Over the weekend Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced they are shutting down. The primary reason given for the closure is the decision to remove elephants from the show, which was the result of decades of criticism by animal rights groups and the paying of a $270,000 fine for violation of the Animal Welfare Act.
The business that survived 132 years, 24 Presidents, 15-20 recessions, 6 generations of evolving entertainment tastes and options, two depressions, and two World Wars is doomed by one short-sighted, politically correct decision.
The Lost Art of Critical Thinking and Common Sense in Politics and Public Policy
Monday, January 16, 2017
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Never Trumpers and the Constitution
The angst over the election of Donald Trump appears to be driving some of our fellow citizens crazy. They fear what he will do in regards to abortion, gay marriage, Obamacare, education, climate change, welfare, and immigration. I believe this offers us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to spread the message of limited government to an audience that, under normal circumstances, would not be receptive to it.
What if we were to steer the conversation with these non-Trumpers away from their hysterical claims and toward one of returning the federal government to its rightful and constitutional place?
Explain to them why the power wielded by the federal government exceeds any of the Founders' wildest expectations. Explain to them that the states created the federal government and granted it the power to do a few things; everything else was left to the states.
Point them to Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution which lays out the list of the enumerated (and limited) powers granted to the federal government. It is comprised of 18 paragraphs.
Finally, point out to them that the federal government (the one whose power is supposed to be restricted) is now one of the nation’s largest creditor, debtor, lender, employer, consumer, contractor, grantor, property owner, tenant, insurer, health care provider, and pension guarantor. Then pose the question: does that sound like the limited federal government laid out in the Constitution?
With the case laid out, you can now point out to your distraught non-Trumper friends that they have nothing to fear because the Constitution does not mention: marriage, health insurance, the education of our children, gun control, labor laws, abortion, bailouts of corporations, stimulus packages, regulation of carbon dioxide emissions, welfare programs, farm subsidies, regulation of drugs, or foreign aid. After their cynical laugh and some time of reflection, they may be willing to get involved in the rollback movement.
What if we were to steer the conversation with these non-Trumpers away from their hysterical claims and toward one of returning the federal government to its rightful and constitutional place?
Explain to them why the power wielded by the federal government exceeds any of the Founders' wildest expectations. Explain to them that the states created the federal government and granted it the power to do a few things; everything else was left to the states.
Point them to Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution which lays out the list of the enumerated (and limited) powers granted to the federal government. It is comprised of 18 paragraphs.
- 6 paragraphs concern the military and the militia.
- 4 paragraphs concern money or taxes.
- 1 paragraph concerns commerce.
- 1 paragraph concerns naturalization and bankruptcies.
- 1 paragraph concerns post offices and post roads.
- 1 paragraph concerns copyrights and patents.
- 1 paragraph concerns federal courts.
- 1 paragraph concerns maritime crimes.
- 1 paragraph concerns the governance of the District of Columbia.
- 1 paragraph gives Congress the power “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers.”
Finally, point out to them that the federal government (the one whose power is supposed to be restricted) is now one of the nation’s largest creditor, debtor, lender, employer, consumer, contractor, grantor, property owner, tenant, insurer, health care provider, and pension guarantor. Then pose the question: does that sound like the limited federal government laid out in the Constitution?
With the case laid out, you can now point out to your distraught non-Trumper friends that they have nothing to fear because the Constitution does not mention: marriage, health insurance, the education of our children, gun control, labor laws, abortion, bailouts of corporations, stimulus packages, regulation of carbon dioxide emissions, welfare programs, farm subsidies, regulation of drugs, or foreign aid. After their cynical laugh and some time of reflection, they may be willing to get involved in the rollback movement.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Thursday, October 20, 2016
The Case for Hillary
If you think the rule of law applies to everyone except Hillary Clinton, vote for Hillary.
If you believe in open borders and no enforcement of current immigration laws, vote for Hillary.
If you believe there is no difference between an abortion and elective surgery, vote for Hillary.
If you believe the Supreme Court is a tool to be used to advance a political agenda and to create rights not enumerated in the Constitution, vote for Hillary.
If you believe the power of the federal government should be expanded, vote for Hillary.
If you think the economy is on the right track, vote for Hillary.
If you think there is nothing shady going on with the Federal Reserve, vote for Hillary.
If you are ok with high government officials blatantly violating the law, somehow avoiding prosecution, and lying about it, vote for Hillary.
If you think voter fraud is acceptable, vote for Hillary.
If you think globalism first, America second, vote for Hillary.
If you want to go to war with Russia, vote for Hillary.
If you want a President with a thirty-year record of dishonesty and corruption, vote for Hillary.
If you think the healthcare provided to our veterans is adequate, vote for Hillary.
If you think anyone who supports Trump belongs in a "basket of deplorables", vote for Hillary.
If you think someone involved in scandals such as Benghazi, the Clinton Foundation, the House Post Office, bimbo eruptions, private email server, collusion with the media, Whitewater, and quid pro quo/pay to play scams, vote for Hillary.
If you think Margaret Sanger and Saul Alinsky are ideal role models, vote for Hillary.
If you believe in open borders and no enforcement of current immigration laws, vote for Hillary.
If you believe there is no difference between an abortion and elective surgery, vote for Hillary.
If you believe the Supreme Court is a tool to be used to advance a political agenda and to create rights not enumerated in the Constitution, vote for Hillary.
If you believe the power of the federal government should be expanded, vote for Hillary.
If you think the economy is on the right track, vote for Hillary.
If you think there is nothing shady going on with the Federal Reserve, vote for Hillary.
If you are ok with high government officials blatantly violating the law, somehow avoiding prosecution, and lying about it, vote for Hillary.
If you think voter fraud is acceptable, vote for Hillary.
If you think globalism first, America second, vote for Hillary.
If you want to go to war with Russia, vote for Hillary.
If you want a President with a thirty-year record of dishonesty and corruption, vote for Hillary.
If you think the healthcare provided to our veterans is adequate, vote for Hillary.
If you think anyone who supports Trump belongs in a "basket of deplorables", vote for Hillary.
If you think someone involved in scandals such as Benghazi, the Clinton Foundation, the House Post Office, bimbo eruptions, private email server, collusion with the media, Whitewater, and quid pro quo/pay to play scams, vote for Hillary.
If you think Margaret Sanger and Saul Alinsky are ideal role models, vote for Hillary.
Friday, October 14, 2016
Dump Trump
A friend recently posed the question: What would Donald Trump have to do for you to withdrawal your support for him. Below are some thoughts:
If, as a young man, he had been fired for being unethical and dishonest and then spent the next thirty years of his life being unethical and dishonest.
If he endorsed Obamacare.
If he endorsed the practice of abortion.
If, when asked about the Supreme Court, he stated that he would require activist jurists that uphold abortion and gay marriage.
If he promised to further restrict our Second Amendment rights.
If he declared that he wants to flood the country with illegal immigrants and ignore current immigration law.
If he was responsible for the death of four Americans including an ambassador and then lied about the incident.
If he became an advocate for taking economy-killing measures to fight the hoax known as climate change/global warming.
If he kept talking about going to war with Russia.
If he committed a felony and corrupted the FBI in order to avoid an indictment.
If he declared that he wants to expand common core and federal control over our schools.
If he had used a foundation with his last name on it to enrich himself and peddled influence to donators.
If he pledged his allegiance to "deplorables" like Saul Alinsky and/or Margaret Sanger.
If he lied about landing in a foreign country under sniper fire.
If he was susceptible to blackmail by countless foreign entities and foreign intelligence agencies.
If, as a young man, he had been fired for being unethical and dishonest and then spent the next thirty years of his life being unethical and dishonest.
If he endorsed Obamacare.
If he endorsed the practice of abortion.
If, when asked about the Supreme Court, he stated that he would require activist jurists that uphold abortion and gay marriage.
If he promised to further restrict our Second Amendment rights.
If he declared that he wants to flood the country with illegal immigrants and ignore current immigration law.
If he was responsible for the death of four Americans including an ambassador and then lied about the incident.
If he became an advocate for taking economy-killing measures to fight the hoax known as climate change/global warming.
If he kept talking about going to war with Russia.
If he committed a felony and corrupted the FBI in order to avoid an indictment.
If he declared that he wants to expand common core and federal control over our schools.
If he had used a foundation with his last name on it to enrich himself and peddled influence to donators.
If he pledged his allegiance to "deplorables" like Saul Alinsky and/or Margaret Sanger.
If he lied about landing in a foreign country under sniper fire.
If he was susceptible to blackmail by countless foreign entities and foreign intelligence agencies.
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