I particularly liked:

“Some people say prayers aren’t answered by a living God. They are.”

Exactly and absolutely true.

because I too have hauled things down that road. The crisis came for my wife and I when ahead of us on the road two criminals drove down a blind onramp and struck our son as he headed home driving the legal direction on his motorcycle. They met head on at 120 closing speed and we got to his torn body before he passed out. In the 5 weeks that followed he hung between life and death and we too had to leave things in the hands of G-d. Today he is back in society (living on his own and working) with an MBA earned from his hospital bed. He is disabled and has lost more than a young man of 25 should ever have to lose but he is still here and my wife and I thank G-d every night and share his company every week.

We have however not lost our faith in Ayn Rand. G-d gave us brains and we try to make the best use of them. Ayn’s relationship with G-d is of no importance to us. We each make up our own minds about our relationship with a Deity. What Obama and his minions are doing to the country must be reversed. Every tool that we have should be available to do this, and G-d will stand by us in the undertaking.

Good and bad things happen to every one of us – it is part of the price for being what we are. But we have to understand that politicians not only want money; they will lie every day to get it. Realizing as they do that they need the results of the producers, they will cozy up to us when it suits them. Realizing that it is the moochers who keep them in power they will turn on the producers and push them to the limit of their voluntary willingness to give and keep giving. We in turn must do what we can to find and support the politicians who understand that our society hangs by a thread and must move in the direction of individual freedom if we are to survive as a nation.

You’re taking thinking in a direction I like to see.
VB

I had a lot of faith at one time, but not so much anymore.

You said the most important thing that I believe about how we live our lives– if we give our lives over to God, then whatever happens to them will be under His direction. And if we keep the faith with Him, follow where He leads us no matter how little sense it sometimes seems to make, then our efforts will be blessed.

And so we must do what seems an almost impossible task. We must take back our country from the hands of those who put only themselves and their hunger for power first. Then we must again put God back at the head of this country. Thank you for your generosity in sharing so much of your life.

and wisdom and faith flow right off the page as one reads it. What an extraordinary synopsis of your life experiences. And just the plain common sense of a wise man, an educated one, without even having to think about an intellectual label.

I am sure many along your life’s path have benefited from knowing you. These words were especially poignant:

When the spirit is this troubled and the odds are stacked against you, there’s only one place to go. You go to your knees to talk with God. You promise to work to preserve the country against the statists. You ask Him to bless your efforts and to help you save the last best hope of man.
And then you set about your task, in faith.

Oh, and btw, been meaning to tell you that I *heart* your sig line in a major way.

As a native Texan, born and bred just outside of Dallas, what a great part of Texas history and so very applicable to the days in which we find ourselves.

Both the story and the voice. Actually seems like I could hear you talking.

Pretty clear that optimism is being knocked around quite a bit. Back in March I went back to daily Bible reading which is helping to keep my galt at bay. That and I can count on God to see this thing through.

There is a passage about Solomon’s son. Solomon had done God’s will, but his son, not so much. He went all King George on Isreal and the people of Isreal went galt times 100. I think I know how the people of Isreal felt.

Read 2 Chronicles 10:1 to 10:19 if you need a lift. The ancients didn’t mess around with hearings and impeachment, and a crown was no guarantee you would stay healthy (no I am not advocating violence, if any trolls are snooping around. The point is that when a people have had enough, they can get cranky.)

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…may just be we haven’t put enough in God’s hands. Trying to do too much on my own is when I usually crash.
He helps if we ask for it. Just have to remember to ask.

Note to lefties;
“Don’t be afraid to see what you see.” -Ronald Reagan

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While it may seem obvious to you that your call to faith is an improvement over Ayn Rand’s thesis “because she didn’t know God”, it’s worth considering that the term “faith” bears so many subjective and contradictory meanings in contemporary culture as to require anyone serious about using the term to be explicit about its content, because a contentless, non-objective faith provides no more knowledge of God than you say Rand had.

I urge you especially to consider the prudence of making unqualified theological statements, some of which are not grounded in the most authoritative of sources.

This part of your story is really outrageous. How can this happen? How can an employee sue you for putting up a sign in your window saying you support the troops and win $60,000.00? No wonder you sometimes get down.

I’m no doubt a fan of Ayn but the rabid atheism is the biggest thing that keeps me from being a card-carrying objectivist (probably a few other things too).

. . .and not to be overly confrontational, since so much of this Diary makes perfect sense, but it IS possible to believe in the US Constitution, to recognize Obama, Barney and Nancy as manifestations of 21st Century Evil, and to share essentially the precise same Values as the author of the above. . .

And to have no religious faith whatsoever, nor feel the slightest need for it. Rand was using a fictional framework to impart enormous philosophic notions, and to do so was essentially forced into mythic terms, because her Heroes had to embody such grand ideas. Galt had to border upon moral perfection for much the same reason Christ had to embody it — the story could not be told any other way. There are those of us who recognize the immense contributions made by Christian Values to Western Civilization — one need only glance at the alternatives to be unavoidably so aware — yet who simply are not so constructed as to feel the need to worship anything, nor humble ourselves before any Higher Power. But we find ourselves as men and women without a country, from a philosophic point of view, because the godless have substituted a self-serving Altruism in place of religion, while the Godly still, to some degree, make would allow choices to be made involving other people’s lives, based upon what their Faith tells them God would want.

Rand built an entire philosophic construct — or more accurately, noted that such one’s personal construct can and should be built — on the fact that a=a, and 2+2=4, each and every time. I’m just making the point that for some of us, that can be enough, and that we know a brand of peace all our own.

In a move that many will find completely in character, Mr. Obama slipped in another socialist as a recess appointment. Realizing full well that because he and his advisors are just THAT much smarter than the rest of congress, he clearly felt any debate would be counterproductive; a time sink that would detract from the primary mission of dismantling all of the social conventions that made this country a world leader.
I share with you a quote from the clearly left leaning Mr. Berwick (without mandate or consent out new administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) :
“Any health care funding plan that is just equitable civilized and humane must, must redistribute wealth from the richer among us to the poorer and the less fortunate. Excellent health care is by definition redistributional.”
While the gulf between Mr. Berwick’s philosophy and my own is simply galactic in scope, I just wanted to ponder one aspect of his quote. Why is it when people fail to prosper are they dubbed as less fortunate than people who do?
While at least in the last several years I have had some measure of personal and financial success, I have had many episodes of what Mr. Berwick might call ‘bad fortune’. I’ve been laid off, passed over for promotion, downsized and at least one just plain fired. I’ve been married, divorced and remarried. I’ve struggled for years to get my small business off the ground and watched money that I put aside for retirement shrink due to the slings and arrows of outrageous economic fortune. During all of this I’ve worked 50 – 65 hour weeks, missed countless family occasions and holidays, and taken very little vacation. I’m sure my experiences differ little from those of most people reading this.
I might argue that the thing that Mr. Berwick calls fortune is dimply diligence and perseverance. This begs the question of why should a lack of dedication and perseverance merit reward? Why should people be spared the natural consequences of their decisions?
I see nothing just in the plunder of wealth honestly obtained. To quote Ayn Rand:
“It only stands to reason that where there’s sacrifice, there’s someone collecting the sacrificial offerings. Where there’s service, there is someone being served. The man who speaks to you of sacrifice is speaking of slaves and masters, and intends to be the master.”

By an enjoyable read Texasgalt, thank you.

But I can understand it. Too many totalitarian states used “religion” as a hammer to rule over society. Looks at the Arab world today, the USSR using the “religion” of the state, or go back to the days of the Borgias using Catholicism as a hammer to rule over the masses.

Knowledge of God does have a place for the individual, but when it gets into the hands of Government be ready to resist with all of your might. Look at the “social justice” teachings coming out of the progressives today.

…assuming that was a reference to their eternal abode being in a very warm place.

Remarkable testimony of perseverence and diligence in a world that preaches entitlement and grievance, or independent labor and community in a world that wishes to control and regulate all human commerce through those who have appointed themselves as the wise and powerful (c.f. I Cor. 1:20 ff).

I appreciate your wisdom in avoid the siren song of Randian objectivism, which denies not only the Gospel, but natural law as well. Today we do see a populace too many of whom live by heart (or more accurately stomach) without mind – but mind without heart is evil too.

The Marxists in their idolatry to their philosophy are lead to heartless and sacrifice the individual to the utiliarain “good of society” – and unfortunately, the Randian worship of reason and the ability of individuals to make wise decisions on the basis of reciprocal obligation is fundamentally flawed as well (though certainly less harmful than the totalitarian worshippers of reason).

Thank you for sharing your life story – it gives me encouragement to stand up to the far lesser attempts at degradation that come my way.

The Psalmist lamented how the evil prosper and the good laid low, but it’s hard not to think of trusting God to be mere platitude and want to take things into your own hands – but that certainly doesn’t work out so well in the end. Patience is not a virtue wasted on youth, but patient waiting doesn’t come easily to those of mature years either.

So your keeping on going sets a good example.

If it is not moved to the front page, we lose out. Hope everyone gets to read this and learns from it..

Well done!

TexasGalt,
I grew up in a family business similar to yours. Learning how to work hard, be honest and provide good service and value to our customers from my father have served me well in my life. Dad grew up on a cotton farm in Oklahoma. He and his six brothers and sisters have all made remarkable lives for themselves through hard work, economy and perseverance. I loved our customers because they really appreciated our service and our willingness to respect them, something not many high class or even middle class retail stores would do. We knew their names, their childrens names, where they worked, if they had a death in the family, etc… It was a relationship and it was rewarding.
My last job at the family business was working with personnel. The bogus work comp lawsuits, the “entitlement mentality” of young employees and the constant feeling that the employees were continuously looking for ways to sue us did me in.
We were one of the few companies who attended arbitration hearings for unemployment claims, especially if the employee had quit. We were willing to defend our rights – something most businesses didn’t do until after they’d received a percentage hike in unemployment ( dad learned the rules the hard way). But the ones we settled were hard for me. If felt like blackmail, and it was blackmail by the federal government and by socialist progressives. This is a powerful tool to advance their agenda. It is a hard decision to make, paying out your projected bottom line profit for a month, quarter or year based on the case. Especially if it’s for a trumped up charge or something like what you are describing.
When I describe my dads business and the way he valued his employees to liberals on other sites, they make fun of me. Dad believed everyone who worked for him had the opportunity to build a life for themselves just as he had done. He held open the doors for promotion based on our ability and encouraged us to educate ourselves and provided constant training. Our employees were promoted from within, with our current President starting at a delivery level position and our CFO starting in sales. This is business at it’s best – this is labor relation at it’s best. There are some employees who simply want a job without the added responsibility of management and these we value highly as well.
Growing up with dad, I never got why he seemed angry every day at work. It wasn’t until I was grown and faced the same inane government policies everyday that I figured out it was that and not me he was angry about. I imagine what our business would be like if we weren’t having to defend ourselves against the government and unscrupulous employees as part of our daily operations. We could spend more time and money on developing our employees, increase their pay, and lower our rates. Contrary
to popular belief, we do not stuff our beds with cash or laugh all the way to the bank. We have a respectable profit goal and reinvest in our employees, our community and our company.
When my mother became our CEO after dad passed, she bought the Lord with her. She prays daily for our company, our employees and our customers. I stand in confirmation that this has seen us through the worst of times, hurricanes, Congressional attacks and the like. She relates her Sunday school lessons, especially ones about David to her senior staff and encourages and reminds them of who is really in charge. It is interesting to see how hard these guys and gals work for her, for the company that they built and are responsible for and for our employees.
Texasgalt – your story hit so many heartstrings with me and my dads life and the business he built – he too joined trade associations, and worked hard to get the federal government to issue rules and regulations for our business to force out the unscrupulous dealers among us. Dad believed in himself, people and the Lord. I hope through one of the associations I get to meet you someday. As I am now retired, I have followed this administration from the get go – I keep our senior staff informed and I’m working to loose the grip the government , unions and progressives are taking on our country. I believe every American ought to have the opportunity that my dad had and that his employees have – to build a life based on their willingness to work, willingness to wait and willingness to believe in themselves.
You’ve got a buddy from Florida,
k

that comes from a small business. It is seeing an employee rise from the bottom to a position of responsibility- to his benefit and the company. I know you have thought about how hard it is for them. They have to ignore pop culture and especially their “so what” co-workers. They have to make good choices and sacrifices that Mr So-What laughs at.

But to see it happen, to see someone rise above their circumstance thru guts and hard work. That alone is enough to make the grind worth it, as long as the politicians will let you make enough to support it all.

You made me grin when you spoke about your dad always seeming to be mad. I had a young employee meet with me once to tell me “everybody calls you Mr Negative.” I laughed out loud but quickly let him off the hook with a promise I would do better.

Thank you so much for chiming in. I know you, if not literally then I know you from what hundreds of others like you have whispered to me over dinner.

Via Hot Air

http://hotair.com/archives/2010/07/09/small-businesses-losing-their-steam/

I have fallen into a habit lately, of when I read a diary that touches more than just my head, to decide to think about it and get back when I compose my thoughts. Too often I have failed to get back and acknowledge an inspiring diary, so I am just going comment now.
Growing up in Seattle, I should know more about the trucking business, but I don’t. Somewhere between William Boeing and William Gates Junior, a guy named Dave Beck ran this town. People from that time still grumble.
The only other thing I know, is if you see a Sea-Land short hauler coming while your driving your car, you better get the he** out of the way.
This probably isn’t much of an encouragement, but everything happens for a purpose. Perhaps God wants you to write more, or has some things in addition to what you are already doing, for you to do. My parents always gave this advice when I was down, and I always hated it, so it’s probably not worth much. but I think they are probably right.
My favorite lumber supplier has an enormous support the troops sign on his main building. Curious switch of places, Texas. If the new employees don’t like it, the are made to conform. The sales counter is saltier than the fish market. Great Old Seattle place. There was a new guy that came from Michigan, just out of the University, that had all the liberal, poorly thought-out theories of why things are the way they are. Between the employees and myself (carpentry business) we had him re-programmed in six months. One less Obama minion in his ranks.
Please keep writing your thoughts. Perhaps some young kid, just out of college, unemployed, is looking for answers.

right about the time I started coming here. I didn’t see it, and wish with all my heart that I had.

Today is 23rd Feb, 2011. You’re leaving. So are some others. I don’t know them or you, but my heart is grieving all the same.

Thank you for this, sir.