Labels, Campaigns, and You

by Jacqueline Smith

I recently received an email sent out by the Democratic Candidate for Treasurer.  It linked Henry Glasheen the Republican Candidate for Treasurer to the “right wing” group The STAR Forum in a negative way.  First, Henry Glasheen is not a member of our group.  While most of the members support Henry in his election because he is a fiscal conservative, and qualified enough to handle this position, my main point of this article is to discuss labels. 

Labels are a way for the opposing view to denigrate individuals and groups.  Going back in history, we look at the Nomad age.  Those who were living on farms and in stable homes, also known as the Agrarian culture called the Nomads “barbarians.”  Once the Industrial Age caught on, those people building factories looked at the Agrarian age as “Third World.”  Each group wants to denigrate the other with a label.  What might the Information Age call the Industrial Age builders?  Polluters maybe.

Many labels have been attached to the freedom movement, such as “tea baggers,” “racists,” “hate-mongers,” and “right-wingers“ etc.  This type of label is not only inaccurate, but can fool us, if we as a people do not look at the entire picture.  We have a right / left paradigm in our society, and I have used the terms myself.  Liberal / Conservative is thrown around a lot as well, but with less negative connotations.  If you are using a term to describe a standpoint, be sure you are using it with accuracy.  Liberals call themselves liberals.  That is not a derogatory term.

 I think it would be good to define right-wing.  The video linked here is a video that shows why right-wing is the opposite of the definition many people place on groups intent on supporting the Constitution of the United States as seen through the eyes of the founding fathers.  Right wing actually is a call for anarchy.  This is not the case for The STAR Forum at all. 

The STAR Forum stands for Save The American Republic.  I cannot imagine a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent not wanting to Save the Republic.  Unless you believe in total anarchy or Fascism / Communism, we have common ground.  If you believe in God or simply in good, we have common ground.  If you believe that the Constitution of the United States is the law of the land, and holds government at bay to ensure the highest level of liberty for the people, then we have common ground.  If you believe that government is necessary, but should be limited, we have common ground.

The purpose of The STAR Forum is to educate people in ways of government workings.  We seek to give individuals the tools necessary to participate in an environment that may otherwise seem foreign.  We teach the proper role of government, and give the individuals the ability to look at history and better understand the period we are entering, known as The Fourth Turning.  It is individuals aligning themselves with others that want to recognize the vital role they can play in ensuring liberty for all.  It is recognizing the need for charity, honesty, and public virtue from ourselves on a daily basis.  We believe that an educated electorate is the most important thing in maintaining a Republic as our form of government.  We are not a democracy, because our founders understood as James Madison said, “…democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of  property, and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”  In addition, Samuel Adams stated, “Democracy never lasts long.  It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself.”

If placing labels on individuals or groups is the only way to win elections, and it works, it will not be the fault of the person placing the label, but the individuals who are fooled by those labels and vote based on the “feeling” the label creates.  Be an educated voter.  Look at comments and phrases placed on opposing candidates in context.  Do not believe everything you hear.  Study things out for yourself.  Find the candidates that align most with your views and belief systems.  Above all else, remember that this Republic has lasted longer with our Constitution than any other written Constitution on the earth.  It is the duty of all who take office, and all who vote, regardless of party to align themselves within the bounds of that document.

 FREEDOM CAN WIN!

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

 

Banking regulations put forth by the Patriot Act, and other “safety acts” that follow have long been a huge frustration of mine.  But this week, it all came home for me.  I have been concerned that all of my money is in “one place.”  Since that time, I have been taking money in cash.  I have not gone over the $10,000 threshold that flags the IRS, but I still caused a RED FLAG to fly.

I received a letter from my bank where I have been banking for over 17 years, telling me that if I did not comply with their questioning I would have my account closed.

It’s the Minority Report.  Guilty until proven innocent?  That’s what the man on the phone with the bank told me.  I was guilty until I explained myself.  Of course, the fact that I am a U.S. Citizen and have committed NO CRIME does not matter.  They just do not like how it “looks” and so they want to know what I am doing with my money.  This seems like the law is in direct violation of my Fourth Amendment.  Granted nothing was searched or seized, but I was questioned, and it is really no ones business.  I realize I still have the freedom to leave their bank, and even have the freedom to use no bank at all, but there are conveniences to being tied to the grid, lets face it.

However, what did they think I was doing?  Starting a militia, peddling drugs, or selling something illegal like… raw milk?  Some suspicious activity I’m sure.  Well I’m not., and just because I’m a 9.12er, and have gone to Tea Party rallies, own a pocket Constitution, and have Americana home décor doesn’t make me a domestic terrorist.

This caused me to realize the thing that is missing from our society the most is, plain old living.  No one wants to allow us to just live, make mistakes, and grow.

I thought about Franklin’s famous quote, “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

After 9.11, we gave up many liberties with the Patriot Act, and similar acts that followed.

So, here we are, living in a world where we are being protected by every expert known to man.  We have financial experts at the Federal Reserve.  We have Medical Experts that know that government health care is the only safe way to insure our country. We have Department of Education experts in Washington, D.C. that know what the people of Utah (and everywhere else) should be teaching, we have Legislators, and Congressmen who think they have risen above the masses, and are now qualified to legislate the redistribution of wealth because Americans won’t do it themselves. 

ENOUGH!  We do not need any more experts.  This country was established so that men could govern themselves.  Yes, at times we fail to be responsible in our duties, but if we have natural consequence (or Natural Law) occur, we will pick ourselves up, we will pick our neighbors up, and we will be able to rise to the occasion. This is the first principle of liberty. “The only reliable basis for sound government and just human relations is natural law.” 

Experts need to remove themselves from our lives, and let the people get back to living, growing, and becoming the men and women that our God intended us to be … loving, giving stewards of this great land.

Moreover, we should still be innocent until proven guilty.