Grassroots Commentary
An Open Letter to Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan
In the spirit of true American patriotism let me be among the first to say how truly grateful we are that you are not communists!
However, gentlemen, while you bask in those accolades, may I remind you that not only are you running for the two highest offices of our land, but the immeasurable opportunity to influence thought and action in our land.
So please, I pray thee, with all my heart, leave collectivist words out of your vocabulary and stop referring to the "middle class" of America! There are no economic classes in America -- except the ones you take in high school or college. We are a nation of principled values beginning with self-evident truths like all men are created equal:
- Equal before the law
- Equal before God
- Equal in opportunity to be grateful for the outcome of our effort -- good or bad, success or failure, honor or infamy
- Equal in the protection of our Rights
- Equal Rights, Not Equal Things
We're also endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights that include (but not limited to:)
- The Right to Life
- The Right to Liberty
- The Pursuit of Happiness
- The Right of self-government
- The Right to bear arms for self-defense
- The Right to own, develop, and dispose of property
- The Right to make personal choices
- The Right of free conscience
- The Right to choose a profession
- The Right to choose a mate
- The Right to beget one's kind
- The Right to assemble
- The Right to petition.
- The Right to free speech
- The Right to a free press
- The Right to enjoy the fruits of one's labors
- The Right to improve one's position through barter and sale
- The Right to contrive and invent
- The Right to explore the natural resources of the earth
- The Right to privacy
- The Right to provide personal security
- The Right to provide nature's necessities -- air, food, water, clothing, and shelter
- The Right to a fair trial
- The Right of free association
- The Right to contract
Additionally, unalienable Duties including (but not limited to:)
- The duty to love and honor the creator
- The duty to love and honor other people
- The duty to promote virtuous and godly people to offices of leadership
- The duty not to take the life of another except in self-defense
- The duty not to steal or destroy the property of another
- The duty to be honest in all transactions with others
- The duty of children to honor and obey their parents and elders
- The duty of parents and elders to protect, teach, feed, clothe, and provide shelter for children
- The duty to support law and order and keep the peace
- The duty not to contrive through a covetous heart to despoil another
- The duty to provide insofar as possible for the needs of the helpless -- the sick, the crippled, the injured, the poverty-stricken
- The duty to honorably perform contracts and covenants both with God and man
- The duty to be temperate
- The duty to become economically self-sufficient
- The duty not to trespass on the property or privacy of another
- The duty to maintain the integrity of the family structure
- The duty to perpetuate the race
- The duty not to promote or participate in the vices which destroy personal and community life
- The duty to perform civic responsibilities -- vote, assist public officials, serve in official capacities when called upon, stay informed on public issues, volunteer where needed
- The duty not to aid or abet those involved in criminal or anti-social activities
- The duty to support personal and public standards of common decency
- The duty to follow rules of moral virtue
And I think I can speak for all true patriots in exhorting you to give little heed to party, label or creed but rather demonstrate firmness in speech, manner, governance and core values to the principles of the republic confident that it is honest men & women to whom you appeal. The very people our founding fathers confidently confided the principles to which we can repair our great nation.
7 Comments
Abu Nudnik in Toronto
Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 9:22 AM
No unalienable duties are listed in the Constitution or Declaration. These are your invention.
While I agree with much that you write, this is wrong. For just one example, nowhere does it say in the Bible to obey parents, let alone one's elders. It says to honor them. I take that to mean to live a life that brings them honor. That might mean disobedience, like taking a needle out of mom's hand or refusing to go buy booze for your drunken father.
Capt. Call in New Mexico
Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 4:17 PM
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Ephesians 6:1 [NASB].
Perhaps the word "Responsibilities" should be used, instead of "Duties." Each right we have, also has an associated responsibility; These may be unspecified, but exist nonetheless to support the right. Our Constitution was and is established to "secure" these rights, because although we are given them by God, He has also given us human government; and, men are sinful, broken people, who will always seek to control others. This clarifies the difference between the liberal [aka Democrat] philosophy, and the conservative philosophy.
We had a perfect environment at one time, but even that was insufficient to keep man from rebelling. So, too it will be with the liberals desire to create a Utopia by force--it will fail.
Abu Nudnik in Toronto
Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 11:14 PM
"Obey.... in the Lord" is a closely confined call to obey, not a blanket prescription to obey parents in all things except "in the Lord," let alone all one's elders.
We well have to disagree about the purpose of the Constitution. Rights can not be rights if they are brought into being and secured by governments. This is why many argued against including the Bill of Rights in the Constitution lest men in future be convinced that the list be exhaustive. God gave us the rights with birth but men constitute government. Indeed, Samuel cautioned the Children of Israel wisely on this score.
Indeed man is imperfect and needs government. The same imperfect man must govern and therefore be governed by the checks and balances wisely laid out "for a more perfect union." Imperfection with power is a dangerous combination.
We will also have to disagree regarding liberalism which is a political philosophy that begins by assuming that men of good will can and do disagree. The Constitution is itself a radical accomplishment of liberalism. You are confusing socialism with liberalism. Socialists have wisely and unfortunately with great success co-opted the word. And with the help of conservatives. Conservatives are, ironically, that force that seeks to conserve these principles of liberty.
Charlie in Ithaca
Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Abu, I'm glad you responded; it gives me a chance to properly credit my source, Cleon Skousen in his insightful book, The Five Thousand Year Leap. It is vital that we understand the fundamental ideas, principles and values of the founding Fathers if we wan't to preserve them. Part of the reason for the quandary we find ourselves in as that we've come to put more importance on protecting our "stuff" than in protecting our principles.
Abu Nudnik in Toronto
Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 11:20 PM
Thanks for your response, Charlie.
I can't comment on the book, never having read it but we agree in the content of your last sentence. The art of bribery has never flourished as it does now. The buying of votes with one's neighbors' money, borrowed for the future to pay is indeed the root of the problem today. I'm quite happy with Mr. Romney's pick for VP because he not only understands the problem, he understands how big a ship this debt-laden beast is and how carefully it needs to be turned around. If all goes well, sixteen years of Romney and Ryan should put the USA back on its proper course.
Howard Last in Wyoming
Monday, August 27, 2012 at 12:38 AM
One correction, the main purpose of "the right to bear arms" is to be able to throw out a despot if he ever gets power. Say doesn't this apply to kommandant klinton and Barry?
Johnnie Parrish in Bedford, TX
Monday, October 22, 2012 at 5:30 PM
Everyone, especially WWII and older do KNOW for a fact, WE ARE WORSE OFF NOW, under the direction of Power Crazed Muslim Dictator Obama, than we were four years ago. WE MUST LET THIS BE HIS LAST DAYS IN OFFICE. My wife of 65 years and I have already voted for a Government of the people, by the people and for the people. With less government ad more responsibility of every individual citizen of our United States of America; We KNOW that a team like Romney and Ryan can and will do ALL possible to make that come about.