Then-Gov Ronald Reagan compares the US to the fall of Rome

“… Rome had known a pioneer beginning not unlike our own pioneer heritage, and then entered into two centuries of greatness, reaching its pinnacle in the second of those centuries, going into the decline and collapse in the third. Yet, the sins of decay were becoming apparent in the latter years of that second century.

“It is written that there were vast increases in the number of the idle rich, and the idle poor. The latter (the idle poor) were put on a permanent dole, a welfare system not unlike our own. As this system became permanent, the recipients of public largesse (welfare) increased in number. They organized into a political block with sizable power. They were not hesitant about making their demands known. Nor was the government hesitant about agreeing to their demands … and with ever-increasing frequency. Would-be emperors catered to them. The great, solid middle class—Rome’s strength then as ours is today—was taxed more and more to support a bureaucracy that kept growing larger, and even more powerful. Surtaxes were imposed upon incomes to meet emergencies. The government engaged in deficit spending. The denarius, a silver coin similar to our half dollar, began to lose its silvery hue. It took on a copper color as the government reduced the silver content.

“Even then, Gresham’s law was at work, because the real silver coin soon disappeared. It went into hiding.

“Military service was an obligation highly honored by the Romans. Indeed, a foreigner could win Roman citizenship simply by volunteering for service in the legions of Rome. But, with increasing affluence and opulence, the young men of Rome began avoiding this service, finding excuses to remain in the soft and sordid life of the city. They took to using cosmetics and wearing feminine-like hairdo’s and garments, until it became difficult, the historians tell us, to tell the sexes apart.

“Among the teachers and scholars was a group called the Cynics whose number let their hair and beards grow, and who wore slovenly clothes, and professed indifference to worldly goods as they heaped scorn on what they called ‘middle class values.’

“The morals declined. It became unsafe to walk in the countryside or the city streets. Rioting was commonplace and sometimes whole sections of towns and cities were burned.

“And, all the time, the twin diseases of confiscatory taxation and creeping inflation were waiting to deliver the death blow.

“Then finally, all these forces overcame the energy and ambition of the middle class.

“Rome fell.

“We are now approaching the end of our second century.” (Address by Governor Ronald Reagan of California at Eisenhower College, New York, 1969.)

...as qtd in Ezra Taft Benson, "Watchmen, Warn the Wicked" Ensign, July 1973.

America's Top Seven Socio-Political Problems

The other night at a political rally I met William J. Kelly with the Kelly Truth Squad. He told me a little about his new nationally televised show (or several tapings of it) that he'll be filming soon. He said he's writing for the Washington Times. I mentioned that I have also written for the Times.

Anyway, I couldn't help but to ponder his request when he said, "What are seven things you think is wrong right now in America?" (or something to that effect).

Well, I'm almost finished with my book manuscript -- finally -- "For God, Family and Country," so this thing has been on my mind for some time.

Here's my list. A lot of the points overlap and might be summed up by saying, simply, "We need to be better, trust in God, strengthen our families, work hard, be thrifty, and embrace the Constitution. We need to make our voices heard, endorse small government, do all we can to lower our taxes, and STAY OUT OF DEBT!!"

1) The secularization of Judeo-Christian ethos in America. Tocqueville said, “The safeguard of morality is religion, and morality is the best security of law as well as the surest pledge of freedom.” (Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, trans. by Henry Reeve, Esq. Vol 1 (1 of 2 vol) 4th edition. NY: J.& H.G. Langley, 1841. p. 44.) This irreligious popularity is a defining reason for division and turmoil. Core values of such faith includes, but is not limited to,

2) The breakdown of traditional marriage and family, which is a cause for much of the social and political turmoil. Sadly, such a breakdown is fueled by the interpretation of our Constitution and moral laws by nihilistic judges. 

3) Legal rulings are destroying the original intent of the Constitution.  Like frogs in tepid water, the temperature is calculated to slowly rise until the water boils to the frogs' demise. Case law and powerful judges have set a dangerous trend. 

4) The voices of "We the People" are being oppressed. Our voices and our votes are silenced (e.g. Proposition 8, voted by the people, overturned as unconstitutional by an openly gay district judge, and recently sustained by the liberal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Paradoxically, the entire legal process seems unconstitutional by the fact that the people voted for Prop 8 in the first place, but judges are now saying their vote doesn't count!). So, who's voice does count then?

5) The voices of the boisterous minority are loud, supported by media who glamorizes ridiculousness and thrives on the spectacular and sensational. These groups and individuals are all too often catered to by legislators who claim "equality for all," albeit in the name of socialism, which includes, but is not limited to, government handouts, bailouts and mandated healthcare. Moreover, there is a demand for tolerance when the demand is not reciprocal to the "normal" majority, who all too often, unfortunately, is swayed into social "group think."

6) Taxes burden the backs of workers while indolence is on the rise. Who would want to work when a free government check gives them more to stay at home, buy alcohol or drugs, and buy the most expensive steak and soda pop with their welfare handouts? Why are we surprised by businesses moving factories overseas where labor is expected and money has to be earned? Why are we surprised by foreign businesses and foreign moguls buying up American properties and corporations (especially with the USD as weak as it is) while U.S.-based businesses establish headquarters in Ireland, home of the 2% tax? The division between have and have not spikes, as well as the criminal interest. 

7) The right to bear arms.  See bio. Nuff said.

The Government's at it Again--More Stupid Spending, More Programs Leading America to Bankruptcy!

According to a Time news article, last year, a federal program paid out $1.6 billion to cover free cell phones and the monthly bills of 12.5 million wireless accounts. The program, overseen by the FCC and intended to help low-income Americans, is popular for obvious reasons, with participation rising steeply since 2008, when the government paid $772 million for phones and monthly bills. But observers complain that the program suffers from poor oversight, in which phones go to people who don't qualify, and hundreds of thousands of those who do qualify have more than one phone.

How did such a frivolous program get funded in the first place?! Who would have agreed to spend tax payer money that way? It's foolish and wasteful.

Here's a word to the Capital Hill legislators: With all the money the federal government TAKES from me, by law and force, I EXPECT these funds to be used more wisely...for the defense and security of the nation, NOT to bail out big corporations, inept on their own financial oversight, or give so-called low-income Americans foolish and unnecessary handouts!! If they can't afford a cell phone or the payments, they don't need one. Period.

Stop digging us deeper and deeper into debt. I'm sick and tired of it.

Prop 8, the Book of Mormon, and the Sanctity of Marriage: Today's Ruling

In late 2010, an openly gay U.S. district judge in San Francisco overturned California's Proposition 8, the 2008 voter-approved ban on gay marriage.

Today, Tuesday, Feb 7, 2012, the most liberal Circuit Court in the country, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, not surprisingly concurred with the aforementioned decision. In other words, a vote by the people -- by the voice of the people -- to ban same-sex marriage doesn't matter?!

Really?!

Instead, lawyers and judges who have consistently sided on the precipice of amoral rulings abide by those things set to destroy the family? Or, the voice of the people doesn't matter... The Constitution doesn't matter? Instead, it's replaced by those who are slowing, dangerously changing the original intent of our Constitution, which is based on morality, religion and "We the People"?

Vox populi means the voice of the people. When the majority of the people make rulings, voting together, good things happen in a moral and civil society.

In the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, one society wisely did the business by the voice of the people. It is written:

"Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people" (Mosiah 29:26).

Many years later, one of the contributors of the Book of Mormon, wrote:

"And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges" (Alma 10:27).

The parallels to our society today are amazing. As one modern-day prophet has written, the Book of Mormon was written for our day.

Click here to read The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

To learn more about my beliefs, check out Mormon.org.

Safeguarding the Constitution

President Obama, in an NBC Today interview with Matt Lauer, that aired today ( Feb 6, 2012), blasted the inspired balance of powers--the checks and balances wisely established by the U.S. Constitution--when he said:

“I have not been able to force Congress to implement every aspect of what I said in 2008. Well, it turns out that our founders designed a system that makes it more difficult to bring about change than I would like...but...I’m just going keep on doing is plotting away, very persistent.”

This comment, by itself, may seem innocuous, but not to me. From Obamacare to anti-American comments made to foreigners, I really don't appreciate the direction our country is headed with him at the helm. Sadly, there are many others both in the Legislative and Judicial Branches that truly ignore the inspired documents of American heritage, first and foremost being the Constitution.

Tonight I taught my children about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and safeguarding these heavenly writings for our future and for the future of all our the posterity. I have sworn an oath, more times than one, to protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, part of our doctrine is to support the Constitution. Within the Doctrine and Covenants it is written, in part:

...According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;

That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him...

Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.

And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.