If You Can Keep It!

Scott Cooper

Today millions of Americans will go out to celebrate July 4^th. 

As is often the case these days when I reflect on the liberty our generation has inherited, liberty which is dissipating in our life time - I have a knot in my stomach.  That knot is especially tight today.  Why?  Because today millions upon millions will go out and celebrate their inheritance, then return tomorrow to their lives where they do absolutely nothing to help retain that liberty to pass on to their children and grand-children.

I think of Benjamin Franklin, when he exited Independence Hall on that day and was asked by a woman, “Dr. Franklin, what type of government have you given us?”  His reply – “A Republic, IF you can keep it.”

Will We Keep It?

Our Government was forged in the ideas of Individual Liberty, Personal Responsibility and Private Charity.  We were founded on Independence – thus we celebrate the Declaration of Independence with “Independence Day.” 

So as we celebrate Independence Day today, a valid question of accountability for the government which was formed 13 years after Independence Day by The Constitution, to protect that Independence, should be: Is our government creating an environment which fosters that which we celebrate today, “Independence?”  

I would submit to you, our government has spent over the last half century creating dependency.  With dependency comes control and with greater control comes loss of liberty.  The end result – loss of all that we are celebrating today.  Both parties are to blame for this.  One has created a dependency at the lower level of the society, and one has created dependency through “Crony Capitalism.”  Neither is right – both are against our principles, and both are contributing to the loss of the Liberty we celebrate today.

Will We Keep It?

Two personal experiences come to mind this morning:

1.            Beginning in 2010, I had the privilege of participating in several parades – walking with a conservative who was working hard to get elected.  The parades were always centered on some piece of American History.  I vividly remember one of these parades, as I was shaking hands meeting folks being asked by a group on the sidewalk – “If I vote for your candidate, what are they going to give me?” 

Let that sink in, and the consequences of that rampant mentality that has been bred into our society.  Our citizenry looks to our politicians, not as defenders of Individual Liberty, Limited Government and Free Markets, which has created the largest middle class in human history, but as Santa Clause.

2.            In 2008, while still in banking, I began a relationship with a prominent doctor.  Although still in his early 50’s, he was in the final stages of his “exit strategy” from the work he had invested his life in.  His exit had nothing to do with his love of medicine, or his desire to practice.  It had to do with a government that had made it impossible for him to continue practicing.  This man, in the height of his practice during the 1990’s had 17 doctors and over 10 administrative workers in two offices servicing three hospitals.  When I met him in 2008, due to bureaucracy created by government, he had already implemented phase I, which was to become a one doctor operation with one administrative assistant, his wife.  Based on the trends he saw in Washington, he had cut his schedule to ensure his practice never earned more than $ 250,000 again and his plan was to be out of medicine all together within 5 years. 

This is only one of many, many situations in banking that truly caused me to grieve for our country – and the loss of Independence we are experiencing.

Will We Keep It?

We have a great heritage to keep.  We have an inheritance to defend and protect.  We have an obligation to ensure the liberty which has been bequeathed to us isn’t squandered in our lifetime and a huge debt left to our grandkids who aren’t even born yet to pay.

It is only fitting that today we celebrate our Independence.  We should invest time with friends, family and neighbors.  We should do the cookouts.  We should do the parades.  We should spend money on fireworks and festivities.  It is a grand occasion. 

But the question we should all ask ourselves – as we drive home from the fireworks tonight:  “What am I personally doing to ensure we maintain this inheritance so that I may bequeath the same blessings to my children and grandchildren?

Inaction is indeed action.

There Will Be No Draft for this engagement.

A good place to start is to join Tea Party Patriots, and enter your ZIP CODE to find a group near you and get involved.  They are not focused on creating dependency – but holding BOTH political parties accountable to the principles we celebrate today.

Happy Independence Day!  May we bless God again, so that He may choose to bless us!

South Carolina Tea Party Focuses on National Security

Written by:  Scott Cooper

                   

 

It was an honor to play a minor role in the South Carolina State Tea Party Convention last weekend. 

 

Joe Dugan, SC State Coordinator with Tea Party Patriots, as well as the director of the MyrtleBeach Tea Party put together an event that brought together international experts on all the major issues facing our republic, most of which are not being addressed by our elected officials in Washington.

Because of my interest in National Security, my role was to help organize the National Security Panel, which of course dealt with the infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood, The existential threat of Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), and the reality of International Law being implemented in our country.  The panel consisted of my father, Hank Cooper, Chairman of High Frontier; Frank Gaffney, President of The Center for Security Policy, Tom Trento, Director of United West and Decorated Navy Seal.  Each had about 20 minutes to speak, which was followed by a brief panel discussion of the issues they addressed.

 

I want to lead with what was a real honor for me, to have the opportunity to introduce one of my hero’s, a true Patriot, my father, Ambassador Henry Cooper, who spoke about EMP:
 



As you know, I am very engaged in educating the American Citizenry about the infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood into our republic.  Last October, I had the opportunity to host Frank Gaffney in Fredericksburg, VA, where he and Christopher Holton of Center for Security Policy spoke on State Legislative Solutions to the Infiltration of The Muslim Brotherhood in America.  This past Saturday, in Myrtle Beach, Frank gave, as always, an exceptional explanation of the challenges we face.  Unfortunately, the video for that presentation has been taken down; however I would recommend checking out www.MuslimBrotherhoodInAmerica.com to hear his entire course.
 

Mr. Tom Trento provided a motivational speech, referring back to the battle of Trenton, just over 237 years ago, and then he spoke about the threat of International Law:

 

Following Mr. Trento, decorated Navy Seal Benjamin Smith gave an exceptional talk, which was followed by a panel discussion on National Security Issues, by all four speakers:
 

 

The entire Conference was exceptional and Joe Dugan and the entire team deserve to be commended.  I highly recommend watching the entire conference in its entirety, which can be done by CLICKING THIS LINK!

I am working at the state level, with High Frontier to help protect us from these national secuirty threats.  If you would like to help us with this effort, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE. 

 

$ 100, $ 50, $ 25 or even $ 10 a month will go a long way in helping us.

 



 

 



 

               

 

 



Happy Black Friday Day!

Written by Scott Cooper

I am grateful for the many friends, family, and politicians (many who are friends) who sent messages yesterday on Thanksgiving Day.  We do indeed have much to be thankful for.  I chose not to send a Thanksgiving message, not because I am not thankful – I am.  I am thankful for many, many, things.  My wife, my two sons, my extended family, for the education and experiences I have been blessed with, for many material blessings and for the fact I have had the privilege to grow up in the freest and most prosperous republic in the history of the world.

While I am thankful for all those things and more, yesterday I continued to struggle with deep sadness and exhaustion.  My sadness has not to do with the November 6 election, as some might suspect, but the loss of culture, virtue and the Judeo-Christian values that enabled our republic to be the freest and most prosperous republic in history.

My exhaustion is not because I have not had adequate time for sleep or even that I have not slept well these past several weeks.  I have.  At one point in the last several weeks, to the amazement of my wife, I slept through a violent storm, evidence that I am sleeping in peace!  I believe my feeling of exhaustion is because I recognize the amount of the work required to restore our society back to the values that made it so exceptional, and the apathy of so many standing in the way of this restoration.  Again, I am not speaking of elections I am speaking of values.  Without Divine Providence, which our republic’s founders relied so heavily upon, we will not see the restoration of these values. 

Please take a minute to read George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation. (Linked)

Click the link above to read the entire text.  I want to highlight the third paragraph of George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation:

“And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. “

Clearly, George Washington understood that our blessings came from above.  He also understood and promoted that in order to secure continued blessings; we must collectively possess certain traits:

1.      Seek forgiveness of transgressions, both private and public. (Humility)

2.      Perform our individual and collective duties properly and punctually. (Personal Responsibility)

3.      Ensure a government of wise, just and constitutional laws – to be faithfully executed and obeyed. (Accountability)

4.      To bless sovereigns with good government, peace and concord. (Honesty)

5.      To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue.

Using Mr. Washington’s standards, do we deserve continued blessings?  Without a restoration of these values and principles, I believe we do not.  We are reaping what we have sowed.  It is easy to say that our politicians are to blame, but the reality is, We the People Are To Blame! (Link to previous writing)

Today, on Black Friday 2012, our republic is in a downward spiral.  Many think we can solve our financial woes by opening the stores earlier.  Others, who foster covetousness, (link to previous writing) have called for labor strikes on retail businesses to promote greater equality of results between the rich and the poor.  Personally, I don’t believe the solution lies in either course of action!  We as a nation are sick and we need to review George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation in depth, especially the third paragraph!

What we need more than anything this Thanksgiving and Christmas season is not an economic revival, but a Spiritual Awakening!  In my opinion, Mr. Washington’s Thanksgiving proclamation actually points us in that direction.  He gave us the recipe.  He did not speak of economic prosperity being achieved through “shopping for the holidays,” through “spreading the wealth”, or “social justice.”  Mr. Washington encouraged seeking forgiveness of sins, personal responsibility, accountability, honesty and the promotion of true religion and virtue.

Please consider spending this season praying for new leadership which is being developed at the local and state level around our country.  Pray for the men and women who are starting to stand in the gates of their local and state communities to say that our collective financial tragedy and potential future economic prosperity are rooted in moral principles.  Continuing to stray from these principles will continue our path of decline.  Returning toward these principles will lead us toward renewed strength as a nation.  These men and women, if they take the required stand in their local and state communities, I believe will one day take the reins of leadership away from those at the Federal level who we have allowed to lead us to the brink we currently face.

Happy Black Friday Day?  Well, that was an interesting title!

May God bless you and your family during the next 32 days – the time period between Black Friday 2012 and Christmas Day!  Remember – Wise Men Still Seek Him!

A Time For Compromise

A Time For Compromise

Written by: Scott Cooper

Last week after the election, I was engaged in a discussion on a blog with a good friend and mentor who has lived in Europe for the last 25 years.  He cautioned me and my friends within the Tea Party, stating now is the time for compromise, that the election was over.  Quoting Ecclesiastes 3:8 “There is a time for war, and a time for peace” Now is the time for The Tea Party to compromise and make peace, he cautioned.

To follow was my response:

First, since you quoted Ecclesiastes, allow me to share 1:9-11 “So, there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one might say, “see this, it is new?” Already it has existed for ages which were before us. There is no remembrance of earlier things; and also of the later things which will occur. There will be for them no remembrance among those who will come later still.”

Let me share my perspective. I am angry. I believe it is ok to be angry. Ephesians 4:6 says “Be angry and sin not.” I believe there is such a thing as righteous anger. Now is a time for righteous anger. Allow me to share someone else’s review of a book on this subject, which I find helpful.  Click here to read that review!

Two Thoughts on moving forward in a compromising way, following the election:

First, while President Obama did win re-election, he barely won the popular vote. He clearly does not have a mandate. His election was more about style and likability, and I dare say that since 93 % of blacks voted for him, race. He was also helped by the GOP, whose efforts to shut out Liberty and Tea Party Grassroots activists at State and National Conventions this year caused many conservative individuals to either not vote, or actually oppose Mitt Romney with their vote. The point is, Barack Obama’s ideology did not win – his personality and his political machine did. This was aided by GOP incompetence. The compromises you are asking us to make are based in ideology and worldview, and our republic is clearly divided on these ideologies and worldviews.

Second, our extremely wise founding founders established a divided government because they wanted to limit extreme changes from taking place. They understood the tyranny of a centralized government, and they knew that someday we would be fighting the battles we are fighting. We must utilize the systems in place, which they wisely set up for us, to do everything we can to limit the further expansion of Government, which inevitably reduces individual liberty and personal responsibility. Remember, our republic was founded on the principles of individual liberty, not centralized government or collective results.

I am not willing to compromise on giving our Federal Government one more cent of revenue, whether the measurement is a percentage of GDP or as a dollar per citizen – you choose the matrix. I have yet to see them be wise stewards of my financial contributions, and I am angered by their waste. We have seen the GOP consistently compromise on our principles of fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, constitutional limited government and personal charity for the last 100 years, and it has led us to the brink of our republic’s impending financial demise.

We could confiscate 100 % of all the millionaires and billionaires wealth and we would still be in an unmanageable financial hole due to previous compromises.  Therefore, taxing the rich is not a solution. We must learn to live within our means. The riots and demonstrations which are taking place throughout Europe this week due to their required austerity measures should be all we need to see we must wake up and grow up.

While the current administration, which was just re-elected, is what helped to wake up the individuals that comprise The Tea Party, the one’s you say that must compromise now, our anger is not directed at this Administration, but at the GOP, which has peacefully compromised our liberties for decades.  It was George W. Bush who “Abandoned the free market in order to save the free market.”  We will retreat on our liberties no further – in order to attain immediate security. I am reminded of Benjamin Franklin who stated: “they who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

While we diligently work to restrain the growth of government, our struggle going forward is to educate our citizenry on the worldviews at stake. This election shows that the majority of youth 18 – 29 are ok with Socialism, which is in opposition to our form of government. The Pollsters are consistently speaking out about different races and classes. We need to educate that our ideas of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility and private charity are not respecters of persons – they work for all races and creeds. I am so sick of our leaders dividing us up to win elections – our ideas win across all the lines, if we can articulate them well enough – which obviously, we need to improve on.

Some specific worldview items I will not compromise on, which we must do a better job in educating on are:

1.  Fiscal Responsibility. We need to have a budget. It needs to be tied to something measurable, like GDP. It needs to be balanced. This democratically controlled Administration and Senate has not passed a budget in 3 years. Why should we compromise on anything before this is accomplished – seriously – why?

2. Our President breeds Covetousness – and I am sick of it.  Please click here to read my writting on this subject.

3. Our President stands against life – As a State Senator he supported 3rd trimester abortions, right down to the last minute – and now wants enforce mandated healthcare that requires birth control, up to and including abortions. This is against our First Amendment Religious rights.

4. Our President stands against free speech – We are in a clash of worldviews with Radical Islam, and when our Ambassador is assassinated, President Obama attacked the First Amendment free speech rights of a film maker instead of addressing those who attacked our consulate – or better yet – did his job and ensured that attack didn’t take place!

I could write more, but I am done for now. I am going to go back to the question I started with: Where specifically do you want to see compromise, and what principles dictate that compromise or retreat?

 Here are some additional thoughts I have had since writing those words on November 15^th:

Those who seek Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets – as laid out in our Constitution are hated not only by the Democrats, but by the establishment GOP as well.  Indeed if you listen carefully to many GOP leaders, they are posturing themselves so as to blame the Tea Party for any inability to reach a compromise. 

The reality is the party, which in writing states they hold to the values of the Tea Party, has compromised repeatedly on their written values for decades, and that is why the United States is facing the fiscal demise we face.  Now that there is growing momentum to hold the GOP party accountable, they are doing what every party with power does – clinging to their dwindling power, making every attempt distance themselves from those who are holding them accountable, which are actually the silent majority.  Rather than seeing the Tea Party as the reinforcements they need to hold to their principles, they will make every effort to blame the Tea Party, a movement which began only four years ago, for their long history of principled failings.  Just like they did in state wide and the national convention this summer, they will continue striving to shut and marginalize the Tea Party.

For many idealistic Tea Party members, it has been painful learning to be hated by those we want to help reinforce their principles.  The Tea Party movement however has learned, it is not here to be loved by the GOP.  We The People are here to restore our republic to the principles we hold so dear.  At a recent national conference of Tea Party leaders, we reflected multiple times on Winston Churchill, who left London in defeat in the early 1930’s; only to be called back to lead his country through the chaos of WWII. 

Financial Chaos is coming.  Its seeds were sowed a long time ago, prior to the inception of the Tea Party in 2008.  The Tea Party is not going away.  It is girding its loins, getting thick skinned and focusing locally where it has a greater impact. It will be ready when wisdom and common sense prevails at the Federal Level – which clearly is not yet!

How Will You Be Remembered?

In the course of the last 18 months I have spent a great deal of time studying and reflecting on two periods in our history:

1.  “The Greatest Generation,” specifically those that stormed the beaches of Normandy to save a continent from tyranny.  The total price of that rescue mission, combined with the Pacific theater of operations was over 1,000,000 U.S. lives. (Total Lives lost in that war).  D-Day was a mere 68 years ago, some of our fathers and grandfathers served there!

2. The era of the mid 1850’s through the end of the Civil War, when that generation saw over 500,000 die in the preservation of our union.  My point is not to discuss the politics of that war, simply to honor those who died.  For me personally, hardly a month has gone by in the last 18 – 24 months where I have not walked a battlefield or visited a cemetery from this era.

      We often look back at the brilliance of our founders, who risked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to give us the constitutional republic we have thrived under.  Through a constitutional republic they promoted: the rule of law, limited government, individual liberty and the pursuit of happiness (property). 

Today it is our generations turn!

All of the principles our forefathers fought and died for are under attack, from within our own system of government!  In 11 days we will decide what course we will choose – to start the return to our founding principles, or to rapidly progress down the road of Socialist Europe.  In addition to the colliding worldviews of collectivism vs. individual liberty, we currently have an administration which has opened our front gates to The Muslim Brotherhood, an organization whose written objective is “to destroy our miserable house from within.”

How will you be remembered?

I seriously am not trying to be overly dramatic when I say that someday your kids and grandkids are going to ask you, what role did you play at this moment in history when we decided what their world would look like? 

I say that fully understanding that only 1/3 of the colonists were on the side of the Patriots, even though all Americans benefited from the bravery of that 1/3 of that population.

Today I have friends from California, Washington State, Texas, California, Georgia, South Carolina and other states who are giving up their time and resources to travel to the battleground states of Virginia, Florida and Ohio to get out the vote (GOTV).  Some who receive this note ARE THOSE FRIENDS!  These modern day Patriots are like the Patriots and men and women mentioned above, because they know our children’s future is at stake and they are giving everything they have to change the direction we are currently headed!

But there are a few who will receive this who have yet to engage.

How will you be remembered?

This is a personal plea for you to invest some time and resources in the final two weekends before the election, specifically to those who are not yet engaged!  Here are some simple things you can do:

1.   An organization I am working with, The Government is Not God PAC is running ads in key states, showing Obama’s record.  Consider helping us get more ads posted between now and election day.  Click here to see ad and donate!

2.   In Virginia – www.WeRVirgina.com !  Their Contact Page lists all their offices.  This GOTV effort is important for three reasons:

a.       WeRVirginia is Issues Driven.  Our Issues are winning issues!

b.      WeRVirginia is reaching outside the choir box of Hard Republicans to Independents and Undecided voters. 

c.       WeRVirginia is building a base for future elections in Virginia.  Let’s be honest:

                                                               i.      Republicans have controlled both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue and grown the size of government – so we can’t simply go help them build their system!

                                                             ii.      We need the data to win local elections in 2013!

3.   If you are in other states, I encourage you to find your Local Tea Party Patriots Group, and get engaged with them, because they not only have a plan to win in November, but also to hold our elected leaders accountable after the election. 

4.   If you can’t find a local conservative grassroots group, look up your county GOP Victory office, and go in to volunteer between now and election day!

5.   Make a list of your sphere of influence: Family, Friends, etc.  Ensure they plan on voting.  Then on election day, follow up!  We have the most impact closest to home!

6.    Include in your list at least 2 – 3 friends who typically vote for the other side.  Sometimes we need to reach outside the choir to win.  This is one of those times!  

Here are two things that can help convert them to our side:

a.       The Determinators Film – This documentary is a chilling story which uncovers the dark underside of the massive healthcare reform bill that, once implemented, will significantly threaten the way American’s live…..and die. (Link to entire film online).

b.      2016 The Movie – It is not too late to order or purchase and share with your friends.  Here is an interview of Dinesh D’Souza discussing the movie with Glenn Beck.

Here are a few You Tube Video’s / Commercials worth watching and sharing via your social media and e-mail lists:

a.     Voices Without A Vote ß linked – POWERFUL MESSAGE FROM TODAY’S YOUTH!

b.      Government Motors Truth ßlinked – Also - click here for more detail!

c.       Why Mr President Why ßlinked – a series of great ads, asking our President some very tough questions.  Each of these video’s should be tweeted, re-tweeted and put on Facebook.

d.      Bishop E.W. Jackson delivers stirring speech to church in Richmond. ßlinked - The linked page has three segments of Bishop Jackson's message!

e.      My First Time ßDisgusting ad by Barack Obama Campaign.  When I was growing up it was Rock Stars and Pop Culture that exploited Sex.  Today it seems to be the primary focus of This Administration.  Shouldn’t we expect more from our President and our leaders?

It is my sincere hope that at least one or two people, who have yet to put forth any effort into winning in November, as a result of reading this will invest some time and resources in the remaining days before November 6^th.

In closing – our fight for Individual Liberty, The Rule of Law, Constitutionally Limited Government does not end on November 6^th.  Beginning November 7^th, the work of holding our newly elected officials accountable begins.  This is a noble effort.  We need new energy – Join us at Tea Party Patriots!

Written by Scott Cooper