Margaret Thatcher's Strength

Margaret Thatcher on Defeating Socialism
Reaganite Republican ^ | February 19, 2011 | Reaganite Republican

Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2011 9:16:45 AM by Reaganite Republican

"Trying to cure the British disease with socialism was like trying to cure leukemia with leaches"

Much like close friend and fellow happy-warrior Ronald Reagan, British PM Margaret Thatcher loved to take on her liberal opponents... and had a lot of fun doing it. The House of Commons' raucous debate atmosphere also provided an ideal platform that often had Lady Thatcher at her very, very best.

But also as Reagan did, the Iron Lady respected historical precedent... and knew what she was talking about: Thatcher proved it by turning her country around almost single-handedly, establishing an opportunity society that rejected socialist malaise while rewarding performers...
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"There can be no liberty unless there is economic liberty.

People think that at the top there isn't much room. They tend to think of it as an Everest. My message is that there is tons of room at the top.

No-one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions; he had money as well.

I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society — from a give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself nation. A get-up-and-go, instead of a sit-back-and-wait-for-it Britain.

The trouble with socialism is, eventually you run out of other people's money.

To cure the British disease with socialism was like trying to cure leukemia with leeches.

Socialists cry "Power to the people", and raise the clenched fist as they say it. We all know what they really mean—power over people, power to the State.

Pennies do not fall from heaven... they have to be earned here on earth

My job is to keep Britain from going red "

From freerepublic.com

                          

Discipline yourself to use the Disciplines

There is a simple yet effective formula that we humans use to learn how to do something and to succeed at things. We learn from others. We seek out those who have already done what we want to do and learn from them by talking to them, listening to them or reading their books.

Did you ever wonder where that concept came from? I don’t know for sure but I do know it is Biblical. When Jesus was putting his plan into action to teach the world how to be Christians he said to the disciples ‘follow me’. This meant spend time with me guys. Learn from me. I can teach you how to be my followers, my disciples.

The Apostle Paul also tells us in the Bible to follow his model, his example.

That is one way that Christianity has grown through the centuries. And continues to grow. But it is not the only way. God has given us the Bible so each of us can learn more about Him and what He wants us to become. He teaches in the Bible about prayer in Luke, the benefits of fasting in Acts and Luke, and about meditating in Luke, Matthew, Mark and Proverbs, and stewardship in Genesis and service in James and other scriptures as ways to become more like Him.

Prayer, fasting, meditating, stewardship and service are considered spiritual disciplines. The key word is discipline and for those of us who are practicing Christians not to discipline ourselves to get closer to God by doing these things leaves us vulnerable to doubts and false teaching. Plus we can’t teach others the things to learn unless we know them. These disciplines aren’t about us and should not be taught as ways that we can control or manipulate God.

There are other things that may happen in our lives that could bring us close to God but they shouldn’t replace the disciplines. They should supplement the disciplines. I am talking about things like suffering, God nudging us, a friend’s rebuke, hurt people we cross paths with, God’s silence and the corporate worship gatherings

I think all these things help us to better live out the greatest commandment and that is to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind and to live out the second commandment that is to love our neighbor as our self (Mathew 22:37-40).  

We should not forget that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 1:6). I believe that the more we learn about God the greater our faith becomes.

Who determines what we say?

I heard an explanation on ESPN Radio today where Amani Toomer, former New York Giant’s receiver, criticized Kurt Warner, who played 12 seasons in the NFL, for Warner’s comments about the very current problem of concussions in the NFL.

Warner who works for NFL Network stated in an interview with Colin Cowherd on ESPN the prior day that his kids are currently playing football and he would try to talk his kids out of playing football if he could. This story arose out of the discussion about former NFL player Junior Esau’s suicide this week.

Toomer stated that because of Warner’s current position with NFL Networks and his prior success in the NFL he shouldn’t be criticizing the NFL about the concussion issue because football has been good to Warner and still is and Warner will have a big influence on kids and parents. (See link to Warner’s foundation below).

At the NBC Sports site (see link below) Toomer is quoted as saying ‘he believes it is incumbent on men who have benefitted from the game of football to support the game’. I think Amani’s approach is if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it. But there is an obvious problem in the NFL and telling people to shut up won’t solve it. In fact by delaying investigations more men and boys at all levels will end up with problems.

Toomer has a take similar to many politicians today who try to get those with an opposing point of view to keep that opinion to themselves. The reason they do that is because they don’t have good arguments to refute the arguments of their opponents so they criticize or attack their opponent.

I heard Toomer interviewed today on ‘Mike (Greenberg) and Mike (Golic)’ on ESPN and he has a weak argument. In response to a question from Mike Golic, a former NFL player, about the problem of concussions in both college and high school, he suggested the problem is the result of coaching. There may be some merit to that but I think there is more to it.

Toomer also said there are just as many concussions occurring in soccer and lacrosse at these levels as there are in football. I think Golic wanted to continue with questions on this but did not. I’d also like to see the stats to support this comment.

As far as I am concerned, Amani, you didn’t make your case. And I think the 150 plus players, most still alive and the families of players who committed suicide, who have joined a lawsuit against the NFL over the concussion issue won’t be convinced either.

Football has treated you well also Amani. And as a commentator on the NBC Sports Channel and also on Sirius Radio you might benefit from this by getting more listeners out of these comments. Not a bad move.

http://www.kurtwarner.org/

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/03/amani-toomer-kurt-warner-is-trying-to-trash-the-game-of-football/

Followers will doubt

What is a leader’s role?

There are probably a number of things you might say such as, cast vision, develop strategy, achieve goals, lead, develop other leaders, and there may be more.

In trying to find what John Maxwell, a leadership author and expert, says about this I found a site from a Communications class at Purdue University (see the link below) for an explanation from Maxwell’s book titled ‘The Twenty-one Indispensable Qualities of a Leader.

This quote is in the notes for the first Chapter:

 ‘Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence’ - Bernard Montgomery, British Field Marshal.

Interestingly, the first chapter is about Character.

When you hear something from a leader, you are following, that appears to be trying to divide people based on the bias of the message it causes you to wonder. At least it causes me to wonder what is the leader’s purpose. And then I wonder was my understanding correct? Did I misunderstand? Am I assuming too much?

Prior to Chapter 1 is a statement that is good advice.

‘If you can become the leader you ought to be on the inside, you will be able to become the person you want on the outside. People will want to follow you. And when that happens, you’ll be able to tackle anything in this world.’

Until you can get to that point where you are authentic, honest and transparent on the inside there will be those who will question your leadership and possibly leave your ranks because they doubt your character.

http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/courses/communicationskills/leaderqualities.pdf