Presidents' Day

[Richard S]

On Presidents Day, it seems appropriate to read once again the speech of one of our greatest Presidents -- a speech that changed our nation, "The Gettysburg Address" of President Abraham Lincoln:

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Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

[kjtrains]

Appropriate, indeed!

[Phsimone]

One of the greatest speeches of our history. We need to remind our senators, judiciary and executive branch that It is not a government of or for the corporation or powerful individuals but for and of all the people.

[JR956678]

that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

How sad that the "for the people" part of these memorable words is so often forgotten. Our representatives in state, local, and federal governments need to remember that they govern for the people - not for the government.

[Phsimone]

Is it for the government that our politicians govern for, or is it for the corporations and super rich who pay them milliions of dollars to perpetuate a system that has now been set up to be controlled by those same people. Why is it some many politicians become lobbyists for corporations when they are done doing "the peoples business"? Why is it so many politicians wives become lobbyists for corporations. Why can I give only a couple of thousand dollars to a candidate and a corporation can now give unlimited amounts? And if they do it right now without any disclosure. It is time to take the money out of the picture. If it is the peoples government then only individuals in a limited fashion should be able to support a candidate. It is government by all the people.