Posted on 09/01/2012 4:29:19 AM PDT by Kaslin
The political parties throw a lot of glitz at us with their made-for-TV spectaculars, which we call conventions.
But the bottom line defining the choice facing Americans this year is stark and clear, and these conventions provide no new insights or information.
If you think we're struggling because we don't have enough government, then the Democrats are the party for you. If you think the point of government is to protect individual freedom, and the problem is it has gone way beyond that, then Republicans are the party for you.
No visual dominates the landscape of our nation's capital like the Washington Monument. Today, however, other than memorializing our first president, it also provides a message about the role and efficacy of government.
Last year on Aug. 23, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit Washington, D.C. The earthquake caused cracks in the monument, which stands at a height of almost two football fields, so the National Park Service shut it down.
Now, one year later, the monument remains in disrepair, closed to the 600,000 annual visitors it usually receives.
The Washington Post reported in January that the monument would be closed until sometime in 2013. According to that report, the contract to do the repairs would "probably not be awarded until late summer, with work starting sometime after that."
Now the latest report in The Washington Post indicates that repair of the monument may not be complete until sometime in 2014.
In January 1994, Los Angeles was hit with a massive 6.7-magnitude earthquake, knocking down two sections of the Santa Monica Freeway.
An initial estimate from the California Department of Transportation was that it would take 12 to 18 months for repairs.
Considering the massive potential costs to the local economy of shutting down sections of the world's busiest freeway, Caltrans officials decided to turn loose the time-tested formula for American success: market incentives and individual ingenuity.
They opened bidding to contractors who would accelerate the repair process, offering incentive bonuses for early completion.
The result: The repairs were completed in less than three months, with the contractor collecting a $14.5 million bonus for finishing 74 days ahead of schedule.
A rule of life is that we can always expect the unexpected.
Natural disasters deliver this truth in graphic and shocking ways. But the unexpected is with us constantly, natural disasters or not.
It's why an enduring society must be a free society. Only when free can individuals deal with life's endless surprises in creative and resilient ways.
Bureaucracy and government control are guarantees for failure.
Now, sadly, we watch those on Louisiana's Gulf Coast bear the brunt again of a brutal hurricane.
Think of the despair that followed Katrina. There was no shortage of opinions that New Orleans was done forever, that it could never recover.
But, human resilience, will, creativity and freedom have revived this city.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in the New Orleans region is below the national average.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported on the surge of entrepreneurial activity that has occurred there. Tax incentives have given birth to a growing, nationally competitive film industry, with music and software design following suit.
A failed public school system has been revitalized, with 80 percent of the schools now charter schools.
Shouldn't it tell us something that Apple, the icon for innovation, once on the brink of failure, is now the most valuable company in history?
And that all the major areas where we are having problems are areas controlled or dominated by government?
Americans don't need to watch fancily produced political conventions to know that one question faces us this year: Do we want to be free?
If you think the point of government is to protect individual freedom, and the problem is it has gone way beyond that, then Republicans are the party for you.
All that I’ve seen and heard is a lot of noise, gnashing of the teeth, pulling of the hair and hot air as the action against ANYTHING the Obama (and previous liberals) have done to harm our freedoms.
Action? Does anyone see or know of any REAL action?
There is a reason that I continue to call the Republican party the “go along to get along” party. They are wimps and afraid to ever cross the line from Political Correctness...and never will.
LLS
“and never will”.
We disagree on this point, and only “we the people” can get them to act as we desire. In the past, generally speaking, they do what the people demand, or what they think the people demand.
So, are you advocating we vote for Obayma?
” If you think we’re struggling because we don’t have enough government, then the Democrats are the party for you. If you think the point of government is to protect individual freedom, and the problem is it has gone way beyond that, then Republicans are the party for you.”
***********************
*********************************
And for those with a lik of sense, you already know gubmint (period) is the only problem—and it’s gubmint at the bottom of every woodpile!
Semper Ya Know What To Do!
******
In my book, the GOPe codified the greatest actual threat to individual liberty by enacting the Patriot Act in the aftermath of 9-11. Yes, it can be argued that the Act has protected us against terrorist attack. It can be argued that the activities sanctioned by the Act were being carried out in some form or fashion prior to 9-11. The danger is that the Act institutionalized domestic spying so that it has become the new normal.
“Just what have the Republicans ACTUALLY DONE to protect and, better yet, do anything other than spew hot air to actually do something in the name of action about anything?”
The only thing we need them to do - GET OUT OF THE WAY!
The Republicans are as big a threat to what is left of liberty in the USA as are the rats. Bush grew government almost as much as Obama and more than Clinton. Voting for either the R’s or the D’s will only get you more Socialism/Marxism. I chose neither and will vote 3rd party.
Yes. A lot of bullhorn. The distinction is not much better than between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks.
EPA? DHS? LOL.
The Republican party has become the beautiful house built many years ago that has now become an run-down shack in a blighted neighborhood. There is no good reason to even attempt to restore it back to what it was for it will continue to rot in the sea of political correctness along with graft and corruption.
You have to build a new house somewhere else and start over from scratch...and that means a new party to represent what’s left of true Americans before there are too few of us left to do so.
Amazing what happens when you get rid of a Naggin and Blanco...
I defend your right to vote for the candidate of your choosing.
Allow me to mention a few facts.
It is the democrats that have controlled the United States about 75% of the time since 1900.
That would make the democrats more responsible for where we are as a nation than Republican leadership.
Strong third party runs bring democrat leadership about 90% of the time.
Obayma for four more is the end of the United States.
Ours was a Creator-People-Government (life and rights are "endowed" by the Creator). Politicians of both parties have helped to obscure that underlying principle of our Constitution.
Now, we are close to allowing a Government-People arrangement to impose itself, despite our own Constitution's limits which, if enforced by "the People," who are the Constitution's "only KEEPERS" (Justice Story), they cannot do.
"Jobs" and the "economy" will take care of themselves if we have leaders who restore the Founders' formula for freedom. Parker is right on.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.