The real Political ‘Reform’ we need is Truth and Wisdom

“It would be a great reform in politics if wisdom could be made to spread as easily and as rapidly as folly.” — Winston Churchill

Well said!

Saving Marriage in Pennsylvania: What Could be More Reasonable?!

Okay. Confession time. I admit it.

A Marriage Protection Amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution won’t solve all the world’s problems. It won’t lower your taxes, fix the health care system, rebuild roads and bridges, make peace with your teenage daughter or even help you lose weight.

Believe it or not, this line of argument against the marriage amendment actually keeps resurfacing from its detractors. And these are mainly educated professionals — along with their sympathizers in the news media — who ought to know better. Most of these arguments don’t even pass the “reasonable man” test (see, I did learn something in my Business Law 101 class!). Would a reasonable man (person) really believe that unless any policy proposal fixes all of society’s perceived crises, that it is not important and a waste of time? Would a reasonable man really think that everyone — from employers to moms and pops to victims of domestic violence to health care workers — would somehow magically lose their “rights” because Pennsylvania would choose to keep marriage as the union of husband and wife??

It’s absurd, but these are the same allegations that are repeated ad nauseum by amendment opponents and editorial pages - and will be presented (with a straight face, I might add) in upcoming testimony before the state senate in Harrisburg.

Believe in protecting marriage between husband and wife? It’s time to let your state senator and representative know you support Senate Bill 1250. Call or E-mail them now before crucial senate meetings coming up on March 17th and 18th. Tell them that you want marriage protected in PA’s constitution and you want it done now. And that no “reasonable man” or woman believes that it could be anything but good for society!

Pennsylvania’s Getting Some Attention, But Will Folks Get out to Vote in a Primary?

As presidential primaries go, Pennsylvania usually is at the back of the pack, a Johnny-come-lately, almost an afterthought. As it turns out, the national media is abuzz now over the Democratic primary elections in the Keystone State. Why? Simply because there is still a contest between Obama and Clinton. Republicans will really only have a “choice” between McCain and . . . McCain.

Pennsylvania Family Institute has long advocated what we call “responsible citizenship,” including voter registration (deadline March 24), getting informed about candidates, then getting out to vote on BOTH election days - Primary elections (mark your calendar for April 22) and General election (Nov. 4).

For info about federal candidates, see the Presidential Voter Guide and Congressional Score Card, published by the Family Research Council.

And here’s some info you won’t get from this week’s talking heads or your local rag:

We will also be electing statewide officials for Attorney General, Auditor General and State Treasurer. Plus all 203 State House seats and half the State Senate seats are on the ballot. And take our word for it, THEY ALL MATTER!

Let’s hear from some of you out there, those of you busy doing what working people do - raising our kids, paying our taxes, dealing with employers or employees, supporting our churches, and paying our taxes (I guess I said that twice!).

Taking the (Marriage) Law into Their Own Hands?

You might remembers back in Feb. 2004 when San Fran’s mayor announced he’ll perform “same-sex marriage” ceremonies, even though it was illegal in California. That was followed by the mayor of New Paltz, N.Y. following suit.

Those incidents triggered a number of efforts in other states to protect marriage from re-definition, ultimately leading to now 27 states with Marriage Protection Amendments in the state constitutions (with 11 of those passing in Nov. 2004 alone!).

Now, right here in small-town central Pennsylvania, the mayor of State College (yes, the hometown of Penn State Univ.) announces he’ll preside over “same-sex marriage” ceremonies. (You may remember a similar stunt by former Mayor John Street in Philly just last year.)

Will this renegade action right here in P-A finally wake up our legislators and citizens to the need to pass a constitutional amendment to protect marriage? I hope so! We only get to have a say if they first pass legislation in Harrisburg; otherwise it’s in the hands of activist judges or maverick mayors down that road.

Let’s all contact our state senators and state reps and tell them we want a Marriage Protection Amendment on the ballot. Tell them to pass SB 1250 before it’s too late! See PA for Marriage for more info and to help get the marriage amendment passed.

As We Honor Washington’s Birthday February 22nd. . .

What builds good character?  Just ask George!

“Your love of liberty - your respect for the laws - your habits of industry - and your practice of the moral and religious obligations, are the strongest claims to national and individual happiness.”

George Washington

1789 - letter to the Residents of Boston

Pennsylvanians Lose More Than $300,000 on Opening Day

Well, that’s not exactly today’s headline, but it is the truth about what went down at the newest racetrack casino to fire up the one-arm bandits.

“Welcome to Pennsyl-Vegas, Edward G. Rendell, Governor”

Here’s the day’s “take” as they call it in the gambling industry (for good reason!):  From the Harrisburg Patriot-News report on Penn National’s opening day: “Gamblers pumped $3.84 million into the 2,020 slot machines at the Dauphin County casino and won back $3.48 million:  Translate: Folks lost $360,000!

Rendell’s State Budget: This Ain’t Your Family’s Budget!

The governor’s proposed budget contains at least three lessons on how NOT to make a family household budget:

1. Do not plan to spend more than you have.

2. Do not steal from your neighbors repeatedly over the next year so that YOU can spend more than you have.

3. Do not engage in nos. 1 & 2 above, then tell your neighbors that it’s good for them by calling it “Protecting Progress” (Gov. Rendell’s words).

“Gov. Rendell should be honest with the people of Pennsylvania with his proposed increases in government spending,” said Matthew Brouillette of The Commonwealth Foundation. “Under his proposal, total state spending would increase 5.7%, or $2.34 billion, this year alone. In addition, Gov. Rendell wants to borrow another $3.3 billion that future generations will be forced to pay back.” See The Commonwealth Foundation.

Any comments from average Pennsylvania families like yours? Tell us what you think. Our (Blog) door is always open!

Gov’t Showcases Casinos, Indicts Casino Owner on Same Day!

Guess what was showcased in the East Wing of Pennsylvania’s capitol yesterday? On a typical day in the open atrium area, one might see tables representing vocational-technical schools or honoring EMT personnel from around the state. But on this day, it was………ta dah…..Pennsylvania’s casinos and horse racetracks! That’s right, Harrah’s, Mohegan Sun and the other state-sponsored slot machine barns. And it was sponsored by two state agencies: our own Dept. of Agriculture and the Gaming Commission, courtesy of you and me - the taxpayers.

To top it off, don’t miss the irony of my second discovery after leaving the capitol: The news that Mount Airy (Poconos) casino owner Louis DeNaples was indicted for perjury by the Dauphin County D.A. just 3 blocks from the capitol on the same day as gambling was being celebrated at the capitol! He allegedly lied about criminal/mob connections when he was being questioned in the process of obtaining his lucrative gambling license. (His license has now been suspended.)

“May None But Honest and Wise”

Here is a prayer you can use as you pray for elections in 2008. It comes from a letter written by President John Adams, first occupant of the newly-constructed White House. I saw the prayer engraved in a mantle piece inside the East Wing of the White House, and snapped a picture while at the pro-life breakfast and reception January 22nd.

It reads:

I Pray Heaven To Bestow The Best of Blessings on This House And All that shall hereafter Inhabit it May none but Honest and Wise men ever rule under This Roof.

- President John Adams

 

 

March for Life at 35

My daughter Rebekah and I had toe warmers… thankfully… as we participated in the 35^th annual March for Life. It was cold, damp, and at times a freezing rain threatened with a few sprinkles.

We drove down to Washington Monday night so we could attend the Tuesday White House pro-life breakfast (see blog post below), but then we met up with the bus from Rebekah’s school, Covenant Christian Academy, which brought a number of upperclassmen and teachers to the March.

The sheer number of young people participating in the March was a highlight… and something that both speakers and news reporters took note of. Here’s a dispatch from Brett Lieberman of the Harrisburg Patriot News, entitled “Youth Swell Ranks of Abortion Foes” :

Youth Swell Ranks of Abortion Foes — Patriot News

Let me turn Brett Lieberman’s question on you: Why are more young people involved in the pro-life cause today?

Patriot News Reporter Brett Lieberman interviews Covenant Christian Academy Student Gabe Mason.