On Monday of this week an article appeared in the Muskogee Daily Phoenix in which I, along with another Fort Gibson Town Trustee, was accused of having illegally submitted a change order to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Now, first of all, let me say that this accusation is absolutely untrue. The change order proposal was submitted to ODOT by the project engineer at the request of another Town Trustee. I was not present at the time and only learned about it afterwards. I certainly did not execute a change order without the Town Board of Trustees approval. In fact, the change has still not been executed as of this writing. So, the accusation was false but that is not the point of my writing.
The issue I want to address is the question of how to respond to a situation like this. At first I was incensed that I had suffered public defamation of character and had thoughts of lawsuits and demands of a retraction by the newspaper and political revenge, but I have learned that it is always to best to be patient and let the better part of judgement have time to rise to the forefront. I took no immediate action other than explaining the situation to people who directly asked me what was going on. I am glad I delayed in my reaction.
I have arrived at the conclusion that not all accusations have to be refuted. Especially not when they are politically motivated and have no basis in reality. To make a vehement response to such an accusation only seems to give it credibility that it was previous lacking thus strengthening the public perception that there is some merit to the charge. The accusers in a situation like this usually lack the confidence of the public they are trying to reach anyway.
I also realized that there has not been a single decision made since I became a member of the Fort Gibson Town Board of Trustees which would even tempt me, more less compel me, to do anything illegal or unethical. My personal reputation, word and character are far more important to me than any political contrivance could ever be. I am on the Board to serve the community of Fort Gibson to the best of my ability. I have devoted many hours to researching and learning everything I can about the legal requirements, financial systems and governing principles associated with municipal government. To that end, I feel that I have been quite successful.
In conclusion, I will not demand that the Muskogee Phoenix retract their article, nor will I sue the person who has falsely accused me. I will instead devote that time to the work for which I was elected which is the governance of the Town of Fort Gibson. I am grateful for the confidence of those who voted for me and hope that I can continue to serve their best interest and the best interest of the town as a whole for the next two years. Fort Gibson is a great community and it is my honor to live and serve here.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Employers as Agents of the Government?
Why does a person who decides to go into business for themselves and hire employees automatically become an unpaid agent of the government? All employers are required by to withhold taxes from their employees paychecks and submit the same to the government. In almost all small businesses the employer is just an individual like any other but because he took the initiative to start a business he has to devote his time to seeing to it that other people's taxes get paid. Now their is an movement in government to make employers responsible for determining whether an employee is an illegal alien or not. If an employer hires an illegal alien, even if the employee submits all of the required paperwork, the employer will be held responsible. If the employer suspects that a potential employee is illegal and refuses to hire him he can be sued for discrimination if it turns out the employee is legal.
Why does the burden of these government functions fall on the back of the employer? Why do we allow the government to treat an individual who decides to employ other people different than everybody else? In what way does this encourage hiring or employment? As a nation we have become so accustomed to this way of doing things we have lost sight of the fact that it doesn't have to be this way. Let's return to free enterprise, unencumbered by government regulation and interference. Let's let the United States once again become the free nation that introduced freedom and free enterprise to a dark world.
Why does the burden of these government functions fall on the back of the employer? Why do we allow the government to treat an individual who decides to employ other people different than everybody else? In what way does this encourage hiring or employment? As a nation we have become so accustomed to this way of doing things we have lost sight of the fact that it doesn't have to be this way. Let's return to free enterprise, unencumbered by government regulation and interference. Let's let the United States once again become the free nation that introduced freedom and free enterprise to a dark world.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Equal Opportunity Gives Way to Equal Outcomes
In the 234 year history of the United States of America there has been a major transition in what people expect from government. At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War the 13 colonies had won their independence but now what to do with it? They formed a Constitutional Convention to write a plan for governing this new nation. They debated the best ways to form a limited government that allowed maximum freedom to the citizens. They believed that the legitimate purpose of government was to protect the rights of the individual and they worked to establish a system of government that would serve that end. They succeeded in creating something that the world had never seen before.
For the next 100 years immigrants flocked to this country because of the opportunity that it offered. They understood that there were no guarantees and they didn't ask for any. All they wanted was a chance. They desired the freedom to dream, to attempt, to fail and try again. Competition created winners and losers but everybody had the opportunity to try and live their dreams. Some succeeded and some failed but all were free. Our form of government guaranteed each man equal opportunity.
Then dawned the era of the Progressive movement. A societal shift begin to transform the face of America. The rugged individualism and sense of strict personal responsibility that defined the first century of life in the United States gave way to a dependence on government provision and an expectation of government intervention to protect us from the common pitfalls of life. We gradually traded our freedom for a sense of security delivered by a government big enough and powerful enough to protect us from any catastrophe.
Now we have reached a point where we commonly accept the idea that it is a proper role of government to guarantee equal outcomes. We blindly ignore that fact that in order to provide equal outcomes for all groups of people it is inherently necessary to deprive some groups the product of their industrious labors so that we can provide an equal benefit to groups who are less skilled, less motivated and subsequently less productive.
The end result of this transformation will be economic collapse and poverty for all. It's happened before.
For the next 100 years immigrants flocked to this country because of the opportunity that it offered. They understood that there were no guarantees and they didn't ask for any. All they wanted was a chance. They desired the freedom to dream, to attempt, to fail and try again. Competition created winners and losers but everybody had the opportunity to try and live their dreams. Some succeeded and some failed but all were free. Our form of government guaranteed each man equal opportunity.
Then dawned the era of the Progressive movement. A societal shift begin to transform the face of America. The rugged individualism and sense of strict personal responsibility that defined the first century of life in the United States gave way to a dependence on government provision and an expectation of government intervention to protect us from the common pitfalls of life. We gradually traded our freedom for a sense of security delivered by a government big enough and powerful enough to protect us from any catastrophe.
Now we have reached a point where we commonly accept the idea that it is a proper role of government to guarantee equal outcomes. We blindly ignore that fact that in order to provide equal outcomes for all groups of people it is inherently necessary to deprive some groups the product of their industrious labors so that we can provide an equal benefit to groups who are less skilled, less motivated and subsequently less productive.
The end result of this transformation will be economic collapse and poverty for all. It's happened before.
Monday, March 28, 2011
The Measure of a Man's Life
What defines a man's life? Is it the titles he holds, the wealth he accumulates or some other symbol of status that his contemporaries hold in high esteem? Sometimes, but in the final measure of a man we find more than that. As I remember my Grandfather, Dale Hill, I think that the measure of a man is in the legacy he leaves behind in family, friends and the good he has done for others.
A man's life contains so many events and experiences that it is impossible to compile into a few paragraphs or even an entire book the total of what made the man and what he contributed to his community. In the case of my Grandpa he grew up in rural Oklahoma in the 1930s while the events that inspired the Grapes of Wrath were unfolding all across the state. He served in the Navy Seabees in the South Pacific during World War II where he contracted malaria and suffered from appendicitis but always maintained that he didn't want any recognition for this service because so many gave so much more. He returned from the war and started a family. He worked hard to provide for his family but eventually found time to help start a church in Fort Gibson and begin missionary work in Mexico and Haiti. His work in Haiti has transcended his own efforts because he had a firm belief in what could be accomplished there.
A man's life is measured by the mark he leaves on the time in which he lives. If he leaves the people he influences better off for having known him then his presence has improved the lot of mankind. So his measure can only really be made by those who knew him and who were effected by his presence. While he never achieved fame or recognition beyond his own community the impact he had on those who knew him was profound. I hope to live up to the measure that my Grandpa set. If I can do that I know that I will the the world a better place than I found it.
A man's life contains so many events and experiences that it is impossible to compile into a few paragraphs or even an entire book the total of what made the man and what he contributed to his community. In the case of my Grandpa he grew up in rural Oklahoma in the 1930s while the events that inspired the Grapes of Wrath were unfolding all across the state. He served in the Navy Seabees in the South Pacific during World War II where he contracted malaria and suffered from appendicitis but always maintained that he didn't want any recognition for this service because so many gave so much more. He returned from the war and started a family. He worked hard to provide for his family but eventually found time to help start a church in Fort Gibson and begin missionary work in Mexico and Haiti. His work in Haiti has transcended his own efforts because he had a firm belief in what could be accomplished there.
A man's life is measured by the mark he leaves on the time in which he lives. If he leaves the people he influences better off for having known him then his presence has improved the lot of mankind. So his measure can only really be made by those who knew him and who were effected by his presence. While he never achieved fame or recognition beyond his own community the impact he had on those who knew him was profound. I hope to live up to the measure that my Grandpa set. If I can do that I know that I will the the world a better place than I found it.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Veteran's Day Speech
I gave this speech on Veteran's Day 2010. I just finished reading Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose and wanted to post something to recognize our Veteran's and I thought of this. I hope you will read it and remember our Veterans and maybe post a comment in support of them. Thanks.
Veteran's Day Speech
Fort Gibson School Assembly
November 11, 2010
Good Morning. It's an honor to be here with you this morning. The last time I spoke to a group in this building it was for the celebratory occasion we call graduation, ... for the Class of 1989. The occasion that brings us together today is of a more solemn character. That occasion, as you are aware, is the observance of Veteran's Day. Veteran's Day, which started out as Armistice Day, the day that the Armistice Agreement that ended the bloodbath now known as World War I was signed. Since that time the day has become Veteran's Day and is now observed in remembrance of all Veterans who have served the United States in the defense of Liberty.
Liberty, a term we have all heard and casually used but which has a power to move men to do extraordinary things. In 1775 Patrick Henry made a speech before the Continental Congress which he concluded with the words, "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" So why is liberty so important? Why would a man make a statement like, "give me liberty or give me death!" Why would men fight and die to defend liberty? I submit to you today that it is because they truly believe and understand that liberty is worth the price. The freedom to decided for yourself what you will become and to achieve anything that your talent and determination make possible. To live without the encumbering bonds of a tyrannical government or dictator.
These are the core values that motivate people to enlist in the Armed Forces and dedicate years of their lives maybe even their lives if called upon to do so to defend the United States and the liberty and freedom that she embodies. When John F. Kennedy said, "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." He knew that it would be men and women who were willing to commit themselves fully to the preservation of freedom who would actually fulfill such an audacious promise.
Men and women, who give without expecting anything in return. They write a blank check to the United States of America and they back it with their lives if necessary. And when the task is done, the ones who survive go back to their homes and they raise their families and do their jobs and they live next door to us and we don't even know their stories. Take for example PFC Toby Braveboy from Coward, SC. Private First Class Toby Braveboy was a Creek Indian with Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th US Cavalry. On November 17, 1965 PFC Braveboy was walking point for 1st platoon in the Ia Drang Valley of Vietnam when the first shots of what turned into a three day battle rang out and Toby was shot in the left hand and thigh and his M-16 rifle was destroyed. Weaponless and in extreme pain he crawled into thick brush and hid. When night fell he left his hiding place and started trying to find his way back. He quickly ran into 3 more wounded American soldiers. They're wounds were too severe for them to crawl so Toby set out again to try and find help. He soon came upon more wounded American soldiers just as they were discovered by a Vietnamese patrol. Toby was already covered in blood so he played dead and was taken for dead by the Vietnamese soldiers who over the next few hours executed the other wounded American soldiers. Finally when the Vietnamese patrol moved on Toby set out again, but by now he was totally disoriented and he crawled through tall elephant grass toward what he though was his company but he was going in the wrong direction. At daybreak the next day he hid in the underbrush along side the Ia Drang river. Still bleeding from his left hand and continually tortured by mosquitoes, ants and the chill of the night air he stayed hidden until on November 22 a Vietnamese patrol was passing by very near to his hiding place and the last soldier in the column just happened to look into the brush and see him. Toby later recounted, "Four walked by me and the last one looked me right in the eye. He stopped and pointed his rifle at me. I raised my wounded hand and shook my head no. He lowered his rifle and walked away. So young. He was just a boy, not more than sixteen or seventeen." Two days later the US Air Force began bombing the area around where Toby was hiding. Desperate, he wrapped his shirt around his hand that had already begun to develop gangrene and staggered out into a clearing to try and flag an American plane or helicopter. A helicopter pilot saw him and he was rescued, seven days after he was shot. The local newspaper in Coward, SC had already run his obituary, but he had survived and he was honorably discharged from the Army and returned to his hometown where he went to work as a roofer.
There are veteran's like Private Braveboy who's stories we will never know in every small town and every big city in this country. They don't ask for recognition for what they do, they put their medals in a drawer and they cover their scars and they go about their lives and we remain unaware of the heroes among us. But once a year, we dedicate a day to recognize the Veterans living and dead who served and fought to defend liberty. We can never repay the debt we owe to them and they wouldn't allow it if we could so we just set aside this solemn day, we dedicate some time and we say Thank You. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you and God bless you and God bless America.
Veteran's Day Speech
Fort Gibson School Assembly
November 11, 2010
Good Morning. It's an honor to be here with you this morning. The last time I spoke to a group in this building it was for the celebratory occasion we call graduation, ... for the Class of 1989. The occasion that brings us together today is of a more solemn character. That occasion, as you are aware, is the observance of Veteran's Day. Veteran's Day, which started out as Armistice Day, the day that the Armistice Agreement that ended the bloodbath now known as World War I was signed. Since that time the day has become Veteran's Day and is now observed in remembrance of all Veterans who have served the United States in the defense of Liberty.
Liberty, a term we have all heard and casually used but which has a power to move men to do extraordinary things. In 1775 Patrick Henry made a speech before the Continental Congress which he concluded with the words, "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" So why is liberty so important? Why would a man make a statement like, "give me liberty or give me death!" Why would men fight and die to defend liberty? I submit to you today that it is because they truly believe and understand that liberty is worth the price. The freedom to decided for yourself what you will become and to achieve anything that your talent and determination make possible. To live without the encumbering bonds of a tyrannical government or dictator.
These are the core values that motivate people to enlist in the Armed Forces and dedicate years of their lives maybe even their lives if called upon to do so to defend the United States and the liberty and freedom that she embodies. When John F. Kennedy said, "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." He knew that it would be men and women who were willing to commit themselves fully to the preservation of freedom who would actually fulfill such an audacious promise.
Men and women, who give without expecting anything in return. They write a blank check to the United States of America and they back it with their lives if necessary. And when the task is done, the ones who survive go back to their homes and they raise their families and do their jobs and they live next door to us and we don't even know their stories. Take for example PFC Toby Braveboy from Coward, SC. Private First Class Toby Braveboy was a Creek Indian with Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th US Cavalry. On November 17, 1965 PFC Braveboy was walking point for 1st platoon in the Ia Drang Valley of Vietnam when the first shots of what turned into a three day battle rang out and Toby was shot in the left hand and thigh and his M-16 rifle was destroyed. Weaponless and in extreme pain he crawled into thick brush and hid. When night fell he left his hiding place and started trying to find his way back. He quickly ran into 3 more wounded American soldiers. They're wounds were too severe for them to crawl so Toby set out again to try and find help. He soon came upon more wounded American soldiers just as they were discovered by a Vietnamese patrol. Toby was already covered in blood so he played dead and was taken for dead by the Vietnamese soldiers who over the next few hours executed the other wounded American soldiers. Finally when the Vietnamese patrol moved on Toby set out again, but by now he was totally disoriented and he crawled through tall elephant grass toward what he though was his company but he was going in the wrong direction. At daybreak the next day he hid in the underbrush along side the Ia Drang river. Still bleeding from his left hand and continually tortured by mosquitoes, ants and the chill of the night air he stayed hidden until on November 22 a Vietnamese patrol was passing by very near to his hiding place and the last soldier in the column just happened to look into the brush and see him. Toby later recounted, "Four walked by me and the last one looked me right in the eye. He stopped and pointed his rifle at me. I raised my wounded hand and shook my head no. He lowered his rifle and walked away. So young. He was just a boy, not more than sixteen or seventeen." Two days later the US Air Force began bombing the area around where Toby was hiding. Desperate, he wrapped his shirt around his hand that had already begun to develop gangrene and staggered out into a clearing to try and flag an American plane or helicopter. A helicopter pilot saw him and he was rescued, seven days after he was shot. The local newspaper in Coward, SC had already run his obituary, but he had survived and he was honorably discharged from the Army and returned to his hometown where he went to work as a roofer.
There are veteran's like Private Braveboy who's stories we will never know in every small town and every big city in this country. They don't ask for recognition for what they do, they put their medals in a drawer and they cover their scars and they go about their lives and we remain unaware of the heroes among us. But once a year, we dedicate a day to recognize the Veterans living and dead who served and fought to defend liberty. We can never repay the debt we owe to them and they wouldn't allow it if we could so we just set aside this solemn day, we dedicate some time and we say Thank You. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you and God bless you and God bless America.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Position on Federal Grants - Practical or Principle
As mayor of a small town I regularly make decisions about applications for federal government grants. I have long struggled with whether or not to stand on principle and oppose the application for federal grants or go with the practical wisdom and make the application on the basis that if we don't get that money someone else will. I took me a couple of years to arrive at the following conclusion.
I was elected to represent and serve the best interest of the people of Fort Gibson, OK. So I apply for the grant programs because that serves my town. My refusal to make that application only hurts the people of my town. The Congressmen and Senators, who created the unconstitutional grant program, take no note of my refusal so I have had no positive effect on federal government policy.
I am also a United States Citizen and patriot so I have an obligation to speak out against these federal grant programs that are typically beyond the constitutional scope of federal government. It is this type of spending that is bankrupting the United States and gradually eroding the sovereignty of our state and local governments. When the federal government gives us money it always comes with strings attached.
So my conclusion may seem to be hypocritical and strict constitutionalists may argue that I should refuse to paticipate in such programs on the basis of principle but I have found that sometimes the practical trumps the principle.
I was elected to represent and serve the best interest of the people of Fort Gibson, OK. So I apply for the grant programs because that serves my town. My refusal to make that application only hurts the people of my town. The Congressmen and Senators, who created the unconstitutional grant program, take no note of my refusal so I have had no positive effect on federal government policy.
I am also a United States Citizen and patriot so I have an obligation to speak out against these federal grant programs that are typically beyond the constitutional scope of federal government. It is this type of spending that is bankrupting the United States and gradually eroding the sovereignty of our state and local governments. When the federal government gives us money it always comes with strings attached.
So my conclusion may seem to be hypocritical and strict constitutionalists may argue that I should refuse to paticipate in such programs on the basis of principle but I have found that sometimes the practical trumps the principle.
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