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Regulation and Compliance > State Regulation

Remember the Alamo!

By Howell H. Hughes Jr.

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Only one state flag can be flown at the same height as the American flag when the flags are being flown together–the Lone Star flag of Texas. That is because Texas is the only state that was first an independent nation before becoming a state.

At that pivotal juncture of history, Santa Anna’s army surrounded the Alamo with 1,500 or more soldiers. Depending on the source quoted, Alamo defenders numbered anywhere from 150 to 250 combatants and refused Santa Anna’s request to surrender. With that refusal, Santa Anna was certain of his chances for success and hung a red pennant from the church tower in the center of town. Clearly visible from the Alamo, the pennant signified that no quarter would be given.

After his Alamo victory, Santa Anna was arrogantly confident of waging war on the Texicans and marched after the remnant army, determined to wipe it out utterly. Staying tantalizingly out of reach, the army of Texas waited and finally closed for battle in the marshy San Jacinto fields. With cries of, “Remember the Alamo,” the Texans defeated Santa Anna and ultimately won their coveted independence.

That red pennant and the attendant arrogance from those long-ago battles are eerily similar to Obama’s attitude and behavior not only after the 2008 election, but the 2010 mid-term election as well. Intent of ramming through an agenda that is far out of line with where the majority of Americans want to be, Obama and friends are continuing on their original line of march. Politically speaking, he has hung a red pennant showing no signs of acceding to the will of the majority.

Ironically enough, Texas is a bellwether state in opposing Obama’s policies and showing ways to get out of the economic stagnation the nation faces. Doubtful? Of the 214,000 net new jobs created between August 2009 and August 2010, half of them came from Texas.

Texas is a right-to-work state, so unions don’t have a strangle-hold on businesses as they do in heavily unionized rust-belt states. With jobs on the rise, people are voting with their feet and Texas’ population is on the rise as well.

The proud, independent spirit of Texas is reflected in a very active and visible Tea Party movement within its borders. They are vocal in expressing their conservative bent and opposition to the agenda Obama is desperately attempting to foist on the nation. However, this sentiment isn’t confined within the borders of the Lone Star State; it is widespread across the nation as a whole.

I believe much of the vehemence now seen in the opposition to Obama’s agenda is directly attributable to the disdain and disregard shown toward conservatives in Congress and the American people by the ruling Democrats and liberal elements in the majority of the press. When most of the liberal policies were originally proposed, questions began to be asked and, in some cases, alternatives suggested. Rather than acknowledging these and participating in studied public discourse, Obama used the Democratic party’s majority to steamroll through his legislation.

With the stunning results of the midterm elections still clearly visible on the political landscape, smug disdain has been replaced with a more strident whine. Economists in the Syncophants-for-Obama crowd can’t find enough ways to twist the numbers to attempt to draw attention away from the abysmal economic disaster building in the nation. Their co-conspirators in the liberal press are no more successful in creating an editorial smoke screen to hide the political train wreck.

Behind the fa?ade of the smile and the glib words scrolling by on the teleprompter, the Junior-Senator-from-Illinois’ political ineptitude is becoming increasingly apparent. Beyond massive spending of money we don’t have, there isn’t any apparent coherent fiscal policy being put forth by the administration. If throwing money at it doesn’t fix the problem, then the next suggested solution seems to be throwing even more money to make it go away.

Unemployment at over 9% at last count, stagnant growth, rising costs in gas and groceries and looming shortages caused by crop losses and natural disasters don’t bode well for the future. “Hope and change” make a pretty thin gruel when confronted with reality and the current status quo.

The actions of Santa Anna, symbolized by the hanging of the red pennant, galvanized the people of Texas and led to their ultimate independence. He dramatically underestimated the character and will of the people of Texas.

Significant job creation, tax and labor legislation favorable to business and a strong independent spirit make the shouts of “Remember the Alamo” a fitting battle cry for moderate Americans who would like to emulate Texas’ success.

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