Daniel L. Gardner

Guest Columnist

Republican Leaders in the 112th Congress have pledged to stipulate Constitutional authority for every bill passed. What a refreshing change from Progressives who for the past four years have bluntly claimed anything they passed was Constitutional because they passed it!

Has the U.S. Constitution, our nation’s founding document become irrelevant? Elite Progressives in academia, media, and government claim the document is at least inadequate.

In answering an interviewer’s question about the Constitution, then presidential candidate Barack Obama replied, “I think it’s a remarkable document…but I think it’s an imperfect document and I think it is a document that reflects some deep flaws in American culture the colonial culture at that time…. I don’t think the two views are contradictory to say that it was a remarkable political document that paved the way for where we are now and to say that it also reflected the fundamental flaw of this country that continues to this day.”

The “fundamental flaw” refers to failure to deal with moral issues of the day such as slavery when the Constitution was written.

On the first edition of “CBS Sunday Morning” in 2011, correspondent Jeff Greenfield posed the question: “Is our 200 year old political system capable of dealing with today’s dilemmas?”

In answering this question, noted Yale historian Paul Kennedy said, “I think we have a very poor constitutional political system for the 21st century. We have a system which was marvelous for 13 independent loosely tied states in 1783 – 1786.”

In this CBS feature story, as well as in his 1987 book, “The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers,” Kennedy posited the USA is in a sharp decline, and he at least partially blamed our decline on the inadequacy of our Constitution.

Noted journalist James Fallows, also interviewed for the story, endorsed the same premise that America is in decline due to the inadequacy of the Constitution.

Why are elite Progressives in the media, academia, and government chipping away at the integrity of the Constitution? Because Progressives cannot “fundamentally transform America” into something completely different from the nation established by our Founding Fathers without changing the Constitution, or at least ignoring the authority and limits of power enumerated in the Constitution.

With all of our problems, America is still the greatest nation on earth. We are not in decline because our Constitution is inadequate, fundamentally flawed, or out-of-date. We are suffering most of our political and economic problems because Progressives in Washington have ignored limits in the Constitution in order to pass ideological agendas.

For example, the Constitution nowhere “entitles” citizens or aliens to monetary benefits due to hardships. Yet, since the days of FDR Progressives have created monstrous, unsustainable entitlement bureaucracies virtually enslaving lower income voters.

“We the People” need to hold our representatives accountable to defend and protect the Constitution. Our nation’s political leaders are not American royalty, and we as citizens are not their serfs. Republican Leaders in Congress are responding to voters’ demands that Washington return to Constitutional governance.

Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com, or interact with him on the Clarion-Ledger feature blog site http://www.clarionledger.com/section/blogs06 . Gardner’s columns are also featured on http://dannygardner.opinioneditorial.com/

His column does not reflect the views of Starkville-Now.com.

Ricky Bishop

Guest Columnist

After this week’s switch of the 15th, 16th, and 17th, Mississippi elected officials from the Mississippi Democratic Party to the Mississippi Republican Party, I have taken a look back through the years as the Mississippi Republican Party has grown and has truly become the “Big Tent” party. We, as Republicans, do not believe in a “litmus test” in order to be a good card caring Republican, but instead believe one should have the overall conservative values of less government dependence upon the people. The Democratic Party has proven time and time again that they have ripped down their “Big Tent” and will only allow one to carry their card if they pass multiple liberal litmus tests and do not stray from them. This begs the question: What is a conservative Democrat to do that used to be prominent in their party but now is considered a thorn in the side of their party? Well, I believe they should consider the path that Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Rep. Bobby Shows, and Simpson County Superintendent of Education Joe Welch decided to take this week, along with 14 other Democratic elected officials since the inauguration of President Obama has taken, and pull their card and move it to the “Big Tent” party, the Mississippi Republican Party.
Long ago the Mississippi Republican Party was said to be able to hold their party conventions in a phone booth as the Democrats proudly boast in their back rooms while having their victory cigars and brandy. Times have changed, and the Republicans, years ago, packed up that phone booth and stored it away and exchanged it for a convention center-like setting and have elected the likes of former Sen. Trent Lott, Sen. Thad Cochran, former Gov. Fordice, Gov. Barbour, and many others.
Now the time has come to get out the Republican phone booth from the basement, dust it off, and polish it up. Now is the time, in the spirit of the giving season, to give that phone booth to a party in need of it, the Mississippi Democratic Party. With the Mississippi Democratic Party experiencing a mass exodus leaving only the few liberal followers led by their great leader Jamie Franks, the only place they will fit or be able to afford to hold their conventions will be the former Republican phone booth.
The Mississippi Democratic Party could truly transform, come back, and be a competitive party again in Mississippi, but this would require them to boot their liberal leadership and move center right as most Mississippians are aligned. The fact is that the ones that are left just do not have it in them to make this move. They will probably make a further move to the left and alienate more center to conservative Democrats sending them packing and moving to the Republican Party. Therefore, as we ring in the New Year, here’s a gift, our former convention hall phone booth, and we raise our glasses and toast to you, the Mississippi Democratic Party, to helping us expand our base and solidify Mississippi as a truly Republican state.

Ricky Bishop resides in Starkville and is co-author of The Friendly Fire Blog, www.thefriendlyfire.info. You can email him at rickybishop00@gmail.com and follow him on twitter at @rickybishop.

His column does not reflect the views of Starkville-Now.com.

To the Editor:

Last week, I had an opportunity to tour Starkville’s City Hall. This subject has been given so much ink and consideration already that folks may very well be uninterested in more of the same. I can’t remember talking to anyone who does not feel that something needs to be done… but what? It’s hard for me to believe that anyone who takes the time to go through the facilities allocated to the Police Department and Municipal Court could walk away without feeling sad for the people who have to work under those cramped conditions and a bit fearful. I won’t try to list all of the problems that I saw, others have done that. The Police Department and Municipal Court are in the greatest need for space.

All safety and access issues should be of major concern so code compliance is a big issue. However, I kept thinking about just fire the protection part of code compliance. There is no sprinkler system. That by it’s self may not solve the risk of loosing vital records stored in the old armory era stage area in the back of the building. If fire broke out, records from all of the departments are at risk. This is an old building with questionable electrical systems which have failed, according to my tour guide, “with sparks flying” before. The records are not digitized and archived, I was told that they had considered contracting the job out, but, of course, money was not available.

I don’t know all of the facts and my suggestion was a very simplistic one, but I suggested that the task should have been started already even if they had to purchase equipment and software and ask for volunteers from the citizenry instead of some huge outside contract. Of course, we can always wait for an abundance of tax dollars which are not being fought over and see that as a priority, THEN. Is the risk of loosing all of the City’s vital records less problematic than some other needs? I was awed that this process had not been started already.

City departments have been waiting for all of this to be solved in one big project. How it was handled by the last administration was, obviously, less than effective. After three failed attempts, we’ve another opportunity and a greater need to solve the problems. I’m encouraged that the Municipal Complex Citizens Committee (Version IV) led by Dr. Roy Ruby are willing to take this on with as fresh a look as can be expected. I encourage the citizens of Starkville to contact this committee and make their comments and suggestions known. There is a way to comment and follow some of the other ideas on line at: http://www.starkville-now.com/2010/10/28/now-what-municipal-complex-v4-0/. Robbie Coblentz, Managing Editor, of StarkvilleNow.com is on this new committee and I believe that he would appreciate citizen’s input. Other members of this committee are: Frank Chiles; Bill Webb; Eric Heiselt; Emil Lovely; Nick Wilson; Bethany Stich; Walter Williams.

With the economy in the tank and our local public debt as high as it is, shouldn’t we be calling for austerity measures as well as a more business friendly and less progressive control approach to local government. The economic outlook is unfavorable. Property taxes and prices for food and transportation continue to rise. School and hospital bond issues that were already passed will make it a very contentious issue for adding more debt to the tax payers of Starkville. However, there appears to be some who are addicted to OPM – Other People’s Money – and are in positions of responsibility to either recommend or approve of spending OPM. With these addicts, as you may expect, judgment is lacking. Your pain is their gain. They don’t have sensitivity to your pain, only to their gain or the progress of their agenda. Though, these consider they are the elite and, assuredly, know more than those from whom they extract tax dollars or those who bear the regulatory increases of cost of doing business. They need to be exposed and committed to some reality rehab program. They do not need to be in positions of responsibility over OPM.

After more than ten years, a solution to this problem should be found that will meet the needs. With expected growth, the situation will continue to worsen and the risk continues to grow. Some will choose to keep looking back to the failures and bitterness, but we’d be wise to solve the problem as cost effectively as possible. At this point, I don’t think that opulence will be included, or accepted, in alternatives that this committee will present, but tax payers’ input for the different plans that will be presented is needed in order for an acceptable solution to pass muster, and one which the tax payers will be able to support. Utilizing existing properties and renovating may be more acceptable than more expensive plans.

I may be naive, but I even think that this committee will take a very close look at suggestions and welcome participation in their public meetings. If not, then there may be a Version V.

Gary Chesser
Organizer,
Starkville TEA Party

Daniel L. Gardner

Guest Columnist

I hope you enjoy all the wonders of the Christmas season!

What is your wish for Christmas? Children have wish lists. Even Amazon.com has wish lists. Hospitals, foxholes, and lonely folks all have wish lists.

During the Christmas season we generally ask friends and family what they want, need, or just wish for. In America few of us really need anything. We comprise 5-percent of the world’s population but control more than 25-percent of the world’s wealth. Even the poorest among us is rich when compared with the vast majority of the rest of the world’s population.

My wish this year is that we all enjoy the wonders of the Christmas season, that we make time to share kind thoughts and greetings with those around us in the spirit of the angel’s message on that first Christmas: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Christmas is good news…with a warning! “Do not be afraid.” Why do angels nearly always begin their messages with this little phrase? I suspect because angels scare the whatever out of to whomever they appear! Funny: these days depictions of angels are not scary at all. They’re all very feminine and beautiful.

Anyway, the angel’s good news is of “a great joy for all the people.” I’ve been reading Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain’s autobiography. The crusty old celebrity wrote his experience with religion overwhelmingly dealt with hellfire and brimstone, not very good news at all.

I suppose some have always contorted the original Christmas message into one of dire predictions and consequences. I’ve seen and heard enough over my lifetime to know dour sermons from dourer preachers bring little glory or good news to anyone. Been there, done that, don’t care to go back.

I prefer the “good news” side of Christmas, the birth of “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” We all need saving sometimes! I’ve needed saving all of my life, mainly from myself. Who’s not for saving? Bah, humbug on them!

Why did the angels appear to shepherds? Why not to political and religious leaders? I’m sure there are theological answers to these questions. Frankly, I find regular people, those who work for their livings, much more reasonable than professional politicians, academicians, and Christians, not that these latter folks don’t work as hard as regular folks. Sometimes they work harder! Just not for the same reasons.

But, I digress. The wonders of the Christmas season include twinkles in the eyes of kids from one to 92, favorite things, family and close friends, and memories…lots and lots of memories.

My wish for Christmas? We all take time to make more memories, good memories that last and sustain us during tougher times. All of us face tough times, some more than others. Good memories carry us through tough times and always promise us better days ahead of great joy.

Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com, or interact with him on the Clarion-Ledger feature blog site http://www.clarionledger.com/section/blogs06 . Gardner’s columns are also featured on http://dannygardner.opinioneditorial.com/

His column does not reflect the views of Starkville-Now.com.

Ricky Bishop

Guest Columnist

It amazes me at how concerned the Democrats in Congress are about our national debt these days with regards to the debate over the tax cut compromise plan. These same Democrats were not at all concerned about our nation debt over the past two years when the stimulus package and ObamaCare was passed. The Democrats cannot believe that the Republicans want to “add to the national debt” by supporting tax cuts for the “wealthy”. The first question that comes to mind is who are the wealthy they speak of? Some Congressional Democrats say it is everyone making over $100,000 a year, others say it is everyone making over $500,000 or $1 million dollars a year. Most all of the Congressional Democrats pick one of these numbers and charge to the House or Senate floor on a tirade about how it adds to the national debt to gives these wage earners a tax cut.
These “wealthy” people that they speak of are a lot of our small business owners who hire many Americans and are struggling to stay in business under the current tax rates, much less higher ones. Here is a scenario of a struggling “wealthy” millionaire: A small business owner with a staff of around 20 to 40 people that pays rent or a note on the building that houses their business, pays notes on equipment, notes on company vehicles, and has travel expenses. This “wealthy” business owner also has a family of four, a wife and two children in college. He works hard and makes a million plus a year running his business, but this “wealthy” business owner has to pay all his employees’ wages, his notes on building(s) and vehicles, and travel expenses. What is left of this millionaire’s money could very well be way under six figures, of which, he has to pay all of his personal expenses including his kid’s college tuition. He then has to pay his “millionaire” tax because he “earns” a million dollars a year. If the Democrats had their way this type of small business owners, who is already barely getting by, will be forced to either send workers to the unemployment line or shut down their business altogether.
Why is it that the Democrats feel because you are successful that the government has a right to a larger portion of your money? The easy answer to this is that the Democrats have a huge spending problem, not that some Republicans have not in the past. As I mentioned earlier, the Democrats, while debating the recent tax compromise plan in the House and Senate, feel that a tax cut “cost” money. In fact, a tax cut does not cost one cent because you are taxed less; therefore, it is money that was never entered into the government’s treasury for them to spend. The tax cuts, however, cost the government revenue which means they have less money to spend, and Democrats cannot handle or understand the idea of cutting spending. The Democrats fundamentally believe the more you make the more you owe the government because in their minds a large portion of your income is government property. I will let you be the judge as to what type of thinking that brings to mind.
Thanks to the American people voicing their opinion and voting out a record number of Democratic tax and spend liberals, this madness will come to an end beginning January 5, 2011, when Speaker-designee John Boehner is sworn in as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Speaker Boehner and the new Republican House majority will stop President Obama and his minions in their tracks to sell off our country.

Ricky Bishop
rickybishop00@gmail.com
Starkville, MS
Co-author, The Friendly Fire Blog

http://www.thefriendlyfire.info

His column does not reflect the views of Starkville-Now.com.