Grass Roots Conservatism has Found its Wings

The first thing I would like to ask you in this post is that you read one of my old articles. Letters from MoveOn: Can You Spare a Couch, describes the marketing, networking, and training behind the Progressive movement's successful promotion of Obama during the Presidential campaign. One of the greatest successes of the Progressive Movement was the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States. As I described in many previous articles, Progressives are masters of manipulation and marketing. They feel a moral superiority that drives them to accomplish their goals by any means necessary. When I say we need to beat them at their own game, I do not mean to adopt their tactics. I mean that we need to learn to utilize all of our resources, incorporate the creative and marketing industries into our efforts and learn how to network.
Last week in DC, one of the things I heard most often from Conservatives was a regret at their own complacency. For years we've all been working hard to support our families and contribute to society. We've been minding our own business and tolerating the destruction of our culture, based on some misplaced concept that the Left has a monopoly on creativity. We've been burdened by an unearned guilt for having a better life than the 'less fortunate' among us and the sins of slavery and racism that many of us are too young to have been responsible for. And finally, we have misplaced our trust in the very people we have sent to Washington to represent our concerns.Conservatism reached an epoch on 9/12. We stood shoulder to shoulder with over a million of our fellow Conservatives and experienced a universal epiphany - we are not alone in our desire for a better America, nor are we an angry minority. We are concerned, hard working, patriotic individuals with a common cause. We have united in the defense of America as a Constitutional Republic, with a representational government that is subject to specific limitations and we have the power to change that government if it becomes bloated and over-reaching.
The reason I directed you to the article above, was to point out to you that Conservatives are finally learning to be activists. We are learning to play the game, and it is the only way we will have a chance. When I first heard about the 9/12 March, I was disappointed because I knew I could not afford to go. Two weeks before the event, I got an email from a fan of my art inviting me to go; I need only pay for my food. It turns out, there was a woman in Maryland with a vacant rental property that she was offering up as lodging for the event. The only requirement for use of the space was to have posters for the 9/12 March. I spent a frantic week making posters, which I signed and numbered to hand out at the rallies, and packing camping gear, preparing my family for my absence, etc.
The drive up from Georgia was beautiful, and I had many interesting conversations with Stan, who drove us up in his car. When we arrived at Karen's house, she was there with several friends and tons of food. The kitchen was charged with a level of excitement and camaraderie that I have not experienced in a long time. We all became good friends over the course of the weekend and I hope to see them all again. On Friday, 9/11, Stan and I played tourist around DC while the rest of our group shuffled between appointments with their Congressmen. I took loads of pictures and notes to share with you here as I develop ideas for larger projects. We were two of hundreds of people milling about the streets of the Capitol, excited to be part of an active effort, reaching out to one another and sharing stories. I met many wonderful people and it was one of the most encouraging and inspiring experiences I have ever had. We are learning to reach out to one another. To trust each other and to stand strong in the conviction that we are right.
There has been very little honest coverage of the event from any of the MSM since I returned, a reality I was already prepared for before I left. I don't need the external validation of a disdainful media or a corrupt government to know that my actions make a difference. I am not bothered by the lack of coverage or the disparaging descriptions of the event. I was there. I know what happened. I know why it happened, and I know in my heart that Conservative activism has just taken flight. I am proud of my fellow Americans, regardless of where they stand on this issue, for their determination to speak out and be heard. Until we engage in open debate with one another, face to face, we will not solve the problems we face as a nation. We must remove the power of government to control and destroy our lives, the influence of the media over our thoughts, and engage one another in an effort to solve our own problems. A revolutionary moment is upon us, and we must not allow it to go to waste.

This article is cross-posted at Liberatchik

I am Sick to Death of the HEalth Care Debate

I keep putting off this article, and finding it more and more necessary to write. There is so much information and anger out there on this subject, that I am absolutely exhausted. (A 'short' list of articles to follow) I have always distrusted the government, and it often earns me rolling of eyes and scoffing from others. So be it. And, because I am fed up, let me just say: "I told you so". If you can't see the current behavior coming out of Washington as proof of big government, you never will.

We live in America, yet assembly is considered terrorism. We live in America, yet speech is considered evil. We live in America, where our Representatives insult and ignore us. We live in America, where we are on the verge of tyranny. Go ahead, roll your eyes. But don't look to me for sympathy when your nanny puts you over her collective knee and spanks you for getting out of line. Your day will come, don't doubt it for a minute.

Now that I've gotten my rant out, let me get on to a more reasoned presentation. We currently have a President who would rather beat us to death with Rules for Radicals, than allow dissent. Apparently he is the ultimate authority on everything, even when he 'doesn't have all of the information'. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what he knows, because he just wants to be in charge. Repeat after the teleprompter: "The State knows what is best for me". He is backed by a majority in Congress who have no respect for the people they represent. They gloat about their power and dismiss their constituents with accusations and insults. They have grown confident in their ability to wield their power unchecked. All of them are followed and propped up by a lazy and unwitting or avaricious vocal minority who would sell their souls for a 'free' ride at the expense of the rest of us. The greatest mistake we have made is to be decent, hard-working people who respect the opinions of others.

The media plays along by willfully misrepresenting the facts to curry favor and promote an agenda. We see newscasts on major networks editing footage to portray angry black men as white racists. I guess the journalistic standards went out the window with limited government. All of this, while ignoring the deceit and hypocrisy of the President. The level of anger, class and racial tensions being promoted recently is creating damage that will take years to repair. Americans are being pitted against one another on manufactured grounds and escalated fears that are resulting in resentment and anger toward one another rather than those who are responsible.

This article will be cross-posted at my Modern Conservative.

The promised reading material:

News:

Universal HealthCare and the Waistline Police, The GOP SHould Fight HEalthCare Rationing, Pay to Play Politics, The SEIU, and Obamacare, HealthCare is Not a Right, Stimulus Bill Wins Final Approval from Senate, Grandma's Run, Grand Inquisitor Endorses Obama Health Plan,HealthCare Overhaul Threatens States, Government Run HEalthcare Plan Worse Than Anyone Imagined, Democrats Grow Wary as Health Bill Advances, Obama Tries to Pitch HealthCare on Conasumer Level, Democrats May Limit Tax Increase for Health Plan, Who Will Tell Michael J. Fox He Needs to Die, You Are Terrifying Us, Obama May Drop Government Run Health Plan,Big Government, Big Mistake, Obama's HealthCare Horror, Obama's Orwellian Advisor...

Papers:

Principles for Allocations of Scarce Medical Interventions

Outting the Progressive Agenda

I decided to shed a little light on something I learned about recently. It's called Camp MoveOn. Here is a quick synopsis for those of you who don't have time to follow the link to Liberatchik.

This series in general (Letters from MoveON.), and this post specifically, were inspired by an e-mail I received recently from MoveOn.org. In an effort to make Conservatives aware of the demons we face in the battle for America and our culture, I am writing articles based on these e-mails. Each one will include some portion of the email, the date I received it, and my concerns and opinions as a result of the message being sent.

This article is addressing an upcoming event in the following cities: Atlanta, Philadelphia and Denver. It is being called Camp MoveOn, and is asking us to "host a member who is coming (to our city) for exciting grassroots leadership training". I couldn't possibly make up this kind of thing, so I will torture you with some more excerpts from the email before launching into my own tirade on the subject.

"...We're working with the same folks behind 'Camp Obama', one of the secrets behind the Obama campaign's effective organizing. ..."

On the surface, all of this seems inoffensive and well within the realm of civil organization. When you scratch the surface, and put it in context with the other emails I am receiving, it seems much less pleasant. We all know, by the way, that George Soros is a huge contributor to MoveOn, and he has made statements to the effect that he will do everything in his power to ruin the US. Last, allow me to point out that the Tea Party participants are being ridiculed and berated for openly protesting government waste, while these people are using an underground movement to approach and influence people in their homes. If a Conservative or Libertarian group were behind this, I wouldn't have had the honor of spilling the beans.

Breaking Down My Philosophy, Installment #1

Liberty is not a Utopian Fantasy

This is a new article for the Liberatchik project. There will be several entries on the subject as the necessity for, and justice of, Liberty over statism will require a lengthy argument. Many view Liberty as a burden and prefer security, regardless of limitations. I will endeavor to explain why I prefer to take on that responsibility.

A little constructive criticism for President Obama

One day I will find the time to get my new computer organized. It seemed such a simple thing. You buy a computer, you set it up and transfer files, then you get to work. It's more efficient and you find yourself enjoying sitting down to work. If you're like me that's true. Then you discover how disorganized you were for lack of time on the old machine. Duplicate files, email addresses from god knows who, in no particular order and files you haven't opened in years, not to mention the inability to find things in all the clutter. And to think I was under the impression I'm organized. I guess I should be glad I'm busy enough for it to be a problem.
So, on to the point of this post. I found my tax day letter to Obama, so as promised, I am posting it. A couple of weeks ago, I posted a similar letter to my Congressmen. Hopefully, someone is listening.

President Obama,

I am writing you this letter in the hope that you will give me a few minutes of your time to understand my point of view. When you ran for President, you promised hope and change. You said that you wanted to know what each and every American had to say about the state of our country and our expectations of our government. That is the point of my letter, and I hope you will accept it in the spirit in which it is written.
I know you must be proud, after all, you have made history. I congratulate you on your marketing team and your ability to convince the American people that you will do the job well. Unfortunately, you are proving yourself to be just another status quo politician. You talk about the failed policies of the Bush administration, while escalating the massive spending and regulation that defined your predecessor.
Because I know you are a busy man, I will not burden you with criticism and diatribe. I will simply give you some suggestions to do with as you will.

1. I suggest you read Atlas Shrugged. I am sure you're sick of hearing about it, so in the interest of brevity, I am including copies of the more important pages from my own edition of the book. Ms. Rand left Communist Russia because of the tyranny and poverty imposed on the people by her government. She saw first-hand what an over-bearing government does to its people.

2. Please take the time to read some history. This will back up the points made in Ms. Rand's book. Collectivism does not work, and you cannot make it work. It sounds great as a sound bite to say you want to 'spread the wealth around', but what gives you that right? Are you going to spread your own wealth around in the interest of fairness? I find it very disconcerting that my President is willing to hurt the economy in the name of fairness. I'm quoting you from the campaign, by the way.

3. Making everyone equal only brings people down. Who do you expect to keep the country going when we are all equally poor? You can print money all day, but we all know that makes things worse. The only way government has to generate income is through taxes. You can talk about the evil rich all day, but it is everyone who will bear the burden of paying for the bailouts that just passed. And you continue to call for more.

America is a great country, and I would like it to stay that way. You were elected to do a job, not enforce your personal ideology. I hope you will take a moment to evaluate your actions and the consequences they have for the rest of us. I would also like to suggest that you stop fear mongering every time you speak. Please consider putting forth some real solutions that will instill the American people and the world with the confidence we need to move forward in a positive direction.
My suggestion to you is that we need less government, not more. Less regulation, not more. America was founded on the principles of individual liberty and freedom. It is time to reacquaint ourselves with the concept. The Fair Tax would be a good place to start. My second suggestion stems from another of your campaign promises: eliminate all inefficient and unnecessary government programs and departments.
Thank you for your time and consideration, Mr. Obama. I hope that you will not simply disregard my letter because you don't like what I have to say. Whether you agree with me or not, I have a right to my opinion. I respect you as the President of the United States, for better or worse. I hope you will extend me the same respect as a citizen under your governance. We both have a huge responsibility as Americans. I hope you prove yourself worthy of that distinction.
Sincerely,
Frances
frances@machinepolitick.com
www.machinepolitick.com

I'm going to start passing on some quotes

I'm not sure how this will go, but the goal is to put something up every day. When I have time, I will also post a comment or information on the historic significance of the quote in question. Since this is the first installment, I will provide two related quotes. Both were sent to me in emails from Downsizer DC.

"A socialist is somebody who doesn't have anything, and is ready to divide it up equally among everybody." George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish comic dramatist
"Being the state means never having to say you're sorry." -- D.A. Ridgely (Source: Positive Liberty blog, March 23, 2009)

Both of these quotes are exceedingly relevant to the current situation in America. The general populace has been convinced that the government is the source and creator of all wealth and security. When something goes wrong, ironically, it is blamed on the evil rich. The government is expected to step in again, and do something to correct problems that were created by the government and blamed on the private sector. It sounds so absurd, I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it happening every day. I'm beginning to be afraid to listen to the news any more.
The quote by Shaw is particularly interesting in the fact that I see it's application everywhere. Our President talks of wealth redistribution knowing that the only outcome will be to bring the people with money down to the level of those with none. That may sound good on the surface, but in reality it is evil and detrimental to all involved.
First, the majority of rich people got that way through hard work. If they inherited the money, it was because someone who cared about them worked hard. With the rare exception, rich people don't get that way by taking advantage of the rest of us. Someone told me recently that ,"You don't dictate policy on extreme cases". Too bad our government hasn't heard that one.
Second, where do you think your job came from? Did it magically appear by the grace of government, or did someone create it for you through their own hard work? If you take everything they have and divide it up in the name of fairness, will you have a job left to go to? If you work for yourself, do you think you owe a job to someone who is unemployeed because they 'need' it?
Third, most poor people remain poor through bad decisions and lack of initiative. If you can't make it in America, you're doing something wrong.
Forth, as the quote implies, socialists are typically looking out for themselves. If they want wealth redistribution, it is to get more money without earning it. If they already have money, they are looking for power. If Obama and Congress were really concerned about helping the 'poor', they would redistribute some of their own wealth. I'd like to see the hypocrites lead by example for once. As with everything else a politician promises, 'charity' comes out of our pockets, not their own.
As for charity, it can't come from government. The government has no source of income other than taxes. Confiscatory redistribution is not charity. You have to own the money and give it willingly to call it charity. I also think the person receiving help should look their benefactor in the eye and be grateful for their charity. The anonymity of government handouts leads to people thinking someone owes them something.
The Ridgely quote is a good summary of my argument. If you don't have to apologize for your actions or take responsibility, you are free to do as you please. Ironically, Liberals bemoan the dispassion and cruelty of Capitalism. However, the real cruelty is in punishing success, then blaming the successful for your own inadequacies.
I'll take freedom over comfort and security any day. Nothing is free. The government, like the mob and the unions, expect something in return for 'helping' you. Are you willing to hack off your pound of flesh when the time comes? Should you have to?

Destroying the Economy to promote Socialism

I recently received an email with a link that I think everyone should look at. I know the people who support Obama like to call people like me conspiracy theorists, and sweep us under the carpet. It is little consolation that they will have no one to thank but themselves when we are all in an equal state of misery.
Have you noticed how quickly the government and entitlements have grown since January 20th? Rather than waste time with a rant, I will direct you to the information so you can judge for yourself.

Barack Obama is Destroying Our Economy on Purpose. Description: A pair of radical Columbia University professors by the name of Richard Andrew Cloward and Frances Fox Piven wrote an article in the radical magazine known as The Nation. The article was published on May 2, 1966 and laid out what is now known as the "Cloward-Piven Strategy".

The plan calls for the destruction of capitalism in America by swelling the welfare rolls to the point of collapsing our economy and then implementing socialism by nationalizing many private institutions. Cloward and Piven studied Saul Alinsky just like Hillary Clinton and President Obama. Listen as Brannon and his guest James Simpson explain how Cloward and Piven inspired the creation of ACORN that Obama worked for as a community organizer.

This interview must be e-mailed all over the country. Americans must awaken and understand the goal of these radicals and what is to come if they succeed. Time is of the essence. Obama is not over his head as some have claimed; he knows exactly what he is doing. Understand the Cloward-Piven Strategy, the rules of Saul Alinsky and their Cultural Marxist world view and you will understand that what is occurring is not by mistake.

Google Cloward- Piven, below and you will see clearly what the strategy of the left really intends for this country.

THE SITE http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6967

My first protest!

These pictures are all from the Atlanta Tea Party Protest. The little girl's sign read:
Don't Mortgage My Future

By Frances at Machine Politick

I attended the Tea Party protest at the Atlanta Capitol building yesterday. Because this was my first protest, it was very exciting to be there. Hopefully it is the beginning of a much larger movement to restore our country to the Constitutional Republic it was meant to be.

First, let me say how impressed I was by the turnout. It was cold and rainy all day yesterday. When I left home, I was afraid there would not be a significant turnout because of the weather. Boy, was I wrong, and happily so. In the spirit of the original Tea Party in Boston ,people from Atlanta showed up with their tea bags and their signs to protest the recent escalation of government spending that can only lead to higher taxes. I spent all day on Thursday making my sign and getting ready for the protest. When I got into downtown Atlanta, and drove past the Capitol building, the steps were packed. I couldn't say how many people, but it was impressive, given the weather. A gentleman was nice enough to share his umbrella with me on the way over from the parking garage, and everyone seemed in high spirits when I got there. Passers by were honking and waving, possibly in response to some of the protestors' signs. The girl next to me had a sign that read: Honk if you're paying my mortgage. And, honk they did. One of my favorite signs from the rally was a large banner that read: Read Atlas Shrugged before it happens. I couldn't have said it better. I hope to post some of my pictures later today on my blog.

Several Atlanta officials spoke, as well as the organizer of the protest and a few people from the crowd. Many of the participants had video cameras and posted live video to YouTube. I will provide the links at the bottom of the article. Chip Rogers gave a good speech. Some of his points had great impact; encouraging the crowd to raise their voices and their signs. He said, "We owe our Founding Fathers for their sacrifices to build this country, ...It's time to kick out the Socialists in our government, ...The time to stand by and be nice is over, ... and Let's stand up for our Freedom!"

John Oxendine was there as well, and got the crowd motivated with his comments: "This economy was caused by government intervention in the private sector...This bailout teaches irresponsibility... This is a revolution, we are going to take back control..." I was not close to the speakers, and it was too wet for a notepad, but you get the idea. I was closer to the street most of the protest, and was happy to see how well the people driving by were reacting to the protest. In fact, people were honking and waving at me after the rally as I made my way back to the car, soaking wet in a coat that probably weighed as much as I do. I think if it had been held on an evening or weekend, there would have been a much larger turnout. Many people who were discussing the event during the planning stages were unable to attend because of work.

I was very impressed by the level of organization and the number of people involved. Many of the people who were there had only just gotten word of the protest and quickly made signs to join in. I am glad to see that conservatives are learning to network and use the internet to organize events. In the past, we have always been afraid to get in other peoples' business or expose ourselves publicly for political issues. Yesterday, I saw many people who were fed up and fired up. I hope this will lead to future events and spark a movement to have our voices heard. Whether we are the majority or minority, our rights remain the same and we have to stand up for them. Standing quietly by in fear of offending other people will only lead to oppression of our principles and freedom. In a few short weeks, Obama and Congress have shown a willingness and ability to push their agenda with no regard for its effect on the American people or the economy. We must fight back before it is too late.

If we are to save our country and preserve our freedoms, we must return to the principles on which it was built. My sign for the rally read: Give me Liberty or Give me Death, Restore America to a Constitutional Republic. We have to scale back the government to its Constitutionally mandated powers and function. Socialism does not and cannot work. History has proven, the only way to achieve collectivism is through force and tyranny. The productive must be punished in the name of the 'common good'. There is no longer any incentive to be productive, and everyone suffers as a result. Socialism does not raise up the meek and the downtrodden. It brings down the successful members of society who produce the wealth and provide the jobs and services that we all need. People need to learn personal responsibility and the fact that our actions have consequences. If the government steps in and rewards failure, there is no reason to make the right decision.

My favorite sign from the protest was dripping and tattered by the time I saw it, but I was able to get a picture. There was a family not far from me, and one of their little girls had a sign that was dragging on the ground. It read: Don't mortgage my future. As the mother of a five year old boy, that says it all for me. I don't want my child growing up in the kind of country that America is becoming. For that reason, this was the first of many protests to come for me.

Pictures from Dennis in Atlanta

Pictures and News from James Arone in LA

Other sources of information on the Atlanta and National Rallies include: The AJC, The LA Times, Jacksonville, Santelli, and YouTube, as well as a long list on Google.

I have cross posted this article at Modern Conservative

Spread the word, and spill some tea!

Let's Have a Tea Party!
This is a link to a nationwide rally to protest the recent actions of Congress and the new administration. It is long overdue. I won't get into a rant on why this should have happened while Bush was in office. As they say, better late than never!
I'm actually impressed. I didn't expect the Conservatives to get so worked up, so early in the game. I can't help but ask if it's only because the Republicans are in the minority, to the point where they have no say any more. Ooops, I said I wouldn't rant.
Needless to say. I'm excited. It's about time people woke up and started to protest the actions of our overbearing government. I'm interested to see what effect this will have on Washington. It's looking like an interesting 4 years.

My Latest on Modern Conservative

Throwing Pearls Before Swine
I decided to revisit an old drawing about the spending habits of Congress. I'll leave the lengthy commentary on the stimulus bill to more eloquent writers. The imagery and title say it all.

A friend asks: What's up with the 2 Party system?

The following is an e-mail exchange I had with a friend before the election. I decided to post it because it is highly relevant to our ongoing problems in Washington. Furthermore, our esteemed candidate for 'change', who is pulling half his cabinet from the Clinton Administration, is shaping up to be more of the same old problems. No suprise there. I'm sorry to say I told you so, but I knew this guy was going to win and continue the Bush/Clinton oligarchy on a larger scale. It's going to be an interesting 4 years.
Question: I was curious to get your thoughts on how America has ended up with a two party political system. I have a few ideas and they're all quite discouraging. I get the sense from your writing that neither of the two present front runners in our presidential election do a lot to excite you and there are certainly alternatives but most voters have this sense that, if they were to vote for one of them, they would be "wasting" their vote (a sentiment I find abhorrent). One possible reason is the amount of money spent on a political campaign has created a situation where the candidate must be backed by a corporation (RNC or DNC). The other possibility is a bit more philosophical but perhaps more plausible. Our culture, for whatever reasons, has come to see issues as strictly right or wrong. I notice that a great many peoples' political views are often not informed by the candidates' platform but by a few key issues that come to serve as pivotal for their vote. Once they have made up their mind on their candidate it means that the other candidates are clearly wrong. This mentality also seems to come up in foreign policy and even religion. It wont suffice that someone or some country may have differing world views. More and more, if someone has a differing view, there is no real debate or exchange, they are simply labeled as wrong and all further decisions are based on that premise. I'm just curious as to your thoughts on this and if you are seeing the same thing I am.
My Answer: I’m happy to answer your questions, please forgive me if I rant. It’s hard to get into politics and resist the urge to be a blowhard. I don’t presume to know everything, or intend to change anyone’s mind. I have opinions, and I’ve found that people like to hear what I think, so here goes.
I had no intention of voting this year until Bob Barr entered the race on the Libertarian ticket. I am sick of voting to keep someone out of office because there is no candidate worthy of my support. This year is different. The only point I disagree on with Barr is going to Iraq, and I will concede that he knows things I do not. I do agree that it is time to pull out and let them take responsibility for their own country.
I genuinely believe that Barr has changed his mind on the issues that he once supported. I support him because he stands for limited government and individual responsibility. For the first time, I have given money and time to a campaign because I support Barr on principle.
The office of President is not a popularity contest. McBama and their sidekicks do not have a right to my vote by virtue of being insiders. You are right when you say the major parties are like corporations, in the sense that they are huge money machines. The platforms of McCain and Obama are not significantly different on policy, only on matters of degree. It doesn’t matter who gets the pork in an income redistribution scheme. The damage is the same either way. They are both big government, big regulation, and scaremongering good old boys. No one has a preordained right to my vote.
As to morality, it depends on who you talk to. I spend entirely too much time with Liberals who think everything is subjective. And, at the same time, they are extremely intolerant. Maybe that proves my point. I tend to get labeled a Nazi for having the nerve to be an artist who isn’t Liberal. Although I would argue that some things are clearly right and others wrong(take theft and murder as examples), I will say that people have a tendency to extremism. This is not a specifically Christian or American mindset, but a human one.

On a seperate note, I feel the need to bring up the fact that the major party candidates are funded by federal money. Can anyone explain to me why my taxes should pay for political campaigns? In fact, one of the candidates this year helped pass legislation on how much I can contribute as an individual. Can you explain the logic behind that? As if that isn't bad enough, they (Republicans and Democrats) work together to keep third party candidates off the ballot and out of the debates. Does anyone else smell the poop? It's ridiculous, and people need to get off their butts and start fighting back. Start writing letters, become politically active, make phone calls, and do what it takes to get these guys in line. If they don't listen, vote for someone else. Voting by party or issues are what got us in this mess. Pay attention to what your Representatives are doing and let them know what you think.

Answering Republicans' Questions

I recently filled out a Republican survey; not because I have any intention of voting Republican in most cases, but because I think they need to know where they are going wrong. Until the Libertarian Party goes mainstream, the Republicans are often the only choice I have.The following questions and answers should help you Republicans out there if you expect to save your party.

How Do You Feel About the Election of Barack Obama as President?
The only reason I'm not terrified is that I refuse to fear my government. If we are going to have a little experiment in socialism to satisfy the masses, let’s get it over with. The faster we hit bottom, the faster the productive people can get back to the business of fixing things.
This is not an exclusively Liberal issue by the way. The Republicans, the Bush administration, and John McCain have as much responsibility for the current situation as the Democrats.

Why Do You Think Obama Won?
Although the most often given reason was Obama's ability to inspire people, I think all of the factors listed had an equal role in his election. (If I remember correctly, the reasons given were 1.A need for change, 2.Dissatisfaction with Bush, 3. The economy)

Democrats expanded their majorities in the House and Senate - although not as much as was projected. Will Congress be more effective or less effective at getting things done (whether you agree with their plans or not)?
I am afraid they will get more done because they now feel justified in their philosophy. They are on a power trip, and they feel like they are making history.

How do you feel about the future of our country over the next four years?
We have been on the path to socialism for some time now. Obama and the Democrats are more than happy to force their philosophy down our throats. Although socialism has historically been a failure, Obama does not care because he intends to create fairness and equality rather than concern himself with the economic results.
The Republican party has shown itself to be more than happy to comply in the name of bi-partisanship and personal gain. The voice of the American people has been ignored, our civil liberties have been trampled, and freedom is becoming an antiquated concept, just like the Constitution.
I suggest a serious re-evaluation of the Republican party's purpose and message, starting with McCain's campaign policy. The differences from Obama's platform are insignificant, as they will yield the same results on a slower timeline. You cannot fight big government on a platform of slightly less government.
Although I recognize that there are exceptions within the party, I do not vote blindly for candidates who call themselves Republicans. I vote on record and policy. Right now, that leads me more to the Libertarian Party than the Republican. I will no longer vote for candidates who do not represent limited government and personal freedom just because they are 'less evil' than their rivals. If that means a Democrat majority, so be it.
The Constitution clearly outlines the limitations placed on government for a reason. We are seeing the results of ignoring those limitations.

Artist Statement

My work is about a variety of people and subjects that affect our lives. It is meant to engage the viewer and make them think about the world in which we live. These paintings are not being completed in an order that is relative to one another. Sometimes I just get really angry about some thing or a person or event becomes a big news story and I get inspired to work on that subject. My work is mostly meant to point out the role we allow others to play in our lives. I am most interested in the role lobbyists, unions, activists, media and celebrities play in controlling or influencing our lives through our government and their views. And, of course, there are the politicians and judges who have the most direct control over our lives.
My work is also a response to the overwhelming tendency of the art community to be a bunch of raging Liberals. There seems to be very little political art dedicated to any other point of view. I hope that one day there will be a greater variety of opinion in the art community. I would also like to see our government break out of the nearly rigid two-party system we currently have. Our government has begun to stagnate, and the politicians, regardless of party, are predominantly concerned with pandering to their constituents and making a buck, rather than doing the job they are elected to do. In the future, I have plans to do some work highlighting people I think have had a positive impact on history as well as people I admire or consider to be heroes.
My work is my personal outlet for my political opinions. I have found that it is not a constructive use of my time to discuss politics with most people and only causes stress to those involved. I am not out to change anyone else's point of view. I believe in the strength and beauty of the human spirit and in an individual's ability to govern their own life. Life and freedom are not given to us by our government. We are born with them and are responsible for maintaining them. We are responsible for our own health, morality and support. We need to realize that the decisions we make affect our lives and are our own responsibility. It is not the government's place to care for us or help us when we make the wrong decisions and harm ourselves. Nor does the government have the right to punish us for doing better than those around us and redistribute our wealth or property for the "public good".
It is the government's job to perform the duties outlined in the Constitution: provide for the national defense, maintain the courts defend the rule of law, and coin money. Everything else should be left up to private enterprise. The government should not be our nanny, or allow special interests to influence the actions of our Representatives. And, God forbid, world opinion should ever be taken into consideration. There are too many people who consider themselves to be morally or intellectually superior to the "masses". Whether or not that is reality is debatable, but they don't have the right to interfere with anyone's life but their own. I hope my work will make you more aware of these issues and influence you to do what you can to change the system.
E-Mail: frances@machinepolitick.com WEB SITE: www.machinepolitick.com

My thoughts on compassionate conservatism

I am currently working on a painting that is meant to address the most disturbing aspect of George Bush’s terms as President. As the title suggests, I feel that Compassionate Conservatism is the worst legacy Bush could have bestowed upon the people of the United States. Above all else, it is the one thing about his Presidency that has had the most affect on the most people. As a matter of fact, it is the root of all the problems in his administration. It is the compulsion that drives him to nation building in Iraq, financial bailouts, and bad economic policy at home, and environmental legislation that affects the livelihoods of many Americans.
Compassionate Conservatism, with the support of the Democratic majority in Congress have worked together to the massive increase in national debt, a huge deficit, and increased government intervention in people's lives. The spending programs alone are creating a burden that the taxpayers of today and future generations will struggle to pay.
As a result of this movement within the Republican Party toward compassion and away from Constitutional principles, we are now faced with one major party in this country that does everything in its power to keep anyone else from challenging their power. Because most voters make their electoral decisions based on Party affiliation, rather than principle, we are faced with a huge problem. The Republicans and Democrats are now fighting to spend more money on their respective constituents, rather than performing the job laid out in the Constitution.
People say W is the worst President in history. Although I find the assertion excessive, I can concede that it has some merit. My main argument is that Congress has had as much to do with the creation of the mess we are in as Bush has. They pass the Bills and write the legislation, therefore, they share the guilt. Bush’s guilt lies in his inability to stand up to his campaign promises and use his power of veto. He let the American people down by running on a campaign of reform and compromising on everything he proposed as well as signing on to huge pork and entitlement programs.
The only redeeming quality of his administration is the prevention of further terrorist attacks since 9/11. Unfortunately, that accomplishment is sullied by the abuse of civil liberties perpetrated in the Patriot Act as well as the enormous debt being incurred in Iraq. Although I supported the war, I think it is time to let the Iraqi people take responsibility for their own country and remove another source of debt from the American taxpayers.
It is not our government’s job to take care of us, protect us from ourselves, or dictate morality to us when no one else is harmed by our actions. Our government should stop trying to police the world, and let the American people choose who and how much they help with foreign aid on a personal level. There is no justification for the government dictate charity at the point of a gun.
For more information on these topics and some politically relevant art, check out http://www.machinepolitick.com/ There's new work going up all the time, and it's all about increased freedom and limited government.