GO VOTE!!!

Two years ago, I was voting against someone. I was voting against a candidate who promised a fundamental change of our country. I voted against someone who promised universal health care, student loan reform, cap and trade legislation, immigration reform which included amnesty. I voted against someone who was considered the most liberal Senator. I voted against someone who promsised to "spread the wealth around". I voted against someone who saw the US Constitution as a document of negative liberties, and didn't "go far enough" and should have enumerated what "government should give the people".

THIS YEAR, I am voting for representatives that believe in the United States Constitution, as a LIMIT to the powers and expansion of the Federal Government. I am voting for representatives who stood unapologetically against the biggest industry take overs in our nations history, automotive, banking, student loans, and health care. I am voting for representatives who believe in states rights, and that the powers they have come from the people. I am voting for representatives who didn't villify those who voiced their concerns at town hall meetings, instead acting as our voices in Congress. And I just voted, and it felt GREAT!

If you need more motivation, here are some great quotes from some of this country's greats.

We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds...we will] have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers... And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for[ another]... till the bulk of society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery... And the fore-horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression.

~ Thomas Jefferson

But I go on this great republican principle, that the people will have virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom. Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks -- no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea. If there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them.

~James Madison

It is vital that we follow this counsel from the Lord: "Honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil" (D&C 98:10). Note the qualities that the Lord demands in those who are to represent us. They must be good, wise, and honest.

~Ezra T. Benson