Tomorrow, Economic Prosperity, Or The Continual Spiral Downward

By James Vaughn
March 20, 2006

www.jamesvaughn.org


I am grateful for your generous attention to hear me state my views concerning tomorrow's referendum. This is an issue for economic survival in an economically oppressed town.

We stand tomorrow in the shadow of history.

We gather tomorrow in the very Cradle of Liberty.

If I may quote one of my favorite orators of Liberty, and apply his words to our situation at hand:

A town's "character, like that of an individual, is elusive.

It is produced partly by things we have done and partly by what has been done to us.

It is the result of physical factors, intellectual factors, spiritual factors.

The informing spirit of the American character has always been a deep religious sense.

Throughout the years, down to the present, a devotion to fundamental religious principles has characterized American thought and action.

Our government was founded on the essential religious idea of integrity of the individual.

It was this religious sense which inspired the authors of the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal;

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights."

Our earliest legislation was inspired by this deep religious sense:

"Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion." Our first leader, Washington, was inspired by this deep religious sense: "Of all of the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports."

Therefore; The vote you cast tomorrow has absolutely nothing to do with religious beliefs, do not be fooled into thinking this way. It encompasses economic survivability of this town.

The taxation our town receives seems cruel and heartless at times.

The heartless attacks we receive from such municipal "laws" which are applied to us is nothing short of municipal government gone bad. It is recognized as the very birth pangs of tyranny.

Without leadership, there can be no leaders. It defies logic.

Home-Rule in not only my opinion, but many renowned historians is considered a dictatorship of the minority.

While it has been assured by our present administration that our opinions rule this decision in tomorrow's election, I am very doubtful that this will be the case, however our voices must be heard nevertheless.

Our town has a golden opportunity to make a bold step into what many call "the great unknown". Economic stimulus is needed desperately in our town.

There are many misconceptions spreading like a virus to squash this golden opportunity.

Alcohol license's must be wisely regulated, and I have faith it will be.

As a wise forefather once voiced, "Every citizen must be a soldier".

We must be informed, and not let our town fall into even more favoritism.

If this decision is voted in favor of, we must guard and make sure not one ounce of favoritism will rule in issuing the licenses.

This is the primary fear among the people I have spoken to, it will not be if we remain well informed. Which we shall continue to be well informed, rest assured.

Locking out businesses that sell alcohol has crippled our town. While this agenda is not new, it a new chance for your opinion to be cast in tomorrow's ballot.

The mayor has assured us our voices will be the deciding factor as to whether we allow liquor licenses in our town, which we must always stress, this is our town!

Our town shall not be ruled by a dictatorship of the minority, rather our town shall be ruled by the hearts and beliefs of all citizens of this town; young and old alike.

Businesses will come into town if alcohol is allowed, businesses will go elsewhere if prohibited.

Would you rather income go to surrounding cities and towns as it has in the past, or would you like the revenue flowing in our great town? The answer to that question will be the very vote you cast tomorrow.

Do not let the misconceptions of package alcohol stores on every corner enter your mind. We are speaking of businesses such as Pizza Hut (for example), who sell beer with their pizza. Current businesses will grow in size if they are allowed to sell alcohol.

We all know those that are allowed to sell alcohol today, their premises defy common logic to fall under "The Grandfather Clause", I have always felt it was hypocritical to ban others when the existing establishments are allowed. It stops inches short of favoritism at the slightest, and has raised questions for generations.

Let us put these questions to rest tomorrow, with a yes vote.

If our vote is yes, we will accept nothing else but the municipal government to honor the referendum at hand.

Let's gather tomorrow and put our town out of the thought pattern of the dark ages, and competitive with businesses in the new millennium.

The very future of this town's financial situation may prosper with a yes vote, it will continue to spiral downward if we vote no.

Let's give our children and grandchildren the golden opportunity to prosper in this town, that some of us who were born and raised here never had the chance to do. Us, referring to those of us people who chose to remain in Carterville, our beloved town.

Let us put ignorance and stupidity behind us, and let us move forward into a prosperous new future.

I will leave you tonight with the words of a very wise man who spoke so boldly and truthfully, a voice from the past, yet a voice that is near and dear to our hearts.

"The American character has been not only religious, idealistic, and patriotic, but because of these it has been essentially individual.

The right of the individual against the State has ever been one of our most cherished political principles.

The American Constitution has set down for all men to see the essentially Christian and American principle that there are certain rights held by every man which no government and no majority, however powerful, can deny.

Conceived in Grecian thought, strengthened by Christian morality, and stamped indelibly into American political philosophy, the right of the individual against the State is the keystone of our Constitution.

Each man is free.

He is free in thought.

He is free in expression.

He is free in worship."

I might add, He is free in deciding his town's future.

We cannot assume that the struggle is ended. It is never-ending.

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. It was the price yesterday. It is the price today, and it will ever be the price.

The characteristics of the American people have ever been a deep sense of religion, a deep sense of idealism, a deep sense of patriotism, and a deep sense of individualism.

Let us not blink the fact that the days which lie ahead of us are ones of difficult decisions.

Let us boldly vote yes on tomorrow's alcohol referendum, and let our town prosper financially.

Thank You For Listening, and Good Evening.

James Vaughn


(note: this speech was broadcast on the web site of James Vaughn, and has been posted later this evening in the blog)

© 2008 James Vaughn