sandman

Whenever questions about the direction this country needs to trend toward in the purpose of government in its relation to the citizens, I always look toward the founders for guidence, and I found this little gem, George Washington's first Thankgiving Proclamation. General Thanksgiving By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America A PROCLAMATION WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:" NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us. And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. (signed) G. Washington Gentlemen, if the men who founded this nation were of the attitude that the Almighty does have a place in the public sphere, then that's good enough for me.

"If we ever forget that this republic is one nation under God, then we wil be a nation gone under." --- Ronald Wilson Reagan

Most people dislike capitalism because success in a free market requres hard work and competition. Most people embrace socialist ideas becasue the proponents of socialism promise money from the treasury for doing nothing other than voting. Leaving the reprobates and dregs of society with their days free and thier bellies full for little to no effort, and the expense of these societal derelicts is to be picked up by the working class and affluent through legalized property confiscation (taxation).

The underlying problem of the coal industry stems from the fact that adherence to enviromentalist demonization of fossil fuels seems to have become our state religion.

There's a Dolly Madison joke here, but I'm going to let it go.

I like how you hijack my hijack. Anyway, Bowling Green could handle Austin Peay. And the Gators are heading for 8-5 or 7-6.

Take heart, Pitt is coming to save the ACC!

I think that someone in Blacksburg must roll out the cocaine and hookers for Herbstreet when he comes to town.

The SEC Champion will play for the National Title once again? That's about all I've got.

I don't want to even discuss what Florida's season is going to be like. 2006,07,08,09 seem like a lifetime ago.

...........http://www.philsteele.com/Pdf/2012Top40Countdown/24VirginiaTech.pdf

You're in for a real shock in the near future.

Don't get me wrong, but when you conference champions surrender 70+ points in a bowl game your conference is screwed.

Don't worry about it, when President Zero finally transitions the power grid to the green energy he's been harping about you'll have a windmill sticking out of your a$$ and power to burn.

There is no way any sane man is giving you a device that is both a sedative and a firearm.

[sarcasm] Another day in the SEC. If you don't understand the core concept by now, I don't know what to say. [sarcasm off]

You want history, I read in the 1920 census the population of Bluefield Wv was just shy of 50,000 people. Back on topic, Bluefield VA needs the addition of a Target to really push Walmart's prices back down.

I pollute the earth more than anyone here, and I don't even have to try. http://greenlivingideas.com/2009/11/13/golf-balls-1000-years-decompose/ http://www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/11/04/littering.golf.balls/

Some day there will be an aircraft carrier named the Obama. We retired "Big John" and "Big E", now we've got "Big Ears"!!!!!!

Don't know how to post the graph results, but I'm in Milton Freidman country.

Some of these posts on this thread have given me a newfound faith in some of you. Good job guys.

Answer me why I'm looking at a website with hammers and scikles, you pinko commie?

Once is a dumb penalty, seven pass interference calls and three defensive holdings are the referees injecting themselves into the game.

Tennessee's Offense: First down incomplete.......Second down is a draw play for two yards.......Third and eight incomplete, wait a minute, there's a flag.......pass interference on Florida......First down incomplete.....................