random politicalish thought

Even during times of great perversion evangelicals need to realize that it is not the role of government to protect citizens from themselves. We need to realize that while it might seem morally advantageous to undermine the Constitution now, that in future generations that same authority will be used to persecute our posterity. The precedent we establish will come back to haunt us.

Sheriff Gobble

Here is an opinion piece that I submitted to the Chattanoogan, but it never got published. It was in response to sheriff Tim Gobble opinion piece entitled Sheriff Gobble Looking Forward Maybe it was a bit harsh, and that is why the Chattanoogan did not publish it. I just hate not questioning career politicians as they work their way up the ladder. I have heard him speak two different times and by all I can tell he is just a classic neo-conservative. Haven't we had enough of the new conservatism?

Sheriff Gobble,
You spoke at the Tea Party rally on the 15th and many of us there were shocked to see you take the stage. Your "Sheriff Gobble Looking Forward" opinion piece in the Chattanoogan exemplifies why many of us were dismayed at your participation. The main point of the Tea Party was not only that we are over-taxed, but that we are over-taxed due to our federal government over-stepping its constitutional bounds. As conservative Republicans, Democrats, Constitutionalists, Libertarians, and Independents, we came together around our Constitution, demanding that our leaders follow the road map our Founders gave us. We are tired of our Senators and House Representatives only bringing up the words Strict Constructionist and Originalist when it is politically advantageous or when Supreme Court Judges are being nominated. It is time for politicians to get a constitutional backbone, and I am afraid you have shown us exactly how you will behave if elected as our Congressman.

Sheriff Gobble, just because our out-of-control government chooses to spend our money in ways the Constitution has not specifically mandated, it does not mean you should belly up to the feeding trough. Tennessee's third district should be leading the country as stalwarts of constitutional excellence. Sheriff Gobble, I really can not imagine that you would think the federal government has any constitutional authority to get involved with the funding of police officers. The Tenth Amendment clearly makes the funding of police officers a state issue.

My two points are this. First, even if you were to take our money to fund new police officers for the next four years, the big question is how are you going to pay their salary once the grant money runs out? Sounds like either a tax increase or you are planning on President Obama's spend-our-way-out-of-debt scheme to work. Secondly, by taking this dirty money you are doing exactly what Madison in the 10th Federalist Paper referred to as an "improper or wicked project". What you are doing is taking part in indebting our children and grandchildren so that you may enjoy the security of extra police officers now.

Sheriff Gobble please answer this question: if the Bradley County Commission somehow had the power to take your great grandchildren's money to fund police officers now, would you take it? I hope you would not. You must agree that the ethical ground you tread on is part of an improper and wicked project. Sheriff Gobble it is not your money to spend. Period.

James Madison on Freedom

The people cannot be all, and always, well informed.

This is such an interesting quote by Jefferson.

thoughts on the pledge

Since becoming involved politically over the last few years, I've become involved with groups that say the pledge of allegiance before meetings. What goes across my mind while saying the pledge is "Why the heck are we doing this?" I never questioned it as a kid, but now I just can't help but wonder about the historical context. I do find it interesting that we did not start pledging allegiance until 1892. To boot it was written by a Baptist minister who was involved with the Christian Socialist movement, which by the way is completely antithetical to the thoughts of our Founding Fathers.

So I wonder what our Founding Fathers would have thought about the pledged. I know they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, but my feeling is they would have serious problems with the wording of the pledge as it stands. I mean really, for those who have studied our founders and the concept of the government they endeavored to create, do you think they would have used the word "indivisible". Not. A. Chance.

luv me some bureaucracy

I am still reading through The Revolution a Manifesto by Dr. Paul and have been eating up his chapter entitled Economic Freedom.

Check this quote out:

Getting the Home Office finished

For those who have not heard I will be working from home full time starting December 1st. I've been working on building an office out of the corner of my garage over the last 2 months. I still have a ton to do, so I made a list, which should keep me from jumping spasmodically from task to task.

1. Get the subfloor down(11-8)
2. Get the last socket wired(11-8)
3. Rough in the new AC vent(11-8)
4. Hang last piece of sheetrock(11-9)
5. Get first coat of mud on everything(11-11)
6. Take down old hot water heater vent (11-15)
7. Patch vent hole(11-15)
8. Blow in insulation(11-16)
9. Patch holes created from insulation(11-16)
10. Finish floating all sheetrock(11-26)
11. Paint walls and ceiling(11-26)
12. Put down flooring(11-29)
13. Hang door 1(11-29)
14. Hang door 2(11-30)
15. Trim out room(12-04)
16. Hang new lighting(12-04)
17. Run 100 feet of coaxial cable under house(12-09)
18. Connect AC vent(12-09)
19. Box around dryer vent
20. Box around back of AC vent
21. Paint trim
22. spackle and caulk trim

Madison on Democracies

The budget should be balanced

Again, history should be studied for wisdom's sake.

More from Jefferson

I am convinced that the only way we can fix this mess we are in is by studying history. The more I study our founders the more I get answers for all the issues that plague us today. There is truly nothing new under the sun. We need to study history for the wisdom that can be attained not just to fill our brains with facts.