Am I a Christian?

Yesterday I was asked by one among those in my "forwarding" community, if, given my strong political views, can I be a Christian?  It wasn't worded quite so politely.  But, the meaning is the same.  Every subject I mention today was a part of this person's email.

First, let me say that I am a Christian; a practicing Christian who accepts Jesus as my personal savior.  I do not wear my Christianity on my shirtsleeve and I do not look down my nose at those who do not believe as I believe.  That is God's province.  But, I accept my responsibility to act as a Christian and to profess my faith, at the supermarket as well as at church.

My political leanings are as a mixed man.  I am fiscally a conservative.  I am proud of the United States and believe we should act as what we are; the nation which, while far from perfect, is the best hope of mankind short of God's Kingdom.  I believe we should act in the best interests of our country and I don't care if others love us.  I do expect them to respect and/or fear us according to their actions.  Not their words, their actions.

I am socially both conservative and liberal and, frankly, primarily a centrist.  And, I currently support Mike Huckabee, since he appears to be an honest man and a supporter of the Fair Tax.

For example, I believe abortion is wrong; partial birth abortion is murder.  I believe abortion should never be used as a form of contraception.  But, and here I part company with many Christians, I do not believe I have the right to expect others to share my beliefs.  Nor do I believe I have the right to demand that others live by my beliefs.

I hope this clarifies where I stand, both in faith and politically.

God Bless You All,

Bruce Maynes

CREEPING FEDERALIZATION - POSTED IN REVERSE ORDER - SORRY

I am sorry about this. This is my first day blogging and I do not know how to do a lot of things - like revise the order of postings, or keeping the format I want. Or, for that matter, how to use "tags" (whatever they are) to make my blog more accessible. When you get to be my age, new things are slow to sink in.

Creeping Federalization - Historic Origins and the 18th & 19th Centuries

Historic Origins

and

Federalization in the 18th and 19th Centuries

The “American Colonist” of the 18th century was an independent sort with widely diverging views. Landowners and business owners chafed under British Rule suffering requirements of import only from England, taxation and quartering of British troops in colonial homes. The “common man” cared only that he could work, eat and support his family. Many of these simply moved west when they became unhappy with conditions in the “civilized” east.

But, a few men, mostly well educated and of substantial means, took another approach. They appealed repeatedly to the Crown for redress. It was the Crown’s unwillingness to listen to these appeals which led to the drawing together of the Colonies with first Continental Congress meetings and then more clandestine gatherings leading to the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War and the Articles of Confederation. The first President of The United States was, incidentally, John Hanson of Maryland. Hanson was unanimously elected by Congress on March 1, 1781 upon the signing of the Articles of Confederation by Maryland, the last of the 13 States to do so. The Articles were weak and led to the adoption of the U. S. Constitution on September 17, 1787 by the Constitutional Convention and subsequently ratified by each of the States in the name of “The People.” The Constitution of the United States is the oldest constitution still in use anywhere in the world today.

In these early days of our country, great attention was given to and demand for the rights of the Sovereign States of the United States. The several States and their representatives felt strongly that a series of rights must be contained in the Constitution. Thus, we have the “Bill of Rights,” the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

These facts deserve mention in this treatise because they demonstrate clearly the belief of our founders in the rights of the Sovereign States. And, in the limitation of the power vested in any central or federal government. This was the reason for the “balance of power” created with the three separate branches of our government: Executive, Legislative and Judicial, each with the power to balance the others.

During the early decades of the 19th century, the northern States and southern States began to draw apart. Slavery was the issue most visible and it was given great import in both the north and south because of its’ moral implications. But, economic issues were probably of more direct import. Both, however, led to the War Between the States, today known in the north as the Civil War and in the south as The War of Northern Aggression.

The War was clearly a struggle to determine whether a State is, in fact, sovereign with the right to leave the Union or a State is a part of the whole and subject to the dictates of the Union. This fight rages to this day. And, it has never been under stronger debate than now.

The War established for the remaining years of the 19th century that the Federal Government was the seat of power and that States are subject to the laws of the Federal Government. It did not, however, settle this argument fully, nor did it do so in any complete manner.

It is important to note here that the American of these decades remained an independent sort, many of whom simply moved on when authority seemed unacceptable. The central government spent a great deal of its‘ time and treasure administering new lands as they came under American rule by one method or another and in fighting Indian nations in defense of settlers and in defense of expansion of Federal rule.

At the turn of the 20th century the subject of States Rights vs the Federal Government occupied little of the public’s attention. These were prosperous times and land was still available for those who wished to be far from cities.

Creeping Federalization - An Overview

Creeping Federalization

and its’ impact on the Country and Georgia

Overview

The Bill of Rights (Partial)

Preamble

Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent starts of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Amendments

• Second Amendment – Militia (United States), Sovereign state, Right to keep and bear arms.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

• Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

• Tenth Amendment – Powers of States and people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The Founding Fathers of our country, upon the adoption of the Constitution, believed in the need for what is now called The Bill of Rights in order to prevent the abuse of power by the Federal Government. Here we are looking only three of these Amendments; the second, the ninth and the tenth Amendments. It was a belief widely held by the Founding Fathers that the several States were Sovereign States and that, in joining together in a Republic named The United States of America, they were not surrendering their sovereignty. Rather they were joining together as sovereign states ceding those rights specifically named in the Constitution to the Federal Government in order to more efficiently provide for the common defense and certain other common needs enumerated within the Constitution.

There was little change during the 18th and the first half of the 19th centuries. It was not until slavery became an issue greatly dividing the peoples and the States of the United States, that States Rights became an issue. The great divide preceding the War Between the States was both moral and economic and the war was fought primarily on the question of whether or not the Sovereign States had the right to leave the Union.

An income tax was passed during the Civil War (The Revenue Act of 1861) which was repealed ten years later. This was the first, but by no means the last, effort of the Federal Government to apply an income tax upon all of the citizens of the several States.

With the passage in 1909 of the 16th Amendment established the right of the Federal Government to tax in this manner. It is only now, in the 21st century, that an attempt to replace the income tax with a consumption tax (The Fair Tax) that the power of the Federal Government and its’ representatives to direct the Sovereign States is being challenged. More on this later.

The 20th century saw little change until the Labor Relations Act of 1937 and the Child Labor Law established the Federal Government’s power to regulate interstate commerce. The New Deal leading up to WWII began the growth of Federal Power which was greatly extended during the war. The second half of the 20th century saw the Kennedy Minimum Wage Law extending Federal Power even further. The growth of Federal Power has continued to grow ever since.

But, it is only in the 21st Century that Federal Power has grown to alarming rates. The advent of 9/11 and the resulting War on Terror and the Patriot Act have caused, perhaps by necessity, the American people to surrender more of our rights than ever before. And the subsequent Administration has begun an unprecedented expansion of Federal Control over the American (notice the American Economy - no longer the economies of the Several States) Economy to ever greater lengths.

We will discuss in this series of articles, the effects of these trends on the United States as a whole, the State of Georgia and ourselves as not only Georgians but residents of North Georgia.

We will also look at the actions already taken by several States and actions contemplated by a number of other States, including Georgia, regarding the Sovereignty of the State.

And, finally, we will look at at least four possible paths we might take to the future and what each might look like in years to come.

Creeping Federalization

Readers: This will be a series of articles. We will start during Colonial Days, carry on through the 18th and 19th Centuries, spend a good bit of time on the 20th Century and culminate with the present day and potential future paths.

Creeping Federalization

and its’ impact on the Country and Georgia

Outline

• Overview

• Historic Origins

• Federalization in the 18th and 19 Centuries

• The 20th Century and the Growth of Central Power

- The First Half
- The Second Half

• The 21st Century

• Is This What We Really Want?

• The Present Day and States Rights Declarations

• Which Path Will We Ultimately Take?

- Sovereign States
- Tenth Amendment Sovereignty (Most Desirable)
- Secession (New Confederacy)
- Complete Federalization (Least Desirable)
- A Middle Ground (A Possible Compromise?)

The first post will be the Overview of the entire Series. The second will cover Historic Origins and Federalization in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Both will be posted today. The next posting, the 20th Century, will be, hopefully, completed by December 1st.

Who do those Firemen think they are?

I was sitting in a local restaurant having a comfortable meal with my wife when we overheard a rather loud conversation at a nearby table.

Both of the men were complaining about the "self serving" Fire Department collecting money and interfering with traffic with their boot drive.

One comment heard repeatedly was "They think they are 'heros.'" Another was "they are collecting for their parties - they don't work a full work week."

Well, I decided to ask a fireman.

First of all, I have not heard any fireman claiming to be a hero. There are people in all walks of life who perform heroic acts. And, they are usually not public acts. This is as it should be. Now, about not working a full work week. I wonder how many of those folks have to work holidays, spend Christmas and Thanksgiving Days at a fire house or riding patrol while the rest of us are at home with our families? These are the men and women who don’t have the highest paying jobs in the world and occasionally have to put their lives on the line for us!

Yes, the firefighters get to sleep at their fire station, but they also put in 52 hours per week that they are away from home

The monies collected in the boot drive are not for the use of the firemen. This week they were collecting for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Next week they will be collecting for the benefit of burned children.

No monies are ever used for department parties. Or, for that matter, for any parties.

It is easy to criticize. But, we should always make sure of our facts first.

In Alpharetta we have an outstanding Public Safety Department which includes both Police and Fire. Both work closely with civilian volunteer organizations and both are the better for it. We can be proud of the public servants employed by the City of Alpharetta. And, I suspect the same can be said for Roswell, Sandy Springs, John's Creek and Milton.

Bruce Maynes

Alpharetta, GA

Me? Or We.

Where are the Police of my youth?

Our country, in the 1950s, was focused upon the small town. But, even in large cities the police were friends to whom our parents turned in times of trouble. the Police themselves were pleasant and friendly. Jails and prisons were the residence of a small percentage of our population.

Today, we have the highest percentage of our population in the developed world in prison. Prison populations are disproportionately black and gangs grow and prosper in them. Islam has found our prisons to be fertile recruiting grounds. That’s Islam, the fanatics, not Islam the people who wish to worship in their own way and willing to let others do the same.

Our police are more feared than respected. Police work attracts a different kind of person today. There is a tendency for police to become isolated from society and the populace in general is happy to let them be by themselves. Because, “who wants a cop around when you are having fun?” Alpharetta, at least, has a program to try and integrate the police into the community. A very good idea. But, I digress.

More and more laws are written and enforced with less and less intelligent thought brought to bear. Schools take a zero tolerance (read no common sense need be present here) attitude to the most minor infractions. Some fear that we are becoming a Police State. Others fear that the “trash” are destroying our neighborhoods. Gangs are growing and more and more citizens are afraid for their children, their elderly and themselves.

Why?

Why? In my opinion the why is simple. We have become a nation of “Me.” Me, the Pro Life zealot. I know what is right and you must live with my rules. Me, the overly religious nut who says “it is a sin to sell wine on Sunday.” Me, the Pro Choice activist. I know what is right and you will live by my rules.

What about Me, the gang member. This is my turf and I rule here. Give me your purse or wallet or I will beat you. Or, Me, the teacher. Your child is a disruption because he/she doesn’t fit my mold. I can’t have a child who needs my attention in my class. Or, Me, the parent who can’t be bothered to get involved. It is school’s job to raise my child.

Our politicians are self involved. They are all on the take. Look at health care. I don’t care which side you are on. Just look at one fact. None of the Congresspersons or Senators or their staffs will be a part of whatever health care system they finally adopt. They are too good for that. They are exempt.

Whose fault is this? Well, you don’t need me to answer that. Everyone knows the answer. It is this same Me.

Only We can make this better. And We means a lot of mes working together with mutual respect and with joint purpose. And, you know what? If Me becomes we, a lot of police will become our friend again; protecting and serving. It is not They. It is not we. It is Me.

Are you a Me or a we.

Bruce Maynes

Water and Energy

An Opinion on Energy and Water in Georgia

Bruce Maynes - August 1, 2009

Our State, and indeed our Country, is suffering from a potential shortage of affordable electric power and a very real shortage of potable water. We constantly see talk of negotiations with our neighboring States; talk of high cost wind farms and solar energy. And, yes, we often see talk of studies (and more studies and more studies) of the viability of geothermal, tidal and even coastal sea flows and vibrations as potential sources of energy.

While making a lot of noise from which political fortune can be mined, these efforts are doing more harm than good for our State. We need leadership from the Governor to make a plan, fund the plan, start the plan and finish the plan. We do not need more studies.

There are many ways of reaching our goals. But, only one lends itself as a viable and sustainable solution to both problems.

It is my contention that we should embark upon two fronts with the construction of very large nuclear power plants on the coast which will double as desalination plants. The technology is safe and it is already there.

I know whereof I speak as I have worked directly with both the Saudi government in their desalination plants which provide significant water and the Chinese Daya Bay Nuclear plant which provides the power now being used to further develop Southern China.

The problems in Georgia mimic those of the Nation. A fundamental lack of leadership, of courage and it seems that politicians care only for those problems which can be solved with resulting political currency during the tenure of the individual’s term of office.

As citizens we have the right, even the duty, to say get off your duff and get moving or we, the electors, will fire the lot of you.

Healthcare Reform Real or Smokescreen?

Healthcare Reform

Real or Smokescreen?

All politicians, whatever their Party affiliation, want healthcare reform. And, reform is needed; no one disputes this fact. But, not one single Senator nor one single Congressman is proposing any real healthcare reform.

The only reform being suggested with any real validity is toward the fact that (pick a number - 4 million, 10 million, or the absurd 46 million) some of our citizens are uninsurable or simply cannot afford insurance. In addition some have chosen not to be insured. Their choice and their problem. This problem could easily be solved by creating (or expanding existing programs) a subsidized insurer of last resort. We do not need a complete overhaul (read destruction or government takeover) of our healthcare systems.

The real problem in healthcare is not healthcare at all. The problem is a broken legal system coupled with a public attitude which accepts absurd awards and looks at these awards as “no one is really hurt. It is paid by the insurance company.”

This causes insurance companies to raise malpractice insurance premiums to ruinous levels and causes doctors to order expensive tests to avoid malpractice suits. Both add many billions of dollars each year to healthcare costs. This is how healthcare is broken.

Politicians will never attack this problem because most of them are lawyers themselves or are beholden to lawyers. Only the voters can force a solution on politicians and they will fight it all the way.

When I was young it was illegal for lawyers to advertise. This was changed to “allow attorneys to identify their areas of expertise.” Too bad we didn’t think about one of these areas of expertise being “how to screw the doctor, or the hospital, or the insurance company or even your boss.” Is this, perhaps, a part of a general falling of our standards of honesty and decency?

Tort Reform. This is a fancy term for limiting those huge awards. Texas recently has made an attempt to do just that. But, tort reform can be more. It can help eliminate the ambulance chasers by making the losing attorney liable for a part of the legal fees of the winner of the suit. And it can impose upon those losing attorneys the court costs resulting from their suit. This is of particular value in those cases where the judge can identify the suit as a frivolous law suit. In such cases could there not be punitive fines for both the attorney and the plaintiff.

Of course any such reform would require careful study and an oversight process. But, it would limit the power of unscrupulous attorneys and plaintiffs who think they may just have won the lottery.

Bruce I. Maynes