Jake Jacobs
What's a Constitutional Conservative republican to do with DC's NO LABELS?
By Jake Jacobs
*Warning-Warning* You might not like my "labeling ways" in this article on the No Label Group in Washington DC which has 3 Wisconsin Congressman's involvement: Sean Duffy, Tom Petri and Reid Ribble. I know all three and respect them VERY much BUT the Constitutional Conservative republican in me is concerned. As I constructed this article in my mind while working out at the gym I knew I would step on toes and toes close to home. A dear friend of mine Congressman Reid Ribble from Wisconsin's 8th District recently has been discussing his involvement with "No Labels" a Congressional group of 81 members to date. I have told Reid before that it is easy for me to speak and write on my concerns about corruption in Washington DC but very difficult to actually change that corruption. This article is not meant as a pot shot. If I am too vociferous and ungracious here please forgive me but my heart calls me to write this critique of No Labels. And before I continue with my article on words, labels and political identification let me say that I have the utmost respect, admiration and love for Reid Ribble as he is the real deal, a Christian Conservative (opps sorry for the label) who loves God, his family and America like few men that I know. I've known Reid since our High School years at Appleton High School East. We were called "The Patriots" & Reid is a true Patriot. So my issue here is not so much with Reid's association and advocacy of the "No Label" group in Congress but with No Labels fuzzy thinking on words and labels and wishful thinking that believes if we "can get along" without "labeling" each other Our Republics problems will go away.
As earlier stated I write this article with trepidation that I might offend my friends and fellow compatriots, but, with the realization that our Federal Government is in serious dysfunction and because America's Central Government has the nefarious nature of beating it's own into compliance, I am compelled to write.
In my various conversations with Senators and Congressmen over the last few years they tell me that they truly have very LITTLE power and that the Congressional Oligarchs, and DC bureaucrats call most of the shots as they pass discombobulated and convoluted bills they had to pass without reading so they would know what was in it and or to maintain their pork barreling power.
Thus I'm more convinced than ever that the KEY to saving America is as our Founders stated: at the local and State level, NOT the Federal level.
We MUST find a way to nullify the evils ACTS of a corrupt Federal Government gone amuck and determined to destroy our Freedoms. No Labels from my perspective is a waste of time. Like most liberal rhetoric it sounds good on paper and makes sweet sound bites but like castrated sheep, No Labels does next to nothing to STOP the Federal Government Wolves at our Door...here is my thinking:
I call and label myself a Constitutional Conservative republican. For good reason. Labels convey ideas. Some ideas put into action secure Liberty while other ideas put into action destroy Freedom. I label myself this way unabashedly and proudly so because I believe the US Constitution to be one the THE most amazing government documents in World History and it is the Law of the Land. I call myself a republican small "r" because many of our Founders proudly labeled themselves republicans such as Washington, Jefferson, and Madison. The Founders labeled the United States a Constitutional republic not a democracy.
I label myself a Conservative because Modern Conservatives actually express Ancient Classic liberalism's belief in a limited Federal government, local control, individual freedom, conserving the traditional values that make for a healthy and holy society and a number of checks and balances to STOP the governments natural desire to grow and destroy the Life and Liberty of we the people.
If you go to No Labels website Under Who We ARE they state: "No Labels is a movement of Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between dedicated to promoting a new politics of problem solving. While many powerful interest groups in Washington wield influence that effectively pulls leaders and the political parties apart, No Labels' mission is different – it's about fixing, not fighting."
There you have it No Labels is about "fixing, not fighting." No Labels even sells No Label products such as coffee cups, BBQ aprons, water bottles, baby rib t-shirts and even a hat "labeled" pun intended "The kissing hat" where the Democratic donkey is kissing the Republican elephant.
No fighting, kissing each other, no labeling each other, and an oft repeated mantra "Not Left, not Right, forward." This is an admirable goal to fix the Nations problems without fighting. Their intentions to move America forward is a wonderful platitude, but will it work in the real world of fallen, corrupt and sinful man?
Here's where I must depart from No Labels declarative "can't we all get along?!" No we can't! And here's why: Human Nature and Truth.
On Truth. Our Declaration of Independence declares, "we hold these truths to be self evident." Our Founders always presupposed in their argumentation and advocacy for Freedom and Liberty from tyrannical Government that Truth was essential for its success. When they argued and yes, dare I say fought their case they did so with ideas from the Scriptures and great thinkers from Western Civilization. Our Founders argued their case with the conviction that there were good ideas and bad ideas, that there was right and wrong and that there where Freedom fighters and Freedom destroyers. They did so with the conviction that declared, "Give me Liberty or Give me Death!" and as the despotic British Government executed them they cried out "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country!"
While Truth calls us to respect each other's humanity, Truth also calls us to call out deniers of Truth and destroyers of Life and Liberty. Such destroyers are in Congress and some are in the "No Labels 81¡å and they call and label themselves Progressives and Liberals.
By the way many so-called Conservatives in Congress today are deniers of Truth.
On Human Nature. James Madison in Federalist paper Number 51 states: "If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions."
Here is where No Labels misses the mark with their good intentions, and peaceful platitudes. They fail to grasp the reality of human nature and the bloody, dirty and raucous nature of securing freedom. From time immemorial most of humanity and politicians have not been angels and governments have not been angelic thus we fought a War to secure Liberty. Thus we fought a Civil War to destroy slavery. Thus we fought myriads of Civil Rights Battles to end segregation and discrimination. American history is replete with bold argumentation and battling for Truth over the lies of corrupt men, politicians and government at the Local, State and Federal levels.
Did not The Prince of Peace call corrupt leaders in his day "brood of vipers and white washed tombs." Did He not speak of hell more than heaven and that two swords were enough?
I do not for a moment doubt the decent and good intentions of many "No Labelers." Their spirit and hearts desire is to respectfully and peacefully fix and solve our problems. However, with all due respect, their intentions are not a path forward to Heavenly solutions but the continued Federal Government's Road To Serfdom. A road that is a muddled moderate complacency that perpetuates Government inefficacy and the continued expansion of the Federal Government's control over the sovereign People! It is unrealistic, grandiose, and naive wishful thinking that does not have the ability to STOP the ugly explosion of our Federal Government. Yes they have nibbled at the edges of the General Government's BIG Brother expansion but to quote William Wallace in the movie Braveheart:
"You're so concerned with squabbling for the scraps from Longshank's table that you've missed your God-given right to something better. There is a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it. "
No Labels is so concerned with squabbling for the scraps from Obama's & Uncle Sam's table that they've missed their God-given duty to DO something better! While well intended and good hearted Republicans who call themselves Conservatives, are joining arm and arm with "Progressives, Liberals and everyone in between" they are failing to recognize that their position in Washington DC exists to provide "we the people with freedom" and not an ineffectual public relations stunt that only scratches the surface of corrupt DC politics. America needs BOLD & BIG action NOW! Not smoke and mirrors.
At the end of No Labels Who We Are they with touchy feely all inclusive do good-ism rhetoric state:
"No Labels does not expect anyone to shed his or her political identity when they join our movement. We are a "come as you are" community of passionate liberals, progressives, moderates, conservatives and everyone on the political spectrum. It's precisely our diversity that defines our group and makes us stronger. We are united by the conviction that people of all different beliefs can set aside the labels and together start solving America's problems."
A "community of passionate liberals, progressives, moderates, conservatives and everyone on the political spectrum.... it's precisely our diversity...that makes us stronger?" This convoluted thinking defies the law of non contradiction "where two antithetical ideas cannot both be true at the same time and in the same sense. X cannot be non-X. A truthful idea cannot be and not be simultaneously. And nothing that is true can be self-contradictory or inconsistent with any other truth. All logic depends on this simple principle. Rational thought and meaningful discourse demand it. To deny it is to deny all truth in one fell swoop."
The ideas of "passionate" Progressivism-Liberalism and Conservatism cannot peacefully co-exist as a "movement" "group" or "community" they are the antithesis of each other. They are bi-polar opposites. Progressivism-Liberalism is regressive, wrong and destructive to Liberty while Conservatism when followed and practiced by those brave enough to declare it, is the vanguard that advances and preserves Freedom in America!
Throughout the age's philosophers, theologians, thinkers have used labels for a simple reason. Communication.
Words-Labels have meaning and ideas have consequences. In the brilliant world of our Founders they were profound students of languages, words and ideas. They could read Aristotle in Greek, Cicero in Latin and Moses in Hebrew. They copied words and crafted words carefully to convey ideas precisely. They used words and ideas that were antagonistic and words and ideas that were protagonist. They labeled words and ideas all the time: Tories and Whigs, Federalists and Anti-Federalists, Liberty versus Tyranny, Freedom versus Despotism.
A classic example of their word use and labeling was democracy versus republicanism.
If you look at the history of progressivism and modern liberalism they love using the word democracy for our form of government because they despise our Constitutional republic, on the other hand conservatives being true to our Founders and our Constitution's Article 4 section 4 love using the word republic or republicanism. In 1776 or 1787 no respectable person called or labeled him or herself a democrat. Why? Because democracy was equated with tyranny while republicanism was equated with liberty. That is why Thomas Jefferson and many of our founders proudly labeled themselves republicans as it conveyed a political philosophy of limited government with enumerated powers, local control, sovereignty of the people over the State and State sovereignty over the potential corruption of the General-Federal government.
No Labels ignores the corrosion of Freedom in America and the explosion of the Federal government and wants the rest of us to join with the groups that label and call themselves Progressives (ask Hillary Clinton what she labels-calls herself-you'll be hearing that word a lot when she runs for President in 2015-2016) and Liberals that have for the last 100 years denegrate, obfuscated and ignored our Constitution. The Sovereign people of America are in a Cultural and Political War initiated by the Left, driven by Liberals, perpetuated by Progressives and downplayed by establishment Republicans who knowingly or unknowingly with so called good intentions are destroying individual Liberty and transforming our Republic under God into democratic-socialism under The State.
Liberals and others have told us that to use the label "War" is inappropriate in todays' political world. Obviously by now you know I profoundly disagree. To everything there is a season, a time for peace and a time for war. Our Founding Fathers stopped a tyrannical King through war, our Fathers defeated National Socialism and Soviet Socialism through war. South Korea and Western Europe is free because we fought a Cold War. Todays "War" is an enemy within: within our halls of Congress, within our Courts, within the White House, within the Culture, within Academia, Hollywood and the Media.
I for one cannot stand idly by while No Labels gentlemen and gentle-ladies cry, peace, peace-but there is no peace. The War has actually begun! Our fellow compatriots are already in the battlefields across America, they are working at the local level in villages, town halls, cities, counties and State Capitols declaring to corrupt Washington DC "is life so dear; or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!"
Our Glorious Stars and Stripes is falling, Our Republic is calling out to us to preserve the sacred fire of liberty with our hands and hearts in action raising Old Glory to the Greatness she once knew. Constitutional Conservative republican Representatives in Washington DC, don't waste our valuable time! Say NO to No Labels and YES to BOLD Constitutional Action now! Fight for the Sovereign People!!!
PS to get an idea of the perversion of language by the Left I highly recommend Jonah Goldberg's excellent book The Tyranny of Clich¨¦s-How Liberals Cheat In the War of Ideas. Goldberg points out that movements like No Labels feeds the monster of Liberal Lies and Ideas and accomplish very little.
© Jake Jacobs
August 5, 2013
*Warning-Warning* You might not like my "labeling ways" in this article on the No Label Group in Washington DC which has 3 Wisconsin Congressman's involvement: Sean Duffy, Tom Petri and Reid Ribble. I know all three and respect them VERY much BUT the Constitutional Conservative republican in me is concerned. As I constructed this article in my mind while working out at the gym I knew I would step on toes and toes close to home. A dear friend of mine Congressman Reid Ribble from Wisconsin's 8th District recently has been discussing his involvement with "No Labels" a Congressional group of 81 members to date. I have told Reid before that it is easy for me to speak and write on my concerns about corruption in Washington DC but very difficult to actually change that corruption. This article is not meant as a pot shot. If I am too vociferous and ungracious here please forgive me but my heart calls me to write this critique of No Labels. And before I continue with my article on words, labels and political identification let me say that I have the utmost respect, admiration and love for Reid Ribble as he is the real deal, a Christian Conservative (opps sorry for the label) who loves God, his family and America like few men that I know. I've known Reid since our High School years at Appleton High School East. We were called "The Patriots" & Reid is a true Patriot. So my issue here is not so much with Reid's association and advocacy of the "No Label" group in Congress but with No Labels fuzzy thinking on words and labels and wishful thinking that believes if we "can get along" without "labeling" each other Our Republics problems will go away.
As earlier stated I write this article with trepidation that I might offend my friends and fellow compatriots, but, with the realization that our Federal Government is in serious dysfunction and because America's Central Government has the nefarious nature of beating it's own into compliance, I am compelled to write.
In my various conversations with Senators and Congressmen over the last few years they tell me that they truly have very LITTLE power and that the Congressional Oligarchs, and DC bureaucrats call most of the shots as they pass discombobulated and convoluted bills they had to pass without reading so they would know what was in it and or to maintain their pork barreling power.
Thus I'm more convinced than ever that the KEY to saving America is as our Founders stated: at the local and State level, NOT the Federal level.
We MUST find a way to nullify the evils ACTS of a corrupt Federal Government gone amuck and determined to destroy our Freedoms. No Labels from my perspective is a waste of time. Like most liberal rhetoric it sounds good on paper and makes sweet sound bites but like castrated sheep, No Labels does next to nothing to STOP the Federal Government Wolves at our Door...here is my thinking:
I call and label myself a Constitutional Conservative republican. For good reason. Labels convey ideas. Some ideas put into action secure Liberty while other ideas put into action destroy Freedom. I label myself this way unabashedly and proudly so because I believe the US Constitution to be one the THE most amazing government documents in World History and it is the Law of the Land. I call myself a republican small "r" because many of our Founders proudly labeled themselves republicans such as Washington, Jefferson, and Madison. The Founders labeled the United States a Constitutional republic not a democracy.
I label myself a Conservative because Modern Conservatives actually express Ancient Classic liberalism's belief in a limited Federal government, local control, individual freedom, conserving the traditional values that make for a healthy and holy society and a number of checks and balances to STOP the governments natural desire to grow and destroy the Life and Liberty of we the people.
If you go to No Labels website Under Who We ARE they state: "No Labels is a movement of Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between dedicated to promoting a new politics of problem solving. While many powerful interest groups in Washington wield influence that effectively pulls leaders and the political parties apart, No Labels' mission is different – it's about fixing, not fighting."
There you have it No Labels is about "fixing, not fighting." No Labels even sells No Label products such as coffee cups, BBQ aprons, water bottles, baby rib t-shirts and even a hat "labeled" pun intended "The kissing hat" where the Democratic donkey is kissing the Republican elephant.
No fighting, kissing each other, no labeling each other, and an oft repeated mantra "Not Left, not Right, forward." This is an admirable goal to fix the Nations problems without fighting. Their intentions to move America forward is a wonderful platitude, but will it work in the real world of fallen, corrupt and sinful man?
Here's where I must depart from No Labels declarative "can't we all get along?!" No we can't! And here's why: Human Nature and Truth.
On Truth. Our Declaration of Independence declares, "we hold these truths to be self evident." Our Founders always presupposed in their argumentation and advocacy for Freedom and Liberty from tyrannical Government that Truth was essential for its success. When they argued and yes, dare I say fought their case they did so with ideas from the Scriptures and great thinkers from Western Civilization. Our Founders argued their case with the conviction that there were good ideas and bad ideas, that there was right and wrong and that there where Freedom fighters and Freedom destroyers. They did so with the conviction that declared, "Give me Liberty or Give me Death!" and as the despotic British Government executed them they cried out "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country!"
While Truth calls us to respect each other's humanity, Truth also calls us to call out deniers of Truth and destroyers of Life and Liberty. Such destroyers are in Congress and some are in the "No Labels 81¡å and they call and label themselves Progressives and Liberals.
By the way many so-called Conservatives in Congress today are deniers of Truth.
On Human Nature. James Madison in Federalist paper Number 51 states: "If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions."
Here is where No Labels misses the mark with their good intentions, and peaceful platitudes. They fail to grasp the reality of human nature and the bloody, dirty and raucous nature of securing freedom. From time immemorial most of humanity and politicians have not been angels and governments have not been angelic thus we fought a War to secure Liberty. Thus we fought a Civil War to destroy slavery. Thus we fought myriads of Civil Rights Battles to end segregation and discrimination. American history is replete with bold argumentation and battling for Truth over the lies of corrupt men, politicians and government at the Local, State and Federal levels.
Did not The Prince of Peace call corrupt leaders in his day "brood of vipers and white washed tombs." Did He not speak of hell more than heaven and that two swords were enough?
I do not for a moment doubt the decent and good intentions of many "No Labelers." Their spirit and hearts desire is to respectfully and peacefully fix and solve our problems. However, with all due respect, their intentions are not a path forward to Heavenly solutions but the continued Federal Government's Road To Serfdom. A road that is a muddled moderate complacency that perpetuates Government inefficacy and the continued expansion of the Federal Government's control over the sovereign People! It is unrealistic, grandiose, and naive wishful thinking that does not have the ability to STOP the ugly explosion of our Federal Government. Yes they have nibbled at the edges of the General Government's BIG Brother expansion but to quote William Wallace in the movie Braveheart:
"You're so concerned with squabbling for the scraps from Longshank's table that you've missed your God-given right to something better. There is a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it. "
No Labels is so concerned with squabbling for the scraps from Obama's & Uncle Sam's table that they've missed their God-given duty to DO something better! While well intended and good hearted Republicans who call themselves Conservatives, are joining arm and arm with "Progressives, Liberals and everyone in between" they are failing to recognize that their position in Washington DC exists to provide "we the people with freedom" and not an ineffectual public relations stunt that only scratches the surface of corrupt DC politics. America needs BOLD & BIG action NOW! Not smoke and mirrors.
At the end of No Labels Who We Are they with touchy feely all inclusive do good-ism rhetoric state:
"No Labels does not expect anyone to shed his or her political identity when they join our movement. We are a "come as you are" community of passionate liberals, progressives, moderates, conservatives and everyone on the political spectrum. It's precisely our diversity that defines our group and makes us stronger. We are united by the conviction that people of all different beliefs can set aside the labels and together start solving America's problems."
A "community of passionate liberals, progressives, moderates, conservatives and everyone on the political spectrum.... it's precisely our diversity...that makes us stronger?" This convoluted thinking defies the law of non contradiction "where two antithetical ideas cannot both be true at the same time and in the same sense. X cannot be non-X. A truthful idea cannot be and not be simultaneously. And nothing that is true can be self-contradictory or inconsistent with any other truth. All logic depends on this simple principle. Rational thought and meaningful discourse demand it. To deny it is to deny all truth in one fell swoop."
The ideas of "passionate" Progressivism-Liberalism and Conservatism cannot peacefully co-exist as a "movement" "group" or "community" they are the antithesis of each other. They are bi-polar opposites. Progressivism-Liberalism is regressive, wrong and destructive to Liberty while Conservatism when followed and practiced by those brave enough to declare it, is the vanguard that advances and preserves Freedom in America!
Throughout the age's philosophers, theologians, thinkers have used labels for a simple reason. Communication.
Words-Labels have meaning and ideas have consequences. In the brilliant world of our Founders they were profound students of languages, words and ideas. They could read Aristotle in Greek, Cicero in Latin and Moses in Hebrew. They copied words and crafted words carefully to convey ideas precisely. They used words and ideas that were antagonistic and words and ideas that were protagonist. They labeled words and ideas all the time: Tories and Whigs, Federalists and Anti-Federalists, Liberty versus Tyranny, Freedom versus Despotism.
A classic example of their word use and labeling was democracy versus republicanism.
If you look at the history of progressivism and modern liberalism they love using the word democracy for our form of government because they despise our Constitutional republic, on the other hand conservatives being true to our Founders and our Constitution's Article 4 section 4 love using the word republic or republicanism. In 1776 or 1787 no respectable person called or labeled him or herself a democrat. Why? Because democracy was equated with tyranny while republicanism was equated with liberty. That is why Thomas Jefferson and many of our founders proudly labeled themselves republicans as it conveyed a political philosophy of limited government with enumerated powers, local control, sovereignty of the people over the State and State sovereignty over the potential corruption of the General-Federal government.
No Labels ignores the corrosion of Freedom in America and the explosion of the Federal government and wants the rest of us to join with the groups that label and call themselves Progressives (ask Hillary Clinton what she labels-calls herself-you'll be hearing that word a lot when she runs for President in 2015-2016) and Liberals that have for the last 100 years denegrate, obfuscated and ignored our Constitution. The Sovereign people of America are in a Cultural and Political War initiated by the Left, driven by Liberals, perpetuated by Progressives and downplayed by establishment Republicans who knowingly or unknowingly with so called good intentions are destroying individual Liberty and transforming our Republic under God into democratic-socialism under The State.
Liberals and others have told us that to use the label "War" is inappropriate in todays' political world. Obviously by now you know I profoundly disagree. To everything there is a season, a time for peace and a time for war. Our Founding Fathers stopped a tyrannical King through war, our Fathers defeated National Socialism and Soviet Socialism through war. South Korea and Western Europe is free because we fought a Cold War. Todays "War" is an enemy within: within our halls of Congress, within our Courts, within the White House, within the Culture, within Academia, Hollywood and the Media.
I for one cannot stand idly by while No Labels gentlemen and gentle-ladies cry, peace, peace-but there is no peace. The War has actually begun! Our fellow compatriots are already in the battlefields across America, they are working at the local level in villages, town halls, cities, counties and State Capitols declaring to corrupt Washington DC "is life so dear; or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!"
Our Glorious Stars and Stripes is falling, Our Republic is calling out to us to preserve the sacred fire of liberty with our hands and hearts in action raising Old Glory to the Greatness she once knew. Constitutional Conservative republican Representatives in Washington DC, don't waste our valuable time! Say NO to No Labels and YES to BOLD Constitutional Action now! Fight for the Sovereign People!!!
PS to get an idea of the perversion of language by the Left I highly recommend Jonah Goldberg's excellent book The Tyranny of Clich¨¦s-How Liberals Cheat In the War of Ideas. Goldberg points out that movements like No Labels feeds the monster of Liberal Lies and Ideas and accomplish very little.
© Jake Jacobs
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(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
