[Editor's NOTE: Mr. Ross has been keeping quite busy this week. Suffice it to say, he is more than a wee-bit upset.]

(Authors NOTE: This is more a personal rant than an article, therefore there may be some stronger language, and might not seem like the typical articles I put out.)
 
March 14, 2009 - As anyone who frequently reads my articles know, I try to stick to facts, and in so doing, prove that our government has, and continues to abuse the powers granted them by our Constitution.

However, this little commentary is aimed directly at the people of this country. There are those, who after reading it, who will know that in no way were my comments aimed at them. For the rest, as the beer commercial used to say, “This Bud’s for you!”

There seems to be a general opinion that the purpose of our government is to do things for the people of this country. That concept is utter bullshit, and anyone who believes it has no damn idea what they are talking about!

In a letter to M. L’ Hommande, Thomas Jefferson said the following, “The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits.”

Neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits. Hmmm, does that sound like it is the purpose of our government to make your life any easier? I didn’t think so!

Although it may not seem like it, our government has no money of their own. Every penny they spent had to come from the people of this country. Prior to the 16th amendment, the Constitution only allowed for certain methods of taxation.

They are as follows:

Article 1, Section. 8.
Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

Article I, Section. 9.
Clause 4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

Now that we have the 16th amendment which allows our government to tax your wages, the fact is that whenever they propose any kind of legislation, or program, that aids a specific group, that money comes from you and I.

Even now, with our government in near bankruptcy, the money that they borrow to fund these programs is added to the national debt, which the taxpayers are responsible for. In either case, we the working stiffs of this country, get stuck with the bill for every penny that those bastards allocate for whatever act of benevolence they see fit.

Let me tell you something, I don’t like having my wages pillaged for programs that I disapprove of. To once again quote Thomas Jefferson, “To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.”

What irks me even more is that the people of this country want our government to provide them these programs, even when in actuality they end up paying for them. How utterly idiotic is that?

Now our government is tossing billions of dollars around to bailout like they throw out beads during Mardi Gras. On top of that, we are told that our new President wants some form of universal health care, once again at my expense. I am sick and tired of being asked to foot the bill for all this bullshit.
If you are one who supports all these government programs, let me ask you a question or two. When the Pilgrims first arrived here, do you think they simply went to the local government office and signed up for welfare and food stamps when times got tough? Hell no! Those people came here and they either provided for themselves, or they died. There were no government programs to bail them out.

America was a place that offered unlimited hope and opportunities. However, there was no guarantee of success. The same went for the settlers who headed west across the plains to seek their fortune west of the Rockies. There were no government grants or promises of benefits if they ran into hard times.

What has changed? Where the hell did people get the idea that it is the governments job to provide all these wonderful things for them? I ask this question of immigrants to this country, and those who are natural born Americans. Show me where it says that it is our governments job to make sure you succeed, and to bail your ass out if you don’t. Show me where, and if you can’t, stop telling me that I should be forced to pay for it!

From the 4th Annals of Congress, 1794, James Madison is quoted as saying, “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.”

Is there some hidden amendment to the Constitution, that I have not heard about, which suddenly changed that? How would you like it if I suddenly told everyone that I was going to take 5% of their pay every week to use for whatever charitable purpose I felt obliged to support? I bet you would be mighty pissed off. Well, so am I.

There is something else I would like to get an answer to. Many of those who voted for Barack Obama, and his grandiose plan for turning America into a socialist state, were among the very young, often first time voters.

For you young folks who support this plan of socialism, what is it exactly that you have done to make America a better place? Have you contributed any of your time or efforts in support of, or in defense of, your country? What sacrifices have you made for America? I gave thirteen years of my life in the service of my country, spending time away from my family, often in far away lands. What about you, what have you done?

John F. Kennedy once said, “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” This was a Democrat, just like Obama, but Kennedy was asking people to stop asking the country for handouts, and begin thinking about what they could do for America.

Obama supporters are all about seeking to redistribute money from those that have it, to those who are less fortunate, or just down on their luck. That, my friends, is what I consider socialism. Need I remind you that we are, or at least we were, a republic.

Anyone remember the Pledge of Allegiance? It says, “…and to the republic for which it stands…”

I find the English language fascinating. I may not be very good at grammar, nevertheless I love to read, and to write on my own. I find it intriguing how the meaning of a sentence can be changed by merely removing one word, and changing it out with another.

For instance, if I were to say, ‘the love of country’ and then I were to remove of, and replace it to say, ‘the love for country’, it would mean something entirely different. And that is where the crux of this whole thing lies, the love of country versus the love for country.

It seems that more and more people love being in this country because of all the benefits, and opportunities it offers them. However, for them, this is all a one sided deal. They want to be on the receiving end of those benefits, but they don’t want to give anything back.

Then there are those that love this country and who would be willing to lay down their lives for it. At least they would if it still stood for the principles upon which it was founded.

I often find myself feeling frustrated. There are times that the attitudes of my fellow countrymen make me feel like saying ‘screw it, it isn’t worth the hassle.’ But then I realize I am not spending all this time and energy for them, because, if you ask me, they just don’t deserve it.

I do this because I love my country, and what it stood for. The idea that men could be free, truly free to pursue their dreams and aspirations, without interference from a government, was a concept so novel that it was no wonder people flocked here by the millions. However it was a place where you, and only you were responsible for your success or failure.

Somewhere along the line that principle got corrupted. People got lazy, they got greedy, and government stepped in with all these programs to help them get by. Well, each of these programs is just another link in the chain that binds you into servitude to the government.

That is why my all time favorite quote is one made by Patrick Henry, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

I would rather die homeless and hungry, but a free man, than living in a home with plenty to eat, existing as a slave, working merely to support endless government programs.

More importantly, I despise anyone who would seek to impose that servitude upon me because they think this country owes them something. This country does not owe you a damn thing, and I don’t owe you a damn thing. The sooner you understand that, the sooner you will know what it truly means to be an American. Until then, up to my final breath, I will fight you, and everything you stand for.

~ The Author ~
Neal Ross can be reached for comments at bonsai@syix.com. Visit Neal’s Blog at http://www.zombie-slayer.com/neal

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