Home of Today's Common Sense

Published Brownsville Herald  April 6, 2008 

In my last column I focused on how the elite influence the outcomes of the elections so that they remain elites. I also pointed out how unique an opportunity there was for “We the people” to make our choices felt in this election. All that is needed is for “We the people” to become active in the campaigns and vote. The question then becomes what do we really want and whom do we vote for! 

From my perspective, I want the least amount of government interference in my life as possible but I realize a certain amount of government is needed to maintain order and to preserve the liberty I have. As humans gathered together into groups certain choices and liberties were traded in to secure security and a stable source of supply of the necessities. 

Most societies organized into groups dominated by the strongest and most powerful and for the most part the kings and dictators of most of the world before 1776 were the result. The elite dominated “We the people” for their own good and convinced us that we could not make choices on our own. With the birth of the United States a government was formed that derived its power from “We the people”. It seems to me that we are allowing that light of freedom and liberty to diminish with every election as government grows ever larger, feeding on the taxes that it extorts from us daily. Worse with every election we give the beast more power to enslave us further with our votes or apathy. 

Every election the professional elites or politicos dream up something more that we are incompetent to do for our selves and promises a “free” program to provide it. We are told that the rich will pay for it but soon find out that we are the rich that they are talking about because the really rich have moved their resources and jobs to places where they are less taxed and regulated. We have to strike a balance where those who are genuinely unable to care fo themselves are cared for by those that understand the real needs not a politico in Washington and those who can are given the motivation to seek the dream. 

We still see the light of that dream in the eyes of the new immigrant who has not been weakened by a lifetime of government freebees. Just as was the case in our history new waves of immigration have made us increasingly stronger. As we wade through the political promises of the season beware of what is promised for free to be supplied by the government. For each gift there may be an even bigger grab from our personal liberties. 

The worst part is that both major parties are but shades of the same thing – big government, more control over we the people and more power for the elite. From one quarter we hear a call for personal freedoms such as relates to gender orientation, domestic relations, religion, and speech. However we do not hear anything about the responsibility to use those freedoms in such a way that they do not take away from a neighbor’s freedoms. 

We also are promised free or “affordable” health care but what is the cost of government becoming involved in that. History has shown that anything that government does becomes grossly inefficient and vastly inexpensive. Do we really want a health care system as efficient as the Veterans Administration or as costly as Medicare. How would the government reduce costs” Would they select who gets what kind of treatment and when? (Look at Canada and England) Would it be determined that when you get old or fat you don’t deserve treatment or would it be regulated as to what you can eat? (A law was proposed to prohibit fat folks from buying fast foods) For everything that is given there is a cost. Just remember all that free money for education from the Fed comes with a set of requirements that tell the schools what to teach and how to teach it; I would think that it would be the province of “We the people” to make those choices for our children. 

Even in the case of one of the functions that is universally agreed that is the principal function of government our national security, our Congress allows the Administration to start wars so long as they will provide the money. No one is accountable.  In the coming election season we need to take an active part to let the politicos know what level of “Socialism” is acceptable and vote for those that will represent us honestly and fairly. Most of all we must carefully consider the cost of each bit of government largess and vote accordingly. 

Our votes will count heavily in this election because the sides are so close, perhaps only a few votes could sway the entire election just as was the case in Florida four short years ago

1. Fred says:

   April 12, 2008 at 8:05 pm

   Thanks – Thats why the column is named “Today’s Common Sense”
2. Kurgan says:

   April 11, 2008 at 11:29 pm

   Mr. Drew,

   You make too much sense.

   Our founding fathers were likely in agreeement with your sentiments and in my heart, I am too.

   Kurgan