since9
Campaign Veteran
Most of us are all too familiar with the first half of the title of this thread. It recently occurred to me that most of those who won't walk the path before them is because they're afraid of the path. People don't like to live in fear, and tend to rationalize it by saying to themselves, "that's not my path." Some go further and actively campaign against the path.
As noted in my signature, ours is a republic, if we can keep it. Many are afraid of what it takes to keep it, so after rationalizing things away, they come to the errant conclusion that it's government's job to protect them and their freedoms, and the government is all too happy to step further into that role, for a price: "Taxes, please."
If our government is too large, it's because the sheeple want it that way.
However, last night on the evening news with Brian Williams, Todd (somethingorother) revealed some surprising results of a recent poll. Basically, both Dems and Republications were asked how they felt about the rolls of their Congressional party representatives with respect to government spending. As you know, Republicans are calling for deep cuts, while the Dems are calling for shallow cuts.
The results:
Most Republications want their party's Congressmembers to hold their ground.
Most Democrats want their party's Congressmembers to give up some ground and work together better so as to achieve a sustainable government budget.
Conclusion: Members of both parties think government spending is out of control and unsustainable. Such is the desired path of our Republic, according to its People.
Getting back to the topic, another part of our Republic is unsustainable, and that's government "protection" for its citizens. It's smacks of organized crime's "protectionism" gone legit in the form of more and more costly services most of us simply don't need, but which the big spenders at the local, state, and federal levels have simply forced down out throats.
Our protection, first and foremost, begins with an armed and well-trained populace. WE are the first responders, whether it's fighting crime, fighting fire, or dealing with the scene of an accident or medical emergency. The actions we take during the first few seconds have saved as many lives as all the official police/fire/medical responders combined.
That's the true nature of a Republic: In all things, it begins with We, The People, and extends outwards and upwards from there. A republic's government doesn't exist to lead its people. It exists to serve them, and that fact is embedded in every aspect of our nation, from its various oaths of office, to what's printed on the side of most police cars, to the very fact that we refer to our military as "The Service," and to those who have served in our Armed Forces.
Our role as Americans is as first-responders. When it comes to crime, it's difficult to respond effectively unless our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is respected in all facets of our lives, and in all places where we might travel, whether it's to the corner grocery store, or to the other side of our Country.
As noted in my signature, ours is a republic, if we can keep it. Many are afraid of what it takes to keep it, so after rationalizing things away, they come to the errant conclusion that it's government's job to protect them and their freedoms, and the government is all too happy to step further into that role, for a price: "Taxes, please."
If our government is too large, it's because the sheeple want it that way.
However, last night on the evening news with Brian Williams, Todd (somethingorother) revealed some surprising results of a recent poll. Basically, both Dems and Republications were asked how they felt about the rolls of their Congressional party representatives with respect to government spending. As you know, Republicans are calling for deep cuts, while the Dems are calling for shallow cuts.
The results:
Most Republications want their party's Congressmembers to hold their ground.
Most Democrats want their party's Congressmembers to give up some ground and work together better so as to achieve a sustainable government budget.
Conclusion: Members of both parties think government spending is out of control and unsustainable. Such is the desired path of our Republic, according to its People.
Getting back to the topic, another part of our Republic is unsustainable, and that's government "protection" for its citizens. It's smacks of organized crime's "protectionism" gone legit in the form of more and more costly services most of us simply don't need, but which the big spenders at the local, state, and federal levels have simply forced down out throats.
Our protection, first and foremost, begins with an armed and well-trained populace. WE are the first responders, whether it's fighting crime, fighting fire, or dealing with the scene of an accident or medical emergency. The actions we take during the first few seconds have saved as many lives as all the official police/fire/medical responders combined.
That's the true nature of a Republic: In all things, it begins with We, The People, and extends outwards and upwards from there. A republic's government doesn't exist to lead its people. It exists to serve them, and that fact is embedded in every aspect of our nation, from its various oaths of office, to what's printed on the side of most police cars, to the very fact that we refer to our military as "The Service," and to those who have served in our Armed Forces.
Our role as Americans is as first-responders. When it comes to crime, it's difficult to respond effectively unless our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is respected in all facets of our lives, and in all places where we might travel, whether it's to the corner grocery store, or to the other side of our Country.
