The Des Moines Tea Party

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2 Corinthians 3:17

He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing.

Benjamin Franklin, from his writings, 1758

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."

James Madison

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."

Thomas Jefferson

“I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion.”

Thomas Jefferson

"One man with courage is a majority."

 
Thomas Jefferson

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both"

Dwight D. Eisenhower

"Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it."

- Ronald Reagan

"You have rights antecedent to all earthly governments; rights that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; rights derived from the Great Legislator of the Universe" 

John Adams

Progressivism is the cancer in America -

Glenn Beck, CPAC 2010

"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." 

Thomas Jefferson

(from: http://www.dojgov.net/Liberty_Watch.htm)  

"We must all hang together, or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately." 

Benjamin Franklin at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

"The Constitution of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed and that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of press." 

Thomas Jefferson

"The citizens of the U.S. are responsible for the greatest trust ever confided to a political society"

James Madison

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government."

Patrick Henry

When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber.

Sir Winston Churchill

"Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder."

George Washington

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!!!!

"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."

George Washington

"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."

George Washington

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter.   
Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no 
peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale  
that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears
the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are   
already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What
is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? 
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be     
purchased at the price of chains and slavery?    
Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course  
others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or
give me death!                                   

- Patrick Henry

March 23,1775

"We're in a fight for our principles and our first responsibility is to live by them." -George W. Bush

You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.

Ronald Reagan

(http://www.quotationspage.com/search.php3?Author=Ronald+Reagan&file=other)

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years.

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Abraham Lincoln

If you're afraid of the future, then get out of the way, stand aside. The people of this country are ready to move again.

Ronald Reagan

It's not enough to change people's minds, we must MOTIVATE people to ACT!!

(paraphrased from Denis Calabrese, Post  Party Summit, Dallas, TX, January 23, 2010)

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9 - (King James Version)

It has been said that all Government is an evil. It would be more proper to say that the necessity of any Government is a misfortune. This necessity however exists; and the problem to be solved is, not what form of Government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect.

Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it.

Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.

Our enemies have made the mistake that America’s enemies always make. They saw liberty and thought they saw weakness. And now, they see defeat.
- George W. Bush, President of the United States

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, 'till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole People is sacredly obligatory upon all.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and pursuit of Happiness: that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

“We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” [1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia]
from http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm

A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever may be its theory, must be, in practice, a bad government.

But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.

I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.

Where liberty dwells, there is my country.

The right to freedom being the gift of God, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave.                      

- Samuel Adams

Without Freedom of Thought there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as Public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

 LET'S MAKE 2010 A YEAR OUR LEADERS WILL REMEMBER THE DES MOINES TEA PARTY!!!

[I]t is a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.

Political Correctness doesn't change us, it shuts us up.

Glenn Beck

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.

It is very imprudent to deprive America of any of her privileges. If her commerce and friendship are of any importance to you, they are to be had on no other terms than leaving her in the full enjoyment of her rights.

How many observe Christ's birth-day! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.

Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.

[T]he propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.

I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.

Finally, there seem to be but three Ways for a Nation to acquire Wealth. The first is by War as the Romans did in plundering their conquered Neighbours. This is Robbery. The second by Commerce which is generally Cheating. The third by Agriculture the only honest Way; wherein Man receives a real Increase of the Seed thrown into the Ground, in a kind of continual Miracle wrought by the Hand of God in his favour, as a Reward for his innocent Life, and virtuous Industry.

Samuel Johnston:
• “It is apprehended that Jews, Mahometans (Muslims), pagans, etc., may be elected to high offices under the government of the United States. Those who are Mahometans, or any others who are not professors of the Christian religion, can never be elected to the office of President or other high office, [unless] first the people of America lay aside the Christian religion altogether, it may happen. Should this unfortunately take place, the people will choose such men as think as they do themselves.
[Elliot’s Debates, Vol. IV, pp 198-199, Governor Samuel Johnston, July 30, 1788 at the North Carolina Ratifying Convention]

“The eighth commandment says, ‘Thou shalt not steal.’ It does not say ’Thou shalt not steal from the rich,’ and it does not say ’Thou shalt not steal from the poor man.’ It reads simply and plainly 'Thou shalt not steal.'

-Theodore Roosevelt

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.
Abraham Lincoln

"If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."

- Winston Churchill

How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments of every hostile nation?

Our cause is noble; it is the cause of mankind!

From the Nature of the Constitution, I must approve all parts of a Bill, or reject it in total.

George Washington, letter to Edmund Pendleton, September 23, 1793

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion...that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863

Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at last.

"I believe I am an humble servant in the hands of our Heavenly Father;
I desire that all my words and acts may be according to His will."

 -- Abraham Lincoln (from http://www.eadshome.com/Lincoln.htm)

As on the one hand, the necessity for borrowing in particular emergencies cannot be doubted, so on the other, it is equally evident that to be able to borrow upon good terms, it is essential that the credit of a nation should be well established.

A just security to property is not afforded by that government, under which unequal taxes oppress one species of property and reward another species.

We should reject big government and look inside ourselves for all the things that built this country into what it was.
-Glenn Beck

(from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/glenn_beck.html)

Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy.  

-Benjamin Franklin, letter to John Alleyne, August 9, 1768

You must first enable the government to control the governed, and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.

-Federalist Papers, No. 51, p. 322

Citizens by birth or choice of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.

As parents, we can have no joy, knowing that this government is not sufficiently lasting to ensure any thing which we may bequeath to posterity: And by a plain method of argument, as we are running the next generation into debt, we ought to do the work of it, otherwise we use them meanly and pitifully. In order to discover the line of our duty rightly, we should take our children in our hand, and fix our station a few years farther into life; that eminence will present a prospect, which a few present fears and prejudices conceal from our sight.

How many observe Christ's birth-day! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.

"If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin."   Samuel Adams, 1776

Knowledge is, in every country, the surest basis of public happiness.

I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there's purpose and worth to each and every life.
Ronald Reagan

(from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/ronald_reagan_2.html)

"I have often expressed my sentiments, that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience."

"Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged."
Ronald Reagan 

(from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/ronald_reagan.html)

Benjamin Franklin: | Portrait of Ben Franklin
“God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787 | original manuscript of this speech

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. - John Adams (quoted from The 5000 Year Leap)

A free people [claim] their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their chief magistrate.

From http://www.marksquotes.com/Founding-Fathers/Jefferson/

John Quincy Adams:
• “Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day [the Fourth of July]?" “Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity"?
--1837, at the age of 69, when he delivered a Fourth of July speech at Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Proverbs 29:2-When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Charles Carroll - signer of the Declaration of Independence | Portrait of Charles Carroll
" Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure...are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments." [Source: To James McHenry on November 4, 1800.]

Retrieved from http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

 -- John Adams, October 11, 1798

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take away everything you have" - Thomas Jefferson

I have so much faith in the general government of the world by Providence that I can hardly conceive a transaction of such momentous importance [as the framing of the Constitution]...should be suffered to pass without being in some degree influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent, omnipresent, and beneficient Ruler in whom all inferior spirits live and move and have their being- Benjamin Franklin

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be"

Thomas Jefferson, letter to Chas. Yancey, 1816