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 Jim DeMint Ping! |
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Posted on 02/22/2009 12:07:49 AM PST by Syncro
Jim DeMint's gentlemanly air and refined tone belie a power and an urgency in his words.
The stately senator from South Carolina sees America's unique centuries-old system of freedom dying out.
And he thinks we may have to take to the streets to save it.
"I would think it's time to start thinking about peaceful demonstrations," he told us last week.
Seriously?
"Seriously.
"The power of the people is there. Freedom is in the people's hands right now, and it's about to slip through."
Of course, the recent "stimulus" debate is what's fresh on DeMint's mind. Despite DeMint's putting 15 aides on it overnight, no one in Washington was able to read the bill, which was the most expensive in American history -- as well as being perhaps the most irresponsible.
The worst since the adoption of the income tax, DeMint figures.
It's not just the amount of money involved, some $780 billion -- although that, alone, is corrosive enough to American freedom. "I've seen it happen inside government agencies: 'What can we do to get it spent?' It's the only way (the agencies can get money)," DeMint says. "I see that happen in Afghanistan and Iraq, where our aid programs are basically based on people being able to spend the money within a certain period of time so we can say we did something. And it just leads to a bunch of waste."
Perhaps even worse than the money is the strings that come with it. It's the growth of the federal government's reach and influence too. The "stimulus" bill has increased the federal role in, among other things, education -- and gets the government's nose fully in the tent of private medical decisions.
The slab has been poured underneath what some want to become nationalized health care.
"Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system," writes Betsy McCaughey, adjunct senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. "Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.
"But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and 'guide' your doctor's decisions."
In short, rationing.
In truth, the leviathan that is the stimulus bill is just the most recent in a chain of actions by an aristocratic and arrogant Washington that is eroding our freedoms.
With our tacit permission.
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism," American socialist Norman Thomas famously once said, "but under the name of liberalism they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened."
DeMint sees it -- from a front-row seat in the U.S. Senate.
"We're being drawn in with a lot of promises -- and the fact that so many people are already dependent on the government and so few actually pay taxes," DeMint says.
Sadly, DeMint saw that dependence in full bloom -- in the faces of South Carolina leaders who tried to twist his arm to vote for the stimulus bill to get their own goodies.
"Just about everybody who came in my office, even the mayors from all over the state, they would usually say, 'DeMint, I agree with you -- this is a bad bill. But it's got this in here for us, and we want our piece.'"
Historically, the federal government has been about 18 percent of the gross domestic product. By next year, it could grow to nearly 40 percent, according to Newsweek .
"The late sociologist Seymour Lipset," writes National Review editor Rich Lowry, "wrote a brilliant book on why the U.S. didn't embrace socialism, called It Didn't Happen Here. In a few years, its conclusion might look premature."
DeMint is hopeful -- but not when he looks around Capitol Hill.
"I've become increasingly aware that the thoughtful, well-informed leaders are very few and far between in the Congress -- people who seem to be well-read and continuing to kind of grow their skills. It's become rhetorical and political ..."
Instead, DeMint is looking to the people -- where he still sees a "remnant" of freedom-loving still stirring.
Only a remnant?
"That's all it is," he concludes. "But that's all it takes.
"Freedom is in our hands; it always has been. We've entrusted it to people in Washington, and increasingly they have picked our pockets and pulled power from us. We're just going to have to take it back.
"The real shame of all this is, I feel Republicans had said that we were going to carry that banner of freedom -- and they completely betrayed that. And it's going to be hard to get it back."
But with all except three Republicans in Congress voting against the stimulus bill, perhaps getting that banner back has started. There are a few rising conservative stars on the national scene, including Reps. Jeff Flake of Arizona, Jeb Hensarling of Texas and Mike Pence of Indiana.
Still, DeMint says star power isn't what we need. "I think what we need to look for first is to find the principles that will bring us together. I'm not looking for a face right now."
Continued below.
We need such a thing and I mean QUICK before they have us all working in the Salt Mines.
They will subtley start labeling us a "anti American".
In Japan, they did that in the 1930s (towards those who did not go along with Imperialist Japan designs) as 非国民. At first it starts very subtle, they bring it to the local level. Their intent is neutralization, shame and isolation.
They will try it here. I know their elite, fascist/communist nature. They will then escalate it into that fact that we are "enemies of the state". Most dumbed down saps in flyover America are liable to be bribed off with government bennies and believe that crap...unless we can get to them first.
Do be aware, however, that the potential for lives to be lost will be very high, but such sacrifice is very necessary to finally convince convince one President Obama the folly of his ways and institute the type of REAL change that will avoid a repeat of the 1930's.
I don’t think we have time to rely on elections anymore, especially with the recent power and money given to ACORN.
We need to hit the streets but we need a Sam Adams type to organize marches.
Most conservatives are too busy working and zero plans to keep us worrying about food and shelter so we don’t have time.
I beleive the right person though could rally the citizenry.
“I want this guy to run for President in 2012.”
I must say I agree. With these statements he’s making about taking our country back, DeMint is the frontrunner on leadership.
for your consideration
“You guys got the best Senator.”
One of the best governors, too. Check out what Sanford has been saying about all this. These are the leaders we need.
Normal people don’t often take to the streets. When they do, the media ignore it. The police look for trouble, under orders of corrupt leftist administrations, and arrest innocent people under trumped-up charges.
Excellent editorial. We need to all write similar editorials for our local papers.
Only a remnant?
"That's all it is," he concludes. "But that's all it takes."
Thanks for this post Syncro. Downloading to file so it won't be difficult to find for reference, and emailing it on to many in the ol' add'y book. DeMint expresses exactly how we think here at the RQSR.
So...I do think it might be time to get out and demonstrate. America is sinking fast. Thank goodness that there are still people like DeMint around to sound the alarm.
These people talk freedom, liberty, limited government, constitutionalism, and federalism when they are out of power....but when they get in power they do nothing and act like scared rabbits.
Some of them just spout the words.
I do think some of them believe it, but are so cowed by fear of the media that when they get in power they just hunker down and try not to make waves.
This is not new, it has been going on for decades. Liberals get power and ratchet a few more clicks....then they lose power...but the clicks are not reversed.
Why should I trust this type of talk now?
If we are going to ‘hit the streets’, as Sen DeMint suggests is necessary to take our freedom back, then now might be a good time to let him know we are behind him. Where he leads we will follow.
Someone has got to get the ball rolling.
There is great truth to that sentiment. Look at what the minority of nuts in Code Pink have accomplished because they took to the streets.
Now if we as sensible people who can articulate and logically describe exactly what is wrong then I think we can prevail. certainly Congress and the senate are not doing what WE want anymore. They have the mentality that they should do what they think is best despite what our wishes are. They spend our money, our resources and determine what our future should be when in fact we elect them to do our bidding.
I don’t believe that we are in fact the minority either like code pink. We are the silent majority, but no longer should we remain so.
In the past two or three days I have seen Alan Keyes and Rick Santelli start fanning the flames of freedom and people are starting to take notice.
Lets throw some logs on the fire.
DeMint is correct, of course. From his observations as to the present day feckless republican party, to the selfish, small-minded and dumbed-down mind-sets of most elected officials.
What would be outstanding is for a bunch of true conservative officials...DeMint, Palin, Pence and others to organize and lead the movement for the demonstrations and rebellion. And quickly.
I am ready to take to the streets.
I’ve said we need a national figure to lead the charge, if this is it..fine, I think he gets it. He understands.
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