COMMENTARY: Challenges points made in Hahn columns

By Irl Gilliland  



Personally, I would find Mr. Doug Hahn's "truths" and "honest facts" humorous if they didn't hold such serious consequences. 

   In his latest piece of disinformation, Mr. Hahn concludes with the admonition for patriots needing to "protect our constitution and democracy."  How does one purport to protect something of which he apparently knows nothing of?  In his May 1 article, he says, "Our Constitution states: ’by the people and for the people.'"  In fact, that phrase is not found in the Constitution, but in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.  Apparently he is equally unaware that our Constitution guarantees that every State in the Union will have a republican form of government, not a democracy.  If he had bothered to read any of the authors of our Constitution, he would have noticed their repeated and vehement opposition to a democracy. 

   Regarding patriotism, a word frequently used, but seldom correctly, Webster's original dictionary says, "Love of one's country…either in defending it from invasion, or protecting and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity."  In his Farewell Address, the Father of our republic says, "Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.  In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens….A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity."  Yet, under the auspices of patriot, Mr. Hahn is bent upon destroying our nation's traditional economic laws and institutions, and he fails to make even the smallest connection between biblical Christianity and the free-enterprise economic system.

   Biblical Christianity, of which the vast majority of our founders were proponents, recognizes a flawed and fallen human nature.  Hence, our Constitution appropriated a political system of checks and balances.  Jefferson, probably a non-Christian, warned us to put no confidence in Man, but "bind him down with the chains of the Constitution."  The Bible and the Founders advocate the individual's right to own and accumulate property with personal responsibility (not societal) under protection of biblical laws against stealing, cheating, etc.  That's why our Constitution includes patent and copyright laws, and, originally, protections against government taxing, regulating, and all other forms of deceptively stealing a citizen's wealth.  In the parable of the talents, Jesus, Himself, chastised servants for not  accumulating wealth.  Socialism and other forms of egalitarianism are anathema to the teachings of the Bible and the Founders of our nation, viz. the Constitution.

   In complete opposition to biblical Christianity and our national heritage, Mr. Hahn puts his trust in a few elites, advocating regulation, redistribution of wealth (equality), and higher taxes - more government. 

   "Society's needs come before the individual's needs." - Hitler

   "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." Jefferson

   Two views: socialism or free enterprise.  Which do you think provides the best opportunity for freedom and prosperity?          

Irl Gilliland lives in Central City.