"The politics that swept him into the speakership were good for a midterm election; they're tough for governing." - Barack Obama (Press Conference 7/11/2011)
Tough for governing. Hmmmm.... What exactly does that mean? What exactly does "govern" mean?
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online:
Definition of GOVERN
transitive verb
1 a : to exercise continuous sovereign authority over; especially : to control and direct the making and administration of policy in b : to rule without sovereign power and usually without having the authority to determine basic policy
2 a archaic : manipulate b : to control the speed of (as a machine) especially by automatic means
3 a : to control, direct, or strongly influence the actions and conduct of b : to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over <income must="">govern expenditure> c : to hold in check : restrain</income>
4 : to require (a word) to be in a certain case
5 : to serve as a precedent or deciding principle for <customs that="">govern human decisions></customs>
In essence, in the context in which the president used the word, governing would seem to mean to control us, or to make the policies that would control us and our behavior.
Not to make too fine a point of it, Mr. President, but I'm pretty sure the American people don't really want to be governed. Our Constitution set up a framework within which we are supposed to be free to govern ourselves. What we really would like is for our government to leave us alone and allow us to do that.
Of course, to allow Americans some semblance of real self-government would mean back-tracking a lot of distance, in a whole lot of ways. It would mean that 545 people who currently do their work in Washington, D.C. would be required to relinquish a lot of power. It would mean allowing parents to make the decisions regarding their children's education. It would mean allowing adults to make their own decisions about whether or not they want to spend their money purchasing health care insurance. It would mean allowing working Americans to decide for themselves how and where they would like to invest their retirement funds.
It would mean too many changes in mindset to enumerate here, but you get the idea. Self-government doesn't mean voting for who you want to make decisions for you. It means making decisions for yourself, and living with the consequences of those decisions. The question is, will Washington (and the several states) allow us to do it? And, are we prepared for it?
Only time will tell.
**Blogger's note: This was written by Cheryl Thompson. A personal friend, reprinted with her permission**
Also trying to get her to start her own blog, so tell me what you think. :) Thank you!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
A government lesson from cows
I remember seeing this in Ann Landers' column years ago and I thought people might need reminding how different governments work.
Socialism: You have two cows. Give one cow to your neighbor.
Communism: You have two cows. Give both cows to the government, and they may give you some of the milk.
Fascism: You have two cows. You give all the milk to the government, and it sells it.
Nazism: You have two cows. The government shoots you and takes both cows.
Anarchism: You have two cows. Keep both of the cows, shoot the government agent and steal another cow.
Capitalism: You have two cows. Sell one cow and buy a bull.
Surrealism: You have two giraffes. The government taxes ever penny you get and then gives you a government grant from your own money, but only if you take harmonica lessons.
Which way would you like to live?
I came upon a new one with more detail. I think this explains a little better.
FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all of the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.
BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and put them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you need.
FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.
CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The government takes both of them and shoots you.
DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
PURE ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to take the cows and kill you.
LIBERTARIAN/ANARCHO-CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
Socialism: You have two cows. Give one cow to your neighbor.
Communism: You have two cows. Give both cows to the government, and they may give you some of the milk.
Fascism: You have two cows. You give all the milk to the government, and it sells it.
Nazism: You have two cows. The government shoots you and takes both cows.
Anarchism: You have two cows. Keep both of the cows, shoot the government agent and steal another cow.
Capitalism: You have two cows. Sell one cow and buy a bull.
Surrealism: You have two giraffes. The government taxes ever penny you get and then gives you a government grant from your own money, but only if you take harmonica lessons.
Which way would you like to live?
I came upon a new one with more detail. I think this explains a little better.
FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all of the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.
BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and put them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you need.
FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.
CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The government takes both of them and shoots you.
DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
PURE ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to take the cows and kill you.
LIBERTARIAN/ANARCHO-CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
Friday, July 8, 2011
My Latest Way of Thinking
Okay, go with me on this one. I want to bring back the love of competition back to America. So what I am suggesting is run America like a sports team. A winning franchise though. Like the New York Yankees under Steinbrenner or the Green Bay Packers under Lombardi. Then, on top of it, change our anthem to "We are the Champions" by Queen.
Think of the work that could get done. True hard workers & innovators would be the highest paid. Lazy workers & ne'er-do-wells live under the bridge. Yes, I know it sounds like what we have now, but trust me, this is better!
No more unions! No more fascist government!
The way I'm thinking, competition brings back pride. Not false pride either. The pride of a job well done. Living right. No cheating. (If caught cheating, the punishment will be cruel)
If you are no longer living the American way (you know, trying to take away others freedom), you will be traded to Europe. If you are traded & want to come back, you will be put on a waiting list. It might take 40-50 years for your name to get to the top of list.
That's my snippet for tonight. Tell me what you think.
Think of the work that could get done. True hard workers & innovators would be the highest paid. Lazy workers & ne'er-do-wells live under the bridge. Yes, I know it sounds like what we have now, but trust me, this is better!
No more unions! No more fascist government!
The way I'm thinking, competition brings back pride. Not false pride either. The pride of a job well done. Living right. No cheating. (If caught cheating, the punishment will be cruel)
If you are no longer living the American way (you know, trying to take away others freedom), you will be traded to Europe. If you are traded & want to come back, you will be put on a waiting list. It might take 40-50 years for your name to get to the top of list.
That's my snippet for tonight. Tell me what you think.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Spoiled American
That is me. I am a spoiled American. I am a 4th/5th generation American, depending on what family tree you follow. I was born in a land of freedom. I was born with the freedom that God, my creator, has given me.
I am spoiled in the fact that I am free to fail & to succeed. I am free to open a business. I am free to vote the way I want. I am free to work the job of my choosing. I am free to talk to anyone I want. I am free to own a gun. I am free to speak my mind.
That is such a short list of my freedoms. I am also a woman. I know in other countries I would not have these freedoms. I am not trapped in an abusive relationship because that is what is expected of me. I am able to be educated to the extent that I want to be.
I share all this because I know that if I become dependent on the government, these freedoms will go away. So I will do what I can to make sure I stay a spoiled American.
I am spoiled in the fact that I am free to fail & to succeed. I am free to open a business. I am free to vote the way I want. I am free to work the job of my choosing. I am free to talk to anyone I want. I am free to own a gun. I am free to speak my mind.
That is such a short list of my freedoms. I am also a woman. I know in other countries I would not have these freedoms. I am not trapped in an abusive relationship because that is what is expected of me. I am able to be educated to the extent that I want to be.
I share all this because I know that if I become dependent on the government, these freedoms will go away. So I will do what I can to make sure I stay a spoiled American.
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