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October 28, 2008

Paine-ful Lessons for Senator Obama

 

 

"

 THESE are the times that try men's souls.

 

The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God."

 

– Thomas Paine, “The Crisis”. (read more)

 

 

We know Barack Obama has criticized the Founding Fathers and the Constitution they wrote, so it should come as no surprise that he would probably not be too fond of the political philosophers who honed the ideas upon which our Founding Fathers thought it imperative  to craft such a Constitution.

 

The historical problem with change begins with King George and the American Revolution: the King favored imposing progressive "change" on the colonies that included greater taxation, reduced rights, and diminished local autonomy for its citizens. The elites in Europe held to the ideals that were the forerunners to today's socialism: protecting the tiny powerful effete, and keeping the citizen down. We used to call that monarchy; today it's called socialism, and white-washed to fool the people into thinking its populist, when in fact, it's nothing of the sort. This white-washing began in the 19th centuries as those in power began to fear popular uprisings against their control. The answer among many in the elite was to create a patronizing nanny state, superficially concerned for the well-being of its citizens, but cynically sneering in the background at what it viewed as the "great unwashed masses" it sought to control. They called that white-washing "socialism". Today, once again, someone strolling down history's road has offered to impose an even more robust and dangerous version of that "change" on Americans than they heretofore have ever had to face; a form of "change" that would have even shocked the arrogant and snobbish monarch of England some two centuries ago.

 

Since this new breed of elitism called socialism began to take root in Europe and elsewhere over the past century, what the world has witnessed has been nothing short of tragic. From the hundreds of millions lost to Communism, the tens of millions lost ot Nazism and Fascism, to the countless others lost to socialized healthcare in Western European governments, who were denied heart surgery or chemo-therapy because the state did not see a sufficiant economic return in it, we have seen for centuries the fruit of such change, so we know "change" isn't always a good thing. Change is code for entrenching political power and taking away yours; its many iterations over the centuries have become increasingly harmful and even deadly for those who suffer from it.

 

From reading Thomas Pain’s work, we learn something important: that Thomas Paine wasn’t a socialist. In fact, I can imagine hearing Obama now: “Thomas Paine once said that ‘What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.’ These policies only cause pain for those who are motivationally challenged and have more important things to do, such as voting as many times as they can for me. It is also a slap in the face of the many good workers in our government, who work hard pushing two and sometimes even three whole pieces of paper - every day - in order to selflessly give every American (and every non-American on our soil) a hand-up. We don’t need Thomas Paine, we need redistributive change!”

 

For over two centuries prior to the American Revolution - over four centuries ago today - Americans had been allowed to manage their own affairs with very little governmental interference from outside. However, during the 18th Century, times were changing in Europe and those in London decided it was time to bring the colonies up to speed. Americans, just as today, didn't think that was such a great idea. Those Americans knew how to take care of themselves and what choices were in their own best interest and they knew any offer of help or interference from London was really only provided in the interest of London, not those living in the colonies. The American Revolution came about as a result of ordinary Americans refusing the progressive policies of King George. Americans chose to be  patriots rather than serfs to the King's proffered "change"; they chose to be looked down upon and jeopardize their entire "lives, fortunes, and sacred honor", than sacrifice their freedom for fashion, to betray their own interests in order to become popular for conforming to the latest sensibilities across the pond that oppressed and enslaved those people.  The Crown sought to raise new taxes and restrict the basic rights of those living in the American colonies, while also diminishing any power or influence they had in back London. Americans said "Common Sense" was a better choice than change for its own sake or change for the sake of popular conformity.

 

While Europe has prided itself on its sense of fashion and style, Americans have prided themselves on the substance of what works. In the process, it has helped us avoid a front-row seat the countless bloody and horrifying disasters across the pond and enabled us to come to Europe's (and the world's) rescue as they have suffered the fruit of their repeated folly for countless generations hence. Sometimes "change" is not only a bad thing, it's a thing worth getting off your duff and giving your all to fight against. Let's make sure we do that on or before November 4th. 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Martin at October 28, 2008 06:50 PM

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