The last act:

Monday – December 13, 2010

The last act:

This week the administration will face two major issues.

They are:

Today, U.S. District Court Judge, Henry E. Hudson, will decide if the president’s plan for healthcare is constitutional or not. Judge Hudson decided to hear the case, because he said, “it literally forges new ground under the Commerce Clause.” At issue is the prospect that the government can regulate a person's decision to go without health insurance - under its constitutional authority to regulate interstate commerce. The new healthcare law requires all individuals to buy health insurance by 2014 or pay a fine. The government says under Obama care all citizens will still have the right to purchase their own healthcare plan, but if they do not insure themselves they will be fined, when it takes affect in 2014. Twelve other states have cases pending based on the constitutionality of the government’s plan

This week, we will continue the debate over the extension of the Bush era tax cuts. Remember, there are no new tax cuts. If the House passes the extension, nothing will change in the way of taxes. If the Democrats insist on voting against the president’s compromise, then everyone will have a tax hike come January 1, 2011. Last week, the President had Bill Clinton address the Washington Press corps. This was in an effort to bolster the president’s image among his disgruntled supporters. The question I have is: Why do Democrats go to the right when they are pressed on matters of the economy? The President is moving right, because he has to. Every Democrat knows that the economy is still fragile and that tax cuts and or an extension of the tax cuts will encourage economic growth. But they still insist on playing in the last act!

Regardless of the extension of the tax cuts, the business community is still not confidant in this president’s ability to lead and his ability to create jobs and grow the economy. Regardless of his ability to be president, he is now seen as someone who vacillates.

This month, I am writing about some of the historic American events that took place in the month of December. On todays date, in 1774, the first incident in the American Revolutionary War took place.

It was on the eve of the revolution that the Fort William and Mary played it’s most dramatic role in history. On December 13, 1774, Paul Revere rode from Boston with a message that the fort at Rhode Island had been dismantled and troops were coming to take over it. The following day, the drums beat to collect the Sons of Liberty and then 400 men from Portsmouth, Rye and New Castle raided the fort and removed 98 barrels (approximately 5 tons) of gun powder.

The next night, a small party, led by John Sullivan, carried off sixteen pieces of small cannon and military stores. This raid took place months before the incidents at Concord and Lexington, and was an important event in the chain of events leading to the revolution. Governor John Wentworth immediately sent to Boston for help. The sloop Canceaux arrived December 17, followed two days later by the frigate Scarborough. The latter had forty guns and carried one hundred British marines. This prevented further raids by the patriots, but produced a dangerous state of tension.

This state of tension carried on into the following year. By the summer of 1775, Governor Wentworth, with Lady Frances and their infant son, took refuge in the fort and lived there for two months in hope that a conflict would be avoided. Admiral Graves sent a transport, under the Falcon, to dismantle the fort and carry off the cannon to Boston. Finally, on August 24, 1775, the governor and his family sailed to Boston on the Scarborough. Wentworth made a brief visit a month later when, from the Isles of Shoals, he issued a proclamation discontinuing the assembly. This was the last act of royal authority in New Hampshire.

Paul Revere is still a symbol of what America is all about. He was an entrepreneur and a commercial visionary. He was involved in local politics and was considered a “blue collar type of guy”, according to Joel Miller, author of the “Revolutionary Paul Revere”. He was a retailer and craftsman. He was a citizen patriot. He was a printer and played a significant role, not only in pre revolutionary America, but also in post revolutionary America on through his death in 1818. He symbolized what commerce was in early America and fought against the taxes that King George was insistent upon placing on the early colonies.

Just as the last act of Royal Authority in New Hampshire occurred in 1775, we could be seeing the same thing occur today or this week. Our President could get a set back in his efforts over his healthcare legislation and the extension of the tax cuts. Just as the last act of Royal Authority occurred 235 years ago we could be seeing the last act of Pelosi. This week, we could be seeing the last efforts to re-create our way of life.

I can’t help but think that, if we had patriots today that were truly looking for independence like Revere, our modern day history would be a history of self direction and less government and that of creation instead of re-creation. Our leaders should be reminding us of what America is all about. Last week, the President said he still believes that the rich have a duty to pay more in taxes. There is no question that the rich have a duty. There is no question that people from time to time need help. There is no question that it is still possible to create a job rather than to just find a job. When people use our great history and our freedom to create then the people in need will get the help.

Just as our revolution helped create the country that would be known as that shinning city on a hill, it was because of American ingenuity and a spirit that created freedom and the liberty that we enjoy today. America will once again become that great shining city on that hill that some want to always try to re-create. We do not need a President or other leaders who want to re-create America, we need a President or other leaders who know how to carry on the tradition to create and preserve a strong America.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: We are once again leading up to the holiday season. It is time to enjoy all the blessings that we have as a country and as a free people. Reflect on some of the history that the month of December has brought to us and the world. Try to enjoy that history and in doing so you will preserve it.