Written by Matt Manweller

1. owhere left to run?
I want to look at the big picture today. We spend so much time analyzing
whether we approve or disapprove of this law or that law. This tax or that
tax that sometimes, we lose sight of the large political “forest for the
trees.” The debates about ObamaCare and the nationalization of the auto
industry can wait for another day. Today, we look at the long arc of
history.
The history of human civilization has been a battle between those who
wish to live their lives independent of other men and those who wish to live
their lives on the backs of other men. On one side we have people who are
willing to take risks and accept the responsibility of failure if in return
they get to accept the rewards of success. On the opposing side, we have
people who base most of their decisions out of fear. What if I fail? What if
I don’t have enough money? What if I can’t provide. These men seek
safety in the labor of other men. They seek prosperity in the assets of what
others have created. In the name of “community” or “sharing” they use
governments to take what they want from other men.
The battle between these two world views have ebbed and flowed for
centuries. In general, time has been on the side of men who seek to take
wealth rather than create wealth. They have learned over and over again
that all you need is the support of 51% of your fellow citizens and you can
take whatever you want from the other 49%. This is an appealing
argument. Why work when you can vote to make other people give you
their money? Why pay for heath care when you can vote to make the
government give you health care? Because it has always been easier to vote
than work, the people who hold this world view have enjoyed great
success.
But, their success has never been complete. Because the other side…those
men who seek to live life on their own terms, take risks, create, build
something out of nothing…have always had one “ace in the hole.” The
EXIT OPTIO . They could leave. They could move. And so part of this
long arc of history has been brave men choosing to live among other brave
men rather than men who did not have the courage to face the world God

2. created. And so as long as we have seen the creation of “collectivist”
societies, we have seen the exodus of stronger people. Show me
communism and I’ll show you people jumping over a wall. Show me
socialism and I’ll show you entrepreneurs escaping to America, Singapore,
Hong Kong.
Those men and women who have always been more attracted to freedom
than security, to opportunity than tranquility, to the idea of making
something rather than taking something. They have been called Pilgrims,
Pioneers, and dare I say it…Conservatives.
It was the people who didn’t ask for or expect anyone else’s help that got
into boats and landed at Plymouth Rock. But their victory was short lived.
Societies develop. People without the courage to live their own lives
eventually become a majority. Collectivism returns. So the next generation
leaves. Men of vision and strength flee West. They go to live where other
men won’t tell them how to live and won’t take what they create. But that
victory is short-lived as well. Their children are seduced by the ease of
collectivism. And the men and women of independence are overwhelmed
again.
It is this story that highlights why the battle we are facing right now is so
important. We are confronting the forces of collectivism again, just as past
generations have. But this time, there is no where left to flee. Where are
we supposed to go? Alaska and Idaho don’t have room for us all. Without
an “exit option” we have to stand and fight.
Our situation today reminds me of when Ronald Regan met a recently
arrived refugee from Cuba. The Cuban refugee got a chance to tell Regan
personal stories of oppression, tyranny and loss. Reagan shook his head
and said Americans don't know how lucky we are. The refugee says
"Lucky? Mr President, I had somewhere to run to. Where would you go?"