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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 2021)
8A | SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS Community Voices Conservative Corner — ‘The Forgotten Man’ By Joel Marks Conservative Historian Special to Siuslaw News I n this strange age of stim- ulus packages, federal in- frastructure spending, illegal immigration with astonishing COVID pandemic implica- tions, as well as a federal wel- fare state that is threatening to end a once fiscally sound Re- public, we appeal to our better angels. We see no end in sight re- gardless of political party lead- ership and, frankly, this spend- ing pandemic has been with us ever since the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the true architect of America’s welfare programs called The New Deal. His relative The- odore Roosevelt called it the “square deal,” another progres- sive misleading term. Teddy and Franklin did not appreciate the Framers’ re- strictions on federal spending spelled out in our Constitu- tion, but those “restrictions” were intentionally written into the formula of limited govern- ment. Their actions said, “If the Constitution does not specifi- cally say I can’t do something, I can do it.” Of course this was exactly opposite of the Founders’ in- tentions. Franklin and every presi- dent since, regardless of par- ty affiliation, have expanded what Thomas Hobbes would call “the Leviathan.” We are now into unsustainable terri- tory with our federal elected officials not having the will to reverse course. What is the Re- public to do? The solution for all the young energetic youth out there to do is listen to the “Forgotten Man” — Mr. James Madison. Remember him all you high school students? Yes, he was not only the Fa- ther of the Constitution, but also the Father of the Bill of Rights. Also the hero of the Virginia Ratifying Conven- tion; one of the main authors of the Federalist Papers inter- preting the true meaning of the Constitution; the creator of the Virginia Plan, which was the framework for the Constitution; and the individ- ual who almost singlehand- edly coaxed the indispensable man, George Washington, to attend the Philadelphia Con- vention, without which none would be held. He also wrote 50 years of letters to Thomas Jefferson, a priceless collection of history outlining the thinking behind America’s formative years. Because he was the leader of the first Congress, he also passed much legislation which benefitted the American structure by working closely with our first president. Not to mention, he was also secretary Editor’s Note: Community Voices is a monthly feature in the Siuslaw News. It consists of viewpoints from people in the Siuslaw region. Siuslaw News welcomes these opinions as part of its goal to encour- age community discussion and exchange of perspectives, but they should not be inter- preted as the views of the News or its staff. of state and president, both for eight years. He is the one, unlike Ted- dy, Woodrow and Franklin, who said the general welfare clause was only meant for those things the states could not do and that which is only enumerated in the founding document. He was 5’4” and our small- est president physically, but his mind was like a steel trap and he was larger than life. We have moved away from the “Forgotten Man” and now have debt including unfunded liabilities of $100-300 trillion. The Federal budget in 1936 was approximately $6 billion! During that year, there was a famous Supreme Court case, Butler vs. the US, which de- cided to disregard Mr. Mad- ison and Mr. Jefferson’s strict reading of the general welfare clause and accept Mr. Ham- ilton’s expansive reading. We now have a federal budget akin to Armageddon. Maybe we can remem- ber the Forgotten Man and realize the immortal words of Alexis De Tocqueville in 1831, “America is great be- cause America is good.” May it always be so — and may we remember the oth- er indispensable man, James Madison, who should be vig- orously taught in our public schools instead of racial theo- ries which cause discord. Mr. Madison caused unity. Pastor’s Corner — We Were Once Free Men By Pastor Ron Allen First Baptist Church of Florence Special to Siuslaw News “S tand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entan- gled again with a yoke of bondage.” — Galatians 5:1 This passage speaks to us on two levels: the state of our country and the state of our relationship with God. In our country, today we are losing many of the basic rights that our Constitution of united independent states originally formed. As a mat- ter of fact, people today rare- ly acknowledge that is clear- ly articulated in the name of our Republic and affirmed in our Declaration of Inde- pendence and our Consti- tution, The United States of America. Our government, while granting enormous free- dom with respect to moral concerns, has constantly been eroding our political independence from an elite ruling class. For example, we have the right to engage in practices that were once considered immoral; to use drugs that were once consid- ered dangerous, destructive and addictive; to use images and language in public that was once considered por- nographic in nature. These behaviors now are accept- able all in the name of free- dom. However, the rights of free speech about government are being restricted. How we use personal property is reg- ulated in all areas, parental rights about education and health have been usurped, laws have been passed in the name of “crime prevention” and “public safety” to regu- late almost every aspect of our lives. As a people, we have never seen such control over the lives of Americans except in the case of slavery. Just as these changes within our society have been gradual in nature and chang- ing over many decades, for the Christian, the erosion of the passion to live like Jesus slowly fades over time as the cares and concerns of this world begin to dominate our waking moments. As we make concessions for the sake of convenience and compromise for the sake of instant gratification, sin begins to dominate our lives again, robbing us of the joy and the sense of peace we once had. The Apostle Paul was writing to the church in Ga- latia to encourage those who were struggling to try and maintain spiritual and emo- tional balance during a very stressful time. To continue to try every day, to live up to the values Jesus taught and lived out in His own life. Their community was ex- periencing cultural convul- sions and their values were under assault, much like our culture today. The question is, how do we address this “drift” in our lives? The Bible reminds us of this truth, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrigh- teousness.” God gives us a reset but- ton to start over every day, to make this day better than the last one. To find joy and peace that transcends the stress of the day and the pain of our circumstance. To give us hope knowing, that in Jesus, our future transcends the issues of the moment. Six local pastors will be participating in the Pastor’s Corner. Look for other Flor- ence-area church leadership in future editions of Siuslaw News’ Community Voices. WEEK #4 WINNERS TOP 5 Women COO CLARKSON 2.44% CASSANDRA BURNS 2.02% ARLENE BIRON 1.38% SUE JAMES 1.11% KATHERINE HEMMENS 1.02% JAMES MCKINNEY 1.10% DUSTIN WILLIAMS 0.56% BRAD HANSCOM 0.48% AL ROJAS 0.28% JIM HECKER 0.00% TOP 5 Men Contestant Name Weekly % Lost Season %Lost WOMEN’S RESULTS Coo Clarkson Cassandra Burns Arlene Biron Sue James Katherine Hemmens Alyssa Cargill Linda Goalder Betty Scarbrough Debbie Haring Guadalupe Galvan 2.44% 2.02% 1.38% 1.11% 1.02% 0.54% 0.53% 0.49% 0.37% 0.23% OVER 4.49% 3.34% 7.12% 4.02% 3.96% 2.52% 2.62% 5.60% 4.20% 2.97% $1,000 IN PRIZES & GIFTS 14-WEEK CONTEST July 17 – October 20, 2021 •Weigh in each week at the Siuslaw News 148 Maple Street, Florence, each Wednesday, 7:30a.m.-5:30p.m. •Weekly leaders in each category (male & female) will be pictured in the Saturday edition of the Siuslaw News. •Look Good - Feel Good! Contestants understand that participation in the contest may involve inherent risks, dangers and hazards, which many occur without warning, or be due to lack of conditioning, carelessness, and other unforeseen, unidentified, or unexpected perils inherent in physical activities or weight loss programs. Contestants understand that oversight of the contest by the Siuslaw News or any other sponsors does not and cannot, guarantee their safety. Contestants understand that they should not participate in the contest if they have any health conditions affecting their ability to participate. Contestants have signed release forms to certify they are fully aware of, and expressly assume these and all other risks involved in participating in the contest, and to grant to the Siuslaw News and all contest sponsors and their respective assignees, the absolute right and permission to use their name, address, photograph and/or likeness in any and all advertising, trade, or promotion. Contestants have weighed in at the first contest weigh-in on July 17, 2021 and will weigh-in every Wednesday through October 20, 2021 at the Siuslaw News, 148 Maple Street, 7:30a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Margaret Free Betty Blake Jolene Alcorn Linda Adcox Linda Anderson Linda Crowell Linda Knudtson Lori Coffindaffer Nancy Robison Linda Harklerode Jo Beaudreau 0.15% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% -0.25% -0.35% -0.84% -0.86% 0.38% 2.30% 1.08% 2.55% 3.03% 3.99% 1.29% 5.16% 2.71% 3.13% -1.96% OUNDS LOST TO D AL P A TE TOT 217.6+ MEN’S RESULTS James McKinney Dustin Williams Brad Hanscom Al Rojas Jim Hecker David Crowell Dirk Anderson Brad Koehn Jerry Whiting 1.10% 0.56% 0.48% 0.28% 0.00% -0.17% -0.50% -0.51% -2.50% 3.52% 6.31% 4.14% 5.77% 2.74% 0.34% 7.00% 4.55% 0.98% Sponsored by Diet Tip #4 “Using smaller plates at mealtimes can help reduce intake eff ortlessly. Th e same amount of food will look like a full meal on small plate compared to a large plate. Eating a full plate is more satisfying and satiating and won’t leave you feeling deprived.” ~Stephanie Shiu, MPH, RD Inpatient Dietitian at Peace Harbor Medical Center Siuslaw News 148 Maple St., Florence Beauty on the Beach Dance Studio 2285 Hwy. 101, Florence 541-997-8086