The Liberty Legation

Friday, December 28, 2012

The Ten Year Plan

The Ten-Year Plan

Charlie Earl

By now you have detected that every proposed scheme for avoiding a fiscal collapse in the United States includes a long-term plan. They vary from the rather swift ten-year version to the more gradual 40-year solution. You also realize that the long-term proposals have been suggested and submitted for several decades. The logical conclusion is that long-term fiscal plans are obviously written on vapor. No meaning, no integrity….no matter…just ignore them because chicken lips have more value. You should know by now that if you truly value your life, you will never allow a politician to design your residential fire-escape plan. It would take up too much time, wouldn’t work and would lead you back into the inferno.

One of the advantages of being as old as I am is that I can remember the so-called glory days of the Soviet Union. The Politburo and the apparatchiks (bureaucrats) would set production goals for every sector of the Soviet economy, and would issue them in 5-year and ten-year plans. Those of us who lived in the prosperous land of the free would sneer at those plans because we knew they would be “revised.” We also understood that the plans were merely internal propaganda by the Marxist overlords to pacify the people. The plans and the production quotas were as bogus as their national leadership. Same as here in 21^st Century U.S.A.

No Congress can bind the budget of a later one, therefore any plan or proposal for “getting to balance,” “deficit reduction,” or “debt retirement” is a scam. By 1990 many in the Soviet system had discovered that their political masters were blowing smoke, so how long will it take until the majority of Americans realize the Congressional/Administration budgets are mere illusions? Maybe they already sense it which may explain the massive rush to drain the treasury. They may have surmised that as the private sector dwindles in numbers and productivity, their rides on the gravy train will become less frequent. Their thought processes may go something like this: “Do the gettin’ while the getting’s still good.”

The government apologists and trained monkeys (sorry, government economists) claim that a too rapid decrease in government spending would volcanically affect the economy. In other words…fewer federal dollars would be flowing to government contractors, subsidized enterprises and entitled citizens thereby vastly decreasing the dollars circulating in the economy. In addition, they surmised, the radical displacement of government workers would place a greater stress on the unemployment and assistance services, thus accelerating the out flow of federal obligations. They may be right, but the gradual increase in government spending, the continual addition of new government employees, and the inexorable growth of government’s share of the economy will have the same long-term effect. The major difference is that with the instantaneous reduction, we may be able to preserve our liberties. The long-term method guarantees that our freedom will diminish. It’s a no-brainer for me, but if it’s a toss-up for you, then we have a problem, and I submit that YOU ARE the problem.

In my humble view our fiscal mess screams for the abrupt solution rather than a series of artificial plans and steps that lead to the same inevitable result but with ever-greater government power. Some things should be done slowly so one can savor the resulting product. Fiscal disaster, economic chaos and erosion of liberty are not on my short list of lingering outcomes. Other things should be completed quickly to minimize the pain and avoid their ultimate destruction. While there may be hypochondriacs among us, medical experts caution us about ignoring danger signals that could indicate potentially severe problems. The economic and prosperity of a nation are similar because to ignore the clues and avoid remedies could prolong the illness and place the life of the patient in jeopardy. Open wide and take your medicine….now!

Charlie Earl

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Diversity or Balkanization?

Charlie Earl

On a recent Friday in December I had the pleasure of having lunch with a group of men who feel the need to discuss the goings-on of our nation and the world in an orderly and civil fashion. Following the meal, we discovered that we had neatly resolved every issue, and then, new ones popped up on the radar as we dispersed. Seriously, one of the points of discussion centered on whether or not it is possible to return our nation to its constitutional foundation. Whew, it was not exactly an easy lunch-time topic to resolve. In my view, our diversity has helped make us the economic engine that we have become. People migrated here from many cultures and many countries bringing their best ideas and dreams with them.

We’ve undergone an ominous transformation however, the diversity that made us stronger has developed into deep fissures that divide us. Rather than a melting pot of Freedom’s soup, we are now the segregated morsels on a toddler’s plate….ever fearful that our tastes and flavors may mix and create an unpalatable concoction. We are now a nation that is tragically divided. Not only by our various heritages and cultures, but we are also rendered apart by our varying visions for the future of our republic. We have become a “nation” of isolated interests with an ever-fading historical memory of our recent past. We are emerging as a cluster of barely-aligned constituencies in a land of vast resources and raucous disagreements.

Although we are a nation of “united” states, our country did not spring to life in 1787. Remember, we were 13 distinct colonies with much in common but with vast differences as well. Southern planters and northern merchants struggled to out-maneuver one another in the halls of power. Established towns and communities sought to exercise control over the sprouting villages near the frontier. As state after state was admitted to the union, new differences were added to the mix of already existent ones. Consider that the final two--- Alaska and Hawaii, admitted in 1959—are radically different from one another. It does not require a great leap of imagination to understand that many of our 50 states could hold significantly different priorities and values from some of the others. What has transpired in recent times is that our differences have become more pronounced and our common threads appear to be unraveling.

Complicating the seeming diversity among our states is the plethora of special interests within each of them. My home state of Ohio, for example, has agricultural and rural, urban and labor union, suburban and white collar sectors. Each of demographic groups has specific interests and priorities. When merged with racial or historical cultural components, Ohio’s variety may rival the nation’s. But each state does have some shared interests among its people such as proximity, weather patterns, legislative actions and integrated local communities. Our differences are softened when we come face to face with those who are not exactly like us. It seems to me that we have become too fractured, too disparate and too antagonistic to continue to function effectively as a nation. We resemble a team of runaway horses pulling a rickety wagon.

There are so many problems and issues in our grand country of 312 million citizens. Fiscal irresponsibility, moral quicksand, dimming hopes of prosperity for future generations, and a world gone mad are all vying for our constant vigilance. Just as some marriages or relationships have been broken because of tough times or tragedy, our nation may have to face the prospect of reassembling and restructuring our boundaries and our coalitions. If that should come to pass, let’s try to work through it methodically and peacefully. I know this column may appear pessimistic about the fate of our nation, but I fear we have some very tumultuous times ahead. A nation is more than borders and bridges. It is a collection of people who share a vision and a purpose. My hope is that as we go forward, our vision is worthy and our purpose is strong. We must never forfeit our liberty for some false hope and immoral scheme. Have a blessed, safe and Happy New Year.

Charlie Earl

http://youtu.be/5gJTEsKiTvA

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

A Christmas Wish

My Prayer

Charlie Earl

Twas the night before Christmas

And I sat in my comfortable den

Reading and writing new columns

For publishing I knew not when.

Suddenly I heard a whisper…

A sound both eerie and surreal..

There appeared before me an image

Of very limited appeal..

It was a vision of Obama

Wearing a suit and horns of red

He looked so ominous and scary

My heart was filled with dread

“Uh..Charlie,” he stammered,

“Do not fear. I bring you somethin’ fine.”

I…uh…grant your greatest wish,

And tonight…uh…uh…I resign.”

My attention was instantly focused.

My dream and hope was now true.

Obama had finally done somethin’ good

By doing what he should do.

But alas, I awoke from my little snooze.

There was no Obama in my den

There was no great news

There was no goodwill for men.

I was crushed as I resumed working

Writing with dismay and despair

As my coffee pot was dutifully perking

Mocking me as it bubbled there.

But I remembered the real reason

For celebrating the joy of this time.

It is the birth of the one true King

And the gift of grace that’s so fine.

I fell to my knees in gratitude

For His mercy and sacrifice.

And I prayed with a burning passion

That my obedience would suffice.

“You given me so much more, Lord,

And I am truly unworthy and unfit,

But could you grant me one last prayer

And convince Obama to quit?

It’s all I ask from you this day

We celebrate your amazing birth

Put that socialist in retirement

And save your wonderful earth.

I know, dear Lord, it’s a goofy request

But you can make the blind to see,

This could be another miracle, too,

To return our land toward liberty.”

His answer surprised me and filled me with awe.

“You don’t need a miracle to take Freedom’s leap.

I gave it to you when you were born,

And it is forever yours to hold and to keep.”

Then I remembered that old gospel song

About freedom is knowing the life-filled way

by holding His hand each step of the path

And never surrendering our liberty away.

Charlie Earl

Monday, December 24, 2012

The Child King

Charlie Earl

It really doesn’t matter when the birth of Christ occurred. We assume that December 25^th is probably not the actual date of the anniversary of his birth. What really matters for me is that it happened at all. God didn’t have to do that. He had given us The Law and watched us violate it time after time. He had cautioned us and warned us through his prophets, but yet we disobeyed. So tonight and tomorrow I will celebrate the birth of a child who is the King. It is something that I should do every moment of every day, but I’m too self-centered to be constantly focused on the miracle of grace.

None of us is perfect although there are some who sense that they may be nearly perfect. The odd thing is that as one draws closer to God through Christ, the more one is aware of his flaws and her weaknesses. When I observe people who hold positions of leadership and power, I am reminded that the greatest attribute of righteous leader is humility. A person who seeks the heart of God is humble enough to know that he or she cannot conceivably know all the right answers. A humble leader turns to a greater source of wisdom than his own. A truly powerful leader does not have to intimidate or force the people to follow her because she knows her power is not generated from within, but is granted and directed by Him.

A wise leader who walks in righteousness and humility does not waver when the people demand an unprincipled route. Moses went to the mountain to retrieve the Law, and Aaron failed the test of righteous leadership while he was gone. Righteousness and humility are particularly important for a republic wherein the elected and appointed public officials ideally fulfill their roles with a servant’s attitude. An arrogant leader suffers under the illusion that he always knows what is best and has little regard for the principled path even when the people insist that he act with integrity. It is a fine line….knowing when the people are supportive of principle OR standing against them when they are not. Wisdom and discernment are rare.

Clearly we have no leaders who possess all the necessary requirements for guiding our nation through good times or bad. Each of them just like each of us is flawed and imperfect. A “Cliff-notes” glance at human history informs us that most people are followers, a few are leaders and a very small number can honestly claim the ideal attributes of a leader for a free people. It seems obvious to me that our guiding principle if we desire to remain a free people is found in Proverbs, Chapter 3. Trusting in all-too-human people for our protection and salvation is risky and disappointing. The only solid rock of consistent integrity is in the One who created us, nurtures us and loves us.

This Christmas time is filled with uncertainty and angst, but that hardly makes it historically unique. Because we are fallible and fallen, we will always be accosted by doubt, indecision, suffering and evil. Our only true source of peace and security lies in Him who gives us life. We have failed him, however, and have proven ourselves to be unworthy of His intervention and concern. His mercy and His love are greater than our feeble excuses for doing the things we do, so He has given us a new key to His Kingdom. We celebrate the gift of that key this week. The gift---both man and God—was wrapped in rags and delivered in a stable. This week we welcome our true leader who will not fail us. We welcome the Child King into our hearts, our lives and hopefully into our nation as well. Have a merry and blessed Christmas.

Charlie Earl