Imagine : Inspire : Educate
Governance
Issues related to the structure and operation of the United States government
Declaration of Rights & Responsibilities
Sep 5th
As the American Declaration of Independence clearly states, when in the course of human events it becomes necessary for people to band together and collectively declare their rights and responsibilities to which the laws of nature and nature’s God entitle and bind them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should disclose the causes which impel them to such.
Therefore let us declare that we still hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But with those rights come responsibilities.
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Pledge of Non-Violence
Sep 5th
I hereby pledge myself with faith and good will to the following principles of non-violence and peace set forth herein this oath.
With the acceptance of my God-given rights and my personal duty to protect these rights—not only for myself, but also for my family, my neighbors, and even my enemies— I acknowledge my obligation to observe this set of principles to which I will unfalteringly commit myself and from which I shall not stray so as to never allow my fellow man to be deprived of the rights granted to him by God; for we do not grant men these rights nor are they ours to take away.
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Ronald Reagan: A Time For Choosing – October 27, 1964
Sep 3rd
[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio]
Program Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, we take pride in presenting a thoughtful address by Ronald Reagan. Mr. Reagan:
Reagan: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you and good evening. The sponsor has been identified, but unlike most television programs, the performer hasn’t been provided with a script. As a matter of fact, I have been permitted to choose my own words and discuss my own ideas regarding the choice that we face in the next few weeks.
I have spent most of my life as a Democrat. I recently have seen fit to follow another course. I believe that the issues confronting us cross party lines. Now, one side in this campaign has been telling us that the issues of this election are the maintenance of peace and prosperity. The line has been used, “We’ve never had it so good.”
Socialism, Progressivism and the Destruction of the U.S. Education System
Aug 22nd
First, as hard as it may be for some to believe, not all liberals are Marxist or Progressive, If anything, good, traditional Jeffersonian liberalism has been hijacked by neo-Marxist progressives, to the detriment of the decent liberal American citizens. That’s something I lament. One area where they have taken control of the agenda is in the education system. There is a long history regarding the loss of the finest education system in the world. It’s a history that stretches back to Karl Marx and to the progressive movement of the early 20th Century, which I shall now trace. More >
Rep. John Boehner’s debt ceiling deal presentation
Aug 1st
Here is the Powerpoint (converted to PDF) of House Speaker John Boehner’s presentation to the House GOP caucus regarding the debt ceiling compromise that was worked out July 31, 2011. The presentation gives an overview and some details of the deal he worked out with the Democrats and President Obama.
Download Speaker John Boehner’s debt deal overview presentation
Liberals vs. the 14th Amendment
Aug 1st
During the debt debate debacle, a number of liberals and progressives opined that President Obama should have bypassed Congress and unilaterally raised the debt limit. Their argument was based on the false premise that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution gives the President the authority to uphold the validity of public debts and the payment thereof. It may sound plausible if you don’t know what the Constitution actually says or the legal rationale behind its provisions. In fact, the progressives’ suggestion turns the 14th Amendment completely on its head. I wonder if the progressives are constitutionally ignorant or actually do understand. In this article, I will explain why they are mistaken and the danger of this fallacy. More >
White House Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Debt Deal
Jul 31st
(Matt’s Note: This is a fact sheet posted by the White House this evening. I do not agree with all that is said here, but am posting in order to present the position of the Administration for reference purposes.)
Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win for the Economy and Budget Discipline
- Removes the cloud of uncertainty over our economy at this critical time, by ensuring that no one will be able to use the threat of the nation’s first default now, or in only a few months, for political gain;
- Locks in a down payment on significant deficit reduction, with savings from both domestic and Pentagon spending, and is designed to protect crucial investments like aid for college students;
- Establishes a bipartisan process to seek a balanced approach to larger deficit reduction through entitlement and tax reform;
- Deploys an enforcement mechanism that gives all sides an incentive to reach bipartisan compromise on historic deficit reduction, while protecting Social Security, Medicare beneficiaries and low-income programs;
- Stays true to the President’s commitment to shared sacrifice by preventing the middle class, seniors and those who are most vulnerable from shouldering the burden of deficit reduction. The President did not agree to any entitlement reforms outside of the context of a bipartisan committee process where tax reform will be on the table and the President will insist on shared sacrifice from the most well-off and those with the most indefensible tax breaks. More >
President Obama speaks in support of the bipartisan deal to reduce the deficit and raise the debt limit
Jul 31st
Tonight, President Obama spoke in support of a bipartisan deal to reduce the nation’s deficit and avoid default. It extends the debt limit to 2013, removing the cloud of uncertainty over our economy and ensuring that no one will be able to use the threat of default now or in only a few months for political gain. The bipartisan compromise assures that the United States meets its obligations – including monthly Social Security checks, veterans’ benefits, and the government contracts we’ve signed with thousands of businesses. More >
Rep. Bill Posey votes in favor of flawed House Debt compromise
Jul 30th
(Matt’s Commentary: I have the utmost respect for Representative Posey and I understand why he voted the way he did. I believe he’s a man of integrity but who cast the wrong vite. However, I have major issues with the GOP leadership and the many “moderate” Republicans in the House who are all too eager to pacify the liberals lest they look “mean-spirited”.
A flawed “compromise”, which was destined to die a quick death at the hands of Harry Reid in the Senate, sends a completely unacceptable message to the Administration and American people. The message it sends is that the GOP is vulnerable to caving in, once again, to the demands of the progressives in Washington. Once again, the GOP is failing miserably to communicate the message that by refusing to turn our backs on what we know is just and right, we are standing up for ALL Americans and protecting their and their children’s futures.)
Washington, Jul 29 - Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) released the following statement regarding this evening’s vote:
“In 1997, the Balanced Budget Amendment to the United States Constitution passed the House of Representatives, but fell one vote short of passage in the United States Senate. That year the national debt was $5.4 trillion. Since that failure, the national debt has grown by 265% to more than $14.3 trillion – $4 trillion of that debt having been accumulated in just the past 32 months. More >
Fixing the Commerce Clause, a proposed amendment
Jul 1st
The current debate and court actions relating to the Patient Affordable Health Care Act (a.k.a. “Health Care Reform” or “ObamaCare”) demonstrates a fatal flaw of the so-called Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution, in terms of protection of individual liberties. It’s apparent that a more specific annunciation of the powers of the Federal Government is appropriate in order to eliminate abuses of the Clause. Here is my proposed amendment:
