Tuesday – December 14, 2010

Two America’s:

There are those that say America is a melting pot. There are those that say America is free and will never go the way of Europe. There are those that say America must change to make the world better. There are those that say the capitalist system should be altered to make it fair, so that others can compete. There are those that say some Americans should not be able to use the public airwaves to talk about conservatism.

There exist today two Americas. There is one side of America that is willing to give up their liberty for security. The other side of America can see that, if we do give up our liberties then, we become less secure.

Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge, Henry E. Hudson, ruled that the dominant framework of the President’s healthcare plan is unconstitutional. The ruling brings into question the ability of our government to compel any citizen to buy any product or a service and regulate the sale. The meaning of commerce and the freedom of any citizen to make this type of decision is a personal thing. It is what makes us free. In all likelihood Judge Hudson’s decision will make its way to the Supreme Court. If it does, then our basic freedoms will be put on trial.

Some in America think that the government can regulate these basic freedoms. The Constitution puts limits on the powers of government over the governed. Every time the government challenges our freedoms the courts are where we go for a decision. Every law and every American should be aware of each piece of legislation that is passed Congress.

Yesterday, another piece of legislation that was sponsored by the First Lady was made into law. After a few hours of debate, the vote for the legislative centerpiece of Mrs. Obama's “Let's Move!” Campaign was 264 to 157, reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Act through 2015. The bill is a priority for President Obama, as well as Mrs. Obama and Democrats had to overcome a last minute GOP stumbling block in order to get the legislation to the President's desk to be signed into law.

The measure significantly improves the quality of foods served in public schools, as well as expands the National School Lunch program. It also allows for the first increase in the federal reimbursement rate for school lunches since 1973.

This is probably a good thing. However, comments made by the First Lady puts into focus why there are two America’s. She said “we can’t leave what the kids eat up to the parents.” When government takes our choice away and we don’t question comments or look at the content then we surrender our rights. Every piece of legislation that passes both houses and ends up on the president’s desk for his signature have elements of robbing our freedom and liberties. In a perfect world the parents would feed their children and teach their children about good eating habits. This legislation doesn’t prohibit the first couple from dining on lobster every time they dine out.

This is not a perfect world and this why we have government taking away liberties for some so that other may have the security.

In the two America’s scenario the first hurdle in the passage of the extension of the Bush era tax cuts cleared the Senate and is now going to the House for debate and the vote. “This is an important shift and the White House should be applauded”, Mitch Mc Connell Senate Minority Leader, said after the President supported the extension and the bill. It is all about compromise on this claimed the president. Even after the President insisted up to about a month ago the Bush era tax cuts contributed to the economic meltdown. Either way the tax cuts are now being extended in an effort to help the other side of America, as some Democrats claim. They are not talking about the poor they are referring to the rich Wall Street crowd.

In the early days of our history the forefathers and the authors of the Constitution laid our restrictions and rules to legislate by. They never envisioned a two sided America that would either let government take our liberties away or give new rights to those that want the security.

On today’s date, the attack ensued on the arsenal at Fort William and Mary. I gave a brief history yesterday about the little known ride that Paul Revere made warning about other attacks by the British.

Throughout the year, in 1774, the people of Portsmouth and the vicinity shared in full measure the unrest that was felt throughout the whole country. Much sympathy was expressed for the people of Boston, and the populace was beginning to show signs of resisting the odious domination of the British ministry.

Few events in the history of New Hampshire have excited more interest or caused more controversy than the successful attack upon Fort William and Mary, in Portsmouth Harbor, on December 14, 1774; the removal of the powder contained in its magazine on the same afternoon; and the second capture of the fort, together with the small arms and other stores, on the night of the following day.

On the following day, Thursday, December 15, 1774, a party of men came from Durham to Portsmouth, and, that night, together with other citizens, under the leadership of John Sullivan, they again took the fort and carried off the lighter cannon and all of the small arms. On Friday, a party under command of Captain Nathaniel Folsom of Exeter came to Portsmouth and remained on guard all day; until in the afternoon, on the rising tide, the arms were sent up the river. They finally reached Durham; but only after many weary hours of cutting through the ice, which had just formed in the branch of the Piscataqua which leads up to that town.

I bring up this history because there were two sides in the Revolution. There were the British and there were men like the ones who knew that freedom does not come without a price.
Today, our freedom comes in the form of legislation and the cost of the legislation that is supposed to be aimed at helping all Americans. In the Healthcare debate and the expansion of the Commerce Clause the government would penalize you for inactivity in your purchase of their plan. This is no different from the populace that was beginning to show signs of resisting the odious domination of the British ministry. Legislation should remain limited in scope and it should be limited to what the population needs.

On this date, in 1793, the first state road was authorized to be built that connected Frankfort, Kentucky to Cincinnati. This landmark piece of legislation was enacted to help all the people and not divide the two sides of America between Frankfort and Cincinnati.

If we can get the government to pass legislation in the way they did in 1793, instead of the all the other type of legislation they passed in 2010 there would once again be one America that is dependant on each other, instead of government servicing the people that they choose.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: Government can work for the people if the people are allowed to work for themselves and help others to do the same.