03 November 2016

5 Days to Go, and a Reminder

Good morning, out there! (It's still morning here, as I begin typing this, but I'm aware that the only other place is Hawaii.)

Like most Alaskans living in Southcentral, I occasionally feel a trifle claustrophobic here in southcentral, knowing there's only one road in or out of town. We have to drive 7 hours to reach the state line and our nearest neighbor is the Yukon Territory. Unless you're willing to drive around the clock, it's a 3-day trip to Seattle, nearly 1400 miles away by road ... or 3 1/2 hours by air.

I do sometimes miss the ability to drive for an hour or two, and be with family ... but that's part of living here. You accept a certain isolation. No, life here in the population center of Alaska is not primitive, except perhaps by "BIG city standards." Anchorage hasn't been "frontier" for a few decades now, but we are on the edge of the frontier. It's not always for the faint of heart.

Up until just three or four years ago, we had Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and Costco. For the hunters, there was a locally-owned sporting goods store which has since gone out of business due to the owners' retirement, and Sportsman's Warehouse. And there was always Amazon.com and Cabelas.com.

In the last five years, we've gotten a Cabela's, a Bass Pro Shop, two new shopping centers with some BIG box stores, and a bunch of new restaurants ... national chains, too, rather than another mom-and-pop diner. Of course, we have plenty of those, too, and some are might fine. :)

None of this is a "woe is me" party - it's just part and parcel of living here, on a different part of the planet from the Lower 48 49. There is a prevailing sentiment here that we're barely a part of the U.S., being so far away from everything "down there." Much of the time, that's regarded as a good thing.

* * * * *

For today's post, I thought I would borrow part of a speech given by Dr. Donald May in Lubbock, Texas on 4/15/09. This was at a Tea Party rally, in the days before the The Stupid Republican Party co-opted the Tea Party, and destroyed its impact.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a time for courage.

"We are gathered here today on the plains of West Texas in common purpose. We are here to remind our government that this is our country, we the people are still in charge, and our government is still our servant and not our master.

"Our nation’s founding document is the Declaration of Independence. It tells us that our rights come from God and not from a small group of elite men and women.

"Our constitution starts with the words “We the People.” Our constitution was written for ordinary Americans like you and me. Our constitution protects us from our government and from the politicians.

"Our President has complained that our constitution gives ordinary people too much protection.

"He has ridiculed us for the high value we place on our Bibles, our guns, our personal property, and our liberty. He tells us we do not deserve to keep the money we have earned.

"We are told freedom has not worked. Personal responsibility, free enterprise, and liberty have not been effective. Our government will now make more of our decisions for us.

"Other than our military, I can think of not one government agency I have ever found to be helpful.

"And speaking of our military, how about those Navy Seals blowing the heads off those three terrorist pirates? Don’t you just wish our entire government would function with such efficiency, professionalism, and courage?

"We watch in disbelief as our beloved United States is weakened economically, militarily, and morally by a radical President and his eager accomplices.

"What has taken generations to build is systematically destroyed and replaced with the same socialist evil that brought poverty, destruction, and despair to untold hundreds of millions.

"The problems we face today have occurred because we have not defended our nation from socialism. For too long we have allowed the wrong people to make the worst possible decisions.

"The Bible warns us of class hatred. The radical leadership of our government daily fans the evil flames of class envy.

"Our European and Canadian friends beg us to not make the same socialist mistakes they did. The President of the European Union warned our President that his socialist economic plans are taking the World down the “road to Hell.”

"The path to power for socialists includes taking God and guns from the citizens. Without spiritual and physical protection, people cannot defend themselves and their liberty. They soon become slaves.

"We are angered that our President apologizes for the exceptionalism and heroism of the United States of America. We are deeply troubled he told others the United States is not a Christian nation.

"We are angered that we have been called cowards and racists because we oppose socialism. Socialism is not racial; socialism is an equal opportunity destroyer.

"We are angered that a recent Department of Homeland Security report has singled out our military men and women who are returning home as being radical threats.

"The report also characterizes you and me as right-wing extremists and radicals because we favor smaller government and lower taxes.

"You and I are average citizens who believe just like most of our fellow Americans. We want our government to leave us alone and to keep its hands off our money, our religion, or guns, our private property, and our lives.

"We demand that our government stop spending money it does not have.

"Stop confiscating our money and private property.

"Stop printing money.

"... Mr. President, stop appointing tax cheats to positions of power and influence.

"Mr. President, secure our borders.

"Mr. President, do not divert money from our missile defense, F-22 Raptors, and other vital military equipment. This gives encouragement, aid, and comfort to our enemies. Protecting us is your number one job.

"Mr. President, do not give voting rights to millions of illegal aliens and felons. You have no more right to create new voters for your benefit than you do to use our money to buy the 2010 and 2012 elections.

"We gather peacefully here today because there is a growing concern for what our government is doing to us and to our future. We fear for the very survival of our republic.

"Yet there is much to make us hopeful and to fill our hearts with optimism and courage. This is still our country!"

 And for the moment, it still is. But if you want four more years like the last eight, this time on steroids, then go ahead and support Mrs./First Lady/First Lady/Senator/Secretary Clinton.

Ask yourself what exactly she has to show for those years in the public spotlight, mostly on the public tab. Ask yourself what her qualifications are, and be honest with yourself.

Then vote not with your heart, nor with your head, but with BOTH.

Remember your love for this country, and remember what she has done (or not done, as the case is).

Then remember what the other candidate is promising: look at the people with whom he has surrounded himself. Look at the people he with whom he consults. Look at his advisors, his supporters ... and vote for the one who will try (with our help) to wrest control of this Nation from the hands of the international banking cartel and the United Nations. But I repeat myself.

If you can't vote for the man, then vote for the programs. And remember that the next President could replace as many as four of the Supreme Court Justices. We don't often get a time when a ballot effects a generational change in the soul of the country.

THIS is such a time.

6 comments:

drjim said...

I'm still a bit stunned at what one of my fellow crewmates on the Iowa said when Ted Cruz withdrew.

He said he was voting for Hillary because Trump scared him.

Let that sink in for a second or two.

Even Mark Levin, a Cruz supporter until the bitter end, has come to the realization that it's far more important to STOP Hillary than it is to fret about a Trump presidency.

Rev. Paul said...

Jim, I will never understand what passes for thought in a person like that. I don't mean to belittle the guy, but wow. Just wow.

drjim said...

He was a teacher for many years, so although he "kinda-sorta" considers himself conservative, the other teachers he worked with really did a number on him....

Rev. Paul said...

1 Corinthians 15:33 says, "Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”"

Ed Bonderenka said...

The never trumper's are a proud bunch and will not repent.

Rev. Paul said...

Probably so, Ed, but I wouldn't be obeying my mandate if I say nothing.