PEA RIDGE — One lump or two?
Once upon a time, in a land far from England ruled by the Crown, an unfair tax was put upon loyal British colonists.
With no representatives in Parliament to speak for them, the colonists were frustrated and angry. So in a brave and cunning move, ”The Sons of Liberty,” disquised as Indians staged the world’s largest tea party - The Boston Tea Party.
It is no small irony, that the first break in the Democratic empire on Capital Hill would occur in Massachusetts. The people of Massachusetts are leading the states in sending a signal to Congress and the White House that they are out of touch with the people who will not be railroaded on the healthcare issue, or any other issue, just to check off a campaign promise. We must have representatives who will represent their constituents, not the lobbyists and other political and party bosses.
“It’s the economy, stupid.” What good will it be to have a health care bill now, when at least 10 percent of the work force may not have jobs to pay the premiums? We did not get into the fix we are in overnight; an appropriate amount of time is necessary to carefully consider steps necessary to get our economy and healthcare back on the right track.
It appears that just as there was a wide gulf between England and the colonies back in 1775, that there is an even wider gulf between us and our government. These politicians don’t “feel our pain,”they are cocooned in their offices. Judging by the response of the media to the results of last Tuesday’s election, however, I believe the current administration is beginning to wake up to the “shot from the ballot box.”
Our founding fathers never envisioned a time when political office would become a job with the perks it offers today.
However, the sharpest of those men carefully placed safeguards into the system we have to prevent power grabs. They were men ofmeans who could afford to take time away from their farms and businesses to create the form of government we have today. As Lincoln put it, a government “Of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
This summer my wife and I were privileged to visit our capital. What a beautiful monument to liberty and freedom it is. However, chiseled onto the Capital building itself are these words: “Vigilance is the price of liberty.” We must be vigilant, on the alert, so that our liberties are not voted away for political expediency. We are a courageous and ingenious people; we have come through hard times before. We must not give up our liberties for hasty deals with questionable results.
Men and women of all party affiliations, let your voice be known to your congressmen. Exercise your hard won privilege.
And if they don’t listen just ask the question - One lump? Or two?
DAVID DICKEY Pea Ridge, Ark.
Opinion, Pages 4 on 01/27/2010