Saturday, February 5, 2011

Davy & Horatio
February 6, 2011

Today, February 6, 2011 would have been the 100th Birthday of Ronald Reagan. One of his many quotes is: "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

So with that, I’d like to tell you the story of Davy Crockett, you know the king of the wild frontier, and a constituent by the name of Horatio Bunce. Like many stories from history there is controversy as to the validity of this tale. If it is true it’s a great story, if it isn’t it’s still a great story. The short version is that as Davy was going throughout his district in preparation to start a reelection campaign he came upon a fellow working the fields. He introduced himself and said he was a politician. The farmer was Horatio Bunce and said he knew who Davy was and he didn’t want to waste either of their time. Horatio explained that even though he had voted for Davy in the past he would not be voting for him this time.

This caught Davy off guard and he asked why? "Well Colonel, it is hardly worthwhile to waste time or words upon it. I do not see how it can be mended, but you gave a vote last winter which shows that either you have not capacity to understand the Constitution, or that you are wanting in the honesty and firmness to be guided by it. In either case you are not the man to represent me”, said Horatio. “But an understanding of the constitution different from mine I cannot overlook, because the Constitution, to be worth anything, must be held sacred, and rigidly observed in all its provisions.” He went on to explain how Davy had voted to give a group of fire victims $20,000 in relief and this vote was unconstitutional. “The power of collecting and disbursing money at pleasure is the most dangerous power that can be entrusted to man”

“If you have the right to give at all; and as the Constitution neither defines charity nor stipulates the amount, you are at liberty to give to any and everything which you may believe, or profess to believe, is a charity and to any amount you may think proper. You will very easily perceive what a wide door this would open for fraud and corruption and favoritism, on the one hand, and for robbing the people on the other. 'No, Colonel, Congress has no right to give charity.'

Horatio went on to explain that if each member of Congress wanted to give a weeks salary toward the fire victims they would have raised about the same amount of money. But instead of giving their own money, they took the peoples money and disbursed it, but the money was “not yours to give”.

"'So you see, Colonel, you have violated the Constitution in what I consider a vital point. It is a precedent fraught with danger to the country, for when Congress once begins to stretch its power beyond the limits of the Constitution; there is no limit to it, and no security for the people."

To read the entire story click here:
http://notyourstogive.com/

Our modern day Congress and entitlements have come a long way from this story. According to a column written on January 26, 2011 by economist Dr. Walter E. Williams today’s entitlements account for nearly 60 percent of federal spending. Dr. Williams writes: “Everyone who receives government largesse and special favors deems his needs as vital, deserving, proper and in the national interest. It is entirely unreasonable to expect a politician to honor and obey our Constitution and in the process commit political suicide. What's even worse for our nation is that voters ousting a politician who'd refuse to bring, say, aid to higher education back to his constituents is perfectly rational. If, for example, he's a Virginia politician and doesn't bring higher education grants back to his constituents, it doesn't mean Virginian taxpayers will pay a lower income tax. All that it means is that Marylanders will get the money instead. Once legalized theft begins, it pays for everyone to participate. Those who don't will be losers.”

Dr. Williams continues: “That's the nation's dilemma. The most important job for people who want to spare our nation from economic collapse is not that of persuading politicians to do the right thing but to convince our fellow Americans to respect the limits of our Constitution. In his speech to Virginia's ratifying convention, James Madison said, "Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it; no constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it."

You can find Dr. Williams column here:
http://townhall.com/columnists/walterewilliams/2011/01/26/can_our_nation_be_saved

Our ability to rely on God rather than the government has been blinded by “compassion”.

It says in Matt 22:34-40 (34) Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. (35) One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: (36) “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (37) Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (40) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

I realize I’m speaking in generalized terms and preaching to the choir, but as a nation we have replaced God with the government. And instead of ‘loving your neighbor as yourself’ we have allowed the government to love them for us.

Our Republic was designed as a nation of laws. I’m concerned we’re quickly becoming a nation of entitlements. It is the lack of respect for our laws that open the doors for entitlements.

Abraham Lincoln said: “Let reverence for the laws be breathed by every American mother to the lisping babe that prattles on her lap; let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in primers, spelling-books, and in almanacs; let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation.”


To this I say, Amen!