In recent reading I rediscovered the following in Thomas Paine's Common Sense. The observations are especially relevant today as King Barack slavishly obeys his delusional conceit that he is our wise counselor and keeper. I don't know if this a rant or a quote, but since it is composed largely of quotations I decided to include it here. When written, reconciliation referred to doing so with England, but it seems a convenient repetition of a presently flogged word:
"All those who espouse the doctrine of reconciliation may be included within the following descriptions. Interested men, who are not to be trusted; weak men, who cannot see; prejudiced men who will not see; and a certain set of moderate men, who think better of the European world than it deserves; and the last class, by an ill judged deliberation, will be the cause of more calamities to this continent than all of the other three."
as well, he adds:
"Immediate necessity [as presently alleged in the case of health care reform] makes many things convenient, which if continued would grow into oppression. Expedience and right are different things. . . . When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary."
And I cannot resist reiterating de Tocqueville's famous quote. Though not directly relevant to the above, it reminds of who we used to be, and still can be if we return to our roots (and not least, resolves whether or not the U.S. is founded upon Christianity.)
"I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great"
