Hello, my friends. I apologize for the long delay in updating the website, and hope that you enjoy this new piece that I've written.

    The question of capitalism and socialism, and which of the two is more biblical, has plagued my mind for a long time. My brother attended Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, and became friends with some people there who claimed to be Christian Socialists. My brother, being a very politically conservative Christian, was baffled by how these people could claim to be followers of Jesus and support wealth redistribution, and other socialist principles.

  As it turns out, there are several verses in the bible that support, or appear to support both sides. Let us first discuss the potential biblical motivation for socialism.

    In Matthew 19:23, Jesus said to his disciples: “Verily, I say unto you that a rich man shall hardly enter the kingdom of heaven.” The scriptures indicate here that the accumulation of wealth makes it more and more difficult for a man to enter heaven.

 Christ also says on the Sermon on the mount: “Give to him that asketh thee: and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away.”(Matt. 5:42) It would appear here as if Christ is advocating complete charity and equality for people. This was said of the early church in the book of Acts: “All the believers were one in heart and mind. None claimed his possessions as his own, but shared all they had…There was none needy among them. When those owning lands or houses sold them, they brought sale money and put it at the apostles’ feet; distributed to any in need.” (Acts 4:32-35) It would appear here as if the apostles and the early church operated under a system of socialism which worked well for them.

    However, the context behind the words is equally as important as the words being said, so let us take these verses supporting socialism and critique them, to put them to the test to ensure they are valid. The verse from Matthew 19:23, when taken in context, reflects Christ’s teachings on the evils of loving wealth before loving God.The temptation to become a slave to wealth is much greater to a rich man than a poor person. It is not a sin to have wealth, but it IS a sin to love wealth before God.

      The verses from Matt. 5:42 and Acts 4:32-35 reflect the principles of charity in the bible. Often the bible talks about the importance of giving to the poor and taking care of those who are in need. However, you will find that both capitalism and socialism advocate charity. The difference between the two systems when it comes to charity and giving are simply that capitalism advocates private charity from churches or individuals, whereas socialism advocates state-controlled charity through wealth redistribution and often-oppressive taxation. It is not in the desired ends that the two systems differ, but in the means by which to achieve the ends. You will note that there is not one instance in the bible where Christ advocates forced government charity. All manner of Scripture in the Good Book refer to private charity given out of your own free will. “God Loves a Cheerful Giver.” The Bible never condemns wealth, but it does condemn its misuse. Money is not the root of all evil. The LOVE of money is theroot of all evil.

    You will also notice that the book of Proverbs talks in detail several times on the importance of being frugal with wealth. “Go to the ant, you sluggard!” Etc. The importance of hard work and being frugal is all over Proverbs.

     The Commandment of “Thou Shalt Not Steal” also clearly implies a biblical motivation for the right to private property, just as “Thou Shalt Not Kill” clearly implies a right to life. Let me expand on this point, to avoid confusion. The 10 Commandments hold several negative prohibitions from which we as humans derive our basic individual rights. When the 6th Commandment says "Thou Shalt Not Kill," it is saying that you and I possess the God-given right to live, which is so valuable and precious that God himself put down a prohibition in the Scriptures against taking the right to life away. Therefore, when we see it said "Thou Shalt Not Steal," it implies that every human being has an innate, God-Given right to private property, which is so precious that God himself put down a prohibition on stealing the property of others.

    In summary, it is clear that though socialism may appear to have a biblical basis, it falls short of living up to the biblical standard because all charity in the bible is private and freely given. Capitalism is the economic system advocated by the bible, and this is evidenced by the many Proverbs advocating the proper use of wealth and frugality, along with the principles of private property set forth by the commandment of “Thou Shalt Not Steal.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

    That seems as good a summary of the biblical motivation for a capitalist worldview as I could possibly give. It is for these reasons that I strongly support the view that the Bible is inherently capitalist, and that due to the fallen nature of earthly man, we are incapable of living under socialism, and must have a free market in order to survive as a society.

So, I'm seriously getting tired of hearing about these "Occupy" (fill in city you live in) people. I don't claim to have a great understanding of politics or economics, but I do think that my understanding is basic, and since a lot of these "occupy" protesters are screaming about stuff that is pretty basic, I think I might actually be suited for writing about them.

I've been to some tea party rallies. I haven't been to any occupy protests, although I do want to. But jump on Youtube and watch the outrageous drama that is occurring with these occupy protesters. It's silly. They're like a bunch of children without a mommy to watch over them.

I was at church Sunday, and the Bible class discussion sort of went “political”. (Something I instigated.) I don’t even think it was political! Some current-day issues were brought up in class, and I noticed how quick everyone was to voice their opinion. Almost all of them, by the end, didn’t want to talk about politics in church, but by judging on how quickly everyone voiced an opinion, I don’t think that was the problem. I think it was because they were afraid. Like for some strange reason “separation of church and state” ran through their minds. Sure, the issues we talked about are also talked about amongst politicians, but that doesn’t mean it’s political. These issues were moral issues. We have no fear, in church, to talk about “Thou shalt not steal”, but then somehow we shrink behind The Wall of Tolerance when “Thou shalt redistribute the wealth” is enacted by our government. We don’t have a problem with “Thou shalt not murder”, but when the government says “Thou shalt terminate the unwanted pregnancy” we lower our heads, afraid to talk about it in church.

It’s almost like the church has become submissive and fearful of the government. Thankfully, the majority of Christians don’t have a problem talking about abortion in church, but I have found an increasing number of “believers” not only being apathetic towards, but believing in “redistribution of wealth”. It’s scary. I don’t even think a lot of them realize what their saying. One of my friends, in class, made a positive comment towards the “Occupy” protests. After class, I asked him what he thought about the protests and then kindly disagreed with his comment. He looked at me with shocked eyes and said, “Oh, don’t tell me you’re a tea party guy!” I raised an eyebrow and said, “Yeah, I am. But can you tell me about the Tea Party’s agenda?” He looked at me confused and shook his head. I continued, “Can you explain to me the agenda of ‘Occupy’ protesters?” His confusion became embarrassment, and he honestly shook his head. I leaned towards him and spoke quiet enough for only him to hear. I lovingly asked him, “If you don’t know the position of either side, why are you making an opinion?”

It’s so frustrating to me! So many people are making opinions that are uneducated and without reason. (Thankfully, my friend has a good heart so I trust he’ll think things through next time.) Americans listen to only the media and then run around repeating what they heard on TV. The coverage on the Tea Parties compared to the “Occupy” protests is dramatic and biased. Just search the “Occupy” protests on Youtube. You’ll (like me) be doubled over with laughter at some of the over-dramatic, hateful, slanderous, dirty-mouthed, and ridiculous things said and done by those protesters. BUT if the Tea Parties had done anything similar, they would have been ridiculed by the media, whereas the “occupy” protesters are adored. The obvious prejudice that is displayed by the media is overwhelming. The “Occupy” protesters are an example of immoral people seeking a solution to misunderstood moral issues. In other words, their logic is unreasonable and therefore their protests are contradictory. The things they yell for, to improve their lives, are the very things that are destroying America and our freedom.

What does this have to do with church? I believe the church is very much divided when it comes to core moral issues. It’s not about who goes to Tea Parties and who occupies a street. It’s not about who watches CNN and who watches FOX. (How can anyone NOT watch Fox? Jk!) It’s not about who uses an NIV and who uses a KJV. The difference is this: those who believe that the principles in scriptures are applicable to all areas in life, therefore strive to convince others as well, compared to those who are scared of offending people and being viewed as intolerant. The fact of the matter is that most of the issues plaguing America are MORAL issues caused by our IMMORAL government that has forsaken the principles of God’s word. Until Christians have the backbone to stand up for what’s right (Goes back to the ten commandments that are so applicable to our current government) America will continue down the spiritual depression it’s in. The financial crisis was caused by government. We know that. It’s being worsened by government. And the heart of the issue is a moral problem: greed. The church, and most importantly Christ, has always been, and always will be, the solution to a degrading culture.

     Today, we remember the thousands of Americans whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001. Today marks the tenth anniversary of the tragic events carried out by terrorists from the extremist group of Al-Qaida where 19 men hijacked four separate airplanes and crashed them into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania thanks to the heroism of the passengers who took action and averted a possible attack on either the White House or the Capitol.

     We also honor the bravery of the first responders who sacrificed their lives so that others may survive and those fighting in the military who defend and fight for our freedoms even to this day.

     Although 9/11 was a tragedy in which no American can ever forget, it also brought us together. We proved we truly are the “United” States of America, and when someone tries to knock us down, we get right back on our feet and keep going. 9/11 showed the world what it is truly like to be an American.

     Most of today’s teenagers do not remember what happened that day, as some had not even started kindergarten. As for me, I will never forget where I was and how I felt on that horrible day.

     On September 11, 2001, I was in the second grade, and it was a Tuesday like any other. I remember my teacher got very serious and said, “I want to show you guys something, and I don’t want you to be scared. There’s no reason to be scared, and you are perfectly safe.”

     As she said those words, she turned the TV to a news station, and I remember seeing two enormous gray towers with smoke pouring out of one of them. I just remember how scared I felt at that moment. I got the worst pain in my stomach, and I had absolutely no idea what was happening. I just wanted some answers. For the rest of the day, people’s parents came to get them from school. That’s all I personally remember from that horrific day.

     I couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing, but then again, I don’t think any American, whether they were 7 or 97, could make sense of what they were seeing. I will never forget that day and how it made me feel.

     For those of us teens who remember 9/11, it is important to write it down or tell someone else so we may always remember what truly happened that day. Anyone born in the past decade will only know what happened through things they read or hear, and it is important they know the truth.

     Please, take a moment to comment on this post saying where you were, what you remember and how you felt on this day ten years ago. Also, let’s remember the unity this tragedy brought to our nation. It’s sad that it took a terrorist attack to bring our country together. Let us never lose that patriotism we all felt on September 12 and each day that followed. May God bless the families of the victims of September 11, and may God bless America!

~Taylor~

     Today is a day for all Americans to honor and celebrate. Everyone celebrates in their own way with their own traditions, but while we break out our grills and fireworks we have to remember our history and the events which took place over two centuries ago.

     July 4, 1776 is a date every American knows or should know as the day our brave founding fathers and patriots of the 18th century declared their independence from Great Britain. Many countries throughout history have done the same, but our independence was special. We didn’t wait for anyone to recognize or grant us our independence. We declared our own independence from a tyrannical government, and we knew we weren’t turning back.

     The founders of this country knew the dangers of signing their names at the bottom of that declaration. They knew the consequence could mean death by hanging for going against the King, but out of their bravery and hope for posterity they did what they knew was right. They began an experiment that has continued for 235 years and hopefully many more to come.

     The founders knew what it was like to live under an oppressive government and knew an individual could govern himself much better than a King who ruled from thousands of miles away.

     As we celebrate this day, remember the bravery of the men and women who sacrificed or gave their lives for the liberty we enjoy today, and remember those who continue to give everything they have so the American experiment may continue to all future generations.

     Although he was a couple days off, believing American Independence would be celebrated on July 2, John Adams was dead on with his idea on how the momentous occasion should be celebrated:

 

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not." --John Adams

Happy Independence Day!

--Taylor

      Recently, I have been shocked even more so than usual by the lack of concern by the majority of Americans for their own civil wellbeing and the state of their country. Most don't know what we are up against. Too many people are indoctrinated daily with the dose of liberal materiels that are so rampant in America. So I felt it necessary to write a piece on the definition of liberalism. It is our chief foe in modern America, and we must do all we can to fight it, or surely it will lead to our downfall.  Subtlety has never been my strong suit, and I have a very poor ability to account for personal feelings when writing about my passions. So if you are easily offended, stop right where you are. I make it no secret as to how I feel about liberalism, and I intend to provide a summary here.

    This is the only disclaimer I will make: When I say "liberal," I do not mean every old average Joe on the street who is registered Democrat. I am referring to the socialist liberals who are at work in government and society, hastening the destruction of America from the inside out. When I use the term "conservative," I am not referring to an average RINO or halfway Scott Brown moderate Republican. I am referring to the truly conservative Americans who love their country, and fight for the cause of liberty.

    Conservatism and Liberalism are in many ways, similar in intent. They are both philosophies attempting to bring about a better, more prosperous world. They both want many of the same things (peace, aid to the poor, a healthy, prosperous economy, etc.) but disagree radically on the means by which to get there. I believe the means provided by those in favor of liberalism are emphatically and completely wrong and ineffective. And not only to I believe them to be ineffective, I believe them to be openly harmful to liberty and prosperity. But what exactly is liberalism?

    Liberalism is many things. Liberalism is one of the most potent forces in existence today. Each and every day we wake up, we face liberalism as we never have before in history. It is vital that we see this force for what it is, recognize it, and stop it in its tracks.

    Liberalism is a mental disorder. Michael Savage couldn't have put it better. Liberalism is the single most negative and harmful force in history shy of sin itself.  There have been few, if any, forces throughout history that have ruined as many good things and destroyed as many good lives as liberalism and its chief influences.

    What lies at the root of this cancer known as liberalism that has polluted America for longer than we can remember? Several things: Pride, Selfishness, Lack of Morality, A Sense Of Entitlement, Lack of Logic In Favor Of Emotion, the list goes on and on. The principles by which liberalism now operates were first manifested earlier in history in communism, socialism, Marxism, and Darwinistic Humanism. These influences are evident today, so let's not kid ourselves. Let us call it as it is.

    Liberalism is rooted in the belief that rights come not from God, but from the state. A conservative believes that his right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is granted to him by the Almighty, and that government exists solely to protect his rights and punish those who would attempt to take or abuse them. He believes the state is subservient to him and his fellow countrymen, and that he is subservient to God. A liberal believes that he is superior to God, and the state is his tool by which to exercise his superiority under the guise of helping others.

    A conservative believes in personal responsibility and a hard work ethic. A liberal believes in government legislating responsibility and providing handouts. A conservative believes that government is responsible to the governed, and that government is no more than a steward charged with protective the sacred liberties that Americans have fought and died for for generations. Liberals believe that the governed are held responsible to the government, and that government alone is the sole purveyor of rights and freedoms.

    A conservative is proud of his heritage, and knows that his country was founded by godly men who fought for the great cause of liberty. A liberal hates his heritage for precisely the same reasons, which all go against his cause and his beliefs, and dedicates himself to smearing the name of the founders by questioning their religious heritage, skewing their words and mocking their cause.

    A conservative knows he has been blessed by God by being allowed to live in a country that respects his rights, and understands that he alone is responsible for taking care of himself and providing for his family. A liberal believes his country is greedy, imperialist, and evil, and demands that the government sustain him as he mooches and prospers off the free-market, capitalist system he slanders daily.

     A conservative recognizes the importance of a profit motive, and knows that a free-market, capitalist system is the only known way to support and produce a prosperous economy. A liberal hates the profit motive, and believes that people should be content with what they are spoon-fed by government, and should not attempt to gain anything extra for themselves through hard work and virtue.

    A conservative recognizes the need for a strong defense to deter those who hate the cause of liberty and are unwilling to listen to reason. A liberal hates defense, and subscribes to the illogical belief that if we just put down our weapons and try harder to be peaceful and friendly, the unrelenting enemy at our doorstep will follow suit.

    A conservative recognizes that there are those who hate America's greatness and respect for God-given liberty and believes in securing peace by preparing for war. A liberal believes that the fact that some hate America means that it must automatically America's fault, a consequence for her greedy, corrupt, interventionist, imperialist ways.

    A conservative recognizes the need for morality in society, and knows that without a respect for God and for morals, society will be corrupted and fail. A liberal pays no heed to God or morals, and agrees with the idiotic philosophy of "eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die!"

    Liberalism takes God's role in the equation of life and society and changes it with that of the government. Whereas in actuality, it was God that created man, and man who creates governments to protect rights, liberals believe that it was government who gave rights to man, and man who created God as a crutch to get through life with.

    Liberalism destroys and removes all remnants of personal responsibility from society. Whereas you and I know we are capable of making our own decisions and providing for ourselves, liberalism seems to think or at least imply that we are too stupid to live life on our own bearing, and that for our own good government must regulate every aspect of our lives, whether it be telling us how to keep our guns (which we have a right to), if we are even permitted to own them, and what we can say and how we can say it.

    Liberalism is a cancer, and a hypocritical one at that. The clever liberal will say he is doing good, helping the poor and sick, championing the causes of civil rights, and preventing those greedy conservatives from just trying to make more money! All this while he steals legislatively from those who stimulate growth to give to those who are lazy, leads a crusade on liberty and destroys any fraction of whatever was left of the ability to create prosperity, patting himself on the back for doing so!

    Liberalism claims to be doing what Jesus would have. Funny, I don't remember the book of the bible where Jesus commanded us to Give unto Caesar that which is Caesars, and ours, AND God's, and then redistribute it to some lowlife fool who is too lazy to get up and work but has the gall to demand something of those who do!

    Liberalism claims to be championing civil rights causes. Funny how the "civil right" of gays to marry takes precedence over the murder of unborn children. Funny how a liberal would refuse to place a convicted murder in a well-deserved tomb, but would kill an INNOCENT HUMAN CHILD before it even leaves the womb! Funny how the woman's right to choice takes absolute precedence over the right to LIFE of the human being she carries inside her.

    Liberalism claims to be fighting for the little guy, and standing up to those money-grabbing conservatives! Funny how a conservative would stand proudly by the side of ANYONE who was willing to try to provide a better living for themselves, but a liberal would stand by that person's side only until they ACTUALLY became prosperous, and then they would begin calling that person the same slanderous terms they use on all others who have the nerve and will to actually try to gain a better standard of living; Imperialist, greedy, money-grabber, etc. Perhaps what is even more ironic, is that for all the talk liberals produce about the evils of being rich, they all want it themselves! The only difference is that where you simply want to work hard and reap the spoils of your labor,  they believe they have a right to the work YOU put in to get your wealth, and that somehow you are to be openly accepting government stealing from you to give to the lazy. Truly what they say is correct! When a man robs you with a gun it is stealing, but when a politician robs you with a piece of legislation, it is helping the needy.

    Liberalism hides under the guise of doing what is right, while actually destroying morality. Like the quote i used from C.S. Lewis in my writings on homosexuality, liberalism is a removal of an organ and a subsequent demanding of said organ's function! Liberalism destroys the idea of the family, champions the murder of babies, advocates for the legalization of prostitution and hallucinogenic substances, removes God from nearly every facet of public life, ESPECIALLY public schools, sends students off to learn basic education and morals from some socialist professor at a liberal university, teaches young people that materialism is the only ultimate goal to life, since there is no God or purpose and we're all just more evolved primates, and that America is evil, fascist and corrupt with a goal to take over the planet. They indoctrinate young minds with socialism and social Darwinism from practically birth and then wonder later on why there are so many school shootings and why no one knows basic economic principle!

    Liberalism destroys incentive, national pride, honor, virtue, and morality and is then shocked to find lazy, apathetic people with no sense of decency or moral standard to speak of.  Liberalism is the ultimate in hypocrisy, and the ultimate in stupidity as well.

     Someone once said that the republican idea of saving a drowning man who was 100 ft. out in the water was to toss a rope 50 feet of the way and make the drowning man swim the rest of the way and help himself. A good joke, but ironic. Especially since the liberal way of helping a drowning man 100 ft out in the water is to take the man's life preserver, give it to someone else who didn't even need it, and then pat themselves on the back for doing a good deed!

    So what is liberalism? Liberalism is hypocrisy and stupidity. Liberalism is reducing you to the level of a drooling idiot who is incapable of exercising your own rights and must have the government do it for you. Liberalism is destroying morality and expecting morally upright people. Liberalism is indoctrination from a young age and then a desperate qualm to find someone who actually understands the way the world works. Liberalism is.... and quote me on this...

    Liberalism is a philosophy of pure, illogical emotion that appeals to the thinker who ironically does   very little critical thinking. Like so many things in life, liberalism sounds great on paper but is revealed for what it is when it meets that harsh thing known as reality.

    I hope my passion was evident throughout this writing for that was the purpose I had in mind when I wrote it. We must know our enemy and be able to fight it directly. I apologize for any overtly emotionally charged words I may have used, it was of course, unintentional. Most importantly, I hope this writing has given you perspective and zeal for the future fight against liberalism and it's devastating consequences. Thank you.

  We all have seasons in our life of things we do. Over a year ago when I started T4AT, I never knew where it would go or what it would become. However, I know that the time has come to say good bye to ownership of T4AT.

  Let me start by telling you why I am doing this. Number one, I am now 18, and now a legal adult and able to vote; when I started T4AT I wanted it to stay true to young teenagers that loved our country and wanted to help other teens learn about our nation. I feel that I am no longer in that realm, and someone younger needs to carry the torch.

  The possibility of college coming up this fall and a trip I will be taking to Israel in August are other things that I know will take time, but there is something else. Many of you will remember that election night last year, I had this very cool phone call with Glenn Beck! 

  I never said what came of the call, and I know some have wondered --especially about what Glenn said at the end-- what happened. Two weeks after the call I had a phone interview with Beck's chief of staff/chief researcher Joseph Kerry. At the end of our conversation I was told about something, and accepted something that has been taking up a lot of my time, but that I love dearly.

  I was asked to become a virtual researcher for the Glenn Beck program. While I won't go into details of what all that involves, I will say that it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done, and to see the way the Lord has worked is amazing! I praise God so much for this opportunity, for the new friends He has given me, and just the great joy of serving Him in this capacity.

  I am continuing on with this virtual researcher program, and what ever it may bring for my future with Glenn Beck's company, Mercury Radio Arts.

  Now, what's going to happen to T4AT? I have talked with the staff, and Victor and Matt are also starting college this year while Taylor is finishing up high school. We have all decided to take a step back, and just post when the time lends itself, but we will no longer be the staff.

  Who is going to run T4AT then? Well, the staff and I have talk/prayed about it, and we believe that God has given us Brendan as the new leader of T4AT. Brendan has accepted the offer, and at the end of the summer he will fully take over the management of the site. Kelly will stay on writing as well, but Brendan will also be adding new writers at his discretion.

  Finally, I want everyone to know how much I love T4AT. It was truly a milestone in my life, and has taught me so much! I will miss it, but I know I'm leaving it in great hands. I will have my own personal blog that I'm starting with my best friend Erica Jennings. So watch for Alethea's Joy to be coming out soon.

  This is not a total good bye, it's a transition, and a good one I think at that. I love you all and thank you so much for your support, as do Victor, Matt, and Taylor.

  May the Blessings of Christ stay with you all in our journey

~Karen

     One of the issues I feel the strongest about politically is the issue of taxes in our country. It's no secret that there are a huge amount of Americans who point-blank don't pay their taxes, and it's no secret that the richer Americans pay FAR more taxes than the lower income brackets in this country.

     I've heard many times the arguments of liberals and progressives for this system. "They make more money, therefore they should pay more to help those less fortunate! They have money to spare, so why not make them give back a little more? They make enough!" Even our President himself stated that he believed there was a "point where you've made enough money."

     I have a big problem with this. I have a BIG problem with this. I hope to provide a reason why in this article.

     I am a firm believer in American exceptionalism. I am a firm believer in a (TRULY) free-market economy. I am a firm believer in capitalism. I am a firm believer in moral and ethical business practice. I believe that if you turn the people loose in a free-market economy, kick back, and let the profit motive take hold, that the economy will naturally boost itself through spending and incentive. I believe that the richest people in the country have earned their wealth, and that they create huge amounts of jobs in their companies. I believe that the government should tax no more than is absolutely required to carry out it's two main goals: that of protection of the innocent, and punishment of the guilty. And i most definitely believe that government is the problem in an economy, not the solution. Particularly when said government burdens down the creators of jobs with crushing taxes and regulations. And finally, I believe that the tactics often used by Marxists to demonize the wealthy and encourage a welfare state are both unfair and disastrous to any economy under any circumstances.

     Initially, socialism, like many other ideas (national healthcare, anyone?), comes off sounding great, and appealing to emotions, but are completely illogical at their core. Much like nationalized healthcare, the notion of socialism at first sounds fair and nice: "Everyone works, and all that's produced is split evenly between them so that it's all nice and fair!" This is a logical fallacy known as The Fallacy of Faulty Appeal To Emotion. With nationalized healthcare (or perhaps we should just call it as it is, SOCIALIZED MEDICINE), the appeal to emotion lies in the arguments made by its supporters: "If you don't support it, you're against healthcare for seniors, and children! Why would you want to deny healthcare coverage to those who can't afford it? And you also hate puppies, and apple pie, and John Wayne, and everything else that is good and patriotic!" Okay, perhaps I may have added on a little bit there. What can I say? Similarly, with socialism, the argument is that if you don't support it, you're "against fairness and want some to be able to profit more than others." This couldn't be farther from the truth!

     Many Americans are unaware that when the pilgrims first came to America, the very first system they tried using was basic socialism. Everybody works and it all goes into one big pot which is distributed equally. Here are two articles for further reading on the subject:

     http://bit.ly/u1jMd and http://bit.ly/fl2pTw

     William Bradford soon realized that this system was failing, due to a lack of what is called the "profit motive." The profit motive is, in short, the economic principle that individuals are more likely to work hard and produce more when there is personal benefit to be had from it. I.E. a person works hard at their job because they want more money. This is the core flaw in socialism that was realized by Governor Bradford. The fact is that when the amount you recieve for your efforts is going to be the same as the man next to you, regardless of how hard either of the two of you work, there is no motivation to work hard and produce, because there's no way to be better than anyone else. There's no way to earn more profit. The profit motive is a huge part of the noted novel "Atlas Shrugged," by Ayn Rand.

     Bradford then switched to a free-market style economy, which would be best personified in the simple phrase coined by John Smith in Jamestown. "If you don't work, you don't eat." Plain and simple. If you aren't willing to do the work and provide for yourself, you don't deserve the food you eat. This view was a result of the Pilgrim's strict Christian heritage and upbringing. The Christian worldview places emphasis on self-government, living within your means, and working hard to provide for yourself and your family. Ever since Adam and Eve fell from the garden when they sinned, man has been forced to plow the earth and work for what we have.

     This mentality is what has made America great. Throughout our history, whenever the economy has been set loose, and the people free to make their own way, we have delivered remarkably. As the old saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention." It doesn't take a genius to look back and see how necessity has spurred the American dream. Take for instance, the period following the Civil War up until the Presidency of Woodrow Wilson (AKA god-awful president #1): The country was in a period of renewal, and progress. We colonized the Great Plains, and invented key items like the telephone, phonograph, lightbulb, morse code, and cotton gin just to name a few! The economy prospered when it was allowed to run free and do it's thing.

     I'm borderline Libertarian on the economic issue of taxes and the economy. It makes no sense to tax hardest the portion of Americans who create the vast majority of jobs and push cash into the economy to keep the flow going. It is unjust and wrong to take from someone else simply because you think they should be using their money differently. The only money government should be able to collect from us is enough to keep its base functions going.

     The question that I hear most often in response to this is: "What about those in need? What about those who cannot support themselves? Surely we must do something to help them!" To all those who make that argument: I completely agree. We agree upon the ends. We disagree WILDLY on the means. The key difference between the conservative and the liberal is that when the conservative sees someone in need, they help them up themselves, and provide them with care on a personal level. When the liberal sees someone in need, he demands that someone else give up what they themselves have rightfully earned to help someone else.

     There are five key "spheres of sovereignty," so to speak, that exist in society. They are: The individual, family, business, church, and government. They each serve their own purpose and function and have sovereignty over certain things. The common error made by most liberals is to confuse which sphere should be in charge of charity. As you'd know for certain if you've watched the Glenn Beck Program at any point over the last two years, the role of charity lies with the individual, the family, and the church. NOT the government. The Bible is clear in its demands for Christians to help their fellow men, and to provide charity and goodwill to those in need. The Bible says the Second Greatest Command, after loving God with all your heart, mind and soul, is to love your neighbor as yourself. Nowhere in Scripture is this better expressed than in the parable of the Good Samaritan.

     The parable goes that as a man was walking on a journey, he was beaten and robbed of all he had by robbers. Two men walk by, a Priest and a Levite, but pass along side the road and don't help the man. Finally, a 3rd man, a Samaritan, finds the injured man and takes him to an inn, where he washes his wounds, tends to him and provides him with charity untill he is well. Note that the big focal point here is that the Samaritan PERSONALLY helped the injured man and gave up some of his own funds to provide for the stay at the inn and the medical treatment. He did NOT demand that the wealthiest in the land be required to pay more taxes to go towards helping men like this. It is the responsibility of the CHURCH, the FAMILY, and the INDIVUDAL, to provide Faith, Hope, and Charity.

     Government is not supposed to fill this role, and they never will properly. Paying taxes to government is much like giving money to a hobo on the street that you see after a sporting event in the city. You know that the money will most likely not be used wisely because it never has. In the case of the hobo, the money is likely to support the poor man's distillery, and with government, the money is likely to support some wasteful government welfare program or bureaucracy. When government attempts to step in and fill the shoes of the individual or the church, the American Dream is stifled.

     I titled this piece "Why Pursue the American Dream?" for a reason. In our current society, there is less motive than ever to pursue happiness and success, because we live in a world where our government discourages it. Why try to make it to the top when you're only going to be taxed 80% of your income when you finally get there???

     When government keeps its nose out of places that it doesn't belong, things function the way God intended them. Americans want to pursue the American Dream. They want to pursue happiness. It's in their blood. They're Americans. But how can we hope to achieve the American Dream, when the promise of success is replaced with the promise of oppressive and harmful taxation?

     The Bible says "give unto Caesar that which is Caeser's, and to God that which is God's." I do not dispute this Scripture. But nowadays, "Caesar" isn't trying to take that which is his, he's trying to take that which is ours. And THAT, is something i refuse to stand for.

If anyone has been really watching the news lately, you will see that my beloved state of Texas is going through the worst drought in a LONG time. We've also been having wildfires all over the state, including where I live.

Yesterday, my Governor bravely issued this

WHEREAS, the state of Texas is in the midst of an exceptional drought, with some parts of the state receiving no significant rainfall for almost three months, matching rainfall deficit records dating back to the 1930s; and

WHEREAS, a combination of higher than normal temperatures, low precipitation and low relative humidity has caused an extreme fire danger over most of the State, sparking more than 8,000 wildfires which have cost several lives, engulfed more than 1.8 million acres of land and destroyed almost 400 homes, causing me to issue an ongoing disaster declaration since December of last year; and

WHEREAS, these dire conditions have caused agricultural crops to fail, lake and reservoir levels to fall and cattle and livestock to struggle under intense stress, imposing a tremendous financial and emotional toll on our land and our people; and

WHEREAS, throughout our history, both as a state and as individuals, Texans have been strengthened, assured and lifted up through prayer; it seems right and fitting that the people of Texas should join together in prayer to humbly seek an end to this devastating drought and these dangerous wildfires;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby proclaim the three-day period from Friday, April 22, 2011, to Sunday, April 24, 2011, as Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas. I urge Texans of all faiths and traditions to offer prayers on that day for the healing of our land, the rebuilding of our communities and the restoration of our normal way of life.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my Office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 21st day of April, 2011.

RICK PERRY

Governor of Texas

I ask that everyone would join me in praying for my state. God is known for working miracles, and he WILL answer his children's call. Forget what people say, forget who makes fun of you, have the courage that my governor had and proclaim that you will pray for God to help.

Will you join me?

~Karen

~Karen

So happy for our friend/staff member Victor!!

~Karen