Spirit of 1776, or 1917?

Recently, I was able to purchase a brand new radiator for my vehicle from an online retailer at an extremely discounted price over that of a “brick-and-mortar” auto parts store. All thanks to the competitive nature of capitalism, which favors consumers more often than not by organically self-regulating prices. According to President Obama, though, I should thank the government – because “if you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen.” Is that what he truly believes?

Nobody Else Made It Happen, Mr. President, by Rob Miller (American Thinker)

From this one statement, the president has shown his true socio-economic philosophy – and it is a socialist-leaning one. In his worldview, it was not the individual drive and entrepreneurial spirit of, by and for the people that crafted American exceptionalism; it was, and is, the government. Every business owner – from large corporations to small “mom-and-pop” shops (if they still exist) – should find concern in the economic policies of an administration that portrays itself as the purveyor of economic success. And yet, takes no responsibility for the failed ventures.

Was it not thirteen colonies composed of self-made men – from the daily laborers operating as blacksmiths and cobblers to the autonomous farmers and industrialists – who built the United States after breaking from a government that wished to control and regulate their commerce? Even in the last century, the Apollo Moon landings, though spearheaded by President Kennedy’s call to action, are still a prime example of private enterprise accomplishing great achievements that could not have occurred without the men and women who had the drive and spirit to make it happen.

“The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks...if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men.”

-Samuel Adams

When government believes itself king over the investment in ideas and innovation, it is time to hide the money under the mattress – because the politicians are coming for it. Not in the spirit of 1776, but in the spirit of 1917.

©2012 Steve Sagarra

Sweet November Rain Dance

The election showdown is pretty much set for later this year. Previously, I have endorsed two candidates from different parties who did not pan out. Given that track record, I will not go for a third at this time. Let us not forget, though, what this election – perhaps more so than any since before the Second World War – means for the nation. As “We, the People” celebrate the 236th year of our country’s “birth,” there is a polarized divide that threatens to tear it apart. While we have not reached the austere levels of other countries, there is, hyperbole aside, a tinderbox simmering underneath simply waiting for the proper spark to ignite it. No longer simply “Bleeding Kansas.” Just bleeding.

“Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” 

-Patrick Henry

The recent Supreme Court 5-4 decision upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) handed to the federal government one of the largest overreaches into the private affairs of American citizens in the nation’s history. While access to certain privileges is one thing (but not a “right”), governmental coercion that threatens “penalties” for non-compliance is tyranny. Yet, illegal aliens stream across the border everyday without question or consequence, benefiting from our benevolence while draining already-strained resources and taxpayer dollars. In Chief Justice John Roberts' Warren moment, will Obama thank former President Bush and the appointment of Roberts during his administration for the victory?

"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." 

-John Adams

Why did the Roman Empire fall? See the preceding paragraph. No longer able to sustain the defense of its borders, a continuous influx of foreigners – some who were once sworn enemies – and the weight of the burden they placed on the shrinking Empire fed its eventual collapse. Around the world, from Asia to the Americas, the same fate is true for almost all of the once great civilizations:  the inability to maintain their culture due to poor foresight by leadership in dealing with the unrestrained pressures thrust upon them. Is history repeating itself, or at least rhyming?

As a nation, we have treaded the precipice numerous times throughout our history. Will we again believe and aspire to what is, and can be, great about the United States, or reflect and mourn the glory that once was like so many past cultures and societies turned to ash by their own hubris? Happy birthday USA…let’s hope it will not be the last, or that history never forgets those who have unselfishly shaped, defended and sacrificed since that first “shot heard ‘round the world.” 

©2012 Steve Sagarra

The Apparent Affront of Conservatism

Political satirist and television host Bill Maher recently asked why conservatives are mad. Having already expounded upon some of the reasons in a previous post, allow me to again retort. At the core, it is the hypocrisy. Unlike his predecessor George W. Bush, President Barack Obama gets a pass at almost every turn from mainstream media and political lackeys on controversial policy. In particular, economic and foreign policy issues. Likewise, members of the Bush Administration constantly were held vociferously in contempt for alleged failings in their duties. Meantime, Obama’s current Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner, and Attorney General, Eric Holder, still have jobs, despite an abysmal record in their respective positions.

Domestically, the president’s fiscal policies are offered as beneficial to free-market capitalism, but are in actuality socialistic threats in implementation. President Bush was repeatedly lambasted for bailouts to Wall Street, even as it stemmed the tide from a worse crisis. Yet, the MSM-anointed Savior-in-Chief has been portrayed oppositely despite a larger, taxpayer-funded bailout – ironically, directed by Secretary Geithner, who, as the former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, had a direct role in the economic collapse in the first place – that did little more than to further bankrupt the country and expand, rather than limit, the role of government. From Obamacare to Solyndra, the Obama Administration has attempted to inject governmental control over every facet of the economy against every reasonable free-market principle. This has rendered little effect other than to undeniably increase government spending and impel rising prices as productivity and employment continue to plummet. No matter which of the varied reports on the economy one chooses to believe, there are also the taxes and so-called “reforms” that have hurt small business, entrepreneurial investment and genuine job creation at the worse possible time. Quite possibly prolonging the collapse, such measures have stifled any remedy for the nation's still-lingering economic ills. But, all of it is still – almost four years later – the fault of his predecessor. 

On the international scene, the Apologist-in-Chief cannot keep quiet enough in appeasement as our armed forces end combat operations notwithstanding continued threats against our existence. All of which has alienated allies and emboldened enemies, weakening our national defense and international clout that only a few years ago perched from a position of strength. As President Theodore Roosevelt said, “speak softly and carry a big stick.” (Or the Roddy Piper version – “I’m here to chew bubble gum and kick ass. And I’m all out of bubble gum.”) Then there are the questionable, if not unverifiable and unjustifiable, drone attacks against SUSPECTED terrorists. No body, no war crime? Yet, the Bush Administration still faces domestic and international inquisition for spying on and detaining KNOWN terrorists captured as enemy combatants in a war they started with us.

There is also the selective attack on the First Amendment, and the outright assault on the Second. Freedom of religion? Yeah, as long as you keep it to yourself and not be insensitive to other’s religious views…especially Islam. Don’t want to upset our enemies were trying to defeat through appeasement and strategic drone surgical strikes. Or better yet, just be an atheist. Even from the perspective of my self-professed, fence-sitting agnosticism, that way, in your higher-than-thou smugness, you can disparagingly infringe upon the religious views of others as an infringement on your chosen right not to believe. As for gun rights, lawful U.S. citizens have come under increasing governmental scrutiny and stricter regulation, even as Attorney General Holder continues to deny knowledge of, obstruct investigations into and not take responsibility for operations like “Fast and Furious” that put guns into the murderous hands of known drug cartels.

What are conservatives mad about? Though only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, succinctly it is liberals who apparently lack any understanding of American conservatism.

©2012 Steve Sagarra