Pathways to Power… ‘Let Us Heed Jefferson’s Words’

To The Editor:
In the Nov. 17 edition of the Herald, above the “From the Publisher” column, was this Jeffersonian quote:
“Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have…The course of history shows that as government grows, liberty decreases.”
In his column Publisher Hall asks, “Did the election mean nothing?”
Others have asked are the Administration and Democrats in denial? Didn’t they get the message voters sent in handing over the House to the GOP and diminishing the Dem’s majority in the Senate? My take is, yes they got the message and are ignoring it, determined to plow ahead with their liberal/progressive agenda. They exude elitist arrogance by proclaiming essentially nothing is wrong with their policies. They have only perhaps failed to communicate the wonders of their programs. Translation: We sad, stupid voters don’t get it, so Dems need to keep plugging their wares and forcing things through.
It will be more difficult for them in the new Congress. You can bet they will pull every trick in the book to succeed, as the GOP will likewise act to block them. Perhaps there will be “compromises” but don’t hold your breath. The Dems are sure to paint the GOP as obstructionist meanies.
It has been said that perhaps our Constitution needs amending. That it is out of step with the times: The Founders lived in a radically different era. But if Jefferson’s assertion above isn’t a message for our times what is?
We see enormous expansion of government with new laws and regulations and out-of-control spending to bring it about. We see our freedom to choose diminish as federal power is exercised to replace personal responsibility, initiative and free market principles. These actions are but a few of the pathways to power both parties exercise. Recall it was on Nixon’s watch that the super regulators EPA and OSHA were born. And the current regime may tap the EPA to tighten the noose on fossil-fuel power generation in lieu of Cap and Trade legislation. Then there’s Obamacare.
Since our votes are the best weapon against government excesses, we may have to keep sending the message…Enough!
I believe the Founders would have preferred congressional “gridlock” to the ham-fisted tactics of the majority these past two years. Let us heed Jefferson’s words about loss of liberty.
ROBERT LOVELL
Court House