choice is always ours … until we give it away or ignore it.

All voters are important but the informed voter is the republics’ asset. Samuel Adams and the other founding fathers knew this and warned often not to disregard this right. We need to heed the advice and always elect others who respect all the foundations this country was found on. It is the greatest reason why I respect and promote Dr. Ben Carson for president.

“I would love it if party labels were not allowed on ballots and people were forced to actually know who they were voting for. Blind loyalty to a party platform is tantamount to relinquishing the important duties of intelligent voting.” Ben Carson with Candy Carson, One Nation

Each one of us needs to decide that we are responsible for our country’s condition and use the vote we have to voice who we believe speaks for us. The temptation is to think, “It’s only one vote so what good does it do?” Mine alone does little but without it there is not "ours" that, collectively, is a booming sound that cannot be disregarded. And when we agree on someone who leaves no doubt that America is great because of our Constitution, Declaration of Independence and other founding documents, it becomes a wave that washes over and heals our land.

Let us voice real change; change that returns us to the America that made us great, and tell people like Ben Carson he has our vote and then use it.

Check if you can vote and sign up to if not  http://bit.ly/votetrigger

Ben Carson petition to draft him for president http://bit.ly/carsondraft

USA First PAC http://www.usafirstpac.org/

Rick Coller’s Ben Carson for President https://www.facebook.com/CollerforBenCarson2016

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." 

John Quincy Adams

Born-again American

“… guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism; …”

 George Washington - Farewell Address September 19, 1796

The question becomes, what did George Washington mean by “pretended patriotism”? It takes no leap to understand that he meant American patriotism that is focused on the principles and values of the Constitution of the United States that culminated after years of fighting for freedom and liberty penned in the Declaration of Independence (read the rest of his farewell address). John Quincy Adams frames best what his friend Washington may have been alluding to.

"The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected, in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." 

John Quincy Adams 

I know, those on the far left read this and immediately shutdown because it triggers the separation of state and religion button programmed by their sacred principles of socialism. But it is undeniable that our nation was formed with ethical principles based in Christian morality. That does not automatically presume all involved in the building of our nation were Christians but rather they all agreed that the principles were the glue that make it work.

No, you don’t need to be a Christian to live in this great nation. No more than you need to be a Christian to attend church. You don’t even need to be a Christian to call yourself a Christian. What makes you a Christian is more than any of these things. It is as a follower of Christ, with the intent and the goal to represent Him as best as you can. Many have determined to make that distinction obvious by calling themselves born-again Christians.

Guess what. You don’t need to be an American to live in America. You don’t have to vote to be an American or even be an American to call yourself one. No, to be an American you follow the principles, as best as you can, that embodies the intentions laid out in the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and Bill of rights.

So, to help others understand what I mean when I say I’m an American, I’m going to qualify it by saying I’m a born-again American. I was born here, brought up in America and taught very basic principles about being an American. But I didn’t really become one until I decided to study and understand what it means to live in America and keep it as our founding fathers intended.¹ A time came when I decided to become an American and not just wear the title.

In America we have politicians who make a career out of handling the mechanics of government. It is a necessary function of our national system and it can be a noble endeavor. It has developed into a something the founders had not expected and warned about. George Washington discussed this also in the farewell address mentioned above. Their idea was a person would serve their country for a short time and then go home to their business. George Washington despised the idea of parties, one vying against the other. I think they would be upset to see what has happened. The framers saw government as a means to serve the common good not to serve individuals good. Abraham Lincoln later addressed the issue.

“We the People are the rightful masters of both Congress and the Courts–not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.”

Abraham Lincoln

A politician is no more than an American serving his country, whether his original profession is a farmer, lawyer, businessman or doctor. The career politician is a dirty word only when the people neglect to make sure he serves them like Abraham Lincoln suggests. We might call them a politician but the effective ones are the born-again Americans. One doctor recently sums up well what the people expect as someone who serves them.

“I will tell you that I’m not a politician, and I don’t believe in political correctness.  So I may say something that will offend someone. And I frankly never plan on becoming a politician. It doesn't mean that I won’t do something in public office, but I won’t be a politician in the process.”

Dr. Ben Carson at the Americans for Prosperity’s Defending the American Dream Summit 8/29/2014

Dr. Ben Carson is one of the best examples, in our time, of someone who embodies what an American wishing to serve our republic talks about with a sense of patriotism equal to our founding fathers. Ben Carson is someone with knowledge and integrity equal to Washington and other founding fathers who, with reluctance but same sense of calling, will step up to make sure America is and continues to be the nation the rest of the world looks to.

Every American, but especially all born-again Americans needs to step up now and let Dr. Ben Carson know that we feel his calling and back him up 100%. You can go here to sign the petition in support. http://bit.ly/carsondraft

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

Thomas Jefferson

¹   A small sample of readings I suggest.  The Road to Serfdom - F.A Hayek, A Patriot’s History of the United States-  Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen, The Jefferson Lies - David Barton, What Works – Cal Thomas, The American Boomerang – Nick Adams, America the Beautiful – Ben Carson with Candy Carson, One Nation – Ben Carson with Candy Carson, The Five Thousand Year Leap – W. Cleon Skousen, The Federalist Papers

Factions, Political Parties and Americans

"However combinations or associations of the above description [factions or today what we call a political party] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion."

George Washington, Farewell Address 1796

Read that quote by George Washington closely. Now answer me if his concerns are valid compared to today’s political environment?

With a Facebook post I shared on one of Dr. Ben Carson’s group pages dealing with Dr. Carson answering if he was a Republican, I received a very cleaver question regarding the subject. “So would you run on a Democan or Republicrat ticket, or maybe a Redemopendant one?” It led me to graciously answer the thought provoking query, which I expand upon here.

An interesting and clever question Joe. Thanks. Are Americans Engish, Indeses or Chinaxicans? Of course the answer is all of these but none these. It makes the point that we are all an odd mixture and can extend it to our philosophies rooted in our experiences.

What I love about Ben Carson is that he was once a liberal Democrat, changed to a Republican but now realizes neither party fully represents his ideas because each party has such a wide range within the platforms. That is just inherent in our party systems. Today, the two main parties have slid further away from their proverbial centers so it polarizes our politics, revealing the extremes from our foundation. The liberal progressives are the more extreme and off base, far that is from outside of the American form of republic this nation was founded on. But the far right can be as misleading if allowed driving to the excessive.   Ben Carson will say that conservative Republican come closes to his belief but he is willing to keep common sense in the formula so labels himself politically as Independent.

Our founding fathers warned against “factions”, what we call political parties, because they could be so dividing for our republic (if you want to know more about factions, click here). But they also came to comprehend that it was almost unavoidable so continually pointed back to our founding documents to anchor the process. 

This is what Dr. Carson has come to understand and strives to embrace using the common sense approach that our republic works best under; the American republic foundation with Biblical values. The founding fathers used republican thoughts (little r here, not the party) embracing the idea of the common good, which expressed itself within different “factions” (parties today). They wanted what was best for all using Christian values as the gauge. Not so in much in today's environment and actually opposing those values. That is not to mean every American has to be a Christian, but rather the republic uses that value system. That is why modern America is heading in the wrong direction and needs correction.

Dr. Ben Carson could be an ideologue who represents what America is all about and get us back on track if we were to convince to him run for President.

“On a candid examination of history, we shall find that turbulence, violence, and abuse of power, by the majority, trampling on the rights of the minority, have produced factions and commotions which, in republics, have, more frequently than any other.”

James Madison 1788

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

John Adams

“The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.” 

John Adams

US Amendments and the Founders Intent

“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

2^nd Amendment, US Constitution

All the US Amendments are crucial to our Republic and the 2^nd one gives us a focus to understand our founder’s intentions. Let’s take a look at it.

Short, concise and to the point. When written there seemed to be little discussion, probably because the founders lived the reality of the peoples’ fate, if the simple truth of the statement was ignored. Today we feel generally safe from our neighboring countries and we have armed civil servants who can come to our aide when called. We have been lulled into a false sense of security, unlike that of the first generations in this nation. It is easy for us to believe that our founders needed something that we no longer need the same way today.

It would be a huge mistake to suppose such and make that assumption. The founding fathers had plenty to say about the reasons for this amendment, which we can gleam to make a common sense analysis.

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."

George Mason - Co-author of the Second Amendment 1788

"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."

George Washington

"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."

Thomas Jefferson

It was obvious to these men that the right to bear arms was to protect ourselves from anyone, within or without, who would overreach to take or limit our liberties as defined in the Declaration of Independence and Bill of rights, whether invaded from outside our borders or somehow by the newly tri-partite government with a bi-cameral legislature if it failed us.

As I alluded to above, sometimes we forget our founding fathers took time to consider all these facts and wrote our founding documents, rules and government framework with a vision that includes thoughts for future generations. We can miss it when current events “seem” too elaborate and conclude our current governance is deficient for solutions. But that thinking only leads to arrogant, convoluted, ill-placed conclusions in opposition to the intent of our nation’s founding. Common sense will direct us, teach us and support our founders’ intentions if we apply it.

Dr. Ben Carson is a good example that supports this conclusion. He is recognized as a man with unpretentious common sense. Bought up in the ghettos’ of Detroit definitely gave him a sense to the dangers of violent groups who demonstrated weapons as power to control communities and disregard the liberties of others in contrast to their rights of liberty. I assume he had no other context growing up for the purpose of guns other than the negative example he witnessed. He knew if the wrong people had guns it could be a disaster for the community. Until his famous speak given at a prayer breakfast in front of president Obama in 2013, he had no reason to seriously consider the 2^nd amendment until asked about it by Glen Beck in February 2013. Many radical right wing conservatives hailed his answer inadequate for a presidential run based only on this before Ben considered other opinions about the issue. I understand the concern but have seen Dr. Carson seriously consider other opinions and weighed them against the intentions our founders had for the second amendment. He has recently published some of these thoughts as an opinion piece in the Washington Times, April 22^nd 2014. I’ll let you read it, but Dr. Carson has shown he is capable of understanding others viewpoints and consider them against our founding fathers objectives. This common sense approached is outlined in his book, One Nation, which you need to read. He has decided that the 2^nd amendment, drafted by our founders, is critical to keeping our republic stable and safe.

“The Second Amendment was crafted by wise citizens who recognized how quickly an enemy invasion could occur or how our own government could be deceived into thinking it had the right to dominate the people.”

Dr. Ben Carson, 4/22/2014

For those, who at one time, considered Dr. Ben Carson might fail us on the second amendment, rest assured that he will up hold our constitution wholly and completely (in contrast to our current president) if we convince him to run for president in 2016.

"The great object is that every man be armed." and "Everyone who is able may have a gun."

Patrick Henry

Restoring Our Foundation – A Healer is Needed

“The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People (emphasis added), in a great Measure, than they have it now. They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty.”

John Adams: letter to Zabdiel Adams, June 21, 1776

“Do we agree with the vision of the founding fathers? Or have we become much wiser than they were and feel the need to adopt a different vision?” 

Dr. Ben Carson Facebook March 6, 2013

Dr. Ben Carson asks the question of the century. One that hasn’t been asked nearly as often or vocal as needed. But that is about to change. “We the People”, collectively, are waking up with the help of the Tea Party and people like Ben Carson. And it is scaring the pants off the progressive liberals. You want proof? Check out an opinion piece by progressive Nick Rudnik in Valdosta Today titled “VALDOSTASTATE UNIVERSITY SHOULD CANCEL THEIR ‘EVENING WITH DR. BEN CARSON” published June 11, 2014. Go ahead and read it to notice the fear through veiled partisan prejudice. But please scroll down to the bottom and read the over hundred comments on his piece. Most of them are a searing rejection of his stand and support Ben Carson.

You may not agree with every point Ben Carson makes but the thing that scares the progressives most is that Ben’s position is not one of just Democrat or Republican but rather either can have a good idea and both can work together to advancement of American values. And those values will be determined by our founding documents and all parties working to find those meanings. I love what Ben once said, “Why is it that the eagle is able to fly high, forward, because it has two wings; a left wing and a right wing.” This is the kind of people we need running our country. That is why others like Nick Rudnik don’t like someone like Ben, because it means socialistic ideas are in trouble. But if we want our nation to be as our founding father envisioned it then we must come back to the foundations.

I believe Ben Carson should run for president because he is a healer, a realist who knows American politics without being a politician (as our recent history has defined it) and shares the vision of our founding fathers. If you investigate and agree please go to RunBenRun.org and sign the petition to convince Ben “We the People” want him.

“The U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.”  — Benjamin Franklin

“It’s not tyranny we desire; it’s a just, limited, federal government.”  — Alexander Hamilton

Who Spoke in Eric Cantor’s Primary Loss?

"There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble opinion, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution." -- John Adams

My simple answer to the header question is “We the People”.  But obviously there is much more to it. Our two party system can be a detriment to our politics, as John Adams suggests in the opening quote, but it doesn’t have to be if Americans pay attention. In a surprise upset Eric Cantor lost his primary bid, after seven terms in congress and the current House Majority Leader, to a virtual unknown, David Brat. There are those who will claim that Cantor's loss was about immigration but though there is an element of truth to that claim, it only points as an indicator to a more fundamental truth. Our republic works best when the people understand their duty to vote for those who work for our interests and then make sure to hold them accountable to that trust.

David Brat makes an interesting statement on Hannity. “Although I had tremendous Tea Party support and just wonderful people in the Tea Party grass roots helping me out, and they're clearly responsible for the win, but I ran on the Republican principles.” People are beginning to understand we need to vote politicians in office that hold our principles. It may be Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or other, then defined by how we stand in it; such as conservative, liberal, progressive or constitutionalist. Many of us will find ourselves an odd concoction of a few or all of these labels. The point being, we need to know who we are before we can elect those who can do what we need and want. A majority in Virginia managed to do that and changed how they are represented in Congress and maybe what Congress may decide to do in the near future.

Can it be done on a larger scale? Ben Carson is man who is not a politician or tightly affiliated with any one party. But he is a man of great principals and integrity. He is a man who believes in One Nation and would lead America back to its roots and founding to again be a great nation and envy to the rest of the world. But we need to decide if “We the People” is who we are and hopefully convince Ben Carson that we believe he represents us no matter what political party we associate with.

“However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” - George Washington, Farewell Address, Sep. 17, 1796

One Nation – A Vision Defined by Dr. Ben Carson

“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.” - Abraham Lincoln

Dr. Ben Carson has effectively outlined the path Americans need to take to preserve the United State of America as the nation in which every individual is free to peruse liberty and happiness to the enrichment of self and our fellow man. It is the goal of our founding fathers. Every American should read his work, One Nation, and know how we can all work together to bring this country back to the mission our founders envisioned.

If anyone other than my Lord Jesus has entered my mind, read my thoughts and then said what I believe our great nation needs to get back on track, it is Ben Carson. And I know I’m not alone. There is millions of other who have the same vision and now it has been thoroughly defined. I would hope that all my other posts in this blog would only emulate the same passion and position as Ben has effectively outlined. I’m not shy to proclaim that if Dr. Ben Carson feels led to run for President of this nation, I and millions of others would vote for and support such a bold and arduous commitment.

I will not belabor the point with lengthy verbal quotes from Ben Carson but will encourage and if I had the power (but no one does, thankfully), command you to read the heart and vision of Ben Carson through his written work, One Nation and other works penned by him. You will find his vision, the vision most Americans want to or do hold as our founding fathers did. Not necessarily that this is a nation for Christian only, but rather a nation based on Christian values so anyone and everyone is free to pursue life as they find it good and beneficial for all people. A republic such as this great experiment known as the USA can only survive when we all work together, not always agreeing but deciding the best path directed by our constitution, bill of rights and declaration of independence.

“Can the liberties of a nation be sure when we remove their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are a gift from God?”

Thomas Jefferson

“This is a Christian nation” - United States Supreme Court Decision in Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, 1892

“The Scriptures tell us righteousness exalteth a Nation.” - Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams

“This nation under God” - Abraham Lincoln, Gettysberg Address and inscribed on Lincoln Memorial

“[The Bible] is the rock on which our Republic rests.” - Andrew Jackson

“The only foundation for . . . a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments.” 

Benjamin Rush, Signer of the Declaration of Independence 

America – Who Are We and Why

Andrew Cuomo, the New York Governor, is a prime example of any bias political intolerant opinion but surely demonstrated the liberal lefts’ modern embrace of their common narcissistic prejudice and inability to debate the issues; e.g. “I’m right so you have to be wrong”.

If you haven’t heard yet, Mr. Cuomo believes conservatives who oppose abortion and gay rights and favor traditional gun ownership “have no place in the state of New York.’’ With this said I’m almost reluctant to admit that I am from, was born in, New York State. But I’m not reluctant because I know many people and have family from that great state and they will disagree with any such ignorant intolerance publicly demonstrated. At least in my new home state of Arkansas, both sides of the political arena (at least from the area I reside) normally will debate the issues until, at the very least, we can “agree to disagree”. I have yet heard a public official declare someone was not welcomed because of a difference of opinion.

The issue with such demonstrated liberal intolerance is they cannot comprehend there is a worldview held by most conservatives that drives their moral compass and hold it as the truth.  The rub is liberals do not believe this conservative worldview is right and draw their conclusions from other values. The debate should revolve around this point but rarely is and most times because those values are not understood or recognized to begin the debate. Both opposing sides argue their values are the truth … but neither can prove beyond any facts learned through experiments and observation their “truth” is absolute. This is the reason the liberal left drives to silence a different viewpoint, because it’s easier, faster, less messy and ignores the problem that conservatives could convince others there might be valid reasons for their opinion, changing the direction of public opinion. God forbid people find an alternative reason to keep America within its proven success based on its founding principles. No, liberals want to “fundamentally transform the United States of America” as promised by our current president.

The debate revolves around the founding of America and whether those values are still valid for today or will we become another declining nation like all the others that tried socialist type values and fail. This is where the people of this nation should be focusing any debate and all the rest will become moot.

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
   - George Washington

"Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure (and) which insures to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments."
   - Charles Carroll signer of the Declaration of Independence

The Color of Character

“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”

Abraham Lincoln

We have become a nation blinded to, or ignorant of the color of character. I use that analogy simply to help showcase my argument. Back when our nation was young and developing, the leaders and writers of our foundation were people whom the common citizen recognized as individuals that drove for individual liberty, freedom and common good because they could see the color of character in the ones serving them.

This ability was nurtured by common values founded in the struggle for freedom from an overbearing government and society that stole the common man’s property, liberty and religious independence so as to control the masses for the purpose of wealth and power at their expense. The color of character was learned and appreciated because the individual needed it to fight and keep the truth that all men are created equal and deserve the right to pursue happiness by guaranteeing the opportunity to strive to be the best person he considered was good, right, and truthful to the advantage of all.

So you’re asking, what is the color of character? Character is something needing discernment and not obvious by mere physical observation. It can only be evaluated through values and standards of the one making the appraisal by observing someone’s choices, reactions and consistency that forms their integrity. This is not always easy and requires knowledge and personal discipline found only in one’s own developing integrity, which can be shallow or growing.

The “color” depends on the values and philosophies someone uses to determine the integrity of people and the measure used for that “color”.  Again, this is not always easy and people will readily make their opinions based on someone else’s work without questioning the color. Definitely different from telling if someone’s skin is red, black, white, yellow or brown and any various in between. This takes little to no effort to determine, but has been used to label people as privileged, rich, poor, ignorant, intelligent, bad, good, et. No one would argue this is wrong.

But it seems today we the people have become blind to the color of character. That our last president was elected more based on the color of his skin rather the color of his character is a sad commentary to where we have gone. Don’t get me wrong, I can think of a dozen other people that share our current president’s skin color but have a complete opposite color of character that I would have been proud to support whether they are a man or a woman. I find it ironic that the president who fought so hard to free people from the prejudice of their skin color and quoted by this president as a role model for his presidency has a character color in complete opposition to Lincoln’s for America.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”

Abraham Lincoln 

“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.”

Abraham Lincoln