HOW WE GOT INTO THIS OBAMA MESS - THE SUNDAY COMMENTARY

Today, July, 12 I am celebrating my 53rd birthday. I was born during the Eisenhower administration and been witness to some amazing events in my lifetime both good and bad. I have witnessed the assassination of one President and the attempted assassination of another. I have experienced the out pouring of pride and thanksgiving of victorious troops returning home from war and watched anti-war zealots shamefully mistreat troops who returned home after defending us.

I have watched men land on the moon and also watched as brave souls die attempting to reach space. I have witnessed political scandals and political victories. I have watched the end of a Cold War and the demise of Communism as a force in the world. I have experienced bad American leaders and great American leaders. I watched a much needed civil rights movement and also watched the race card played in an attempt to keep racial tension for political gain. I have watched Americans die at the hands of evil in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. And have also watched that evil defeated in defense of America.

I have experienced America in both good and hard times. All of these experiences have become an indelible part of my life. As with anyone who reaches another age milestone a certain amount of reflection comes with the next year of life and I have been reflecting on both personal matters and matters that pertain to this country I love.

We are in the midst of the most radical attempt to transform American life that has ever taken place in our history. Barack Obama is moving this country in a direction that I would never have imagined possible in the earlier years of my life. I was born during the ,"Leave It To Beaver," innocence of the 50's and raised during the turmoil of the 60's. As a child, like many of you I attended public schools and learned about our history.

I learned about the moments that made us a country but it took my own zeal for history to fully understand why our Founders risked everything for freedom. In school I learned the generics of American heritage but on my own I experienced the passion of being an American. Since those days when I attended school even the generics of learning about out heritage have faded to the point that today's children no little about who we are as Americans and why we became a Nation.

In reflection this continual dumbing down of America is the essence of why we find ourselves heading down the path that Obama is attempting to take us. He is not the beginning of the Socialism slide in America but is trying to hasten its completion. This slide toward a socialized America has been taking place for decades. It has not just appeared since January. In fact the very reality that someone like Barack Obama could be elected at all is found in placing the real blame for this slide in the hands of its true cause and also its benefactors, the American people.

In our disgust at what has happened in recent months since bailout mania began last Fall and stimulus fall out has continued under Obama, we have tried to place the blame in many directions. We blame Democrats and Republicans. We blame Bush, Obama, Pelosi and Reid. We blame Congress and the Courts. And in every attempt to place blame their is a compelling case and justification to place that blame on any of the above mentioned perpetrators for our slide to Socialism.

But in truth and reality we really have no one to blame but ourselves. Yes, over the years as a society we have experienced a continual and gradual dumbing down of Americans and a sanitizing of our history and the real passion and reasons that our Founders fought and died to create a new Nation conceived in liberty and on the premise that all people are created equal and have the unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

But the real problem that created an atmosphere in America that made it possible for someone as radical as Barack Obama to become President of The United States came from the fact that over the years Americans have become lazy and neglected our true responsibility as citizens of this country. Our Founders understood that the only way to prevent government from becoming a tyrannical force over the people that it governed was to legally and Constitutionally place the power of authority over that government in the hands of the people.

As citizens of this great Nation it has always been our responsibility and duty to hold our government accountable for its actions and those who we hired as Representatives answerable to the people in EVERY aspect of their public life and especially in their responsibility as our Representatives. Whether Congress, the Courts or the Presidency, ultimately and Constitutionally all of their authority is derived from the consent and will of the people.

Over the years Americans have forgotten that one singular principle that made this country unique in all of the history of mankind. That one singular principle that insures that freedom could eternally exist in this Nation of free people. That one singular principle that our Founders fought to make a reality for Americans of their generation and all future generations. The principle that the people ARE the authority of the government and every aspect of that government is answerable to the people.

As beloved as George Washington was during his eight years as President when the people did not agree with what he was doing they would literally camp out on his door step demanding that he listen to the people. Americans have lost that accountability since then. Over our history we have neglected the Constitutional responsibility of government accountability to the people. partly because of an intentional dumbing down to create a lazy citizenry, but mostly because we have just sat back and allowed those we hire to dictate to us rather than us to them.

Many Americans could not tell you what the Constitution is much less what it says. Many Americans believe that government is SUPPOSED to take care of the people rather than the free ideal and Constitutional right to take care of ourselves without government intervention. So just who is to blame for this Obama mess that we are plagued with as a Nation ? We are ! Who then can stop its completion and its hastening to a socialistic society ? We can !

While our Constitution still exists and we still have the power and authority as free people to demand that our government listen to its true authority, we can stop this slide and restore real freedom to us and future generations. Before we vote we MUST actually listen to everyone running for office and not just vote for them because we always have or because we like their smile.

When we vote we must completely and finally clean house and place in Washington Representatives who listen and actually understand that they are there by the will of the people and not for their own glorification or prosperity. We hired them and we can fire them ! We must take to the streets as our ancestors did when they were not happy with their government or the decision made by those elected. In this age of technology we must use it to our advantage and demand daily that those we hired adhere to our will and our authority. We cannot and must not let them control the agenda any more !

If we do not make a stand now then both we and our children will look back and wonder how it happened that freedom disappeared in America. We will look back and wonder how we became slaves to our government instead of it being answerable to us. We will look back and wonder what happened to our Constitution and why it no longer has any place in our society other than a historical document that we gaze upon if we visit Washington. We will look back and wonder how it all happened and why. Then we will realize that we lost our chance to make a difference and that who we have become can be blamed on no one but ourselves.

Ken Taylor