Warning: Rant Ahead

I was doing some fussing about the house today and spent quite a while in the living room, attempting to get all of the Christmas tree needles out of the carpet.  So I put on a dvd, randomly choosing an old favorite, The Ten Commandments.  This version has the entirety of the original movie, including an introduction by the producer, Cecil B. DeMille.  As he introduces the story of Moses, he states that it is the story of the birth of freedom, and that one must ask "...whether men are to be ruled by God's law or whether they are to be ruled by the whims of a dictator?  Are men the property of the state or are they free souls under God?"  

Yesterday in church part of the readings were: "Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie."

Well it struck me how these thoughts came together just after I'd started a fire with the stack of political advertisements that came in the mail.  It's only January, with a long eleven months until the actual election, but I can't turn on the tv or pick up the mail without being inundated with political ads.  You'd have to be living under a rock if you aren't aware that this is the year we, as a nation, choose a new president. 

Yes, I said new.  In my opinion, the current pretender in the White House is an incompetent with no right to be there, and it is my fervent hope that enough Americans have to come to that realization to put him out of a job.  Too many people have a naively child-like view of the government as a parent.  They choose to see it as a benevolent caretaker that won't let anything bad happen to us and will provide us all we need and they blindly vote for whoever promises to keep the handouts coming, which played directly into his hands.  I remember being astonished and sickened by a televised interview with a woman back in 2008.  She was in tears, she was so happy, and said she was thrilled to have Obama elected, since now she wouldn't have to worry about making her house payment or paying for groceries anymore, since he was going to take care of her.  And she was serious! 

Now I might be getting old and cranky, but I think that sort of attitude is foolish. Leaving aside, for now, the question of who is going to pay her bills if she doesn't, choosing to have the government take care of you is placing yourself at the whims of a dictator and declaring yourself the property of the state.  Blind adherence to any man, let alone one who makes empty promises is to be willingly being led astray by the lie.  If we allow our nation to continue down this path, it will collapse in on itself, like each of the great civilizations in history.  We're obviously already to the "bread and circuses" stage of the late Roman Empire; drowning in debt and suffering the ills of immorality and irresponsibility.  Making the necessary changes is going to be painful, costly, and difficult.   Especially since so many in government are there for the power and money, and they won't easily give that up.  But if we don't make the changes now, the outlook for our children is bleak. 

Here are my ideas for real "hope and change":

1.  This is America, the only nation founded on individual freedoms. Be proud, happy and thankful for it. 
2.  The federal government is limited to the functions described by the Constitution. 
3.  Strict term limits for all politicians at all levels, and they must be subject to the same rules as the rest of our citizens.  No special health benefits, no special taxation rates, no life-long pensions, etc. 
4.  Stop spending money we don't have, and no, don't just print more.
5. No lobbyists.
6. If you're new here, great - now speak English and pledge allegiance to America, or go back home.
7. Develop our own resources for energy and manufacturing.
8. Able-bodied people who choose not to work shall pick up road kill and sort recycled materials to earn food and lodging.

So that's my rant for today.  I'm not going to apologize for offending anyone.  I say what I think, and while I try to phrase things in a polite manner, I have no patience for wishy-washy political correctness.  I do hope that the self-reliant movement that I see as I read and study and talk to people will continue to grow, and that at some point the pendulum will swing back and America will grow and thrive and continue to be the best place to live.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray , and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."                     2 Chron. 7:14