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8/30/2010
A Constitutional government depends on you and me
On a breathtakingly beautiful day in Minocqua Saturday, I was privileged to join Pat Snyder, WSAU radio, Pastor David King, Town Chairman Joe Handrick, WI Family Action Director Julaine Appling, Rep. Dan Meyer and others before an enthusiastic crowd of 400 or more, ready and rarin’ to change Wisconsin and change America.
Thomas Sowell, the great American economist and great conservative, a week or two ago wrote the premise of my speech for me:
A constitutional government does not depend on the Constitution but on us.
Imagine.
We didn’t exactly have Katrina here late last month, but damaging floods hit much of southeast Wisconsin. And of course, what’s the first news we read? The governor dramatically visits the region, brilliantly assesses the damage, declares a State Disaster and starts in on trying to get a federal disaster declaration. And then of course, Americans have gotten used to the next step as well – pick up the phone and call FEMA!
But horrors or horrors, FEMA said no! Lo and behold, when FEMA monies were denied, after whining about it, the Journal Sentinel headlined a piece “Without FEMA, community looks inward.” Imagine that.
"If you have a strong back and a pickup truck, you can help clear out somebody's basement," Von said.
Well, hallelujah. People helping people. Neighbors helping neighbors. Imagine it. Cal Thomas picked up on the theme last week as well.
Lowering expectations of government and politicians is only half the equation. We must then raise expectations for ourselves. "You can do it" is more than a rousing assurance from a parent after the training wheels come off and we ride the two-wheeler for the first time, it's the ratification of the individual's power over the weakening power of the state.
When savings run dry, do we petition the government to extend unemployment insurance to almost two full years! or do we encourage our jobless relatives – and their kids and maybe even their inlaws, heaven forbid! – to move in to what might be a spare bedroom?
What was it Benjamin Franklin said when asked what it was the Constitutional Convention was creating? “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.”
If YOU can keep it. YOU. ME. Our neighbors. Our friends. Our elected REPRESENTATIVES for gosh sakes. Our KIDS.
More of Thomas Sowell:
“A constitutional government does not depend on the Constitution but on us. To the extent that we allow clever people to circumvent the Constitution while dazzling us with rhetoric, the Constitution becomes just a meaningless piece of paper as our freedoms are stolen form us, much as a pick-pocket might steal our wallet while we were distracted by other things.”
Other things. Other huge things – like Obamacare. Like the government takeover of General Motors and billions in your taxpayer dollars rescuing AIG. Dodd-Frank. Or like banning prayer at high school graduations. Like hate crimes legislation that portends to see into your mind and my heart.
Abraham Lincoln, in 1838:
How then shall we perform [our duty]?--At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?-- 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 in their military chest, with a Buonaparte 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 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.
Ronald Reagan:
“I think It’s time we asked ourselves if we still know the freedoms that were intended for us by the founding fathers.” It’s time we ask “Whether we believe in our capacity for self government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan for ourselves.”
Ronald Reagan. A man with a deep, enduring faith in man and womankind born to live free, born to do for themselves. That’s us. You and I. To do for ourselves. Do for our neighbors. Do for our children and our brother’s children. In the words of my Lord, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
A Constitutional government does not depend on the Constitution, but on US – to LIVE our Constitution. God Bless this Constitution. And may God bless the strength and generosity of all Americans, our willingness to do for ourselves and to aid our brother in need.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Excellent article. "WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT"! WE MUST NOT LET THE GOVERNMENT BE THE GOVERNMENT.
A quote that comes to my mind almost daily now. While attending a college government class, if the US ever fails it will not be from foreign attack but from within!!!
The US is the greatest country on the face of the earth with the best people. The powers from within are what is the problem. We can not let what was given to us evaporate from the next generation. God help us.
Jay Schroeder (Mon Aug 30 08:14:49 2010)
Unfortunately, we, as a nation, have ceded our fabulous nation and Constitution to the Fat Cats who fund the elections. We have tremendous bribery and fraud amongst our own elected officials. I think a celebration with that hanging over our heads is a bit premature.
Jack Lohman (Mon Aug 30 08:40:53 2010)
Applause, applause, Jo! It's too bad this isn't taught in our schools. I almost finished the sentence with, "anymore", but I doubt it ever was. Early on, because it was a given that you helped yourself and your neighbors it was mutually to everyone's benefit. Then:
"I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
C.R. Stevenson (Mon Aug 30 09:04:11 2010)
Right on, Jo. Great article!
Richard H. Griesser (Mon Aug 30 09:07:45 2010)
Jo, forgive me for not joining the Flag Waving Team, but if we are "to change Wisconsin and change America," we must start by running our state/country like a profit-making company. And no company can survive with the level of bribery that exists in our state and national political systems. And this whole issue is scoffed at by conservatives, perhaps because they see themselves benefiting from it. But nothing is going to happen until we get the bribes out of the system.
Jack Lohman (Mon Aug 30 11:56:08 2010)
The only way we are going to get the CORRUPT MONEY out of it, is with TERM LIMITS OF ONE TERM CITIZEN PUBLIC SERVANTS that alone ends re-election and career politicians and the grip of corrupt Lobby Money on the career politicians. That is what our FOUNDERS intended. The Career Politicians will never vote for it, so we need to get DIRECT REFERENDUM LEGISLATION so that WE THE PEOPLE, the owners and Masters of our destiny and our Government, can get control over our out of control Public SERVANTS.
Robert Gerald Lorge LT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE (Mon Aug 30 19:36:17 2010)
While we're getting a little off-topic, Robert, I suppose term limits is a constitutional issue. But rather than forcing a politician out after three terms, I'd triple the term and limit them to ONE. That way, once in office, they don't have to sell their soul for re-election money.
And if the Career Politicians won't vote for that, neither will they vote for direct government, which I'm hesitant to support anyway. California is the best reason I can give for that.
Jack Lohman (Tue Aug 31 06:42:14 2010)
But at the same time I'd prevent them from opening a political PAC for governor so their bribes can be redirected.
Jack Lohman (Tue Aug 31 09:46:41 2010)
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