British Politician Admires America - Does Yours?

Today I found myself catching up on some shows on the DVR whilst working on some homework. Passively watching a number of programs, I was caught off guard by an interview on Hannity's TV commentary show as presented by the Fox network. The person being interviewed was Daniel Hannan. He is a member of the British Parliament that you can easily view on YouTube ranting on about the socialist style spending that his country is in the midst of. He has been crying out to his country that the socialism running rampant there has gone too far.

Back to the specific interview on Hannity. Daniel Hannan talks about a few things with Sean, and is careful about what he says due to criticisms he received from a previous appearance on the show for speaking out against socialized healthcare (available here). Hannity asks a leading question about health care, but Daniel deflects to a more simple topic. The Brit says quite a lot, most of which is directly quoted below. I'll let his words speak for themselves. Just keep in mind that this man has lived, in his own words, for ten years under a socialist style government. Also keep in mind that for some unknown, explicitly unspoken reason the leaders of the United States Federal Government under this administration are choosing to emulate the government that Daniel Hannan lives under currently.

The following words, as far as I interpreted them, were purely from the heart; not scripted. This, I believe, adds to the weight of his words.

May 19, 2009 from the Sean Hannity show on the Fox Network, Daniel Hannan said:

(Don't forget the British accent while reading! J ) Emphasis added.

... last time I was on this show I got into huge trouble with everyone attacking me for cautioning you against a British health care model. Look, eh, you guys are going to have to decide that. All I would say is this; your country is great and prosperous and free because government is constrained, and because the visionaries who wrote your Constitution who knew what they were doing when they drafted that document and who understood where unconstrained government leads because they fought against it. They created a system of checks and balances that would keep the state small, and the citizen big.

Now if you start going down this road towards a more European welfare model, a more European health care model, more public spending, more spending on education, being nicer in your foreign policy, all of those things, you make your country less American. You make it more like everywhere else, and that isn't going to make people like you any more. It's going to make them respect you less. The reason that your country is respected and honored in the world is precisely because it's been as your founders understood. It's been a city on a hill, it's shown us how, by adopting a model based on personal freedom and decentralization of power based on Jeffersonian democracy and dispersed decision making how you can make people prosperous and successful and strong. And the world owes you a debt because the vision of your Constitution didn't just keep you free. It inspired your fathers to take that freedom to other continents as well.

Hannity replies:

I wish most Americans understood American history as well as you do...

The interview ends with Daniel saying that everyone needs critics to keep them on their toes.

Daniel Hannan is a man who understands and admires what America stands for on its founding principles. He admires this country. Did you catch that in his opinion the rest of the world owes us for bringing the ideas and ideals of personal liberty to the forefront of thought for oppressed peoples all around the globe? I haven't seen that sentiment much from citizens of this country lately, or more importantly emulated from our elected officials.

This is a war of ideas, plain and simple. If you don't believe me, read the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the further Amendments, and the words from Jefferson, Washington, Jackson, Paine, Adams, etc. Decide for yourself. Don't just listen to me or anyone else. One of the worst things that can be done to another person in my opinion is to covertly manipulate their thoughts and opinions towards that of your own, especially when you have something to gain from it. I challenge you to examine your thoughts and opinions to see if they are your own, or if they only mirror popular sentiment.

The way to examine ones opinions is for the individual to be a "skeptic" of the world around them. One cannot simply believe everything that is heard. Try it some day! Contradictions abound! This is because no one can completely remove themselves from their own opinion when communicating. This can be coupled with someone repeating things that were heard which happen to agree with their own views, but without critical thinking to decide whether it's actually valid or not. This behavior had it's place and time back when humans lived as hunters and gatherers using the spoken word eye to eye with one another as the sole means of passing information.

In today's age of constant information bombardment it's easy to not think about issues because they are being spewed by "reputable sources" in the media. EVEN PEOPLE IN MEDIA HAVE AN OPINION! Don't get me wrong, there are people in the media that I like and people that I don't like, BUT I AM SKEPTICAL OF EVERYTHING THAT ANYONE SAYS! I have not found a single person on this earth that I agree with 100% of the time. This is part of the beauty and wonderment of humans! Go with it! Being skeptical, I believe, and thinking critically to form opinions makes you become even more uniquely human!

Back to the issue at hand. I would argue that the more we stray away from the original intent of the founding documents and the forewarning words of those that helped write and institute the ideas contained therein, the more personal liberty we loose. This current federal administration is leading us down a path in the opposite direction of the founding principles and ideas. All I ask is that you don't take my word for it! Research and decide for yourself. I dare you. All I ask is that you keep in mind Daniel Hannan's words from "across the pond" where socialism abounds. He has a unique perspective that we as Americans do not have.

If you do sufficient research into the topic and decide that the principles that this nation was founded on don't agree with your personal philosophies, I ask that you keep in mind that airfare to Europe is very small investment to improve your quality of life when becoming a citizen of a multitude of socialized countries therein. I don't say this to offend you, but to give perspective. This country is special, unique, free. All I want is to keep it that way. I close words from Patrick Henry:

Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!