tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14255459048164888182024-03-13T06:33:48.407-06:00Give US LibertyWhy stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? 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 HenryTravishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-40204427314299443662009-07-16T16:33:00.003-06:002009-07-16T16:43:30.792-06:00In the mail it came...My father-in-law Roland knows my political feelings and is a follower of this blog. For my recent birthday he decided to get me a great present that will give the whole year long: a membership in the NRA. You heard it here, I am now a card carrying member of the NRA. While I am not a huge fan of the entire issue of lobbying in the United States I do believe that this group serves an awesome purpose of defending one of the fundamental and most misunderstood rights given to us by the Constitution. After all, the main reason that we have the second amendment is to protect ourselves from our government. Had the King taken away the rights of colonists to have their arms, they would not have been able to take charge of their freedom. For that reason we are given that right. I always remember the adage that a people should not fear their government but a government should fear its people. The more people that belong to the NRA and support what it does, the more difficult it becomes for the government to take away that right.<br />A big thanks to my father-in-law for helping me to be a part of that.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-25968189334467331622009-04-20T10:57:00.002-06:002009-04-20T11:23:16.931-06:00Imminent?There is now the possibility that real change might be coming to our wonderful nation. <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30277540">President Barack Obama announced last week that he will cut dozens of programs</a> in an effort to "restore fiscal accountability to the federal budget." He has also said that there will be no favorites that will be spared scrutiny. I believe that this will happen during a special cabinet meeting where officials will be required to give report on the programs they watch over. If any of these are found to be lacking in purpose of not worth the money being spent, they will go down the tube. Fabulous...<br />...if it actually happens. I really hope that the current administration is serious about this. I know that he says there will be no "<a href="http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/309250.html">sacred cows</a>" as he calls them, though I doubt he really would cut some of the larger departments that are mismanaging their funds and lack importance. I am quite interested to see the outcome of this call for fiscal responsibility.<br /><br />Perhaps what intrigues me more and causes me a bit of cynicism is that this announcement came directly following the controversy concerning the President's upcoming budget. The proposed budget was, I believe, even larger than previous President George Bush's which drew much criticism from Democrats. Interesting that they are not in an uproar about even more money being spent by one of their own. It seems to me that President Obama made this announcement only in response to the budget controversy and not because he really wanted to do it. The budget was a test to see if people were really paying attention or if they were still just so excited to have a charismatic, and (as much as I'd like it not to be an issue it still is) black president. This has proven to the administration that ctizens are still watching closely. We've been offered the promise of Change, and we want it. Even if it is not the same change I personally desire, the people want change and so far have been offered nothing. i really do hope that the President and cabinet do take the opportunity to effect some real change and help restore the confidence American citizens should be able to have in their elected officials.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-12826300078797336252009-04-12T13:15:00.002-06:002009-04-12T14:01:56.377-06:00Proof...it would and will get doneMost people that find out my political beliefs and my strong disgust for current government practices usually try to give me some reasons why they think I am wrong. I welcome this to an extent as I fiercely believe that everyone should have the right to express their feelings and that we gain something interesting from every interaction with another intelligent person. Most of the time my beliefs are not changed since I have run the gamut when it comes to political convictions. Some might find it interesting to know that I once favored systems such as socialism and communism in theory, while still believing their earthly forms to be severely flawed. Over the past couple of years my research and love of politics and this country have led me to solidify my beliefs behind the standard of the Constitution, a place from which it most likely will never stray. For this reason I feel compelled to communicate calmly and openly about my views so that others can begin to understand what can be a better political philosophy. Sometimes however I need a little vindication and it comes in the following form.<br />One of the main reasons that people always give me for needing government intervention in our lives is that things would not get done were it not for the government. I almost always will respond to this by saying that is not true and professing my optimism towards people in general. I have had no concrete examples of man vs. government to share until now. Recently during my daily news search on CNN I came across <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/09/hawaii.volunteers.repair/index.html">this article</a> out of Hawaii. I hope you all read it but I will briefly relate here what it says. It seems that a road was washed out that provided entrance to a State Park. Since building roads is government territory the plan was laid to rebuild the road. It was revealed that the funding was lacking and that the project would probably not take place for at least two years. Several businesses relied on the road being open and feared bankruptcy inevitable. The government did nothing to help them. They were going to lose their investments and be forced to close down. Is that what happened? If so, I would have nothing to write about. The people who relied on this road united in a common cause and did the work that the government could not. They fixed the road and did it in 8 days with no government money. Even had the funds been available it assuredly would have taken much longer than 8 days to finish the project. Plus I am sure that the price tag at the end of the 8 days was much less than the $4 million price tag that the government had placed on it.<br />This is the kind of example I am looking for. The government need not interfere in most aspects of our lives as we possess that ability to do it ourselves and should be given that chance. Private companies and individuals could complete every task the government does for much less money and in much less time, not to mention that personal fulfillment of each individual who knows they helped complete something worthwhile. We can do it without the government and in fact were meant to be in charge of our own lives. If you doubt that, read the Constitution again.<br /><br />PS. I hope people realized that my previous post about the Constitution being figuratively thrown in the trash was written in jest since it was April Fool's Day. I hope that everyone also realizes that that is the way our country is going. We must cling to and fight for our rights and beliefs. The founding fathers knew what they were doing and left us a legacy to uphold.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-41664202626953402782009-04-01T08:19:00.002-06:002009-04-01T08:29:10.952-06:00Entire Constitution RepealedThis has been coming for a long time, slowly but surely. It is one of the most feared things in all of the political world in my mind. It appears that sometime today, the powers that be will call for a special session to ask for the complete divorce of the government from the Constitution. Sources also say that this measure is expected to pass now that the majority of lawmakers follow are in line with the president's form of socialistic rule. Could this really be the end as we know it? I for one, insanely fear what might happen tomorrow if this passes. The ramifications would be horrendous and throw our country into turmoil. I can only pray that those who can make a difference will. The era of big government will only get bigger and soon the government will be controling every aspect of our lives, from the school we attend - to the job we can get and how much money we bring home - to the ways we can worship with our family - to the revoking of all privacy and free speech laws - and the right to purchase the means of protecting ourselves from intruder and intruding government. I fear for what will happen tomorrow.<br /><br />Ever the optimist, I wish everyone a wonderful and fearful April the first.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-41750016331579226282009-03-06T08:44:00.002-07:002009-03-06T09:30:43.609-07:00StimulationOver the past few months it seems that everyone is talking about the economy and asking the question, "What can be done?" During these months, the government has taken responsibility for the problem and passed a bill that will use almost a trillion dollars of tax-payer money in an attempt to stimulate the economy. Given my firm belief in the free-market, I am doubtful that this form of stimulation will have any effect on our everyday lives except for putting us one step closer on our way to a socialistic society. Popular press has joined in the misinformation by publishing articles that praise the temporary effects of government intervention. <a href="http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1883418,00.html?cnn=yes">This sort of ink</a> will no doubt lead to more people having an unfounded faith in bigger government.<br />What does the free-market say to do to save our economy? I found <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/06/romney.stimulus/index.html">this article published on CNN</a> as a commentary by Mitt Romney. I believe that had he run on these principles he would have made more headway with conservative voters and those that believe in the government our founders set up. His main point is that using the government and tax money to stimulate the economy will do nothing but stimulate the government which is already bloated. The number one thing that Romney advocates is cutting taxes to stimulate. These won't be your normal tax cuts, but the drastic ones that most government officials cringe at the mention of. What could be better for the economy than for Americans to suddenly have 25% more income? That's more money for consumers to use on things they need and want. This could mean the abolition of the income tax. I'll allow a second for the collective gasp at what I just said.<br />Some will inevitably say, "What will the government use to function if they don't have the income tax?" Truth be told, the income tax does little by way of making our government run. That also happens to be number two on Romney's list: belt-tightening in Washington. Who would actually say they think the government should spend more money? No one. Government should be held accountable for the money they use and need to cut back a little. Were they to do that, they would have absolutely no need for the income tax anyway, not to mention the money they would save from not paying the IRS and handling tax refunds.<br />I realize that this debate could go on forever...and will. Please comment if you have something to say. I am continuously learning about economics and am always on the lookout for more knowledge on the subject. I completely agree with Romney that if we are to stimulate the economy it must be done outside of government control or it will do nothing but make government larger which will only prolong our pain.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-33249927594408522992009-03-06T07:24:00.004-07:002009-03-06T08:24:52.359-07:00I can't help myself...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_efa4vkkd2VA/SbFAHArfImI/AAAAAAAAABI/r534Bj4WhrU/s1600-h/constitution_quill_pen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_efa4vkkd2VA/SbFAHArfImI/AAAAAAAAABI/r534Bj4WhrU/s320/constitution_quill_pen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310095924832182882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This next week during my spring break, my family and I are traveling to a place I've longed to go for some time now. We will be visiting Washington DC. I am extremely excited because we will get to see all the sights, monuments, museums, etc. Walking in places where excellent men and women trying their best to establish and serve a country meant for freedom and awesome things. N0 matter my thoughts or rants about current political practices, next week I will almost certainly be in a never ending state of euphoria, punctuated by the fact that I get to share it with my family. No doubt, my little daughter will know that we are in an important place.<br />There is one thing that sets this trip above almost anything else that we could be otherwise doing...the National Archives. We will be able to see the original Constitution of the United States of America. As I sit here writing this I find myself fighting back tears as I find myself every time I hear the document well referenced in the past year or so. Trying to prepare myself for that moment is proving difficult as I am not sure how I will react. I'm not sure that sobbing quietly in the National Archives is allowed. I guess we will find out.<br />The more that I have been thinking about the Constitution and what it means to me and my life I've been pondering what it means to live as one devoted to the Constitution. I know that most members of the government take oaths to defend the Constitution but I feel that most don't have any clue what that means. I recently came across an article by Chuck Baldwin, the 2008 Constitutionalist party candidate for President. He, in Jeff Foxworthy-like style, shares his thoughts on the matter as <a href="http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin213.htm">You Might Be a Constitutionalist If...</a><br />Here is some of what he says.<br /><br /><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">1. You might be a Constitutionalist if you believe that elected leaders should really obey the U.S. Constitution. </span> </p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">2. You might be a Constitutionalist if you believe that before the United States invades and occupies another country, Congress must first declare war. </span> </p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">3. You might be a Constitutionalist if you believe the federal government should live within its means, like everyone else is forced to do. </span> </p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">4. You might be a Constitutionalist if you think that taking away people's liberties in the name of security is neither patriotic nor does it make the country more secure. </span> </p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">5. You might be a Constitutionalist if you would like to see politicians be forced to abide by the same laws they make everyone else submit to. </span> </p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">6. You might be a Constitutionalist if you understand that we have three coequal branches of government that are supposed to hold each other in check and balance.<br /></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">The rest of the <a href="http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin213.htm">article can be found here</a> and I believe he does an excellent job of examining the Constitution and enumerating its precepts. I hope you will all take the time to read the article and the Constitution for that matter, if for no other reason than it is of importance to me.<br /></span> </p>Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-3561444036406404162009-01-13T06:58:00.002-07:002009-01-13T07:35:06.130-07:00Government Spending, Rhetoric, and Porn, Oh My!Recently I've seen some pretty upsetting things come up in the media that I wanted to expand my thoughts on. The first of those is <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28538966">this article</a> found on MSNBC. The main thrust of the article is that Obama realizes that the debt is huge and growing, but that he is going to put us more in debt to "stimulate the economy". We should all be grateful though because he isn't going to spend the $1 trillion some analysts told him to spend, instead the bill will only be around $800 billion. I always find government price tags to be of extremely questionable integrity. The good of the article is that the President-Elect does acknowledge that there is a problem with the mounting debt. I do hope to see the government do something to tackle to problem, though I doubt that a stimulus plan will help either the economy or the debt.<br /><br />Those who loved the sound of much of what Obama said during his campaign should love this next tidbit. Sometimes I don't think politicians realize the power they hold over the American public, particularly the ones in high profile positions such as Presidential candidates. Some would probably find it odd that people voted for them based on the campaign promises that they made. "I want to be realistic here," Obama said in an interview that aired Sunday on ABC's "This Week." "Not everything that we talked about during the campaign are we going to be able to do on the pace that we had hoped." I would hope that would cause some doubt among his followers. He promised to do something and now is saying it can't be done in the timeframe he desired. The reality is that most of it will never be accomplished. Politicians should choose realistic goals instead of overinflated ones that will get them elected.<br /><br />The last thing I hoped to mention here is just an interesting thought that should make Americans a little more leary of the economic bailouts that are being doled out like halloween candy. <a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/economy/adult-entertainment-industry-wants-bailout/">This article</a> lets us know that another industry is searching for a bailout, I would assume more for the reason that "everyone else is doing it". The Porn makers of the US want a handout as well. To most Americans this will hopefully illustrate the futility and idiocy of handing out taxpayer dollars, mind you those taxpayers are not buying the products offered by those companies in the first place, to save companies the government feels needs saving.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-27248270320168694412009-01-03T06:47:00.002-07:002009-01-03T07:26:14.056-07:00What does it really cost?So over the past month the Obama transition team has done nothing surprising to me keeping to their own for appointments to cabinet positions. All of that does not bode well for the battle cry of "Change". If you choose the people we all knew you would choose, we're not going to believe that something different is coming. I've already talked about my feelings on his pick for Secretary of State so we can move on.<br />Recently my wife and I began to talk about the inaguration that is forthcoming. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this one. Obama has chosen to be sworn in on the Lincoln Bible which is perhaps an interesting commentary on the beginning of rights for blacks in this country. Then he chose Rick Warren to give the invocation and all hell broke loose. This might be the first sign of change in the administration, though the though did cross my mind that he might have just wanted someone famous to do it. For those who do not know Warren he is an uber-conservative pastor of his own church that he started from the ground up a while ago. He is incredibly popular, even hosting one of the presidential debates during the campaign. So, why is an ultra-liberal asking an uber-conservative to pray at his inaguration? I mean, it's his party, he can do whatever he wants. He either thought it a good move to get conservatives to watch the celebration, or it might even be an attempt to get conservatives to like him more. Or with my previous theory of it being a quick choice of someone famous. Who knows, but we will see what happens here soon.<br />The other big issue surrounding the swearing in of Barack Obama as President of the United States is the price tag on the party. Originally the budget was set at 15 million dollars, which I thought was outlandish, but then again I am used to the government putting a huge markup on all they do. Then came the real kicker for me when Congress was asked for 15 million more!!!! Now, even if this is a historic event, to which more people than normal are going to come. And even with the need for more police and public transportation. Can we not throw a party for the incoming president with less than 30 million? Why the inflated price tag? It reminds me of the stimulus packages where the bill was such that if you split it up equally for every tax-paying adult in the nation it came to something over 100 thousand dollars and instead each person got less than a thousand. Where does all that extra money go? Is our government really that inefficient? Then should follow the question, if our government is so inefficient, why do we let it continue to be so? It is not the only way and can be changed with a little concern and effort on our part.<br />So beyond the Saddleback controversy and whether Warren will pray in the name of Jesus Christ, there is still not much to inspire confidence in change with the Obama presidency. If I am missing something, please let me know as I would be happy to post something that proves myself wrong.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-6994286219139463772008-12-01T19:01:00.002-07:002008-12-01T19:13:07.494-07:00Here it comes...I've held off writing anything about the new developments in the life of the President-Elect until now. I thought that I should write considering the new incoming Secretary of State. I found it very interesting that many thought of putting an Obama-Clinton ticket together. It seemed like a doomed idea to put two people who thoroughly trashed each other in the primaries together on the same bill. One of the things that Obama specifically attacked was the foreign policy experience of his former opponent. So now that is going to be her business in the new American government. I know that I am not fond of Obama, something everyone is aware of, but I am not even having to try to find this a poor choice. Anyone else have thoughts on this matter and/or any other of Obama's appointments?Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-17272979219869037522008-11-12T16:38:00.002-07:002008-11-12T16:45:48.922-07:00The United States is ready for Change!That word. Oh, how I have come to loath that word during this election. It is not that I do not believe that change is a good thing. Nor is it that I don't believe that change can come from someone who I fundamentally disagree with. My main issue is that it was thrown around with reckless abandon and was never accompanied by a clear plan to actually evoke change in this country.<br />So, while I congratulate Barack Obama on an excellent rhetorically driven campaign, I remain sceptical as to any real change occuring in our nation.<br />Many find that with the elections over, there is no reason to continue to follow politics. It is the lull between elections. I highly disagree. I plan to look for that "change". It may happen and I hope that people pay attention to it.<br /><br />I also hope to begin a series of posts about the Constitution. As I am doing my own research, I plan to write about my findings here to give people a better idea of why I am so enamored with a document written over 200 years ago. I also welcome suggestions for posts that people would like to get my take on. I am very good at sharing my opinion as you all know.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-11388733241383351972008-11-04T07:32:00.001-07:002008-11-04T07:40:24.337-07:00Today is the day!!!!!!Just wanted to make one more appeal to reason. Today is election day. Get out and vote. That is one of the most important things that you can do as an American citizen. Even better, take a pocket copy of the Constitution with you to read while you wait in line. Then vote what you believe, not what others want you to believe. Don't vote for someone you don't agree with, or vote for someone just to keep another person out of office. Vote what you believe. That is all that is required of us on this magnificent day!!Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-54285013254406130952008-10-29T12:45:00.002-06:002008-10-29T12:50:11.626-06:00Less than a week...Everyone is writing about this. We've got less than a week to go till the 2008 elections. I just want to say that it doesn't look good for the Constitution. Our founding document is being totally ignored and in some cases thrown in the dirt. The principles in the Constitution are sound, simple, and true. Not to mention that they can save our country.<br />I really just wanted to tell everyone out there that has not voted early to take the next week and really think about this. Read the Constitution and decide where you want our country to go. And as always, vote your beliefs, not your party...they probably aren't the same thing.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-8618654822476415972008-10-27T12:00:00.002-06:002008-10-27T12:03:02.634-06:00Interesting ExperimentI found this while reading the Constitution Club, and while I do not agree with some things they say I thought this an interesting piece that needed to be passed on. It particularly attacks Obama but I believe that all government is responsible for this at the present time.<br /><br />"Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read “Vote Obama, I need the money.”<br /><blockquote><p> I laughed.</p> <p>Once in the restaurant my server had on an “Obama 08″ tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference–just imagine the coincidence.</p> <p>When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need–the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.</p> <p>I went outside, gave the homeless guy $5 and told him to thank the server inside as I’ve decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.</p> <p>At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient needed money more.</p> <p>I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application."</p><p><br /></p><p>Any thoughts?<br /></p></blockquote>Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-26249939798437222122008-10-21T07:53:00.002-06:002008-10-21T08:23:17.063-06:00This should not be this way...As the election nears and more and more people are getting into the fervor that comes with the campaigning, I am becoming more opinionated as well. I turned to CNN.com for some news this morning to see what kind of junk they were going to post. To my delight there was something of value there that I can use to make a point.<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/21/america.poll/index.html">CNN reports</a> that a new poll (done by a CNN research group) says that 75% of Americans believe things are going badly in our country. The same poll says that again 75% of Americans are angry about the situation in our country. It drops to 66% that say they are scared about the way things are going and 75% that are worried or stressed.<br />We try endlessly to lay blame...that is all this election has been about for the two major parties. McCain did this, Obama did that, Bush did this...and all of that led to our problems. This poll should lead us to a revelation of sorts, which is that the blame belongs on both sides of the aisle. Big G Government is to blame. McCain and Obama are to blame. Bush is to blame. Every president for the last 100 years is to blame.<br />If you found that to be harsh, I don't care anymore. The government as it stand right now with the Republicans and the Democrats in charge will not, let me emphasize that, WILL NOT solve your problems. Government intervention will not solve our problems. It WILL NOT help us.<br />I'm making a plea as we get down to the wire. If you value your freedoms as an American, VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE this election.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-89870225234062923552008-10-20T13:01:00.002-06:002008-10-20T13:06:12.186-06:00Old Dead White GuysI'm interested in finding out why Americans don't spend more time focused on the Founding Fathers and their writings. I have always had an innate desire to be political and to know how my government should and does work, so I guess I just don't get it.<br />I can only come up with several arguments. First, they are a bunch of old dead white guys. Second, they lived in a different time with different problems. And Third, I am just passive and don't care who runs my country or what they do to me. Those are all I can come up with, all of which I have sharp rebuttals to, but that for another time.<br />What other reasons are there? I would love to hear input on this.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-85429908390068726982008-10-17T19:31:00.003-06:002008-10-17T19:48:30.974-06:00My RootsAn e-mail from a friend reminded me of the roots of this blog. One day I came across one of my favorite speeches given by Patrick Henry. The speech talks of Liberty and Freedom, with the familiar phrase of "Give me Liberty, or give me Death." The meaning of this phrase has been mostly forgotten. It is now utilized in rather pathetic attempts to relate to the founding of our country. Our Founding Fathers fought for the Freedom of our country from oppressive and controlling government. They desired that their children and all who would come here would be free to choose how to live. They wanted the federal government to be small and take care only of the things that the States either could not handle or issues that superseded States' rights. They desired a President who would have minimal power and act as head of state, not as a legislator.<br />Where are we now? Can we even see that kind of Freedom? Can we even dream of it? I hope the answer to the last question is a resounding 'Yes'. I hope that people still desire to have their own choice matter. I hope that every American citizen will take the time to read the Constitution and think about the government that was initially instituted in this nation.<br />We can solve our problems. It is not through more government intervention. It is through the freedom of choice and the electing of leaders who will work for our benefit. I believe that Patrick Henry, along with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and every other patriot of this country's founding would be angry with our current leaders for corrupting the system they created.<br />So, with election day rapidly approaching, and nothing of real value being said or accomplished, I urge everyone to study this out. We've still got the power to change things for the better, but we need to be willing to fight for our rights. And so I say again, reminded of the reason for the founding of this blog, 'Why stand we here idle'? Let's regain our glory.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-73579204037352654522008-09-17T10:24:00.003-06:002008-09-17T10:33:53.659-06:00Constitution Day...How do we celebrate that?Today is September the 17th, otherwise known as Constitution Day here in the United States of America. I am quite excited and my wife is getting sick of me talking to her about it. What a fabulous and under-noticed day here in the US of A. I plan to do a few more blogs on the topic and make sure that I give my pocket copy a good reading. I highly suggest that everyone takes the time to read the Constitution today. I know that most people have either never read it, or perhaps were forced to read it once in school and payed little or no attention to it. This is the founding document of our nation that spells out how our government is supposed to run. Take the time today to read it.<br />Here is a link to the <a href="http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html">full text</a>.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-11122312975884593482008-09-11T10:21:00.002-06:002008-09-11T10:38:18.056-06:00Fannie and Freddie, the doomed American coupleThis has been a huge part of the news cycle for the past few weeks. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been in trouble and the government is going to step in and help. The official word for their plan of action is a "bail-out". Within the last few days the situation has worsened and the government has "taken over" the helm of these two giants. The cost of this government help is unknown but is speculated to be in the billions. Lest we forget, the government has no money in and of itself. All of the money the government has comes from the people. To put this bluntly, our money, your money is going to bail-out other people from their own foolish decisions.<br />My problem with this comes from the issue of accountability. Am I, are you, or should we, be held accountable for the mistakes of others? If your neighbor makes a bad decision, should you be punished for it? That is the question that I put to everyone. Or do I have it all wrong? Please comment and tell me your feelings.<br /><br />As a side note, the two main political candidates are in support of this course of action, so if you are not, shop elsewhere this election.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-42316749033430764642008-09-11T10:16:00.002-06:002008-09-11T10:21:00.066-06:00More to come...I must apologize for my absence. I recently moved to the great state of Ohio to continue my education. While my education will focus on things of a political nature, my background is not in my current field, and so I am playing catch-up and have had no time to keep up with this blog. This is a shame since so many things have happened in the past few weeks that deserve my attention here. I promise that I will give each of these things the scrutiny they deserve.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-455694756964839342008-07-23T07:52:00.002-06:002008-07-23T07:55:07.956-06:00The Founders' Point of ViewDo we ever stop and think about the Founders and what they were trying to do when they penned and fought for the Constitution? As I was reading some blogs today, <a href="http://americanhistorypastandpresent.blogspot.com/2008/06/our-founders-were-suspicous-of.html">I found this blog written by a History professor about the Founders and their idea of the presidency</a>, which is shown in the Constitution. I urge everyone to read it.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-75515038558513948612008-07-22T12:30:00.002-06:002008-07-22T12:43:17.205-06:00Europe can be beautiful this time of year....I love Europe. It is an amazing place. Old buildings that are gorgeous and have history engrained in the smallest stone or carving. The food is amazing and the people are intriguing. The one thing that I have never fully accepted is the politics. Government run health care. Socialized business practices. High taxes. Lots of government control. Just isn't my thing.<br />Well today as I was reading through the news, I found an <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Support_Obama_europe/2008/05/30/100156.html">intereting poll </a>that should have great resounding through American politics. The poll of over 6,000 people from several important European countries (Britain, Germany, Italy, France and Russia) showed that between 50% and 75% of the people would vote for Obama in the upcoming election if they could.<br />Now, I am no great lover of either of the major party candidates, nor do I dislike one more than the other. However, I do find it interesting that all of these countries are run by varying degrees of socialism, and they would choose Obama if they could. Hopefully everyone is drawing the same conclusion as I did. The people in Europe are saying that Obama fits best with their own semi-socialist beliefs. Not to discourage any Obama supporters, just know who you are voting for come November.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-65704473888418955962008-07-17T07:48:00.001-06:002008-07-17T07:49:41.810-06:00World's Smallest Political Ideology QuizI've posted another one before, but this one takes about 30 seconds and is just fun and concise. Everyone should do it to give you a better idea where you stand.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html">http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html</a>Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-64475582736752218762008-07-17T07:14:00.002-06:002008-07-17T07:48:26.898-06:00The CandidatesIt can sometimes be difficult to wade through the information that is presented in an election year. There is so much to take in and it is easy for a voter to get confused by the distinct types of media that are available to them. The forums of mass media rarely portray anything but the two most popular parties and candidates, which is a gross disservice to the American public. All national candidates should be given plenty of opportunity to get their names and platforms out to the people. I encourage everyone to look at each candidate with your minds open. Brush away the thoughts of that e-mail you received about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Obama</span> being an evil Muslim, or McCain not even being an American citizen, or Ralph Nader single-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">handedly</span> ruining the 2000 election. Media will show what it will, but that does not mean that we must let it influence our decision. Below is a list of the presidential candidates, though not a complete one I am sure, and their websites so you can see what they have to say. I've tried to include as many as I can, but please let me know if I missed one.<br /><br />Bob Barr - Libertarian (My candidate for now, though I'm not done researching)<br /><a href="http://www.bobbarr2008.com/issues/">http://www.bobbarr2008.com/issues/</a><br /><br />Chuck Baldwin - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Constitutionalist</span><br /><a href="http://baldwin08.com/Candidate-Comparisons.cfm">http://baldwin08.com/Candidate-Comparisons.cfm</a><br /><br />Ralph Nader - Independent<br /><a href="http://www.votenader.org/issues/">http://www.votenader.org/issues/</a><br /><br />Cynthia McKinney - Green<br /><a href="http://www.runcynthiarun.org/Issues">http://www.runcynthiarun.org/Issues</a><br /><br />John McCain - Republican<br /><a href="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/">http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/</a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Barack</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Obama</span> - Democrat<br /><a href="http://www.barackobama.com/issues/">http://www.barackobama.com/issues/</a><br /><br />I hope this gives everyone a place to start when looking for your candidate. I suggest taking a <a href="http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html">political ideology quiz </a>before starting the decision making process just to give you an idea as to what your beliefs are. Anyone can be swayed by a well-worded ad about something you don't necessarily believe in. Happy Candidate Hunting!!!Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-9635368448993003302008-07-09T06:12:00.002-06:002008-07-09T06:27:42.190-06:00Congressional Approval RatingGot to work this morning and the first article I saw after checking my e-mail was <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20080708/pl_rasmussen/ratecongress20080708">this one</a>. It tells just how we think that Congress is doing. Interestingly enough, our public servants, whose job it is to serve their constituents and vote on issues that we find important, are not really performing their job well. Only 9% of the people in the US believe that Congress is doing a good or excellent job. Doing some simple math, which was never my joy, shows that that means that 91% of people are dissatisfied with the work that the people hired are doing.<br />Another interesting fact that came from the survey is that only 12% of those polled felt that Congress had done anything to improve life in the US. More math leads us to 88% that feel that Congress is doing nothing to help our country.<br />My wife can attest that I am a very logical man, which has served me well until now. So, logically if I was working a job and 91% felt that I was doing a bad job, and 88% felt that I had done nothing to improve the lives of those I worked for, what would happen to me? I would be thrown out on my head!!! I would not keep my job! I would probably never be able to get a job again from the bad references that would follow me everywhere.<br />Here comes the logic again...If this is how we feel about Congress...and we are the employers who give them the job, and pay them (have we forgotten that fact?)...why the hell do these men and women still have jobs??!?!?!<br />"Change" is the catch phrase for this election year. How about we do something about it and change those who are not serving us the way we want them to? (Oh, and promoting from the inside probably wont cut it either, just in case you were wondering my true feelings.)Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425545904816488818.post-34116579472049863532008-07-08T21:08:00.002-06:002008-07-08T21:29:32.936-06:00Political StrategyI was just watching Anderson Cooper and he and his team of analysts were discussing the strategy the presidential candidates should take in the upcoming election. The general consensus was that they should feed off of the other candidate's weaknesses and capitalize on them by reminding voters of flaws.<br />Now I could be wrong, but how many Americans are tired of this tactic? Do we really want to sit by and watch the candidates for our highest office take pot shots at each other? We really need to get back to real politics. It is obvious that the candidates have differing opinions on issues. Would it be so strange if we just allowed the candidates to run on their merits and the merits of their policies? I'm really wondering how we choose who we are going to vote for. Give me your thoughts.<br />Is it more important to have a flawless image, or the right policies?Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00519401151618620281noreply@blogger.com1