Alabama Election

For all those bewailing the results of the Alabama election or the most recent presidential one - have a little faith. 
This system was designed to withstand the election of fools so long as the citizenry maintains it's character.  That's right my fellow Americans, this nation is as good or as bad as are it's citizens. 

Our government  is a direct reflection of the character of the people. If the people are self reliant and personally responsible, the government will be limited and unobtrusive.  If the people are lazy and apathetic enough to leave the duties and responsibilities that should be their own to a faceless bureaucracy, then the government will become corrupt and tyrannical. 

 The solution to all of our current political woes is to bring up your own game. 

Build your own character. 

If you are receiving money from the government, get yourself into a place where you are not - if you can.

If you are depending on government for anything, stop it.

Prepare yourself and you family to support yourselves. 

Get to know your neighbors. 

STUDY the history of this nation. Find out how our government is supposed to work and what it is supposed to do and what it is not. For those responsibilities that do fall on the government, find out on which level of government those responsibilities are to fall. 

Find out what responsibilities are supposed to be yours in this republic and shoulder them. Don't allow the government to remove them from you.  Because freedom and responsibility are two sides of the same coin. If you give your responsibility into the hands of the government - the freedoms go with it.

Recognize that helping each other is an individual responsibility. Charity is not the job of the federal government. The people of the states may do what they like.


"20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?" ~ Eze 18: 20-23

The Real Question

I think it is time to ask ourselves if this nation is any longer fit to shoulder the responsibilities that such freedoms require. Government's answer is no. What say you, America?

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Gal 5:1

Exercise: It Does a Republic Good.

A little bit ago, my family and I successfully completed the NRA's basic pistol shooting course. We did this because, well, because I insisted that, now that we have a concealed carry law in WI, it was our duty, even though all of us have had a modicum of training in the past, to become more knowledgeable about firearms. Those who choose not to carry should take such a class as well because it is a duty consistent with the right to bear arms to know how to use a firearm should you be put in a bad situation. Even though all the classes I had seen on-line in our area were full, a friend told us about some openings in his class, so off we went.


I'm so proud of my boy.

In addition to being a lot of fun, the class struck me as a picture of our larger rights and responsibilities as American citizens. We have self evident God given rights, yes, but they come with an equally self evident duty attached to them. That duty is to exercise those rights appropriately and responsibly. This is something that people tend to understand immediately when speaking about firearms, but not so much when it comes to our other self-evident rights. One of the most important duties that is required to maintain our rights is to exercise them appropriately at every opportunity.

We often don't think of exercising our freedom of speech, or our freedom of religion or our freedom from unreasonable search and seizure and all the rest as duties. We are usually all too happy to give them up at the drop of a hat when challenged. Just as it is an uneasy feeling to carry a firearm around with you, it is just as uneasy to exercise any of our other rights in the face of opposition or authority. Just look at how many people have tamely submitted to the TSA's unconstitutional searches. This is to say nothing of exercising our other self evident, but unnamed Constitutional rights, like the right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children.


He's a good shot, too.

Think about that. We have a whole slew of other unnamed, yet self evident rights, to which we often do not lay claim, due to the fact that they are not named. Not only that, but we often give up our named rights out of ...what? Is it a wish to be nice? Is it a wish to be perceived as cooperative? Is it sheer ignorance of how those rights are to be appropriately exercised? Or is it cowardice?
I tend to think it is a combination of all those reasons and more. Whatever it is, we need to stop it. We are at, and possibly past, a tipping point, beyond which America no longer exists as the land of the free. We need to be exercising our rights. All of them. Every time it is appropriate to do so. What's more, we need to help each other stand up for those rights as well.


As you can see, those who exercise their rights, understand their responsibilities.

At first it will be scary, but, as you become more familiar with the process and the likely results, you will come to understand what the phrase "We The People" really means in the Constitution. Far from being a hindrance to the exercise of freedom, acceptance of that responsibility is what gives us the power to remain free. I know we've come a long way from the days of our founders, but I think we can still handle the risks and responsibilities that go along with the power to direct our own lives, don't you? Try it, you never know, it may be fun.


Even though he grumbled about it at first, if you enlarge the photo, you'll see that "Dad" enjoyed the class too.

"And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough" ~ Luke 22:35-38

Where's my bailout? Wisconsin, New Jersey, Ohio, Massachusetts and New York

Well, now we know the plan by which our esteemed governor plans to make up the budgeting shortfalls of past decisions come back to haunt us. He's going to ask the Feds to cover them.

That's right, Mr. Doyle, along with the governors of 4 other states is asking the federal government for a bailout. How do you like that Hawaii? How about you Texas? Oklahoma? I can just tell you have all been dying to send your tax dollars to Wisconsin, New Jersey, Ohio, Massachusetts and New York, because we weren't willing to scale down our budgets and live within our means.

I don't think the founders would approve. In fact let's look at what Mr. Jefferson had to say.
"It is not by the consolidation or concentration of powers, but by their distribution that good government is effected. Were not this great country already divided into States, that division must be made that each might do for itself what concerns itself directly and what it can so much better do than a distant authority. Every state again is divided into counties, each to take care of what lies within its local bounds; each county again into townships or wards, to manage minuter details; and every ward into farms, to be governed each by its individual proprietor… It is by this partition of cares descending in gradation from general to particular that the mass of human affairs may be best managed for the good and prosperity of all.”

Mr. Doyle, your job is not to go, hat in hand, to Washington to seek relief, but rather to manage what you have here. My family is feeling the pinch of tough times through our own choices too, but we are doing our best to handle it without resorting to bankruptcy.

I expect leadership from you. It is not Alaska's problem that Wisconsin has eyes bigger than it's stomach and the good citizens of Indiana shouldn't have to pay for our mistakes. Stay here and do what's necessary to make our budget balance. No, it won't be pleasant or make you popular, but that's the price of being introduced as the Governor of Wisconsin. You have brought shame on every citizen of this state by your actions. Shame on you.

"The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."
~Proverbs 22:7