George Washington

J

John/az2

New member
(This Nation Shall Endure, p. 22)

If ever this country needed the timeless wisdom of the father of our country, it is today. How much our country could benefit by following the wisdom of our country's first president. Here are a few among many maxims:
"Let the reins of government then be braced and held with a steady hand, and every violation of the constitution be reprehended. If defective, let it be amended, but not suffered to be trampled upon whilst it has an existence." (To Henry Lee, October 31, 1786, Writings 29:34.)
"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." (First Annual Address, January 8, 1790, Writings 12:8.)
". . . the love of my country will be the ruling influence of my conduct." (Answer to the New Hampshire Executive, November 3, 1789, Writings 12:175.)
". . . a good moral character is the first essential in a man. . . . It is therefore highly important, that you should endeavor not only to be learned, but virtuous." (To George Steptoe Washington, December 5, 1790, Writings 10:123-24.)
"Let us unite, therefore, in imploring the Supreme Ruler of nations to spread his holy protection over these United States; to turn the machinations of the wicked to the confirming of our constitution; to enable us at all times to root out internal sedition, and put invasion to flight; to perpetuate to our country that prosperity, which his goodness has already conferred; and to verify the anticipations of this government being a safeguard to human rights." (To the Senate and House of Representatives, November 19, 1794, Writings 12:54.)

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"Just because something is popular, does not make it right."
 
In addition to the above:

(This Nation Shall Endure, p. 41 - 42)

Constitutional government, as designed by the framers, will survive only with a righteous people. "Our constitution," said John Adams (first vice-president and second president), "was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." (John R. Howe, Jr., The Changing Political Thought of John Adams, Princeton University Press, 1966, p. 185.)

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"Just because something is popular, does not make it right."
 
I've got to add another one...

(This Nation Shall Endure, p. 43 - 44)

As presiding officer of the constitutional convention, George Washington appealed to the delegates in these words: "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair." Wise and honorable men raised that glorious standard for this nation. It will also take wise and honorable men to perpetuate what was so nobly established.
A citizen of this republic cannot do his duty and be an idle spectator...
Goodness, wisdom, and honesty are the three qualities of statesmanship, qualities this country needs more than ever before. May we be wise—prayerfully wise—in electing those who would lead us. May we select only those who understand and will adhere to constitutional principles. To do so, we need to understand these principles ourselves.

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"Just because something is popular, does not make it right."
 
I personally am fond of this George Washington quote:

"Government is not eloquence. Government is not reason. It is force. And, like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."
 
(This Nation Shall Endure, p. 93)

Increasing numbers of Americans are subscribing to the myth that you can get something for nothing—as long as the government is footing the bill. In fact, they believe it is the duty of government to take care of them, from the womb to the tomb.
There is no such thing as a free lunch. Everything we get from the government, we pay for in debilitating taxes. Everything the government gives to the people, it must first take from the people. This is something few Americans appear to understand.
We tend to forget how America became the greatest, most prosperous, and most powerful nation in the world, blessed with an abundance of everything needed for the good life. It didn't just happen. It wasn't an accident. It was all an integral part, I believe, of the divine plan for America. In the early frontier days of this country, a special breed of men and women came here from all over the world, seeking not only opportunity but freedom. They were strong, proud, and fiercely independent. They believed that the surest helping hand was at the end of their own sleeves. They shared one thing in common—an unshakable faith in God and in themselves. And that, without doubt, is the secret of success as viable today as it was yesterday.
With little but raw courage and indomitable purpose, those intrepid pioneers set forth into the unknown by covered wagon, on horseback, and sometimes on foot. The land demanded iron men with steel in their backbones. Nature did the weeding out. But they didn't whine or bleat because things were tough. They asked no favors from any man. They knew what they were up against, and they accepted the challenge. All they wanted was to be left alone to do what had to be done. They were wrenching a civilization out of the wilderness.
America soon blossomed into a rich, fertile, productive nation. Individual initiative—free enterprise—paid off, and American ingenuity flourished in a climate of freedom. Very soon our technology, our inventiveness, and our business know-how became the envy of the world. America had reached maturity, a giant among nations, a glowing example of free enterprise in action, and a perfect demonstration of what free men can do when they are left alone to do it.
But as those affluent years slipped by, voices were heard in the land, singing the siren songs of socialism. And many Americans tapped their feet to the beat of the music. Politicians were already promising something for nothing, that elusive free lunch. Thus, gradually the people let the government infringe upon their precious freedoms, and the preliminary signs of decay began to appear in our young republic...

(This Nation Shall Endure, p. 94 - 95)

Today, as government becomes increasingly dominant in our affairs, we are becoming more and more like ancient Rome before it crumbled and collapsed. We are choosing bread and circuses instead of facing the challenges that always test a free people. We are no longer the proud leader of the world. We have lost the respect of almost every country, and I know because I've traveled in those countries. Through our policies of equivocation and our politics of expediency and appeasement, we have lost respect. We think we are buying world peace. This is not diplomacy, it is national suicide! No wonder we have earned the contempt of our enemies, who are only too happy to take our money, our food, our industrial equipment, and our technical expertise.

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John/az

"Just because something is popular, does not make it right."
 
Something for nothing department:

The Supreme Court just ruled that school districts must furnish care and maintenence for all disabled students requiring it. The test case was a teen-ager, wheel chair bound since he was 10, and needs a full time nurse to vacumn his lungs of mucous a few times every hour, and make sure his oxygen bottle is functioning.

The cost comes out of school monies. Now think of all the ramifications.

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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"
 
DC

Lets reverse this issue for a moment. Are you saying it is alright, in pursuit of small government, to deny an intellectually capable but physically seriously impaired young man from an education because his parents can no longer afford the cost of a full time care giver while he is in school? He or they should simply fend for themselves?

This has a lot of implications. I am not sure being simon pure in ideology, any ideology, ever works in the real world.

Jim in IN


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-- TANSTAAFL
 
Jim..

Thats exactly what I am saying. If the kid is gifted, there are scholarship organizations; there is also home schooling. The parents can also hire a tutor while a parent stays home to care for him. There are always other options besides the public teat.
God forbid someone play the cards they were dealt.

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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"
 
I refuse to accept the premise that the boy is going to be deprived of an education if he is deprived of a full time babysitter at the cost of the taxpayers.

His parents could home school him for a lot less than any special private schools. If you are going to pull a "both parents might need to work".. fine, but they could find someone "realtive, etc..." to home school the child. They could appeal to their local church or private charity. They should not have opened the doors for countless others to become burdens to the tax payers.

If I lived in their county and they knocked on my door, I might chip in more than my share of the 40K /year that is being divided up among all his school systems tax payers... but that should be my choice.

Like DC said, imagine the ramifications of this precedent. How many millions of dollars are now going to funneled to a very few children that should be evenly divided for the education and benefit of everyone.
Ramps are one thing... Private nurses are quite another.

Living in a free society where people have individual opporunities to capitalize on life's opporutnities means that some will fall to life's misfortunes. We got into this mess by trying to keep people from "falling through the cracks."

Where do the supporters of this one child getting more in benefits from the gov't than most people earn in a year want to draw the line?

Don't think I'm being callous. I am willing to bet that I give more time and money to Charities every year than most people around here, the issue is the state's unequal redistribution of wealth, with the healthy and productive members of society apparantly expected to take care of the sick and lazy members.


IMHO, Caring for the weak is a moral obligation, not a civil one.

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-Essayons
 
Well, I'm particularly fond of this Bill Clinton quote 'I want it all, and I want it now'. Or was it 'so many women, so little time'? ;)

[This message has been edited by Jeff Thomas (edited March 06, 1999).]
 
Ditto to what Rob said.

I can certainly be more responsible, and definately more accountable for how my money is spent than any goverment agency can.

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John/az

"Just because something is popular, does not make it right."
 
Davy Crocket had a little story about charity and congress. Can't remember the URL for it, but the gist of it goes:

Congress feels sorry for someone who has problems. Since it is not their money and there seems to be an unlimited supply the tempation to use public money to support charity outsurpasses the thought of where it comes from.

There are coutless others out there who are barely making a living. When Congress uses the taxes of these individuals to give to charity (welfare) they are in fact stealing from those who can ill afford to give.

After giving his little speal or story he asked the other members of congress if they would give up a portion of their salary for this benefit. Their answer was no. He then asked, will how can you then ask the honest taxpayer to give through taxes what you yourselves are not willing to give.

Although I feel for the plight of the parents of this boy, what right does our government have to rob others (through taxes) who may very well be even worse off than the parents of this kid?

Is it not the duty of each citizen to give what they can afford? Each person knows better of what they can afford to give than does our government. Charity and welfare is not a valid function of our government for this very reason.

Richard
 
DC I thought you said you were a Liberal.
There is a mistake in your thread. The Boy lives in Cedar Rapids Iowa. He is 16, he has been in a wheel chair since his neck was broken in a motorcycle accident when he was FOUR YEARS OLD.
Question, what is a 4 year old doing on a Motorcycle?

Should the taxpayers of Iowa (me for one) be Forced to Pay for this young man's care, not just no but hell no. Those responsible for the reckless injury of a 4 year old should pay the bill.

Or we could follow popular trend, and sue the motorcycle company, for the children you understand. (no flames please I'm not serious)

[This message has been edited by Raymond VanDerLinden (edited March 10, 1999).]
 
Found the link to Davy Crocket's speach on welfare. All should read it. For in it is wisdom and a history of one of the things wrong with our country.

<<http://www.ncn.com/~snews/pages/9503/crockett.htm>>

Richard
 
Sorry, don't know how to put a link in so here is the URL.

http://www.ncn.com/~snews/pages/9503/crockett.htm

Richard
 
Raymond...

No, Q said she was a liberal. I think Barry Goldwater was a liberal
If I have to be labeled I'd say I was Libertarian with a few shades of Torquemada mixed in :)

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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"
 
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