Three Questions for Your Consideration

First Question: In your mind, which of the following scenarios represents the most profound personal loss?

Is this it? You know that you possess something important and fragile and it is being slowly taken away from you but you do not know what it is. In a moment of clarity, you discover what you are losing and understand it is almost too late to stop the taker.

Or

Is this it? You have lived your entire adult life believing and pursuing something so marvelous and rare that others in this world choose to risk death each and every day to possess it and you feel it slipping through your fingers.

Second Question: What is being stolen?

Third Question: Who or what is the thief?

I have chosen not to answer any of the questions I have posed for you because I believe most of you take this word for granted but you do know it when you see it or think about it. I believe that some of you will probably know it but will not understand it until it is gone. Its loss to you and all who follow after you is something worthy of your consideration.

All I ask you to do is to think instead of accept.

Slavery, War, Immigration and The Rule of Law

The 14^th Amendment to our nation’s constitution was passed by Congress June 13, 1866 and Ratified July 9, 1868. In his book “American Founding Son: John Bingham and the Invention of the Fourteenth Amendment, Gerard N. Magliocca, a professor of law at Indiana University, identifies the Ohio politician John Bingham as the man who drafted the crucial language of that 14th Amendment. He specifically identified Bingham as the man who is responsible for the words: “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Two national, historical issues needed to be resolved prior to the creation of the 14^th Amendment in 1866. As Abraham Lincoln stated, “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. The Civil War, 1861 - 1865, was fought to keep this nation whole and existing slavery could not be allowed to expand. Slavery of any person is an evil wrong. Our Declaration of Independence declares for all time that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” and yet, slavery existed. Our written history shows us that slavery existed before the Constitution was written and it was allowed, by agreement, to continue so that this nation could be born. However, slavery is not even mentioned in our Constitution. It was believed in time slavery would fade away. It did not fade in the southern states. It flourished and it could not be allowed to expand to this nation's western growth. 

The endured human suffering required to correct these wrongs was monumental and traumatic. David Hacker a demographic historian from Binghamton University in New York states that at least 750,000 lives were lost during the Civil War. Among those who died were the widely unwelcome Irish and German immigrants who had only recently arrived here legally in pursuit of their desire to become citizens. If you believe that this generation’s immigration concerns are unique, examine the infusion of the Irish and the Germans to these shores. It is a powerful immigration story in itself. Look it up.

History shows us that the Civil War was not enough to remove slavery and Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation delivered on January 1, 1863 was not enough. The door to slavery remained open in the south and it needed to be closed. “When ex-Confederate States originally refused to ratify the 14th Amendment, John Bingham crafted a legislative compromise that ordered the Union Army to organize new elections across the South that would include African-Americans. He told the House that “unless you put [the South] in terror of your laws, made efficient by the solemn act of the whole people to punish the violators of oaths, they will defy your restricted legislative power when reconstructed.”Bingham’s legacy is best summarized by a speech that he gave as a young man. In it, he said: “When the vital principle of our government, the equality of the human race, shall be fully realized, when every fetter within our borders shall be broken . . . and a noble mission fulfilled, we may call to the down-trodden and oppressed of all lands — come.”

I am fairly certain that if he were alive today, Bingham would choose the support of law even as he would welcome the downtrodden with open arms. Take the time to read the entire 14^th Amendment and show me where he perceived national justice for all to mean to break existing law. The former slaves and their children were finally, in fact and law, United States citizens. The state in which they lived no longer mattered. Former slaves were to be afforded the same rights and protections as any other citizen in all states. In its time, the 14^th Amendment had dramatically closed the door to the past and moved us another step forward toward a final closure. Slavery, the unsolved issue that divided this nation from its very beginning had been legally resolved. However, the 14^th Amendment, while appropriate for 1866, could not and did not anticipate other divisive issues of race and immigration which have appeared at various times in our history and a new one exists today. The entry of non legal peoples of a non European descent and their progeny is causing us much angst today and Bingham and other national leaders of 1866 had absolutely no way to anticipate this reality. Consider this: Slavery is a historical forced immigration inflicted on many races by this world’s nation states. It was ultimately banished from this country through the powerful force of human will and law.

The United States is a self defined nation of laws. Our Laws are one of the core principles of our very existence. Individuals and families who have chosen to follow the course of legal immigration have, in fact and law, demonstrated their support of this core principle. They are valuable and should be welcomed with open arms. It is, indeed our noble mission to call to the down trodden and oppressed of all lands. However, this nation must find a way to stand up and reaffirm its laws or lose its way. The path to freedom will be closed forever to those of the world who would join us in our pursuit and to us as well. The alternative is not acceptable. Illegal is not legal by definition. Allowing those who have come to this country illegally is by definition unlawful. Even so, illegal peoples continue to arrive and they continue to claim guaranteed rights created for United States citizens. The claiming of individual and family rights by illegal peoples should not be permitted, supported or encouraged. These practices are destructive and divisively dangerous to legal citizens and they are a detriment to our national core principles.

I have grown weary waiting for this Court to speak in support or rejection of existing Immigration law. In my mind, it is absolutely predictable that the court's nine appointed justices will simply continue to speak and vote as they always have. They will continue to vote with strict adherence to their philosophical and political support base. They will continue to sing to the choir that selected them to be members of this very special legal fraternity. Not one justice appears to be willing to forgo the guaranteed lifelong position that is theirs by appointment if they “remain in good Behavior” and do not upset the applecart. A court appointment should now be perceived as the second highest level political plum tree in this nation and the longest lasting. 

I am also weary of of the court's refusal to confront our “I’ll do it alone with my phone and pen” president who has wowed the masses with his politically magical left hand even as his right hand continues to provide gifts for votes. Remember this: The Executive Branch carefully detailed in our Constitution exists to execute this nation’s laws, not to create them. Only Congress can create laws. In the absence of the rule of law Obama will have nothing left to skirt and he will ultimately achieve his primary goal to remake America. Remember it was this president who proclaimed that we are not special and it was this president who proclaimed "We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America." I remain convinced that the allowed presidential directive in support of illegal immigration is a malformed tree that will put down roots. The fruits of this tree will prove to be very bitter. I also see all illegal presence as a negative weight on the left side of the scale of justice and I perceive the hand of progressivism lingering patiently in the scale’s shadow.

Many of us only perceive the practice of law as secret and mysterious and understood by few. I see the common image of law balanced by justice and think: If only the blindfolded lady, “Lady Justice”, could see and finally speak through the mighty “Sword of Justice” she carries in her right hand. 

Please note: This post is a revised version of the original. It was revised on September 20, 2015.  

Supreme Court Justices Should Have Term Limits

The title of the article caught my eye and I read it and felt its truth. Give judges terms, not lifetime appointments appeared in the Wednesday, August 5, 2015 edition of The Detroit News. It was written by Doug Bandow, a graduate of Stanford Law School and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. The Cato Institute is a Public Policy Think Tank dedicated to the principles of individual liberty. Bandow wrote “It is time to impose accountability while preserving independence.” “Judges are supposed to play a limited though vital role – interpreting, not transforming the law”. “Limiting the term of office for Supreme Court justices from a life time event to a finite fixed terms number of years, would simultaneously achieve both objectives.”

I support Bandow’s position that we need to reign in the Supreme Court’s increasingly common practice of making public policy instead of judging the constitutionality of the issues brought before it. Our nation is a nation of laws and there is a specific written plan in place to create, manage and verify those laws. The name of the plan is The Constitution of the United States. It is clear to me that the Congressional branch exists to create necessary laws. The Executive branch exists to execute the laws created by Congress. The Supreme Court exists to judge the constitutionality of laws. I also support the Cato Institute’s efforts because I believe it is our possession of individual liberties that keeps our nation from jumping off the track.

Why do the nine member justices forming the Supreme Court find it so difficult to state that a specific issue submitted to the court for examination is either supported by the Constitution or it is not? Surely, “partisan leanings” is not the issue. If the issue brought before the court is judged to be supported by the Constitution then it is lawful. If it is not supported by the Constitution, it is unconstitutional. The court should simply determine exactly why or how it failed to meet the constitutionality test and send it back to congress or to its original source to be revised in a manner determined to be acceptable under the framework of the Constitution. I have yet to discover anything written in the Constitution that gives the justices the prerogative to change the meaning or the intent of the words used to create the law or issue submitted by others who are not of the court.

Article 3, section 1 of the Constitution of the United States defines the judicial power of the United States. There are several capitalized words in the copied Constitutional language below which might appear to you to be incorrectly capitalized but they are shown here as they appear in the Constitution. Please note this is the section which Doug Bandow’s article addresses.  There are, in fact, two more sections in Article 3 of the Constitution. Section 2 lists the extent of judicial authority extended to the court and section 3 defines Treason. Finally, note in line two of section 1 shown below that only “Congress may ordain and establish” other courts.

"The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their office during good behavior, and shall at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during the Continuance in Office."

Did you know? The two word "Good behavior" phrase has been historically interpreted to mean that judges may serve for the remainder of their lives. Justice William Orville Douglas from Yakima, Washington holds the record for continuous service. He served an astounding 36 years and 209 days from April 17, 1939 to November 12, 1975.

Did you know? Supreme Court justices may be impeached if they do not maintain “Good behavior”. In our republic, all impeachments are initiated in the House of Representatives and all are tried in the Senate. In our entire history, Samuel Chase holds the distinction of being the only Supreme Court justice to have been impeached. He was impeached by the United States House of Representatives on March 12, 1804 for allegedly letting his “partisan leanings” affect his Court decisions. Chase was acquitted by the Senate on March 1, 1805.

The Past Has Always Gone On Before Us

Searching for an explanation and a possible resolution to the problems we are facing as a nation, I have turned to the past that has gone on before us. Do not presume that my journey into events that occurred up to 177 years in our past is wasted effort. Join me here and you will gain a clearer understanding of the intended constitutional role of the President in our history. You will experience a better understanding of what we accomplished, what we believed in the beginning and what we have become. You will be reminded that we are merely the legal inheritors of civil and religious liberty created, fought for and won. You will learn: “We have done nothing to acquire these fundamental blessings which were bequeathed to us by a once hardy, brave and patriotic, but now lamented and departed race of ancestors." We need to change that. Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President is the most significant person you will meet on our journey: He is there to remind us of the importance of values and principles. He demonstrates personal wisdom and tenacity. And his leadership, when it was most urgently needed, saved our nation from the ignominy of being relegated to the list of our world’s nation states that have failed.

I have deliberately used many (emphasis is mine) statements in this document. Rather than viewing them as mere distractions, think of them as specific landmarks that I have posted for your personal consideration. Remember, we are looking for answers to our questions and concerns. Take your time and consider them carefully. In the end, they will make it easier for you to retrace your journey's steps and help you reset your course to a different direction,

While there were others seeking consideration, I have chosen two of Lincoln’s historical speeches to be our guides. Web access to these speeches is shown below. If the URL address fails, simply Google the text above it. I encourage you to read both of them for yourself. 

Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address: March 4, 1861

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19^th_century/lincoln1.asp

And

Lincoln’s Lyceum Address: January 27, 1838

http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/lyceum.htm

 Lincoln’s First Inaugural

“Fellow-Citizens of the United States: In compliance with a custom as old as the Government itself, I appear before you to address you briefly and to take the oath prescribed by the Constitution of the United States to be taken by the President before he enters on the execution of this office.” "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."  (emphasis is mine)

Even as he carried the weight of a divided nation and the possibility of a great war, Abraham Lincoln observed: “It is safe to assert that no government proper ever had a provision in its organic law for its own termination. Continue to execute all the express (sic) provisions of our national Constitution, and the Union will endure forever—it being impossible to destroy it, except by some action not provided for in the instrument itself.” (emphasis is mine)

The First Inaugural Address reminded me that the Union is much older than the Constitution. “It was formed, in fact, by the Articles of Association in 1774. It was matured and continued by the Declaration of independence in 1776. It was further matured and the faith of all the then thirteen States expressly plighted and engaged that it should be perpetual, by the Articles of Confederation in 1778. And finally, in 1787,  one of the declared objects for ordaining and establishing the Constitution was ‘to form a more perfect Union’. ” (emphasis is mine) 

This is Lincoln’s view of presidential responsibility: “The Chief Magistrate derives all of his authority from the people. His duty is to administer the present government as it came into his hands and to transmit it, unimpaired by him, to his successor. (emphasis is mine)

The Lyceum Address

Let us now reach further into our past. The date is January 27, 1838. Standing in front of the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield Illinois audience is 28 year old Abraham Lincoln. His subject for the evening: The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions.

Lincoln’s Lyceum Address focused on citizenship in a democratic republic and possible threats to American institutions. “The speech was brought out by the burning in St. Louis a few short weeks before, by a mob, of a negro. (sic) Lincoln took this incident as a sort of text for his remarks.” This speech led the listener toward a better understanding of the destructive effects of mob rule, the effects of a disregard for the rule of law, and the possible creation of a climate ripe for the rise of a potential tyrant. The portion of the speech which most resonated in my mind is the cause and the potential for the rise of this tyrant. I want to make it clear that I am not stating that a perceived, object lesson presented by a 28 year old man is, in fact, being carried out 177 years later. The possibility, however, is interesting and worth pursuing and remembering. Read the speech in its entirety.

While you are at it, read the entire Declaration of Independence and read it as often as is necessary for you to understand the vast importance of the very last sentence. “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” (emphasis is mine)

Like many of you, I have long been familiar with this form of a Lincoln quote: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” An earlier version of this quotation (original version?) exists in the Lyceum Address and is shown below.

“Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the ocean and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest, with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer. If it ever reach (sic) us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide.” (emphasis is mine)

“It is to deny what the history of the world tells us is true, to suppose that men of ambition and talents will not continue to spring up amongst (sic) us. And when they do, they will as naturally seek gratification of their ruling passion as others have done before them. The question then is, Can that gratification be found in supporting and maintaining an edifice that has been erected by others? Most certainly it cannot. Many great and good men, sufficiently qualified for any task they should undertake, may ever be found whose ambition would aspire to nothing beyond a seat in Congress, a gubernatorial or a presidential chair; but such belong not to the family of the lion or the tribe of the eagle. What! Think you these places would satisfy an Alexander, a Caesar, or a Napoleon? Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored. It sees no distinction in adding story to story upon the monuments of fame erected to the memory of others. It denies that it is glory enough to serve under any chief. It scorns to tread in the footsteps of any predecessor, however illustrious. It thirsts and burns for distinction; and if possible, it will have it, whether at the expense of emancipating slaves or enslaving freemen. Is it unreasonable, then, to expect that some man possessed of the loftiest genius, coupled with ambition sufficient to push it to its utmost stretch, will at some time spring up among us? And when such a one does, it will require the people to be united with each other, attached to the government and laws and generally intelligent to successfully frustrate his designs. (emphasis is mine)

Distinction will be his paramount object, and although he would as willingly, perhaps more so, acquire it by doing good as harm, yet, that opportunity being past, and nothing left to be done in the way of building up, he would set boldly to the task of pulling down.” (emphasis is mine)

In its entirety, the Lyceum Address looks to the future of the United States by stating “the past must fade, is fading, has faded with the circumstances that produced it.” Lincoln takes special note of the founding leaders and their history and he proclaims them gone. But wait! Here is the rest of the story. Here is the key to saving and recreating the United States which many, like me, are trying to find.

“They (the founders) were the pillars of the temple of liberty; and now that they have crumbled away, that temple must fall UNLESS we, their descendants, supply their places with other pillars, hewn (sic) from the solid quarry of sober reason. Passion has helped us, but it can do no more. In the future it will be our enemy. REASON, cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future defence. (sic) Let those materials be moulded (sic) into GENERAL INTELLIGENCE, SOUND MORALITY, and in particular, A REVERENCE FOR THE CONSTITUTION and LAWS; and, THAT WE IMPROVED TO THE LAST; that WE REMAINED FREE TO THE LAST; that we revered; his name to the last; that, during his long sleep, we permitted no hostile foot to pass over or desecrate his resting place; shall be that which to learn the last trump shall awaken our WASHINGTON.” (emphasis is mine)

Lincoln ended his address with these words:

“Upon these let the proud fabric of freedom rest, as the rock of its basis; as truly as has been said of the only other greater institution, ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’. (emphasis is mine)

The underlined words sound kind of familiar don’t they?

Can’t place them? Google them or try Matthew 16 -18.

I chose the name “Our Caravan” for this blog because its name has helped me to remember that at any moment I am standing in the present and the future is but an instant away. The people, lessons and events of the past are all still moving on ahead of me. I stand in awe of those people and what they learned, understood and endured. I have no idea where we will arrive as we join them and become the past but I do know that our arrival will be determined by the important choices we have made along the way.

What you and I will leave behind as a gift remains to be created. Hopefully it will be needed and eventually discovered by those others who have not yet taken their place in Our Caravan.

A Nuclear Senate Reinstatement Provides A Two Year Window of Security

Two questions were posted and discussed in “Our Caravan” on November 7, 2014.

Will the Republican Party take advantage of this opportunity to pronounce the Nuclear Senate established by Harry Reid and the Democratic Party dead in the water or leave it untouched and use it in vengeance against that party?

When will our president finally come to grips with his personal hubris and truly make an effort to be the leader that this nation needs and deserves?

The Nuclear Senate question is constitutionally, historically and emotionally a complex can of worms. I believe I made an error when I suggested it needed to be dropped. The rational for its removal, however, remains correct. The right to filibuster is important to all of us because it is a protection against the abusive rule and tyranny of those who are a part of a majority. That is why democracies fail and why the United States of America is a republic.

The reinstatement of the Nuclear Senate has a positive side effect. Reinstatement would provide our nation an important two year window of security which can be used to intelligently slow and perhaps turn aside the advancing progressive storm. Reinstatement can always be undone as the soon as the dangers of the next two years of the Obama Presidency have passed us by. With that passing, the door opens to the possibility of a return to the guiding principles, waiting to be found again, in our foundation documents.

We must, therefore, aggressively and successfully confront the fundamental changing of America espoused by our President and his progressive supporters. If we are not successful, the foundation documents will be without value and will be cast aside. Any threats of destruction from outside our nation’s borders will immediately become meaningless. The attacking enemy will simply arrive too late. We will have already destroyed ourselves and history will have been proven correct.

The newly elected republican majority in the Senate can and must reinstate the nuclear senate. However, the new Senate majority can and must step forward and pass legislation which effectively opposes and counteracts legislation based on progressive philosophy. They can and must oppose our current economic insanity. They can and must re-establish and protect the guaranteed rights and the guiding principles contained in our constitution. They can and must return us to a nation which values and follows its laws. They can and must provide clear and effective alternatives and changes to previously enacted legislation and deliver that legislation quickly and directly to the President’s desk.

The President could succumb to his hubris and conceivably veto every piece of legislation sent to him by the new majority. In doing so, however, the President risks finishing his term of office wearing his “New Clothes” and holding a shadow legacy.

(Special thanks to Hans Christian Anderson and his story “The Emperor’s New Clothes”. http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheEmperorsNewClothes_e.html)

The second question is by far the easiest to answer because it requires only two words: Probably never!

Advice from Our 1st American to President Obama

Benjamin Franklin is the founder whom I have come to admire and respect the most. Given a choice between a truly historical Benjamin Franklin and our current President, my vote would go to the founder who earned it every day of his life. He was born on January 17, 1706 and died on April 17, 1790. It is reported that 20,000 people attended his funeral. He is often referred to as the 1^st American and the “harmonious human multitude”.

Compare and contrast Benjamin Franklin with the man whom we elected to this nation’s highest position of honor. Our President is but a shadow of the man every American supporter hoped he would be and this nation deserves. Each quotation listed below illustrates specific differences between the man who became this nation’s 1^st American and the man who became this nation’s latest President. It should be easy for you to recognize the differences between the two men. Our President has much to learn about this nation’s history, peoples, principles and values. Yet he consistently demonstrates that he cannot or will not do so. Let us hope and pray that the damages he has inflicted on this nation through his goal to change and remake America can yet be repaired. I believe his personal history, his unwillingness to consider that he is wrong and his war against America will prove to be his downfall and will ultimately crush his presidential legacy.

If I were to send a personal letter to President Obama offering him an opportunity to improve his personal legacy and help this nation to grow in his final two years, I would use Franklin quotations to lead him toward a clear understanding of what this nation’s peoples deserve from any man but especially the man whom they elected to be their leader of the free world.

The following quotations are from Benjamin Franklin’s Wit and Wisdom. Someone will, undoubtedly quibble that this one or that one was not the original work of Franklin. That could be true, but he gave them a flavor of his own.

Note: Each quotation was copied exactly as printed.  Quotation marks have been omitted.

None but the well-bred Man knows how to confess a fault, or acknowledge himself in error.

There is much difference between imitating a good man, and counterfeiting him.

Where there is hunger, Law is not regarded; and where Law is not regarded, there will be hunger.

An empty bag cannot stand upright.

Tricks and treachery are the practice of Fools that have not wit enough to be honest.

Observe all men; thyself the most.

Wish not so much to live long, as to live well.

As pride increases, Fortune declines.

Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy Vices.

Clean your Finger, before you point at my spots.

Promises may get thee friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies.

Duty is not beneficial because it is commanded, but is commanded because it is beneficial.

Those who are feared are hated.

Here comes Glib-Tongue: who can out flatter a dedication; and lie like ten Epitaphs.

A lie stands on one leg, Truth on two.

Wise Men learn by other’s harms; Fools by their own.

You may delay, but Time will not.

In Rivers and bad Governments, the lightest things swim at top.

The learned Fool writes his Nonsense in better language than the unlearned but it is still Nonsense.

He is ill clothed that is bare of virtue.

If you would reap Praise you must sow the Seeds, Gentle Words and useful Deeds.

Thou can’st not joke an Enemy into a friend, but thou may’st a Friend into an Enemy.

If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing.

Great talkers should be cropped for they have no need of ears.

If you do what you should not you must hear what you would not.

He that scatters thorns let him go barefoot.

Meanness is the Parent of Insolence.

Cunning proceeds from Want of capacity.

You may be too cunning for one, but not for all.

Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a Folly.

You may give a Man an Office but you cannot give him Discretion.

Demagogues and Economics: New Version

I recently read “Defense Against Demagogues” by Walter E. Williams at Townhall.com. I was drawn to this article because it raised two questions in my mind. What is it about demagogues that requires a defense? and How and why can demagogues and economics possibly sit at the same table? 

It was demagogues that captured my immediate and complete attention. The word jumped off the page and into my mind and it clearly said: Pay attention here! Mr. Williams strongly illustrated the point that “The greatest tool in the arsenal of demagogues is economic ignorance…” but I came up a little short of understanding the tools in the demagogues arsenal. After a few minutes with a dictionary, a Wikipedia article and a thesaurus, I was also convinced that we do need a defense and I was ready to better understand Mr. Williams’ intended message.

This is what I learned during those few minutes and why I decided that a defense against demagogues is required: [from French “demagogue”, derived from the Greek “demos” = people/folk and the verb “ago” = carry/manipulate thus “people manipulator”] A demagogue is a political leader who appeals to the emotions, fears, prejudices and ignorance of people in order to gain power and promote political motives. Demagogues take advantage of a fundamental weakness in a democracy. In a democracy, the ultimate power is held by the people and there is nothing to stop the people from giving power to someone who appeals to the lowest common denominator of a large segment of the population. Relentlessly and without self-restraint, demagogues appeal to the emotions of the poor and the uninformed, pursue personal power, and tell lies to stir up hysteria and exploit crises to intensify popular support for their call to immediate action and increased authority. To enhance their self image, demagogues accuse opponents of weakness and disloyalty to the nation even as they, themselves, are manipulative, bigoted and pernicious. 

A defense against demagogues is clearly important to all of us. We need to commit ourselves to learning to recognize and protect ourselves from these ‘people manipulators’ and we need to increase our understanding and appreciation of economics. We all have a great deal to lose because of our lack of understanding of both.

http://townhall.com/columnists/walterewilliams/2015/01/28/defense-against-demagogues-n1948304/print

The State of the Union That You Will Not Hear Tonight

My fellow Americans, I am an ordinary citizen who believes it is necessary to speak of immigration, economics, taxation and character and leadership in a manner that will be lacking from either the heart or mouth of our current President of The United States of America. 

Immigration:  In spite of those who are choosing to continually rewrite it and denigrate it through falsehoods, the history of this nation is an open truth. The United States has always been a beacon to peoples of this world who long to be free.  Our nation’s past, with measurable fits and starts, has clearly shown the reality and truth of why immigration and cultural and economic growth go hand in hand. E pluibus unum,"Out of many, one", is not a myth.  In fact it was the de facto motto for the United States until 1956  when it was replaced it with "In God We Trust".

You and I are expected to believe and support the untruth that there is no moral and ethical difference between past immigrants and today’s. Immigrants from earlier days were people who really wanted their freedom to be a part and parcel of their future as American citizens. Earlier immigrants wanted to be Americans and they did what they needed to do to have it happen.They did not want to continue to be what they chose to leave.

Today's illegals (That is what they really are.) are people who openly state: I am here and I am going to stay because you cannot or will not stop me and I am entitled to do so. It is in our governments avoidance of written law and the absolute absence of truth that we have created this cultural monster. Look to Europe to see the consequences. We simply cannot continue to exist as a nation by choosing this course. This reality must change or it is all of us who will be forced to change. It will no longer be a united we but a them and an us.

Economics: Question: How do you go broke? Answer: Slowly and then fast. With very few exceptions, the looming specter of total national economic collapse has much in common with honesty and integrity and the clear understanding that someone will always be better off than you and someone will always be worse off than you.  Growing personal and cultural entitlement demands makes zero sense except to those who simply want and a government that provides it in return for a supporting vote.

My wife and I have raised two children who grew up hearing this explanation for the absence of almost everything: We cannot afford it! My wife and I did not add two very important words: right now! Hindsight tells me that we should have. I strongly believe most desires, acquisitions and life style changes can all be improved over time through self control and common sense thrift.  Many of the desires, acquisitions and life style changes desired by my family looked really good to everyone in our family but they were simply too expensive to risk a possible collapse of the family. 

There is no such thing as a free anything and yet individuals, families and your government all want and believe that they are entitled to those wants. Think long and hard right here and now. I believe a national collapse is coming. Would a plan leading to the successful acquisition of something be better than giving into the desire and then facing a collapse? I believe you and the government know the truth.

This country desperately needs people who are capable of saying simply: We cannot afford that right now. We believe that you need that and we will work to make it so but we cannot afford that right now and this is what we are going to do to make it so. 

What do you think??

Taxation: I strongly believe that the rationale for taxation is a lie. Taxation was created and originally made the law of the land in 1913 to finance World War 1 and has evolved to  support the ideologies of people who redistribute our monies and deem themselves smarter and better than the people like you and me. Do   you actually believe that an MIT professor is the only one who thinks you are stupid? Remember this, your taxes do two things that no one in government wants you to hear, know or understand clearly. The money you send to Washington creates jobs for lots and lots of people who claim to be hard at work for you. It also creates a larger and larger government. And, that government stresses and believes that only they can make your life better. Really?

Character and Leadership. Quoting from The Final Summit by Andy Andrews,  Abraham Lincoln says to Joan of Arc, “Does adversity build character? ... It does not.   If you want to test a person’s character, give him power. Continuing, Lincoln says, Now since we are concerning ourselves here with the very future of humanity, let me add one more thing. Power corrupts. Trust me on this. And because power corrupts, humanity’s need for those in power to be of high character increases as the importance of the position of leadership increases. We are discussing character, correct? Not intelligence. Great leadership is a product of great character. And this is why character matters."

Do we reward a man's intentions or his actions?