Supporting Those Who Can Win

Supporting Those Who Can Win - Some Thoughts
Written by Scott Cooper

There are individuals out there who are focused on “Who Can Win,” and that is how they choose their candidates.  Do they mean winning like John McCain?  Do they mean winning like Bob Dole?  You can take this analogy to every level of race, from President to U.S. Senate to Congress on down.  I am tired of hearing establishment people saying we need to get behind the candidate who can win. 

For example, we have Virginians who say that all the time about a candidate for U.S. Senate, who actually lost in 2006.  They are getting behind the candidate who lost in 2006, because he is the only candidate who can win.

Hmmmmmm.

I want to get behind the candidate who is right for America – who is consistent, honest, ethical, and doesn’t have a history of being on the wrong side of the issues.  I would rather get behind the right candidate and lose – than put all my chips in the best funded, best dressed individual and longest elected office resume. 

Our founders intended citizen legislators – folks who served for a time, then returned to the industries they worked so hard to legislate.   We need to steer our country back from the brink – and electing people who helped get us there is not the right course.  The time to restore the concept of Citizen led government is now.

After reading this, if you want to help, we need re-enforcements.  In the words of Samuel Adams, "It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."  If you are ready to join the minority that is fighting for your freedoms, please check out:

http://virginiateapartypatriots.com/ – In Virginia

http://www.teapartypatriots.org/ – Nationwide

This tireless minority is making a huge impact.  The slander you hear from the main stream media about The Tea Party is all you need as proof.

This Photo belongs to the book, written by Richard A. Viguerie.  The Credit for this photo belongs to him and his publisher.  I strongly recommend reading this book.  If you are not yet engaged in the process, after reading this book, you will want to be engaged.  

Cleaning Up The Cobwebs of 2011

Cleaning Up The Cobwebs of 2011
Written by Scott Cooper

The remaining days of 2011 have seen me cleaning up the final details and clearing out all the remaining cobwebs of 2011 and preparing to go into 2012 with a battle plan for success.

I don’t care what our President says – 2012 is going to be the best sales year for me personally, and for the company’s I work for.  With the fervor or electing new leadership in Washington, I believe it is going to a great year for many. 

President Obama and his minions can continue preach class warfare, which truly is a war on the productive, all they want but I am still going to be as productive as possible, and the entrepreneurs I associate with continue to strive for excellence in all things.  While I know many have started to “Shrug” in the last couple years, I pray that most will not.  The Rhetoric that we have listened to since 2008 is on its way out.  It will no longer be in vogue after November. 

With whatever success God grants us – Let us seek to do as much possible through private charity, and while doing what is required, give as little as possible to the government bureaucracy, which has taught us over and over and over that it is the worst steward of resources.  Look at my Cover Photograph on my Facebook page and you have a visual image of the level of productivity our Federal Government.  It is an aerial photograph of The Department of Agriculture:

Yes – you are seeing things correctly – that is 7 massive buildings, circled by a ring of a building that goes four city blocks, connected to another series of buildings by two bridges that cross Independence Avenue.   That is but one department in Washington that is out of touch with reality.  When was the last time you spoke with a local farmer?  Take the time to do so, and you will know what I am talking about.

Our President continues to state the productive should pay more.  Well, the Productive demand a Return On our Investment (ROI), and we do not see it.  The Federal Bureaucracy comes up lacking.  The idea of creating and living by a budget is out of their grasp.

May God Bless you in 2012 – If you have not already, I hope you will strive for Individual Rights, The Rule of Law and Free Markets in all that you do! 

2012 is going to be a GREAT year!

Challenging The Establishment

Challenging the Establishment

Written by Scott Cooper

December 3, 2011

The sad reality is, by the time the grassroots leaders that are studying and are rising up to bring our country back from the brink have turned this country around, most of the political leaders who led our country to the fiscal ruin we currently are in will have passed away from old age, likely having enjoyed luxurious retirements at the expense of taxpayers. 

The political leaders of the last two decades have allowed pork-barrel, earmark laden bills to go through congress, knowing full well they were purchasing re-elections on borrowed money.  While they would personally benefit greatly, others would be left to clean up the mess – likely after they retired or were gone from the earth.

Today, those who have been called to clean up the mess are getting educated.  The grassroots leaders that are rising up now are like our founders, are sacrificing and risking everything to fight a system that is completely out of control. 

In order to reclaim our system we will face fierce opposition from those who have been purchased through government largesse.  That is a battle worth fighting, because ultimately I believe the American people will understand the gravity of the situation and will buy into doing whatever it takes to keep America strong.  That is what makes America great – the American public always rises to the occasion to do the hard thing. 

What distresses me, is not the battle ahead to convince normal American’s of our perilous situation.  No, what creates great trepidation is the battle ahead that these newly rising grassroots leaders will face with establishment politicians who have for decades claimed to be conservative, yet bought into the earmark and pork laden legislation and fiscal irresponsibility that they should have fought against.  Rather than leading on the fiscal issues that are causing this crisis, the played along to get along.  Now they have been caught – and a storm is brewing against them.  Like King George, they will fight to stay in power.

The war ahead to bring true conservatives to power will be long and hard.  We certainly will not win every battle (election).  However when we put up a great fight in the first skirmish (primary/convention), it will yield results none the less, for it will create an elected official who will be more cautious as he/she votes, for they now know we are watching.  Yes – we are watching like hawks, and we will be back to fight the next skirmish (primary/convention) should you give us good cause.

Today, our battle is fought at the ballot box – and the skirmish must begin at the primary (or in Virginia, Convention).  The key is to ensure we engage in the primary when the establishment politician does not rank at least a 90 % favorability rating on our conservative issues.  For far too long our elected officials and career politicians have gone unchecked and unchallenged.  Those days must cease, if we are to return to fiscal sanity. 

We each must find those who have stepped up to challenge the career politician in a primary and lend them our support.  This task of challenging someone in a primary is daunting, and those who are engaged in this process need the support of countless citizens – they cannot fight the battle alone. 

If you are not yet engaged in this process yet – new recruits are needed.  Enlist today!

www.VirginiaTeaPartyPatriots.com

www.TeaPartyPatriots.org

In the end, like the American Patriots of the late 18^th century eventually took power from the out of control government of their day, the Patriots of the early 21^st century will also win back control from our out of control government, and the Republicans who abandoned conservative fiscal responsibility.  There may be trepidation, and distress among those who are fighting this battle, but in the end we know we are on the right side of history, and with Providential help, we will prevail!

It's Time to Stop Yelling At The TV!

It's Time to Stop Yelling At The TV!
Written by Scott Cooper
December 2, 2011

To my friends sitting at home screaming at the T.V. set, while they watch the news each night, I feel your pain.  To those who have pulled the plug and are no longer watching, I feel your pain.  When you are ready to stop screaming or put the plug back in and actually get engaged in the battle – please give me a call.  I can put you in contact with people that are working to restore our country. 

Watching the TV is great to educate – but it does not win the battle.  Help us, and get engaged!

www.VirginiaTeaPartyPatriots.com

www.TeaPartyPatriots.org

Conservative Grassroots Activists – Build One Another Up!

Conservative Grassroots Activists – Build One Another Up!

Written by Scott Cooper
December 1, 2011
___________________________________________________

To those who are working full time hours in this UNPAID work called conservative grassroots activism – let us encourage one another.  Let us help each other build on our individual strengths.  Let us NOT tear down or discourage when we fail – but come along side in positive fashion to pick up the slack or help find someone else who can.

We are all human.  We are all growing in a calling that most of us don’t want to be doing – but we feel we must. 

To tear someone down who is working tirelessly in a cause we honestly need MORE people to get engaged in is short sighted. 

If we are ideologically and philosophically on the exact same page – we must build one another up.  Let us focus on the big picture – the long range plan.  We need each other.  Together we win.  Divided we will fail.

Primaries (Conventions in Virginia) - A Significant Segment of the War At Hand

Primaries (Conventions in Virginia) – A Significant Segment of the War At Hand!

Written by Scott Cooper

November 22, 2011

Establishment Republicans across our republic are beginning to learn the word Primary.  They will be facing a lot of them in the future.

I just spent some time reviewing the number of primary challenges that establishment Republicans have faced in the last 20 - 30 years, and the number is remarkably – no extremely – no pathetically low. 

We the people have allowed our Republican leaders to go with the status quo.  We have allowed them to go along to get along.  We have allowed them to “Manage” vs. “Lead.”  We the people are to blame that we have not paid attention or cared that they did not hold true to the stated core values of the Republican Party.  That being said, we hold Republicans who have held elected office during these last two decades responsible for the mess we are in – because they could have prevented this financial mess, and did not – especially those who held power when the Senate, House and Executive branches were all held by Republicans and nothing was done to even slow the pace of our fiscal crisis.

The radical left is what aroused the sleeping giant known as The Tea Party, but it is NOT the radical left that has our attention right now.  During the course of the last two years we have studied how we got in the financial predicament we are in and we have discovered that the core elements of the party most closely aligned with our philosophical view has allowed their own stated core values to be betrayed.  We have been betrayed by those who have claimed to be conservative, but do not vote or lead in the conservative fashion.  Our initial focus may have been at the left – but that has changed.

Primary(Convention in Virginia) is not a word that incumbents of either party have really been worried about in recent years – but it is a word that will become very well used in the coming decades, especially in the Republican Party.

People often ask, when will the next Ronald Reagan emerge?  Based on the 1976 Primary between Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, my guess is that the next Ronald Reagan is currently preparing for or is currently engaged in a primary battle against either an incumbent or establishment Republican!

President Obama's Philosophy Leads to Covetousness and Contempt

President Obama's Philosophy Leads to Covetousness and Contempt
Written by Scott Cooper
October 14, 2011

When I was a child, under The Reagan Administration, I was inspired to become an entrepreneur – someone who would use my gifts and talents to become all I could be and to earn as much as I possibly could, not only for self interest, but because wealth was also the source of doing good for others.  That value had a lot to do with my upbringing of course, but it was also reinforced by our president.

Today we have a President who attacks the wealthy, despite the fact they are the source of great good in our republic.  He does not commend the work they do – but criticizes them for not doing more.  He does not inspire youth to become great, because they see that leads to others coveting what everything the successful have achieved.

I could write more – but I just want to say I am thankful I grew up in the era of Ronald Reagan, for if I was a youth today – and I studied the covetous attitude of our leadership in the Whitehouse I would be greatly troubled and have a hard time moving into my future.

My prayer is that this covetous president who does not inspire success, but breeds contempt for it will be a one term president – and we will elect leaders who will encourage us to use our gifts and talents to become all God created us to be.

It Is Time To Be Bold and Courageous

It Is Time To Be Bold and Courageous
Written by Scott Cooper
October 10, 2011

Those that got on boats to come to this great land, regardless of the century, did not do so for security – they did so for freedom.  Many of them did so for religious freedom.  Those that established this republic did not do so for security.  They established this republic for freedom.  Those who have fought and died for this republic these last 235 years did not do so for security – they did so to protect our freedoms.

Those that are protesting for the right to a job, the right to healthcare, the right to free education, the right, the right, the right…..  These folks are not fighting for what made our republic great – they are fighting for an ideology that has yet to succeed on any continent, in any country at any point in the history of the world.

Are we going to allow them to succeed?  We currently see this fight being fought in the streets of multiple cities in our republic, through national museums being closed/occupied in Washington, DC, and state capitals being occupied like we saw in Wisconsin this year.  More importantly, this is an ideological war that is being fought in the electoral process which begins long before election-day.  It begins in the identification of leaders – the training of leaders and the financial and sweat equity support of leaders who will choose to represent you at School Board, City Council’s, County Supervisor’s, and a whole host of constitutional offices. 

The left has a belief that no office is to small.  They have strategically infiltrated every level of our government and every avenue of our society, while many of us were completely disengaged from this process, living our lives.  We had the freedom to live our lives, the freedom to be disengaged and the freedom to ignore this process.  Today, we continue to be free to live our lives, the freedom to be disengaged and the freedom to ignore this process.  That being said, we are rapidly approaching the time where we will no longer have that freedom to simply ignore and continue to enjoy freedom – our republic will be lost.

Unfortunately, there are many in the faith community who believe that our focus should not be on temporal government at all, but solely on the Great Commission as laid out in Matthew 28:19 + 20.  To those, I have two thoughts: 

First, why should we make it a choice, and not be engaged in both?  I do not understand why it should be a choice, yet I hear within the Christian Community voices that say focus on civil governance is misplaced and we should exclusively be focused on winning souls.  I think that is a false choice, and ultimately when I study our culture, I think we are losing both efforts.  I choose to be engaged in both.

Second, the often quoted verse “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” makes a nice plaque to hang on a wall or be placed on a bumper sticker – but how is that verse quantified?  Two thoughts:  First, it is quantified by those we have with us on the other side of the veil, who have arrived there at least in part due to our influence.  Second, it is quantified by how we influence culture and the civil arena.  This verse, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” is at the end of the biography of Joshua – a temporal leader who God had anointed to lead – in civil governance.  That is the end of his life.  The beginning of the book should also be a focus, where God charged him to go in and claim the promised-land. 

Joshua 1:6-9 “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.  Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.  This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

God has granted us, the American church the opportunity to be strong and courageous.  He has granted us an unprecedented opportunity in history to be engaged in the process by which we select our leadership, and place men and women of character who will heed the admonition given to Joshua into positions of authority.  This unprecedented opportunity is at all levels, but especially local – not just high office.  By and large we have abdicated that God granted responsibility.  Studies show that roughly 50 % of evangelicals are registered to vote, and that only 2/3’s of those registered actually turn out to vote. 

These statistics show a lack of strength and courage.  Indeed, if our country is lost to a minority held worldview, I believe that these statistics indicate that we will be able to lay the blame of our demise at the feet of the American church. 

I reflect on the German church in the 1930’s, who in exchange for a savior, in exchange for comfort and in exchange for security allowed outrageous atrocities to take place.  I am not suggesting that such atrocities are in the works at this point in history – I am not – I am simply using a modern day example of how people of faith so disengaged from civil governance that they were allowed to be co-opted by a minority held view of the world.

Let us be bold and courageous.  Let us engage in the process of civil governance and influence not only civil governance, but our culture and ultimately win the right to share with others the great commission.  We must be engaged in both.  We must be engaged at all levels.  Finally, if we are not engaged yet, the time to get engaged is now – and use your sphere of influence to get other non-participants engaged.  In the end, the results are in God’s hands.  Our duty is not the result, but to be faithful in our action. 

My Rant For The Day - I Don't Know What Else To Call It.

Written by Scott Cooper
September 21, 2011

So the front page of today’s WSJ says “Home Forecast calls for PAIN - Prices to stumble to 2015.”  Further into the article, “consumer spending stifled and more pushed into foreclosure.”

Hmmm.  Wasn’t it three years ago President Bush “Abandoned the free market in order to ‘save’ the free market?”  Here we are three years later, and we are considering more spending and more bailout – and we continue to push recovery into the future.

This weekend I had the pleasure of speaking with a woman who escaped Romania during the height of communism in that country.  The stories she told were gut wrenching – and can be read first hand in her book Echo’s of Communisim – Lessons from an American by Choice written by Dr. Ileana Johnson Paugh.  Today – Romania is freer than we are.  How sad is that?

Here are a couple thoughts:

1. Let’s never again try loaning money to people who can’t afford it. (pushed by the government since implantation of CRA and expansion of Freddie and Fannie).
2. Let’s encourage our citizens to spend only what they have money for – and stop using the equity of the roofs over our heads to purchase cars, boats and consumer merchandise that does not ever appreciate in value.  (Encouraged by President Bush after 9/11/01).
3. Let’s stop borrowing money from China and the Fed to give to states – to fund projects that should be paid for by the states to begin with.
4. Let’s elect local and state leaders who are tired of and will DEFEAT career politicians who see Federal Grants, not as a way for our republic get deeper in debt – but rather as a way to make them look good by brining money to our localities.  Money that is borrowed money that will end up enslaving us.
5. Let’s elect leaders who inspire us to be self-reliant and independent citizens – who encourage us to use our God given talents and abilities to take us as far as those talents and abilities can take us – vs. creating a dependency on Government and a fear of becoming “too successful” due to constant class warfare rhetoric. 
6. Let’s elect leaders who see private charity as the most cost effective, well run and compassionate charity that exists.  Individuals who are tired of government programs where bureaucrats earn 6 figure incomes implementing programs that fail – while private groups are accomplishing great things on shoe string budgets.  Private charities that employ people because they feel called to use their gifts and talents in those capacities – rather than occupy a desk simply for the six figure income, retirement and outrageously non-competitive compensation packages compared to private and non-profit workers. 
7. Let us pray for people within the bureaucracy to be bold and courageous – to stand up and say “enough is enough.”  Individuals who will say, “I am not going to purchase another thing – simply because it is the end of the fiscal year – and I am more concerned about my budget increase next year than I am about the well being of our republic.  I am not going to push a program that is failing simply because I am concerned about my retirement and benefits.  I won’t sit idly by any longer and watch my country go down the tubes – because I am primarily motivated by my self-interest.”

Our founders risked everything – their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor – because they believed in individual rights – not collective rights.  They believed in Freedom.  It is time for a new generation of Founders to rise up and say enough is enough. 

Inaction in this battle is indeed action.  It is action by default.  What action are you taking?

"Those Who Throw Dirt, Lose Ground"

Those Who Throw Dirt, Lose Ground
Written by Scott Cooper

Ten years ago today, I did not know that I was less than one month away from completing my career in the travel industry.  Twelve days from Thursday August 30, 2001 an event would take place that would put the nails in the coffin of my career in the travel industry.  Of course, the day I am referring to is September 11, 2001. 

That was a day that impacted everyone’s life.  I am sure that in the next 12 days I will be writing more about my thoughts of that day, and how its impact has changed our lives.  There is no doubt, with my concern about Sharia Law being in opposition to Constitutional Law, I will reflect on the terrorism, and the philosophical views of those who flew planes into buildings that day.  I am sure, since it is the 10^th anniversary of that dreadful day, we will be reading, hearing and viewing a lot about that day, and what has taken place since.   Today I am not writing about September 11^th, but a lesson I learned from a mentor, a very successful entrepreneur, during my final days in the travel industry.

Prior to September 11^th, I had the privilege of working for an entrepreneur who was extremely successful.  Today, he is probably in his mid-70’s, which means he was in his mid-60’s when he invested time with me, a young lad, ages 31 and 32 at the time!

He started his professional life as an engineer; however early in his career decided to pursue his desire to be an entrepreneur, in charge of his own destiny.  During the course of 35 years, by the time I got to know and work for him, he and his wife had built quite an enterprise.  He was in charge of multiple businesses, in more than one industry, in several states.  Even though the events of September 11 and declining business took me out of my “mentorship” with him, I remember many things about him. 

He was a professional engineer by trade, who had advanced degrees; however he taught me that most of what he learned that had made him successful was dealing with people.  Both he and his wife had a tremendous ability to make everyone feel comfortable and cared about.  They did little things to ensure each of their employees were appreciated – like the time, out of the blue, he mailed my sons “scooters” just because he thought they each needed one!

Although he was extremely successful, if you met him on the street or in public, you would not know it by his lifestyle.  He drove a modest car, and with the exception of when we attended an important meeting – his favorite outfit were jeans and a t-shirt.

I mention him today, because this week I have been thinking about a lesson he taught me.

This week, I have been thinking about the climate where people feel it necessary to tear individuals down, even to the point of telling lies.  This is something that unfortunately is commonplace in the world of politics.  I am thinking of one conservative political candidates run in with supposed “Conservative Bloggers” who attempted to make her look foolish and derail her campaign, with no validity behind their allegations.  They told lies that to date, cannot be substantiated with video or audio, despite our living in a “New Media” digital age.  I am not going to mention the campaign or situation, because I know those who read this and are familiar with the situation will know what I am referring to – and posting links to the situation does no one any good.  But the situation this week has made me think about my old boss and mentor, and some advice he gave me on more than one occasion.

During my relationship with this employer / mentor, we were engaged in development projects that included many individuals and companies.  There were multiple occasions where it was apparent that individuals or companies that were attempting to do business with us were completely crooked, partially dishonest or simply untrustworthy.  I remember on more than one occasion after we had already determined we would not be working with said individual or company, I would attempt to bring up a situation where these individuals or companies had a reputation or tendency to be bad, and the response from my mentor was always – “Now Scott – those who throw dirt, lose ground.”

He never indicated to me that he was unaware of the facts, or that he was willing to do business with folks who did not meet his ethical standard.  He simply indicated that we weren’t going to talk negatively about anyone.  If we knew the facts, we simply moved on to find another individual or company that met his standard.  He was a firm believer in, “we will know them by their fruits” and he left it there. 

This man is a doer, someone who liked to accomplish things – and did not waste his energy, time or any other resource in speaking negatively against another human being or company, because at the end of the day, he knew their actions would reveal themselves and would ultimately be manifested in the type of fruit they would harvest.  Investing his energy in tearing someone down would never help him accomplish his goals, so that is not where he placed his effort.

There are a lot of applications to this lesson he taught me.  I thought enough of it, that I remember it to this day.  There is a specific reason it clicked in my mind this week, but perhaps it will have another application for you.  It is worth remembering.

Those who throw dirt, lose ground.

Perhaps one adaptation – “Those who throw dirt, whether the dirt is true or fabricated, lose ground.”



The Next Greatest Generation

The Next Greatest Generation
Written by Scott Cooper
August 16, 2011

As we speed down the super-highway towards financial Armageddon, each of us must ask ourselves, as individuals – am I a giver or am I a taker?  Will I help prevent the collapse, or will I enhance it?    Am I okay with my grandkids having a lesser lifestyle, paying my debt so that I don’t have to sacrifice? 

The fact is, if we do not stop the Ferrari speeding down this financial super-highway, it will lead to the end of our republic.  We will be responsible for our republics demise.

Over the course of the last several decades, government revenue has gone up consistently, as has government spending.  Raising more revenue is not the solution.  Individual and fiscal responsibility is.  We must realize that the entitlement mentality and dependency that our government has created and forced upon us is unsustainable. 

Ultimately, the takers do not care about the future of our republic – and they currently are in control.  They are the most vocal. 

Most troubling is the silence of the millions who are not yet ready to personally engage in this battle and sacrifice.  By their silence, they indicate that they are on the side of the takers.  Unless this changes, our republic will collapse.  Are you one of the silent ones?

If you are willing to sacrifice in order to steer us back to the right track – what does that mean you are willing to give up?  How are you going to formulate that in your own mind, and then begin to prepare for your own independence from whatever dependency you must give up, and then articulate that to the powers that be?  This is not going to be an easy task, because literally everyone is on the take – from Agriculture subsidies, home mortgage interest deductions, all the way to cell phone subsidies.  This is a huge problem, but I believe the American people can rise to the occasion. 

I don’t believe that the generation of the 1940’s alone was the greatest generation.  I believe that our grandkids will refer to us as “the next” greatest generation.

Our grandparents were amazing people.  Many went off to foreign lands to fight tyranny.  Those that remained at home focused all their attention on basic survival and producing for the war effort.  Women and children both took on important jobs that they had never done, or even considered doing before.  The financial sacrifice they gave was phenomenal.  Of those that did not leave their jobs to go fight the war, many returned to their “home-place” to live with extended family, in order to make ends meet and support their extended family.  The sacrifice at home was just as significant as the sacrifice that was given on the battlefields thousands of miles away from home.  Nothing can ever be taken away from their sweat, toil, blood and sacrifice.  Their sacrifice saved freedom for the world – for our parents, and for our generation.  For that, we are eternally grateful.

Now it is our turn.  The reason I believe our grandchildren will look back and refer to us as the “new” greatest generation, is because while our grandparents went to foreign lands to fight tyranny, our generation must rise up to fight against tyranny in our own land.  We will even be required to intellectually fight against tyranny with well-meaning people we have considered friends.  This is going to include fighting to dismantle the bureaucracy we have allowed our Federal, State and Local governments to create.  These bureaucracies are growing at exponential, unsustainable rates.  Many will fight indefinitely to keep this leviathan, not because it is right, but because it is in their self-interest to do so.  That is ok, many colonists in the war of 1776 stood with the king as well.

My entire life I have heard about “The Draft.”  Being born in the late 1960’s, I was not subject to it.  Well, let me assure you, there is currently a draft taking place in our country today.  Actually it is a voluntary enlistment.  This enlistment effort to save our republic is not taking place by governments at any level or even at the political party level.  Both parties have led us to the brink of this disaster – do we really believe they can rescue us from precipice of collapse? 

The new “Draft / Enlistment” is a call to action by the citizenry.  Like King George was not fond of the early American Patriots – Our current administration (Vice President Biden) refers to this citizenry as terrorists.   

A mental picture of our enlistment effort is in the movie “The Patriot” when Benjamin Martin and his son split up and go into the communities and churches to find recruits.  Their effort was a grassroots effort to enlist all able bodied men to fight off a tyrannical king.  I love the scene where Gabriel is in the church pleading for individuals to join the fight and no one would take a stand.  Finally, it took his future bride, a female to inspire men to action.

What will it take to inspire you to action? 

This war is not going to be fought with bullets and battle ships, but it does require huge sacrifice.  It requires able bodies to sacrifice time, talent AND financial resources. 

Do you have some T.V. time, some golf time, some scrap-booking time, and some financial resources from eating out three times a week that you can give to this cause?  Our sacrifice is nothing in comparison to what our grandparents gave – yet like them, the freedom of our grandkids is at stake.  It is worth the sacrifice.

This war is going to be fought in local elections.  It is going to be fought in School Board Meetings.  It is going to be fought in City Council and County Supervisor Meetings.  It is going to be fought in “County Green Committee” meetings (who even know such things existed).  It is going to be fought at state legislatures.  It is going to be fought at your desk, studying idiotic regulations that are taking place in education departments, environmental departments, agriculture departments etc. – all of which are well funded machines, funded with YOUR tax money.  Notice I did not mention the Presidency or even the Federal level – because the true battles are in our back yard.  I HATE going to meetings.  That said, I would much rather spend some time going to meetings that have been infiltrated with leftists, than be required to go fight in the trenches of WWII.

If we engage the enemy locally, we will win – and those victories will ultimately find thier way to the Federal level.

Your help is needed.  Reinforcements are required.  Unlike the war of 1776, we will not have any French ships coming to back us up – your enlistment is required.  Will you enlist – or will you be a “draft dodger?”

In Virginia – to find a group near you where you can lend your time, talents and financial resources – please check out

http://virginiateapartypatriots.com/

If you are outside of Virginia – to find a group near you, please check out:

http://www.teapartypatriots.org/

I hope you will join what I believe will indeed be “the next” greatest generation. 

We have discovered our Normandy – and we are storming the beaches! 

Come join us!

A Prayer For Leadership

Standing on principle is an incredibly hard thing to do. 

Let us pray for our leaders to guide the citizenry of our great republic to stand firm for principles worth fighting for.  Our founders provided some amazing principles for us to follow, which need to be emphasized with great fervor again.

Let us pray our leaders will inspire us to be all that we can be, with our God given talents and abilities.

Let us pray our leaders will motivate us to be independent and self-reliant. 

If personally we are not there yet – Let us pray our leaders will challenge us to make it our goal to become self-reliant and independent!  Let them encourage us to be dependent on no man or organization for our sustenance, but with a firm reliance on God to assist us in living up to our potential, that we may provide for ourselves and our families.

Let us pray our leaders would encourage us to do the right thing and help our neighbor and family members who are in need– not because we are forced to – but because it is the right thing to do!  Every one of us knows someone in need – who we can serve right now.  If we do not know someone in that position, our eyes are not truly open. 

Let us pray our leaders will stop promoting class warfare, envy and covetousness.

We still live in the greatest republic in the world.  There are still countless stories of individuals that rise to achieve phenomenal things, without servitude to the state. 

Finally – those leaders that are in power now, that are incapable of providing such guidance, inspiration, motivation, challenge and encouragement – may they be defeated in the very next election cycle, to be replaced by men and woman who are capable of leading us, in these very important areas.

Let us pray daily for God to continue working in the hearts and minds of those individuals He rising up to take the reins of leadership away from those who have led us astray.

Where Are The Leaders Within the Bureaucracy?

Forget the Congress.  What I want to know is how many Patriots are there within the government bureaucracy who see the writing on the wall, but are doing NOTHING to cut their departments budgets?

How many Department Managers continually seek additional funds for their departments, even though our country is bankrupt?

How many Cabinet Members continually seek additional funds for their agencies, even though our country is bankrupt?

How many State and County Government officials continually seek “Grants” which are nothing more than borrowed money from our enemies – to fund their local governments?

We need a groundswell of government workers who will put our republics survival AHEAD OF SELF INTEREST. 

If we do not see this type of financial responsible “revival” in the arena of public service – our republic will not survive.

If you have articles demonstrating government bureaucrats who are indeed fighting this battle and feverously working to reduce their OWN departments and agencies budgets – please share them below.  I would greatly appreciate some encouragement and inspiration in this area.  Thank you!

This is an aerial photograph of The Department of Agriculture in Washington.  WOW – that is one huge monstrosity of a building.  Most of the folks in this building are earning far more than the average family farmer. 

Most of those inside this building are earning salaries and benefit packages far superior to the citizens they regulate.

A Major Benefit of This Grassroots Effort

A Major Benefit of This Grassroots Effort

Almost two years ago I met a family at the 2009 AFP Defending the American Dream Summit in Washington, DC.  They were newly engaged conservatives in the battle to defeat Obamacare.  I made a point to introduce myself to the woman after her speech because she mentioned they resided in the hometown both my parents grew up in, in SC, a place I still visit 2 – 4 times a year.  She spoke eloquently, but said that type of situation was foreign to her.  She said she was a brand new “activist.”  Because of similar interests, and the hometown connection – we have remained in contact via Facebook these past two years.

This week their entire family (of 7) was in Washington DC protesting FDA regulations.  On their way home, they stopped to have dinner with Suzy, David and I in Fredericksburg tonight.  We are planning to get together again in the future when we will be in South Carolina.

Three Saturday’s ago I had the privilege of sharing a meal at Stone Mountain outside of Atlanta with individuals from at least 10 States, who were in Atlanta for the weekend to strategize ways to reclaim our republic for the conservative principles we hold so dear.

In February, at another strategy session in Phoenix I shared several meals with some of those same folks and many others.  One of the couples in Phoenix (their families) had fled Eastern Europe in the 1940’s and then lived through the riots and revolutionary times in France in the 1960’s.  Those folks cautioned about the mentality that was so pervasive in France at that time and shared why they fled Europe to come to America.  They continued to share how, based on their experience they now see how that mentality has infected American Culture and are engaged in the conservative grassroots movement in the US because there is nowhere else to escape to.

While ABSOTULETLY NONE OF US wants to be in this battle to save our republic - we would rather be building our businesses, raising families and pursuing our own happiness; one of the greatest benefits of being a part of this huge grassroots effort is to be building relationships that cross state lines – and literally span our great nation from sea to shining sea.  It truly is an honor and privilege to get to know so many folks from across our republic that possesses a commitment and passion to do good for our country. 

I could write more about this passionate volunteer army of patriots that are sacrificing time, money, and other resources, but I don’t want to write a book. I simply want to reflect on the relationships that are being built.  Many of us, when we sit alone at our desks or computers studying the issues, we become overwhelmed and discouraged – but it is the relationships that are being formed that should help inspire us to press on.  Alone, the task may seem impossible – but as someone said – we outnumber them.  “We surround them.” 

We have some tough roads ahead, but these relationships give me encouragement, and I hope and pray they give you encouragement too.  We will prevail.  And when all is said and done, we will have gotten through the hard times together, and will have built some amazing relationships and friendships along the way – friendships that will last a life time.

Having been on numerous conference calls and in strategy sessions at the local, state and national level clearly we will have disagreements and struggles in coming to consensus on certain items – but in the end after we have prevailed.  We will look back on these trials and be grateful for the skills, talents, leaders and relationships that Providence established through these trials.

I close reflecting on the relationship of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.  Both were on the committee of five to author the Declaration of Independence.  They worked very closely together on that project – then spent time together in Europe representing our new experiment, then both served in The Executive Branch during Adam’s presidency (Jefferson as Vice-President), then, as the political party process started they became bitter rivals for a very long time.  Before their death, 50 years to the day after the signing of The Declaration of Independence, they had reconciled and were Facebook Friends – well, they wrote hand written letters to each other on a pretty regular basis about everything under the sun.  

It is my prayer, that 50 years from now, we will look back on this turbulent time: we will have restored the concept of Federalism, Limited Representative Government, personal responsibility, ended the welfare state, promoted individual charity, individual rights, property rights, the rule of law, restored a strong American work ethic, and most important the importance of virtue and all that entails.  We will also being corresponding with large number of friends, in whatever mode of communication exists at that time, from all across the republic, who never would have even known each other had we not lived in such a time as this.

We The People Are To Blame

There is a huge uproar these days about the direction our republic is headed.  There is a lot of discussion about spending, debt and entitlements.  There are a lot of suggestions out there about what could and should be done.  During these discussions, many display anger and frustration toward our elected officials, but ultimately, all the problems we currently face can be placed right back in our laps.  What is happening today is a direct result of our lack of engagement – or perhaps our engagement, exacerbating the problem.

We have been electing leaders to go to Washington for decades to “bring home the bacon,” when that was never the intent of our founders.  When I think of our founders risking their lives and pledging their sacred honor for our freedom, when I think of the bloody feet of the soldiers in the snow at The Battle of Trenton, to enable our elected leaders today to “go get bacon,” I know they would be disgusted with us. 

Our good intentions are killing us.

In the last century, we allowed our Government to begin a “war on poverty,” (an unwinnable war) which is not defined anywhere in our constitution.  This war has failed miserably and has become rampant with fraud.  I saw first-hand some of those who are defrauding our government while I was in the banking field.  Quite honestly, this war has permitted extended families and churches to shirk their God given responsibilities in this area, “because the government takes care of that.”  It is time the Federal Government had an exit strategy from this war, and placed the responsibility for this where it should really be.

We allowed our government to begin insuring seniors in the last years of their lives, a plan that was never part of the vision for America, and is not defined anywhere in our constitution.  This one area now controls the largest portion of the liabilities that are bankrupting our nation.  In the last few decades our Federal Government has led millions of people to not plan for themselves, but to be dependent on the Federal Government for their existence.  Sadly, I met a lot of these elderly people while I was in the banking field.  In addition, this system has quite honestly permitted extended families and churches to shirk their God given responsibilities in these areas, “because the government takes care of that.”  Our founders did not risk their lives to create a dependency – they wanted to provide freedom for their posterity. 

We allowed our government to take over providing medical care for seniors, another colossal failure. 

This take-over has stifled the free market and created huge opportunities for fraud.  Furthermore, (you probably are catching a theme), this system has permitted extended families and churches to shirk their God given responsibilities in these areas.

We have allowed The Federal Government to federalize education.  Every year we add new federal regulations and increase federal expenditures in this area and we see overall performance continue to decline.  Fortunately we have seen homeschooling and private and charter school’s explode, not only in numbers but also in performance.  Certainly there are some good public schools out there, but on the whole, our investment in Federalized education has not seen a good ROI.  Where we see the best performance taking place is at the lowest level, not the Federal Government, often that level is the homeschool.  This is despite the ever growing size of the Department of Education.

Finally, we have allowed the government to become the fastest growing segment of job growth in our republic.  Despite the lack of success in the areas listed above, as well as so many others – Federal and State Governments continue to hire at record levels.  Having spent 20 years in private industry, this is completely mind boggling to me. 

Up front, let me say, I know countless “Type A,” extremely hard working folks within the federal system, but I do want to refer back to my title, “We The People Are To Blame.”  I have met countless people pursuing jobs within the government, often not because of the great work that they plan on achieving there but simply for security.  Higher salaries, benefits and retirement plans, as well as the fact it is virtually impossible to be fired are the reasons I routinely hear for people seeking jobs at the Federal Level.  Countless people have told me, it is far too risky to go start a business or work in private industry.  During my banking career, I could not tell you the number of people that told me they would wait to purchase the home they had just been pre-qualified for “until after they began working for the government.”  Because they knew their personal risk factor was vastly reduced at that point.    

So it goes back to my second paragraph where I mentioned our routinely, for decades, electing people who could “bring home the bacon.”  Now that the bacon (or the credit line) has virtually run out, should that continue to be our priority?  I say that for our elected officials, but also individually.  We need to stop thinking about “what’s in it for me” and decide if this republic worth saving?  We are rapidly approaching the tipping point, where 51 % of our citizens depend on the government for their sustenance.  That is a huge dilemma.  If we believe the republic is worth saving the question must no longer be “what’s in it for me?”

What is needed now is the hand of God and a couple of generations of Americans who are willing to give back to their country, and perhaps risk everything like our founders.  If we place our resolve, like our founders did, as they closed the Declaration of Independence: “With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,” I believe we can.

Some personal thoughts on what I feel is needed later this week, but a clue to my thoughts were included here.

Blessings to you and yours!

Thoughts on Fathers Day 2011

Thoughts about Fathers’ Day 2011

Today I spent a little time thinking about fathers, fatherhood and of course as always, I spent a little time reflecting on the direction our republic is headed in.  A couple thoughts came to my mind. 

First of all, I am extremely grateful for my father, for several reasons.

My father, through the course of my four decades of life has demonstrated many things to me.  He demonstrated a tremendous work ethic, which has helped shape my life and the way I approach what I do with my time.  Because of his example, some of the energy I spend is dedicated to earning a living for me and my family, but also because of his example I invest time in causes that are greater than our existence.  People sometimes ask me why I invest time in so many things outside of my immediate benefit.  I can honestly point back to my fathers’ example, who while he possessed a PHD and could have focused his entire career on simply earning a living – several times while I was growing up, I witnessed him take lesser paying jobs to participate in an issue that he believed in.

My father also demonstrated the importance of family, in the hard times as well as the good times.  He was blessed with my mother, who also was committed to this effort.  I am not going to list all the difficult times, but there were times, like the death of my brother, that I know applied a lot of stress on our family, and through it all – we remained intact.  This is a testimony to both of my parents.  I have also witnessed my father contribute to extended family in ways that were not required, but he did – because that is the kind of man he is.

Closing my thoughts on my father, I know that in large respect I am the way I am because of his example and the role model he has been for my life.  I also recognize that in large part, he lives his life the way he does due to the impact his father had on his life – especially the example of work-ethic and importance of family, including extended family.  During the great depression, my dad’s dad, my grandfather welcomed the entire extended family (three sisters, their husbands, etc.) return to “the home-place” to live.  They survived together during the hard times – a very large extended family – living off the land, each one contributing.

When I think about our republic today, and the many crisis’s we face, and reflect on Fathers’ Day, I am greatly saddened, because many kids today are growing up without fathers, and without the type of examples I outlined above.  I had a hard time getting current statistics, so these numbers are likely to actually be worse.  Here are a few statistics (If you get tired of the statistics, please skip to the bottom, to see my closing thoughts):

·         According to 72.2 % of the U.S. population, fatherlessness is the most significant family or social problem facing America. Source: National Center for Fathering, Fathering in America Poll, January, 1999.

·         An estimated 24.35 million children (33.5 percent) live absent their biological father.  Source: Krieder, Rose M. and Jason Fields. Living Arrangements of Children 2001. Current Population Reports, p. 70-104. Table 1. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005

·         Of students in grades 1 through 12, 39 percent (17.7 million) live in homes absent their biological fathers. Source: Nord, Christine Winquist, and Jerry West. Fathers' and Mothers' Involvement in their Children's Schools by Family Type and Resident Status. Table 1. (NCES 2001-032). Washington, DC: U.S. Dept of Education, National Center of Education Statistics, 2001.

·         Sixty-three percent of black children, 35% of Hispanic children, and 28% of white children are living in homes absent their biological father. Source: Krieder, Rose M. and Jason Fields. Living Arrangements of Children 2001. Current Population Reports, p. 70-104. Table 1. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005.

·         The 1997 Gallup Youth Survey found the following among U.S. teens:
33 % live away from their father
43% of urban teens live away from their father Source: Youthviews, Gallup Youth Survey 4 (June, 1997).

·         50% of mothers see no value in the fathers continued contact with his children.

·         63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes. [U. S. D.H.H.S. Bureau of the Census]

·         90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.

• 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes. [Center for Disease Control]
• 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes. [Criminal Justice and Behavior, Vol. 14 p. 403-26]
• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes. [National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools]
• 70% of juveniles in state operated institutions come from fatherless homes [U.S. Dept. of Justice, Special Report, Sept., 1988]
• 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home. [Fulton County Georgia Jail Populations and Texas Dept. of Corrections, 1992]
• Nearly 2 of every 5 children in America do not live with their fathers.  [US News and World Report, February 27, 1995, p.39]

Children from fatherless homes are:

• 4.6 times more likely to commit suicide,
• 6.6 times to become teenaged mothers (if they are girls, of course),
• 24.3 times more likely to run away,
• 15.3 times more likely to have behavioral disorders,
• 6.3 times more likely to be in a state-operated institutions,
• 10.8 times more likely to commit rape,
• 6.6 times more likely to drop out of school,
• 15.3 times more likely to end up in prison while a teenager.

As we celebrate fathers’ day, an institution that I think should be celebrated, I could not help but reflect that as a nation, we continually look to higher levels of government to fix our problems.  Government cannot fix this problem – fatherlessness.  Indeed, there are government programs in place that actually exacerbate this problem. 

In my opinion, we will not be able to turn our republic around, if we don’t reverse this terrible trend.  I know it is complicated, and the thoughts toward solutions are too lengthy to write in a simple blog.  Perhaps the most important thing we can do this fathers’ day, is to commit to praying for an end of this scourge of fatherlessness that has plagued our land.  It surely is having a deadly impact on our republic and way of life, and this subject is worthy of our prayers, and effort.