By Alan CarubaPaul Weyrich died early Thursday morning. I knew the man only through his writings as a columnist and I was always a bit envious of how prescient he was.
Two months before the November election he wrote that, “the loser might very well be the lucky one.” I suspect John McCain might agree as he and the rest of us gaze at the chasm of indebtedness into which the alleged “leaders” of our nation have plunged us and future generations.
Back in September, Weyrich was warning that, “The problems include a very weak American dollar; a trade deficit that will come to roughly $700 billion at year-end” along with “a ballooning Federal budget that has gone from $2.1 trillion to $3.6 trillion in just eight years—a whopping growth of 76%; a national debt of $9.6 trillion, closing fast on $10 trillion with a debt ceiling placed at $10.6 trillion and which cost the American taxpayer $230 billion in interest alone last year.”
Weyrich was a Conservative with a capital “C” in a nation whose best years occurred in the 1980s when another Conservative, Ronald Reagan, was in the White House. After that, it has been downhill on a toboggan to the poorhouse. Sadly, the Republicans who took control of Congress in 1994 and began so splendidly fell prey to whatever it is about Washington, D.C., that causes people to lose their minds.
The George W. Bush legacy will ultimately be less about 9/11 and more about the most profligate spending spree in the history of the nation.
Weyrich began his political life as a volunteer for Barry Goldwater’s 1964 presidential campaign and, for more than four decades, he rose to become a leader in the conservative movement as chairman of the Free Congress Foundation and as the first president of the Heritage Foundation.
Weyrich stayed true to his conservative principles and was always ready to champion them. That’s why he could write that “successful administrations over the past forty years all bear a share of the responsibility” for the present financial crisis.
“There is no free ride in this world,” wrote Weyrich. “And government at all levels, not only in Washington, has failed to understand this.” Who failed us? WE failed us because ultimately the Constitution identifies us, the People, as responsible for those whom we select and the kind of governance we accept.
Now, like an honored warrior, it is time to put him on his shield and consign him to the God in whom he believed and to history which he distinguished with his life.
You know, I do share some of the responsibility for what is happening to us, but in my own defense, I must say this ...
ReplyDeleteI can't remember a single election in my life time, with perhaps, the exception of the year Ross Perot ran, where I was able to cast my vote for a candidate that I didn't consider the "lesser of evils". I'm not sure I understand exactly where things went wrong, but it's hard to vote for the "non-socialist" when everyone on the ballot is either a socialist or a criminal!
Not since Reagan has this nation had a genuine conservative on the ticket, so you are right to say we really have not had a choice.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough, the year Reagan was elected, I was a little wet behind the ears, still in that blissful liberal state of youth. The media had thoroughly convinced me that an actor had no business running our country, so I voted for who I thought was the lesser of two evils. It wasn't until many years later that I realized what a great man Reagan really was. I can still remember how artfully he used to evicerate those hostile news correspondents, with thay wry smile that said it all .... "you're an idiot, I'm the President.... and I'm doing things my way", and who can forget what he did to end the cold war.
ReplyDeleteWe so desperately need a president like that again. Someone who understands what America is SUPPOSED to be, and isn't afraid to do whatever it takes to acheive it, witout regard for political repercussions or the cries of special interest groups. I often wonder if I'll be able to spot another individual like that when and if he or she comes along ...
I know one thing though ... it isn't Obama. He hasn't even been inaugurated yet, and already we're hearing about the graft and corruption among his closest associates, and our enemies are lining up to "test" us. It's going to be a long four years ...
If it's even allowed to begin Guy. There has started a small landslide of Bloggers 'informing' the public on BHO's background & eligibility. Both the Congress & Senate are getting questions/requests about BHO's basic eligibility!
ReplyDeleteThe Press & MSM is just now starting to get informed on the utter lacking of background and the titanic amount of 'apparent' corruption that has existed in Chicago.
Joe Scarborough literally RAGED at his fellow media members during the Dec. 16th. Repeatingly asked "Why didn't we already KNOW this background of corruption??".
@Alan it's always a sad day when someone who fought the "good fight" leaves the battlefield...
Weyrich's loss was the most normal thing in the world. We all die. What counts is how we live our lives and he lived his with passion and integrity. In short, he made a difference.
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