The Preamble of the Declaration of Indpendence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Over For Now.

Main Street One

World War II Recognition

After visiting the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, and discovering the online recognition available for those who served through the registry, I felt compelled to share my family's contributions to that fight for world freedom.

The links below honor those family members:

My Father, Sid Welch, Major USAF, Retired

My Step-father, Ed Benham

Uncle Claude

Uncle Royce

Fortunately, none of them died in that conflict, though both Uncle Claude and Uncle Royce were recipients of the Purple Heart.

My father lost his life in an accident in 1971. My Step-dad and Uncle Royce died of natural causes in 2008 and 2000, respectively. Uncle Claude is still with us.

Photo From National World War II Memorial Website

Too often those of us in Main Street USA take for granted our freedom, not remembering what had to occur to bring about and keep those precious liberties we enjoy, including, but certainly not limited to, the great victory of our Founding Fathers and the Colonial Armies and brigades with the American Revolution, World War I and World War II.

Let us all keep in our minds and our hearts what those before us (and their families) have sacrificed, not just on Memorial Day, but each and every day as we give thanks.

Over For Now.

Main Street One

Reminders of Individual Freedom & Excessive Government

Most bad government has grown out of too much government.
Thomas Jefferson

President Reagan on Curbing Government


President Kennedy - Ask Not


Patrick Henry Speech to VA Convention


Public opinion sets bounds to every government, and is the real sovereign in every free one.
James Madison

Over For Now.

Main Street One

Long Ago Words Even More True Today

It offends me when speaking about our Founding Fathers to hear someone say, "But that was over two centuries ago, they had no idea what the world would become."

Is that so true?

One of the most insightful of our early visionaries of freedom was Thomas Jefferson. 

Below are a few quotes from Jefferson that are even more appropriate to today's world than they were in his own time (all emphasis added):

"I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and in our comforts, in our labor and in our amusements. If we can prevent the government from wasting the labor of the people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy."

"The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale."

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes."

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a monied aristocracy that has set the government at defiance. The issuing power (of money) should be taken away from the banks and restored to the people to whom it properly belongs."

"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

"I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious."

"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."

"To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

It is rather remarkable that words from a man more than 200 years ago could resonate so loudly and so true today.

The Founding Fathers did know exactly of what they spoke.

Over For Now.

Main Street One