ran 3.6 miles
On this day in history, in 1960, John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts was nominated for the presidency of the United States of America by the Democratic Party Convention. He defeated Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas and, on the next day, Johnson was named Kennedy’s running mate by a unanimous vote of the convention.
On November 8 of 1960, Kennedy won 49.7% of the popular vote in one of the closest presidential elections in American history, merely surpassing Richard M. Nixon’s 49.6% of the vote.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was inaugurated as the thirty-fifth American president on January 20, 1961. During his famous inauguration address, Kennedy declared “the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans” and encouraged Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”.
These were inspiring words, and considering how often the media compares Barack H. Obama to John F. Kennedy it would be refreshing to hear our current president utter something to that same inspirational effect. In a time of endless entitlements, government waste, and general mismanagement of what is left of our economy, I would like to hear Kennedy’s words and not see the actions Obama is committing which come across verbally as “ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you”.
Our debt is out of control. Our tax codes are endless labyrinths of loopholes designed to manipulate the people they represent. Our Congress is nearly at a percentage of disapproval lower than the legal age required to vote. We give dozens of nations who despise us hundreds of millions of American tax dollars each year for reasons I’ve never once heard anyone be able to clearly explain. Our government regulates business in the country it is supposed to be representing with so many ridiculously high taxes that we send millions of jobs to other countries because it is significantly more affordable. The only thing I have observed that really, really makes sense in America is the people. Our ability to conduct our lives the civil and responsible way we do is a testimony to what our forefather’s fought for and the American belief so many have given their lives for. When our forefathers drafted the constitution and elected to sign that controversial document we know as the Declaration of Independence they were asking one basic question that they believed to be true. Can a nation of people govern themselves? The answer is yes and the federal government has grown into an unintended burden on all of our lives.
Regarding foreign policy, Kennedy vigorously fought communism in the world. He ordered the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, sent thousands of U.S. military “advisors” to Vietnam, and displayed solidity and restraint during the Cuban Missile Crisis, showing uncompromising opposition to the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Domestically, he introduced his “New Frontier” social legislation, calling for a federal desegregation policy and a sweeping new civil rights bill.
On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
As an afterthought, I think John F. Kennedy was a far more inspiring man than Barack H. Obama is but, to play devil’s advocate to myself, this is an interesting pamphlet that was actually handed out in Dallas days before he was assassinated. It was fringe propaganda but the pamphlet has many parallels with the criticisms our current president receives and it is something to think about. This was sent to me by a friend of mine who I can always rely on to show me the other side of my own arguments.
1,133.0 miles to go.
On this day in history, in 1960, John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts was nominated for the presidency of the United States of America by the Democratic Party Convention. He defeated Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas and, on the next day, Johnson was named Kennedy’s running mate by a unanimous vote of the convention.
On November 8 of 1960, Kennedy won 49.7% of the popular vote in one of the closest presidential elections in American history, merely surpassing Richard M. Nixon’s 49.6% of the vote.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was inaugurated as the thirty-fifth American president on January 20, 1961. During his famous inauguration address, Kennedy declared “the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans” and encouraged Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”.
These were inspiring words, and considering how often the media compares Barack H. Obama to John F. Kennedy it would be refreshing to hear our current president utter something to that same inspirational effect. In a time of endless entitlements, government waste, and general mismanagement of what is left of our economy, I would like to hear Kennedy’s words and not see the actions Obama is committing which come across verbally as “ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you”.
Our debt is out of control. Our tax codes are endless labyrinths of loopholes designed to manipulate the people they represent. Our Congress is nearly at a percentage of disapproval lower than the legal age required to vote. We give dozens of nations who despise us hundreds of millions of American tax dollars each year for reasons I’ve never once heard anyone be able to clearly explain. Our government regulates business in the country it is supposed to be representing with so many ridiculously high taxes that we send millions of jobs to other countries because it is significantly more affordable. The only thing I have observed that really, really makes sense in America is the people. Our ability to conduct our lives the civil and responsible way we do is a testimony to what our forefather’s fought for and the American belief so many have given their lives for. When our forefathers drafted the constitution and elected to sign that controversial document we know as the Declaration of Independence they were asking one basic question that they believed to be true. Can a nation of people govern themselves? The answer is yes and the federal government has grown into an unintended burden on all of our lives.
Regarding foreign policy, Kennedy vigorously fought communism in the world. He ordered the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, sent thousands of U.S. military “advisors” to Vietnam, and displayed solidity and restraint during the Cuban Missile Crisis, showing uncompromising opposition to the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Domestically, he introduced his “New Frontier” social legislation, calling for a federal desegregation policy and a sweeping new civil rights bill.
On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
As an afterthought, I think John F. Kennedy was a far more inspiring man than Barack H. Obama is but, to play devil’s advocate to myself, this is an interesting pamphlet that was actually handed out in Dallas days before he was assassinated. It was fringe propaganda but the pamphlet has many parallels with the criticisms our current president receives and it is something to think about. This was sent to me by a friend of mine who I can always rely on to show me the other side of my own arguments.
1,133.0 miles to go.
I've seen government waste with my own eyes. And if I've seen it, I can't imagine what it's like across the country.
ReplyDeleteJ
I think much of the reason for waste isn't the policies that are in place but the people who are abusing them. As always the good have to suffer for the bad.
ReplyDeleteJ