Obamacare on Life Support: Part One
Obamacare on Life Support: Part One
Over the next three weeks I want to talk about the state of the American health care system.
I’m not a politician, which means I am driven to solutions to real problems based on common sense and a desire not to fail. I learned this while serving in the military and perfected this in the private sector. Experience has taught most of us that no problem is so complex that a simple solution cannot resolve it. Obamacare, as the president proudly refers to the Affordable Healthcare Act, is not a simple solution, but it is quickly turning into the failure many of us warned against.
The success of any project is easy. Determine exactly what the problem is, if in fact there is a problem. Assemble a team best qualified to create and implement a solution. Define a plan with clear and concise benchmarks, and identify the people responsible for achieving each benchmark. Get a commitment by an overwhelming majority of stakeholders to help overcome any obstacles. Most important, keep it simple. If you can’t explain the solution in the simplest form, it is not a solution. Obamacare fails on all these points, but the neoprogessives who dropped this boondoggle in the laps of the American people are determined to keep pushing. Neoprogressives have failed to heed the words of Albert Einstein when he said “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Obamacare is the result.
First, the problems. There were two easily identified problems with health care in America, and neither had anything to do with the level of service (but there is always room for improvement). American hospitals and medical professionals are considered the best in the world, a point ignored by those pushing Obamacare. The real issues were cost and the number of people uninsured.
Second, the number of uninsured. If you look at the numbers provided by the Census Bureau, the CBO, as well as other public or private agencies, roughly 8 million Americans (.02 percent of the American population) did not and could not get health coverage. Too many on the extreme far-left chose to inflate the numbers of those who did not have health care coverage. The extreme-left floated uninsured numbers between 45 million to 50 million. That was a lie. When you remove the people who are in this country illegally (12 million), the people eligible for coverage under existing government programs but not enrolled (15 million), those who can afford to purchases health insurance but choose not to (mostly those under 30, another 10 million) you put the problems and issues in perspective.
Truly understanding who is uninsured and why was important because it puts us on the right path to solving the real problems. The architects of Obamacare were prepared and are going forth with a complete overhaul of the American health care system for .02 percent of the American population. Insanity.
Third, the cost. Yes, health care costs are high, but why? There are a lot of reasons given for this, including insurance companies, undue government regulations (or meddling), excessive lawsuits, poor health practices by many Americans, no transparency, or a lack of conformity between service providers, etc. But when all is said and done what helps keep costs down in every other part of our lives is not allowed to occur in our health care system, even before Obamacare. Disciplined, open free markets are the solution. All of the reasons I listed above are part of the problem because they stifle the free markets that have served us so well in this country. Cars, computers, TVs, cell phones, automotive/home/life insurance are better, cheaper, and not only more readily available than ever, but of greater quality because the American free-market system is allowed to thrive. The free market is the answer to our health care costs, availability and quality of service. Yes, I understand, health care is about people, but so is every other product within our free-market system.
I am not saying that government does not have a place in health care, but the footprint must be small and meant to serve the real problem. Our current system ignores the basic truths that have helped all of us live a more comfortable life. Competition, transparency and demand all result in better, less expensive and more readily available services and goods, while Obamacare only worsens the problem.
We tie health insurance to our employers, we demand one-size-fits-all insurance coverage, doctors don’t post their costs or offer discounts for regular, cash-paying customers. The government and the insurance companies (who were created as a by-product of government policies) stand in the way of the simple solutions that would go a long way to solving our health care issues.
Why should you treat the purchase of health care services any differently than we treat auto insurance? When you purchase auto insurance you are not forced into a one-size-fits-all plan. You shop and you compare. If the government mandated auto insurance the same way it controls health insurance, oil changes, tire rotations and manufacturer warranty services would have to be covered, too. Each of us would be required to carry $1 million liability packages. We would not tolerate government intervention smothering free-market solutions in other parts of our lives, so why should we tolerate it within our health care?
Next week I will review the current failures of Obamacare, and why we need to repeal it.
Jeff Chidester was raised in New Hampshire and has lived and worked in the Far East and Europe for extended periods. He is the host of New Hampshire Perspective, heard each Sunday at noon on 96.7 The Wave and WGIR AM 610.
Did We Elect Politicians or Pirates?
Did We Elect Politicians or Pirates?
“A democracy can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury.” — Exact phrasing, origins still debated
Whether you believe those words were uttered by Alexander Hamilton, Alexis de Tocqueville, or, as many believe, Alexander Fraser Tytler, there can be no doubt the words have been true for many decades. One only needs to watch the budgetary process at both the federal and state level to realize that we no longer create fiscally appropriate budgets, but instead we create budgets disconnected from reality.
Watching the budget process at both the federal and state level convinces me that our representatives are somehow disconnected from the reality that surrounds everyday people. One has to wonder how these same representatives go about creating their own household budgets. Many feel the comparison between a household budget and a state or federal budget is comparing apples to oranges. The same sound fiscal disciplines that apply to a household budget would serve our various governmental budgets well. Should private citizens spend recklessly and fail to live within their means, they suffer the consequences. When government fails to live within its means, it merely prints more money or “raises revenues” by raising taxes and fees. It’s easy to spend someone else’s money.
For example, take the New Hampshire budget recently passed by the House. In an economy that has experienced poor economic growth over the past five years (according to Department of Commerce figures), with an expected national economic growth to hover around 2 percent (or lower) throughout 2013, and with unemployment numbers projected to remain high well past 2015 (according to the Federal Reserve), now is not the time to increase spending and overestimate tax revenues. But that is exactly what the New Hampshire 2013-14 budget does.
The proposed budget came in at around $11 billion, and depending on the source, that is a 9.1 percent to 10.2 percent spending increase! Once again, in an economy that is fragile at best, when the effects of national and world markets could quickly reverse any perceived economic recovery, now is not the time to increase spending at any level. Granted, the Democratically led N.H. House soundly rejected the irresponsible budget originally proposed by Gov. Hassan, trimming around $51 million from the number proposed by Hassan and eliminating the $80 million of fantasy gambling revenues. But prudence does not justify a 10 percent spending increase over the life of the proposed budget, nor does common sense justify increasing fees and taxes and using political gimmicks to pay for this foolhardy budget.
It is expected that we will see an estimated $263 million tax increase on New Hampshire businesses and citizens, including higher taxes on gas, tobacco, and, more devastating, adjusting the business tax audits. Additionally, the N.H. House chose to set aside other tax reforms enacted by the previous Legislature, as well as reestablishing inflated revenue estimates. Let us not forget, that many of the same Democratic legislators who were thrown out for their reckless spending prior to 2010 have not only returned to the Statehouse, but have just picked up where they left off. Some have also decided to continue with villainizing the previous legislators for merely trying to return some fiscal sanity to Concord, while at the same completely misreading the results of the 2012 election.
Our faith and trust is further eroded by budget gimmicks, which this budget is filled with. Both the Democrats and the Republicans have been guilty of this. Both parties are responsible for using budgetary tricks to cover up their poor budgets, but that does not excuse either for allowing the practice to continue. Robbing from a dedicated fund (funded by supposed “dedicated” fees and taxes) to pay for the overspending in the general fund insults the taxpayer and weakens the faith in our government.
Here are just a few examples of the tomfoolery going on in Concord.
- Millions of dollars raised through a $25 fee on every real estate transaction that is supposed to be exclusively dedicated to LCHIP (Land and Community Heritage Investment Program), was raided and placed into the general fund.
- Pilfering a scholarship fund that was set up for needy students.
- Taking from a dedicated fund meant to provide safety education for motorcyclists and boaters.
- Suggestions of using “left-over” funds collected from the gas tax to fund pet projects that in many cases are nothing more than constituent payback.
- Stealing from funds set up to help provide treatment and education for smokers and alcoholics.
The abuse of the RGGI program underscores the fact that too many representatives have forgotten their oath of office. RGGI is nothing more than government extortion on small businesses, which in turn have no choice but to pass the cost back onto taxpayers. Worse, we are told that RGGI was to fund renewable energy and conservation projects. In reality only a small portion is used for such endeavors, while the rest is absconded by those in Concord who publicly say they have our best interests at heart, but who were privately thinking of new ways to overspend and over-tax. RGGI is nothing more than a hidden tax on the middle class and poor, and it doesn’t even come close to achieving its stated goals.
While some in Concord and Washington use terms like reallocate, borrow and create, the coffers are running dry, the taxpayers are stressed, abused, and no longer trust their government, and frankly many people are left wondering if they elected politicians or pirates. Sometime it is hard to tell.
Jeff Chidester was raised in New Hampshire and has lived and worked in the Far East and Europe for extended periods. He is the host of New Hampshire Perspective, heard each Sunday at noon on 96.7 The Wave and WGIR AM 610.
Demagoguery from the Extreme Left
Demagoguery from the Extreme Left
By Jeff Chidester
Link to the original article
One person’s extremist is another person’s liberator, and depending on your opinion of me, you might just be calling me one or the other.
Our ability to label other people comes from our individual gift to classify ourselves. The problem is that many people aren’t very honest with their own self-assessment. As such, it is easy for them to dismiss their own fanaticism, while at the same time labeling others as zealots. One only needs to look around at our current political and media landscape to understand this. But our country was founded by extremists, and throughout our short history we have had our share of extremists. But there was also honesty in the extremism that we are so sorely lacking today.
What is gained by an individual or a group in labeling someone else as an extremist? Their hope is the same as it has always been, to marginalize or ridicule their intended target. That is not to say some are not worthy of this mocking. But when their attacks step over the line, become petty for the sake of falsely elevating ones’ own self-worth, we lose our ability to have intellectual discussions and rational debate on the issues of the day. It is because of this that so little is solved in Washington, D.C., or even closer to home. There are many examples, but let me just point out two of the most recent.
A sip of water. President Obama gave his State of the Union Address that many, on both the left and the right, found to be lacking in detail. Sen. Marco Rubio offered the Republican rebuttal. Very few on the left took the opportunity to engage the content of Rubio’s speech, choosing instead to be infantile and focus on the fact that Rubio had taken a sip of water. This is what political discourse from some neoprogressives has become, focusing on a drink of water. Those on the left belabored the point so much that the rest of America started laughing at them, not with them. It’s not like we are talking about an investigation involving underage Dominican prostitutes, and possibly failing to report donor sponsored trips and monetary gifts. Or, publicly insisting that everyone pay their fair share in taxes, while failing to pay their own taxes? A sip of water? Pathetic.
This is the age of new McCarthyism. After shouting “racism,” McCarthyism is the left’s next favorite attack line. Neoprogressives have bantered these words about so often that the Democrats should change their logo from a donkey to a boy crying “WOLF!” And who is the “new” McCarthy you may ask? Sen. Ted Cruz from Texas. And what was Sen. Cruz’s misdeed? Did he, like the late Sen. Ted Kennedy during the Bork hearings, state that if the nominee won approval — “blacks would sit at segregated lunch counters, rogue police could break down citizens’ doors in midnight raids, and schoolchildren could not be taught about evolution. Writers and artists would be censored at the whim of government?”
Did Sen. Cruz accuse a nominee of “aiming bullets” at Americans, as Vice President Biden said during the 2012 presidential campaign? Or did Sen. Cruz accuse a female witness that “you’re not going to pay a particular price” as it relates to war because that female witness also happened to be childless? Wrong again, that was Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer while questioning Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
What Sen. Cruz did was point out that the U.S. Senate had not received a complete list of defense secretary nominee Hagel’s speeches and any monies received for such speaking engagements (as required by Senate rules). Sen. Cruz might have said it more elegantly, but it would not have mattered how he said it. The immediate response of neoprogressives in the U.S. Senate and in the media demonstrated their sheer hypocrisy, and began the paranoid chants of “Tea Party, Tea Party!” once more.
Both parties have engaged in hurling insults and belittling the opposition, but the left has always been more shameful. In many ways the national media is to blame. Like a parent spoiling a child, the media has indulged those on the extreme left, allowing their wild statements to go unchecked. And like that weak parent who never disciplined their child, or worse, made excuses for the poor behavior, the child feels empowered — throwing temper tantrums at will and screaming out at the top of their lungs.
To be clear, I am not referring to gaffes politicians and public figures say all the time. I am talking about the pure vitriol and malicious statements that are constantly part of the “dialogue” on the left. Throwing granny over the cliff, punching women in the face, denying children food and education, the list goes on. All of these were used to falsely impugn almost half of the American population who do not agree with the far-left mentality of the extremist Occupy “Fill in the Blank” crowd that has taken over the Democratic Party. For many on the extreme left, it is far easier to throw out bombs than ideas, to deflect rather than debate.
Jeff Chidester was raised in New Hampshire and has lived and worked in the Far East and Europe for extended periods. He is the host of New Hampshire Perspective heard each Sunday at noon on 96.7 The Wave and WGIR AM 610.
Testimony Against NH House Resolution 6 – Offered by Verity Swayne
As many of you know, last week on Valentine’s Day the New Hampshire House held a hearing for HR6 – a resolution to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.
Like many people I felt this was an inappropriate resolution and a waste of our legislators time. But a hearing was held none the less, and people took the time to participate in the process. I would like to share with you the testimony one person, Verity Swayne, offered in opposition to HR6. The testimony was well written and one in which a reasonable person would find very persuasive.
Nicely done Ms. Swayne.
TESTIMONY AGAINST HR-6—February 14, 2013
Presented by Verity Swayne
President, New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women
I am the president of NHFRW, bur I appeal to you today as a mother. There has been no greater joy in my life than to be a wife and mother.
No matter where one stands on the issue of abortion, I think we can agree that most people don’t think of abortion as a lovely thing. Therefore, why would we ever want to celebrate it?
Today I am here to speak against HR6 commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision.
Instead of celebrating, I believe we should be mourning the decision that came out of a court that should have known better.
With this decision the Court ignored the 14th amendment which states that “no person shall be deprived of life without due process of law.”
The Court ignored the reality of life beginning at conception, and with its decision unleashed a deadly force of violence against infants, as well as untold suffering and sometimes death for millions of women as well.
The role of government is to punish evildoers and protect the good and innocent. With Roe v. Wade, the court really got it backwards that time.
So, here are my questions:
Firstly, why would we want to commemorate this decision? Oh, you say, “It’s a matter of freedom. We want to celebrate freedom. A woman needs to be free to make decisions concerning her own body.” Let me tell you something. That baby is not her own body. It’s somebody else’s body.
Why would we want to celebrate this decision where the court played God and told people that they could be sexually free, that they could do whatever they wanted to do to be fulfilled, that they could live the kind of materialistic, uncomplicated lifestyle that so many people seem to want to live today?
Why would we want to celebrate a ruling that fed women a lie? Oh it’ll be a quick fix. Little did they know it would lead to numerous health and reproductive problems, increased risk of breast cancer, sometimes death, not to speak of post-abortion stress, filling their lives with emotional trauma, depression, and guilt, memories and brokenness; lifetimes filled with what if’s and if only’s. My heart breaks for them. If we as a nation really care about women, we should tell them the TRUTH about the risks associated with abortion…. and be willing to show them the ultrasound of that baby and its beating heart.
My second question is: Why would we want to commemorate a decision that turned us into a country that is now highly committed by law and practice to a form of mass murder? My heart breaks when I think of the precious lives that never had a chance to live, and instead suffered abominations due to Roe v. Wade..
13 years ago there was a song that was particularly significant to our family. It’s called “Roses”. The words express what’s truly in my heart.
Budding roses come and gone, a callous world still carries on vainly trying to look beyond a pain that knows no soothing. Little flowers hid from sight, many colors dark and light are seized and swept into the night. Roses kept from blooming.
As self indulgence rules our land, some children just don’t fit the plan and so we pluck them from God’s hand. Is our destruction looming? Precious buds of God’s design, grant a gift of love divine where earth and heaven intertwine, yet their rose is kept from blooming.
The joys this earth will never know, little smiles that never glow, lives left longing to unfold. It’s a tragedy we’re choosing. The sweetest gift that God could give, He made to grow, to love, to live. So help us Lord to let them live for they’re roses meant for blooming. May we learn to hold as dear what God Himself has planted here. And may we make the choice in fear, lest we keep God’s rose from blooming. (words by Fred Mackrell and Phil Naish)
13 years ago my husband and I were asked if we wanted to abort our youngest little girl, Belinda, who we had learned was a child with Down syndrome . (I was 5½ months along in my pregnancy.) She had major health problems and we were told she would likely die. It was a wretched thing to me to even be asked whether I would want to easily discard my child, just because she would be seen as “not useful to society” or just because the future would be difficult. Yet I knew, sadly, the law would support my decision to abort if I chose to.
We have an attitude in this country that we need to do away with any intrusion or problem in our lives with a pill or a shot, or any quick fix, when the greatest growth and joys most times come from paths laden with sacrifice and struggling. You see, we believed that God was the One to determine whether she survived and we believed He would help in the difficult days ahead. Yes, there were many, for our whole family. But what great blessings as well came for us in that little package. She taught us so much that we could never have learned any other way. Today Belinda is almost a teenager, happy, healthy, a joy to all…wanted… yes, beloved…yes, perfect…yes!
I told my son that I was going to be speaking to you today and he said, “Mom, I’m so glad we let our little rose bloom.”
Today is Valentine’s Day. Every time you give or receive or see roses today and in the days ahead, I hope you’ll be reminded of the millions of little roses that were not allowed to bloom because of Roe v. Wade. I pray the Lord will have mercy on us and change hearts, so this national tragedy of Roe v. Wade will be mourned, not commemorated and someday be overturned altogether.
Thank you for allowing me to share my testimony with you.
A Christmas Prayer
A Christmas Prayer
I sometimes envy past generations because they had the ability to simply enjoy Christmas for what it is….the birth of Our Savior, Jesus.
The exchanging of gifts was to represent a birthday celebration. Yet somehow the greatest gift is lost in the commercialism that Christmas has become. God’s gift to man….his only Son.
As you sit down for your Christmas dinner this year, take inventory of God’s blessings in your life. We live in an imperfect world, and at times we can feel consumed by all the hate and sorrow we witness. We ask ourselves “what can I do to help?”
You can let God’s grace stay strong in your heart and share his message. Buy one less gift for each person, and give that money to charity. Because this season as many of us agonizes over trying to find a Furby, there are children in this world who will not see their next birthday. As each of us worries about “putting on a few extra pounds,” there are parents struggling to feed their families. And as we gather with family and friends, there sits a person alone…thinking that they are not loved. But if each of us holds ourselves to the standard set by Jesus Christ, and do what ever we can to help our neighbors, we can keep the true meaning of Christmas alive.
So this Christmas, may God’s grace bless your home and shine into heart. May you find your meaning in life through God’s Peace.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson
Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
The Christmas Story
On Christmas Eve millions of families will gather together for the reading of “Twas The Night Before Christmas.” At the end of the story our children will place cookies out for Santa, sprinkle food on the lawn for his reindeer, and scamper off to bed for an anxious night of sleep.
When they wake up early in the morning, they will be overcome with the joy of finding gifts mystically left under the Christmas tree. But wouldn’t be nice if, after they open their presents, they were read another story which brings the true meaning of Christmas into your home.
Luke 2: Versus 1-20, tells the Nativity Story with simplicity, yet manages to convey the great joy that was delivered to man with the birth of Jesus.
The Story of Christmas
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth.
Silent Night, Holy Night
There truly is a Spirit of Christmas that transcends the worldly events that somehow occupy mans being on Earth. One such event is war. There is no more brutal expression of man’s ignorance then the conflicts that have littered our history. Yet, even in war, “love’s pure light” will shine.
On December 24th, 1914, heavenly peace did descend upon the trenches of World War One, when the soldiers of the Germany, French, and English Armies castaway their hate, and for a brief moment in time found “Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards Men.”
On that cold Christmas Eve night, Germany soldiers began decorating their trenches by placing candles on trees while singing Christmas Carols. One such carol was “Stille nacht, heilige nacht.” The British soldiers responded by singing the English version…….. “Silent Night, Holy Night.”
Eventually both sides would walk across “No Man’s Land” and exchange greetings and small gifts. Little did Father Josef Mohr, the composer of “Silent Night,” know that one day the words he penned would, even if only for a short time, help stop the madness of war and bring enemies together in peace:
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth “
Clueless in DC: Obama – “The Economy is Doing Fine.”
A lot will be made by President Obama’s gaffe regarding the economy (The economy is doing just fine), rightly so. It was beyond a gaffe, and more of another insight into the mind of a person who is absolutely clueless, and in way over his head as President.
Later in the day, President Obama did try to walk the comment back, but really just did more damage.
Free and Independent States: The Legacy of the Lee Resolution
Lee’s Resolutions: Free and Independent States
June 7, marks an anniversary that few are aware of, let alone recognize. On June 7, 1776, during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee, a forbearer of General Robert E. Lee, proposed what would become known as the Lee Resolution.
The Lee Resolution had three distinct points:
- That each of the Colonials seeking independence WERE free and independent States
- That measures needed to be taken to build diplomatic bridges to other world nations
- That a plan for governing be offered to all of the Colonials seeking independence.
June 7, 1776
Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.
That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.
The first part of the resolution would find its way into the closing statement of the Declaration of Independence:
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
The second part would be the guiding principle that had the Colonies dispatching emissaries to establish diplomatic relationships with countries that may be in favor with the colonies breaking from the United Kingdom.
The final part of Lee’s Resolution led to the forming of Colonial Representatives that would create the Articles of Confederation.
Not bad for a day’s work.
Each part of the Declaration of Independence is vital. But Lee’s Resolution is the perfect ending to a document that is not only the very essence of our country’s founding, but our continued existence.
Lee Resolution (replication of the original)
Modern printing of the text (Avalon Project)
Resource Websites (that refer to the Lee Resolution):
Richard henry Lee (from Wikipedia)
Memorial Day Broadcast 2012
We want to thank everyone involved in the 2012 Memorial Day Broadcast:
Our producer/engineer Kayla Winsor
Co-host Julie Hurrie, Run for the Fallen – NH ( www.runforthefallennh.org)
Gold Star Donna Ouellete, mother of Michael Ouellete (http://nh.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=NHDR_OuelletteFund_VeteransServices)
Sue Peterson, Honor and Remember – NH (http://www.honorandremember.org/tag/nh/)
Skip Jackson, proprietor for Carrabbas in Bedford, NH. http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100826-NEWS-100829855
A very special thank-you to Gold Star Mother Natalie Healy (http://www.navyseals.com/daniel-r-healy) and Gold Star Mother Elaine Gibson (http://merrimack.patch.com/articles/finding-comfort-from-those-who-understand#photo-7491718) for the reading of the Honor Roll of NH’s Fallen Soldiers:
List of NH’s Fallen Soldiers – Memorial Day 2012
Lyrics to the songs played during the broadcast:
Mansions Of The Lord
Sung by the West Point Cadets
(Played at the reading of NH’s Fallen)
To fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord
No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
Just divine embrace, eternal light
To the Mansions of the Lord.
Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
Through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord.
“Requiem For A Soldier”
Sung by Katherine Jenkins
You never lived to see
What you gave to me
One shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
With a host of brave unknown soldiers
For your company, you will live forever
Here in our memory
In fields of sacrifice
Heroes paid the price
Young men who died for old men’s wars
Gone to paradise
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you’ll see we can live together
When all the world is free
I wish you’d lived to see
All you gave to me
Your shining dream of hope and love
Life and liberty
We are all one great band of brothers
And one day you’ll see – we can live together
When all the world is free
The Angels Came Down
Sung by Kevin Cosner
(Played at the end of the broadcast)
Walking all alone in the Southern rain
By graveyards and battlefields that blood still stains
Back to a time when the angels came
Walking all alone in the Southern rain
In the forests and the fields so many men were killed
I can hear their cries still echo through these hills
That was the time when the angels came
Walking all alone in the Southern rain
The angels came down to the fallen men
They held their hands and they prayed for them
They carried their souls beyond the moon and the sun
All the way to heaven one by one
The angels worked so hard for so many years
To heaven and back again they shed so many tears
They left no one and they placed no blame
Walking all alone in the Southern rain
The angels came down to the fallen men
They held their hands and they prayed for them
They carried their souls beyond the moon and the sun
All the way to heaven one by one
Walking all alone in the Southern rain
Never heal the troubles never heal the pain
But that was the time when the angels came
Walking all alone in the Southern Rain
For You
Sung by Keith Urban
All I saw was smoke and fire; I didn’t feel a thing,
but suddenly I was rising higher.
And I felt like I’d just made the biggest mistake
when I though about my unborn child;
when I thought about my wife.
And the answer rang out clear
from somewhere up above:
No greater gift has man, but to lay down his life for love.
And I wonder, would I give my life?
Could I make that sacrifice?
If it came down to it, could I take the bullet, I would.
Yes I would for you.
Maybe you don’t understand
I don’t understand it all myself.
But there’s a brother on my left and another on my right.
And in his pocket just like mine, he’s got a photograph.
And they’re waiting for him back home.
And it’s weighing on my mind.
I’m not trying to be a hero;
I don’t wanna die.
But right now in this moment, you don’t think twice.
I wonder, would I give my life?
Could I make that sacrifice?
If it came down to it, could I take the bullet, I would.
Yes I would.
You don’t think about right; you don’t think about wrong.
You just do what you gotta do to defend your own.
And I’d do the same for you -
Yes I would.
I would give my life.
I would make that sacrifice.
‘Cause if it came down to it, could I take the bullet, I would.
Yes I would do it for you.
I’d do it for you.
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