It has become obvious to me that what we need is the Rugged Independence that won the west; and, most importantly, we also need the Rugged Individualism, that set the ground work for a new country.

The Great Basin States are some of the fastest growing areas of population, in the U.S, but we take for granted the fact, that someone had to tame this harsh land. People came hear looking for open land, a place where they could practice religion, unmolested. Some others came to help spread their faith.
Many lost family members on the harsh trail that led them westward, but there was no time to be victims. They had to get to work when they arrived in the new territory, because just getting to their destination, wasn't enough. The hardships would, most certainly, continue. In fact history tells us that many of the Great Basin area settlers died soon after arriving.
These Ancestors of the West were, for the most part, a hearty people. They raised families, farms, and industry where there had been none and little of the resources they were used to having.

Likewise those brave folk, who declared independence over 200 years ago, had a distinctive rugged nature. Theirs was a vision, and heartiness, which had to endure through a long war, and internal national struggle. Each founder of our country had an integral part of the early days because of a different and independent perspective.

What does Rugged Independence, or Rugged Individualism, mean and which virtues guide their lives in a modern context.

• Independence.

Rugged Individualists have a distinct distrust of government, in fact they would prefer to attack any issue by themselves, or with their neighbors. They feel that success comes from hard work and the never giving up. Rugged independence does, not however, mean not being politically active, on the contrary, they vote and they know the issues both nationally and locally. They read books and 'the news.'

• Charity

They feel that God gives each person talents, skills, means and family, to spread the cause of good in the name of the Creator. To not share with others in need, or not in need, would be selfish and offensive. They believe in something greater than themselves which guides them to serve others. They see charity as an act of Love; but, when faceless entities, like government (federal, state etc.) get involved in helping others, the Love part is taken away. Serving other is a gift to the server not a chore.

• Individualism.

To make ones mark in the world, is not by done by being, or dressing, louder than everyone around them. Rather, they make their mark by creating, and pushing to achieve survival under great difficulty. The idea of showing individualism by getting a tattoo, or by having the nicest new stuff, is beyond unnecessary. What identifies a rugged individualist is that they needn't stick out by appearance at all. In a matter of fact, they are noticeable by their manner in speaking, their family cohesiveness, the passion by which they confront the day and their humility pertaining to them always knowing that they are servants to someone greater than they are. Perhaps by most of the world’s perspective, this explanation does not seem 'in touch,' perhaps one could even call these Individuals 'old fashion,' but a Rugged Individual never looks to 'the crowd' for guidance or acceptance.

• Passion.

The reason Rugged Individualists are often successful is that they don't take their professions, or even hobbies, lightly. Like Martin Luther King Jr. said;

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

The late great leader, of the Civil Rights Movement is correct, any Rugged Independent, Individualist would agree. The way we grow, in the mind of a rugged individualist, is to take pride and passion in our work, family and life. Whatever they create, or fix or write, or sell, must be the best, and can always be improved. They don't fear complication because they can innovate, streamline and improve processes. Because their livelihood is their passion, the only help they need is support of friends and their family. To accept such aid from outside their trusted circle is opposite their nature, and accepting outside, faceless, help insults their deep-seated pride, honor, and passion.

Passion for our, country is integral to the make up a Rugged Individualist. To fight and die for their country is the greatest form of national service that any person can commit. They wave the flag with pride, sing our National Anthem as if every breath relied on those words. They have great difficultly tolerating those who don't feel the same way, but they realize that freedom means tolerating those who have values they don't understand. They admire the troops, and admire anyone who fights for the freedom of the country. They see that striving to spread freedom at home and abroad is serving their own family and increasing liberty everyone we go.

Marriages are so important, to such a person, that they are made to weather difficult times. To them there is no quick answer to marital strife, because family and their, spouse compose the most important passion that anyone can have. They also realize that when we make a commitment, it must be honored, and marriage is the most important commitment that any mortal can make to another mortal.

• Integrity.

To a Rugged Independent a Man's (or Woman's) word must be their bond. A handshake is worth more than signature, or a legal contract. The honesty of these people can never be in question. A society that can't count on character and integrity will crumble, and will most likely invite other nations to see the dishonest nation as vulnerable, and untrustworthy.

When we are in the presence of a person, who we know will keep their word; there is a great comfort there. If we had leaders who had this ethic of honesty, we would have much more confidence in the direction of our country.

• Optimism.

One of the greatest cancers that a society can endure is pessimism. For a rugged individualist there is cause for optimism. When things were difficult in our time in the building in our country, especially in the west, these ruggedly independent people would not give up. They knew that they were building something bigger than themselves, bigger than the moments of down turns. (Don't we need this attribute now more than ever?) They had faith that they were driven to do unseen, and unaccomplished, feats. They were driven by an unchanging vision and one moment of being pessimistic could lead to a very destructive end.

Today we have issues that require these attributes but we see few of our leaders have the character of our fore fathers. Just like in those days, leadership will have to come from persons with meager influence and means as well as those with quite a bit of these. We must see that the Great Experiment, of the United States, is enduring but timeless, as well as fragile. There can be no time when we allow our country to so drastically be changed that Freedom, Rugged Independence and Rugged Individualism are no longer honored.

Perhaps we see that we have only some of these attributes. This will do, because we will find others who have the attributes that we lack and we can stand together to ensure that Capitalism, Religious Freedom, Liberty and our Civil Rights stay intact.

It seems that every day, the Obama administration has, yet another, 'plan,' which sends investors running, and job markets shrinking. One is led to ask if this administration has an ideology, that truly has disdain for free markets.

From long before the inauguration, there has been rhetoric from the Obama Administration that simply frightens the free market. As he signs his ideals into law, it seems the President's view of responsibility is to stick it to corporations and small businesses.

'Cap & Trade,' is as most observers know, not helpful to the growth of new business, or in aiding in cleaner air, or energy independence. Cap and trade has been in place, for most E.U. countries, for over a decade. Europe is dependent on the Middle East and Russia for oil, and dependent on Russia for natural gas. Aside from making utilities more expensive, many observers see that the major cities of Europe remain quite dirty and growth has stalled. The European Commission on Financial Affairs shows that actual growth peaked in 1999 and hasn't recovered, even in the larger growing years of 07, and 06' output of goods and services have followed the same pattern, and still the E.U. Parliament discusses new regulation. Still, in spite of the evidence from Europe 'Cap and Trade,' will most likely, become law and our economy will be struck by high prices for fuel, gas, and electricity.

A vast number of jobs could be created by utilizing our own resources. We have abundant, untapped supplies of resources in our country, yet the administration restricts our access to these resources, and spends gigantic amounts of funding on less efficient energy. This excludes the resource rich states, where the development of these forms of energy could create jobs. Once again Obama misses an opportunity to help the free market.

The most damaging of the new administrations proposals, is Card Check, or The Employee Free Choice act. This nefarious act, if passed, will cause untold damage to our economy. In Card Check, a union could impose itself on a company, by obtaining signatures on a card from the half the number of employees in the company plus one. Then, if the company doesn't come to an agreement, with the union, within 120 days, the company is forced into binding third party arbitration. Under existing law, once the correct number of cards have been signed, a silent ballot is the final decision maker for employees to show intention to form or not form a union. If a union is formed by the employees then the final contract of the union contract is voted on again, but both of those employee and employer protections, will evaporate if the bill is made law in it's current form. Can we not see how this could scare employers? Of the five States in the Union with the highest unemployment, four of them are heavily unionized.

One union that has egg on it's face is the United Auto Workers, or U.A.W. They have aided in the pricing of American cars right out of the market. Add stupid government regulation and you have a recipe for disaster. The administration's response is to set higher fuel efficiency standards. So this will make it more difficult for domestic car manufacturers to make a profit, when the highest profit yielding cars are the larger vehicles.

So far in the middle of the first 100 days of the Obama administration, one has to ask if the executive branch wants to further drive us into recession. Or, is the President, so beholden to left wing ideas that he and his administration, can't see the damage that their destructive ideas present. We can hope that neither of these questions are to be answered in the affirmative. We pray that there is not deliberate sabotage or negligent harm. In the meantime, businesses will stand defensively to weather this administration's storm.

When we heard the phrase 'Change Has Come To America,' few of the sycophantic followers of the Obama campaign, realized what this meant. Now that the general public has started to figure out the meaning of 'Change,' eyes are starting to open, with no help from Obama's adoring Media.

Do you Remember the Seinfeld episode where George and Jerry talked about the 'big Matzo Ball hanging out there,' when George told a lady that he loved her, and she didn't respond. The media has a Matzo Ball in that, by their blind love of the President, they ignore Obama's failures and gigantic growth of government. Obama, trying to change everything without forethought is that big Matzo Ball. In our current case of the Matzo Ball, Obama is doing many radical things that frighten our economy into paralysis.

Every day brings yet another Obama Matzo Ball initiative. One day we have to have an Economic Stimulus Package, the next day Embryonic Stem Cell Research is vital. Now we are hearing how the Education Department will grow by 60%, when there has been a steady decline, in quality of education since the creation, of the Education Department. Meanwhile, there is wide spread panic in the Banking, Auto, Energy, and nearly every other Industry, while Obama increases regulation on nearly all of these industries. While we have a negative savings rate, the message from the White House is; don't hide money in your mattress. This is the same message that we have been hearing, in difficult financial times, since 2001. When Bush said, basically, the same thing, he was widely discounted for being out of touch. We can't count on the Evening News to connect these dots.

More Matzo Balls come in the midst of today's hard times, we were told that we would have a financial team, that would tackle these difficulties head on. Secretary Geithner has really said nothing to calm market nerves. In a time when we really need a financial team that would give us something to hope for, instead we have empty words. Obama has said that he doesn't pay attention to the Market Indexes. Where is the mainstream media on this issue? Nearly every day the Stock Market drops. We are seeing the greatest 'sell-off' in history. Obama's reaction is blank at best and summed up in 'well....I inherited this economy.' Bush's financial team had a Banking and Market solution, if misguided. Most conservatives saw the 'Paulsen Plan' as Nationalization of our banking sector. The Obama solution, as best as can be deciphered, is simply the 'Paulsen Plan' on steroids. The previous administration claimed that the money being lent out would be paid back. The effect on banking was negligible and yet the market dropped. Obama talks of salary caps, and holding lenders 'accountable,' so far that has translated to making an example of those executives who stay in nice hotels. So, not only are executives not allowed to treat their customers, but the Hotel Industry suffers as well. The banking sector, and corporations as a whole, is terrified of more Federal Government intervention. The markets show it. 'The Press' doesn't make the connection.

Most reporters loved the Stimulus Plan. The Obama 'Stimulus Plan' is huge compared to the plan from last summer. The difference is instead of getting money to consumers, as Bush attempted to do, this plan creates massive debt to work on 'infrastructure projects,' many of which won't start for a year or so. Many wonder if this plan will stimulate the economy when so much of the plan has to do with things like; 40$ billion to increase Broadband Technology to rural areas, or 50 million to salaries in the Farm Service Agency, or 300 million for fuel efficient vehicles for federal employees. Most people would be right to question spending like this. Especially in an age when we were supposed to have more transparent and responsible governance. Yet, the media doesn't pay any attention.

The crashing sound of Obama's Foreign Affairs is yet another example of the Matzo. In under two months this administration has; insulted the U.K, compromised our position of strength with the Russians and committed 900 million dollars to Hamas (a Terrorist Organization). The Matzo Ball that the Big Media has, is that they aren't holding this administration to account. They spend too much print on The First Lady's style, or the parties that are being thrown at the White House. They ignore the burning house that is our nations financial state, and what strength we still hold internationally. Is it any wonder that Print Media is dying. The same media that loved Senator Obama, without question, now loves President Obama without question.

Where will this Matzo Ball lead us as a country? More alternative news sources, more Print Media death. In the next few years we may see that leadership won't come from the executive branch, or even from Washington. We could see that House Representatives, Governors, Mayors, Radio Talk Hosts, and Bloggers may be the leaders of the future. Leaders who show common sense, leaders who are accountable. We the citizens, of this Great Country, could take the Media's Matzo Ball and make Matzo Ball Soup.

Last weeks Senate Vote to give D.C. and Utah each a house seat, which could be held up in court for years, reminds us of how the growth in the Conservative West is being ignored, by the more liberal Beltway Eastern States, and the Left Coast.

The Senate voted last week 60-37, to give Washington D.C. a Seat in the House of Representatives. Utah is to get one more seat, so that there will be one Republican and one Democrat, seated at the same time. The vote has been criticized by some Republicans in Utah who would most certainly gain one more party seat in the house. Bob Bennet (R,UT) called the bill unconstitutional. Why? Because Utah has been fighting for this seat for over 10 years and has been ignored. The District of Columbia is, on the other, hand not a state. The Capital has no Senate representation, nor should it. So the D.C. seat in the house will not be realized for years, due to court challenges. So While Washington's seat is not a reality, neither is Utah's.

This is the second time that this silly, one for one, seat sharing idea has been brought up for Utah and D.C. The vote was blocked in 2002 due to fears of court challenges. Now we are trying the same stupid idea, but this time it's law. Next year is a census year. Utah has been the fastest growing state, by percentage, for the last couple years. So when the census is completed the growth in population will show that Utah, again, is due for another seat. The Beehive State won't get it because the Senate Already voted to give it another seat. When the vote from last week is stuck in court Utah will remain one representative short. If the law from last week is found unconstitutional then Utah simply loses out.

Is it just Utah that is in this predicament? No, in fact, many Mountain West states are getting the Representative shaft. Arizona is the second fastest growing state, by percentage, and the fifth by population. Still, Arizona is significantly under represented. Colorado is in the same boat, along with Montana and Idaho. Not all of these states are all red states but Conservatives would be much better represented if the Representative seating were to be apportioned by population as they should be. Incidentally, the area of the country where the the conservative seats are properly divvied up is the old 'Grain Belt' i.e, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. These states have not seen the growth of the Mountain West.

The following chart shows how many Mountain West states are largely under represented. I also took the liberty of coloring the states Red or Blue showing how those states voted in the 2008 Election. Each population number shown is from the Census Bureau site as of 2007.

Click here to see our breakdown of Reps. per state

Perhaps the only way that all states can have adequate seating in the House of Representatives is to consider more seats. No state would like to see seats taken from one state to be given to another. Most Governors, and I would hope that all in that state, would fight ruthlessly to see their respective seats left alone.

The seating system, as it stands, is simply disproportionate. In the case of Utah, Montana, and Nevada, House Seats have been over due since the last Official Census nearly 10 years ago. Can there be any doubt that the Mountain States are greatly in need of Congressional Seats. When the Official Census comes up next year these states have to be represented.

Beyond the states in the Rocky's or their bordering states, Texas has 1 rep. to every 750,000. Delaware also deserves better representation. So, not all seats would be conservative. Not all of the seats would be in the west, but every one of these states deserves a voice in our Republic. If we are attempting to expand the house beyond the states to Washington's D.C's 588,000 citizens then we had better make sure that all states are properly represented at the Republic's table. If this poor representation continues, then we will be imposing the very thing from which our Founding Father's fought to liberate us; Taxation without Representation.