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# 1. 9/10/09 3:25 PM by Gary - Williamson
Very well stated and written Michael. It's interesting that many who are supporters of this "it's about us" attitude when it comes to health insurance are the same ones who were protesting the imagined loss of individual civil liberties for the sake of security post 9/11. Their stance seems to be "I'll give up my rights for universal health care but not for the security of my country". For the record, I don't support giving up rights for either, and I don't believe that we did even with the Patriot act. The same crowd who whined about warrantless wiretaps by Bush (but not by Obama who continues them to this day) seems perfectly ok with the letting the government control their access to health care. Personally I'd rather have Rahm Emanuel listening to my phone conversations than deciding what health care I can get.

Editor's Note: Thank you Gary.

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# 2. 9/10/09 3:33 PM by Jim - Rochester
Please explain "post-Biblical revelation"

God changed his mind?

Editor's Note: See, I could refer you back to the zillion times I've explained this before, or I could provide a "post-what-I've-written-earlier" explanation because you were too dense to get it the first zillion times.

The Bible illustrates this pattern--sometimes called the "pride cycle"--of which I write, too. The Book of Mormon just highlights it in such a way that it cannot escape notice.

And please note, if you're trying to change the subject: don't. This isn't about the Bible or post-Biblical revelation. This is about the constancy of human nature versus the lie that progressive fascists throw about, that modern times require re-thinking of "freedom" in terms of collective interests. It's bullcrap and I'm calling it.

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# 3. 9/10/09 3:56 PM by Peter Lounsbury - Homestead, FL
Our Constitution allowed for change, but the current wrecking crew is unhappy with the rules because they must lie, cheat, steal, stack the deck and control everything we see and hear (minus Fox and Bloggers) in order to win. They know that they don't have the supoprt for their radical plans, and they're pissed. If they keep pushing and force us to defend the Constitution they will not like the outcome. I can tell you as a matter of fact that the military will uphold it's oath to defend the Consitution. If it gets ugly, they'll only themselves to blame.

Editor's Note: It is intentionally difficult to change the Constitution. And the only changes, really, are tweaks and clarifications in the form of amendments. Amend, not "fundamentally transform," Mr. Obama.

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# 4. 9/10/09 4:15 PM by Jim - Rochester
I admit I don't pay a lot of attention to what you write, but since you used the term, I think you should be willing to at least define it.

Please explain "post-Biblical revelation"

Editor's Note: Even when it's as obvious as my very clever response to your first comment, you refuse to get it. Sigh. I don't know if I can help you. Even the Son of Man, who gave sight to the blind, could not open the eyes of those who would not see.

Post = after; chronologically following.

Biblical = of or pertaining to the Bible; e.g. its times, lands, or people.

Revelation = that which is revealed; esp. communication from God to man.

This is the part where I ask you to do some homework--teach a man to fish, as they say. Click on the "Search" at the top of the WOTL main page. Enter "Revelation, Bible" into the search field. Click the boxes in front of "Search column" and "Search column comments" to maximize your odds. Change the month to "all months." You can try any year, but 2003-2005 is a gold mine. Click on the search button to initiate. Read what comes up under my name, or Miss K's, or those of other LDS. Spend the rest of your disposable time today doing this and thinking and pondering and praying, and if you still have questions ask again tomorrow.

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# 5. 9/10/09 5:23 PM by albert1
#1 The Constitution was not written on golden tablets or carved in stone. It is a living document subject to being amendmended.

#2 Like The Bible much of the problem comes from who is interpreting it. Fortunately we do have a Supreme Court that is supposed to interpret constitutionality and have the final say.

Unfortunately selection and appointment of judges to it has been very politicized.

I just hope the Court maintains balance to some degree.

Editor's Note: "Living document" is another progressive lie that enables and flows from the main one (that we can outgrow and redefine freedom). As noted to Peter, the amendment process is purposefully difficult.

The "supposed to" being the key words. Too often the "interpretation" turns into radical extrapolation.

Thanks Albert.

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# 6. 9/10/09 5:42 PM by AC
It's funny that you refuse to see the examples of succesful government run programs that have not even come close to stripping you of your freedom or making you a drone to some evil dictator.

The military is one example, the reason it was created is because you and I can't fund the defense of our country alone so a fund was created to protect the nation by creating an army paid for by the federal govt through taxation.

Social security is another program that has benifited millions while not enslaving us. Ditto with the post office.

Will you advise your parents not to take advantage of the medicare program which most seniors use for their health care?

Govt. sponsored programs don't = 1984 or the beginning of a 2nd holocaust and they have been functioning alongside private entitities succesfully for a long time.

Editor's Note: Glad to give you a laugh. :) First let me thank you for staying on point even though we disagree.

The military is Constitutionally mandated, for the sound reason you give. So is the Post Office.

Social Security, which was only allowed to exist because FDR padded the Supreme Court with his fellow "times have changed and so must liberty" fascists to block challenges thereunto, is running so deep in unfunded liability that its inevitable collapse will bring untold suffering. Ditto Medicare.

I don't think it's funny that you ignore the danger or write it off just because we're America.

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# 7. 9/10/09 6:49 PM by albert1
Re "Post Biblical Revelation" and while you are at it Revelation not associated with Judeo-Christian Scripture.

What authorizes the LDS to have an exclusive on this process?

Apparently other "non-Biblical prophets with the exception of ones approved by the Mormon Church seem to be arbitrarily dismissed as invalid..

Editor's Note: The same authority by which Peter and Paul presumed to do the same.

Just a general note...the concluding post-Biblical revelation (henceforth "pBr") sentence was a throwaway line in reference to what I detected in the comment which brought about this column. The author seemed to be alluding to a specific argument often made by LDS in favor of pBr, especially the Book of Mormon. If that was the case, then my point was that this guy somehow missed a major element of the history contained therein.

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# 8. 9/10/09 9:28 PM by Emotional Wave
I have no intention of commenting on the content of your article or to agree or debate with you. I would just like to congratulate you on a very well written column.

Editor's Note: Thank you very much EW.

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# 9. 9/11/09 1:02 AM by Spencer
Just wrote on recent article of yours. I get that all the time from some liberal commentators this is not your grandfathers world anymore. We are what we are as a people because no one helped the pilgrims or pioneers. Besides each other.

My pioneer anscestors were kicked into the desert with no shelter so they went to work and built there homes. Grew there food. Same for pilgrims and other American Settlers.

Person that said that was saying Church encourages you to go to Government first then he gave me sob stories of people out of work no fault of there own and church no longer pays rent. Says Government is only way. Even in one comment said I beleived in misguided religious training.

Thing is how can an LDS person or any Christian for that matter accept something they did not earn. We have technology and transportation our anscestors did not but we still need same rules on helping each other or what the Government does will be better off not relying on Government.

As for we are the only industrialized nation without a health insurance program. If other nations are so great why did there anscestors come to this country and why do so many other people try to come here. I hate hearing what other countries do yet hearing how we are greatest country on earth and people kill to get over here.

Editor's Note: I have a dear friend of my own who has cited this very argument. Hopefully she'll see the light before it's too late.

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# 10. 9/11/09 7:27 AM by joe - roc
Nice column, less so the comments to Jim (must be a history there), but nice column.

1787 - I'm still an admirer of the constitution, it's government's contract with us. Health care has improved over the years and I do believe we can do a better job making health care affordable. But I'm grumpy, I think it's because under the constitution health care is neither a right nor a government power.

If we're going to change the contract then change it. Or maybe not? It could simply give the government carte blanc to go even crazier.

If one looks at President Obama's time table it's all about forcing the change through before there's a chance of an election tipping the vote. Fancy that. He's afraid the people might have a chance to voice their opinion?

I'm not understanding the conversation regarding slipping the bill through with a 51% vote vs. a 60% vote but I do think if we're going to violate the constitution it should be with a bare minimum of 60% on board.

Editor's Note: Yes, my comments to Jim were less than kind, and I'm sorry for that. And yes, there's a history there. I sensed, right or wrong, that he was trying to bait me into a tangential discussion so he wouldn't have to defend the progressive lie. And since I have been writing here for nigh on seven years, and since he has been lurking for nearly that long, it is impossible for him to have missed the many explanations I have given on that subject.

Anyway, to your comment: thank you. One should never give this kind of power to government. You might trust your side with it, but what happens when the tables turn? What happens in a crisis or emergency? What are they building in the basement?

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# 11. 9/11/09 8:58 PM by AC
"Social Security, which was only allowed to exist because FDR padded the Supreme Court with his fellow "times have changed and so much liberty" fascists to block challenges thereunto, is running so deep in unfunded liability that its inevitable collapse will bring untold suffering. Ditto Medicare"

As you know social security has been raided by the federal govt year after year or it would be funded for many years to come. Medicare has the lowest overhead margin of any health care program going right now and with the elimination of the waste and fraud it could be healthy for years to come.

Editor's Note: I don't care what "would be." They're trillions of dollars in arrears, regardless of the specific cause. One might argue that their very nature as government programs makes them susceptible to this kind of corruption.

From what you said I think we can agree, AC, that our first priority can and ought to be rooting out this corruption. Can we please work on that before adding another log to the fire?

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# 12. 9/12/09 9:02 AM by AC
"Social Security, which was only allowed to exist because FDR padded the Supreme Court with his fellow "times have changed and so much liberty" fascists..."

FDR was a fascist??

I have to write a column about this, that's an unbelievably naive statement and clearly you have swallowed hook, line and sinker the ramblings of the likes of Hannity, Beck and Limbaugh.

Editor's Note: If he himself wasn't a fascist, then fascists certainly admired him. Funny how "progressives" don't own their history.