1Declaration: Free Markets, Free People, Free Minds

Today I am starting a multipart series on the problems facing America today and what can be done to face these problems head on without further sacrificing the future our the next generation.

Today voters are left wondering why nothing has gotten fixed, why things seem to keep getting worse no matter how many programs we enact, and why our privacy is always under threat from the intrusions of government (look no further than the much criticized program of flag@whitehosue.gov that has since been canceled under enormous public outcry). The same politicians who were telling us during the Bush administration that it was American to protest the administration (a position I firmly agree with) are now telling us that it is now "un-American" to question our leaders and offer dissenting views. The same people who put us in this mess in the first place are the very same people telling us that they can pull us out by doing more of the same: more spending, more taxes, more entitlements, more central banking, more fiat money, more (...well you fill in the blank...) .

The Obama Administration was waved into the White House to fix the problems that the Bush Administration created. He promised a change that we had not seen in decade with promises to make Washington more transparent, to veto earmarks, to protect the rights of the individual, to reduce the national deficit, and to once again make government work for the people rather than special interests. Nothing it appears have changed and the only change we have seen is to dramatically increase the national debt, the further threatening of the the Liberty of the individual, and the continual devaluation of the US dollar.

I still contend that liberals whom like to call themselves Progressives were upset at the Bush Administration because he outspent them, increased welfare rolls faster than they had in recent years, and removed personal Liberties faster than they could dream of. Now that the Democrats are back in charge they have ramped up their efforts to do the same. By in large Obama has chosen to continue many of the same Bush administration policies. Lets do a little comparison. Please note that this list in non-inclusive.

Bush

• Supported the bailout of the financial system
• Increased the tax rate on future generation by increasing the national debt
• Enhanced security by removing individual Liberties to protect individual Liberties (sounds impossible doesn't it)
  
• "I have abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system." 12/16/08 GWB
• Continuation of the Federal Reserve and the devaluation of the dollar through the support of a fiat monetary policy

Obama

• Supported the bailout of the economy and the financial system totaling over $1.5 trillion combined
• Increased the tax rate on future generation by increasing the national debt faster than all previous presidents combined
• Enhances security by destroying individual Liberties to protect individual Liberty (health care, card check, not to mention a continuation of warrantless wiretapping of citizens)
• Appoints Ben Bernanke, a Bush administration appointee, to the chairman of the Fed to continue to devalue the dollar and expand government

Change is in the eye of the beholder. I guess with some will call the accomplishment of Barack Obama a change because he has dramatically increased many of the same policies of the Bush administration that Democrats had been criticizing and further enslaving future generations to a life of high taxes, a stagnant economy, a worthless dollar, and joblessness due to the greed and selfishness of the current generation for more security in their own life, be it physical or social.

So how can we fix the problems? Are Republicans really the answer or are they another part of the problem? If not the Republicans, then where can voters turn going forward?

To be continued...

Republican Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter whom has been serving in the same position since Ronald Reagen was in the White House announced today that he would be running in the Democratic Primary in 2010. He cited reason for the switch was due to the Republicans hard shift to the extreme right in recent years. Perhaps he has seen a shift many others have failed to take notice of. Perhaps it was the out of control spending, erosion of civil liberties, terrible economic decisions like the Troubled Asset Relief Program, misguided wars, or bailout of the automakers by the George Bush administration and Republicans in Congress over the last decade.

Last I checked however the new Barack Obama administration has followed the Bush administrations lead on greater intrusion into the economy, more bailouts, more spending, more debt, an increase in troops on the ground in Afghanistan, and a continued erosion of civil liberties. What is the difference? Last I checked these were all liberal left wing positions. The Senator has been a liberal for years and is finally telling the truth.

Perhaps his reason for switching parties was not due to a shift to the right in the Republican Party, which has already been debunked as a complete myth, but because of his desire for power. He cited specifically falling poll numbers and Rasmussen Reports backs this reason up. In the lastest Rasmussen Reports polling data for the 2010 Republican Primary, Arlen Specter trails challenger Congressmen Pat Toomey 51%-30%. The Senator has higher approval rates among Democrats than Republicans, which he clearly stated today as his only legitimate reason for switching parties.

In the end Republicans must ask themselves if losing Arlen Specter is bad for the Republican Party. If they didn't figure out the question yet then it is quite clear Republicans have not yet learned there lesson. Republicans, I'll give you a hint: it is you shift to the center by the entry of members such as Arlen Specter that have led to your downfall from power.

Many Republicans are labeling Specter as Benedict Specter in reference to Benedict Arnold, an American Revolutionary War officer who turned his back on America during one of its most crucial times. Republicans, wake up! Specter is not a traitor to your own party but the American people as his voting record over his decades in service prove. Instead be glad your party has been purged by one of its most liberal members that has helped lead to your downfall.

Senator Specter, instead of switching parties and continuing to support devastating policies for America, please do all Americans a favor and retire! Your press conference was quite clear in that your primary reason for switching parties is your desire and fondness for power. You are simply another sound argument in favor of passing term limits for America's legislative branch!

I have another hint for Republicans, if you are lucky several other members of your party will follow Specters lead. Do I really need to name any names?

Source: FoxNews.com: Longtime GOP Sen. Specter Joins Democratic Party

This years presidential election may be on of the most followed elections in US history. In what should be a clear cut Democratic presidency because of poor economic indicators, an unpopular war, and the most unpopular president in history the Democratic candidates can't take an upper hand and keep fighting each other instead of Republican nominee, John McCain.

The 2008 Presidential Election will have its two major parties, the "Big Two" once again vying for power, but it will not be an election between conservatives and liberal. This will be an election between moderates and liberal fascists (yes...I borrowed that term from Jonah Goldberg's book Liberal Fascism) and will feature a variety of other third party candidates from Libertarians to statists.

Today's "Big Two" (Republicans and Democrats) politicians are out of touch with the founding principles of our country. (Go ahead and read the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and information about the signers of the Declaration. Then try reading about the over reaching British government and compare where our government is heading.) Instead of limited government, maximation of individual liberty, and self-responsibility our nominees and elected representatives preach about and enact laws that seek to minimize individual liberty by limiting choice (no more incandescent light bulbs) and increasing government intervention in our daily lives. They have clearly forgotten, or what I believe have intentionally misplaced, the idea of the most famous Chinese provers, " Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will feel himself for a lifetime."

The "Big Two" (not all politicians but a large portion of them) no longer believe in the people of this nation. Democrats are in favor of the "nanny state," welfare state, or as Neal Boortz calls it the, "I want my mommy state." Democratic candidates offer up a constant barage of rhetoric on nationalized health care, lies about global warming (without scientific evidence), and the golden oldie to blame the rich or big corporations for your problems. Republicans offer few better solutions. John McCain recently spoke to 9th war Hurricane Katrina victims promising more federal government intervention and preaching of the failures of the national level response while neglecting the lack of state, local, and personal responsibilities. There is no doubt things could have been handled much better with regards to the federal response but the primary responders state, local, and private citizens all failed to take responsibility. McCains sponsoring of the McCain-Feingold bill limiting people's freedom of speech, McCain-Kennedy bill offering amnesty for illegals, and McCain-Liberman global warming bill offer more credibility to this argument.

This leads me to one conclusion. The politicians, praised by some of you, but nothing more than mere mortals and imperfect beings like yourself believe that you are totally incapable of taking care of yourself. Look at the policies they are creating and then look at yourself and American society at large objectively. Instead of offering permanent solutions that feature individual improvement, problems need solving by more government dependency and inefficient government programs.

"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach and man to fish and he will feed himself for a lifetime." This quote no longer applies. Self-responsibility have been eliminated and freedom of choice has been erroded. Clearly this quote no longer applies so lets update it for the time.

"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Give a man a fish a day (aka welfare and entitlements) and he will become dependent on us (government and politicians) and vote for us (politicians) forever." This has become the ideology of the "Big Two" and it will continue until the people of the United States call for change sternly in elections or mass communications with their representatives.

Don't forget that their are more than just two political parties! I firmly believe that Liberty in America can only be saved by Libertarian ideals.

I am finally tired enough of all the bickering in Washington and the lack of education about our federal government and its place in our lives. I am not a Democrat or Republican, Liberal or Conservative so neither side has my favor here.

I am just getting this blog up and running. Please check back daily for new posts and see how you can help. I hope to get the first posts up on Saturday March 8th.

As for now please visit fairtax.org (see the links under "Ignorance is No Excuse...") for the link and sign the Fair Tax petition which will be submitted on Tax Day 2008 (April 15th). Don't say it can't happen or it won't happen. Make it happen.