Politics

We Will Continue to Pursue an America That Embraces Community Over Government Dependence

Nov. 9, 2012 10:24am

- Former Senator & Republican Candidate for President

Rick Santorum was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990 at the age of 32, and represented Pennsylvania in the U.S Senate from 1995 through 2007. Sen. Santorum received his undergraduate degree from Penn State University, his M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, and his J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law. He and his wife Karen are the parents of seven children. Sen. Santorum is the co-founder of Patriot Voices.

This week, Americans once again exercised their fundamental right to a free and fair election — a right that many have sacrificed their lives for and one that is denied to millions around the world. Many of us were deeply invested in this election as well.  And although we may not all be happy with the outcome, we must respect the collective will of the American people and now come together to pray for President Obama and Congress as they confront the serious challenges that face our country in the months ahead.

For me, these election results reinforce the need to engage with even more energy and commitment. And not just engage in politics but in our daily lives and our communities to ensure that the values upon which our country was founded and has prospered will continue. We need to continue to stand strong for America’s first freedoms: family, opportunity, limited government, and our national security. Those are the freedoms on which our country was founded and have endured both through our nation’s prosperous times and many challenges. As the president sets out for this next term, we can only hope and pray that he revisits some of the original freedoms which we laid forth by our founding fathers.

As we confront the massive financial challenges of growing government and entitlement spending, we need to focus on re-centering our understanding of government and our expectations from government. President Obama’s first term saw a massive increase in dependency as food stamps hit record levels, and an enormous commitment to a social program — Obamacare — that will add significantly to our obligations, and a general expansion of the regulatory and welfare state. Not only is this massive governmental expansion untenable financially, as we now see quite clearly from in the severe problems faced in Europe, but I don’t believe this expansion is consistent with the views of our founders of our nation who espoused a smaller, more limited government that creates and protects the conditions for liberty and opportunity to thrive but whose main function is to protect all of its people from harm.

Santorum: We Will Continue to Pursue an America That Embraces Community Over Government Dependence

Volunteers load food products donated by Goya at the Jersey City Office of Emergency Management, Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, Food will go to people displaced by Hurricane Sandy(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

A popular Democratic President once famously said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”  This was in a different time but a time when we faced equally significant challenges. Those words seem quite appropriate for our current debate regarding what the role of government is in our daily lives. Yes, of course, we need a safety net that provides for our seniors and our most vulnerable citizens. I think we can all agree on that. But where we need to continue the debate is, where does it end?  Where the president now believes it ends is a place that will bankrupt us, and threaten the lives and liberties of future generations. We cannot accept this.

As a country we need to depend less on government and to ask less from government.  We need to rely more on education and a country that ensures and protects opportunity for all. As Americans, we need to engage and do our part. Here’s what we can do for our country: instead of expecting government to solve our problems, we need to “love thy neighbor” and focus more on helping each other through our communities, churches, schools and local institutions, or as Edmund Burke once called the “Little Platoons.”  These are the subdivisions of American life where we can affect such great and positive change. This is where each of us can contribute. We need to embrace the very American concept of loving and looking out for each other.

President Obama won re-election this week with just slightly more than half the country’s vote. The reality is that more than half of the country cares about preserving our basic freedoms, limited government, promoting strong families and healthy children, economic opportunity and upward mobility, and standing for our principles, values, and interests around the world. We wish him well and will support him when he is right, but will oppose him when he is wrong. We will stand for American principles and values and problem solving that reflects and respects that.

As he sets out to confront the major issues we face, we will continue to pursue our vision of an America where the government helps create the conditions for growth and opportunity but acts responsibly and prudently as to not weaken itself and our future with unsustainable financial burdens.  And an America that embraces community, “Little Platoons,” over government dependence.  These are the keys to a healthy, growing democracy where families will thrive and the least of these — the poor, the suffering, the infirm, and the unborn — will be protected.  God Bless our great nation.

Comments (31)

  • drillcple4
    Nov. 14, 2012 at 8:08am

    “Cash in the Hand” Destroys Poverty
    Poverty will never be eliminated until the poor have money.
    If the government owns my retirement account, government is rich and I am poor.
    If the government owns my educational savings account, government is rich and I am poor.
    The same is true for housing, transportation, and health savings accounts.
    Which do you want: A rich government and poor citizens or a poor government and rich citizens?

    Socialism: An economic system where the government gets rich while promising to care for the poor, but the people stay poor and lose their liberties.
    Capitalism: An economic system where some people become rich and some become poor and most are somewhere in between.
    Capitalism with “Cash in the Hand”: An economic system where some people get rich and where the money funding the government’s social programs is diverted to everyone by some retaining their taxes and others earning the money through work. The poor can become middle class, do not need government social programs, and do not lose their liberties.

    Democrats, Liberals and Socialists promise that government will provide all your healthcare needs.
    America, do you want cash in the hand or a promise from the government?
    Socialists, be the party of overpriced and rationed, health care, medicare and medicaid.
    America, be the country of private health care made possible by “Cash in the Hand”, which allows individual liberty and financial freedom.

    Read the rest a

    Report this comment

    drillcple4  
  • drillcple4
    Nov. 14, 2012 at 8:05am

    Here is another principle for the US:

    Who Owns All the Taxes Collected in America?
    All taxes are based on wealth. The only way to create wealth is by human labor, that is through work. All wealth belongs to the Americans who did that work. All taxes based on that wealth, belong to the individual Americans who did the work to create that wealth. Here are some examples:

    Sales Tax
    A person starts their own business such as Agway, Mary Kay, or Pampered Chef, and goes out and sells products. They open a business, set up booths at craft fairs, go door to door, and sell thousands of dollars of their product. For the example, the products were sold for $1000. The customers gladly paid $1000. The products were worth $1000. But the government steps in and takes 8% of all the sales revenue in sales tax and the worker ends up with only $920. Who owns the missing $80. I say that money is the property of the American who did that work.

    The rest is found at: http://www.cashinthehand.org/2011/11/30/who-owns-all-the-taxes-collected-in-america/

    Report this comment

    drillcple4  
  • RETIREDLAWMAN
    Nov. 14, 2012 at 7:07am

    The ability to process reality and negotiate a path through life that benefits yourself and others results in success. You may never be rich and powerful but that doesn’t matter. Lots of us grew up poor. Lots of us studied and worked and made our way onward and upward. Lots of us understand how damaging to America all this whining and wanting “stuff” crapola will be. We are in for more “bumps in the road” after this election. 300,000 fewer voted for Mitt than voted for McCain. There really are more of us than them we just have to find a way to light a fire under their butts and get them motivated.

    Report this comment

    RETIREDLAWMAN  
  • standtuff
    Nov. 10, 2012 at 9:36pm

    The fix was in. The progressives couldn’t allow power to slip away. I truly believe it is God’s plan as much as it is very bitter. He will allow man to rule for a time and step aside now. Man needs to see the results of running things in a Godless way. Man still wont understand. Its not for us to understand. God will prove a point, he is in charge.
    We have until Feb 20, 2013 before things get really really ugly. For now things will just spiral worse and worse. After Feb 20th the gloves come off completely.
    Trying to strategize politically at this point is foolish. Time to strategize spiritually now. It wont be easy or pretty for Christians now.
    Look for Damascus and Northern Israel to be in ruins (Isaiah) before the clock starts. When you see that happen…….

    Report this comment

    standtuff  
  • toomuchgovt
    Nov. 10, 2012 at 1:25pm

    Actually I will continue to pursue individualism and freedom over “community”, self reliance over enslavement, family over a village, no Rick once again you missed the mark. You can’t fake being a conservative, it comes from deep within, How about we hear from Levin or Palin.

    Report this comment

    toomuchgovt  
    • CatholicLisa
      Nov. 13, 2012 at 9:53am

      I’m confident that both Mark Levin and Sarah Palin would agree with every word of this article.

      Report this comment

      CatholicLisa  
    • CatholicLisa
      Nov. 13, 2012 at 9:55am

      I am confident that both Mark Levin and Sarah Palin would agree with every word of this article.

      Report this comment

      CatholicLisa  
  • Delores at CH WV
    Nov. 10, 2012 at 12:44pm

    Thanks Rick and Karen, keep up the real work; maybe someday the newest generation will come out to work along with others instead of wanting to smoke pot and never work.

    Report this comment

    Delores at CH WV  
  • singray
    Nov. 10, 2012 at 10:31am

    Maybe it’s about time we let them have what they want. Give them the tax increases, and all those freebies they so desire. But let the Country know that this is now Obama’s and the Democratic parties economy and issue. That blaiming the other side and GW is no longer an option.
    It would be interesting to listen to them in a couple years expaining why the Tax the Rich thing ain’t working. And why they now have to charge you twice the value of your free stuff. And how cutting Grannies benefits are not a way of throwing her off the cliff. And how about the Gov’t workers. That Rich thing didn’t work so you all need to take pay and pension cuts. And so sorry to you welfare people. No money to pay so no benefits for you.
    Even the Media would have a hard time blaiming someone else if you were the one that set the rules. I say give them everything they want. Because if America can’t taste what they sell, then America will keep buying the rotten food that they offer and just makes it sicker. Because we all know that the next Republican President will be blaimed for the food poisoning.

    Report this comment

    singray  
    • DeOppressoLiber
      Nov. 10, 2012 at 11:39am

      You need to still organize the communities. They then become the ones who are influenced and vote for people. OWS is doing this, with Sandy. So stop sulking and get out there and fight. If I was the enemy i would not want you on the battlefield. Stay home and sulk. Read True Believers, sign up for Hillsdale College Constitution 101, 201, History 101.

      We need to help the people first, give them a fish, teach them to fish, help them fish, let them fish on their own and keep the profits. We have to tie in earning their own money and keeping most of it.

      We will lose the war of ideas, the fight is still going.

      The Man in The Arena is who counts.

      Report this comment

      DeOppressoLiber  
    • glassaudioguy
      Nov. 10, 2012 at 11:13pm

      What makes you think the sheeple will get it even when they see everything tanking? Look at Greece: they see everything in shambles around them but nobody wants to give up their benefits.

      Report this comment

      glassaudioguy  
  • GuruMeditation
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 11:00pm

    On the contrary. I disown America.

    Report this comment

    GuruMeditation  
    • TomScott
      Nov. 10, 2012 at 3:25pm

      Then leave. Why would you give up on the greatest nation on earth!!!!????? Damn, wake up and fight!

      Report this comment

      TomScott  
  • Mike Benton
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 6:41pm

    You can’t have a free enterprise system without enterprising people.
    The old work ethic this country was built on is a thing of the past.
    It is time to face that reality and start to build a fair government system around that reality

    Report this comment

    Mike Benton  
  • stopturningtheothercheek
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 2:59pm

    To the fools that voted for Obama. You get what you deserve. You will now see what division really looks like.

    Report this comment

    stopturningtheothercheek  
  • scrapadapolis
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 2:50pm

    I live near syracuse ny,and what makes me sick is the white people at the start of school giving school supplies to the “poor” black kids,The white people donating easter baskets to the “poor black families,Thanks giving soup kitchens open and filled with ENTIRE black families.I’m sick and tired of the generations of black people who take from white people,Then beat us,berate us,steal from us.But when white people who decide that when blacks don’t belong in a house thats not theirs and get shot and killed,whity is a racist and should go to prison.

    Report this comment

    scrapadapolis  
    • normalmom
      Nov. 9, 2012 at 4:19pm

      It is an irony isn’t it. If a person will not get off their rump, get a job they deserve nothing.

      Report this comment

      normalmom  
    • CatholicLisa
      Nov. 13, 2012 at 9:57am

      Um. I’m white and poor and not on government assistance, but I do get help from the Church’s local food bank. Blaming “black people” is not exactly the way to address this issue.

      Report this comment

      CatholicLisa  
  • onlyasmallvoice
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 2:43pm

    America, we’ve done this to ourselves!…we’ve taken God out of every aspect of our lives..we’ve let those who came here to get away from persecution, persecute us instead. we’ve allowed them to push their agenda and religious beliefs on us while we let them take away our religious freedom one lawsuit at a time. we have raised a generation of people who do not fear God because we did not stand firm with God. who would believe in a God whose people don’t even stand up for Him and what He put us here to do? if they don’t believe in God,they won’t find it offensive to kill the unborn daily by the thousands. they also won’t understand why sex outside of marriage is sinful, or that marriage should only be between one man and one woman. they don’t understand that having a house, a car, and a job is a privilege and not an entitlement to them. we have raised a generation of self-centered, self-indulgent people who are blind to the reality of life. they are arrogant and boastful. they are disrespectful to any one in authority. this year we have seen the fruits of our failure. we’ve allowed the enemy to come in one little bit at a time until we are no longer the majority, but the minority. Only if God in His infinate mercy will allow us the opportunity once again to stand in the gap and humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness can this country ever be great again. We need to have calluses on our knees and mourning in our hearts because we failed our calling.

    Report this comment

    onlyasmallvoice  
  • enderwiggen
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 1:41pm

    Our problems are many, but the worst of which is the GOP will not fight. The House passes laws that go nowhere, but then approve blank check spending extensions. Shut this beast down until real compromise occurs. If you don’t have the stomach for it get out of the way. The GOP has caved on every opportunity and gotten what? Congressmen, you are either part of the solution or you are part of the problem, which is it? When you vote to pass these spending resolutions you might as well be Nancy Pelosi. dmc

    Report this comment

    enderwiggen  
    • landowner
      Nov. 9, 2012 at 2:04pm

      Agreed. Saw a young Conservative say yesterday, it is time for the old guard to get out of the way and let the younger conservatives take up the fight. I believe they have the stomach for it and would encourage us all to get the crybaby out of the chair.

      Report this comment

      landowner  
  • LBRTYorDTH
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 1:37pm

    Wall of Suppression: How a Politician Builds a Constituancy
    I think Mr Santrum would agree with my analogy.
    http://wp.me/p2RKc5-4

    Report this comment

    LBRTYorDTH  
  • oldandtired
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 1:06pm

    I’m sorry I got nothing, I’m going for self this time. Let Obama help them.

    Report this comment

    oldandtired  
    • Lois150
      Nov. 9, 2012 at 7:38pm

      OLDANDTIRED ~ That’s exactly the attitude that satan wants you to have. If you quit, he won. A lot of people are upset over the election. However, this week I’ve decided that I’m going to use BO as a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block. I will get my revenge by doubling down on my God game. I am not only going to let my light shine but I’m increasing the wattage. I will prosper over the next 4 years because I refuse to concede. I have a strong feeling that Obama will unwittingly help us drive this nation back to God. LOL….now there’s some revenge! But we must lead the way and light the path. People are hungry and we must feed them; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Yes, I am commanded to be my brother’s keeper. We have a big job to do but I believe it will be well worth it. Some think this is the beginning of the end. Let’s go back to the beginning in the manger and start there. Now is the best time and by the way ~ MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

      Report this comment

      Lois150  
  • blackbean
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 12:55pm

    Nice warm fuzzies, but we are too far gone. We are now a nation of takers. Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you (Kennedy in reverse).

    Report this comment

    blackbean  
  • GhostOfJefferson
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 12:48pm

    You go right ahead Rick.

    I’ll continue to support a country that supports individualism and individual rights, over government or your communitarianism. Remember, Santorum is on record repeatedly bashing libertarians and individualists, in a very harsh manner, simply for being libertarians and individualists. He’s a collectivst with a GOP label (unsurprising, not a minority in the GOP these days).

    Yes, I’ll help my neighbors, but that’s not my sole focus in life. My focus is individual rights, individual responsibility and strong fiscal accountability and very, very small government.

    Rick, you’re dismissed.

    Report this comment

    GhostOfJefferson  
    • CatholicLisa
      Nov. 13, 2012 at 10:00am

      You mean “liberalitarians” don’t you? “Libertarian” is not conservative. It embraces the very evil attitudes you’re espousing here that any Christian person would find appalling.

      Report this comment

      CatholicLisa  
  • universalphilos
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 12:37pm

    Spiritual guidance, January 23, 1983: “Now we have told you of the parable. And the parable is as the nations are today. No one nation can support the world, unless the world is willing to support itself. No one nation can keep a third of the world from starving to death unless these people are willing to [fend] for themselves. It was written that these things would happen, that famine would strike a third of the Earth. And so it has come.
          For you who say, “Where else has this began,” this has begun. It is all around you.
    But we would also say unto you when a child in this nation, when you have not one child that goes to bed hungry at night, when you have not one child who needs [your] care, then, and only then, should you pick up another nation. There will be those who say what we say and have said is wrong. But unless you strengthen your own nation and build your own foundation, the nation that you have built “under one God” shall fall.”
    (See the parable on page 3, https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzyT3fgGxb4-OS1zdFdNRE5SSzg)

    Report this comment

    universalphilos  
  • unsafe
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 12:26pm

    This is the Government Plaintation the want there free stuff and nothing else, The Gop will never win with 51% of the PPL are on the government dime. The only way to stop it is quit paying tax cut the head of the beast off no more Money.

    Report this comment

    unsafe  
  • unsafe
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 12:23pm

    You will never win they want there Free Stuff ,The Government Plaintation with chains and all….

    Report this comment

    unsafe  
  • TributeTroy
    Nov. 9, 2012 at 12:20pm

    Amen!

    Report this comment

    TributeTroy  

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