The British mercantile system, some could argue, was the catalyst that brought to fruition the act of revolution, which in turn, birthed the framework upon which this great Nation is founded.   The English government so controlled the marketplace that its citizens, including the colonists, had their purchase choices made for them.  In essence, if the government can control what products can be sold, it can control what you buy.  This was intolerable to many colonists who, much to the chagrin of English monarchy, had been infected by an incurable strain of freedom.  With the carrot of Liberty dangling with tantalizing clarity on the horizon, our forefathers fought, made history and set about establishing a founding document, which would substantially widen the course of history.  The stream of Liberty’s hope burst forward cascading down into the mammoth river of Liberty’s reality.  This document was the Constitution.

We have all watched with, first, utter disbelief and, now, seething rage as, over the years, progressives have trampled and disdained our Constitution.  Now, we are faced with the ultimate test of our resolve.  Will we, as citizens, hold to said resolve and demand our government adhere to the wisdom of our forefathers or capitulate like sheep and become European?  Since the War of 1812, Europe has been maneuvering to regain control of America.  A quick read of most European newspapers will find editorials filled with consternation to why Americans don’t want to be like them.  They often admonish Americans to embrace socialism while they themselves struggle to find ways to get free of it.  In truth, Europe wants control over what we have and they do not, wealth and the ability to make wealth.

With the oppressive confines of English mercantilism still fresh in their minds, the framers of the Constitution established the Commerce clause to protect and encourage free trade between the States.  Recently Judge Henry Hudson, after his ruling that The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, wrote in his opinion “the unchecked expansion of congressional power to the limits suggested by the Minimum Essential Coverage Provision would invite unbridled exercise of federal police powers”.  The Minimum Essential Coverage Provision is the fundamental tenant of ObamaCare.  It is essential to its intended implementation.  This begs the question.  Do the Democrats believe in freedom of choice the same as our forefathers?

Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, warned insurance providers on September 9^th that any messages sent to the public warning them of the dangers of the new healthcare law would be punished.  What about free speech?  Can you hear the soldiers tramping in Valley Forge?  How can the Government be so brazen?  They control the product so they control the producers.  Although the government has added new provisions to mandated healthcare, they are calling them basic.  Karen Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, warns, “It’s a basic law of economics that additional benefits incur additional costs”.  Secretary Sebelius’ response is to say shut your mouth, deal with it or be punished.

In Maine, we have a health mandates similar to ObamaCare.  In this plan, men are required to carry maternity leave.  This, I do not consider a basic service for my person.  I do not believe child bearing is in my job description nor do I want it to be.  This is what happens when government tries to control your personal decisions.

We were told that the elderly and infirmed would be neglected if we did not pass this bill.  Now we learn that the elderly and infirmed will be neglected, by reduced coverage for them, to pay for the high costs of ObamaCare.  This is too dastardly to simply call ironic.  There is much more information on this new law that you can research at www.ncpa.org.

Never trust what a politician says.  Look at his record.  Those old sayings still hold true like “you can’t judge a book by its cover”, “actions speak louder than words” or, my favorite, “by their fruits you shall know them”.  It is still our choice.  Is it the Constitution or Europe?

“The U.S. military, already strained by wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, faces transformation from the world’s most powerful fighting machine into an organization where political correctness is more important than victory. Saturday’s Senate vote cleared the final hurdle for the repeal of President Clinton’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy designed to prevent homosexual conduct in the ranks. Battle lines will now form over how the homosexual advocacy policies will be implemented. Though the repudiated lawmakers who rammed the repeal through this weekend’s session pretend they are simply latter-day Rosa Parkses seeking to end discrimination, there is no comparison. Since 2005, a mere 1 percent of Army discharges involved homosexual conduct. This issue isn’t about retaining or recruiting qualified personnel for the military. This is part of the Left’s larger societal goal of using government to force others to embrace unorthodox personal lifestyle choices. The implications are clear from a look at how the federal government treats issues of homosexuality. … Troops can look forward to so-called pride parades on military bases and awareness days for the transgendered. Everyone knows the sort of thing that might work in Greenwich Village or a San Francisco neighborhood doesn’t go over well in a fighting force drawn largely from red state America — an area whose residents Mr. Obama once derisively referred to as the type who ‘cling to guns or religion.’ That’s why implementing the New Gay Army means forcing soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to endure ‘diversity’ training. Those who don’t like it will be told to get out, as several senior military leaders have suggested already. Chaplains in particular will face the dilemma that preaching their faith will violate the new pro-homosexual code of conduct. As a result, far more are likely to leave or be thrown out of the military as a result of Mr. Obama’s policy than were ever affected by Mr. Clinton’s. It’s hard to see how that will do anything to strengthen the nation’s defenses.” –The Washington Times

It dawned on me, after I sent my last column to press, that this week was Christmas.  So I assure you that I have the column “Enslavement” in the hopper, but I thought it more appropriate to write something concerning this blessed holiday.   Generally, we list our reasons to be thankful at Thanksgiving.  That is the norm, and what normal thinking people tend to do.  There is a nasty rumor out there that I am not normal and tend to have a contrarian’s approach to life.  I am tempted to fiercely debate the matter but that would simply add one more layer to the mounting pile of evidence against me.  So here is a list of reasons I am thankful this Christmas season.

First and foremost, I am thankful for my Christian faith and the hope that it provides me.  A recent sermon from our Pastor compared a true expectant hope with the modern hope, which is filled with doubt.   In this arena that I have chosen to do battle, every victory seems to be couched with a “we’ll see” caveat.  We put the same measure of trust in our leaders that we put in the weatherman.  The history of failed promises leaves a cloud over our hope in the future.

Thankfully, the Christ of Christmas has never failed in any of his promises towards me.  The Bible assures me that His promises are “yea and amen”.  So in the hard discouraging times, when man fails and when life’s trials seem to provide no way of escape, I can have an expectant hope that God will provide that way of escape.  He always has.  So I can quote an old song.  “Why should I worry?  Why should I fret? ‘Cause I’ve got a Mansion Builder who ain’t through with me yet.”  I think that is what Liberals despise the most about Christians.  No matter the situation, no matter the heinous attack, Christians smile and fight on bolstered by an unseen hope.  “The wisdom of God is as foolishness to man.”  I am the most thankful for that foolish hope.

Secondly, I am thankful for my beautiful wife and babies.  My babies think they’re big kids now but they will always be my babies.  Even in these tough times, they can find a way, like at a Christmas pageant, to make me laugh or cry.  As for my wife, very few women as talented and beautiful as she would put up with the long stretches without funds as her husband fights for a better future for Maine…for free.  It is the “for free” that makes her shake her head but she still believes in me and stands with me.  I am definitely thankful for her and love her.

Yes, I am thankful for hope in the State of Maine.  It is a cautious hope but hope nonetheless.  We have fought against the government machine that has tried to crush independent contractors and now there is legislation in the works that will help to ease the burden.  So, let’s be thankful for that spark of hope.

Finally, I am thankful to be a cave man.  Yeah, I am!  If Conservatism makes me a caveman, then so be it.  A great big “thank you” to all you fellow cavemen and cavewomen who read this column and support us.  Sara (my cavegirl) and I wish a Blessed Merry Christmas for every cave in Piscataquis, Penobscot and Somerset Counties.  God Bless You All!!!