19 Dec 08 Reflections

By: Ang Biondo 

 

On November,19,1863 in Gettysburg. Pennsylvania - President Abraham Lincoln gave one of the most famous and moving speeches in American history.  The Gettysburg Address, a speech dedicating the battlefield at Gettysburg to the brave men who fought and died there, and to those who fought there and were still living.  It was to consecrate that ground as a memorial to them and a burial ground for those who died so the citizens of this Great Nation can live in freedom.  Lincoln’s speech was so profound that its meaning has embedded itself in the hearts of all Americans then and for century’s to come. 

 

In his Gettysburg address, he finished with – “ 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 we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — 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.” 

 

What “great task remaining” was he speaking of? It is “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom”.   Does that task remain unfinished to this day?  The task he speaks of is “equality”, have we accomplished that.  When Lincoln set out to free the slaves and seek equality for all, I don’t believe he had in mind that others should endure hardship to accomplish this.  His intent was for all men to be equal and treated as equals as God had intended.  This was no new innovation by Lincoln, but a belief and dream of his to fulfill God’s intent.  It was the right thing to do. 

 

And then, he goes on to say, ”and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from”.  Let’s look at that statement real close;

• “and that government of the people, by the people”  This is covered by the Constitution of the United States, so I believe he took his lead from our fore fathers.  It gives us the right to elect from our piers, people who pledge to uphold the Constitution of the United States and fulfill the needs of the people whom they are elected to represent.  And that would explain a government of the people, by the people.
• “For the people” Here’s where it gets a little hairy.  The government for the people thus far has; 
  • Voted to give themselves a full pay pension for what amounts to a part time job. Once elected to the Senate or Congress and take office, even for one day – they are entitled.  If they were to die after just one day in office, that full pay pension is passed on to their spouse for life.  They have exempted  themselves from Social Security, which is good enough for the rest of us.  To top it off they voted to place those funds into the General fund, so they can borrow from it at 0% interest.  Is it any wonder, why the program in jeopardy.  We can thank Lyndon Johnson’s administration for that. 
  • They also voted to give themselves full paid medical benefits, and have given us Medicare. 
  • Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, who works three days a week, communes between California and Washington via her government issue C-32 jumbo jet.  The C-32 is a specially configured version of the Boeing 757-200 commercial intercontinental airliner. The C-32 body is identical to that of the Boeing 757-200, but has different interior furnishings and 21st century avionics. The passenger cabin is divided into four sections.  She was originally assigned a C-37A a military version of the Gulfstream V business jet.  But the C-37A was to small to fly non-stop to California so she ordered the C-37.  This costs the American tax payer $60,000 each way.  The Speaker’s position demands high security, so the use of military aircraft and flying from an Air Force base does not present the problem, the fact that the smaller more economical C-37A issued to other Speakers is not good enough for her highness. 

These are but a few of the many abuses by our government, and you don’t want to get me started on the financial crisis caused by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, that’s a whole other story. 

1. A full pay pension after one day on the job for part time work and a salary of $80,000.00+ per year that goes to your spouse for the rest of their life when you die, even after one day.
2. Fully paid medical expenses until their demise, which also covers dependants.
3. Travel business expenses including meals. 

So I ask, is it “a government for the people”?  Or is it a government for the government lavishly supported by the people who were to benefit by the watchful eye of those who were elected to protect and uphold the laws of the nation.  The laws set forth by the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States.  The laws that thousands have fought and died for. 

 

If you don’t like what is going on, let your representatives know you don’t like it.  Write or email them, believe me flooding their mail boxes, email and phone lines will get them to listen.  

 

President elect Obama asked if we want change, I want change – I want to see: 

• Social Security taken out of the General Fund 
• The House of Representatives members limited to two terms in office like the President of the United States. 
• Senators and Congressmen’s pensions limited to 50% of their pay and forced to pay into Social Security and mandated to take Medicare at age 65 like the other aging citizens of the nation. (of the people) 
• Bring all pay raises for a vote by their electors. (by the people) 
• Follow the Constitution to the letter and uphold the laws of the nation. (for the people)  

The Gettysburg Address

President Abraham Lincoln

November 19, 1863

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. 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 we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — 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.” 

 

 

© 2008 Angelo Biondo Sr.

All Rights Reserved.

http://www.politicalfineprint.com 

 

 

All articles posted on http://www.politicalfineprint.com are the private property of authors and publishers of politicalfineprint.com.  All rights and privileges are reserved   Articles are free to our readers for private use and sharing.  Readers may freely reproduce and share any article posted on politicalfineprint.com so long as this notice is included.  Articles and post may not be altered in any way, sold or used for personal gain. 

 

 

Tags: American, Americans, Battle, Battle field, civil war, fore fathers, freedom, Gettysburg, Gettysburg address, government, hardship, Pennsylvania, people, Political Reflexions, Politics, speech, war