July 4th, 2013: End Dependence Day
Published June 6, 2013
By Kelly Gneiting (National Chairman of the Independent American Party)
The 4th of July is coming up, and I, for one, am looking forward to time spent with my family.
Yet it is with regret that I observe, as with Christmas, the deterioration of the holiday’s original purity. The celebration has been at least tweaked and at most totally warped into becoming simply another excuse for festivity. Yes, fireworks are fun to light, and pretty to watch. Having a day off from work is wonderful, and family get-togethers are ideal. This year, I hope that your thoughts will turn towards our Forefathers, and let their spirit of true patriotism sink in a little bit deeper.
Does a 15% populace (over 50 million) on Food Stamps indicate independence? Does spending these dollars, with our government’s blessing, on beer, condoms, and Taco Bell promoteindependence? Most in Washington’s Continental Army left their fields and gardens to fight for liberty. They were desperately needed at home to provide for their families, but the call of their country beckoned louder. Trusting in God for their family’s welfare, they served… and died.
Does a culture of debt, both individual and nationally set a good example of independence? The Founders believed it was immoral to pass along public debt to the next generation. Such was considered “taxation without representation,” and a blatant violation of the laws in a Republic. Today, America is $60 trillion in debt, which MANY generations of Americans won’t be able to overcome. Is this independence?
Does “wealth” in the form of unemployment, social security, disability, Medicaid, Medicare, and other forms of entitlements promote a belief system of independence from government? None of these systems were in place at the time of our original Independence Day.
How about America placing its stamp of approval on debauchery… does that promoteindependence? Do the heinous acts Americans commit in “privacy” as “consenting adults” promote independence? Is there really, truly no price to be paid later on by others for these debauched practices? James E. Faust stated the position of our Founders by saying:
“There is a popular notion that doing our own thing or doing what feels good is our own business and affects no one but us. The deadly scourges that are epidemic all over the world have flourished in the context of this popular notion. But this is simply not true.
“All immoral behavior directly impacts society. Even innocent people are affected. Drug and alcohol abuse have public consequences, as do illegitimacy, pornography, and obscenity. The public cost in human life and tax dollars for these so-called private choices is enormous: poverty, crime, a less-educated work force, and mounting demands for government spending to fix problems that cannot be fixed by money. It simply is not true that our private conduct is our own business. Our society is the sum total of what millions of individuals do in their private lives. That sum total of private behavior has worldwide public consequences of enormous magnitude. There are no completely private choices.”
If families are the building blocks of a nation, can we not expect a nation thus built, to erode when the fundamental makeup of traditional families erode?
Furthermore, if folks with honorable jobs which create wealth (farming, manufacturing, transportation) are forced, through collective theft, to distribute their hard-earned property to those who create NO wealth, is this independence? This system of collective theft wasn’t in place during our Founder’s era.
When our government was established (1792), one government worker served about 9,000 people. Today, one government worker serves about 100 people within thousands of regulatory agencies. All of these jobs create no wealth, and most work to impede others’ pursuit of wealth. Is thismoving in the direction of independence?
Do these government regulations and fees in every industry, from fast food to assisting the elderly, create confidence in one’s ability to independently engage in their unique talents and passions?
Does consistently dolling out billions of dollars to Indian Tribes create independence? Does printing billions of dollars every year via the Federal Reserve, backed only by the wealth of thin air, create independence?
What about the sick being forced, through propaganda and financial coercion, to purchase medicines approved by the Food and Drug Administration—a government agency that decides who should get billions of dollars, holding hostage the free market system of medicine and disease prevention. Should this obvious conflict of interest really be above reproach? Is the FDA’s monopoly on medicine independence?
This July 4th, consider the patriotism of Jesus Christ, which was reflected in the loyalty of our great Forefathers, who were angry at the flaxen cords of tyranny that an arrogant government forced around them. Some of the names of these flaxen cords were the Stamp Act, Townshend Act,Declaratory Act, and Tea Act. Today’s tyranny comes in the form of Executive Orders,Obamacare, the 16th and 17th Amendments, and supposed laws that reduce local jurisdictions to federal field offices.
When you come to the understanding of Christ’ teachings, you will come into the true spirit of the original 4th of July. Said He, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34) This is from the same person who said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt 5:44-45)
These two statements harmonize as one glares into the face of liberty’s enemies. The face of both tyranny and lawlessness is nothing less than the slaughter of the innocent. The motivation to be involved in the liberty battle is the love of the innocent— a love which converts itself into anger and hatred of the instruments (including people) that would cause their death and destruction.
Whatever direction your compass tells you to lend your efforts, whether in the IAP or another avenue, may the power of love guide its needle. And may this 4th of July be a little more meaningful.
Article source:
I think he meant Riley Hood.
Ha, you’re close.
Don Stone?
In the picture you posted; Is Ben Franklin actually
molesting the little Girl? OMG is Betsy Ross seeing
this and not reacting?
Well, so much for the superior morality of the Fondling Fathers. :>)
Does a 15% populace (over 50 million) on Food Stamps indicate independence? Does spending these dollars, with our government’s blessing, on beer, condoms, and Taco Bell promote independence?
1. beer?
is much healthier than Soda Pop and doesn’t cause tooth decay. Is that BAD?
2. condoms?
prevents some pregnancies and greater expansion of the dependent population and helps
relieve ‘some’ of the strain on welfare resources.
3. Taco Bell?
serves good tasting and health food. Just because many folks can’t afford Red Lobster every night is no reason to bad mouth a company
that provides jobs and sustenance for millions.
As far as I can determine neither beer, condoms or tacos are provided by government, so I’d like to know just how they deter independence.
> “How about America placing its stamp of > approval on debauchery… does that promote > independence?
If I pay for my own “debauchery” (what ever you
mean by that), how does it hinder independence?
>”Do the heinous acts Americans commit in >’privacy’ as ‘consenting adults’ promote >independence?”
LOL, PLEASE tell us how what consenting adults do in private has any effect on either your or their independence?
>Is there really, truly no price to be paid later on >by others for these debauched practices?
Did they use a cancelled or expired credit card to
pay for these practices? WHY do you believe that you are liable for their bill?
It VERY SAD that amidst a short piece with some VERY valid and salient points, it must ALSO contain so much absolute bull shit!
Very well written!
Especially in comparison to another “constitutionalist” leader in a certain upper-midwestern state.