Government of Laws, High Principle and Lofty Ideal

From yesterday's post:

"I am an American because I believe in a government of laws and not of men, and in national allegiance to high principle and lofty ideal instead of to a personal sovereign." -- J. Reuben Clark

I've been thinking about this today. What a difference there is between striving to live according to "laws, high principle and lofty ideal" and being at the mercy of leaders who, at their own whims, would lead blind followers around by their noses.

Principles never change. People change. If as a nation we make decisions and laws based on proper principles, then we will not go wrong. We will remain free and strong. If we put our "hope" in any human being, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment at best; tragedy, or worse.

In the news just this week was Mark Sanford, governor of South Carolina. A good man, a true fiscal and social conservative. Someone who we needed to lead out with these principles in these times. But he has fallen from grace. He made some very poor personal choices and has drastically altered the course of his life, like it or not. He is a sad disappointment to countless people, not the least of whom are his family and close friends. In this instance, the change was a personal one, not one that directly will affect the nation as a whole, other than we lose a man who could have been a great leader. Men are human; they make mistakes, sometimes very serious ones. Sometimes their mistakes affect only themselves and the people closest to them, but other times, their choices will affect nations.

Another example of change: Obama. He campaigned on change. We surely need it as a nation. We need to change the way Washington works -- the graft, the deceit, the self-serving politicians. Yes, there are many things that need to be changed. But I don't think changing the very principles and foundations of the country is what most voters had in mind. Our core national values and principles are sound. I doubt very few voters had or have any idea where Obama's vision of "change" will take our country. Some still don't care -- they love the man, they love his empty words and lofty deceitful rhetoric. They can't see that his words and actions are not the same. They will follow him, like a herd of lemmings, to the edge and beyond.

Our Founding Fathers carefully constructed our government in a way that best protects and preserves our personal and national freedom. The closer we strive to base our laws on the Constitution and personally live moral lives, the safer our country is from tyranny. Putting our faith in any man leaves our nation vulnerable to his whims. The rule of (righteous) law, unwavering unbendable law, and man's striving to live lofty ideals will not lead us into the abyss. A corrupt sovereign will.

Why I am an American

by J. Reuben Clark

I am an American because I believe in a government of laws and not of men, and in national allegiance to high principle and lofty ideal instead of to a personal sovereign.

I am an American because I believe in a government with three distinct, separate branches, each mutually independent of the other, with no power of delegation or appropriation of rights or powers by any one to or from any other.

I am an American because I believe that government must derive its "just powers from the consent of the governed" and that branches of government and officers shall have such powers and such only as shall be given by the people; because I believe that the assumption by branches of government or by officers of rights or powers not specifically conferred upon them is usurpation; and because impeachement or other trial lies against an officer who so usurps rights or powers not specifically conferred.

I am an American because I believe in the greatest possible measure of self-government and because I believe in a federal system of government which keeps local affairs in the hands of local governments.

I am an American because I believe in a bill of rights which places wholly beyond the reach of lawful government certain matters affecting "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," and specifically the right of freedom of conscience and worship, the right of free speech and a free press, the right peaceably to assemble and petition government, and the right to gain and hold property without molestation except by due process of law.

I am an American because under our form of government the people of the United States have made a progress never before made by any other people in the world in an equal time during the whole period of recorded history.

I am an American because standards of life and of living of the entire American people are far beyond those enjoyed by any other people in any other part of the world, either now or at any other time, which is a living testimony and evidence of the kindly beneficence of our free institutions.

I am an American because this Nation has no scheme or plan of conquest, because it has a respect for the rights of other peoples and of other nations, because it promotes justice and honor in the relationships of nations, because it loves the ways of peace as against war, as shown by the repeated peaceful adjustment of its own international disputes, because it has conquered the land greed which so afflicts the nations of the world, as demonstrated in Cuba and the Philippines.

I am an American because my country abolished slavery after it had become deep-rooted and because men still are free to work, and are secure in the enjoyment of the products of their labor.

I am an American because I firmly and earnestly believe that our Constitution is an inspired document designed by our Maker to set up a government which would make sure and secure the rights set forth in the Bill of Rights, and particularly the right of freedom of conscience and worship.

I am an American because I believe that the destinty of America is to be the abiding place of liberty and free institutions, and that its own practice and enjoyment of these blessings shall be to the world a beacon light wich shall radiate its influence by peaceful means to the uttermost parts of the world, to the uplifting of all humanity.

--Reprint from Congressional Record, June 11, 1940.

Rally Against ABC and Nationalized Healthcare

The following pictures were taken at last night's rally in front of the ABC building in Salt Lake City. About 250 people came out to protest ABC's one-sided reporting of the President's proposed nationalized healthcare plan.

Our current senators and representatives were back in Washington preparing for the upcoming votes on Cap and Trade and Card Check, but they arranged for assistants from their local offices to read their messages about the ills of socialized medicine and the pitfalls of the President's plan to the quietly protesting crowd. The highlight of the evening was the broadcast of an address that then-actor Ronald Reagan gave in 1961 or 1962 declaring government sponsored healthcare as a giant step toward socialism, and a serious threat to our country. His message was eerily applicable to our situation today.



Dave Hansen, Chairman of the Utah GOP, with Cherilyn Bacon Eagar, conservative candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Robert Bennett


Larry Jensen, protester












Chris Herrod, Utah House Rep from District 62, also one of the originators of The Patrick Henry Caucus





























Thanks to David Kirkham and Brian Halladay for organizing this important event!

On Tyranny

"Now, in the last years, we in America have gone a long distance towards the adoption of the Roman concepts, and the abuses against property rights and human freedom and liberties which are possible under that system. And let me say here and now, that in the whole history of the human race, from Adam until now, Tyranny has never come to live with any people with a placard on his breast bearing his name. He always comes in deep disguise, sometimes proclaiming an endowment of freedom, sometimes promising help to the unfortunate and downtrodden, not by creating something for those who do not have, but by robbing those who have. But Tyranny is always a wolf in sheep's clothing, and he always ends by devouring the whole flock, saving none."

J. Reuben Clark
"Inroads upon the Constitution by the Roman Law"
Stand Fast by our Constitution, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, 1962, pp.4-5.

"We face a war to the death, a gigantic worldwide struggle. We must face it, enter it, take part in it. In fact, we are all taking part in the struggle, whether we will or not. Upon its final issue, liberty lives or dies."

--- J. Reuben Clark
1944

It's Official

Cherilyn Bacon Eagar has formally announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Robert Bennett of Utah. Wrapping up a relatively brief exploratory period, today she spoke with a gathering of friends and other interested citizens and a few media at a local Marie Callendar's restaurant to share her decision to run, and her reasons for doing so.

On April 15 I attended the Tea Party held at the Federal Building in Salt Lake City. One of the speakers at this event was a woman whom I did not recognize, and I missed hearing her introduction. But as I listened to her words, I was moved.

A month later, I attended a rally at the Capitol Building in Salt Lake which marked the official formation of The Patrick Henry Caucus, a group of Utah legislators who will be working with other state legislators all over the country to apply 10th Amendment principles to reinforce States' Rights. This time, I heard the announcement of the speaker I had heard at the Tea Party the month before: Cherilyn Bacon Eagar. I still didn't know who she was, and I assumed she may be a Utah legislator who was there to support her peers in the formation of the Patrick Henry Caucus. Again, I was moved my her words, but even more, I was moved by her passion and sincerity. This is a woman who was not spewing empty political rhetoric. This woman was speaking from her heart.

I went home and looked her up on Facebook, and learned that she is not a politician. She is a small business owner who has been politically active in a variety of worthwhile causes and campaigns since the 1970's. I was impressed with her resume.

Many months ago, after having written countless emails to Sen. Bob Bennett regarding a variety of issues and more recently unhappily following his involvement in much of the financial undoing of our country, I decided I would not vote for Senator Bennett in the upcoming 2010 election. The problem was, who would I vote for? What other candidates would come forward, if any.

The first who declared in the same race was someone I briefly considered then dismissed. He was "more of the same". Been there, done that. Change for chance sake is futile. No, I would be watching for someone I knew would be willing to make hard choices and buck the system if need be.

After hearing Cherilyn speak at the Patrick Henry Caucus, I thought: she's the one! She's exactly the person we need in the Senate! The problem was, she wasn't a candidate. I sent her a message through Facebook and asked if she had ever considered running for the U.S. Senate. She wrote back that she really hadn't, but that recently several others had approached her as I had and she was going to be forming a committee to explore the possibility. I told her if she ran, she could count on my support with her campaign.

Today I was excited to be present as she made it official: Cherilyn Eagar is the latest candidate in what will be an interesting race for the U.S. Senate in Utah. As I have gotten to know her since our first Facebook exchange, I am more convinced that not only is she the person Utahns need to represent our state's interests and well as our country's interests in the Senate, she can win this election.

Gird up Your Loins

I was young, and easily intimidated. I ran down the hallway into the women's restroom and exploded into the tears I had held back. Mac, a short Napoleon-complexed salesman co-worker, had once again bullied me and brought me to the edge of my ability to endure. A minute later Irma charged through the door. Irma was the boss's secretary, older, wiser, and fearless. After offering a few pointed but now forgotten words about Mac, she said to me, "Don't feel bad, Pam, get mad."

Tonight I received an email from my niece that contained an open letter written by a retired official of Proctor and Gamble to President Obama, which the New York Times had declined to publish, but which has circulated on the internet. The letter was a series of one-sentence paragraphs that start "You scare me because...", listing all of the headline items of the past four months, all the things that have made me sick and sad and horrified, that rendered me first to head-shaking, then hand-wringing. I wasn't standing in the restroom crying, but in my head I could hear Irma chiding me, "Don't feel bad, Pam, get mad."

Obama does not scare me. He angers me. He's quick to blame anyone and anything for what is wrong in our country -- except himself, of course -- saying that he "inherited" this mess, but as Rush pointed out today, what Obama inherited was a free, Christian nation, a country governed by the rule of law and not by the whims of man. He is quickly turning our country into a socialist dictatorship.

So if you are still in the head-shaking or hand-wringing mode, it's time to gird up your loins and prepare to fight for your country. If not us, then who?

The Last Fight

Yesterday morning I received an email from Cherilyn Eagar, who I am supporting in her bid for the U.S. Senate seat, to replace Sen. Robert Bennett in 2010. She forwarded the following comment from one of the other volunteers who is helping out with her campaign.

Dennis wrote:

It is my prayer that this fast day provides all of us involved with this movement the inspiration necessary to accomplish the task before us. It is more than one campaign or one issue. It is the beginning of the last fight.

That last line, "It is the beginning of the last fight", was particularly poignant. A few weeks ago a friend who is involved and knowledgeable in government, and whom I greatly respect, said almost exactly those words. I had felt them in my heart before either man spoke them. I had hoped for comfort and reassurance that "all is well" but I know better.

Still, there is hope. People are waking up. After all, it is pretty hard to sleep through the nationalization of our banks and large segments of our private business, the unprecedented seizure of power by the executive branch of our federal government and delegated to others without more than a hint of resistance from the legislative branch, extravagant and unrestrained government spending in the name of "stimulus", and unspeakable debt being heaped upon our heads and those of at least two future generations.

These things are happening at break-neck speed, which has left many shaking their heads or wringing their hands. To be honest, I've done my share of both. I've also written letters to my senators, Orrin Hatch and Robert Bennett, both R-UT, who don't listen to their constituents -- and to my Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), who fortunately gets it and does listen. I've shared appropriate news articles with friends and relatives, I've attended Tea Parties, participated in online political forums, and sent money to conservative candidates. I've learned that head-shaking and hand-wringing offer no consolation. Even the letter writing, Tea Party protesting, and news sharing offer limited comfort.

Where I have found a measure of purpose and greater hope has been in finding a candidate I believe in, and spending as much time as I can in supporting her. The only real say I have in the federal government is through representatives with proper principles and some backbone. I will do all that I can to put such representatives into office. They ultimately are the ones who will be fighting on the front lines in the Last Fight for our freedom and and our country as we know it.