The Firecracker Effect

The Match is the spark that begins it all. It’s a mere tiny flicker of flame that by itself can do little good or harm. It must be struck with force against an abrasive resistance and its little light should be coaxed into a glimmering yellow filled with promise and potential. Left to its own devices the match will weaken and disintegrate, but when treated harshly and challenged, the little sulfur tipped stick springs to its own defense….lashing and lunging toward the abuser. Failure to respect a peaceful match could result in the aggressor getting burned. If one wishes to extinguish the match, kid gloves will not work. One must shake it, blow on it and stomp it into submission while being certain its spark has been extinguished for all time.

If the Flame is permitted to flourish, it will rise upward with increasing heat and growing intensity. It will range around the glowing match looking for additional fuel to accelerate its growth. The flame struggles for life as it begins to consume its host…the match. At its outer limits it burns a burnished yellow, but as one’s sight slips toward the inner core, the flame shifts color to blue then to a white-hot center. While entrancingly impressive, the little match flame has no real power. It does however have immense potential if it comes into contact with any highly combustible material. Its tiny combination of heat and light could be transformed into a towering conflagration that could consume everything in its path. It would become dangerous, deadly and undeterred.

The quiet but critical member of the firecracker is the fuse. Although it is combustible, it is tightly wound to limit and control the flame. The little fire must struggle and squirm as it consumes its way along the fuse. It emits a distinctive but misleading sizzle as it sucks the life from the silent string. The “hiss” we hear is a near-silent reminder that the task is underway, but the goal has not been reached. The outcome has not been determined. We anticipate the end. Some of us do so apprehensively, and others gleefully await the fateful contact. As the fizzling fuse continues its climb, the tension mounts. Those who fear the result become to tremble, and those who yearn for it quiver with excitement.

The Boom ricochets across the land. The fearful hold their ears and turn their heads. The hopeful ones snap to action after the explosive concussion has subsided. The sound has meaning. It represents the loud booming voices of the discontented, the abused and those who yearn for freedom. It also suggests the collapse of the old regime, and the crumbling of the House-of-Cards constructed by out-of-touch self-appointed elites. The boom is loudest at the point of ignition, but its reverberating echoes cascade far and wide across the land. Others hear the faint sound and stand in wonder as it becomes louder and more distinct with each wave. The boom is the signal that causes the people to spring into action to rebuild it all. They thoughtfully and determinedly scramble to “form the more perfect union” that once upon a time was their heritage and their comfort.

Nearly concurrent with the boom the Flares arc into the sky. The array of intense colors can be seen throughout the land. The streaming lines of light appear to cover the country in a canopy of color. The frightened elites, bureaucrats and their willing minions can be viewed as they scurry for cover of darkness. Meanwhile the citizens who had been trapped in the darkened dungeons of dependency could observe that the land was a place of glowing opportunity when seen in the full light of the flare. In the beginning the brightness was painful because of their entrapment in the gloom, but as their eyes were opened to the glorious brightness, they began to detect that indeed this was a better world.

The afterglow remains when the flare has subsided and the boom has traveled to its furthermost extremities. The pungent smell of cordite pierces the air as the people begin to assemble and reconstruct the nation. They debate. They cajole, shout and whisper as they attempt to convince one another to support their views of what a “more perfect union” may look like. The citizens review the old regime and its successes and its failures. They seek the good and discard the unworthy. Because the elitist leaders and their flunkies have gone aground, the people can openly dream, discuss and decide which path to pursue toward liberty and prosperity for all. But first…..they build a new firecracker.

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Friday, 3-6:00pm, 1370 WSPD, Toledo  www.wspd.com

The Cherry Table

One of my favorite pastimes is woodworking. Because of my fading eyesight and diminishing digital dexterity, I have begun to restore furniture as a reasonable alternative. The first few pieces that I tackled were some that my grandfather, a master carpenter, had built. These included a birch dresser, an oak whatnot stand and an oak chair. My purpose as a refinisher is to restore the structural integrity of the piece but to allow the nicks, cuts and stains to remain. I believe that if a piece of furniture has survived daily use by one or more families or generations, it has earned each mark of honor. Obviously if the flaw negatively impacts the sturdiness or strength of the piece, I will correct it. I then attempt to coat and finish the article as closely to the original as I can determine. If I do not foul things up too badly, the final work is a strong and glossy piece of furniture that proudly bears its history through its scars.

Last week I felt confident enough to try to restore a cherry coffee table that I had purchased at auction for the princely sum of $1.00. Although the craftsman’s name was obscured, it was clear to me that it had once been a grand focal point in someone’s parlor or living room. The simple yet elegant inlay work complements the grooving and scrolling on the gracefully curving legs. It appeared as if someone had played hockey on the surface, and the sides and the small drawer have numerous gouges of varying sizes. For a few days sanding and gluing were my primary activities. The old piece began to reflect some of her former glory as the grime and finishes of many years gone by were slowly removed. The sturdy old gal needed some TLC and healthy doses of Gorilla Glue as I sought to recapture her basic structural integrity. Now the cherry table was finally ready for a makeover…..wild cherry for the basic unit and light cherry on the inlays. I’ve not yet completed the table, but I can picture the final product……and it’s good.

If you are familiar with my writing, you have been anticipating the object lesson from this exercise in my shop. Here it is: the old cherry table (let’s say 224 years old---just for giggles) is a metaphor for our nation. Once glorious and stately it has been beaten and mistreated in recent times. Although the basic frame is intact (The Constitution), it does need some tightening, gluing and reinforcement. Our devotion to our primary document has come apart and must be retightened. The sanding represents our removing all the noxious toxins that we have draped across our beloved First Document. Wild-eyed interpretations, legislative acts that exceed their constitutional power, and executive mandates that are not allowed by law must be ground down and eliminated.

The numerous scars and gouges are representative of the need from time to time to amend The Constitution thus changing or tweaking its original structure. Some of the deeper gouges or wider cracks must be repaired to maintain the document’s integrity (I would suggest eliminating the 16^th and 17^th Amendments and clarifying the 14^th). Once we have strengthened and cleaned our table we can begin to apply the various coats of finish. The finish in my model represents our commitment and fidelity to The Constitution of the United States of America. Each coat enhances the beauty, strengthens the piece, and preserves it for a long and useful future. As the layers are applied, the beauty of the table (and wisdom of the Constitution) becomes more evident.

Liberty is the glue that holds our table together. Prosperity is represented by the intricate inlay work….it’s an obvious enhancement because of freedom. The stripper and sandpaper represent the difficult and rough tasks we face as we attempt to restore our Republic. Clearly the gouges and cuts are representative of the various attempts to alter her---some successful, some not. Staining is commitment. Each layer represents a new generation that embraces the entire document and seeks to preserve it from time and weather.

The glory can be restored to our abandoned table. It takes time and dedication, but the end result is amazing to behold. It is worth the effort. The table is NOT for sale…at any time…for any price. It is priceless.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com

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Picking Perfect Priorities

Discernment is the act of exercising keen insight and good judgment. In other words…know what you can, understand the parameters and the consequences, and make the best choice possible. True discernment does not necessarily mean that one makes the choice that yields the most favorable outcome. The favorable path may be immoral, unethical or perhaps illegal. The best choice, therefore, may not be the one with the greatest yield. Bernie Madoff chose to engage in an enterprise that initially reaped high returns for his clients and him, but ultimately led to most of his customers losing their entire investments. In addition, Bernie now sits in an eight by twelve cell, and his family apparently loathes him (or it’s a ruse to minimize their liability).

One of the more popular slogans for those engaging in complex difficult tasks is “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” In other words if the goal can be generally achieved with a reasonable outcome, take it and move on. Do not allow your quest for perfection mire you into a fruitless, time-consuming effort when you could be moving on to other tasks or objectives. Discerning decision making is having the judgment to understand when “good” is good enough….additional time and talent will not significantly appreciate the value of the outcome. This column is not intended to be an esoteric exercise in decision making. I leave that to Robert Ringer, Stephen Covey and John Maxwell. This column is a follow-up of sorts to an earlier one (“What is your vision?”, 10-26-2011, www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com). In the previous column I urged you to identify and solidify what your vision for the nation would be if you had the power to implement it. If you cherish and respect the Founding and Framing documents, your vision can be defined more quickly, but getting from “here” to “there” requires a whole lot of vision, work and persistence.

Picking perfect priorities is a method for transitioning from vision to action. As we stated in the earlier column, the vision will establish the parameters for identifying candidates or issues that are consistent with the end result we desire. Reality often intervenes, however, so it becomes necessary to prioritize the qualities or attributes that we believe are essential for earning our support. Earlier I stated that I value constitutional fidelity based on principle, integrity and humility. You, on the other hand, may have different priorities. You may prefer tenacity, pragmatism or collegiality as your over-arching attributes for restoring our Founding ideals. With your vision defined you can choose the attributes that are most likely to lead toward your visionary goal for the country, and choose the people and issues that most closely match your template.

These two columns in tandem are not intended to be a sum total definition of the process for choosing whom or what to support in the governing and electoral processes. Just as a frame is not a house, these columns are not an action plan. A house does need a solid frame to be structurally worthy, and I believe that we need more than slogans, vague objectives and partisan rhetoric to achieve our goals and save our Republic. In the last election cycle, for example, Tea Party and affiliated groups elected 83 or 84 Republican members of the United States House of Representatives. Yet when the first major vote- raising the debt ceiling- was cast, more than 60 of those freshly-minted Representatives abandoned the overwhelming will of the people who elected them. Why? I believe that we failed to insist on strong constitutionalism from our candidates. “Smaller government” is not necessarily “constitutional government.” Our vision and our priorities were not definitive enough to truly identify candidates who shared our passion….or who were “lukewarm” and in “general agreement” with our objectives. We allowed the “apparent” good to supersede the quest for perfect, and we settled for weak unprincipled poseurs. The outcome, so far, has been disappointing, but as we more clearly define our expectations and do not allow ourselves to be stampeded into strictly partisan boxes, we can be more effective in vetting and identifying those who truly share our vision and our priorities.

The final column in this mini-series will be “Raveling.” We’ll attempt to design a framework for undoing the “unraveling” of the United States of America. See the “vision,” identify the “priorities,” and implement the “raveling” can be a formula for restoration. We must have a plan, and we cannot rely on a party establishment or leadership to share our values. They work unceasingly for power, and we should always labor for liberty. These are not complementary or compatible values.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com

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Consistency of Character

Consistency of character is something that not many of us can claim. We all want to be viewed as people who can be relied on to do the right thing time after time. Unfortunately most of us can recall instances where we failed to come through when someone or some occasion needed our strength and our assistance. Even without the descriptor of character attached, consistency is difficult to accomplish. For those of us who are parents we have often second-guessed our inconsistent guidance for our offspring. Consistency is a highly-valued trait in professional sports….with limitations…. a consistent .100 hitter will find himself consistently re-assigned to a lower league. Consistency is a valued attribute when it is productive or represents a favorable behavior. Consistent character in the lofty world of national politics is truly rarified air. The term “flip-flop” has more social relevance today for chameleon-type politicians than for flimsy footwear.

It is time for a mea culpa. Back in my ultra conservative GOP days I thought Ron Paul was a somewhat looney nagger. His constant harping about the Constitution and the abuses by the Federal Reserve seemed quaint but somewhat far-fetched…..a little “out there” if you know what I mean. But time and circumstances have moved us all “out there” as we realize that Dr. Paul’s predictions were “spot on.” The unconstitutional forays into “never never land” by Congress and administrations have resulted in a massive, intrusive, expensive and inefficient government. The secret manipulations by the Fed when added to the known digital creation of money from thin air have led to the value of our currency becoming debased while the specter of runaway inflation haunts us. Ron Paul has understood the gaping faults within the Federal Reserve for a long time, and we ignored him.  The current knock on Congressman Paul from his detractors involves his foreign policy positions. They accuse him of being an isolationist, or naïve…..or “wacko.”

The title of this piece is “Consistency of Character,” and if one is to be faithful to the Constitution, one must be consistent regarding domestic policy, foreign policy and government-citizen interactions. As I have written in previous columns, the United States Congress has not DECLARED war since December 8^th, 1941. Consistent constitutional adherence would not permit the multitude of military actions that we have pursued during the past 70 years. To praise Dr. Paul’s constitutional integrity regarding the size and scope of government while condemning his constitutional foreign policy stance is both hypocritical and self-serving. If Dr. Paul’s critics want him to become a flaming interventionist who spends trillions of dollars and countless lives, they should amend the Constitution to allow for frequent willy-nilly military operations against every perceived threat, real and potential, with a minimal legislative or constitutional justification…..rather like we have been doing for seven decades. The chief reason that no war has been declared in all that time despite our being in nearly constant conflict for the entire period is that Congress and the presidents have lacked the political will and courage to take a recorded stand. Cowardice should not be rewarded…..nor tolerated.

Now, regarding Mr. Paul’s specific stand on Iran and the nearly universal gnashing of teeth and wailing about his unwillingness to initiate aggressive military action against the Iranians, in a previous column (“Do Something”—8/19/2011) I identified several nations that are legitimate threats to the security of the United States. That number has increased with the events in Libya. That nation is on the verge of anarchy with tribal, regional and ideological factions all vying for power. At stake is the broad range of weapons of mass destruction that have been sequestered throughout the country. Those armaments are particularly vulnerable for acquisition by groups committed to terror. Iran certainly is a threat…a considerable threat with no air force or missile delivery system …but to focus on the potential of Iran without watching the reality of other threatening countries would be….could be…a disastrous oversight.

Dr. Paul thoroughly understands that fixation on the enemy du jour could lead to a devastating consequence for our nation. He believes in a strong defense and a powerful swift response if any nation directly challenges our people. Those who would dismiss Congressman Paul as a serious contender for the presidency because of his foreign policy views are hypocritically disingenuous. It is radically hypocritical to laud Mr. Paul’s steadfast consistent compliance with the Constitution while decrying his constitutional position with regards to international ventures and military action. It is disingenuous to insist that the only true leaders are those who violate the Constitution by sending our armed services personnel into harm’s way while playing the role of chicken hawk cowards who are unwilling to go on the legal record to justify their actions.

Consistency of character is a commodity that is rare in the halls of political power. Honesty and integrity are also in short supply. For those of you who are or may know someone who is a serious follower and believer of faith, you may be aware of how some people like to ridicule believers and poke fun at their faith. It is similar to someone like Dr. Paul who takes his oath of office seriously but is the target of derision by those who claim to support the Constitution. There are three valid remedies to this situation: amend the Constitution, stop falsely claiming to support it, or engage in a serious examination of Dr. Paul’s positions in the light of constitutional awareness. If you, yes You, truly want a restoration of constitutional government for our nation, you must perform your due diligence and request that other candidates stop claiming to be followers of the Framers while they pursue their interventionist world-policeman and unconstitutional foreign policies. Let’s be consistent.

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The Remnant and the Reality

A remnant is what is left over after the task has been completed. For today’s discussion the remnant is what is left over after the larger portion of the people becomes dependent on the government for their provision. As accountable individuals, we are each responsible for our own livelihoods, our own safety and our personal security. Each of us bears personal responsibility for our actions, and we must answer for failures and errors in judgment. The remnant, as I see it, in today’s United States is not poised to restore America or to recapture the ideal that was advanced by the Founders. Today’s remnant must rebuild our nation…brick by brick, wall by wall.

Restoration is significantly different from rebuilding. Using antique furniture as an example, when one restores the piece, it may involve stripping the finish, replacing the upholstery, tightening the dowels, and finally putting everything back together with a new finishing. If the piece has rotted, however, or its structure has been compromised, then rebuilding is necessary. The builder reforms the new parts as close to the original as is possible, but the rebuilt unit will have more enduring structural integrity than if the original flawed piece were merely cosmetically refinished. 

It has been 220 years since the ratification of the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Since that time only seventeen additional amendments have been approved, but do any of you really believe that the basic structure of our government and nation has been limited to those twenty-seven formal changes? No, throughout our history and especially in the past century, our system of self-government has undergone radical change. In my view the gross distortion of our original concept of a free self determining society has been the product of three major areas: the people, career politicians, and personal perspectives.

Our citizens have become fat, happy, stupid and lazy. They are willing to allow others to make critical decisions for them, but willingly moan and whine if they find those decisions unsatisfactory. As long as the vast majority of the people lean on government and others, restoration is unlikely if not impossible. The bright spot is that if the people prefer to remain relatively unengaged, then an eager and committed remnant can rebuild the social structure when they ignore the moaning, whining, and teeth-gnashing of their fellows.

Career politicians are a serious barrier for those who wish to rebuild the nation. Their self interest and their instincts for self preservation would drive them to give lip service to a true rebuilding process…but only if they can foresee their holding on to the power and the perks. In many of my speaking engagements I have remarked that career politicians are particularly adept at jumping to the front of a parade. A rebuilding movement would attract the most opportunistic of the political class as they scrambled to provide their bona fides as true defenders of the Constitution and the people. In other words, they would lie….again. Their lack of principle and shortage of honor would drive them to become the face, the voice and the beneficiaries of the movement.  For a rebuilding effort to succeed the careerists must not be allowed to participate in any meaningful fashion.

Perspective is probably the most difficult element to identify and to overcome. What are our attitudes about the role of government in our lives? Some of the most vociferous supporters of rebuilding will clamor for the restoration of their Social Security payments, or their agricultural subsidies…or their home mortgage deduction. Policies that have developed over the years as vote-purchasing mechanisms have been ingrained as “rights” by many of the citizenry. Many of the most ardent supporters for restoration or rebuilding will, nevertheless, expect and insist that their favored programs be continued. “I’ve earned it” will become the dominant cry in the rebuilding process. Their pampered self-interest will propel them toward “getting theirs,” even as they commend the Founders for pledging their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Every recruit for a restoration or rebuilding movement must be willing to forfeit everything.

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