On Independence Day weekend, I thought about what this holiday's remembrance is really all about and why it's meaning now is more pertinent than ever before in most our lives. For those who embrace this election's importance, this is a somber holiday - not just an excuse for a three-day weekend.
Washington, Jefferson, Adams & Franklin
Our founding fathers had great ideas. They were educated men consisting of landowners, lawyers, inventors, philosophers and business owners, who carefully thought out the way to govern the new nation. They had a combined focus and goal to eradicated themselves from the Crown and launch a most extraordinary experiment. The United States of America.
The two main ideas became apparent in their planning. A) To guarantee inalienable rights which are prescribed by God, which protect our Right to pursue personal happiness in a free land. And B) to preserve our country's sovereignty. The Constitution provided a framework, giving directives to three branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. These branches of government were placed specifically to keep power from becoming a centralized power base - leaving the power to the individual states' citizenry to self-govern.
Their quotes about freedom, liberty, pursuit of happiness and self governance have survived the 240 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 2 and its adoption by the united group of the original thirteen states on July 4, 1776. Yes, it's been 40 years since we celebrated the 200 year anniversary; yet, America is a radically difference country today than it was even 20 years ago.
Was this radical turn what Thomas Jefferson envisioned when he penned the Declaration of Independence that birthed our Nation?
After much study of Jefferson's writings and scholarship, I seriously doubt it...
Today, we're happy to let the federal government dictate every facet of our lives - right down to personal habits and vices. Under the guise of common good, we have handed over our rights and freedoms one by one to people who know no better than any of us what is in our best interest and well-being. In return, they've taken no time at all to strip our rights to minutia while grossly overstepping their constitutional boundaries.
Now look at where we are...
United Nations
We are a country that folds to its minority because they throw elaborate temper tantrums. The Minority dictates our behaviors and 'free' speech because of the laziness and apathy of the Majority. We now have a presidential candidate that is the focus of an FBI criminal investigation and yet, many don't appear to care she's untrustworthy, dishonest and corrupt. Our lawmakers are promoting globalism which strips away everything the Founding Fathers fought for and were against (the reason they revolted against King George) -- including our right to self-governance. Now these supposed elected by the people representatives are moving us towards being under the United Nations - a global conglomerate that even FDR detested and had no desire for the US to join.
What have we become? Is it time for America to reinvent itself or is it time to go back to what made this nation the super power it once was. Many will nay-say and think, "But, Mr. Crowe, we're still great..." But are we?
We defer our rights so massive invasions of illegals and refugees to come here to take our jobs, rape our women and children as well as threaten the very existence of our community enclaves like the LGBT community! Is this really greatness? 40 years ago, we hadn't experienced a terrorist attack on our soil with the exception of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Yet 15 years later, we are cowering not standing up to the very ideology that portrayed one of the most violent events in our country's history - 9/11.
Paid agitators burning our flag
Why are we at this juncture when the very basis of our country was
founded on solid principles and for 200+ years, served its citizens and
our industry well? How did we get here and why is one party so hell-bent
on taking away the greatness of our nation? Why do we condone people burning our flag?
Why have we been so quick
to give up our freedom for the acceptance of the failed Welfare State of Socialism?
Therefore, on this weekend designed to remember our Declaration as a Sovereign Nation, perhaps it is now more than picnics and beach days - but also with this year, a time to reflect and think carefully, where you as a citizen want this country to go from here.
This election boils down to two conflicting idioms: Nationalism verses Globalism. Nationalism being remain a free sovereign nation or Globalism meaning we completely wipe out what this nation has founded on 240 years ago.
Donald Trump (R) & Hillary Clinton (D)
If ever there was a time, it's now a time for choosing...
On that note, I leave you with this parting video from Ronald Reagan, whose words are as true now as they were in 1964 - we can clearly see his prophecy in our reality today. It's worth the thirty minutes out of your long weekend merriment to check out.
This is perhaps the last election to correct our course and destiny! I have faith there's hope for us yet.
By Thornton Crowe As
I pulled up to the school the other day, I was met with a few cars that
had Bernie: Feel the Bern stickers. I thought to myself, why would
anyone want to promote socialism? Don't they know what that term really
means? These are collegiate types, so obviously they MUST know the
ramifications of why Socialism is failing in many countries throughout
Europe. Sure we all hear about the Swedish Educational
system and how college (et.al.) is free free free FREE! It sounds
heavenly doesn't it? Everyone wants to live in the land of milk and
honey - right?!
But kids, I have to be the bearer of bad news...
Nothing in life is free.
Picture if you will,
you're waking up in London's east side. You of college age are looking
for a job, living on the dole. You have a thyroid problem but the doctor
says it will nine months before you qualify (yes, qualify) for an
operation. So you trug along, sick as a dog-barely able to keep your
eyes open and are 40 stones over your weight allotment as prescribed by
the government.
You
didn't go to college (but wait, in England-isn't college free?) because
when you were sixteen years old, you failed your exam to go on to
university. You learned a trade that was picked out for you based on
your aptitude by the government. You went to trade school but guess
what? After you finished - while there was no cap and gown - you got a
certificate and a job marker to take to the local unemployment office to
register for subsidized housing and food ration benefits. The
government also made the decision FOR YOU as to where you live and what
you eat. So you go to the job center and look for a job all day then go
back to your homogenized unit in a honeycomb of units that all look the
same. Much like the Ticky Tacky Little Boxes that all look just the
same...
Same
kid two blocks over did pass the collegiate test and is in college
chosen for him by the government. Oh, in case you're wondering, Oxford
is NOT free. You only go there if your family is very, very wealthy or
you are visiting from America. You go to accounting classes - not
because you like accounting but because the government test told them to
assign you to an accounting career. You wanted to be a solicitor
(lawyer UK style) but tough cookies. The government doesn't need another
solicitor this week. Both
lives have what in common that Americans in a democracy with capitalism
don't have... the government makes a thousand decisions for you every
day. Meaning you become a slave to your country with a ruling class
smaller than perhaps 1%.
Who
pays for all this free? Well, because everything is rationed and
choices made based on your scores on a test - taxpayers. Yes, as a
working class you are still expected to pay them. And sometimes those
taxes can escalate to about 40-60% of your salary.
Let's
boil that down. Say you make £38,000 GBP a year, that means you have
£15,200 GBP you pay in taxes (at 40%). Leaving you a mere £22,800 GBP to
live on (£1,900 GBP per month). Did you know the average rental on a
flats os around £608,561GBP a month? Guess what? No problem. You can live in a tenement. UK slang for SLUM here.
Now. Add the VAT tax which is 20%
added to every purchase including food. (also known as value added tax)
You're looking at most of your £1,900 GBP being eaten up in VAT taxes.
Example: a carton of 6 eggs is £1.45 GBP. Now add 20% comes to £1.74 GBP
(that's $2.74 US for 1/2 a dozen eggs). Did I mention that most
Socialistic societies have very high prices for food? Now
that your head is swimming (or drowning) in math, tell me; how does
free sound to you now, comrades? I can feel the Bern - Can't you? Always remember:
