Pardon the Interruption

Forget for a second for who you were rooting. Set aside your party affiliations for a moment, at least until you finish reading. Stop the campaigning. Turn off the scoreboard and ponder this...

Last Thursday's debate spawned a plethora of post-event analysis. Some didn't like the way Palin spoke. She's too common. She sounded like she was in a "spelling bee". Some thought that Biden was the archetypal "good-ole-boy", a perfect example of the "Washington Elite" talking down to the normal folks. Regardless of ones conclusions based on such trivial subject matter, two very different ideologies were presented. Those who have focused on Palin's vocal intonations or the fact that Biden's eyebrows never moved have sadly missed the important battle that is being fought in this election.

More than once, Palin referenced Ronald Reagan, arguably one of this nation's greatest presidents, a man who wanted human beings to be free. Much of his administration was dedicated to the opposition of communism, and historians attribute his efforts as being a major factor in the fall of the Soviet empire, the Berlin Wall.

Palin iterated, "It was Ronald Reagan who said that freedom is always just one generation away from extinction. We don't pass it to our children in the bloodstream; we have to fight for it and protect it, and then hand it to them so that they shall do the same, or we're going to find ourselves spending our sunset years telling our children and our children's children about a time in America, back in the day, when men and women were free." [emphasis added]

Contrast this with Biden's responses during the debate. Throughout the evening, he implied that it was government's job to provide health care for its citizens, to pay for "Mom's MRI". He suggested that it was government's job to ensure that our kids can attend college so that "...Mary can [go] back to school next semester." He went on to say that government should have a role in making sure people can heat their homes.

He wants to impose more regulations on private enterprises. He wants to tax the oil companies into oblivion. Good call, Joe. I bet that will do wonders for gas prices!! For those of you cheering for the oil companies to get socked, you may want to take a look at your retirement portfolios. The odds are that you own part of these oil companies...Go ahead keep on cheering, more taxes should really improve your investments!!!

While we are on oil and freedom, it is politicians that have prevented private companies from building new power plants, from building new refineries, from drilling for oil in the US. Let's see here, demand goes up (i.e., China), politician's limit the supply with regulations, and now the price has gone up...never mind, I'm not even going to waste my time on this one.

The point is, is that the other night's debate showcased two opposing philosophies. One says that the government exists to protect the rights of its citizens to pursue the three "inalienable rights". The other leans toward socialism that says the government exists to provide for the three "inalienable rights".

Freedom comes at a price. Senator Biden, I am responsible to provide health care coverage for my family. Not you. Not the government. I am responsible for making preparations to send my kids to college. Not you. Not the government. I will do what I can to pay for heating in our home. And guess what, Mr. Biden, Along the way, as a free individual, I will try to help others that are in need. I will give at church. I will give to charities. We will help those in need. We will help those who have not, attain independence. For those who are not able to live independently, we will help them too.

You, Senator Biden, on the other hand do not have the same motivations. It is for the greater good that you provide universal health care, and oh, by the way, the government will now control the entire health care system. As a citizen, we will be REQUIRED to have a health care plan, no more freedom to choose. The government will consume any private entity. It will regulate prices. It will determine what doctors people can go to. It will choose specialties for providers. Etc., Etc.... But don't worry, its all for our good, right?

No thanks, I would rather die as a free man from a terminal illness because I can't afford its treatment rather than live as a ward of the state as though you are my parent. If I need help, I will ask God. He is always there to help, and He is pretty good at it. He created me, and He still lets me make choices and live as a free being without any strings attached.

Yes, freedom is only "a generation from extinction". It is in jeopardy when the generation has become one of dependence rather than independence, one that deliberately chooses irresponsibility over accountability. It is at risk when the people "feel" rather than "think", when it is ready to surrender its free will in order to solve problems. Freedom is endangered by laziness. It is much easier to vote someone into office who will do things for us so that our TV schedule will not be interrupted. Sure, take over another part of my life, just make sure that CSI is still on three times a week.

...okay, you can go back to your TV programs, rooting for your favorite political party, etc., etc., but by all means, please continue to ignore the issues that could change this free nation forever. I apologize for any inconvenience.