Posted by: Kathryn Kist | 02/05/2009 4:00 PM
Doubtful of my own wisdom and poor in hope for our country, I call upon one of our country's native sages for inspiration. Here are some of Ben Franklin's thoughts that speak to America's ongoing crisis with my connections following.
"God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: 'This is my country.'" --Rights are granted not by government but by the Creator. Unfortunately, such knowledge has been preempted by studies of how to get the most of the latest government handout.
"He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money." --ask any Democrat who wants to throw more (of someone else's) money at a problem. Then ask that Democrat to be vetted for high office and see what he has done for money.
"When there's no Law, there's no Bread."--and we are fast approaching the end of the rule of Law in America. Humpty Dumpty ("Words mean what I say they mean") would feel at home in any of the three branches of our federal government. Eventually the gross theft by government agencies will impoverish us all.
"He that lives upon hope will die fasting."--Here's an alternative ending. Somehow this was not included in the Obamantra.
"When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."--Hark! I hear the trumpet. To the tune of $1 Trillion.
"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."--Can Obama find any virtuous leaders to fill his cabinet posts? And do our leaders reflect a sea change in the national character? If we cannot rule ourselves, we will be ruled by others.
"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."--Fairness Doctrine, anyone? Hate crimes legislation? Politically correct movement? Tolerance replacing love as the highest of virtues?
Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended, Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it."--222 years and counting. I would like to keep it a while longer.
"Repeal that [welfare] law, and you will soon see a change in their manners. ... Six days shalt thou labor, though one of the old commandments long treated as out of date, will again be looked upon as a respectable precept; industry will increase, and with it plenty among the lower people; their circumstances will mend, and more will be done for their happiness by inuring them to provide for themselves, than could be done by dividing all your estates among them." End the handouts and bailouts and get government out of the way: that's the recipe for recovery and freedom, not wealth redistribution.
"It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part."--10% flat tax! Well, God only asked for 10%, so why should the government get any more?
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"--That's why Democrats want to take away our guns and make us believe we never had a right to defend ourselves from them in the first place. We should ask the Britons and Australians if they feel safer now with no guns.
"Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants."--That's our choice. We can submit to eternal precepts of moral behavior, or we can end up groveling before a human despot who was the most clever, ruthless, or luckiest of our immoral counterparts. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
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