It's Time to Act!

What the Founding Fathers Knew about Politics

People come up to me all the time and say, "Dave, what can we do?" Or "Dave, what are you doing?" I listen, because my constituents are important to me and the issues they face affect the quality of their lives. Politics influence every area of our lives and no one is exempted from that reach of power. I tell them what I'm doing on their behalf: speaking, meeting, writing legislation that will preserve their freedoms, supporting small businesses and farms, educating, etc... And then I will talk about the power of the individual. "What power could we possibly have in Albany?" You may ask yourself this question often. It's easy to get discouraged. It's easy to give up. It's easy to look at all the dynamics and say, "This is too big for me to deal with," and back down.

Benjamin Franklin expresses this thought of maintaining peace and preserving freedom, "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." We must not let fear win. Courage is the ability to do what is right, even when we are afraid. It is our duty to preserve freedom. Noah Webster, in his 1828 Dictionary, defined "duty" in the following way:

DUTY, noun

1. That which a person owes to another; that which a person is bound, by any natural, moral or legal obligation, to pay, do or perform. Obedience to princes, magistrates and the laws is the duty of every citizen and subject; obedience, respect and kindness to parents are duties of children; fidelity to friends is a duty; reverence, obedience and prayer to God are indispensable duties; the government and religious instruction of children are duties of parents which they cannot neglect without guilt.

2. Forbearance of that which is forbid by morality, law, justice or propriety. It is our duty to refrain from lewdness, intemperance, profaneness and injustice.

3. Obedience; submission.

4. Act of reverence or respect. The Declaration of Independence talks about the great duties that we, as citizens, have towards each other and towards future generations and towards our country. It is not something to be taken lightly. So, when you ask me what you can do, my answer is simple. Do your duty. Love God. Love your families. Love your country. Speak up. Make your voices heard...in your communities and in your towns and in your state legislative halls. It is your right...and your duty.