A Battle we CANNOT Lose

Within the heart of every man there is an unquenchable desire for freedom and liberty.  It is a fire that can only be subdued for so long until it erupts with forceful rage.  Throughout history we see this repeated over and over again.  There is only so much that man can and will take before he rises up from a tyrannical government to reclaim his rights that all individuals inherently have.

To most Americans terrorism became a reality on September 11, 2001 and we were recently reminded of its devastating effects in the aftermath of the Boston bombings.  The fear that these two events inflicted on Americans is understandable, as is the call for extra security and more government intervention.

Freedom and liberty have always been in a constant battle against man’s desire for “security.”  In America we claim to be the “land of the free” and for so long that has been our identity.  Our freedoms and liberties define us as a country and have set us apart from the rest of the world.  Our forefathers laid their lives on the line fighting for these very principles.  Some of them were wealthy men who were willing to give up the comforts they already had for a chance at true freedom.

So why is it that Americans today are willing to give up some of some of their liberties and freedoms for a little more security?  I believe there are two reasons.

1.       We have forgotten what it is like to be truly free as well as enslaved by government.

2.       Americans believe that security is more important than freedom and liberty.

Since the beginning of our country, especially over the past 100 years, we have been sacrificing our freedoms and liberties for “security.”  We have been bamboozled into believing that government is the answer to all our problems.  We have been told that the Constitution is irrelevant and that we know better than those that were willing to sacrifice their lives for the freedoms that we are able to enjoy.

Americans have allowed government to create a plethora of social programs that take from those who have earned it and give to those who have not.  Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare and Federal Student Aid, just to name a few, in the hopes of creating a society where all our worries and fears are dissolved.  As is evidenced by the inefficiency, fraud, waste and abuse in each of these programs, it doesn’t work.

Instead of helping society, these very programs have driven our nation into over $16,500,000,000,000 in debt, and as some argue, on the brink of bankruptcy.

And now we have the fear of terrorism hanging over our heads and the desire for more security waiting in the shadows, ready to pounce at the chance to destroy our freedoms and liberties.  Some may argue that we as a nation have not yet come to this point.  I would argue that we are way beyond it.

Americans such as me, watched in horror as the full force of government rained down onto Watertown, MA.  The city was on lockdown, police in military type vehicles roamed the streets and SWAT teams searched the homes of private citizens, forcing them out at gunpoint in search of the terrorist suspect.

In spite of the full force of government, what led to the suspect’s apprehension was a concerned citizen contacting authorities because something seemed out of the ordinary.  I believe that is a lesson in itself.  We can solve problems and overcome terror without infringing on the individual rights of American citizens.

Was the Martial Law type atmosphere worth it?  Was it worthwhile giving up our freedoms and liberties for “security”?  I say no and I believe it will become painfully obvious in the future.

Life does not guarantee us security.  We are only guaranteed freedom and liberty as long as we fight for these principles that are contained both in our state and federal constitutions.  Giving into the fear of terrorism  will ensure that terrorism wins and that ever increasing power to limit our rights is given to a government that our forefathers warned us about.

The question each and every one of us needs to ask ourselves is this.  “Do I value liberty and freedom more than I do a little security”?

I’ll leave you with a quote from Benjamin Franklin.  “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”

Understanding the Office of Attorney General: A Defense of Ken Cuccinelli

Since this is an open forum for the PWA YRs, I would like to defend Ken from the recent wave of criticism he has come under from his position on transportation.  I've been quite vocal in opposing the recent transportation tax hike.  However, it is important to not only educate people on the issues, but also understand how the political process works.

First thing to understand is the Washington Post.  The Washington Post has made a career out of trying to level Virginia Republicans.  George Allen is exhibition number one of this fact.  They intentionally write things in a way to make Republicans look bad.  In 2009, I was contacted multiple times by Washington Post reporters running stories to make Bob McDonnell look bad.  This is standard practice for the Washington Post.  Ken also has one of the most incredible records of any elected official in Virginia.  This doesn't mean he is above critique, however one should keep in mind both his record and the Post's record when criticizing him because of something they read in the Washington Post.  This is why when I read a previous Post article that I was concerned with about two months ago, I waited and asked him and ended up getting a solid response from him.  As Republicans it is important that we understand the Washington Post's tactics this election cycle.  The Post will be going after Ken all year long, and we need to be willing to defend Ken from the Post as opposed to falling for all their attacks on Ken.

It is also important to understand the role of the Attorney General.  Attorney Generals are much more like judges than legislators in terms of their ability to talk about policy issues.  See, the Attorney General's job is to advise the state on constitutional issue and defend state legislation if it is challenged in the courts.  As a result, he legally can not argue for the repeal of legislation he may have to defend in court this summer.  Anyone who has talked with Ken about various subjects over the last four years has run into topics where he has been limited about saying certain things because of his position as Attorney General.  Ken did all he could on the transportation bill.  When asked for an opinion, he released one that thew a monkey wrench in the process.

Ken also has been one of the most elected officials when it comes to taxes and spending.  Shortly after he was elected to the state senate, he lead the opposition to Gov. Mark Warner's tax referendum out of his house.  As a state senator he fought against anything that smelled of a tax.  He's opposed one of the biggest wastes of state funds in NoVa, the expansion of metro into Fairfax and Loudoun.  Honestly, anyone who has heard Ken talk about the recent tax increase quickly realizes it is not a bill he loves.

As conservatives we need to pressure our politicians to stay true, but we also need to understand how the process works.  Attacking one of our finest for what his opponents say about him, simply plays into the Democrats hands.  Like it or not, Ken is our nominee and we should work hard to support him.  Playing up fears that he isn't really a conservative will only reduce energy from the base, and hinder volunteer turnout.

As someone who has supported Ken since his 2007 reelection to the state senate, I am excited to see him as our nominee, and look forward to helping turnout the YRs to make Ken the next Governor.

Yard Signs Encroaching on Your Property Rights

The yearly and very American tradition of yard sales is under attack.  An article in the Potomac Local mentions a Virginia state law making it illegal to “place signs in the right-of-way of all public roads.  These include signs placed on traffic signs, staked in the medians, tacked on utility poles and nailed to fences.”  According to the Virginia code if you paint, print, place, put or affix a sign or advertisement within the limits of any highway you will be assessed a civil penalty of $100.  But that is not all.  The Commissioner of Highways may also charge you the cost of removing or obliterating the “public and private nuisance”.  It does not mention what the cost will be.

But all is not lost!  You can still place a sign for your yard sale on your own property!  You read that right, you can advertise the yard sale with a sign on your property because otherwise people passing by will not be able to determine you are having a yard sale.  But wait, Prince William County has enacted regulations on the size of sign you can place on your property.  No sign greater than two square feet shall be erected without a sign permit being issued by a zoning administrator.

According to the Prince William County municipal code, an individual requesting a sign permit must place a deposit or guarantee of at least $50.  They must provide a “scale drawing of the sign showing all dimensions, height, copy, colors, type of material, structural and architectural supports or backgrounds, method and hours of illumination, and a scaled location plan of the site.  In order to advertise your yard sale with a sign larger than two square feet you must call up the zoning administrator (hope he answers), send him all of the details of the sign and then have him perform a site visit to approve of the sign.

The most shocking part of this regulation, it is not even enforced.  Upon a phone conversation with the sign inspector, I was informed the regulation is only enforced if someone reports the violation (highly unlikely as most people probably do not even know about the regulation) and then the sign inspector will be dispatched to inspect the disturbance call.  Upon arrival the sign has already been removed and there is nothing for the inspector to do.

This leads me to ask whether this regulation is even necessary.  My view is the regulation is absolutely pointless, but also unjust.  The government is infringing on your property rights by telling you what you can put on it and even how you can put it up if they do approve of letting you put it on your property.  The government should step away and allow individuals to do what they want with the property they own.  Because after all if the government is allowed to tell you what to do with your property is it really yours?

A quick note from the PWAYR Chairman

Good morning,

One of the central planks I ran on to become Chairman of the PWAYR is to have an open forum of ideas, where people should not be afraid to say what they believe, even if they think their opinion may be unpopular or in the minority. As a holder of many opinions in the minority of the Republican Party, this is something that I feel passionately about.

I want to hear from all viewpoints, and I believe the Republican Party would benefit from the same policy. Because we accept, and in fact encourage, differing viewpoints, nothing that is posted on this blog or any other social media outlet represents the opinions of the Prince William Area Young Republicans as a group, including posts indicating support, opposition, endorsement, or denunciation of any candidate or politician.

I also ran on the idea that if you believe strongly enough in an idea, you should put your name next to it and stand to defend it. As such, every post represents the opinion of the person posting it, and that person alone. If you have any questions, please email me at stephen.spiker@gmail.com. If you want me to censor a controversial opinion, kindly shove off.

Cheers,

Stephen Spiker
Chairman, Prince William Area Young Republicans
stephen.spiker@gmail.com

The Need For Political Pressure From the Grass-Roots

By John Bonich

I don’t like flip-floppers. 

 
I hate the way they slip off your feet so easily and quite frankly, wearing open-toed shoes tends to leave me feeling naked and self-conscious.  Certainly not a pretty sight and definitely not a pretty thought.

 

Neither do I like politicians who say they stand for one thing then turn around and do the opposite.  Even if I disagree with their politics, if their actions stay consistent with their views I am far more willing to support a moderate in compromise than someone who proclaims they are fiscally conservative and then in actuality goes on to support unnecessary spending and tax increases.

I have defended Ken Cuccinelli against attacks for not being “moderate” enough when he stood his ground against the Prince William Chamber Of Commerce’s desire for more subsidies and I have defended him against attackers declaring him too socially conservative when he was simply just doing his job as Attorney General.  But I was quite dismayed when I read this recent Washington Post article.  Not necessarily the part about him recognizing the pragmatism of not being able to repeal McDonnell’s folly, (though I do believe a symbolic attempt a-la the House’s attempt to repeal Obamacare would make a strong statement and cement his place as a fiscal conservative), but this particular piece of information:

But in the same opinion, Cuccinelli provided a roadmap for resolving those constitutional issues by basing special taxes on not geography, which he said is not allowed, but on other criteria, such as population. Cuccinelli’s campaign has since taken credit for playing a role in saving the bill.

 

Basing them on population?  Really?  I had a hard time believing the staunch fiscal conservative AG would use such a flimsy loophole to help pass one of the highest tax increases in Virginia’s history.  Sure enough, on March 26^th, The Cuccinelli campaign released a press statement in which the Attorney General said he “was honored to work with members of the McDonnell Administration in making sure the legislation was able to move forward without the threat of any legal challenges.”

I believe the presumed Republican nominee for Governor owes his grass-roots supporter base a more elaborate explanation than “I remain committed to working to fix Virginia’s transportation problems, which will create jobs and ease the congestion across the Commonwealth.”  They have put in a lot of hard work to get him this nomination over the last couple years, and continue to work hard to put a fiscal conservative in the Governor’s mansion.  I was door knocking for the campaign last week and spoke to a gentleman who said he would be happy to volunteer for Cuccinelli, as he is pushing to lower taxes.  This was a huge issue for him, and he had no kind words for McDonnell or the transportation bill.  I can’t help but wonder if he would be willing to do so knowing that Ken Cuccinelli opposed the enormous tax hike in words but supported it and helped it become law in action.  That’s at least one man on the ground, perhaps even one voter, Cuccinelli could lose.

Republicans politicians have a tendency to move to the left when they get lambasted by the media and special interest groups for being “too conservative.”  It is the job of the Party and their grass-roots supporters to remind them it is we who will be putting in the leg work to get folks out to the poles, not a left-leaning media or special interest lobbies.

Many folks believe there is little difference between the Republicans and Democrats.  Our job as Young Republicans is to define the next generation of the Republican Party.   A big part of this is holding Republican candidates and politicians accountable for their actions, and making sure they do what they say and say what they do.

I hope more Republicans and fiscal conservatives put pressure on Ken about this.  Because based on his actions, the only pressure he’s feeling is that from the left and center-left to conform to their big-government, tax-and-spend dogma.    

Door-Knock for Ken Cuccinelli

We will be Door-Knocking this Thursday April 18th at 7 P.M. at the Cuccinelli Lake Ridge office at 4431 Prince William Parkway Woodbridge, VA 22192 also known as the Hut and the Prince William County GOP Headquarters. This is a great opportunity to get out into the community and help the next Governor of Virginia Ken Cuccinelli.

You can RSVP for the event on our facebook page located here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information please contact:


Robert Miller
540-419-2548
rjmils3@gmail.com

John Trent
703-309-6533
jftrent@gmail.com