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Name: Shane Driscoll
Location: Fort Myers , FL
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An Important Lesson

 

“Government is run by the people – who show up.”

 

Not too long ago my dad dropped this little nugget of wisdom on me and I’ve been thinking about it every since. It just seems like a “no-brainer”. I mean, duh, that’s what voting is all about, right? We show up, elect our officials, and move on with our lives (occasionally tuning in to cable news to watch the chaos we’ve created).

 

I understand now, that this is not at all what he was talking about. If he had added, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” it might have made more sense to me. Let me clarify…

 

How many times have you wondered, “My God! Is there anything these fools won’t protest or demonstrate about?” or “Seriously, do these people have jobs or lives?” The answers to the first question clearly seems to be – no. The answer to the second question is a little more disturbing. 

 

You see, these people (Liberals) seem to instinctively know some things that have escaped the average American.

 

·        If something is repeated often enough, it becomes the “truth”.

·        10 voices are louder than 1, and 1000 voices screaming while they should be at work are loud enough to make headlines.

·        The squeaky wheel does, in fact, get the grease.

·        The court system works much faster than the political system.  

·        Lawyers serve a purpose outside of joke fodder.

 

There are more that could be added to the list, but you get my point. 20 years ago while Americans shook their heads at what they were reading about or seeing on television, Liberals were “showing up” and they were actually accomplishing a lot.

 

You can track just about every “liberal” law in place today back to some goofy protest or demonstration you saw 10 or 20 years ago. Some that come to mind for me are:

·        Global Warming (and the 2 million “environmental” causes that go with it)

·        Pro Choice

·        Gun Control

·        Healthcare

·        (add your own)

 

Today the Liberals have figured out that if you want to accomplish something in short order, you just have to file a lawsuit.  The threat of the expense of a suit tends to make Americans not want to fight.  Whether or not the fight is right or wrong makes little difference if in the end you’re up to your ears in debt from legal fees.

 

Liberals “show up” and while their antics tend to annoy and even cause bouts of nausea, they are getting things done.

 

As painful as it may be, there is a lesson for Americans to learn here…

 

Government is run by the people – who show up.

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The "Fight"

 

So now what? After having almost two full months to deny our reality, today many Americans were reminded once again how close we are to socialism. I could write for days about Obama’s speech. I could pick it apart and attempt to get you to see just what a load of garbage he spewed forth today. However, I believe I’d be preaching to the choir and in the end, accomplishing very little. What I will do instead, is define what in my opinion, is the “fight” of our lives, and map out how we can win.

Let us first address the word “fight”. I put the word “fight” in quotes because at this point in time, it is more of an argument. I call it a “fight” because I’ve spoken to many people who have expressed a willingness to take it to that level. Many feel that this country is under siege and are feeling like there is no where else to turn. At least liberals have Canada and Western Europe to run to. Americans have no where to run. (No, that wasn’t a typo and I’ll address that later.)

This “fight” is no longer about Republicans and Democrats. This “fight” isn’t even about left and right anymore, as there will always be two sides to just about every issue and that is as it should be. This “fight” is about defending and re-establishing the American way of life. What no American can deny is that socialism is not American. When we’re hearing that “only government” can save the economy, we are, in fact, hearing that socialism is the solution. That is why I define the two sides as Americans and Liberals. At this time Liberals – not Democrats have taken control of this country and the outcome will be unacceptable to Americans.

A Democrat is not a Liberal. That needs to be stated clearly. The Democratic Party served a very important role in this country and they have been hi-jacked in much the same way the religious right was accused of hi-jacking the Republican Party. Looking out for the rights of Americans who don’t have the political or financial clout to look out for themselves is noble and is an undeniably huge part of what made the USA the greatest nation the world has ever seen. There was a time when the role of the Democratic Party was to do just that. 

Doing “good” feels very good and that can become addictive. I think any half decent human can concede that point. We all love being loved. It is in our nature. Doing good for others earns love and admiration. Can any of us get enough of that? For many the answer is yes. We’re able to fill that void in other ways. But what happens when there is no filling that void? What happens when that void is so large that you can’t fill it by helping a few people? Do you then believe you must help everyone – whether they need it or not? Why stop at people? What about animals? Trees? Perhaps you can only fill that void when you’ve saved the planet? For most of us logic dictates that you can’t save everyone which is a very important point – most of us, including Democrats, are not liberals.

This defines the “fight” and defines who is “fighting”.  Now, let’s address not only how Americans can win, but in my opinion, the only way we can win.

It is time for Americans to once again rise to the occasion as we have so many times in our nation’s amazing history. The task is formidable, but is incredibly simple. Sometimes I think that its simplicity makes people believe it could never work. It can work. And it will work. It has to work because the consequences are unacceptable. 

I know that at this time Republicans and conservatives are spending most of their efforts on figuring out what the next step needs to be, how to craft a better message, and how to win an election. I honestly believe that these efforts are spent in vain, as the one thing the Republican Party has made clear (ironically) is its inability to communicate to Americans. 

Again, this “fight” is not about Republicans and Democrats. It is about Americans and Liberals. The questions and discussions must revolve around these two things. Associating with either Party is secondary to associating with being either American or Liberal. What role do you want government to play in your life? Is it up to you to make the most of your life regardless of the obstacles? Or, is it up to the government to remove the obstacles for you? At the end of the day, who owns you?

 

I believe this question, and ultimately the answer, will determine who wins the “fight”. We cannot continue down the path of debating the merits of either political party. It is time to change the rhetoric of the debate and more importantly it is time to change the mindset of its participants.

“Solutions” are irrelevant if they are implemented by a political system that believes it owns its electorate (as we have today). Americans believe that the only person they own is themselves. We do not take on ownership of another. Do we help? We sure do – when we can. 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina come to mind as examples. What Americans don’t do, is take ownership of another American. That has been known to cause wars in this country, right? Liberals are all too quick to take ownership.

It will be up to Americans to have this conversation with Americans, whether Republican or Democrat. It will be up to Americans to make sure there is a clear distinction between Americans and Liberals. Blue collar Americans are not liberals. Black Americans are not liberals. Hispanic Americans are not liberals. Immigrants are not liberals. The elderly are not liberals.

In the end, no political party is going to save America. In the end, the government is not going to save the economy. In the end, Americans will once again rise to the occasion and take ownership of their own futures because the consequence means the end of America.

The solution lies in changing the debate. It starts at the kitchen table and ends in Washington.

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Less Talk - More Action

The title of this blog says it all, doesn't it?  The GOP has had a consistent message for as long as I can remember.  Less government, lower taxes, and taking personal responsibility have been staples of the message for years.  The problem is that these things are easy to say, but something supernatural must happen when the folks (who are supposed to embody and practice these principles) go to Washington D.C.  Somehow their words become just that - words.  There is minimal, if any (2000-2006) adherence to conservative principles once GOP representation gets to Washington.
 
There are a lot people wondering why.  Most of them are voters who have given the GOP their trust (and funds).  These folks deserve answers.  Why aren't we hearing them?  Is there anyone in the GOP willing to be accountable for the impotency of the Party? 
 
I would submit that while the answers to these questions would be nice, they are less important than the solution.  Action.  We are at a point where talk is cheap and unless the principles of the GOP start to be aggressively represented in Washington, not much the GOP stands for will matter anyway.
 
It is time for new blood, a new vision, and action to go along with the GOP message.  Incumbent Republican politicians need to start paying attention.  The future threat to their job security will not only be coming from the left.  In the immortal words of the greatest US President of the 20th century - "When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat." - Ronald Reagan
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