Bogus Quotes

I can’t help pointing out that the two quotes reader Steve Rangel attributes to Thomas Jefferson are bogus, as is the one from George Washington. The second Jefferson quote sometimes gives Thomas Jefferson papers 334 as a source, but the quote does not exist there.

The quotes from Tench Coxe and Richard Henry Lee are apparently authentic.

Pat Wemstrom
Mount Carroll, IL

Editor’s Note: The following quotes were included in a commentary, Response to “Why would anyone need a Military Styled Assault Weapon” from the February 13, 2013 edition of the PA. Pat is correct according to our research. Though there are many websites giving credit to Jefferson and Washington, they are incorrect.

“Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.” — George Washington

“Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not.” — Thomas Jefferson

“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves ... and include all men capable of bearing arms.” — Richard Henry Lee

“Congress has no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American ... The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state government, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.” — Tench Coxe

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” — Thomas Jefferson

Carroll County Transit

To: Our Patrons

RE: Changes in Transit Service

Dear Riders,

Adjusting to diminishing funds and other changing operating resources, we find it necessary to make some changes in our operation and service. In order to better control our costs and other operation variables, the following changes will be made.

Starting February 1, 2013:

1. Our earliest pick up time will be 7:30 am.

2. Within Carroll County appointments should be scheduled no later than 2 pm and pick-ups to go home no later than 3 pm.

3. Outside Carroll County, scheduled appointments should be scheduled no later than 1 pm and pick-ups for rides home should be no later than 2 pm.

4. We will no longer be able to provide rides to Dubuque Iowa, Galena and Rockford, Illinois, and Monroe, Wisconsin.

5. Persons needing to pay for rides and/or cancellation and no-show fees must do so upon boarding or rides will be denied.

We regret any inconvenience these changes may cause but know that we are always willing to work together and make adjustments so we here at Carroll County Transit and the Senior Center can best serve you in the long run.

Sincerely,

Carroll County Transit Staff
Jim Mascal
Carol Young
Deb Connor
Nancy Gable

Publisher’s Note: In the February “Grape Vine” section of the Jan. 30, 2013 Prairie Advocate News, we inadvertently published the wrong information under the heading of “Changes In Transit Services.” The letter above is the correct information. I apologize for the error and any inconvenience this may have caused.

Planning For Who?

Listening to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, I was reminded of something Friedrich Hayek once wrote: “The more the state ‘plans’ the more difficult planning becomes for the individual.”

Our ability to plan and pursue happiness becomes limited as the size and scope of government increases, ultimately resulting in increased dependency.

The minimum wage hike Obama proposed is an excellent example of limiting an individual’s ability to pursue happiness. Putting good intentions aside, the outcome of a minimum wage hike is a reduction in employment and an increase in poverty. What’s more, a high minimum wage prices low-skilled workers out of the market, preventing them from gaining skills and moving up the economic ladder. This results in increased dependence on government programs such as job training and financial aid.

ObamaCare, which made headlines in Illinois with the approval of a federal-state partnership exchange, is another example of limiting an individual’s ability to plan. Whether federally run or state-funded, exchanges put the federal government in control of the health insurance companies that may participate in the exchange, the plans that may be offered and even what doctors and providers can participate in exchange-offered plans. All of this restricts an individual’s freedom to choose the health insurance that best suits their needs. ObamaCare has also forced many employers to decide whether to drop health insurance, reduce hours or cut employment, forcing individuals into the government-run system.

Obama’s State of the Union painted a stark contrast between two competing visions for America. The first is a vision of dependence on government in which a group of elites use government to intervene and make decisions they believe are best for individuals. The second vision is of individual sovereignty and the ability to plan and pursue happiness without intervention from government.

We believe free enterprise and the liberty construct the Founders envisioned and put into law is the greatest force for good ever created in the human sphere. The Founders’ vision works because it protects individual liberty while creating prosperity; not just material prosperity, but prosperity of the human spirit. It unleashes human potential and allows individuals to pursue their dreams with optimism. Our belief in this vision is what drives us to advance free market ideas and ultimately see them turned into law.

I invite you to attend “Obama 2.0” hosted by AM560 on March 14 to learn more about how the decisions made in Washington, D.C., will affect our lives. As part of that discussion, I will share why Illinois is on the way back from the precipice despite all you may read and hear.

In liberty,
John Tillman
CEO, Illinois Policy Institute

Commentary

God for Obamacare – Dr. Ben Carson’s Heresy

By Dr. Paul Kengor

Liberals are apoplectic over remarks by Dr. Ben Carson at the National Prayer Breakfast. Carson, a prominent pediatric surgeon from Johns Hopkins University, dared to weigh in on healthcare—something he knows something about. In the liberal mind, Carson committed a grave transgression; he disagreed with President Obama on healthcare at a faith venue, and in Obama’s presence.

In discussing Carson’s moral effrontery, Candy Crowley, host of CNN’s “State of the Union,” asked panelists if they were offended by Carson’s comments. “He [Carson] was talking about the idea of, you know, weaving the Bible into some objections he appears to have with the president’s approach,” said Crowley. Count Democratic Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky among the offended. She told Crowley: “I think it’s … not really an appropriate place to make this kind of political speech and to invoke God as his [Carson’s] support for that kind of point of view.”

In truth, what the likes of Crowley and Schakowsky object to is the mere fact that Carson publicly disagreed with Obama on healthcare, especially in the context of faith. For liberal Democrats, conservative Republicans should never use their faith to disagree; only liberal Democrats enjoy such freedoms. I could give a thousand examples illustrating the point; I’ve written entire books doing so. For now, however, here are some particularly salient examples involving Obama, liberals, and healthcare reform:

From the first year of Obama’s presidency, the religious left (Obama included) incessantly claimed God’s support for their vision of healthcare reform.

In August 2009, Obama addressed a “virtual gathering” of 140,000 religious left individuals—a huge conference call to liberal Christians, Jews, and other people of faith. Obama told them he was “going to need your help” in passing healthcare. Obama penitently invoked a period of “40 days,” a trial of deliverance from conservative evildoers. He lifted up the brethren, assuring them, “We are God’s partner in matters of life and death.”

Like a great commissioning, in the 40 days that followed the religious left was filled with the spirit. A group called the Religious Institute—led by Rev. Debra Hafner and representing 4,800 clergy—went wild stumping for Obamacare. Other religious left faithful joined the crusade.

A group of 59 leftist nuns sent Congress a letter urging passage of Obamacare. This was in direct defiance of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which insisted the bill “must be opposed” because of its refusal to explicitly ban abortion funding. The liberal media cheered on the nuns, gleefully exaggerating their influence. In a breathtaking display, the Los Angeles Times beamed, “Nuns’ support for health-care bill shows [Catholic] Church split.” Amazingly, the Times reported that the nuns’ letter represented not 59 nuns—but 59,000! Like Jesus with the loaves, the Times (normally militantly secular) had demonstrated miraculous powers of multiplication.

The nuns’ brazenness was matched by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Roman Catholic, who, in March 2010, invoked the Solemnity of the Feast of St. Joseph on behalf of Obamacare. She urged American Catholics to “pray to St. Joseph” for Obamacare.

That was prelude to what happened March 21, 2010, A.D., a rare vote not merely on a Sunday—God’s day—but the final Sunday in Lent, the week before Palm Sunday that initiates the Lord’s Passion. Obama’s healthcare bill was passed by his Democratic Congress. To Obama, Pelosi, and the religious left faithful, Jesus had gotten his healthcare package, and they had been his loyal handmaidens.

If all of that seems hypocritical enough from liberals, in light of their castigation of Dr. Ben Carson, consider this glaring double standard:

At the National Prayer Breakfast two years ago, February 3, 2011, Obama stated: “Sometimes what I can do to try to improve the economy or to curb foreclosures or to help deal with the healthcare system—sometimes it seems so distant and so remote, so profoundly inadequate to the enormity of the need. And it is my faith, then, that biblical injunction to serve the least of these, that keeps me going and that keeps me from being overwhelmed.”

Yes, Barack Obama, at the National Prayer Breakfast, invoked his faith and the Bible on behalf of healthcare reform—much like he has done on behalf of gay marriage and other liberal agenda items.

Question for Ms. Crowley and Rep. Schakowsky and liberals everywhere: Was this appropriate? Are you offended?

But now, here comes one Ben Carson, pediatric surgeon with more than 50 honorary doctorates, named one of America’s 20 foremost physicians by CNN and TIME, and winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor. He disagreed with Obama and the liberal faithful. His price: political excommunication. In Alinsky fashion, he will now be isolated and demonized. How dare he bring up healthcare at the National Prayer Breakfast.

— Dr. Paul Kengor is professor of political science at Grove City College, executive director of The Center for Vision & Values, and author of the book, “The Communist: Frank Marshall Davis, The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mentor.” His other books include “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism” and “Dupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century.”

Capitol Report

By Jim Sacia, State Representative, 89th District

“What we see here, what we say here, let it stay here when we leave here.” That little jingle has stayed with me since my military training days.

Each week, as we arrive back in Springfield, the very first thing House Republicans do is “caucus” (we gather to discuss issues). The above jingle absolutely applies. Often, during session, we again “caucus” to discuss the issue before us.

I occasionally refer to Rich Miller’s daily blurb in Springfield, Capitol Fax. It’s treated as gospel by many. Fair to say, he has his sources. In his Wednesday, February 6, 2013, issue Mr. Miller reported “And the House GOP caucus meeting was the scene of some very angry freshman conservatives and downstaters”. Huh? I was there Mr. Miller you were not. Whatever your source told you, you spun it wrong. That did not happen. House Republicans caucused to discuss HB190, a $2.1 billion supplemental appropriation bill that was before us. To the great credit of our Republican Leader Tom Cross, spirited discussion is always had in our caucus. In my opinion that’s simply good leadership.

HB190 is a classic “Christmas Tree” bill. That means it has many good parts, items that the entire House, both Democrats and Republicans, strongly support - such as sex offender management, education enhancement in various areas, military families relief fund and road building projects. Each should be voted on individually. Oh, but what a great opportunity to “pork it up” or make a Christmas tree. How about $1.2 million for new “deputy directors” in various agencies, $9 million for East St. Louis Schools which the state must deal with due to their mismanagement, and $6.2 million for Chicago State University for electrical upgrades. Just for grins, you should go to the internet and get educated on that fine “college of knowledge”. By the time this bill hit the floor you had to hold your nose.

Here’s where it really gets good. We return to the floor and the bill is on second reading. We are advised there will be a roll call recorded vote to move it to third. Highly unusual but Speaker Madigan wants it. I’ll spare you the gamesmanship - the bill did pass the House, just barely - not one Republican vote joined by seven gutsy Democrats.

Speaker Madigan will now have a recorded vote that proves that every Republican representative is against education, supports sex offenders, hates creating economic development, doesn’t support our military families - can’t you already see the mailers eighteen months from now?

You will not see that we just spent $2.1 billion of your money that we do not have, much of which is pork.

As always, you can reach me, Sally or Barb at 815-232-0774 or e-mail us at jimsacia@aeroinc.net. You can also visit my website at www.jimsacia.com. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you.