By Wes Rhinier

The State of the Union is a mess. This should’ve been how Obama started his address to the nation for his final State of the Union address. It’s a fact. Why call it anything else?

Our country is $18.8 trillion in debt. Obama, who once said it was irresponsible and unpatriotic to accrue so much debt, has managed with the help of Republicans to rack up such an amount.

It’s painfully obvious that there are now two Americas. We are a deeply divided nation! Across America there is a huge split. Real Americans are outraged at Obama, Congress and the rest of Washington, D.C. For years Obama has worked to divide this nation among many lines, and I have to say he is succeeding. America is no longer one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The federal government is to ensure that everyone has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Obama and a vast majority of Congress are trying to do everything possible to take away our rights.

You have a right to defend your life, liberty and property. If you do not have a right to defend your Life, Liberty, or Property, then all you have is a privilege by permission. If you have to ask permission to defend your rights … you are a slave.

Being a slave is worse than being dead. Winston Churchill said, “If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than live as slaves.”

There seems to be no middle ground. Many people are begging for tyranny. The Democrat’s are running a self-proclaimed socialist and a former Secretary of State who should be in prison if the laws applied equally to everyone. Is it time for two Americas? A Free America and a Socialist States of America?

What is it going to take for Americans to stand up for liberty? Freedom made us the greatest nation ever in the history of mankind. We are on the verge of throwing that all away. Freedom is not free. In June 1788 at the ratification of the Constitution Patrick Henry stated, “Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined. The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.”

I don’t have the space available here to go through all the injustices that our federal government has forced upon us. This hasn’t happened overnight. It’s been over 100 years in the making. Is there even a chance that real Americans can roll back the tyranny that has become more evident as of late? I believe most Americans are waiting to see how the elections go this year. What happens if we get more of the same? What happens if we don’t make a drastic change in the direction of restoring our Republic and following our Constitution?

Our founders instructed us in many ways what to do when injustice becomes law. Resistance becomes our duty. Thomas Jefferson stated, “What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.” (Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, Dec. 20, 1787, in Papers of Jefferson)

Why do we continue to act as if government has the authority to tell us when and how to exercise our rights? Why do we continue to allow government to dictate the conditions of our rights? Are we dead? Are we subjects? Are we slaves?

I will end this with one of my favorite quotes from Thomas Jefferson: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is it’s natural manure.”

If you ask me she is looking mighty thirsty!

Wes Rhinier lives in Rowan County.

“My Turn” submissions should be 500-700 words. Send to editor@salisburypost.com with “My Turn” in the subject line. Please include name, address, phone number and digital photo.