A man ahead of his time.

We may think that about Jefferson, but it simply proves that despite increasing technology, we are destined to repeat the mistakes of those who preceded us. We just don't pay enough attention to our history. We don't pay attention to the nations around us who have fallen prey to the notions which attempt to bring the highest down to the level of the lowest. Many are trying to pull themselves out of the morass created by socialistic and fascist governmental policies. Big government cannot take care of the people. Government is at its best when it serves those who supply its wealth. Please pay attention to the quotes of this wise patriot. We would do ourselves a big favor if we returned to the mindset of this great American.

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe. Thomas Jefferson The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world. Thomas Jefferson 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 My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. Thomas Jefferson The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. Thomas Jefferson The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Thomas Jefferson To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: 'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered..' If it weren't for my lawyer, I'd still be in prison. It went a lot faster with two people digging. - Joe Martin

Unintended Consequences

(Click on underlined wording for links to more information.)

I know yesterday's post was a long read for most bloggers, so I am going to try and be brief. Anytime we try and artificially control the natural processes, there are unintended consequences. We are going to find out what these are as the years roll on. Bailouts and unsecured loans to people not qualified to handle a loan have brought us to the point we are today. I have detailed evidence for any who feel I'm just tooting my personal whistle. Blame is being shifted in every quadrant of society to explain the fine mess we've gotten ourselves into. The truth is we are all to blame on some level. Never-the-less we should not jump on any one's bandwagon just because they promise change.

Let's look a just one example from recent history where the unintended consequences were not considered before people rushed in and supported someone for the purpose of effecting change. I was a young boy in 1958 when Fulgencio Batista y Saldivar, was removed from office in Cuba by a young revolutionary named Fidel Castro. Cuba was a viable country controlled by a dictator, who in the fashion of many in the southern hemisphere ruled with a heavy hand. We were living in Puerto Rico at the time and a friend went to Cuba on business. This friend had been in the intelligence community during World War II and was familiar with things most of us never considered then. He came back and told us that Fidel Castro was a communist and that the United States would be wise to keep a close eye on him. In Cuba, most of the masses hailed him a savior and saw him as a welcome change. Many in the U.S. did too. In time we discovered our friend's warning had been right on the money. Fidel Castro became an iron fisted communist dictator, and the people were enslaved to a fate much worse than the one experienced under Batista. They remain enslaved to this date. Many have fled to our country for relief. The only people in Cuba who have money and enjoy a decent lifestyle are those associated at a high level with the Castro regime. Socialism/Communism has been a dismal failure everywhere it has been tried. Why would we as Americans want to change our lifestyle and freedom for a type of slavery (socialism)? The only people who benefit from this type of political system are those at the top of the political hierarchy. If you are on the bottom rung of society's ladder and think that you will receive one iota of benefit, just get someone to read you the histories of those countries who have tried it. Barack Hussien Obama is an unadulterated socialist. He is an empty shell who is controlled by an underground movement pandered to by the elites of the Democrat Party. We have a choice. It may not be the best we could have come up with, but it is not nearly as dangerous as the opposition.

The future, according to some scientists, will be exactly like the past, only far more expensive. - John Sladek

No Free Lunch

My dad died when I was in my mid teens, but he taught me some valuable life lessons. One of these was that nothing is free. It might not cost you anything, but someone has to pay for it. Many people clamor today for the government to meet all kinds of needs it was never designed to meet, or constitutionally mandated to meet. The government was mandated by the constitution to legislate in the following four areas: Manufacture of Currency, National Security, Interstate Commerce, and Taxation. The remainder of things needing attention are left to the individual States.

The government is too large to manage anything with economy of effort and without huge administrative costs. Its 'one size fits all' approach to programs is a dismal failure. The people who most often use these government programs are the ones who contribute the least to the treasury. No one wants kids in our country to go without breakfast or lunch. Who has the responsibility to see this doesn't happen? First, parents; Second, churches; and lastly States. The Federal Government does not have a right or responsibility to spend tax dollars on this type of assistance. In the interest of brevity let's look at the free breakfast program in schools across our nation. A good breakfast is provided for all children at no cost to them. Sounds good doesn't it? Reality: Most of the food ends up in trash cans. The kids won't eat it and you can't force them to. And, you can't use it for anything else because it is a government program earmarked for one thing and one thing only. So, the food we pay for with our tax dollars goes to waste. The parents of the kids who might be in need of the food have discretionary income from other government programs to buy beer, booze, cigarettes, and junk food. The kids eat the junk food before they arrive at school and are not hungry. If the program was not run by the Federal Government, the food could be made available at the school for kids who were truly hungry and distributed on an as needed basis cutting down on waste and unnecessary expense.

Any time you hear a politician telling you what the Federal Government is going to do for you, please sit down on your wallet immediately. Over taxation of the populace (those who work, contribute, and pay taxes) kills incentive to earn more. The top earners in our country pay the most taxes. If they curb their earning potential to avoid rising taxes, then the revenue that supports the non-productive members dries up. In essence, the Goose that lays the golden egg is killed. When the free market is allowed to work and taxes are kept within reason then more money flows into the treasury. Why are we not able to balance our budget? Because we continue to dip out of our National Treasury for things it was never meant to support. Individuals must be responsible for their own existence. Those who aren't must be allowed to suffer the natural consequences. Those who honestly fall on hard times must be helped by family, friends, churches, and local programs in that order. Life is not fair, but attempts to even the playing field by redistribution of wealth by stealing from the top earners to pay for those who do nothing have never worked.

One is tempted to define man as a rational animal who always loses his temper when he is called upon to act in accordance with the dictates of reason. - Oscar Wilde