06 November 2012

Highway to Hell


The results are in: President Obama has won reelection. Before I close my eyes tonight, I wanted to capture some of my thoughts. These thoughts are uncensored and “raw”; not shaped or crafted to look or sound good, but simply to record my ideas, feelings, and attitudes for what I see is a misstep for this country.

I do not like the path America is on and feel it will lead us down a path to destruction. The results of today's election moved us farther down the path. It appears that we are rapidly moving away from "the land of the free and the home of the brave" to the land of Give Me Something free and the home of the depraved. I, and it appears there are many with my same belief, believe we are in the fast lane to a socialistic state. A state in which the Government continues to:

·       Centralize federal government by limiting the powers of individual and collective States.
·       Increase in size, and power and exert unrealistic control(s) over capitalism and the free market.
·       Redistribute wealth from those who have taken risks and are successful, to those who have chosen to rely upon the government and its increasing number of entitlement programs.
·       Subject USA sovereignty to global control and oversight.
·       Increase populace dependency on the State.
·       Open borders and allowing anyone to become a citizen.
·       Expand the definition of family, while decreasing the value and sanctity of human life.
·       Dismantle our military and intelligence-gathering abilities.
·       Support and demand tolerance of religious beliefs, as long as those beliefs are not Judea-Christian.
·       Limit and even try to prevent legal gun ownership.
·       Limit free speech.
These are not the tenants or basis for which our Founding Fathers fought to create our great Nation. They intended to give us the greatest level of living that limited the power of government. In their attempt to limit government, they crafted the US Constitution. Its Seven Articles, establish and define a federal government, specifically limiting its enumerated powers. This document states with specificity and certainty, that our liberties or rights are God-given and not provided by the government. The Founding Fathers thought the rights deemed most important, are specifically listed in the Bill of Rights. It further states, that even if a right is not recorded or written, we the people still retain those rights and the government cannot take them from us. This administration is attempting to do just that. What they are proposing is not new. Like other attempts, it will fail. Just look at recent news of Greece, Spain, Italy and France. I believe nothing happens in all of creation that does not pass over God’s desk. He either specifically allows things to happen or causes them to happen. I do not know which of these two applies to this event, but it does not matter. As a bit of irony, as I write this I'm listening to the radio, and AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" came on in mid-paragraph. I guess I was just given the title of this piece. We are a great country, but our mindset and values have changed. I am reminded of John F. Kennedy's question in his inaugural address, "...ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country". As we move towards a land of takers than a land of givers, we move closer to a place in which we cannot sustain ourselves.

Many of you know I study Eschatology or End Time Prophecy. In my many years of study, I have specifically searched for USA involvement. Without going too deep or exegeting the scriptures, allow me to just summarize. USA is not included in End Time events. Something must happen that removes the world’s leader in economy, military, technology, and lifestyle from the global picture. It could be something as simple as the Rapture which would remove all the born-again Christians from the world. This would leave huge holes in industry, government, military, etc, that would impede efficient and effective operation. Another possibility is total economic collapse. Without a viable, sustainable economy, the USA would be unable to support its military, thus making us ineffective in global affairs. Please do not misunderstand—I am not standing on a mountaintop shouting to all that the election results will usher in the “end of the world”. No. I state it only to provide some insight into what happens to the USA. It takes more than the actions of one man to usher in the “days of Noah”.

So, what are we to do? How should we respond to the election? Well, I will do what I have done under any president whether I voted for him or not. I pray that God grant them unmeasured wisdom and discernment and the ability to look beyond personal accolades. I pray the president will be the one that sets the tone for the country. I pray he will not close his eyes and ears to others. Specifically, for this president, I pray he tries harder in this term to work across the aisle, something he did not do in his first term. I pray he set the example: an example of humility and humble himself to the burdens the Office brings with it. I hope and pray we as a country have brighter days ahead. The Republicans in the House can choose to try and work across the aisle or they can become bitter and block good legislation. The Democrats under the leadership of POTUS can choose to lead the entire country or can attempt to push leftist, liberal policies in an attempt to “payback” the Country. As John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address in 1961, "So let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate". We need our elected officials to seek the best solutions for all of America, not just a select few. We need our elected officials to quit fighting so that they can have a moral win. Because when they win, America loses.

Now is the time to put the campaigns behind us and look to the future. In doing so, perhaps we can return to the days of Reagan and O’Neill. In many of my comments, I reference those days when they debated policy all day, and then came together each evening for dinner, drinks, and jokes. They counted each other as trusted friends. Additionally, I would like each branch of the government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) to use the Constitution as a road map and get this country back on the path the Founding Fathers set for us. A path that steers us clear of the "Highway to Hell".

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." - Patrick Henry

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