Thoughts on Voting

Monty Rainey
October 22, 2002

With the elections less than two weeks away, internet discussion boards are abuzz. Many with questions of why someone chooses to vote the way they do. I recently responded to such a question, rather quickly and without much thought. Upon reflection, I realize the answer deserves much greater detail to be fully understood.

When I enter into the voting booth on November 5^th, I will have spent countless hours in self-deliberation of many issues. Primarily, I will base my ultimate decisions upon the wisdom of the great founders of this nation. It is my hope to live long enough to see this nation return to the visions our founding fathers had in mind. God only knows, we have strayed afar.

When I read over the Bill of Rights, one thing stands out above all the rest. That is, the Second Amendment. Our right to keep and bear arms. For I believe, without that right, how can we possibly hope to secure and protect the others? I believe the restrictions of gun control are more about control than they are about guns.

I believe the words of Thomas Jefferson who said, "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."

I believe the words of Samuel Adams who said, "That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of the conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."

I believe the words of George Mason who said, "…to disarm the people – that was the best and most effective way to enslave them."

And to counter these beliefs, I believe the words of Adolph Hitler who said, "The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subject races to possess arms."

I believe, should the Second Amendment ever fall, the rest will surely follow.

The people I cast my vote for must possess moral character. I also believe character must be promoted within our society and particularly in our schools.

I believe the words of Samuel Adams who said, "Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt."

The people I cast my vote for must be in favor of reducing the function of the federal government. Our federal government today undertakes many tasks of which it is ill prepared and should avoid.

I believe the words of James Madison who said, "The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like a state government, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part the legislative duty of the government."

The people I cast my vote for must support small business. Capitalism is a principle foundation of which this nation was founded and without it, we will perish.

I believe the words of George Washington who said, "A people,... who are possessed of the spirit of commerce, who see and who will pursue their advantages may achieve almost anything."

I believe the words of Alexander Hamilton who said, "Industry is increased, commodities are multiplied, agriculture and manufacturers flourish: and herein consists the true wealth and prosperity of a state."

The people I cast my vote for must support the Constitution of the United States. Seeking to remove the Second Amendment or alter it in any way is not supporting the Constitution.

I believe the words of George Washington who said, "The Constitution is the guide, which I will never abandon."

The educational system in this country is in desperate need of reform. For far too long now, government has attempted to solve our education problems by throwing more money at it and it hasn’t worked. I believe teachers should receive a fair wage, but I also believe they should be tested and held to the highest standards. Teachers must also be given back the authority to control the discipline of the students within their care. Our schools must return to basic principles of education and stop trying to be a branch of social services. I believe classes should be taught in English, unless they are for the express purpose of foreign language instruction.

I believe the words of John Adams who said, "Children should be educated in the principles of freedom."

I believe the words of Noah Webster who said, "It is an object of vast magnitude that systems of education should be adopted and pursued which may not only diffuse a knowledge of the sciences but may implant in the minds of American youth the principles of virtue and of liberty and inspire them with an inviolable attachment to their own country."

The people I cast my vote for must be Christian. This nation was founded on the principles of the Word of God and should only be served by those who uphold those principles.

I believe the words of Samuel Adams who said, "The importance of piety and religion; of industry and frugality; of prudence, economy, regularity and an even government; all are essential to the well being of a family."

I believe in the words of George Washington who said, "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of the Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and to humbly implore His protection and favors."

We are each responsible for our own actions. Our government has been infiltrated by those who believe we are victims of circumstances. This too, must change. The government should uphold and strictly enforce our laws, and otherwise, leave us to live our lives as we see fit. It is the government’s duty first and foremost, to protect the law abiding citizens. Justice should be carried out swiftly. Currently, the average death row inmate spends over 9 years going through the various appeals processes.

I believe the words of Thomas Jefferson who said, "A wise and frugal government shall restrain men for injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government."

I believe the words of James Wilson who said, "Without liberty, law loses its nature and its name, and becomes oppression. Without law, liberty also loses its nature and name and becomes licentiousness."

I believe the words of Thomas Jefferson who said, "Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever persuasion, religious or political."

The United Nations is a deadly alliance. Our nation and its citizens would be better served to distance ourselves from such apostasy.

I believe in the words of George Washington who said, "Europe may be convinced we act for ourselves and not for others; this, in my judgement, is the only way to be respected abroad and happy at home."

Many will say, as the worlds lone super power, there is no longer a need for a strong military. I believe the events of 9/11 prove otherwise. An undeniable truth on this earth is that peace is achieved through the use of military force. Our military endured eight years of decimation and must be rebuilt to reflect the power that is the United States of America.

I believe in the words of George Washington who said, "To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."

I believe in the words of Thomas Paine who said, "He that makes his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach even himself."

I believe in the words of John Adams who said, "National defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman."

I believe the words of George Washington who said, "There is a rank due to the United States among nations which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness."

During the 1960’s the Johnson Administration began the war on poverty. Over $3 trillion later, I believe we have lost that war. At a time when it has become obvious that the current Social Security system cannot possibly sustain itself as a generation of baby boomers reaches retirement, we must change our tactics towards the poor. We simply cannot afford to continue throwing money into that bottomless pit.

I believe in the words of Benjamin Franklin who said, "I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it."

I believe in the words of Thomas Jefferson who said, "To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare others who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, it to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

I believe in the words of Benjamin Franklin who said, "Repeal that [welfare] law, and you will soon see a change in their manners. Industry will increase, and with it, plenty among the lower people; their circumstances will mend, and more will be done for their happiness by inuring them to provide for themselves, than could be done by dividing your estates among them."

In line with welfare reform is immigration reform. Today in America, hospitals are being forced out of business because they can no longer absorb the costs of being forced to provide free medical services to illegal immigrants. Our schools can no longer afford the overcrowding caused by the children of illegal immigrants. At the current rate, according to the figures of the Census Bureau, our nations population will double in our children’s lifetimes.

Tort reform must be addressed. Frivolous lawsuits are driving up the prices of medical care making them unobtainable for the uninsured and in many cases, doubling the cost of insurance in the last decade.

These are the changes and philosophies I will be thinking of when I step into the voting booth on November 5^th. The individual candidates may not be the very best choices, but overall I believe the Republican Party most adheres to these philosophies set forth by our founders, and the changes which need to be made to insure our future.

I believe the Democratic Party has abandoned its basic principles and embraced the principles of socialism. When John F. Kennedy made his inaugural address, he said. "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask instead what you can do for your country". These plagiarized words of the Lebanese poet, Kahlil Gibran, have been abandoned by the Democratic Party, who have built their following on those who are asking what the country will do for them. This must stop. Tort reform, welfare reform, immigration reform and tax reform, coupled with the return to the principles established by our founder’s, are the only hope for America’s future.

These are the reasons why I will vote Republican on November 5th.

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