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It’s ‘Washington’s Birthday’: Here Are His 5 Most Important Warnings to Congress

Feb. 18, 2013 8:45am Becket Adams

George Washingtons 5 Most Important Warnings to Congress on Presidents Day

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Although commonly referred to as “Presidents’ Day,” Feb. 18 is legally recognized as “Washington’s Birthday” (his actual birthday is Feb. 22).

However, as the Washington Examiner notes, we don’t dedicate this day to Washington because he is the greatest U.S. general (he isn’t) or even the greatest president (the case can certainly be made for others). No, though Washington’s performance in both categories is deserving of high praise, we honor him for the precedent and example he set.

“He held the proverbial ring of power, and he gave it up of his own accord,” the Washington Examiner notes.

“Washington’s selflessness separates him from lesser men who won much greater military victories but were vanquished by the temptation of power — Julius Caesar before him and Napoleon Bonaparte afterward.”

He refused this power because he believed in the cause of the republic.

Understanding the pitfalls of organized government, Washington in his 1796 farewell address to Congress urged U.S. lawmakers to guard against unnecessary wars and racking up unsustainable public debt, among other things.

Considering the fact that the nation’s capital has in recent years become a spectacle more deserving of mockery than praise, perhaps it’s worth revisiting some of his warnings to Congress.

–

On the Constitution:

The White House

This government … has a just claim to your confidence and your support.

Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true liberty. The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.

But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government.

On ‘Progressive’ Ideas:

‘George Washington’ by John Trumbull

Towards the preservation of your government … resist with care the spirit of innovation upon its principles, however specious the pretexts. One method of assault may be to effect, in the forms of the Constitution, alterations which will impair the energy of the system, and thus to undermine what cannot be directly overthrown.

In all the changes to which you may be invited, remember that time and habit are at least as necessary to fix the true character of governments as of other human institutions; that experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing constitution of a country; that facility in changes, upon the credit of mere hypothesis and opinion, exposes to perpetual change, from the endless variety of hypothesis and opinion; and remember, especially, that for the efficient management of your common interests, in a country so extensive as ours, a government of as much vigor as is consistent with the perfect security of liberty is indispensable.

On Political Parties:

history.com

Let me now … warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.

But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

On War:

‘Washington Crossing the Delaware’ from the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art

Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all.

[...]

The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. … The Nation, prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes impels to war the Government, contrary to the best calculations of policy.

The Government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion what reason would reject; at other times, it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motives.

The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, of Nations has been the victim.

On Public Debt:

sonsofthesouth.net

As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible, avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace, but remembering also that timely disbursements to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it, avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertion in time of peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear.

The execution of these maxims belongs to your representatives, but it is necessary that public opinion should co-operate. To facilitate to them the performance of their duty, it is essential that you should practically bear in mind that towards the payment of debts there must be revenue; that to have revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant; that the intrinsic embarrassment, inseparable from the selection of the proper objects (which is always a choice of difficulties), ought to be a decisive motive for a candid construction of the conduct of the government in making it, and for a spirit of acquiescence in the measures for obtaining revenue, which the public exigencies may at any time dictate.

So there you have it. Enjoy “Washington’s Birthday” (which is technically Feb. 22). Without him, we probably wouldn’t have the Constitution or, you know, a United States of America:

–

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Featured image Getty Images. This post has been updated.

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Comments (221)

EruditeMan
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 5:32pm
PDUFFY’s quite right in his assessment, however, when one considers God & Biblical Prophecy, believers in His Son’s crucifiction & present failure of U.S.A. may be in keeping with God’s timeline leading to mankind’s judgement when Satan’s let our of his cage. It’s possible the U.S.A. must be taken down before less powerful nations can wreck havoc on world order before Israel’s attacked by Islamic armies in Satan’s pocket? The Marxist, Socialist, DummyCrats who refuse to stop buying votes by printing fiat currency & piling U.S. debt up so high it’ll never be repaid & will ultimately cause failure of the grand experiment of our Republic. Yesterday, while researching economic issues I learned U.S. Government’s unemployment figure’s 7.9% when real figure’s ≈23%, Government estimate of GDP’s +1.5% while real GDP’s -2.2%, & last but not least: Government CPI =2.6% (if one does a web search ≈1.9%’s seen for 2012) but real CPI’s 10.2%. The Fed’s printed Trillions of $s since the world no longer wants to buy U.S. debt. Economic history’ll show that no nation can avoid economic collapse forever if it refuses to live within its means. The U.S.A. is soon going to see inflation rapidly rise & lead to hyper-inflation. When Au (gold) was released from U.S. Government control it rapidly went from $35/oz to $850/oz (a multiplier of 24). For current Au bull market it has gone from $255/oz to $1,600/oz as it is primed to reach $6,124/oz. I don’t think it’ll take long to

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MasterJoshua7
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 5:28pm
*Sigh* If only our current leaders were each half a George Washington! I bet we’d be in a better place today.

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flatbroke
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:51pm
Where are all the good, genius, people that love America now. Today we have the idiots we have because people voted for them.

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lefty5005
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:47pm
To PUBLIUSPENCILDICK…So? No one in 2013 is in any position to judge someone from 1776, we can’t judge, criticize or even pretend to understand what was happening at that time. We have text to read and that is it. Comparing many sources of history, George Washington was found to be a man of good character and one of the primary men that founded the United States. Is everything accurate, probably not but if it’s not then based on stereotypes and current media we would have to assume none of it was accurate….would we, but at that time there were actual people of integrity writing books and history and to most being “made up” now. To think you know about history is disingenuous at best and self-serving in the least.

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varptr
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:41pm
Saint. Washington was as close to saint as you get on this planet.

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TheBurningTruth
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:38pm
We can cut through all the crap and get right to the central point of slavery if we just remember one simple thing. For the last 40 years, the whole issue of slavery has been used as a political tool by the black community for power. Nothing more, and nothing less than that. The continual cries about “racism” are just the chosen method of invoking slavery to neutralize any other thought or opinion. It is used as the miracle panacea to win all arguments.

Nothing moral or special here, just pure power grabbing.

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Seede
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:22pm
I was a slave back in the 1940′s. I was just a young man minding my own business and whalla. Here came a notice from my masters that I was compelled to be conscripted into the army of this republic. If I refused I would face imprisonment or worse. After seven weeks of teaching me how to kill people i was put into that field. Never had a clue as to why people just couldn’t get along. The masters gave me no reason because being a slave I deserved nothing except to serve their whims of greed and power.

I still am a slave. They tell me what to believe and how to do it. I worked for over sixty years and still don’t own the land that I worked sixty years to own. They tell me how much I owe them to live on my land that I worked and paid for all my life. Now they tell me that I didn’t really pay for that land and that some other people should get a portion of it because they don’t have any land for themselves. But then the masters have millions of acres more than I have but they don’t want to share those millions. They want me to share mine with people that won’t work and get their own piece of land. I bet you think I am black. Right? But your wrong cause I am a minority ******* slave. And an old one at that.

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raymeo12
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:21pm
I think it’s quite silly to compare society’s and cultural aspects of a country with a 250+ year gap between them. The only reason you would is to support your belief now, which, by-the-way, people will look back ot 250 years from now with wonder and amusement. At the same time however we see the Constitution as being as strong and meaningful today as then, a fact we should all be grateful to the founding fathers for.

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PMLaw
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:13pm
Excellent article on Washington and his greatness. However, Congress, which has been rendered all but completely irrelevant by their failure to stand up to Mr. Obama’s anti-Constitutional and dictatorial usurpations of their prerogatives and power, probably does not care much about what Washington had to say. Every one of his dire warnings has been abrogated by this and all other Congresses for the past 50 or more years. The current cast of clowns is doing nothing to return our country to its founding principles, and we steadily drift further and further from what we should be.

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ShareCropper1
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:42pm
All I can say is get ready and protect your home http://www.doorjambers.com

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eramthgin
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:36pm
It is obvious that this generation and those past have failed to heed his warnings.

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Mike76
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:35pm
“The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.”

Glenn Beck and his closet neo-Con faction don’t seem to recall that quote when they’re chest-pounding for Israel. It’s one thing to stand with your allies and friends – it’s another thing entirely to formulate your entire foreign policy predicated on how it will benefit one tiny country in the Middle East.

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- mewnani
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:56pm
  Israel’s a bit different since it’s God’s chosen land. Yep, he had the whole earth and he just wanted a little tiny slice of it for himself. Since most people are christian, they feel obligated to protect it. Plus look at what they’re surrounded by. They’re surrounded by dragons who want to devour the country just because it’s there and filled with people they don’t like cause their religion is different than theirs. That isn’t very right at all is it?
  
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fredh
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:28pm
All most every President since Pres. Wilson have hated the Constitution. I would respect the Office of the President if they follow their Oath to the Constitution. Under Article Two, the President has very little power. All power was vested in Congress. We have allow the president and congress that have become corrupt. We have allow the presidents to become kings, and since the passage of the 17th Amendment the senate no longer represents the States. The 14th Amend. created all these problems, by making all Americans citizens , federal citizens. So senators when they go back to DC, since elected by the people,he represent the people, not the State. What we have now in Congress is two houses representing the people, no one represents the States.

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patgray
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:18pm
Gosh, it’s wonderful when people like PubliusPencilman come down from their mountain top of intellect, to share their true wisdom with the rest of us, who can, obviously, only get our history from “blogs?”
To claim ending slavery was a “progressive idea” is total stupidity. Ending slavery was an idea born of conservative CHRISTIANS who awoke to the horror of the practice in both England and America. The seed was planted by our founders…yes, even though they participated in the practice that was instituted by those who colonized this continent.
It was the “progressives”, of their time, if you can call them that…but certainly Democrats/liberals who wanted to KEEP slavery going indefinitely. Certainly, the first in the West was William Wilberforce…but our own founders, including Washington, laid the foundation for the elimination of slavery to come later.

It is fascinating how these great men are defined by today’s idiots by ONE, and only ONE issue. Despite the complexities, despite the enormity of the challenge…in fact, the IMPOSSIBLE task of starting the union while ending slavery. So, they did the next best thing…they started the process with the U.S. Constitution.
And despite the ultimate good brought about by their lives and efforts. Yet, those same people, excuse ENTIRELY the racism and eugenics programs of their modern day heroes like Planned Parenthood’s Margaret Sanger, or Woodrow Wilson, who re-segregated the military.
Pathetic.

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- santababy52
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 5:11am
  Perhaps you’ve already read it but Judge Napolitano’s a book Roosevelt and Wilson is a good read, very good but there are some parts where he injects opinion and somewhat representing it as fact which occurs when he is trying to tell you what some person he is talking about was thinking without any evidence to back up his assumption.
  
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wilbstal
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:10pm
just celebrate GW birthday and rest of the jerk offs shut up or i will………………………… yah know what im thinking dont cha???

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wilbstal
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:08pm
GW was the man Obama is not qualified to shine this mans boots. let alone be mentioned with real men

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wilbstal
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:03pm
all this junk about slaves,, had the slaves had guns or other weapons and faught like men they would not get to be slaves, im talking about balls here use them and stop crying……

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redonred
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:48pm
Our history has been so skewed in the last 60 plus years. The fact that this great man helped form our wonderful country is amazing. Like so many have said on here get over slavery because its over. That’s why it is called the past. Mental illness is rampent. All you have to do is read some of the views people have and will argue over. It’s an opinion, we all have one. I have several old history books written in the 1800′s, before there was an agenda to destroy this country. Egypt had slaves. Africa sold their own people into slavery to Europeans, who in turn brought them to North America. George Washington sold some land next to his to a family whos ancestors are a friend of mine. He asked that the slaves be free’d apon Martha’s death. She was fearful and free’d them right away. He did pay them and most did like him. I am proud of this country and I’m glad to be an American. Arguing doesn’t change the facts no matter how you twist them. It is good to see all the people on here that know the facts. God blessed us with these great Americans, I for one know this. Cheers to all and thanks for reading.

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ITookTheRedPill
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:41pm
To The Blaze: How did you miss this from Washington’s Farewell Address?

“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 labour to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men & citizens. The mere Politican, equally with the pious man ought to respect & to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private & public felicity. Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the Oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice?

And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure–reason & experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

‘Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of Free Government. Who that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric.”

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Jim S
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:37pm
..and his wisdom on slavery
“Sir: With this letter comes a ***** (Tom) which I beg the favour of you to sell, in any of the Islands you may go to, for whatever he will fetch, and bring me in return for him: one hhd of best molasses, one of best Rum, one barrel of Lymes if good and cheap, … and the residue, much or little in good ole spirits…That this Fellow is both a rogue and a Runaway…I shall not pretend to deny. But . . . he is exceedingly healthy, strong and good at the Hoe… which gives me reason to hope he may, with your good management sell well (if kept clean and trim’d up a little when offered for sale… [I] must beg the favor of you (lest he should attempt his escape) to keep him hand-cuffed till you get to Sea.”

Washington [1766]….so insightful and so blind…his insight holds so true today and his blindness has passed in spite of him…he owned his first slaves when he was 11,his father passed, inheriting 10 slaves..when Washington passed he owned over 300 slaves at Mount Vernon…99% of the “Negros” in Virginia were slaves. A man of his times who we all owe a great deal, leading a new nation in waters never seen in the history of man. He wanted to break the bonds of England while binding Africans..he broke the chains of one. It would be almost 200 years before the other were completely broken. Flaws and all a great man and a great country on this day to remember them all.

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idontknow3
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:11pm
OK! Enough already. We all know that the founding fathers of America gave to us all the greatest Constitution ever written. They provided us with the Bill of Rights that come from GOD and the first duty of any government instituted is protect and defend those GOD given rights. We keep on driving this home to any one that will listen. We broadcast it day in and day out from every conservative media voice and author out there. Now tell me this – how has all of that information influenced any voter or any one in Congress to switch over and become conservative and capitalistic minded that is liberal or progressive in their thinking? IT HAS NOT!!!! SO! Why hasn’t it? Here is why! Rush Limbaugh is on the right track, but even he falls a little short of the why. He says it’s the “LOW INFORMATION VOTER” He is right almost. Ben Franklin said “If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect”. We as conservatives continue to attempt to “persuade” by “appealing” to “intellect” of the voter, or any one in Congress. What we need to do is to package the conservative message in a box that is very “interesting” to the “LOW INFORMATION VOTER”. Don’t change the message – just make it sweeter to the taste. The L.I.V. is addicted to the entitlement message of the Democrats. Make the Constitutional, the Bill of Rights – the Conservative Message taste just as sweet, if not sweeter, and the L.I.V. will eat it up!!!!!!

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mcsledge
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:10pm
The council fire was kindled, when the chief addressed Washington through an interpreter to the following effect:

“I am a chief, and ruler over my tribes. My influence extends to the waters of the great lakes, and to the far blue mountains. I have traveled a long and weary path, that I might see the young warrior (George Washington, from the day he had horses shot out from underneath him) of the Great Battle.

It was on the day when the white man’s blood mixed with the streams of our forest, that I first beheld this chief. I called to my young men and said, mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not of the red-coat tribe — he hath an Indian’s wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do — himself is alone exposed.

Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies.

Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for him, knew not how to miss – ’twas all in vain, a power mightier far than we, shielded him from harm. He cannot die in battle. I am old, and soon shall be gathered to the great council fire of my fathers in the land of shades, but ere I go, there is something bids me speak in the voice of prophecy.

Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man, and guides his destinies — he will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire.”‘”

[SOURCE: Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington, by George Washington Parke Custis, Edited by Benson J. Lossing, Vol. 1, page 248].

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mcsledge
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:04pm
Without the inspired and God-led George Washington, America would not exist as it does today. And, he is the only President that didn’t really want the position, but took it upon request to serve his nation.

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- LOTO
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:31pm
  Does this make any sense ******?
  ***** and then ***** *** ****
  Can I buy a vowel ?
  Shaking my head….
  
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- LOTO
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:38pm
  Sorry MCSLEDGE
  My post was supposed to be to my own post below.
  
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LOTO
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:04pm
General Grant had slaves as did many in the North. The war was not over slavery, though it is rightfully abolished. Slavery in Cuba started before America and lasted longer. . Musums (***** Turks) captured, transported, and sold slaves. A ship full of slaves sold by Spain to Cuba was hijacked by the slaves who demanded to be returned to Africa. The captain sailed them to Long Island NY where they were arrested and then defended by 74 year old former President John Quincy Adams and set free. ( The Amistad Case). I am amazed that those that carry the chip of slavery on their shoulders know so very little about it and think that they were cheated by being counted as 3/5 human beings, ignorant to the fact that they would still be slaves if they were counted as one.

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- LOTO
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:28pm
  ***** The Blaze censored “*****” ?
  Well they cant be called African-Americans because they were neither, they were Turks.
  But it is relevant that
  blacks were capturing and selling blacks.
  There is no law against using the word ***** or ****** as far as that goes.
  The 1st amendment protects all speech except if you scream the word “fire” but
  Donald Trump uses “fired” a lot.
  Blaze: please stop being such politically corrects wussies, did you not hear Ben Carson’s comments on political correctness?
  
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- wilbstal
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:06pm
  war was over slavery Lincoln as much as said so what part dont you understand????
  
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pduffy
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:01pm
Everything Washington warned against, we did. As the public debt exploded, so did the wars, and now we have a budding tyrant in the form of an out-of-control federal system, let by another tyrant king, just as he predicted would happen if political competition for power was not put in check. Now is the moment of truth. Either America will survive and his words fall as empty retoric, or he will appear as a prophet of God, and we will suffer the consequences of our deeds. I predict the latter, as so do the words of God when he warned his people not to stray from him, or they would find themselves under crushing debt, and eventual slavery for their sins. America is finished, and this grand experiment of “government by the people” has come to an end. Tyranny is at the door, and it’s well deserved.

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