A Great Article and My Ramblings

Below is the full text of today's article by Thomas Sowell on Townhall.com. I thought I'd save you an extra mouse click and just post it here. Mr. Sowell always makes intellegent and timely points; this is no exception.

---------------------------------
"Burke and Obama" by Thomas Sowell
The other day I sought a respite from current events by re-reading some of the writings of 18th century British statesman Edmund Burke. But it was not nearly as big an escape as I had thought it would be.

When Burke wrote of his apprehension about "new power in new persons," I could not help think of the new powers that have been created by which a new President of the United States -- a man with zero experience in business -- can fire the head of General Motors and tell banks how to run their businesses.

Not only is Barack Obama new to the presidency, he is new to running any organization. One of Burke's fears was that "we may place our confidence in the virtue of those who have never been tried."

Neither eloquence nor zeal was a substitute for experience, according to Burke. He said, "eloquence may exist without a proportionate degree of wisdom." As for zeal, Burke said: "It is no excuse for presumptuous ignorance that it is directed by insolent passion."

The Obama administration's going back and forth on the question whether American intelligence agents who forced information out of captured terrorist leaders will be subjected to legal jeopardy, even though they were told at the time that what they were doing was not only legal but a service to the nation, came to mind when reading Burke's warning about the dangers of continuing to change the rules and values by which people lived.

Burke asked how we could expect a sense of honor to exist when "no man could know what would be the test of honour in a nation, continually varying the standard of its coin?"

The current drive to take from "the rich" for the benefit of others came to mind when reading Burke's warning against creating a situation where "any one description of citizens should be brought to regard any of the others as their proper prey."

He also warned that "those who attempt to level, never equalise." What they end up doing is concentrating power in their own hands-- and Burke saw such new powers as dangerous, even if they were used only sparingly at first.

He said, "the true danger is, when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients and by parts." He also said: "It is by lying dormant a long time, or being at first very rarely exercised, that arbitrary power steals upon a people."

People who don't like "the rich" or "big business" or the banks may be happy that President Obama is sticking it to them. But such arbitrary powers can be turned on anybody. As Robert Burns said: "Send not to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee." There was a lot of wisdom in the 18th century.

The Constitution of the United States set out to limit the powers of the federal government but judges have greatly eroded those limitations over the years and the dispensing of bailout money has allowed the Obama administration to exercise powers that the Constitution never gave them.

Edmund Burke understood that, no matter what form of government you had, in the end the character of those who wielded the powers of government was crucial. He said: "Constitute government how you please, infinitely the greater part of it must depend upon the exercise of the powers which are left at large to the prudence and uprightness of ministers of state."

He also said, "of all things, we ought to be the most concerned who and what sort of men they are that hold the trust of everything that is dear to us." He feared particularly the kind of man "whose whole importance has begun with his office, and is sure to end with it"-- the kind of man "who before he comes into power has no friends, or who coming into power is obliged to desert his friends." Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers and others came to mind.

The biggest challenge to America -- and to the world -- today is the danger of Iran with nuclear weapons. President Obama is acting as if this is something he can finesse with talks or deals. Worse yet, he may think it is something we can live with.

Burke had something to say about things like that as well: "There is no safety for honest men, but by believing all possible evil of evil men, and by acting with promptitude, decision, and steadiness on that belief." Acting -- not talking.
-------------------------------------------------

Now my comments......

I am always amazed when I hear people today dismiss thinkers from history, saying that "they aren't relevant anymore" or "times have changed," or "we are more enlightened now." Alot of these comments are directed at the Constitution and anything that might be related to morals, ethics, honor, justice, etc. Activist judges, politicians and other "leaders" want us to "evolve" and see the Constitution as a "living document."

They have no problem taking rights away - from certain groups - as they see fit, and possibly turning over rights and our sovereignty to the U.N. It is incredible how far we've moved away from the original foundation of the country thus far, but there is still quite a bit they can do - and they are trying. The growth of government over the past few administrations is ridiculous (both Bush's and Clinton included). Look at all the departments and "czar" appointment positions that have been created. (I had this written out and then I saw Beck on a tape delay, and he counted 14 "czars" now! Absolutely, f--in' ridiculous.) The Fed government is amassing power to the -nth degree every year / week / day and there is no end in sight.

The whole thing is a mockery, a travesty, a sham, etc. The circus that was the "Climate Change Hearing" where Chairman Waxman hired a damn speed reader to read the BS 900+ page bill. The arrogance is amazing. I'm starting to believe we need to wipe the whole lot of them out of Washington. I could possibly think of 10-15 Reps and Senators who I trusted to stay around passed their current term.

Senators......Demint(CS), Kyl(AZ), and Sessions(AL)? Maybe....
Reps.....Flake(AZ), Hunter(CA), Pence(IN), Bachmann(MN), Shuler(NC), Paul(TX), Poe(TX), Chaffetz(UT), and Ryan(WI). For some reason I guess I trust Reps more? Or is it just that there are so many more of them? I'll have to think about this list, but at first blush, it seems to be it. The only way I think it would change is by subtraction. Pretty sad state of affairs.

One last thing that pissed me off this week, and it is related. When you talk about government taking more and more control, anyone who tries to argue this, I believe, is either completely ignorant, a total idiot, or has a job in government. "Global warming" is a prime example. They claim that the science is settled and refuse to debate the facts and data with anyone who has real knowledge on the topic. Waxman said he relied on the UN scientists to write the climate bill. What about the 30,000+ scientists who disagree w/ the UN findings and reports???

So, Crazy-eyes Pelosi ran over to China to talk about "climate change." (And of course you've noticed that they don't call it global warming anymore, since the Left using the old trick of changing the name of things to distract and divert attention and change the topic when they see they are losing. ) And for clarification, Nancy rode her private government jet to China. Did Al Gore say anything about her "carbon footprint" on this one? Did he say anything when Barry flew AF1 to Colorado to sign his bill with the solar panel folks? Not very green, guys.......

Again, I digress. Nancy said "I do see this opportunity for climate change to be ... a game-changer. It's a place where human rights — looking out for the needs of the poor in terms of climate change and healthy environment — are a human right." Then she said, "Every aspect of our lives must be subjected to an inventory ... of how we are taking responsibility." Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on there Big Nance. Back it up. People don't want government controlling their thermostat, regulating what days you can drive, how far, what you'll eat, etc. Contrary to what Colin Powell said recently, Americans don't want more government. The GM and Chrysler take over / bankruptcies are a way to dictate what cars are made available for sale - and of course give back to the unions for all of their election support - but I've gone through that whole thing already.