THE PATRIOT PRESS

MARCHING TO THE DRUMBEAT OF FREEDOM

November 1, 2009    Vol. 2  Issue 20

FROM THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

As a freshman to Patriot Academy 2009, I wasn’t sure what to expect upon arrival at the Texas State Capitol. I expected a week filled with policy discussions, tools equipping Christian conservatives for the betterment of our country, and debates on the House floor. Upon leaving, I didn’t realize this would change how I analyzed current events and my decision-making process.
Raised in the church by Godly parents, I consider myself a true conservative. I’ve attended numerous political and leadership conferences, but none have given me a foundation like Patriot Academy. Foundation is the key word. My spiritual eyes see more clearly because of the lessons learned at PA. I was given a stronger foundation on searching Scripture to make decisions with discernment. For example, my brother recently started working at Applebee’s Restaurant to earn extra money. He explained how servers have tip share. All the servers divide their tips with other employees rather than pocketing their own. Instead of individual servers working on their own merit, the tips they earn are for all servers. Sounds like a form of socialism Mama Seay was always preaching against! I’m not advocating anyone stop eating there, but before Patriot Academy I would most likely not have been opposed to or thought about the effects of tip share. There have been many instances in the past months where I’ve had to make decisions or assess a certain policy and I feel I’ve made better decisions and arguments due to what I learned from Patriot Academy and viewing the situation from a biblical perspective.

An Academy is a school for special instruction or training. Patriot Academy certainly accomplishes that definition. Patriot teaches young people how to change our nation through biblical principles. It says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Bible is useful to us in everything - for every good work so we can be thoroughly equipped! I’m so thankful I now have a stronger foundation and am better equipped to effectively look at decisions I make through a biblical view. It’s been exciting to practice what I learned to make wiser decisions about finances, time management, effective speaking, and to make stronger arguments on certain topics and policies.

I’m excited to know that there have been many Patriot Academy graduates before me and many to come so that there will be a growing army of Christians thoroughly equipped in the political process and in God’s Word to make decisions for our nation. It’s encouraging that our generation is taking a stand to return our country back to its Godly foundation. We must look at solving our nation’s problems through a biblical view and heed what the Bible says in Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.” I thank the Lord for Patriot Academy and that it equips and provides wisdom to many. Remember victory is in sight for our Lord and our nation!

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One of my favorite games in the arcade is Whack a Mole. The goal in the game is for the player to use a bat to hit the head of a mole that pops up from a hole. As quickly as you bop one on the head, forcing it back into its hole, another pops up for your attention. As the intensity increases, you find yourself hitting holes where there are no mole heads, and missing moles emerging in a hole you were not expecting. In the end, you are exhausted from batting at the moles and amazed at how many get away from you. It makes you glad it is just a game.

It can be a fun arcade game. However, it loses its joy when you find yourself playing the game with policy issues on the nightly news. In the past year there have been so many major breaking news story that it is virtually impossible to comprehend how many are getting away from us. Unlike fishing, “the one that gets away” could change the face of our country as we know it.

Consider the implications of just a few of the issues discussed in recent days.

• We have troops in Afghanistan and the military leaders have advised the president that without increased troop support we face defeat in the region. Months have passed and still there is no decision as to whether to increase troops or not. Meanwhile, our undermanned military in the region continues to suffer casualties and our enemies are emboldened. National defense is at risk.
• We have seen billions of tax dollars used to bail out the financial institutions and auto industries, effectively making the government a partner in the banking and auto industry. There is no clause in the U.S. Constitution that provides for tax dollars to be infused in private companies. Furthermore, government ownership / control of a private business moves the nation solidly into socialism.
• We have been told over the months how many jobs have been saved or created as a result of the $275 billion appropriated to stimulate the economy, only to find out that jobs were being reported for congressional districts that do not exist. Meanwhile, while we are not sure how many jobs have been created, we do know that there was a loss of 190,000 jobs in October, resulting in an unemployment rate in October of 10.2 percent - the highest unemployment rate since April 1983. The economic truth is that government does not create wealth, the free market does.
• We have been informed that the current national deficit is $1.4 trillion. It is projected to rise to $9.1 trillion in the next decade. How does a deficit occur? The government spends more on programs in a year than it takes in from revenue. To cover the shortfall, the government borrows the money. The current national debt is $12,026,448,983,628.94 . It has risen $2.84 billion a day since September 25, 2007. Just the interest on the debt is over $70 billion a year. How do our elected officials respond? They continue to spend money we do not have on programs we do not need. We are mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren.
• We are being told that the nation wants health care reform at the same time that there are unprecedented marches on Washington and Tea Party gatherings in locations across the nation in opposition to the proposals being considered. In highly partisan votes, a health care measure has been passed out of the House. On Saturday night, the Senate cleared the hurdle of bringing the health care bill to the Senate floor for further debate. Do not be confused. This is not a debate on improving health care for Americans. It is a discussion on the government control of nearly 1/6th of the national economy. It is, pure and simple, socialism.

Add to those issues the occasionally interspersed news coverage of the master mind behind the 9-11 attacks being tried in civilian courts, the Green Jobs Czar who is a self-professed communist serving in the administration, and the all out war between the administration and Fox News. The onslaught of issues becomes more than most people can process at a single time.

It is obvious that the time for whack a mole has passed. Perhaps we should consider a mole eradication program. 

THE PATRIOT PRESS

MARCHING TO THE DRUMBEAT OF FREEDOM

October 15, 2009    Vol. 2  Issue 19

SELF-DISCIPLINE: A LESSON IN LEADERSHIP

Self-discipline; it’s not an easy thing to do. I’m not that great at it myself, but it is an important skill to have, especially if you are going to be a good leader. I have a passion for our country, for the future of this nation, for preserving and passing the Torch of Freedom from generation to generation, for making sure this great nation becomes the best it can possibly be, and for leading the change. I’ve learned a lot from Patriot Academy and from life about leadership, but more and more I’m seeing just how important it is for a leader to be self-disciplined.

Hebrews 12:12-13 says, “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.” So what does this verse have to do with being self-disciplined and being a leader? It shows us that we have to be disciplined in finding our own shortcomings and improving them as well as helping others to improve their skills. God gives us our initial strength to help us get on our feet, but we have to be dedicated to continually strengthen our relationship with Him. Our relationship with Christ is an example of the life we lead and the skills we have as a leader. If we aren’t able to be self-disciplined in our relationship with Christ, how can we lead the change in this country and be that shining light on a hill?

Have you ever found yourself in a debate, only to be stumped by one of those questions you know you should know the answer to, but  it is escaping you for the moment?

Such was the case in a recent discussion between a liberal and a conservative when the conservative said, “Government should protect life, liberty and property.”

The liberal responded, “Shouldn’t the government protect life by making sure everyone has healthcare?

Excellent question. The answer is, “no.” Can you explain why?

Here is some ammunition for when you find yourself in this debate:

1. Define your terms. The current debate before Congress is not universal health care, it is universal health insurance. What’s the difference? Well, if I happen to be on the golf course with my insurance card in my pocket and have a heart attack and need CPR, that health insurance card will not help. If I happen to be  on the golf course with my doctor, he can give CPR or medical treatment until help arrives.

Health insurance is useless without medical providers. And, one of the major problems with universal health coverage is that the government dictates reimbursement rates for providers. Forget all the examples around the world, look at the current debate over reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid - the two current government sponsored health programs in the United States. As reimbursement rates have declined over the years, the number of providers of services have decreased. At a time when our elderly population is increasing, the number of doctors willing to take new Medicare patients is decreasing.

1. The flip side of that argument is that we already have a health care system in the United States that assures access to health care. Like the Good Samaritan, we have programs for emergency care in place, generally financed at the state or local level. However, notice that while the Good Samaritan took care of the injured party until his wounds healed, he did not take on the responsibility for his health care for the rest of his life. Suppose that instead of my having a heart attack on the golf course, I just begin to have chest pains. I finish up my round of golf and foolishly drive myself to the emergency room. I will be whisked into a room and treatment will commence without regard to my ability to pay. If I did not have coverage, payment options would be given, including information on options for charity care.
2. The current proposed health care plan would not protect life at its most vulnerable stages. Where there are currently laws against government funded abortion and sanctioned euthanasia in most states, passage of the legislation under consideration would provide federal funding for abortions and would provide for government bureaucrats to weigh in on what health care services should be provided at end-of-life. There is nothing wrong with an individual or family determining when enough is enough medical care at the end of life. However there is everything wrong with the government making that same decision based on controlling the cost of a government financed health care system.
3. The promise of universal health coverage is a Trojan Horse to allow the government to assume control over approximately 1/6 of our economy. Especially at a time when so many Americans are out of work and concerned about a temporary lack of health insurance coverage, the promise of a government program gives a false sense of security. But, just as a parent who tells a child, “You aren’t doing “fill in the blank” as long as I am paying for it,” once the government picks up the tab, they assume the authority for telling you how to improve your health.

When is it the government’s business how much you weigh? When the government is trying to control health care costs. And, that is why you are seeing proposals to tax snacks and soft drinks, to regulate fast food menus, and to mandate additional exercise programs in schools. When is it the government’s business whether you or your child wears a seatbelt or a bicycle helmet? The major arguments put forth in support of those legislative mandates was the amount of money the state spent on trauma care when safety precautions were not taken.

Is universal healthcare a pro-life issue? Absolutely not. But, these are some of the more minor arguments that can be offered in opposition to universal health insurance coverage. More significant arguments include discussions of the fundamental problems with socialism (it is bad - very, very bad), the violations of the U.S. Constitution, and the infringement on personal and states rights when such programs are promulgated at the federal level.

            I am a blessed woman, indeed - the envy of my husband and all my friends who have trouble either falling asleep or staying asleep. I can close my eyes, turn over on my side and be out in less than five minutes, regardless of what is going on around me. The lights and TV can be on, or in some cases, Jerry can be in the middle of a conversation and boom, I am out.

            It has nothing to do with the company I am keeping or the quality of the conversation. I just know that lack of sleep makes me grumpy, so I rarely miss an opportunity to get my eight (or nine) hours in.

            But, some people are too bothered by the worries of the day to get a good night’s sleep. They ask if I am aware of the things going on around me.

            Do I know that the government is on a downhill slide into socialism? Yes, but that concerns me when I am awake, not when I am supposed to be sleeping.

            Am I aware how high the national deficit has gone? Yes, but I can’t comprehend multiple trillions of dollars in daylight, and staying awake is not likely to improve my comprehension.

            But, we might be in the end times! In that case, Jesus is coming back. I would like to be rested when I see Him.

            There just is not a whole lot that I think is worthy of losing sleep over. But this morning I jumped out of bed in response to a 3:00 am phone call, excited to be summonsed at such an hour. My best friend’s daughter-in-law had gone into labor with her fourth child, and I was the designated videographer for the home birthing event.

            Jumping into jeans and a warm shirt, I ventured out into the rain that was beginning to fall, thinking what a great lead this child would have for any autobiography. She can start her life book with, “It was a dark and stormy morning . . . ”

            Arriving in less than 20 minutes, I beat the midwife to the scene. After a quick, on the job training in how to use the video camera, I was ready to go. In less than an hour (and yes, the midwife made it) Miss Annalie Best made her debut into the world, 20.75 inches long and tipping the scales at an even nine pounds. She was checked out by the midwife, greeted by her big sister and two big brothers, and passed around to Dad and all the grandparents. I got it all on film.

            After fulfilling my responsibility to take video of any and everything I could think of, I got my payoff. It was my time to “meet and greet” Annalie. And, you know what? As I looked into that precious little face and told her that she had been made for great things, I acknowledged that there are definitely some things worth losing sleep over. Even better than watching an early morning sunrise, the rare opportunity to see the sunrise of a new life is exhilarating.

            Congratulations to the Adam, Melissa, Abbie, Jude and Micah on the new addition to your family.

            Welcome to the world, Annalie.

                The pundits on TV today are discussing the five senators who have secluded themselves in a room to attempt to take the various Senate versions of the proposed health care bills and merge them into a single document for consideration. Outrage continues over the methods used to draft the measure to this point, with committees voting out measures which have  not yet be printed and CBO cost estimates being made without the final language of the bill.

                It is a ludicrous way to make policy which would control how one-sixth of our national economy would be controlled. But, in the legislators’ defense, I don’t intend to read any version of the legislation before making a resounding recommendation to vote “no.” If you understand the issue, the details do not make that much difference.

                The goal of the Democratic controlled congress is to provide health care reform by mandating that all Americans are covered by affordable health care insurance – whether they want it or not. Let me tell you why that is an ill-advised idea.

First, health insurance and access to health care is not the same thing. Everyone in the nation could be insured, but when the government controls the reimbursement rates, access to services can actually decline. Two government systems currently in place prove the point. Medicaid and Medicare are programs in place for children living in poverty and for the elderly and disabled. However, as reimbursement rates have declined to cut the costs of the programs, the number of physicians willing to see patients has decreased. Insurance, without a physician to provide services, does little to improve health outcomes.

Second, the offer by the government to provide “affordable health care insurance” should put fear in the heart of anybody paying taxes. There are only two ways to make health care insurance affordable. You can deregulate it – reduce mandates, allow competition across state lines, encourage health savings accounts (HSAs), create cafeteria plans. Or, you can subsidize it. Nobody at the federal level is discussing ways to deregulate the insurance industry. So, that leaves subsidizing it. I am already paying for health insurance for my family, including the higher cost of rates that is caused by uncompensated care. Making health insurance affordable for those who currently do not have it means that my tax dollars will be used to buy down the cost of other people’s premiums.

Now, there are a number of reasons why individuals may not be insured. It may be a cost issue – there is absolutely no policy within their means. Or, it may be that they have made financial decisions that have prioritized other things above the purchase of health insurance. A newer car, a larger home, or credit card debt may have crowded out their ability to pay for their health insurance. Their failure to assume personal responsibility for their lives should not translate into a mandate on responsible citizens picking up the bill. Remember, government will get the behavior it subsidizes. If not taking responsibility is the behavior subsidized, that is the behavior you will see.

“But,” you say, “Health care is expensive. What can we do?” There really are rather simple (not easy) solutions when you understand how we got here. The connection between the entity paying for services and the individual receiving services was broken when companies began to offer health insurance in lieu of benefits when wage and price controls were in place. Gradually, the expectation for health insurance -intended to protect a policy holder from unexpected, catastrophic expenses – became one of pre-paid medical services instead. When annual check-ups and well care became insured items, rather than budgeted items, the cost of insurance soared. Each mandate for coverage directly increases premiums.

The solutions to the high price of insurance include deregulation of insurance policies. Individuals should be able to determine which benefits they need. Companies should be allowed to sell policies across state lines – allowing a policy holder to compare prices. And, individuals should be encouraged to budget for ordinary health care and insure only against catastrophic loss. HSAs provide an opportunity to do so.

Additional cost drivers in health care include increased use of technology and pharmaceutical interventions. We are fortunate in America that we have the free market system which encourages the research and development of medical technology and pharmaceuticals. The cutting edge drugs of today will be the generics of tomorrow. But, there will be no cutting edge drugs of tomorrow if incentives to research and development are curtailed by government intervention.  When those industries no longer make a profit, either because of reduced profit or reduced access to the products, the research and development will cease to occur. I, for one, prefer to control my medical costs by discussing with my doctor the necessity of the proposed testing and technology being advised and the availability of pharmaceutical alternatives if possible.

America has one of the greatest health care systems in the world. Even the poorest of our nation have access to services unheard of in other nations. I do not have to read the health care bill to know legislators should, “Just say NO!”

THE PATRIOT PRESS

MARCHING TO THE DRUMBEAT OF FREEDOM

October 1, 2009    Vol. 2  Issue18

From the Governor

Fellow Patriots!

It is an absolute pleasure to serve you as the governor for Patriot Academy 2010. Since Patriot Academy 2009 has ended, your new cabinet has been hard at work gearing up for next year’s Academy. The date has been set, the pot is being stirred, and I guarantee you that we are going to continue to build upon the foundation that has been laid by previous cabinets.

Many of you are keeping up with what is currently taking place in our nation. There is one piece of encouragement that I would like to share with you all. Over the past month I have already been challenged as a Christian serving in the political realm. Many of you know that politics isn’t very popular in the church at large. We steer away from any conversation involving politics whatsoever. Out of fear, we have become complacent and politically correct, afraid to take a stance on much of anything because we may be labeled as judgmental or hateful.

As I pondered this I began to see the illegitimacy of that pattern of thought, especially for Christians. In Genesis 2:28, after God created Adam and Eve he said to them, “Fill the earth and govern it.” At the creation of man and woman, God gave us the authority to govern the earth. We have allowed the earth and our nation to come to the point that it is at and it is our responsibility while partnering with Jesus to restore it. It won’t come from action alone, but through prayer and supplication; by God’s spirit equipping us. Let us be the persistent widow that Jesus spoke of in the Gospels. Continue to cry out for our nation and don’t be afraid to take stances for what you believe in. Just remember to do so with great humility, compassion, and love.

Lastly, it is an honor to serve with the future leaders of our country. At Patriot Academy my hope was renewed for our future. I saw so many passionate, articulate leaders who are going to make a difference. As you continue to face trials in your youth remember to cry out to God. We have a perfect Father who gave EVERYTHING because He believes that we are worth it!

God bless!

EJ Rathburn

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Congressman Joe Wilson, a  republican from South Carolina, skyrocketed to noteriety when he yelled, “You lie” to President Obama during a recent joint session of Congress. While the remark proved to be a cash cow for his campaign, was it the best way to handle the situation?

Conservatives tend to justify the comment, many wishing they had had the opportunity to blurt it out themselves. After months of rhetoric and heated townhall meetings, some in the House Chamber (and others watching on TV)  felt like President Obama had been given prime time and unrestrained parameters to say anything he chose to about the health care proposal. Worse yet, there was no allotted time for rebuttals.

Others may feel that the outburst by Congressman Wilson was no worse than those that were made by Democrats during speeches given in the same setting by former President Bush. All outbursts should be treated equally. But, alas, they aren’t. Life isn’t fair and politics is not the place to call foul.

But, politics (and previous behavior) aside, calling the president a liar is an ill-advised idea. While many believe that the allegation that the decorum of the House was breached is a stretch, it really wasn’t. Congressmen operate under a set of rules established and agreed to by the members. Included in those rules is one that requires that members conduct themselves in a civil manner in accordance with accepted standards of parliamentary conduct. So, while it may have been acceptable for you or me to yell, “You lie” at the TV, it was not appropriate for a Congressman to have such an outburst on the House floor.

But, worse than a breach of decorum, the outburst hurt the health care debate in a bigger way. While the media discussion had been on the contents of the bill and the coverage of the President’s speech could have included the differences between what was said and what was actually in the bill, instead the news was, “You lie.” The news covered what was said, who said it, why it was said, why it shouldn’t have been said, how horrible it was that it was said, why it shouldn’t be said again, . . . . and everything else except exactly what the content of the bill was that may have actually proven the statement’s truth.

Beyond the media re-direction, resorting to pointing fingers and saying, “you lie” is a playground tactic that is often no more productive than the usual playground discussion of ”did not” “did too” . If you have to resort to telling a politician, “you lie,” I suggest you expand your vocabulary to at least get the point across without turning the spotlight back on yourself.

Thesaurus suggestions for “you lie” :

• Where could I find that in the bill?
• Have you seen page (whatever) of the bill?
• To which version of the bill are your referring?
• Would you accept an amendment to prohibit that, just so we are all sure?

Say those things with a smile and you have made your point. More importantly, when you carry yourself with the utmost integrity, it shines a light on all behavior that does not meet that standard. You don’t have to point out others’ breach of good character when your own is impeccable.

In other words, hang on to that golf ball - and expand your vocabulary.

Mama Seay