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We have become accustomed to President Obama apologizing to the Kings and Sultans and Princes and Sheiks in the Middle East and elsewhere for the imperfections in America---consistently undermining the notion of American exceptionalism.
Yesterday in Paris he took his apologies to world stage: "I've come here personally...to say that the United States of America not only recognizes our role in this problem, we embrace our responsibility to do something about it."
"It," of course, is "global warming/climate change."
Is climate change really the problem secular progressives claim it to be?
Has America sinned, or blessed the world? Is America exceptional--- or despicable as some suggest?
Translated: America is anything but exceptional, we have polluted the air and are destroying the climate. And I have come to personally apologize, and to promise I will spread around billions of American tax payer's dollars to all who promise to solve the problem.
The Heritage Foundation says, "The president should not be apologizing for the economic growth that dramatically improved Americans' and much of the world's quality of life. Instead, the president should apologize for pushing costly and ineffective climate policies that will make us worse off and trap the world's poorest citizens in poverty."
Yet the president claims his motivation is to "help" the poor, while making America do penance for our sins.
Penance is, of course, "voluntary self-punishment inflicted as an outward expression of repentance for having done wrong."
And his voluntary self-imposed infliction will have a historic damaging effect to America.
Heritage analysts have modeled the cumulative effects of the president's policies included in his "Clean Power Plan" and find the effects within 15 years will be devastating to our way of life.
By 2030, the Heritage economists estimate the damage would be:
- An average annual employment shortfall of nearly 300,000 jobs
- A peak employment shortfall of more than 1 million jobs
- A loss of more than $2.5 trillion (inflation-adjusted) in aggregate gross domestic product (GDP)
- A total income loss of more than $7,000 (inflation-adjusted) per person
Heritage also asks, "Is Climate Change a Problem?"
While proponents of human caused climate change argue that 97% of the climatologists agree with them, there is, however, no consensus that the Earth is rapidly warming. It has warmed a bit over the past 60 years, and in fact even the "warmers" agree there is presently a "pause" in the warming since 1998 and data shows the that the climate is less sensitive to increases in carbon dioxide and other green house gas emissions than the climate folks predicted.
Heritage has done excellent research and sourcing on their article, I strongly recommend you read it.
But the reoccurring question continues to be, "Is America an exceptional nation?"
President Obama has consistently played down America's greatness and exceptionalism, which caused former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to say this in response to the question, "Does Barack Obama love America?"
"I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America. He doesn't love you and he doesn't love me. He wasn't brought up the way you were brought up and the way I was brought up to love this country." Giuliani concluded his remarks with this: "With all our flaws, we're the most exceptional country in the world."
We are, for a variety of reasons.
America is a nation founded on ideas. Yet studies show that Americans today are largely ignorant about the key principles and ideas that have birthed and shaped our nation.
As a result, we have become fragmented and torn as a nation and unclear and divided about what our nation stands for and where we're headed---or where we should be heading.
Without citizens learning of America's founding principles and values, the American ideal can be weakened. That is happening today.
America's heritage is at risk in our society---in fact from time to time, Republican leaders---the ones who should be a banner carrier for these principles and values---suggest we put aside "divisive social issues" so the GOP can win an election.
Because of the damaging effects of public---government run ---education, fewer and fewer Americans understand or agree that the United States was founded on principles largely rooted in Bible based Judeo-Christian beliefs.
Many Americans today are conflicted as to the true identity of America. And to try to define our identity leads to what many see as a contradiction---is America a Christian nation or a secular nation?
What is the American ethic? Where did it come from?
In 1776, when America announced its independence as a nation, it was composed of 13 colonies surrounded by hostile powers.
Today, the United States is a country of 50 states, with a vast military that is the most powerful in the world. Its economy produces almost a quarter of the world's wealth. The American people are still among the most hard working, God fearing, church attending, generous people in the world.
Every nation derives meaning, purpose and identity from some unifying quality.
Daniel Webster, recognized as the greatest, most effective Senator to ever serve in Congress, said this: "If we abide by the principle taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instruction and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity."
Today, on the radio, I'm talking more about that quality. Please join me, live, from anywhere in the world at 9 AM PST or the rebroadcast at 7:30 PST. Here's how.
Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.