What's Happening in D.C.?

What we see happening in Washington D.C. is a clear example of the principle that will destroy American prosperity warned by Scots Historian Professor Alexander Tyler, circa 1787, speaking about the fall of the Athenian Republic:

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse (generous gifts) from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."

Senator Ben Nelson agreed to vote for the Health Care bill when he was promised a forever exemption of an expected $45 million annual cost tied to expanding Medicaid programs.

Senator Mary Landrieu promised her vote in exchange for a $300 million medicaid deal for her state.

Senator Christopher Dodd wrote a provision to the bill to get $100 million for a new health care facility in his district.

That’s just the Health care Bill. The recent passage of a $363 billion, Defense Appropriations Bill included 1,729 earmarks worth more than $4 billion like $19 million for Ted Kennedy Institute. (What in the world does that have to do with Defense, and don’t the Kennedy’s have enough money to fund their own monuments? ) In addition, there are all kinds of social programs never requested by the Department of Defense.

The idea that the federal treasury is just one big pot of money for everyone to dip into to get what they can is an idea that will destroy our system and result in an eventual totalitarian takeover, the loss of liberty and ultimate bondage.

"The average age of the world's greatest civilization has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through this sequence. From bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance, from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependence, from dependence back into bondage."

I would say we're somewhere between apathy and dependence, and if the new health care plan becomes reality, we will be pushed one step further toward dependence before slipping ultimately into bondage.

What’s the answer? Our federal legislators must understand that their mission is not to get all they can for their constituents to insure their re-election, but to represent their constituents’ interests as they seek the good for the nation.
They must be motivated not by special interests but by the common good.
But it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks, so it is more reasonable to believe that the only real solution is to throw the bums out, as the saying goes.

However we must be clear in redefining the job description of legislators on every level of government. Our founders taught us that our representatives must rule in the fear of God, doing unto others only as they would have them do unto them. In other words, we need statesmen, not politicians.

We need a transfusion of legislators on every level. Let’s start in 2010. Get ready to vote out the present stock of self-centered politicians and replace them with whoever will run against them. Then let’s stay engaged to insure that we become, once again, “One Nation Under God” enjoying the peace and prosperity that comes with His blessing.

LESSONS FROM TIGER

Again, I found myself wanting to reach through the radio to strangle another commentator who was pontificating about the need to have a prenuptial agreement before marriage, citing the Tiger Woods incident as proof that you need to protect your own assets against predatory wives.

How far we have fallen when we think that the greatest transgression is marrying without a prenuptial agreement. What message are we sending to our young people? Are we saying that marriage won’t last so cover yourself for sure? Are we saying that you’ve got to look out for “number one?” Are we saying that marriage is no more than a business relationship? Well, apparently, these are precisely the messages we are sending when we forget that marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God to fulfill his purposes in the earth.

The problem is not the absence of a prenuptial contract, which is in fact, a pre-determined divorce- agreement. If marriage is reduced to a business contract –and it very well can be in this government “of the people”- then we will pass on to the next generation more social chaos and dysfunction than we have now! If you think the children of this generation are without vision or purpose, wait till the next!

We must not continue down this path of cultural narcissism where everyone just cares about themselves. But then again, it would be illogical to expect a culture without God to consider anything holy. So it must be up to the people of God, beginning with the clergy, to begin teaching the difference between the holy and the common (Leviticus 10:10). We must set the standard in our own marriages understanding that we are contagious. Others will catch what we have. They will be influenced by the way we esteem the holy institution of marriage. Let us be sure they are influenced in the right direction.

As we pray for Tiger Woods and his family, let us also be resolved to esteem even more highly the holy institution of marriage, beginning with our own, and impacting others around us, for His glory!

LESSONS FROM FDR ON PEARL HARBOR

President Roosevelt’s response to Pearl Harbor included these words:

"No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory...

We will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us."

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God."

Where is that fighting spirit today, and most importantly, the appeal to that God that has shed His grace on this nation?

It is God alone who raises up nations, and puts nations down. We need leadership that will be resolute in our mission, and surrendered to His sovereignty.

New York Stands for Traditional Marriage

The Marriage & Family Savers Institute commends the members of the New York State Senate who voted yesterday to defeat the Same-Sex Marriage bill by a vote of 38 to 24. It’s encouraging to see that there is still a modicum of sanity and common sense in our State Legislature.

Only one brave senator spoke on the floor to defend traditional marriage, a Pentecostal Minister, named Ruben Diaz. All the others who spoke on the floor spoke passionately about human interest stories and personal experiences, but conspicuously absent was any intelligent debate on the issue. Even those who attempted to quote our founding fathers, either misquoted them or quoted them out of context. One senator even attributed to Moses a teaching given by Jesus!

Though we are relieved that the institution of marriage is preserved for another season, it was disconcerting to observe the level of ignorance demonstrated in New York’s “Upper” house. It becomes apparent why New York was rated the most dysfunctional state government. This underscores the need to be actively involved in the political process, by concerned citizens, and the need to elect intelligent officials who understand the principles involved in preserving this “One Nation Under God.”