Over at the Sherburne County Citizen, amongst several letters to the editor touting the upcoming caucuses, there is a letter from Representative Mark Olson. While I am not in his district, and believe me I thank the good Lord every day for that, I believe this man needs to be defeated. Obviously, I would like to see a Democrat take his place and have endorsed Steve Andrews, but to be honest, both Republicans and Democrats should be doing everything in their power to rid themselves of this character. If I absolutely HAD to choose between another Republican and Mark Olson, I would gladly choose another Republican.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Letters To The Editor
TO THE EDITOR:
Thank you for encouraging citizen involvement in Tuesday's precinct caucuses. Whether we are Democrat, Republican, Independent or none of the above, long standing reasons remain for our attendance. These reasons only begin with this process to guide and restrain government. Please consider these important additional thoughts.
I too have some thoughts on restraint and guidance, Mr. Olson. Perhaps I could share them with you? How does one take seriously an agenda of restraint from someone who apparently cannot restrain himself? How does one guide the direction of government when one isn't man enough to guide his own emotions? Do you think, Mr. Olson, that there is something particularly egregious about a man unwilling to give up the reigns of power even when his personal life crumbles around him? For a man to tout guidance and restraint when a simple game of monopoly with a child sends him into irrational fits of emotional and then physical abuse is truly the definition of hypocrisy. If the Republican Party in District 16B cannot find someone more honorable than this man to put up for election, then there is truly something sad about its principles. There are few others that deserve to be removed from power due to their lack of guidance and restraint than Mark Olson.
As Thomas Jefferson once stated: "The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt." It is our duty as citizens to continue this faithful watch on government. There are so many issues facing our nation. Any failure to serve our country and protect our liberties is historically shown to have one result: Servitude to government, and liberty lost for all.
December 23, 1776 Thomas Paine stated that, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
When Benjamin Franklin was asked what type of government they had given us at the close of the Constitutional Convention, he replied: "A Republic, if you can keep it."
Rep. Mark Olson
Big Lake, MN
Now I know Mark Olson fancies himself an expert on American heritage and history, but I would appreciate it if he would actually do some basic research into that history before he goes around attributing quotes to founders who never actually said them. Thomas Jefferson DID NOT, as Mr. Olson claims, say
"The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt."
In fact, the quote does not even come from an American, let alone a founder. John Philpot Curran, an Irish judge, in 1790 was speaking about the election in Dublin when he made this statement. Aside from the obvious poor research skills displayed by Mr. Olson, he must also be given an 'F' for his analysis of said quote. It is NOT a wholesale rebuke of government, but rather a call for all people to be active in that government. Thus, if we all participated in our government and that government reflected that participation it would not be citizens serving government. It would be government serving its citizens, even if that servitude included such egregious measures as providing food for the poor, medicine for the ill, and "pod" free transportation.
