I Am a Conservative, Not a NeoConservative; I Am a Liberal, Not a Progressive

Hmm, as Abigail and Dolley readers know we are constantly refining our positions, investigating our beliefs, and testing our tenants to insure that they conform to logical and linear arguments.  I stumbled upon a debating Democrat this morning who when asked to define what he believed in was articulate, reasoned, logical, and firmly held beliefs based on the wisdom of our Founding Fathers.  So how then could he possibly consider himself a Democrat?  What I discovered was that he considered himself a liberal and thus historically identified with the Democratic Party and had not yet realized that is not who they are anymore.  Conversely, he attacked the conservative writer by bringing up the failures of the Bush Administration obviously assuming that anyone of the conservative mind set must be a defender of GW Bush and a fellow NeoConservative.


It is the Progressives that are running the Dems and the Neo-Cons that are running the GOP - that is what is dividing us politically because the American people are not Progressives or Neo-Cons. Thus, those of us with a conservative mind set view the Progressive agenda with horror and the Dems do the same with the Neo-Cons. The challenge in our discourse is that WE THE PEOPLE are not represented by either of the major Political parties, but are tearing each other apart for things we have perceived the "other" side to believe.

World View and the Importance of Understanding What That Means

World View - how one sees the world, a system of beliefs that one holds regarding this world and beyond.  The filter through which human beings process events, circumstances, and actions.

Understanding your own world view and that of other people is crucial to predicting behavior and explaining motivations and actions.  If you understand how a person views the world then you have a clear understanding of what is driving them.  Without grasping this concept about ourselves and others we are likely to be tossed about on the sea of uncertainty when it comes to critical analysis of why people behave the way they do.  It is particularly important for us to understand the world view of the leaders we elect to office.  If you understand what is driving them, you will not be mislead by clever words and empty promises.

Let us examine some of the common political world views in our society today:

The Victim - this defeated person see the world through a victim's eyes.  They have been wronged and somebody needs to make it right.  This group is fed upon by self serving politicians and exploiters who seek to give the victim validation and a token hand out in exchange for their loyalty and support.

The Environmentalist - this person holds that the Earth is the center of the universe and must be served by man.  This all consuming world view leads to vehement defense of any action or policy that is seen to "harm" their belief system.  They by and large view humans as locust destroying the planet and the concerns of man take a back seat to what is good for Mother Earth.

The "Liberal" Progressive - this person holds that man is perfectible through social engineering and government policy.  As such, individual freedom and responsibility are not considerations in decision making.  The collective is the mechanism for which meaningful change can and must occur.  Social justice, wealth redistribution, and centralized control are all goals and views of the liberal progressive.

The Libertarian - the libertarian views all government with skepticism and rejects social engineering and policy from governmental sources.  They typically disagree with any laws that deal with personal behavior and choices ie assisted suicide laws, gay marriage, abortion, legalized drugs.  These are all areas that Libertarians believe are outside of the purview of the government and should not be legislated.

The "Conservative" Progressive - Also called the Neo-Cons, these are big government, globalist who believe that spreading American influence through preemptive war and the UN.  They ultimately believe in the superiority of the state and the implementation of large governmental controls of individual's life. 

The Constitutionalists -  this Conservative worldview is making a huge resurgence in American culture.  Largely lost by the American public since the turn of the 20th century, this group views the world and the government from a Founder's perspective.  Government is viewed as a necessary mechanism for a civil society but must be constrained and contained within the parameters and borders set fourth by the Founding Fathers.

To some extent or the other, you must look at each of these worldviews and follow them to their natural and historical conclusions.  By doing so, you can determine which world view ending you want to see.

The Victim - slavery, poverty, hopelessness, dependence
The Environmentalist - demodernization, reduced standards of living (no cars, planes, electricity, chemicals)
The Liberal Progressive - complete state control and removal of all who stand in the way of perfecting society.
The Libertarian - a breakdown in the moral fabric of the country that ultimately leads to unrestrained personal behavior.
The Conservative Progressive - unending war, massive debt, massive expansion of government.
The Constitutionalists - limited and restrained government, fiscal responsibly, economic and personal freedoms.  Defined separation and balance of powers.

Hmm.... which one are you?  Which one should you be?  Which one are our leaders and what does that tell you about them?

Sarah Palin - A Woman After Our Own Hearts

Abigail and Dolley readers know that this blog is dedicated to examining current events through the intellect of Abigail Adams and the charm and grace of Dolley Madison - thus, we have determined that Sarah Palin is our kind of lady.  If times were different in 1776, Abigail Adams would have been sitting at the Massachusetts table of the Second Continental Congress with her husband John and his cousin, Samuel. Relegated to home and hearth, we have invaluable correspondence between Abigail and John and see her guiding and gentling hand in the preeminent Founders work.  Her support of women's rights was a century ahead of its time and it is through the eyes of a modern woman, I humbly thank my Grandmother's before me who have given me the rights I enjoy today as a strong American Woman.

It is with these eyes that I wonder, why does the media hate Sarah Palin?  She reminds me of all that is good in American Women.  She reminds me of myself in many ways.  Why then does the media hate me?

We like Sarah Palin because she is strong enough to stand up for her convictions and to back up her words with actions.  We like Sarah Palin because she values liberty, freedom, and family.  We like Sarah Palin because she does not wait around for others to lead.  We like Sarah Palin because she supports our military.  We like Sarah Palin because she would actually impose sanctions on Iran and not just talk about it.  We like Sarah Palin because she is not so jaded she looks at a problem and says, "it's too big to fix".  We like Sarah Palin because she can answer a question without a teleprompter.  We like Sarah Palin because when she answers the question, you can believe what she said because she actually answered the question and did not give a political slide and duck that could mean two or more things without saying a word.  We like Sarah Palin because she did not abort her Downs Syndrome Child.  We like Sarah Palin because she can laugh at herself.  We like Sarah Palin because she is a Believer.  We like Sarah Palin because she took on corruption in her own party and in her own state.  We like Sarah Palin because she sold the Governor's Jet.  We like Sarah Palin because she sees the connection between energy Independence and National Security.  We like Sarah Palin because she believes we should kill the Caribou and take their oil.  We like Sarah Palin because for the first time since Ronald Reagan we have a dynamic conservative leader.We like Sarah Palin because she would be right at home at a Tea Party.

We like Sarah Palin because in our day, Abigail and I could not run for President, but Sarah Palin sure can.

It's an American Thing, Stupid

The title of course is a play on the famous campaign slogan of Bill Clinton and James Carville, "It's the Economy Stupid". It was amazingly effective and delivered the White House to the Democrats for the first time in 12 years. It is time to move past the individual and driving force of how much money we have in our wallets. It is time to stop being consumed by one issue.

I believe though, that we as Americans are at a cross roads and that the lines delineated between us by the extremes on both sides will no longer be accepted. It is time for us to GROW UP and stop fighting about our labels.

It is time we recognize that our stated goals are much the same, though we differ in the manner and plan in which we want to achieve said goals. It is prudent to examine history and take a lesson from the success and the failures of the past, remember that "there is nothing new under the sun". Thus, the most alarming thing about what is going on in Washington is not the stated goals, but the manner in which we are pursuing them. The course of action we are taking in almost all areas has been proven ineffective, counterproductive, and dismal failures when tried in the past. Why then are we seeking to implement failed policies? I believe it is simply a matter of POWER. Stated goals and outcomes are not the real concern of the Washington bureaucrats, they want CONTROL. They want to decide what you do, how you do it, what you make, how you live, where you live, and they will not stop until they control and regulate every thing you do - see THEY know best. This taken to its logical conclusion is tyranny and the American Spirit will not abide the chains of slavery.

What do we need? We need Common Sense, we need Public Servants, we need the end of Politics and a return to the Principals of our Founding Fathers. Instead of Democrats and Republicans let us all become Constitutional Americans. These are the principals we can agree on:

Take care of the Helpless and stop funding and enabling the Clueless

Protect the Earth in a Common Sense manner

Peace through strength

Protect and close our borders - deport illegals

Educate our young people - train them in professions or send them to college

Any legislation, regulation or rule should have to pass Constitutional muster

Stop Judicial Activism

Stop wasteful spending

Remove and repeal rules and regulations that stifle business and job creation

Build safe and efficient nuclear power plants and allow access to the vast oil deposits in our country

Privatize government functions not authorized by the Constitution

Cut taxes

Balance the budget

Pay off our debt

Create a business environment that enables the American Spirit and Ingenuity to thrive - we have to start MAKING things.

Tell the rest of the world they will no longer have Military welfare - all of the countries in the world do not devote a huge percentage of their budget to defense, they rely on the USA to spend all the money and thus are on Military welfare - all nations must maintain adequate military defenses or start sending us money or forgiving debts owed them by our previous spending.

Term limit all government elected officials- this removes the permanent elite ruling class and motivates politicians to do the right thing for the country instead of the thing that gives them power.

These are American ideals and we need to stop fighting, stand together, and make the change. We must demand results from our legislators and other elected officials. We must no longer be disengaged from the public arena. We must stop with the prohibition to discuss religion and politics amongst ourselves. We must learn to engage one another with respect and intellect and common sense. We must stop tolerating lies, half truths, and spin from our partisans and elected leaders and demand honesty and candor. It is time for us all to stop being partisan and start being Americans. If we fail to do these things we will sink into the ranks of the once great Republics that could not hold on to the ideals that made them great to begin with.

I for one, choose to fight for the America I believe in. Will you?

Liberal Rantings or More Tactics?

"A lie told often enough becomes truth" Vladimir Lenin

William James - father of modern Psychology "There's nothing so absurd that if you repeat it often enough, people will believe it."

This is a tactic used with great effectiveness on both sides, but perhaps with even greater cunning on the left than the right. I say this not as a partisan but because I firmly believe the Left does not hold itself accountable to any standard other than their own. Whilst the Right, must answer to the Christians and if they are Christians themselves, well then they have to answer to the Lord. Make no mistake, all will one day "give an account of their actions and deed", but the ultimate and just judgment of the Lord is not the subject of this article (though I must confess to a certain peace and comfort that comes with recalling WHO is actually in charge).

Now, I may have misspoke, because it seems the Liberals do hold themselves to a certain standard, that laid out by Saul Alinsky, (if you are unfamiliar with this book dedicated to Satan and studied as gospel by Obama, see my numerous blogs on the suject). Saul Alinsky advised "make the other side live up to their own standards"- thus, the liberals can repeat a lie in a Talking Points that permeates the media and after hammering it in day after day, year after year, it becomes "truth".

Mark my words - Socialism will be tied as a code word for racism. I have heard it numerous times in the last few days, liberals espousing the view that those calling Obama and his plans socialism are actually really wanting to call him a N#*%$#@. Normal thinking Americans always reject the lie upon first hearing, but repeated enough times.....

The protesters are "mobs" of uninformed red neck racists. The protesters are not real Americans. The DNC machine is spouting these lies on an hourly basis and they will get away with much of it, too - unless the media begins doing its job. There are some stirrings of this in the market, perhaps the Fat Lady will not quite get to sing yet.

So I did a social experiment today, I must confess I reminded myself of a little child being forced to choke down something truly unappealing, but my fortitude was strong and I listened to some liberal talk radio and even read a few articles on ABC news and Salon.com. It was truly amazing, okay I admit it the ABC article was a link on Drudge and the Salon.com was a Facebook post by a conservative friend, the articles were actually encouraging because even the liberal media is starting to call the health care and domestic debacle as they see it. The talk radio was strictly my own doing and it was torturous.

The mocking of the people who hold views other than the ultra liberal was amazing. The host so deluded she said that people are upset about the health care plan because for the last 8 years the GWB administration scared the American people so bad they no longer trust the government. I swear, I am not making it up. This being said of a nation that was founded in rebellion to a tyranical government and king. George Washington said government is not benevolence, government is force and the Founders knew that when they constructed our forms of government. Ronald Reagan said the scariest words you could ever hear are, "I am from the government and I am here to help."

So no matter how many times they repeat the lie, it is still a lie. Remember that America.

Where Do We Stand?

Abigail Adams was never one to mince words.  She was very astute and in that tradition, I want each Abigail and Dolley reader to ponder this post carefully. 

In the wake of 9/11, I have been thinking about what it is that actually holds us together as Americans.  We seem to disagree on so much that can the Republic survive with such polar opposite views and opinions?  Where do you come down on these issues?

1.  State directed or Free market economy?
2.  Individual liberty or collective good?
3.  The Founding Fathers were:  Deist/Atheist or devoted Christians?
4.  The Constitution is a living breathing document or it should be strictly interpreted?
5.  American is a good and just country - or America is a flawed country that has made the world a worse place?
6.  Gay marriage is a just cause or gay marriage is a socially destructive force that threatens our society?
7.  Abortion is okay?
8.  The Federal Government has too much power or the Federal Government has just the right amount of power?
9.  The New Deal brought us out of the Great Depression or lengthened and worsened it?
10.  Trickle down economics does not work or it is the best mechanism for the free market?
11.  Israel is a wicked and oppressive country or Israel is our greatest ally.
12.  Global Warming is a myth or Global Warming is the greatest threat to our World today?
13.  The needs of the endangered species should always be on a higher scale than human enterprise and well being?  Or, human impact must be taken into consideration when ruling on endangered species issues?
14.  Government run schools or school choice?
15.  Business is basically evil and Unions are needed to protect the working people?  Or Unions destroy companies, enterprises, and communities and limit the competitive advantage of American companies saddled with them?
16.  Global trade should be encouraged as a way to foster cooperation and grow wealth, or US companies should not have to compete with slave labor made products and higher tariffs should be applied to imported goods?
17.  I believe that rich people take advantage of poor people and should be taxed accordingly, or rich people create jobs for poor people and give them the opportunity to improve their lives?
18.  Welfare should be administered by the state.  Welfare should be administered by the church.
19.  The USA is a Christian country founded on Judeo-Christian principals.  The USA is a secular country and God has no place in the public arena.
20.  The liberal phylosophy of government works in the real world or the conservative phylosophy works in the real world.
21.  People are basically good - people are basically bad.

Where do you stand?