Lessons of Leadership – Part I

November 16th, 2009

“I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men with a favourable presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption, it is the other way, against the holders of power… Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” – Sir John Dalberg-Acton

How would you like to have a job where you could break the law without fear of punishment? It’s simple – become a congressman.

We’ve all worked with good and bad leaders in the past. For a leader to effectively perform his or her job, he or she must be capable of rallying and motivating the team members, championing the cause. Whether it be in the military or in a civilian job, a leader is often the first to act, showing others it’s okay to join.

George Washington was a master at this, explained in detail in the book, “The Real George Washington.” Frequently, Washington’s officers wrote in frustration that the commander-in-chief often acted in a manner likely to get him killed, which could have easily spelled the end of the American Revolution.

As one battle opened, Washington stoically rode out ahead of the entire Continental Army, within thirty yards of the redcoats. He was immediately engulfed in gun smoke from both sides, causing his officers to fear that when the smoke cleared, their commanding general would be dismounted, lying motionless on the ground. Later, at the siege of Yorktown, the general was often active in the trenches with his soldiers, being frequently sprayed with dirt from the thunderous cannonball blasts around him. This tenacity was also shared by other leaders like Alexander Hamilton who, just a few hundred yards from Washington, risked his life as he rode ahead, storming heavily-defended redoubts along the York River, climbing over giant felled trees and dirt embankments as bullets whizzed by him.

Unfortunately, among our nation’s political leaders, those days are long gone. Many bills, including the recent health care bill, do not apply to our congresspersons. While we are staring a massive health care entitlement in the face which threatens to increase taxes, cut benefits, discourage physicians from practice, and limit freedom of choice, our congresspersons are disappointingly (though not surprisingly) exempt.

In contrast to real leaders, our politicians are often the first to cast blame and point fingers yet last to admit wrongdoing. Charles Rangel (D, NY) has finally admitted to lying on his taxes from 2002 to 2006, but there’s still no resolution after a year of investigation [1]. David Vitter (R, LA) was caught soliciting prostitutes, but was not disciplined in part because his actions “did not involve his professional conduct” [2]. And, often times, the disciplinary action taken involves a mere admonishment and nothing more.

Honestly, it’s not that much to ask. It would be nice to feel that our government representatives actually believe the words coming out of their mouths. It would be nice to be able to listen to them and be able to focus on their words without being overcome with the sneaking feeling that we’re being lied to.

1. “Ethics Committee Expands Rangel Investigation,” huffingtonpost.com, October 8, 2009.
2. “Scandals, but No Censure; Congress Struggles to Police Members,” nytimes.com, October 17, 2009.

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Fighting the Wrong Fight

November 13th, 2009

“Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.” – C.S. Lewis

When was the last time you won a political argument with someone who held a different belief than you? No one really wins such a conversation; some merely end up looking more stupid than others. So why do we continue?

There can be no doubt that the opinion on the role of government among Americans is exceptionally diverse. Excluding malicious extremists, our desires for government involvement go from near-anarchy to full-on socialism. Honestly, that’s fine with us. Your opinion is yours to have. People’s opinions only become problematic when they’re shoved down someone else’s throat.

Our legislators are trying as hard as they can to fit an amorphous-blob-shaped peg into a square hole. They will never accomplish this, but with each attempt they further smash the blob-shaped peg with a hammer, disfiguring it and breaking it until it “fits.” Our founders, however, wrote a simple Constitution, and for good reason: it appropriately fit the great majority of people.

Before our federal government grew into an out-of-control spending machine, people were free to live in cities and states that accurately matched their ideal government. Under such a system, one state could have socialized medicine and the other could have completely private medicine. In the former, you’d be guaranteed health insurance, but it would provide somewhat lower-quality care and ultimately cost you more. In the latter, you would have less-expensive and higher-quality health insurance but you take a risk of losing it if you suddenly lose your income. But it was your own choice.

Our Constitution is truly a great document. But when power-grabbing politicians ignore its tenets in an effort to force everyone to conform to an ideal with which few agree, we end up where we are today: severe distrust in government, politicians willing to slander anyone who doesn’t hold the same beliefs, and out-of-control spending threatening to collapse the entire economy of not only this nation but all other nations reliant on the security of our currency. So here’s a [not so] novel idea: stop trying to marginalize the people and instead spend your time opening the doors for us to live life the way we choose. I can’t even think of the last bill congress passed which actually universally expanded liberties.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” Supposing that one person’s opinion is more valuable than that of another is, without contestation, a one-way ticket toward self-destruction.

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That’d Be Too Easy

November 12th, 2009

“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.” – George Washington

Wiry and of medium height with a long, grey pony tail, my middle-school art teacher was still one of the more intimidating teachers we ever had in school. He was also one of the most influential. If you did something wrong, Mr. Streed was on you like a rabid wolf on a rabbit. One of the things I remember most was his most famous saying. If a student did something to make his or her life more difficult and was asked why, the student often replied with a blank stare. Immediately, Mr. Streed would sarcastically respond, “of course, that’d be too easy!”

That statement is still relevant every day, and something I get to laugh about whenever I end up doing something the hard way or the long way. Less funny, though, is how applicable that quote is to our government.

According to an October Thompson Reuters report, our national health care system wastes between $505 billion and $850 billion every year. Of that, 22 percent, or approximately $200 billion, is comprised of fraudulent Medicare claims, kickbacks and other scams [1]. That means your average family of four is paying $2,400/year just to fund this fraud. And since we pay for it with borrowed money, the cost is even higher. With the numerous alarms going off about this problem, why is it part of a massive health care bill which may not even pass? Why not solve the problem independently? Why are we so silent on this issue that the government could not seem to care less? Because that’d be too easy.

Congress is again discussing yet another stimulus bill. Let’s get this straight: a stimulus should promote hiring and investment in the economy. Naturally, that can only happen if people have the money to do that. It’s been noted repeatedly that 64% of all new jobs in the last 15 years were created by small businesses [2]. In response, the government has: a) bailed out big businesses, not little ones, b) threatened to increase capital gains taxes, c) threatened to impose new health care costs, d) spent money on projects which won’t encourage growth, like $150 million on unused airports [3], and e) refused to reduce the federal corporate tax rate, one of the highest rates in the world [4]. Instead of scaring small businesses into inaction, why doesn’t the government just cut taxes on small businesses? Because that’d be too easy.

Our Constitution severely limits the powers of our federal government, in part to keep giant messes like the above from happening. Unfortunately, these days, our Constitution seems to mean little to those in Washington.

Today’s call to action: Read Article I of the Constitution to review the powers expressly given to Congress. You can find the document right here on the right sidebar under Resources.

1. “Heathcare System Wastes up to $800 Billion a Year,” reuters.com, October 26, 2009.
2. “Frequently Asked Questions,” sba.gov Office of Advocacy, November 12, 2009.
3. “Murtha’s Earmarks Keep Airport Aloft,” washingtonpost.com, April 19, 2009.
4. “Tax Rates Around the World,” worldwide-tax.com, November 12, 2009.

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A Thank You to Our Service Members

November 11th, 2009

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

To all members of our armed services, past or present:

Thank you for your sacrifice.

On this Veterans’ Day, the day after the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, we honor those who have willingly given their time, personal lives, and even their last breaths in service to our country. Americans have a long and proud history of standing up and fighting for what’s right regardless the cost, a tradition older than our nation itself.

Our soldiers in the Revolutionary War pressed on with no incentive other than freedom. Soldiers in the Continental army were paid with worthless Continental dollars, often received just flour and water for meals, frequently slept on a blanket under the open sky in the rain, and many not only had no shoes but often had no socks, leaving a bloody trail behind as the icy winter ground cut open their feet.

When I visited the American cemetery at Coleville, France, my heart was stopped. On a bright, sunny day, the cemetery overlooked a jeweled grey-blue sea. A gentle breeze lifted the American flags, and there was peace. There was silence. The guns which roared over the beaches were long gone, the miles of terrible barbed wire and engineering impediments since removed. As I knelt by the white crosses, the knowledge that these men and women did not return to their mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, and children rushed over me. Tears filled my eyes as images of conflicts past mixed with those of my family and my friends currently in the service.

Today, we continue to battle against those who seek not only to disrupt our American way of life but radically change it altogether. We carry on as we have for hundreds of years that we may leave this world a little better for our children.

These men and women didn’t sign up with dreams of winning medals or awards. They did so in pursuit of the betterment of themselves and their country. And in this duty, 1.3 million Americans have given their lives for what they believe. We cannot thank these great men and women enough.

Today’s call to action: Write to or call a friend who has served or is currently serving, saying thanks for his or her commitment.

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Making the Most of “The Patient Sufferance”

November 9th, 2009

Instead of an article today, we’d like to explain a little about the features of the site and how you can get the most out of your experience here.

RSS Feed: An RSS feed is a great way to track the new posts on our site without having to check the site every day. Many programs support RSS feeds, including Microsoft Outlook and the Opera web browser. Using your application of choice, point it to http://www.thepatientsufferance.com/feed, also located on the right sidebar under Spread the Word! and titled Subscribe to our feed. Once you do, your program will automatically display each new article as it is published!

Sharing: A great way to help other people find this site is the Share icon right below the RSS link. Clicking on this opens up a menu where you can share this page on over 170 networking sites including Facebook, Digg, delicious, MySpace, and Twitter. The more you promote this site through those resources, the more people will stop by here and have a conversation.

Comments: Comments are disabled on blog posts, but for good reason. Each article is also duplicated in our Forums, accessible by clicking Forums at the bottom-right corner of the header menu. Once you register, you can either comment on the article or start your own discussions. The forums are yours to use. We do, however, ask that everyone follow the Code of Conduct – we’d like the discussion to be enlightened and productive.

Resources: On the right sidebar you can also find original texts on which we base our comments. We feel that the founders of our great nation had a very good idea what they were doing and wrote some really timeless stuff. You can also check out our Suggested Reading for some great book recommendations, Words of Wisdom for some inspirational quotes, and Definitions as We Use Them for an in-depth look at how we interpret various terms.

Advertisements: Ads on websites can be ugly. We don’t necessarily like having them there, but they help fund the resources to keep the site going. And, from time to time, there’s some neat things that show up so don’t be afraid to check them out – many of the ads don’t even ask you to buy anything and instead just have neat information.

Tell us what you think: Finally, we really want to hear from you! You can either contact us through our Forums or through the Contact link on the header menu at the top of the page. We’d like to hear your suggestions, or any errors with the site you may find. Also, if you’d like to exchange some links to swap some traffic or advertise on the site, we’d be happy to talk.

We want to thank you all so much for the support of this website. We don’t have all the answers, but we do have a desire to solve some of our problems and promote bilateral conversation. Your political affiliation and alignment are of no consequence here – we should all live in an America where each person has the resources he or she wants and needs, regardless of political leaning. Thanks again for visiting!

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Keep the Change

November 6th, 2009

“Having always observed that public works are much less advantageously managed than the same are by private hands, I have thought it better for the public to go to market for whatever it wants which is to be found there; for there competition brings it down to the minimum of value.” – Thomas Jefferson

“You Lie!” reads one sign, hoisted in the air. “Sweeping Away Socialism One Democrat at at Time” exclaims another. These signs are bound by a common thread of anger over deceit by the politicians teamed with the anti-socialist feelings gaining traction throughout America. John and Jane Public, who wake up and go to work everyday only to see their paychecks taxed more and more, are starting to feel the pinch. No longer is the frustration silent or even a low murmur. What began as a dull roar has built momentum and is now a country-wide movement with a very loud and prominent voice. The “Tea-Party” go-ers and 9/12-ers have spread their message to enough people and pointed out the hypocrisy in Candyland (this author’s not-so affectionate term for DC and the Fairy Tale currently happening) and stirred others to join the cause. The target currently in their sites? The Pelosi Health Care Bill.

Yesterday was an historic day in Washington DC. Several congressmen and women invited the public to the western steps of the Capitol to express their displeasure and outright opposition to the health care bill currently being debated on Capitol Hill. People of all ages from all around the country took the time to gather for a news conference and rally led by Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota [1].

Several thousand concerned citizens of widely varying age, race, and economic background gathered to protest what they deemed a government takeover of the health care system. Following the rally, the group descended onto the different offices of varying officials in Washington. One example that deems being highlighted is the encounter several native Minnesotans had with their representative Keith Ellison (D, MN). Having made the ~1,100 mile to speak with Mr. Ellison, they told the Congressman their story, noting their viewpoint on the upcoming bill and their adamant position against it. Renee Doyle, a member of the group making the trip, said, “[t]here’s a lot of emotion. But it’s very civil. It seems that he feels like he has a personal responsibility to – for us poor people – take over our will because he knows best” [2].

All parties involved in the discussion said it was civil with Mr. Ellison, who noted, “[n]ot that we ever agreed, but they really were fairly polite, you know, and I was not really prepared for that” [2]. So what exactly what was Mr. Ellison expecting? A rowdy, uncouth crowd whose knuckles drag on the ground when walking? It would seem as though the level of arrogance has reached an all time high in DC. It seems as though WE the people, whom politicians are supposed to serve, have turned into the public who don’t know what’s good for them, thankfully having the great fortune of a much wiser political elite class prepared to save them.

Personally, we believe that we should have the ultimate say in our lives. If you’ve taken the time to read this article, we bet you feel the same way.

Today’s call to action requires a bit more from you, the reader. Listed below are links to the contact information for all of the representatives in Congress. Make a phone call. Make your voice heard. Be respectful but firm. Voice your opinion. Do you want a public option? Or would you rather make health care more competitive and ultimately cheaper, opening the doors to those 12-14 million Americans who aren’t insured but want to be? If you want to see the future, you need only to look at the past. Government-run programs have a history of failure. Don’t let this become another statistic.

US Senator Contact Information
US Representative Contact Information

1. “On the Hill, Protesters Chant ‘Kill the Bill,” nytimes.com, November 5, 2009.
2. “Bachmann Leads Rally Opposing Health Plan,” startribune.com, November 6, 2009.

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Dodd Drafts Dirty Document

November 5th, 2009

“The central bank is an institution of the most deadly hostility existing against the Principles and form of our Constitution.” – Thomas Jefferson

If you’re Senator Christopher Dodd (D, CT), your version of the Heimlich maneuver is to choke the poor bloke until dead and replace him with a scarier guy with even greater esophageal problems. The Senator has been hard at work drafting new legislation to strip the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Reserve of their bank-supervision powers, handing over control to a new council of regulators, overseen by an “independent White House appointee” [1]. No, really, you’re not imagining things. There are a multitude of things wrong with this scenario, but let’s focus on two of them:

Firstly, introducing more regulatory groups creates issues when the remnant groups still exist, even if in a lesser capacity. Sociologists refer to this as “diffusion of responsibility.” Let’s not forget the post-9/11 firestorm about the relationship between the CIA and FBI and how the existence of the two departments, no matter how codified their distinct responsibilities were, created holes in the system [2]. If you’re in a restaurant with only one other person and that person starts choking, what is the chance you will assist with the Heimlich maneuver (the real maneuver, not the Chris Dodd version)? How likely are you to help in the same situation but with one hundred diners in the restaurant?

Furthermore, one would assume we had learned from the housing bubble that politicizing anything, let alone banking policy was a bad idea. Allowing the White House to appoint a single person to be in charge of the monetary oversight is like letting a child decide what’s for dinner. It’s probably not going to be good for you. In the late 1990s and 2000s the federal government pressured banks to lend to people who were less likely to repay their loans – look what has happened and what is about to happen with the Option-ARM mortgages. We see foreign policy change with each new administration. We see energy and social policy change with each administration. Banks shouldn’t have to retool their sails to handle the political winds of each new administration. It’s not healthy for banks nor its customers, not to mentionl the financial stability of the country at home and worldwide.

We do agree with Dodd’s intentions of consolidating some responsibility, but this isn’t the right way. Why retain the empty shells of the Fed and the FDIC, causing more opportunity for gaps in coverage? Why take the responsibility away from semi-independent groups and place it upon the shoulders of the presidential administrations? Why ask the FDIC to insure banks subject to someone else’s rules instead of its own?

Today’s call to action: Let us know in the forums how you feel about this new legislation.

1. “Clash Looms on Banks,” The Wall Street Journal, November 5, 2009.
2. Davisson, Shawn P., “Spooks Vs. Suits – the Ultimate Sibling Rivalry: CIA/FBI Interagency Competition, Communicative Failures, and Effects on U.S. National Security,” 2004.

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GOP Stabs Itself in the Back

November 4th, 2009

“Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” asked Mrs. Powel of Benjamin Franklin outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended. “A republic, if you can keep it,” he replied.

Well, if you needed any further proof that the GOP certainly isn’t conservative, you got it yesterday. Bill Owens’ victory over Doug Hoffman in yesterday’s election for the U.S. House Seat in New York’s 23rd district is a shining example.

Let’s run down the story: the candidates were Democrat Bill Owens, GOP-endorsed Republican Dede Scozzafava, and conservative Independent Doug Hoffman. Things got tricky when conservatives, in part riding the recent Tea Party movement, began supporting Doug Hoffman. Scozzafava, calling herself a Republican, supported President Obama’s stimulus plan, opposed many tax cuts, and actions to save Social Security[1].

When Scozzafava realized she was being squeezed out, she wisely dropped out of the race. But then she did the unthinkable – she endorsed Democrat Bill Owens. In effect, the GOP endorsed and wasted valuable campaign dollars on a candidate who values keeping returned TARP money for government use rather than returning it to the people [2] and massive redistributive subsidies [3] over a successful business owner and fiscal conservative [4].

Additionally frustrating was Newt Gingrich’s deferment to the Republican leadership. When asked at a book signing why he supported the GOP endorsee, he said, “my bias is to be for the nominee of the local party, and I don’t second guess the local party” [5], but later eventually changed his endorsement to Hoffman [6]. Admittedly, Gingrich pointed out issues on which Scozzafava was conservative. But considering that Gingrich is a strong choice for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012, this is very concerning. Why can’ Republicans pick the truly conservative candidate the first time?

Interestingly enough, Gingrich also said at the book signing that “it is a mistake for the conservative movement to think splitting in the special election is a smart idea. If we give that seat to the Democrats, shame on us” [7]. We say – shame on the GOP. We may disagree about whether conservatism or liberalism is better for the nation, but the real problem is the integrity we give up when we play politics.

Today’s call to action: Recommend this website to two friends.

1. “Republican Scozzafava Drops Out of New York Congressional Race,” foxnews.com, October 31, 2009.
2. “Bill Owens on Health Care Reform,” billowensforcongress.com, November 3, 2009.
3. “Bill Owens on Jobs,” billowensforcongress.com, November 3, 2009.
4. “About Doug Hoffman,” doughoffmanforcongress.com, November 3, 2009.
5. “Video: Tea Party-er Confronts Newt Gingrich at Book Signing on Scozzafava Endorsement,” mofopolitics.com, October 27, 2009.
6. “Question Marks for GOP in New York District and Beyond,” cnn.com, November 3, 2009.
7. “Newt on Scozzafava,” dailymail.com, October 26, 2009.

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Breathing New Life into an Old Fire

November 3rd, 2009

“Strength Through Sacrifice. Never Forget” – motto of the USS New York

The fires which forged our nation are still burning, stoked by the bravery of American men and women. Yesterday, the newly-built USS New York, set to be commissioned Saturday, sailed the Hudson River, firing a 21-gun salute at Ground Zero [1]. The new 25,000-plus ton amphibious-warfare ship, built in Louisiana, is constructed with 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center [2].

The resolute determination of the American people to keep fighting for what’s right still exists. And though it has lain somewhat dormant as their protests fall on the deaf ears of the federal government, the will to fight is still there. The momentum is building. People are voicing their discontent with the status quo and today are expressing their desire for pragmatism and accountability among our leaders in the polls.

The construction of the new vessel signals that we won’t forget what we’ve sacrificed in order to retain our rights. If we are to take back our rights, we must act and act soon. A torch is being carried forward – will you pursue it?

Today’s call to action: Think about a cause you’ve been meaning to take up recently. What can you do to take the first step toward action?

1. “USS New York Arrives in ‘Hometown,’” Wall Street Journal, November 2, 2009.
2. Reiss, Adam. “New Navy Ship Honors 9/11 Victims,” Cable News Network, November 2, 2009.

Want to talk about the articles posted here? Please visit our forums to discuss this and other issues.

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What Happened to America?

November 2nd, 2009

“Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one” – Thomas Paine

Thousands of people crowd the streets of Washington and town hall meetings are packed with barely enough room to stand. Yet the voice of the people is drowned out by the noise of self-congratulatory patting on the back of the Washington elite as another power-grabbing, deficit-increasing bill is signed into law.

What happened to the discourse reveled and honored by the revolutionaries who molded a land of oppressed people into the world’s greatest nation, a people beaten down by a tyrannical political machine which asked for more and more, failing again and again to grant representation? It was a time when the government was not nearly what it claimed to be. What was played off as a democracy was little more than rule of a greedy king relinquishing an inconsequentially minute amount of power in an effort to silence the people. But the discourse of the colonists became the catalyst for the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the 11-year-long authoring of our Constitution, the most perfect legal document ever written.

It’s now over two hundred years later and you and I have again been plunged back into submission by a political elite who neither act on the wishes of the nation nor abide by the Constitution on which it stands. Admittedly, it didn’t happen overnight and it’s not that we didn’t see it coming; but we believed that our politicians would at some point exercise restraint and begin acting like the rest of us. We hoped that their behaviors would mimic those responsible for our overwhelming success – behaviors which not only provide sustenance but the promise of a better future and fulfillment of our meaning. The coiled tail of the serpent squeezes us tighter, forcing more liberties to escape upon each labored breath.

Tragically, the illusion that the opinion of the common man carries weight in Washington is as transparent as the government’s repeated promises to secure our borders. The government’s consistent assertion that only they can solve our problems only highlights the belief that they are indeed far superior to the rest of us; if they considered us to be equally intellectual or just, should not they permit us to solve the problems ourselves?

The irony is this – the government which today actively seeks to demean you and silence your dissent merely serves to stoke the fires of a Constitutional revival. Let us not forget that we were a strongly divided people when we chose to break the chains of Britain’s control. Our Constitution was voted down until George Washington united the colonies. We were a divided people when we entered both World Wars. But we are less divided today than those times; the vast majority of Americans fear permanent expansion of government. Friends, there is still time to make our voices heard.

In the Declaration of Independence, our nation’s founders spoke of “the patient Sufferance” of the colonies under a “long train of abuses and usurpations” as the British government strove to increase its stranglehold over them. They concluded that the only course of action was to alter government. As we again are suffering from the hostilities of our government, we merely seek to promote true unity among countrymen and a rekindled respect for the Constitution, our history, and the spirit of independence among free peoples.

This website will highlight articles based on current events, drawing insight from the writings and actions of our founding fathers. Each writing will be vehemently researched and cited so you can go to the source itself. To set us apart, however, each article will conclude with a call to action, such as writing your Congressional Representative or Senator or just thanking your employees or coworkers. We won’t tell you what to say, we just care that you say something. It is only through activism that we can hope to secure a Constitutional revival.

So continue your pursuit, brothers and sisters. Feed off the dismissals by your government and its hubris and avarice. Thomas Jefferson once said, “when the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” Let us press on together, restoring the liberty we deserve. Ask that they not pass out fish but rather give us the freedom to catch them on our own.

…or are they afraid that we’d become too great?

Today’s call to action: Find your favorite inspirational quote from a founding father like George Washington or Thomas Jefferson and post it on your wall at work.

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