The Crisis

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.

You would think these words were writted by the likes of Cal Thomas or George Will. Without discussing its obvious application to the war, it applies as well to the ever-increasing burden of socialist programs that have choked us of our freedom and liberty over the last century.

But they weren't. These words were written in 1776 by Thomas Paine, a man still revered today for his words of wisdom penned during the American Revolution.

There is a war on, and it's not being fought in Iraq or Afghanistan. It's being fought right here in our great Nation. It is a time where we, as a people, must choose the direction that will be followed by our children and grandchildren. This is not a war being fought with weapons of mass destruction, nor is it being fought with the precision-guided missiles that are keeping those who would harm us from actually doing so.

This war is a war of beliefs and ideas. The belief system first established in America by the Founding Fathers has been under assault for nearly 100 years, and finally, there is an opportunity for their America to prevail.

The American left has gradually chipped away at American freedom in the interest of replacing our freedoms with socialism. Make no mistake about it. When the word "program" comes out of the mouth of any politician, simply replace the word "socialism". Want to balance the budget (2005 Federal Budget)? Cut out everything that's not constitutional. Projected spending growth in 2005 is $255 billion unconstitutional vs. $128 billion, and that's just the numbers that I know for sure. That's about two thirds of the considered budget growth, not even the actual figures! Just cutting that out could free up over $100 billion for deficit reduction and/or increased constitutional spending. And that's just if you cut out the GROWTH.

The only constitutional "programs" are those involving the military, embassies, and that which is needed to pay the bills for utilities and salaries of constitutionally mandated government officials.

We really need to replace the "summer soldiers" and "sunshine patriots" in Washington with people who have the intestinal fortitude to stand up for the Constitution. Dismantling these socialist encroachments, even if it has to happen over time, is the right thing to do. Those willing to stand up to those who are trying to continue the erosion of our freedoms deserve our unending gratitude and thanks.

Tyranny is not easily conquered, but our Founding Fathers were able to do it, and so are we. Just remember: the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

RWR