There is a lot of concern today about the direction the country is headed. At the top of the list of concerns is the lack of fiscal responsibility and the country’s ability to continue with record deficits. These are not just the concerns of conservative people either; this is across the political spectrum of views found here in Oregon’s Congressional District #1. Also high on the list of concerns of the more conservative folks is respect for the Constitution and the erosion of individual freedom. Seeing so many more people become dependent on the government for their well being is troubling as well. As we know, when you become dependent on anything, you become a slave to it. Welfare is the slavery of the 21st century, and the numbers of slaves are growing. And people addicted to welfare and services will vote to continue their addiction creating a dangerous spiral of increased spending and higher taxes.

No doubt, I believe our government is headed in the wrong direction by raising taxes and expanding control into the private sector. Despite all that, I remain optimistic because Americans are not like any other people on earth. The spirit of ingenuity, opportunity and willingness to work hard are still here. Also, the core of our system, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are still in place. If forced to survive apart from the government’s dole, American’s will figure it out.

As Americans, we can choose to continue down this road of expanding the government and raising taxes, even to the point of a Soviet-like economic collapse. That will occur when we get to the point where the private sector can no longer support the government. Or, we can choose to turn it around right now. Either way we decide, we are still Americans and we still have the Constitutional framework in place to rebuild after any collapse. It’s our choice, but my hope is we don’t have to prove my theory. This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

“You only have power over people so long as you don’t take everything away from them. But when you’ve robbed a man of everything, he’s no longer in your power – he’s free again.”
– Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Maybe we are all about to be set free again! Along the campaign trail I continue to meet people who have lived under repressive government regimes and are very concerned. They came to America for opportunity and to escape economy-stifling, big-government control. My reply to them is usually twofold. First, don’t be someone who is just along for the ride. Speak out and become involved. When you do that, you turn your one voice and experience into many voices. You have the power as an individual to turn this whole thing around; each of us is capable of the “butterfly effect”. My second point is, our country has something that no other country in the history of the world has, and that is the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. If we have to, those are the only documents we need to rebuild the country. Those documents are powerful ideas and are in themselves, extremely effective continuity plans that we can fall back on if needed. So, be concerned, but don’t give up hope.

Anywhere socialism or communism has been tried it has failed. It’s a very nice theory that sounds good. But, in practice, that theory does not come close to the success of a free market system. It does not surprise me that people who have only lived and worked in the government or educational fields seem to like big government solutions. It is only when they finally realize that the money that supports the government and educational institutions originates from private business that they see the value of pro-business and free market policy.

Don’t cook the goose that is laying the golden eggs, feed it!

Join the Resistance.