February 2017

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

February 28, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

Again – Solving the Obamacare dilemma

This column first appeared on January 16th. I believe it deserves to be read again.

How do you solve problems created by bad choices? I have found a four step method that seems to work well. The steps are: Admit; Commit; Stop; Go.

Admit that you have made an unwise commitment. Human nature makes this the hardest step! We often make a mistake then defend it to the bitter end!

Commit to keeping your unwise commitment. That is – Do not make a promise and not keep it. This too is a hard step. Breaking promises only compounds problems.

Stop making similar unwise commitments. Gather all those to whom you are committed. Make no similar commitments to others. At this point there is an end in sight – if you can survive the unwise commitment.

Go to those holding your commitment and ask if there are terms that will help you survive. Those holding your commitment have a vested interest in your survival. Half a loaf is better than none!

Let us apply these steps to the problems created by government involvement in individual healthcare. (By the way – I found these steps in the Bible.)

First – The national government in Washington, D.C. has to authority outside that specified in the Constitution. All other authority is reserved to the states and the people. Individual healthcare is not mentioned in the Constitution. Government is to be our protector, not our nanny-provider.

When you accept government’s role in individual healthcare, government has authority in your lifestyle, your insurance choices, even your lifespan! Is that the sort of liberty “We the people” created the government to protect?

OK then – What do we do now?

We admit that national government has no legitimate authority in individual healthcare and needs to unravel this complex web that grips our liberty.

Then we commit to keeping our commitment to those who have accepted government healthcare assistance. If we rip it out the patient will die on the table!

Next we stop making any further government involvement in individual healthcare. The dependency cancer is spreading everywhere. Stop includes eliminating laws and regulations that distort the free market exchange between individuals and groups with the healthcare industry. Competition encourages efficiency and lowers prices.

Finally – Once free of government control, I believe the healthcare industry will go running to offer far less expensive, far more efficient healthcare alternatives! Over-simplification? Perhaps! On the other hand, perhaps we need to learn to trust “doing what is right because it is right” and letting the results take care of themselves.

Sometimes solutions are so simple they become profound!

These columns are archived since 12/10/09

See www.ACHStudyGroups.com

“Ben’s Blog”

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

February 10, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

Honoring the Vision

“In proportion as Americans let go of faith in the absolute power of God, they have accepted the belief in an all powerful State. This is true of peoples or nations, for their idea of God determines the form of their civil, political, religious and social institutions.” [Verna M. Hall 1960]

“The determining factor as to whether our nation is a Christian nation, … is—not whether Christians formed the Constitution—but whether the form is Christian. The basis for judgment is the Bible.

“To understand the American Christian Constitution as the Christian form of government, it is necessary to consider its two spheres—the spirit and the letter—the internal and the external. Both spheres must be active in order that the Constitution function to preserve the basic republican spirit of individual liberty.” [Rosalie J. Slater 1965]

Miss Hall and Miss Slater were co-founders of the Foundation for American Christian Education (FACE). We are planning an “Honoring the Vision” event this fall in the Sacramento area. Its purpose – To honor the memory and accomplishments of these ladies and the continuing vision of FACE. The proposed all day Saturday agenda includes a working sack lunch and an evening banquet.

Among those sharing memories and vision we hope to include those early associated with FACE, such as Marshall Foster, David Barton, James Rose, Kathy Dang, Beth Ballenger, Ruth Smith.

Please consider this a “heads up” notice. The fall 2017, date and Sacramento area venue to be announced. Watch this column as news develops.

These columns are archived since 12/10/09

See www.ACHStudyGroups.com

“Ben’s Blog”

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

February 4, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

Stand tall

Remember what happens when you turn over a flat rock in a stream bed? All the little critters run for cover.

We “hired” Donald Trump to drain the swamp. Draining a swamp is a nasty business! The swamp critters have fewer and fewer places to hide and their food supply dries up. They become desperate. Everything they have worked for and enjoyed is in jeopardy! Their reaction is predictable.

The swamp critters are like cornered tigers. They fight back with every tool they have. They can still bite. Often when their thrashing gets violent, some folks wring their hands and want to quit the nasty business and leave the swamp half drained.

Don’t dare to do it! The results will be seven times worse. The battle is begun. The enemy is on the defensive. Stand tall in defense of liberty and justice. Persevere until victory is won. Corruption comes in many forms. The one thing consistent with the policies of the left – Not one of them is Biblical. –Not one of them is truly reasonable. Draining the swamp will reveal something beautiful!

Pause and consider – What thoughts would the enemy want you to have? “The rioters represent a large portion of the people.” “They are spontaneous and not led by paid anarchists.” “Our nation is splitting apart.” “Trump will declare martial law and ‘Mad Dog’ will be like Napoleon at the end of the French Revolution.” Rebuke such thoughts!

Our nation’s new leaders are doing exactly what they were overwhelmingly elected to do! Do not think the way the media is leading you to think. Stand tall and win!

These columns are archived since 12/10/09

See www.ACHStudyGroups.com

“Ben’s Blog”