How to destroy a Republic

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that, my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

Dr. Adrian Pierce Rogers (September 12, 1931 - November 15, 2005) of Love Worth Finding Ministries, Pastor Emeritus of Bellevue Baptist Church.

Hey, Obama Supporters. Don't forget this:

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.

~ Thomas Jefferson

Fools, Fools, Everywhere there are Fools

The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.

~ Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

Churchill Does it Again

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
~ Winston Churchill

Government Responsibility

As a parent who has been changing diapers for 5 years now, this one really hits home:

"The government is like a baby’s alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other."
~ Ronald Reagan

The Greatest American Writer

No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
~ Mark Twain (1866)

There is no distinctly native American criminal class… save Congress.
~ Mark Twain

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
~ Mark Twain

More Ancient Wisdom

OK...so 250 years isn't that big of deal. What about a quote from around 430 B.C.:

"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!"
~ Pericles (430 B.C.)

Government doesn't change

IN 1764 (Yes...that's around 250 years ago), Voltaire said:

"In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other."

The cost of Health Care

A local radio commercial is promoting itself with a Limo ride to lunch for you and 10 co-workers. They end with something akin to "and you thought there was no such thing as a free lunch." Every time I hear it I yell at the radio, THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH. THERE IS ONLY FREE TO YOU!

Somebody is paying for it.


If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free!
~ P.J. O’Rourke

Morality of Socialism

Slavery is morally wrong. This is is an absolute truth that both conservatives and liberals can agree on. Even those who don't believe in absolute truth would say that there is never any circumstance where slavery would be ethical.

What is slavery? Well, slavery is what happens when a person (the slave) is forced to work for another individual (the master) and the benefits of that work are given to the master. Generally, the master is part of a social group that makes up the majority of the population while the slaves are comprised of a group of people that make up the minority of the population. Traditionally, those groups have been delimited over either racial (ethnic slavery) or gender lines (all the woman are slaves).

I contend that socialism is a form of slavery. The mantra, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" merely changes the lines that distinguish the master from the slave. In this case it is "economic slavery." The majority (those with needs, the poor) use the political force of a democracy to compel the minority (the "rich", those with abilities) to give the majority the benefits of the labor of those with abilities.

In this kind of socialistic framework, the poor (the masters, the majority) vote in leaders who pass laws that allow for the government to legally deprive the rich (the slaves, the minority) of their income (the benefit of their labors). That income is then given to the poor either directly in cash payments (welfare, tax credits, etc...) or indirectly by providing services to the poor (Section 8 housing, Medicare, "Universal" health care, etc...).

Sure, the majority (those with needs) do not see themselves as slave owners. They would be appalled to think they are on the same moral plateau as 19th century plantation owner. Therefore, they build reasonable sounding arguments to defend their "rights." What's funny is that so did the 19th century plantation owners. They had lots of good sounding arguments that made them feel like they what they were doing was just, moral, and even benefited the slave.

Now, one of the defining traits of a great society is its view of the downtrodden. You can judge a civilization's morality based on how it cares for those who are in need. So, I do believe that those who are able to help others have a moral obligation to give to those who are in need. I just think that it has to be voluntary. A society that enslaves one group of people to take care of the those in need is just as immoral as a society who ignores the needs. You can't use an immoral tactic (slavery) to address an immorality (not taking care of those who need help) and still be moral.

So, the current course of our nation is one that legally allows the majority of the people to benefit from the work of a few. One hundred and fifty years ago our nation defined itself as a society that would not tolerate slavery. Today, we need to remember that.

The Gipper's WIt

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

~ Ronald Reagan (1986)

What would Jesus do on Spring Break?

A few weeks ago Erin came home and all excited said, 'You have to hear this new group I just discovered.' She proceeded to play "Amazing Grace" by El Divo really loudly. She was excited and passionate. I didn't share her enthusiasm. Yeah, it was good, but she interrupted what I was doing (bathing the kids) and I didn't want to hear the songs right then. We got into a little tiff about it when I asked her to turn it down and she became offended. However, as she has continued to play the music in the background over the past few weeks, I have begun to appreciate it and really like it.

I think that all Christians need to read this account of an evangelical, spring-break, mission trip that is completely ineffective. I've been uncomfortable with this style of "Evangelism" for many years, but have been unable to put a rational argument behind that feeling. Its a little long, but take the time and then come back here.

I think the same principles as my story with the El Divo music are true with Christians who "evangelize" in this nature. They are are excited and passionate; but they are interrupting people's lives. So, instead of being open to appreciate what may be a good message, people are put off. What is more effective is a long-term, quiet exposure to a person making a good will effort at living out a Christian life.

Christians need to remember that Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth." Salt is good in little doses. These people are dumping a whole shaker into the pot and ruining the meal.

He said, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." Light does not pursue, it attracts (as any moth will tell you). A Christian who wants to make an evangelical impact in the world needs to just live a quiet, unassuming, service-filled life.

Finally, Jesus said, "When I am lifted, I will DRAW all men to me." Notice, once again, the idea is that people will be attracted to the message of Christ.

I think we made a wrong turn in our ideas of evangelism. We have misconstrued the Great Commission and have idolized Paul's methodology over Jesus'.

I can't think of one account in the Gospels where we see Jesus running down the street chasing after people who are not interested in His message. We see Him sitting on a hillside or in the temple and people crowding around him...attracted to Him. 21st century Christians need to stop emulating Paul and start emulating Jesus; then they may actually become effective evangelists this way.

Government as Literature

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.

~ Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)

The Maturity of Government

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.

~ P.J. O'Rourke

Democracy Good?

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

~ James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

Shaw Quote

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

~ George Bernard Shaw

Liddy Quote

A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.

~ G. Gordon Liddy

Churchill Quote

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle .

~ Winston Churchill

Lannom's New Friend

Erin relayed a story to me that she was told by Lannom's teacher at mother's morning out.

The boys go to day school 3 days a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Monday a new boy joined the two-year old class. Lannom behaved like any two year old and basically ignored the new kid. However, on Wednesday and today as soon as the new boy came to class, Lannom ran over to him, gave him a big hug, grabbed his hand and walked the new kid to a seat next to him.

Lannom's teacher said it was the sweetest thing she has ever seen. She said, "I didn't ask him to do anything like that." She also mentioned that in her 15 years of teaching two-year old children she has never seen something like that.

It seems that Lannom has a friend.

Mark Twain Quote

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.

~ Mark Twain

John Adams Quote

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress.

~ John Adams

The defiance starts

Lannom turns two at the end of this month. However, he has had a rough couple of days with daddy.

Last night while he was in the bathtub he started scooping up water with his measuring cup and pouring it out of the tub. I told him to stop and to keep the water in the tub. He then, scooped up some water, looked right at me, and dumped it out on the floor. He was, of course, instantly disciplined. For the rest of the night he was as obedient as could be.

This evening while at the dinner table he started spitting out his milk. I told him to stop. Once again, he took a big drink of milk, looked right at me, and let it dribble out his mouth. Oh was I mad. He was disciplined. My mother-in-law was over having dinner with us and even she commented that the look of defiance in his eyes as he spit his milk out was clear.

So, it looks like we may be entering the terrible twos a few weeks early. The poor kid though, doesn't know what he is up against. Daddy don't play.

Sadder but Wiser

At close to 36 years old, I am a fuddy-duddy. I value the characteristics of a by-gone era. That is why I love this editorial by Thomas Sowell on the subsidization of homeowners in trouble. The author hits on two "old and trite" notions of that by-gone era:

1. saving for a rainy day
2. sadder but wiser

Good read.

Best quote:

Even in an era of much-ballyhooed "change," the government cannot eliminate sadness. What it can do is transfer that sadness from those who made risky and unwise decisions to the taxpayers who had nothing to do with their decisions

Snowing...in March...in Alabama

It is snowing. Its is March in central Alabama and we have snow. A good snow too. They are nice, fat, fluffy flakes with enough moisture to stick to everything.

Mihaela and Noah are so excited. Mihaela has only seen snow a few times, and I think it has been two or three years since she last did. I don't think Noah has ever seen it before. They are running from the front of the house to the back of the house, amazed that both the front yard and backyard are getting snow.

It is sweet as they discover new items that are covered in snow. "Look daddy, the slide is covered in snow." "OH MY!!! Your grill has snow on it." "The cars have snow all over them." "It is snowing in the Thompson's yard too!!"

Noah grabs Mihaela's hand and drags her to a window..."Look, sister...its all over the trashcan"