Some color creates a deceptive appearance

What I see happening throughout this country causes me to wonder about the core values and beliefs of the American people. Perhaps we’ve had it too good for far too long. Our ancestors fought hard for the freedoms and rights we enjoy today. They believed whole-heartedly in personal responsibility. Yet, it seems we’ve become complacent. Even worse, perhaps we have lost the desire to cherish our freedoms and rights, and bought into the concept of entitlements. Whatever the case, we need to take a reality check of our core principles, and we need to do it quickly, or we will lose our fundamental freedoms faster than we could imagine.

Consider for a moment the Color of Change. This is a group co-founded by the former “green jobs czar” of the Obama Administration, Van Jones. Perhaps you have heard of it. If not, I’m sure you will be hearing more about it in the months ahead.

By observing the activities of this group, it’s easy to conclude Color of Change is dedicated to eliminating free speech, free markets, and free enterprise. It will do its best to intimidate companies that promote limited government by threatening to boycott the company’s products. Furthermore, Color of Change views the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which is a non-partisan, economic advocacy group and think tank that works on behalf of business, as a threat to its own self-interests. So, they go after member companies by hiring professional protesters and agitators in an effort to get people to stop patronizing them and buying their products.

Color of Change is a group seeking to divide and conquer by means of scare tactics. For example, I see voting as a privilege and a right. I believe my vote matters and I don’t want my vote nullified by someone casting a ballot for a deceased individual. In addition, anyone that is not a U.S. citizen should not have the right to vote, and everyone eligible to vote should only be allowed to vote once. However, Color of Change views voter ID laws as disfranchising to students, the elderly, and the poor – who are unlikely to have a drivers’ license or other form of photo ID. Color of Change sees voter ID regulations as a means to undermine the right to vote. Hard to believe, isn’t it?

Healthcare reform is another area of great concern. Polls indicate that approximately 65% of American citizens are against this reform. In fact, 44 states have signed the Freedom of Choice in Healthcare Act. Yet Color of Change takes issue with anyone or any company that voices an opinion contrary to theirs on this particular bill. How is it, that Color of Change can dictate what is good for you and me?

I also believe anyone entering this country should do it legally. Tough immigration laws need to be established and enforced. We are said to be the home of the brave and the land of the free however, we didn’t achieve this distinction by turning our heads and allowing individuals to cross our borders without meeting established criteria. Again, one can only wonder why a group, such as Color of Change, opposes achieving citizenship by working through the proper channels.

If we don’t stand up and speak out against this lunatic fringe, we will be living in a country that we never thought possible. We cannot allow groups like Color of Change to fractionalize citizens into a “them and us” mentality. It’s time to get back to a “we” mentality, as in We the People.

tgrasson@gie.net