Where are We The People?

From Vicki, who feels she is the lone reader of her own blog:

I want to do something, anything, to help the McCain-Palin effort. Sometimes I feel there are so many complacent people who are angry, scared, concerned, etc., about where this United States is heading. It doesn't feel like it did even five years ago.

The mainstream media wants to decide this election for us by skewing and skewering---they want us to think it's all buttoned up and we should stay home, not exercising our right, responsibility, and privilege to cast our one vote. I've known the majority of the media was liberal for a long time; however, I have never seen such a sabotage effort against one party. Democracy? Do they not understand unbiased reporting?

It's not good to start every sentence with "I", yet this stream-of-consciousness diatribe demands it today. I wore my McCain-Palin lapel pin (a tiny little rectangle, for pete's sake) and a liberal friend said, "Wow! I can't believe you are wearing that in public!" Why not? Why should I be afraid to advertise my candidates? I've done it since I was six years old with my Goldwater-Miller button from my Dad. Is it not PC to have freedom of expression any more?

I sit here and I'm angry, scared, and concerned. I've done what I could---I voted, I promoted, but I'm just one voice. What happened to all the voices who feel the same? We are way beyond coffee klatch conversations about politics. We have one week to convince, remind, explain, etc., what is going to happen in this country if one party controls the executive and legislative and judicial branches. We have to wake people up!!

Our economy needs help. Our economy can be boosted by lower taxes, free enterprise, more entrepreneurial opportunities (successes and failures are a part of this, so deal with it), and smaller government. It's just that simple, yet mighty complex.

I do pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all. We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, need to take back our union!!

Take a minute to sing the Star-Spangled Banner. Think about the words. Think about the good fight our founding fathers fought for our freedom. If you do that and pray to our God (because we are a Christian nation), we might just have a chance to hold up our republic as it was formed. Re-form? No, re-claim.

Whew! That was a therapeutic vent! I invite reasonable and passionate comments, and do listen to other points of view.

Freedom of Speech/The Constitution

From Vicki:

In conjunction with Sheepdogs4onevote.org, I have produced some talking point handouts in PDF format. The link is in the title. Feel free to print outas many copies of these handouts as you need. Pass them on to friends in the swing states so they'll have them, also.

We have 1 vote and less than 2 weeks!!

We The People Tees

From Vicki:

I just designed a new t-shirt that's for sale at Cafe Press. The link is the title to this post. Here's the copy for the t-shirt:

If you think Socialism is a party, you're right.
We the People say NO to the invite.
Vote responsibly.
Our Founding Fathers would approve this message.

Less than two weeks until the election. Every vote will count. Take it seriously!

We need to take up our pitchforks and take back our Union!

From Vicki

A couple of months ago, Tom and I had a limited quantity of these little pitchfork lapel pins produced. One of the most conservative television and radio talk show hosts had been talking about the Constitution and how we needed to get out our pitchforks and torches and take back our country. So folks began sending him real pitchforks. We sent him the lapel pin, which he wore faithfully for a while.

Just this week, another conservative television host talked about real Americans taking up their pitchforks and heading to Washington. People realize our basic beliefs and those of our founding fathers are in serious jeopardy. It is time for We the People to take back our Union!

Your one vote is precious. Pray about it and use it wisely. It's a privilege not afforded to enough people in our world. God will use us if we'll just let him.

In case you are interested, the title is a link to our pitchfork lapel pin website. We'd love to hear what you think about it. Share your passion about our Constitution and why this document has stayed the course even if the politicians haven't. We are the most blessed country on earth! Thank you, God!

Sheepdogs4onevote

From Vicki

I was listening to talk radio yesterday afternoon and heard about a meeting to take place last night. This lady, Ann, said she received a direct message from God to do something to help our country during this upcoming election. I went to the meeting and was amazed to find about 35 people who were of like mind, worried about the future of our republic and concerned we hadn't learned from the past. The election is in two weeks. Ann plans to have caravans with signage going to the swing states of Ohio, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, etc., to carry information about voting and the candidates. Reaching young people with the message about the two platforms in an easy-to-read, quickly explained format is the key.

Ann's new web page link is listed above. She got her idea from William Bennett's speech about sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. The sheep need the sheepdogs to protect them from the predator wolves, so sheepdogs must have a vicious instinct but a compassionate one, also.

I was inspired by this lady. I had wondered what on earth I could do in the state of Tennessee to help affect the votes in those swing states. Now I know. I can help with my God-given talents to produce some interesting, to-the-point handouts about our wonderful country and how we need to protect our freedom.

As I learned in Sunday School years ago (and my Mom happened to be my teacher that year), I can't hide my talents in a drawer and expect them not to grow stagnant. They need to be used and used well.

How can we show compassion as conservatives?

From Vicki
In response to the last post, my daughter commented with the following:

How can we show compassion as conservatives? Sometimes it seems like the only way you can be understood as having a heart or caring about the welfare of others is if you believe that the government should share your money with those who are less fortunate. Why do people so easily buy into the idea that the government is the best mechanism for compassion, or the only mechanism for that matter? We can speak with our wallets without the government being involved. I believe that advocating for government policies you believe in (with regards to improving welfare here or internationally) is important, but we can also make a difference without waiting for the government to act. We can give to charities that we believe in today. People who donate to causes they support should be considered as, or more compassionate that those who merely talk about how a government institution should do that work.

October 17, 2008 6:42 AM

Joe knows what's best for Joe! plus My lesson on capitalism for my son after casting his first presidential ballot!

From Vicki

Joe knows what's best for Joe!

After the final 2008 presidential debate last night, Joe the plumber became a household phrase. As the press likes to say, he put a face to entrepreneurs wanting to own their own small businesses. Joe asked a legitimate question about being taxed at a higher rate if he owns a successful business.

It's not fair for Joe and it's not fair for anyone who aspires to do well through hard and smart work. What is the incentive if you know you will have to give the government more money? Entrepreneurs are risk-takers with capital they have raised, earned, or borrowed, and it is their personal responsibility to be successful. The government should applaud rather than penalize this good behavior. Read any preschool teachers' guidebook. That's what you'll find!

Casting your first presidential ballot should almost be a spiritual experience...and definitely a patriotic one. Our founding fathers gave us this amazing opportunity!!

My son and I participated in early voting today. Afterwards, I stressed what a privilege it is to live in a free country and have the right to vote, that we must never take it for granted. Then I asked if he knew what socialism is---he knew about communism from civics class in high school. I had just learned that a group of college students was queried for a definition of socialism and they had no clue.

Here's how I explained it to my son:

Say you work hard and make a lot of money and I sit around not wanting to work, but need to be supported somehow. The government says to you, "Gee, you have made a lot more money than you need, but look at her over there. We're going to charge you more taxes so we can help her out." It's called redistribution of wealth and is a Marxist principle.

His immediate reaction: That's not fair, that's not right!

I said, "Well, son, that is socialism. Capitalism is the opposite and gives hard workers the freedom to choose how much wealth they want to accumulate and what they want to do with it. They are free to hire more people and to give of their resources to their churches or other charities who help people who can't work. When given a choice, capitalism is always the better option."

I later asked him if he knew how freedom felt. He said he did. Then I posed, "Well, maybe that's not the question. Maybe it's 'Aren't we glad we don't know how it feels not to have freedom?'"

Footnote: When my son was around six years old and had to ride in the back seat, he endured many conversations on the way home from school, especially when he'd done something he shouldn't have. One day I asked him what was the absolute worst punishment for his transgression. Without hesitation, he said, "A long conversation in the car with you."!! I think he still feels that way; however, we do connect on politics and religion.

How has the media portrayed the candidates in 2008?

From Vicki:

I graduated from journalism school before it was called the college of communications. Journalism 101---the very first and most important rule---the media should be unbiased when reporting the news, unless it is a true opinion column or commentary. I have been so disappointed in the majority of the media for sensationalizing in the headlines to get viewership and readership, which is the main objective. Ratings and readers. It is tinged with yellow. What do you think about how objective or biased the media has been regarding the 2008 presidential campaign? Are we getting facts or opinions or just what?

How has the presidential campaign affected your view of the Constitution?

From Vicki:

Americans are basically good. We want to believe everyone is like us. Sadly, it ain't so. Our Constitution was written carefully and prayerfully by people who wanted the freedom to have a say in their government, taxes, and the general running of their country. That's our country, the United States of America. Do you think people remember this when they have the privilege of voting for president? Do you think they think about who is running and whether or not the candidates actually believe in and want to abide by our founding fathers' principles? Let us hear from you.