February 22, 1732

Nearly 280 years ago, George Washington, the Father of our country was born. He lived to the age of 67, passing away December 14, 1799.

This man was a man of character and responsibility; he was honest, humble and steadfast. He suffered with the Continental army through deprivation and even used some of his personal funds to pay the enlisted men.

It has been said that George Washington was a Deist. Let’s define that:

Deism-noun

1. belief in the existence of a god on the evidence of reason and nature only, with rejection of supernatural revelation ( distinguished from theism).

2. belief in a God who created the world but has since remained indifferent to it.

I want to let President Washington himself tell us what he believes, in his own words.

"It will ever be the first wish of my heart to aid your pious endeavors to inculcate a due sense of the dependence we ought to place in that all-wise and powerful Being on whom alone our success depends."

"We have...abundant reason to thank Providence for its many favorable interpositions in our behalf. It has at times been my only dependence, for all other resources seemed to have failed us."

"The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than in infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations."

"When I contemplate the interposition of Providence, as it was manifested in guiding us through the revolution, in preparing us for the reception of a general government, and in conciliating the good will of the people of America toward one another after its adoption, I feel myself...almost overwhelmed with a sense of the divine munificence."

"No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men, more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency."

"I am sure there never was a people who had more reason to acknowledge a divine interposition in their affairs than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency which was so often manifested during our revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them."

“If such talents as I possess have been called into action by great events, and those events have terminated happily for our country, the glory should be ascribed to the manifest interposition of an overruling Providence.”

“I was but the humble agent of favoring Heaven, whose benign interference was so often manifested in our behalf, and to whom the praise of victory alone is due.”

Now, do those sound like the words of someone who believes that God created everything and moved on? It certainly doesn't to me.

George Washington was a man of God and we sorely need another one today.

Happy Birthday Mr. President!

Muddy Water

On my grandparent's farm, we had a pond. Grandpa dug it with the "CAT", ran pipe from the spring, and we had a swimming hole; extremely appreciated on hot summer days.
If you've ever swum in a "homemade" pond, you know what happens when you get in. The soft mud on the bottom begins to cloud the water; happy feet churning up the silt until there is zero visibility underwater; muddy water.

How, you wonder, does this relate to politics?

Well, think of it this way; candidate A has a plan; candidate B also has a plan; it’s the right plan, but will cause some short term pain. Candidate A is more popular, because he has the more popular message which does not involve any pain; his party is in power. Candidate B miraculously gets elected, agreeing to work in a ‘non partisan fashion’.

Here is where the damage occurs; the clear message has been obstructed.
No longer is candidate B giving us a message that is clearly better for American’s; he’s giving us a compromise.

Now, don’t get me wrong, compromise is good sometimes, it does have a place; just not much of one in politics.
For example, it either IS or IS NOT a good idea to have laws that are Constitutional.
It either IS or IS NOT a good idea to be fiscally responsible.
It either IS or IS NOT a good idea to have limited government.

Do you see? The only thing we’ve gotten with “working across the aisle” is muddy water.
We need clear water, at least 90% visibility; we need to know where our candidates stand, and that they have the integrity and virtue to not compromise their beliefs.
Remember Bart Stupak? “No”, “No”, “No” to health care; a compromise was struck; Stupak voted yes and got burned along with the rest of the American public.

In five days we will cast our votes; please make sure that your choice is a man or woman of integrity and actually means what they say.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like muddy water.