Editorial

July 30th, 2009

Guest Editorial

GET INVOLVED IN YOUR LARGER COMMUNITY
Allen Edwin Jones
Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas

On February 14, 1776, Thomas Paine, in the introduction to his now famous “Common Sense,” wrote these words: “The Cause of America is, in a great measure, the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances have, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of lovers of mankind are affected, and in the event of which, their affections are interested.”

As we come together two hundred and thirty-five years later, it occurs to me those words still ring true. In spite of, or perhaps because of technological advances: radio, television, Internet blogs and twittering, “the cause of America is, in a great measure, the cause of all mankind.”

One of my goals is to help us understand that our approach to the solutions of today's problems must extend beyond our door steps, our city boundaries, our state lines and our national borders.

Common sense would indicate the principles that work should apply in the hills of Afghanistan as well as my subdivision of White Lake Hills, near Dallas, Texas. If America is to remain the beacon of freedom, we must re-ignite the flames that light the way, not obscure the path with the dark shadows of policies that haven't and are not likely to work.

This is not meant to be a partisan political campaign speech. I've been there and done that! This is not meant to demean individual personalities nor particular political parties. Experience should have us understand there is plenty of blame to go around. I want you to feel comfortable in any disagreement you may have. That is what honest dialogue is all about. What I want is for you to look objectively at what has happened (the historical view), what is happening (the current events view), and what is likely to happen (the consequences view).

Let us begin our inquiry by looking at debt.

Historically debt has been considered an undesirable thing. My parents and grandparents would think that debt beyond one year could only be tolerated for a home mortgage, possibly an automobile or perhaps a college education. Today we observe the willingness of our fellow citizens to go into long term debt for flat screen television sets, vacation trips and combined credit card balances several times their monthly incomes. Hopefully we are looking at your neighbors and not at you.

Debt was considered so undesirable that each State Constitution prohibited the various governors and legislatures from going into debt. Once the State revenues were exhausted, the only choices left were to reduce spending or raise taxes. While debt on a personal or State level is of concern, it is debt on a National level that is the real problem.

Thomas Jefferson knew that government debt was not only bad economic policy, but also morally unacceptable because it effectively makes your children responsible to pay for what you bought. He said “The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.” If that wasn't clear enough, he also said that politicians should consider themselves “unauthorized to saddle posterity with our debts, and morally bound to pay them ourselves...”

I so well remember, in my race for the Republican nomination in the 1980 primary in Nebraska, that my major plank was that we could not let the National Debt reach the one trillion dollar level. I did not win the nomination and within a very short time the Democratically controlled Congress and Republican President pushed the National Debt past the four trillion dollar mark!

The 2009 budget announced by the current administration was projected to produce a 1.7 trillion dollar deficit...and the spending continues. What happened to the common sense notion that you cannot spend yourself or the nation out of debt?

If you, too, feel that things are not right, I encourage you to step up to the plate and swing the bat. We need another revolution in America!

Not one with bullets flying and bombs bursting, but one where those like you do battle with like minded words and thoughts. Until then, the sense that something just doesn't feel right will linger.

I close with the last words of Thomas Paine's call to action: “...until an independence is declared, the Continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over, and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity.”

I urge you to get involved in your larger community...now, and with common sense!