The term “flat earthers” has been used by environmentalists to demean and ridicule any disagreement with their views for some time now. The intent is to portray those who call for moderation or, more specifically, a compromise between the need for a robust economy and environmental safeguards, as blithering idiots out of touch with the modern intellect. As with anything else, a closer examination usually finds those who find smug satisfaction in name calling and smear tactics don’t often stay long enough in front of mirrored objects to participate in any meaningful self-examination.

A comparative research of prosperous state economies versus depressed state economies can yield many and various reasons for the differences, but even a layman can see that the one constant determinant factor is the effective or ineffective use of natural indigenous resources. It has become an imperative that our state leaders become genuinely engaged in this discourse.

The emphasis should be on genuine. Too often, Augusta seems to lack the intestinal fortitude to stand up to environmental extremism and take the necessary steps to bring a ray of warming hope to Maine’s perpetual fiscal winter. Simply put, Maine needs to utilize its bounty of natural resources.

As usual our state leaders are sluggish, that may be kind, to recognize the economic disaster their negligence has created. While the citizens of Maine clamor for a release from the chains of environmentalism, we are, instead, handed token promises to “address” the issue. Then, for our winter entertainment, political lapdogs, formerly know as legislators, capitulate once again to special interest.

In light of the “climategate” e-mails, you would think lawmakers would be rushing to ease business restrictions and lift the crushing weight of “eco-friendly” taxes; after all, weren’t they just as frustrated as we were that the impending global disaster demanded we all make personal sacrifices. One would expect that lawmakers would be relieved, perhaps, even overjoyed that the weather data was skewed, and jump at the chance to withdraw many of the roadblocks to personal prosperity. We can only pray that, in the rush to repeal these burdensome eco-taxes, no helpless bystanders are crushed in the frantic melee to reach the voting switch.

One of the reasons given for the strangulating tax burden placed on business is restrictions would force businesses to operate with less impact on the eco-system. In a testament to American ingenuity, many businesses have learned to adapt. So why are we being told we can’t drill for natural gas in the Gulf of Maine? The technology exists for minimal impact on the ocean floor, while providing an immediate economic boom to our state; instead, we have a windmill project going up off an island on the Maine coast.

Experts tell us that technology does not exist, nor will soon exist, that creates a power grid that can contain and utilize effectively the intermittent power current from a windmill. Technology does exist to support low impact drill rigs far out in the Gulf of Maine away from the coastline, and, creates many jobs; but, environmentalists prefer the windmill. It should, at least, be a great attraction for Windjammer cruises.

With all the technology today debunking the anti-business myths and the global warming theory unraveling, environmentalists still cling religiously to an agenda that kills prosperity for their fellow citizens. Even in the face of new technological advances that pave the way to a new horizon of prosperity that can conjoin with a healthy environment, envirozealots will not allow government to move towards the future. So then, tell me, who are the real “flat earthers”?

The change we can believe in has indeed come and while, yes, change to our nation’s fabric is happening, there is a more monumental transformation revolutionizing America. In this alteration, there may be true hope. Americans are learning to think the unthinkable.

In times past, our hope for the best in our leaders was a trust politicians routinely exploited. Viewing themselves as the benevolent shepherds to mindless sheep, they played an elaborate masquerade each election cycle to try confuse the emotions of the voters. Promises made, policy makers moved back to their gilded halls with no intent of ever keeping those promises. Citizens were just a means to an end. Employees of the great government factory.

Still Americans hoped that our leaders were simply bound by bureaucracy and, if they had their way, certainly they would work in the best interest of the people. Truly, we thought, our leaders could never have their own agenda, betterment in mind. Could they? Perhaps the scales are beginning to fall from our eyes.

In the Presidential election, Americans were introduced to a man who espoused revolutionary ideas. Then Senator Obama, complained that the Constitution was a seriously flawed document with only negative liberties. He expressed his frustration that the Constitution only told Government what it couldn’t do and not what Government could do, refusing to acknowledge, what I’m sure he knows, that this was exactly what our forefathers intended to do. They wanted Government to do as little as possible.

A shiver ran down through our American core, but we shook it off. He couldn’t really mean that! A true American would never say that. He must have been misquoted. So we elected him.

Immediately legislation after legislation was hurled against the Constitution until this final behemoth stands before us. Hiding behind an early morning haze, the Congress passed a blatantly unconstitutional healthcare bill. Why? Michelle Obama said her husband knows we need a new set of traditions.

Poll after poll has consistently held healthcare dead last on American’s priority list. Yet it is the President’s and Congress’s top priority. A giant stick in the eye to the American people. Not Government for the people but Government owns the people. Maybe, the real reason the President wants this bill is because it is unconstitutional . Tell me, what will happen when a new entitlement is handed out then suddenly pulled back because it is unconstitutional? Entitlement seekers will be crying out in tantrum like dismay and those forced into the program will have no other alternative plan to seek. The Benevolent Ones will sadly tell us that we can’t have this new variety of “Turkish delight” because of that bad old “negative” Constitution. Oh, who can save us? Is there no hope and change we can believe in?

Ah, but here comes Barack, because “Barack knows”, with a new set of traditions; a new bill of rights plucked straight from the Communist revolution. The right to work, the right to Government wages, the right to Government healthcare. Thankfully Americans are starting to smell socialism and they find the stench repugnant.

American are realizing now that he is just as socialist as he said he was. He wasn’t misquoted. He said he wanted to destroy capitalism and redistribute wealth. He has kept his word and is doing it as quickly as possible. We now clearly see his agenda and it is not to represent the people; but rather, repress the people.

Socialism is unmasked for all to see. It is an elitist political system. Socialism exploit’s the majority for the benefit of the minority. That is why a President is willing to spend our tax dollars to exempt one state from paying Medicare taxes. The other forty-nine states will have to foot the bill for the “Cornhusker Kickback”. Our first socialist President has no qualms with taking our money and buying off a Louisiana Senator with three hundred million dollars to help her state pay the new Medicare taxes. All in all, at the time of this writing, thirteen democratic senators have made deals for state exemption from this healthcare bill in return for their vote. If this bill is so great for the nation why are so many democrats begging out of their own bill. Oh, I know. Those conservative senators who voted against the bill, they can pay the tab. Once again fiscally conservative prosperous states will carry the load of socialist states ineptness. Once again we see the picture of socialism. Only a few elites can shop the “goodie” aisles while the rest of us who work to pay for the “goodies” must shop the barren aisles.

Socialism has also proven once again that it functions through the exploitation of children. All the while clamoring they work for our children, our Government enslaves our children to a mountain of debt to pay for their agenda.

My boys have been “working out with Dad”. Basically, we have been doing pushups. We have started this because the boys have started participating in school-boy wrestling. It was pretty apparent when they started that some work was needed to enhance their physical strength.

So we started pushups. My little guys were frustrated at first that the pushups hurt their arms. I explained that the pain was their muscles getting stronger and they needed to push through it. With childlike honesty and straightforwardness, they asked how in the world I could ignore the pain and keep doing pushups even when it hurts. I replied that I focus on every failure in my life, every time I’ve been told I was not good enough, and every short coming and humiliation to drive me to keep going. My sons looked at me like I had three heads (cue sound of crickets).

I realized my boys had no concept of what I was talking about. My wife and I have worked so hard to provide a good comfortable life for them that the imagery of failure as a driving force for accomplishment was lost on them. That’s understandable, I guess, with boys as young as mine. In time, life will happen and they will have to face its harshness. Hopefully, they can learn how to take their failures and turn it into motivation.

So that’s two little boys. We can smile at their youthful innocence and give them a free pass for now, but what about adults?

We now have grownups in powerful government positions behaving like ten and eleven year olds with no life experience. With terms like “too big to fail” and “bailouts” from individuals who are supposed to be safeguarding the health of our nations infrastructure, one could definitely question the life experience of our leaders today. The truths of failure and success which are the foundation of capitalism have been completely ignored.

In order for a pond to remain healthy it must have an inlet and outlet. The outlet takes the old water out. The inlet receives new water from the stream above. Without an outlet, old water begins to back up and soon stops the pond current from moving. Less and less new water comes into the pond and even begins to redirect elsewhere. At last, the pond stagnates and everything in it dies.

We have done this to capitalism. Capitalism is predicated upon the competition of new ideas and old ideas. When the old ideas cannot withstand the pressure of new ideas the old is pushed out. But government wouldn’t allow that. They stopped up the outlet with bailouts. Now we see a nation in danger of stagnation. Why was our government so attached to the old?

It was many of their own ideas which caused the crises in the housing and banking. So invested were they in their own agendas, they could not tolerate the fact that capitalism had done its job and their weakness. What was that weakness? Socialism.

You see, Socialism cannot function in an environment that competes. When Barney Frank and others implemented socialist ideas into the housing and banking industry, it could not withstand the pressure of capitalism. Capitalism demands production. Socialism does not produce; it consumes. Socialism cannot stand unless it has no other competing ideas. That is why our government stopped the outlet. The flow of new ideas would have naturally pushed the socialist ideas out.

So now, the way to knowledge is blocked. Socialism is propped up and we are left with the stagnating stench. This the residue of aristocrats and bureaucrats who did not want to fail and learn from their mistakes.

Knowledge is a blessed thing. It should be sought after, but many see the road that leads to it, recoil and turn back. Knowledge will never compromise the path one takes to find her. It seems to me that some compromise, for themselves, what is true knowledge gained, …. and the current of ideas grows weaker and weaker.