#151 (11/14) - Iran: Only Growing More Dangerous

The Debate Over Iran By Mike Brownfield; found at The Heritage Foundation's blog; November 9, 2011

On November 22, Republican candidates will gather together in Washington, D.C., for a presidential debate presented by The Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute on CNN. The subject: foreign policy and national security [1]. Chief among the foreign policy issues that the President of the United States must address is the matter of an increasingly dangerous, hostile, and emboldened Iran.

Yesterday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a report confirming that Iran has made substantial progress in its nuclear weapons program. The IAEA says it “has serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme” and that “Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device.”

Though not surprising, the news is nonetheless alarming. A nuclear Iran poses a significant threat to the United States and its allies in the region, yet to date the Obama Administration’s response has fallen far short. Heritage’s James Phillips explains [2], ”The new IAEA report also should inject a greater sense of urgency into the Obama Administration over Iran’s accelerating nuclear efforts [3].” He also details the White House’s inadequate posture to date:

"The Administration has appeared complacent in recent months, promoting the narrative that the stuxnet virus unleashed on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure has dealt Iran’s nuclear program a devastating setback. But as Stephen Rademaker and Blaise Misztal noted in a persuasive op-ed [4] [yesterday], Iran’s uranium enrichment efforts were only temporarily slowed and now continue to grow at an alarming rate."

Given the Obama Administration’s lethargic response to Iran’s continued nuclear efforts, it is no wonder that the Israeli government reportedly is mulling [5] a preventive strike against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The Obama Administration needs to step up its efforts to pressure Iran to halt its nuclear weapons efforts, or Israel soon could be tempted to take military action [6] to address a growing existential threat.

Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, though, is not its only affront to the international community. Its list of offenses is as long as it is alarming.

The Iranian government suppresses civil rights and freedom of speech, and it is pursuing a plan for a heavily censored, all-Iranian Internet [7] that would block the country from the rest of the world. The government has pursued a course of religious persecution, too [8]. Iranian Christian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani was handed a death sentence in 2009 after questioning the Muslim teachings that his children were receiving at school. And the regime turned hikers into hostages when it sentenced two innocent American hikers [9] to eight years in jail for allegedly straying across the Iran-Iraq border two years ago.

But the Iranian regime is not content to keep its belligerence contained inside its borders. In October, the United States foiled an Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador [10] in Washington. The conspirators also planned bomb attacks on the Saudi and Israeli embassies in our nation’s capital. Fortunately, these flagrant acts of war and international terrorism were disrupted, but the intent remains. Together with its nuclear ambitions, Iran’s belligerent posture toward the United States cannot be ignored. In August, The Heritage Foundation Counterterrorism Task Force criticized the Administration [11] for failing to address the threat:

"The President’s strategy pays insufficient attention to state-sponsored terrorism, which will increasingly be a major force to be reckoned with. Iran is one of the most prominent and aggressive state sponsors of terror and its proteges–both Hamas and Hezbollah–represent potentially grave threats. In addition, transnational criminal cartels in Mexico are increasingly taking on the character of terrorist networks."

Following the news of Iran’s plot against the Saudi ambassador, Heritage’s James Carafano wrote [12] that the Obama Administration should take strong measures to respond to Iran’s actions, including conducting a proportional military response against suitable, feasible, and acceptable targets (similar to military operations conducted against al Qaeda in Pakistan). It should impose and enforce the strongest sanctions, target public diplomacy to expose the regime’s human rights abuses, reduce Iran’s meddling in Iraq, and rescind and rewrite its counterterrorism strategy. There are actions, too, that the United States can take to bring about liberty in Iran [13], as detailed in this Heritage report [13].

Throughout his Administration, President Obama has downplayed Iran’s progress on the ballistic missile and nuclear fronts, and he has maintained that international sanctions have slowed the momentum of Iran’s military buildup. Now we have even more evidence to the contrary. The Iranian threat is growing–both inside and outside its borders. And it’s an issue the Republican presidential candidates should not ignore.

[bold and italics emphasis mine]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org

URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/09/morning-bell-the-debate-over-iran/

URLs in this post:[1] foreign policy and national security: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/10/National-Security-Debate-Moves-to-Nov-22
[2] explains: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/08/new-iaea-report-charges-iran-experimented-with-nuclear-weapons-components/
[3] accelerating nuclear efforts: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/06/06/iran%e2%80%99s-nuclear-efforts-are-accelerating/
[4] persuasive op-ed: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-growing-threat-of-irans-nuclear-program/2011/11/04/gIQAiguIxM_story.html
[5] reportedly is mulling: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/in-israel-speculation-grows-about-iran-strike/2011/11/03/gIQAjy9AjM_story.html
[6] military action: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2010/01/An-Israeli-Preventive-Attack-on-Iran-Nuclear-Sites-Implications-for-the-US
[7] all-Iranian Internet: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/08/05/iran-tightens-screws-on-internet-users-again/
[8] pursued a course of religious persecution, too: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/10/12/voices-for-freedom-in-iran/
[9] American hikers: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/20/us-iran-usa-hikers-idUSTRE77J10A20110820
[10] Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/10/13/irans-foiled-assassination-plot-raises-important-questions/
[11] criticized the Administration: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/08/a-counterterrorism-strategy-for-the-next-wave
[12] wrote: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/10/11/united-states-thwarts-iranian-terrorist-plot/
[13] to bring about liberty in Iran: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2010/03/Ten-Practical-Steps-to-Liberty-in-Iran

Copyright © 2011 The Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.

#149 - Veteran's Day - "A Debt That Cannot Be Repaid"

[Note: The other day, I felt led by God to make a donation in memory of a late childhood friend who served in Vietnam. (I shared about him in my July 4th post,#98.) to a group that supports our troops called Freedom Alliance (which also posts articles related to our foregin policy). I encourage you to check them out at: http://www.freedomalliance.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2321&Itemid=61]

A Simple Gesture/A Challenge: Awhile back, the Lord impressed me to start a tradtion of going up and shanking the hand of and thanking any uniformed service person I came across - while shopping, at church, etc. - for their seervice to our country. Also, if you know of a veteran, at least this one day a year, I would challenge you to send them a card (snail mail kind or an e-card) to expresss your appreciation.

NOTE: Also check out information about the Congessional Medal of Honor Foundation at
http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/11/morning-bell-honoring-veterans-day/print/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Morning%2BBell

{NOTE: Please be sure to check my Sunday Special as it is about that day being the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. And of course, also on that day, please remember to watch this week's broadcast of "Truth That Transforms" (Orlando - 5 pm, ch.55.1) that again addresses the Christian roots of America.]
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Honoring Our Veterans - Chuck Colson; Breakpoint.com
November 12, 2007

In the mountains of Afghanistan, 29-year-old Navy Lt. Michael Murphy was leading a four-man team on a mission to capture a Taliban leader. Suddenly, some 40 insurgents opened fire from three sides. Lt. Murphy exposed himself to enemy fire to get a clear signal in order to radio for help. Despite being shot repeatedly, Murphy calmly gave his unit's location and requested immediate support for his team.
Lt. Murphy died of wounds that day two years ago. I was deeply moved by his story, which is recounted in Marcus Luttrell's riveting bestseller, but R-rated book, Lone Survivor. For his heroic actions, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor last month. As President Bush noted during the ceremony, attended by Murphy's parents, "With this medal we acknowledge a debt that will not diminish with time and can never be repaid."

The Medal of Honor—the highest of all military honors—is not often awarded. And yet, several of our biggest news outlets did not see fit to cover this event. This is appalling. When editors omit stories of heroism, they not only demean the sacrifice of our servicemen, they also deny America's young needed examples of love of country.
Walter Berns, author of the book Making Patriots, argues that patriots are made, not born—that we have to be taught to love our country. He also believes that this love, though necessary to our nation's very survival, does not come easily. That's because it is human nature to put ourselves first.

And yet, cemeteries both at home and abroad are full of Americans who did give their lives for their country—and are doing so today in Afghanistan and Iraq. Their sacrifice reminds us that, in order for America and its ideals to flourish, we have to teach our kids that there are things more important than simply fulfilling their own desires. It is not enough to show people that it is in their selfish interests that the country prospers. We have to remind them of what our nation's creed says: that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights." Those words rang in my ears when I signed up to serve in the marines during wartime.

Our nation's promise is a declaration of the rights and freedoms of everyone. So we each have a higher standard to meet than simply looking out for number one. Sadly, we have often fallen short of that standard, arbitrarily denying rights to one group or another. But whenever we did, we knew it was wrong; we worked to correct it; and most of the time, we have succeeded. If we truly believe in the ideal of freedom for all people, we will keep reminding our countrymen of what we stand for and why patriotism to our flag is noble—something for which any good citizen is willing to sacrifice.

How do we teach young people to love their country? Tell them about heroes like Michael Murphy and teach them to love goodness and freedom—and remind them that these are the ideals America was founded to preserve and promote. Talk to them about duty.It is the only way we can guarantee that those ideals will survive, in America and around the world.

What better time than Veterans Day to remind our youth of these precious truths—and of those who offer the ultimate sacrifice to preserve them.

[bold and italics emphasis mine]

# 146 - Student Loan Bailout SCAM [Go to #147 following for article about HERMAN CAIN and ..]

Morning Bell: Obama’s Student Loan Gift to Occupy Wall StreetPosted By Mike Brownfield The Atlantic On November 2, 2011

In the 2008 election, Senator Barack Obama reached out to young Americans with a fresh message that appealed to their dissatisfaction with the nation’s political process. He called it hope and change, and he connected with their hearts
and minds with such success that he captured 66 percent of the vote of those under 30. Now, three years later, some of those young Americans have taken to the streets not in joy and exuberance but in anger and frustration. President Obama has heard their call, and he’s now appealing once again to his political base.

Last week President Obama came bearing gifts in a speech at the University of Colorado in Denver–relief from student loan debt, delivered by way of an executive order without congressional authorization. Under the President’s plan, money lenders cannot require students to pay more than 10 percent of discretionary annual income for student loans. It also completely forgives student loans in 20 years, five
years fewer than before. But here’s the fine print, a key fact that the President failed to mention in his speech: For all its pomp and circumstance, the President’s plan would save college students less than $10 per month [2]–barely enough to buy two cups of coffee from Starbucks.

But that supposed “relief” will still cost taxpayers, who are already stretched thin. House Education Committee chairman John Kline (R-MN) criticized the President’s plan [3] on Fox News on Monday and says it’s not something America can afford: "This administration has been bypassing Congress on issue after issue after issue — they’ve sort of famously issued hundreds of rule changes and executive orders to bypass Congress, so I think that’s a mistake…We simply can’t keep providing money from the federal government in the form of subsidized or actual loans and Pell Grants when we don’t have the money."

Apart from the cost and the President’s continued penchant for circumventing Congress, Heritage education expert Lindsey Burke says [4] that the expanded student loan forgiveness is bad policy. Burke writes that the plan “shifts the burden of paying for college from the student–the person directly benefiting from college–to the nearly three-quarters of Americans who did not graduate from college.” [It makes further mockery of the claim by those "Occupiers" that they are part of the 99%who pay taxes!] In addition, she adds [4], it does nothing to make college more affordable in the long run–in fact, it serves to make college more expensive.

When it comes down to it, a major reason for tuition inflation over the years is government involvement in the first place. Pell grants have increased 475 percent, while the cost of college has increased 439 percent since 1982–faster than increases in the cost of health care–after adjusting for inflation. Federal subsidies insulate colleges from being remotely worried about spending money wisely or cutting costs.

If the President were truly interested in making college more affordable, Burke recommends that he consider limiting the number of years a student is eligible for federal subsidies, tying aid to merit, and encouraging states to put more course content online. It the short run, though, none of those measures would serve the political end of appealing to a voting block camped out across the country — and indeed mere blocks from the White House. It’s an ironic sight, in Washington, D.C., seeing the Occupy Wall Street encampment in McPherson Square. The President whom their generation helped elect has perpetuated a government contributing to the very societal ills underlying their grief–corporate bailouts, a weak economy, and poor job prospects. Unfortunately, they embrace a philosophy of anti-capitalist, big-government solutions that will that will only make matters worse. And instead of building an America in which future generations will be free to learn, grow, invent, and lead, the President is resorting to policies that curry their short-term political favor but will lead to long-term malaise.
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Article printed from The Foundry:Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org
URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/02/morning-bell-obamas-stude
nt-loan-gift-to-occupy-wall-street/

URLs in this post:[1] Image: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/occupy-dc-11-2-20 11.jpg
[2] less than $10 per month: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/10/27/great-news-obamas-stude nt-loan-changes-puts-8-in-borrower-pockets-per-month/
[3] criticized the President’s plan: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67213.html#ixzz1cYH 6IKA6
[4] says: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/10/27/pushing-basket-weaving-co llege-loan-debt-onto-working-class-taxpayers/

Copyright © 2011 The Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.
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Obama's Student-Loan Order Saves the Average Grad Less than $10 a Month / October 28, 2011

Of the many long-term problems the U.S. economy faces, student loans are a big one. Education costs are rising very quickly and incomes aren't. As a result, students will have to borrow more and more money to obtain university degrees and will have a tougher time paying their loans. President Obama seeks to respond to this problem with an executive order, yet his effort isn't like to have much impact, says Daniel Indiviglio, an associate editor at The Atlantic.

His order contains three separate components.
1 - He will assist borrowers with direct government loans and government-backed private loans to consolidate their balances, cutting the effective rate on student loans by up to 0.5 percent.
2 - He will further limit the amount of student loan payments from 15 percent of a graduate's income to 10 percent.
3 - Debt forgiveness will kick in at 20 years instead of 25, as it is now.

It bears mention that the second and third components of this order were already set to be implemented by legislation in 2014, and that President Obama's executive order has simply bumped up the time horizon. Regardless, the aggregate effects of these reforms, even following the somewhat optimistic estimates produced by the White House, have little
potential to bring about real change in the student loan sector.

Within the first component, a 0.5 percent decrease on the effective rate on loans will do little to alleviate the financial burden of loans on recent graduates. Over the past 10 years, the average student loan debt varied from $17,464 to $27,204 -- meaning that with a 0.5 percent decrease in rates the average graduate stands to gain between $4.50 and $7.75 per month. This is hardly a financing breakthrough.

The final two components also do little to relieve the problem. These components can neither reverse the spiraling costs of higher education, nor can they drastically reduce the payments that students make on their loans. Therefore, the executive order (which might not even stand if it is challenged in court) will likely do little to change the system of higher education financing.

Source: Daniel Indiviglio, "Obama's Student-Loan Order Saves the Average Grad Less than $10 a Month," The Atlantic, October 26, 2011.
For text: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/10/obamas-student-loan-action-wont-have-much-impact/247411

# 147 (11/9) - A Must Read Article on HERMAN CAIN, and ."Obama Spins His Wheels .."..

Attention: There will be an extra posting this week TOMORROW. Don't miss it!
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Note: It's been hard to watch the news the past few weels (and the past 10 days especially) and not see it dominated by the accusations Republican candidate Herman Cain. A friend has alerted me to a great article that I reference at the begiinning of the post that I invite you to check out as it gives a great explanation for what I think is happening. "The liberal lynching of Herman Cain" www.washingtontimes.com You might also check out the official Herman Cain's latest response at> http://www.caintruth.com/]
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"Obama Spins His Wheels; Economy Stuck in First Gear"(Heritage Foundation) Posted By Mike Brownfield On November 4, 2011
[1] No news is good news–except when it means that the story about America’s slow-moving economy remains the same. A new report this morning from the Department of Labor shows that despite all of President Barack Obama’s promises and policies to grow the economy, there are still 14 million unemployed Americans. Meanwhile, the President is still spinning his job creation wheels, signing executive orders and pushing for misguided and expensive policies that lack support in Congress.

The word from the monthly jobs report [2] shows that unemployment was little unchanged at 9 percent in October, with only 80,000 jobs created. While it’s always good news when jobs are created (especially given this Administration’s record), there isn’t much of a sign of a strong economic recovery.

So what’s the President doing about it? He’s pitching “job creation” plans that will do nothing to create jobs and that lack support in Congress while signing executive orders that sound great in speeches but ultimately will mean little for America’s economic bottom line.

On Wednesday, President Obama campaigned for his infrastructure spending plan [3], which he says would put hundreds of thousands of unemployed construction workers to work. Just a day later, the Democrat-controlled Senate failed to pass it, with bipartisan opposition [4]. As we wrote yesterday [5], dumping more money into roads wouldn’t create jobs anyhow, and the Senate was wise to reject it.

Then on Tuesday, the President signed an executive proclamation establishing the Fort Monroe National Monument located in Hampton, Virginia. Remarkably, the President spun the signing [6] as a jobs plan, saying “Local officials estimate that this may end up creating as many as 3,000 jobs in the region.” If his $787 billion stimulus wasn’t enough to get the economy going, perhaps a new national monument will do the trick? And if not that, then maybe the executive order he signed on Monday [7] that ”directs the FDA to step up work to reduce the drug shortages and protect consumers” could help? Add on the President’s do-nothing student loan relief he announced last week, which will offer less than $10 per month in relief to borrowers, and you have a series of stabs in the dark from the Obama White House that, apart for being bad policy, won’t amount to new jobs.

While the economy continues to sputter, America’s fiscal house continues to hemmorhage debt. The congressional “super committee” has until Thanksgiving to come up with a plan to find $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction savings. As of yesterday, congressional leaders remain at an impasse [8]. Done correctly, Congress can solve Washington’s spending and debt crisis, preserve its ability to protect the nation, and assist a return to a strong, vibrant economy–without raising taxes. And all of that will go a long way toward creating the kind of economic environment needed to grow jobs.

Yesterday, 33 Senators took a stand against overspending and overborrowing, writing a letter to the supercommittee [9] saying that their plan must balance our budget within 10 years; place entitlements on a path to fiscal solvency; include comprehensive tax reform that lowers rates and promotes economic growth–with no net tax increase–and avoids a further downgrade of our credit rating. Heritage vice president David S. Addington said of the letter [9], “While the Senators left out a crucial fifth criterion — fully funding defense to protect America — theirs is an important clear statement by elected leaders of what must be done.”

A new paper from Heritage, Three Pillars of Reform for the Super Committee [10], lays out specific recommendations for Congress, including fully funding national defense, transforming entitlement programs, and not raising taxes. Alison Fraser [11], Patrick Knudsen [12], and Mackenzie Eaglen [13] explain why that kind of bold action is necessary [10]:

"Given the nation’s gloomy budget scenarios, it is both urgent and imperative that Congress set the right course for solving the budget crisis. But details matter. If the super committee arrives at a rag-tag assortment of desperate deficit reduction policies simply to meet an arbitrary target, the committee could do more harm than good."

Today’s economic report shows more of the same economic news for America, and President Obama is responding with more of the same policies that won’t change the country’s economic direction. Campaigning for measures that lack merit — and lack congressional support — won’t solve the problem. With a fast-approaching deadline to cut spending, Congress has a chance to take substantial measures to put America’s budget on sound footing, and if it does it the right way, it can also help ensure a brighter economic future.

bold and italics emphasis mine]
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Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org

URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/04/morning-bell-obama-spins-his-wheels-while-economy-stuck-in-first-gear/

URLs in this post:

[1] Image: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/obama-g20.jpg
[2] monthly jobs report: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
[3] campaigned for his infrastructure spending plan: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/02/remarks-president-urging-congress-pass-infrastructure-piece-american-job
[4] bipartisan opposition: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577016271378053642.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
[5] we wrote yesterday: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/03/morning-bell-debunking-obamas-latest-jobs-myth/
[6] spun the signing: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/01/remarks-president-signing-presidential-proclamation-establishing-fort-mo
[7] signed on Monday: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/10/31/remarks-president-signing-executive-order
[8] remain at an impasse: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/debt-reduction-supercommittee-talks-appear-to-be-at-an-impasse/2011/11/03/gIQA37myjM_story.html
[9] writing a letter to the supercommittee: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/03/33-senators-who-know-what-america-needs/
[10] Three Pillars of Reform for the Super Committee: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/11/Three-Pillars-of-Reform-for-the-Super-Committee
[11] Alison Fraser: http://www.heritage.org/About/Staff/F/Alison-Fraser
[12] Patrick Knudsen: http://www.heritage.org/About/Staff/K/Patrick-Knudsen
[13] Mackenzie Eaglen: http://www.heritage.org/About/Staff/E/Mackenzie-Eaglen

Copyright © 2011 The Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.

# 145 (11/6) - Sunday Special - The "Meaning of Marriage, Sacrifice, Not Self-Fulfillment "

[Note: This past week's "Hollywood" news was dominated by the announcement that two celebrities are divorcing after only 72 DAYS of marriage. In contast to this reminder of how divorce trivializes marriage, I came across the following story about a couple who were married 72 YEARS! and who died recently literally together just an hour apart. PLEASE check the website below to read this touching story that reminds us of the beauty that marriage was meant to be. And have a tissue ready...]
Together Holding Hands After 72 Years / Inside Edition - Airdate: 11/3/2011 http://www.insideedition.com/news/7141/couple-dies-together-holding-hands-after-72-years.aspx

ALSO, please be sure to watch today's broadcast of "Truth That Transforms (in orlando - 5 pm, ch. 55.1) which focuses on America's unique spiritual heritage.
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The Meaning of Marriage, Sacrifice, Not Self-Fulfillment
Chuck Colson|Breakpoint: October 27, 2011

It should be an open and shut case. Study after study shows the beneficial effects of marriage and the self-inflicted harm that people experience when they ignore this evidence. Marriage is good for us in so many ways.

Here is a tiny sampling:
People who have been continuously married have 75 percent more wealth at retirement than those who have divorced or were never married.
Children in married, two-parent families experience two to three times more positive life outcomes than those who do not.
Married people even enjoy better and more frequent sex!

Yet the statistics also show our culture heading in the opposite direction. In 1970, 89 percent of all births were to married parents. Today, unfortunately, it is only 60 percent. In 1960, 72 percent of adults in America were married. Care to guess the number in 2008? Fifty percent. How did we get here, when it makes no logical sense?

My friend Tim Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York and his wife, Kathy,have written a brilliant new book that explains why marriage is in such dire straits, and how to rescue it. Their book, The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God, is now available at our online book store at BreakPoint.org. You need to get a copy!

The Kellers diagnose this cultural disconnect. It’s the natural fruit of the West’s slow redefinition of marriage: from an institution where duty and mutual sacrifice are expected for the good of children and the larger society to one in which the marital partners primarily ask, “What’s in it for me?” “In short,” Keller writes, “the Enlightenment privatized marriage, taking it out of the public sphere, and redefined its purpose as individual gratification, not any ‘broader good’ such as reflecting God’s nature, producing character, or raising children.”

As a consequence, this new understanding, which is supposed to be so liberating, he says, “actually puts a crushing burden of expectation on marriage and on spouses that more traditional understandings never did.” Because marriage is now all about me, no one is ever good enough, so we hang back, afraid to commit, waiting for the non-existent perfectly “compatible” person—meaning he or she is well-adjusted, beautiful, and can help us find sexual and emotional fulfillment. Or, we drop the person we married when someone “better” comes along.

So how can we get out of this?

Well, their book, The Meaning of Marriage, lays out the solution in great and encouraging detail. It is written for singles, those in successful and stable marriages,and for those in the midst of marital crisis. The book is too rich to encapsulate in this brief commentary, but suffice it to say that the secret of marriage is grounded in the self-giving example of Jesus laying down His life for the Church.If more of us in the church understood this and lived it out in our marriages, perhaps we could stop the decline and rebuild a culture of marriage in our country. This is a book Christians need to read. It’s a great resource to equip you to speak with your secular friends; to show them why the Christian understanding of marriage is not only a tremendous blessing, it’s the only one that works. [This book sounds liken an especially perfect wedding gift for engaged and married couples in today's entertainment "Hollywood" crowd.]

[bold and italics emphasis mine]

Further Reading and Information
1) The Meaning of Marriage, Tim Keller
2) The Sustainable Demographic Dividend: What do Marriage and Fertility have to do with the Economy, The National Marriage Project| www.Virginia.edu/MarriageProject
3) The Case for Marriage: Why Married People are Happier, Healthier and Better Off Financially, Book review by Richard Niolan | PsychPage | October 23, 2010

#144 - "Violent Tipping Point? The Prez Must Speak Out"

[As always on SUNDAY, don't forget to check out this week's broadcast of "Truth That Transforms" which wil look at America's spiritiual heritage, what makes us unique in world history. And also on Sunday, please check out my Sunday Special blog posting here. And for some really great visual commentaries on the news of the day, please, as always, check out this week's editorial cartoons at worldmag.com]

By: Chuck Colson|Breakpoint.org November 4, 2011

The first priority of government is to preserve order. It is time for the President to speak out.Once ignited, violence in the streets is hard to control. People get hurt, lives destroyed.

During the massive the protests of the Vietnam War, I sat in the office next to President Nixon. I saw firsthand how explosive emotions can be in this kind of situation. And I know how important it is for a president to strike a temperate but unflinchingly firm posture that assures all that he will maintain law and order.

The protests of the Occupy Wall Street movement started peacefully enough, but now they have begun to turn violent. Which is why it’s imperative that President Obama speak out. So far, he has been mostly silent, except at the beginning, expressing sympathy for the protestors.

But now this week, the protestors have shut down the Port of Oakland, which endangers the livelihoods of ordinary workers and our exports of agricultural products abroad. Protestors have been smashing bank windows, spray-painting ATMs, and burning garbage. The President must condemn the violence and urge calm.

He must remind the people protesting that this is a nation of laws; that while we must always tolerate peaceful protest, the right of free speech and freedom of assembly never did, do not, and never will permit violence and the destruction of property and lives. If he fails to speak in the face of violence, his silence will be taken by many, including the protesters, as a sanction for what they are doing.

Some .... [will]remember the 60s, the flames that erupted in cities: Detroit, Newark, Los Angeles, the riots that were so wide spread. The words of then Vice-President Hubert Humphrey should be a warning to us all: Referring to the riots, he said that if he had to live in one of our nation’s horrific ghettos, “he might lead a pretty good revolt, too.” [It's sad and frightening to think that this could have been an effort to score points with a political constituency. Excuse the cynicism, but politicians don't do that these days, do they?] Just the worst thing to say, because he was basically saying to the people who were rioting it was understandable. What he did was end up fueling the fire.

I know, too, from first-hand experience what the kind of pressure you’re under. I remember being in the White House when thousands of angry protestors surrounded us — we couldn’t get out. A flaming canister was tossed at my car when I did get out. The 82nd Airborne, decked out for combat, made quarters in the Executive Office Building across from the White House. The DC Police did a fabulous job through this trying time, showing a massive display of force, but at the same time amazing restraint. To this day I thank God that the resolve to keep order tempered by prudence kept a lid on things during those volatile periods.

That’s why it is so important for the leader of our nation to speak responsibly and to speak now. If violence spreads like it has in Oakland, who knows where it will lead. Representative self-government is a fragile balance of freedoms, rights, and order. There can be neither freedom nor enforceable rights in the midst of chaos. Inevitably, any government, any leader, will have to restore order; and the more dire the situation, and the longer they wait, the more force that governments will use to restore order.

Augustine recognized this in his classic work, The City of God. He taught that peace is the tranquility produced by order (tranquillitas ordinis). The first order of government, therefore, is to preserve order, no society can enjoy peace and harmony without it.

So I pray that the President will see the dangerous tipping point that we are reaching, that he will not be silent, he will speak out clearly and without equivocation: We as a free, democratic, and ordered society will not, cannot, tolerate violence in the streets.

[bold and italics emphasis mine]

# 142 - Competing Visions/America At A Crossroads

[Don't miss this week's Sunday Special for a spiritual perspective on what we are seeing happening in our country. ALSO on Sunday, be sure to check out, as always, this week's broadcast of "Truth That Transforms"(Orlando - 5 pm, ch. 55.1)]

Morning Bell: What is the American Idea? Posted By Mike Brownfield On October 27, 2011 In Ongoing Priorities

What is the American idea? That all depends on whom you ask. According to President Barack Obama, it’s the notion that the federal government is the answer to America’s problems, and that through its intervention–by sheer force of spending–it can create a brighter future for all Americans.

There’s a different view, though, that has again found its voice in the past year. It’s the idea that America is at its best when its people are allowed to be free and produce, not thanks to the government or even in spite of it, but on their own merit and initiative. Yesterday, those two competing visions were on display–the former delivered in Denver by President Obama, and the latter in Washington at The Heritage Foundation by House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI).

In Colorado, President Obama announced his latest plan to stimulate the economy–a student loan giveaway paid for by the taxpayers. The President declared that, “When I wake up every single morning, what I’m thinking about is how do we create an America in which you have opportunity, in which anybody can make it if they try, no matter what they look like, no matter where they come from, no matter what race, what creed, what faith.” And, a few breaths later, he said [1] that there’s only one way, only one force, that can achieve that outcome–the federal government: "So the truth is the only way we can attack our economic challenges on the scale that’s necessary — the only way we can put hundreds of thousands of people, millions of people, back to work is if Congress is willing to cooperate with the executive branch and we are able to do some bold action — like passing the jobs bill. That’s what we need."

In an auditorium in Washington, Ryan offered a different vision [2] of the American Idea, and it’s one that celebrates freedom and prosperity, individual achievement and opportunity:

"The American Idea belongs to all of us — inherited from our nation’s Founders, preserved by the countless sacrifices of our veterans, and advanced by visionary leaders, past and present. What makes America exceptional — what gives life to the American Idea — is our dedication to the self-evident truth that we are all created equal, giving us equal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And that means opportunity."

Ryan said that it is in times like these, when America is struggling with unemployment and businesses are closing, that the American Idea is in jeopardy, that “America’s commitment to equality of opportunity is called into question.” Unfortunately, he explained, President Obama is responding to these challenges by giving in to the temptation of exploiting fear and envy by embracing petty and trivial rhetoric, avoiding making tough decisions on spending and the debt, and by attempting to score cheap political points instead of building consensus: "Instead of appealing to the hope and optimism that were hallmarks of his first campaign, he has launched his second campaign by preying on the emotions of fear, envy, and resentment. This has the potential to be just as damaging as his misguided policies. Sowing social unrest and class resentment makes America weaker, not stronger. Pitting one group against another only distracts us from the true sources of inequity in this country — corporate welfare that enriches the powerful, and empty promises that betray the powerless."

Ryan points to the President’s policy decisions as evidence of damaging class warfare: higher taxes on the “rich” to pay for more failed stimulus spending; the EPA’s punishment of disfavored yet commercially competitive sources of energy, while doling out cash to politically favored alternatives; the National Labor Relations Board threatening hundreds of jobs by suing a company for politically motivated reasons; and granting Obamacare waivers to politically connected firms and unions, all while the rest of America wonders whether they will lose their health care coverage.

All of this, Ryan says, points America toward a future where equality of outcome is favored over equality of opportunity, and where “a class of bureaucrats and connected crony capitalists trying to rise above the rest of us, call the shots, rig the rules, and preserve their place atop society.”

In the House, Ryan has helped lead Congress to pursue a series of policies that promote an American Idea far different than the President’s. It involves spending within our means, reforming the tax code, and enacting meaningful entitlement reforms. Meanwhile, he points out, it has been more than 900 days since the President’s party has passed a budget in the Senate. Yet still we hear the steady drumbeat from the White House calling for more taxes and spending–none of which has mustered support within either chamber in Congress.

While the President crosses the country, America is at a crossroads. Should it head toward bigger government in the fruitless pursuit of equal outcomes or restrain government so that equal opportunity can flourish? For the sake of the American Idea that the Founders envisioned, let’s hope our leaders make the right choice.

[bold and italics emphasis mine]

Watch the full video and read the full text of Ryan’s speech at Foundry.org [2].
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Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org

URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/10/27/morning-bell-what-is-the-american-idea/

URLs in this post:
[1] he said: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/10/26/remarks-president-college-affordability
[2] offered a different vision: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/10/26/video-rep-paul-ryan-on-saving-the-american-idea/

opyright © 2011 The Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.