Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Entitle Me Bonanza
So I promised Mr. Harbin a post on why I think entitlements (all of them) are bad and why I think we should work to get rid of all of them.
First and foremost the US Constitution does not bestow the power upon the Federal Government to give entitlements or redistribute money. I know people like to quote the "General Welfare" clause. That however is in the Preamble to the Constitution. The powers laid out below that are what constitutes the powers given to the Federal Government. "The Preamble was never meant to be legally binding and never has been." James Madison had more to say on this subject below.
"If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the sole and supreme judges of the general welfare, they may take the care of religion into their own hands; they may appoint teachers in every State, county and parish and pay them out of their public treasury; they may take into their own hands the education of children, establishing in like manner schools throughout the Union; they may assume the provision of the poor; they may undertake the regulation of all roads other than post-roads; in short, every thing, from the highest object of state legislation down to the most minute object of police, would be thrown under the power of Congress…. Were the power of Congress to be established in the latitude contended for, it would subvert the very foundations, and transmute the very nature of the limited Government established by the people of America."
Now if the State of Montana wants to give free vet care to cows, that is completely within their purview to do so.
Even outside of the Constitutional argument which really should settle it, there is another issue. When people start to get a benefit or as they say "somethin for nothin" it changes their outlook. I for one believe that if I work hard to improve my life and the lives of my family then I will be blessed with the fruits of that labor. Will I do better than somebody else? Not necessarily. We have all been blessed with varying amounts of talent and ability. Although I do believe in a fair and equal playing field, I don't believe there should be equal results.
Our nation’s founders declared the first object of government is to protect “the diversity of the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate.”
Now, I do recognize to get rid of every single entitlement out there at one time would cause a lot of pain. However, I believe a lot of them could be eliminated and I am all for losing any advantages I have been given due to these entitlements. You can eliminate a big chunk now and slowly bring down the others over time. You also need to inform the people that is what is going to happen and you are going to allow them the opportunity to make their own way and feel the sense of pride that comes in making their own way.
On a personal note, if a good chunk of entitlements were eliminated I would most likely lose my job. That is a price I am more than willing to pay if it means my boys have more freedom and a better shot at liberty than what I have had.
The 10th ammendment leaves all things not mentioned to the Federal Government in the Constitution to the "purview of the states." The Founders understood through long experience that unless government were closer to the people that it would just grow into something intolerable that the people could not exercise strong control over. They consented to be governed, and not to be ruled.
As a closing thought, consider the following statement from Benjamin Franklin.
“I am for doing good to the poor, but...I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. I observed...that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.”
Remember to keep yourself informed, and don't be afraid to speak out.
First and foremost the US Constitution does not bestow the power upon the Federal Government to give entitlements or redistribute money. I know people like to quote the "General Welfare" clause. That however is in the Preamble to the Constitution. The powers laid out below that are what constitutes the powers given to the Federal Government. "The Preamble was never meant to be legally binding and never has been." James Madison had more to say on this subject below.
"If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the sole and supreme judges of the general welfare, they may take the care of religion into their own hands; they may appoint teachers in every State, county and parish and pay them out of their public treasury; they may take into their own hands the education of children, establishing in like manner schools throughout the Union; they may assume the provision of the poor; they may undertake the regulation of all roads other than post-roads; in short, every thing, from the highest object of state legislation down to the most minute object of police, would be thrown under the power of Congress…. Were the power of Congress to be established in the latitude contended for, it would subvert the very foundations, and transmute the very nature of the limited Government established by the people of America."
Now if the State of Montana wants to give free vet care to cows, that is completely within their purview to do so.
Even outside of the Constitutional argument which really should settle it, there is another issue. When people start to get a benefit or as they say "somethin for nothin" it changes their outlook. I for one believe that if I work hard to improve my life and the lives of my family then I will be blessed with the fruits of that labor. Will I do better than somebody else? Not necessarily. We have all been blessed with varying amounts of talent and ability. Although I do believe in a fair and equal playing field, I don't believe there should be equal results.
Our nation’s founders declared the first object of government is to protect “the diversity of the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate.”
Now, I do recognize to get rid of every single entitlement out there at one time would cause a lot of pain. However, I believe a lot of them could be eliminated and I am all for losing any advantages I have been given due to these entitlements. You can eliminate a big chunk now and slowly bring down the others over time. You also need to inform the people that is what is going to happen and you are going to allow them the opportunity to make their own way and feel the sense of pride that comes in making their own way.
On a personal note, if a good chunk of entitlements were eliminated I would most likely lose my job. That is a price I am more than willing to pay if it means my boys have more freedom and a better shot at liberty than what I have had.
The 10th ammendment leaves all things not mentioned to the Federal Government in the Constitution to the "purview of the states." The Founders understood through long experience that unless government were closer to the people that it would just grow into something intolerable that the people could not exercise strong control over. They consented to be governed, and not to be ruled.
As a closing thought, consider the following statement from Benjamin Franklin.
“I am for doing good to the poor, but...I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. I observed...that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.”
Remember to keep yourself informed, and don't be afraid to speak out.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Understanding History and Moving Forward
There is a lot that has been going on out there this week. We had the "Health Care Summit" in which the democrats were allotted twice as much time to speak as dissenting Republicans. Of course, the President recognized this and said since he is President, his talking time doesn't count towards the total. The Republicans did get to get some good conservative ideas across and hopefully some people were still watching the telecast at that point to catch it. The media shouldn't be calling them the party of no even now. Particularly since they said, here are the ideas we have been suggesting since the beginning.
We also saw some democrats try to pull a fast one in the House this week while everyone was watching the "Health Care Summit". They attempted to ammend the intelligence services bill with all sorts of penalties and punishments for our intelligence officers who are trying to do their jobs. Oh, and all the scientists claimed this morning that January 2010 was the hottest January in the history of the world.
With all of this going on and being rammed down our throats, one has to think, what can I do? How do we move forward from all this while not falling into the abyss? I believe that comes from a solid understanding of history and who we are as a nation. I've ordered a great book that I am waiting to ship from Amazon. Apparently after Glenn Beck mentioned it on his show it went through the roof. I'm looking forward to receiving it because it gives more knowledge on who we are.
I believe that a great disservice is being done to our children today by the schools. They are not teaching history, and what they are teaching as history has been glossed over with a progressive veneer.
So how do we move forward? Understanding who we are is the first part along with understanding the greatness of our nation and not apologizing for it just because somebody doesn't agree with us. We do all we can to share knowledge with those around us. We need to shine the light on what is really going on. We then need to use the knowledge we have, along with good old American ingenuity, and use those things that will work. The things that take us back to our roots as a nation and closer to the Founders intents.
I know this weeks post is a little rambling, but I am tired of people saying they don't like what is going on and don't know what to do about it. Don't stick your head in the sand. Learn what is going on, learn why those that are doing it are attempting to and what their ultimate goal would be. If you don't agree with them, then speak out. By sitting silent you just allow your freedoms and your agency to be stripped away.
Remember to keep yourself informed and don't be afraid to speak out.
We also saw some democrats try to pull a fast one in the House this week while everyone was watching the "Health Care Summit". They attempted to ammend the intelligence services bill with all sorts of penalties and punishments for our intelligence officers who are trying to do their jobs. Oh, and all the scientists claimed this morning that January 2010 was the hottest January in the history of the world.
With all of this going on and being rammed down our throats, one has to think, what can I do? How do we move forward from all this while not falling into the abyss? I believe that comes from a solid understanding of history and who we are as a nation. I've ordered a great book that I am waiting to ship from Amazon. Apparently after Glenn Beck mentioned it on his show it went through the roof. I'm looking forward to receiving it because it gives more knowledge on who we are.
I believe that a great disservice is being done to our children today by the schools. They are not teaching history, and what they are teaching as history has been glossed over with a progressive veneer.
So how do we move forward? Understanding who we are is the first part along with understanding the greatness of our nation and not apologizing for it just because somebody doesn't agree with us. We do all we can to share knowledge with those around us. We need to shine the light on what is really going on. We then need to use the knowledge we have, along with good old American ingenuity, and use those things that will work. The things that take us back to our roots as a nation and closer to the Founders intents.
I know this weeks post is a little rambling, but I am tired of people saying they don't like what is going on and don't know what to do about it. Don't stick your head in the sand. Learn what is going on, learn why those that are doing it are attempting to and what their ultimate goal would be. If you don't agree with them, then speak out. By sitting silent you just allow your freedoms and your agency to be stripped away.
Remember to keep yourself informed and don't be afraid to speak out.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Core Education Programs
I've been thinking about this recently. One of my coworkers has sacrificed for years to ensure her daughter could attend private schools. It has really paid off well. In our discussion we chatted about core programs in education. She noticed the one thing that the private schools had that public schools don't is a good core curriculum. It was mentioned a bit in my last post regarding progressive education.
I think their are a couple reasons why the private schools are so much more successful than the public schools. I would say free schools, but public schools don't come cheap to the taxpayer.
1. Private schools can get rid of teachers that don't teach or don't measure up. They can reward those that do well based on merit. This is something that the education unions have killed in the public schools.
2. Parents are paying and have a choice. The schools know that the parents will vote with their feet if the programs don't measure up. When The Washington Post asked George Parker, head of the Washington, D.C., teachers union, about the voucher program there, he said: "Parents are voting with their feet. ... As kids continue leaving the system, we will lose teachers. Our very survival depends on having kids in D.C. schools so we'll have teachers to represent."
John Stossel wrote a good piece on the above two things recently.
3. I believe that the charter and private schools are successful because they not only have the ability to form their own programs and curriculum, but they have a core curriculum. They teach things like US History, The Constitution, Government, and concentrate on the three R's as well as science.
By having a core curriculum that EVERY student has to pass, it ensures that students have the base knowledge necessary to make decisions. In instructing the kids, they aren't being taught what to think, they are being taught how to think. They then use those skills to evaluate what is out there in the world and form their own opinions.
My homework assignment for my readers in blogo land today is, what types of courses would you include in your core curriculum? If you were to set up your own charter school, what kinds of courses would you want EVERY student to take and be competent in?
The public school system is dumbing down a lot of our kids, teaching them "what" to think instead of "how" to think. It is failing the very communities it is supposedly supposed to be lifting up. Join the discussion and lets get involved to help future generations get an education that will serve them well through life and will serve to protect the future of our great nation.
Remember to keep yourself informed, and don't be afraid to speak out.
I think their are a couple reasons why the private schools are so much more successful than the public schools. I would say free schools, but public schools don't come cheap to the taxpayer.
1. Private schools can get rid of teachers that don't teach or don't measure up. They can reward those that do well based on merit. This is something that the education unions have killed in the public schools.
2. Parents are paying and have a choice. The schools know that the parents will vote with their feet if the programs don't measure up. When The Washington Post asked George Parker, head of the Washington, D.C., teachers union, about the voucher program there, he said: "Parents are voting with their feet. ... As kids continue leaving the system, we will lose teachers. Our very survival depends on having kids in D.C. schools so we'll have teachers to represent."
John Stossel wrote a good piece on the above two things recently.
3. I believe that the charter and private schools are successful because they not only have the ability to form their own programs and curriculum, but they have a core curriculum. They teach things like US History, The Constitution, Government, and concentrate on the three R's as well as science.
By having a core curriculum that EVERY student has to pass, it ensures that students have the base knowledge necessary to make decisions. In instructing the kids, they aren't being taught what to think, they are being taught how to think. They then use those skills to evaluate what is out there in the world and form their own opinions.
My homework assignment for my readers in blogo land today is, what types of courses would you include in your core curriculum? If you were to set up your own charter school, what kinds of courses would you want EVERY student to take and be competent in?
The public school system is dumbing down a lot of our kids, teaching them "what" to think instead of "how" to think. It is failing the very communities it is supposedly supposed to be lifting up. Join the discussion and lets get involved to help future generations get an education that will serve them well through life and will serve to protect the future of our great nation.
Remember to keep yourself informed, and don't be afraid to speak out.
Friday, February 12, 2010
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