A Time for Choosing: The Next Generation

A Time for Choosing: The Next Generation

Monday, October 27, marked the 50^th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s iconic “Time For Choosing” speech. It was a speech that sparked the modern Conservative Movement, ignited a fire in the hearts of conservatives, and launched Ronald Reagan’s public policy career.

Young America's Foundation released a series of videos in conjunction with the anniversary of Reagan’s significant speech.

A TIME FOR CHOOSING: THE NEXT GENERATIONS-NATIONAL SECURITY

Reagan’s “Time For Choosing”" speech urged courage in defending against the threat of communism. Reagan was a strong believer in American exceptionalism, a notion that has gone by the wayside under the current administration. Consider the current state of affairs with the rise of ISIS and the growing threat of terrorism. Ronald Reagan advocated for “peace through strength” and was a true leader when it came to protecting America from her enemies.

He said, “We want our national policy to be based on what we know in our hearts is morally right.” We need to reestablish President Reagan’s vision for America, and we need to stop leading from behind.

Even 50 years later, the lessons that Ronald Reagan taught us are still so very applicable.

As seen on Breitbart.com

RONALD REAGAN'S DEVASTATING CRITIQUE OF THE LEFT'S ADDICTION TO ENTITLEMENTS
This second video focuses on entitlements.

In his 1964 speech, Reagan warned, "37 cents of every dollar earned was the tax collector's share, and the government spent 17 million dollars a day more than the government takes in." Think of how outraged he would be today with our current economy. The Obama administration has racked up a national debt that now exceeds 17 trillion dollars, and more than 50 percent of Americans receive some type of government assistance.

Obama has said "We have not massively expanded the welfare state." However, food stamp spending has surged under the Obama administration with more than 47 million Americans now on food stamps.

Reagan said, "We have so many people who can't see a fat man standing beside a thin one without coming to the conclusion that the fat man got that way by taking advantage of the thin one." Consider how this administration has vilified the wealthy and successful.

Reagan truly understood that the government wasn't the solution to our nation's problems. He noted that welfare spending was ten times greater than it was during the dark depths of the Depression, and yet the country was not better off with an increasing number of welfare recipients. Welfare wasn't meant to be a lifelong benefit. He realized that the government is failing the American people by keeping them on the government dole.

Decades before he would step foot in the White House, Ronald Reagan urged our nation to choose a path of freedom-not government dependency. Indeed, his "Time for Choosing" speech is a bold call to action from which today's leaders, and our nation, could greatly benefit.

As seen on Breitbart.com

A GOVERNMENT BUREAU IS THE NEAREST THING TO ETERNAL LIFE WE WILL EVER SEE ON THIS EARTH
This third video focuses on limited government.

It is no secret that government today is far overreaching and intrusive. This past year alone we have seen privacy breaches by the NSA, the targeting of conservative groups by the IRS, and the disastrous consequences of Obamacare on small businesses and families.

Obama has even said, “I can take steps without legislation.” This self-righteous statement underscores that he has no respect for the Constitution—a document meant to protect the rights of all Americans and prevent our government and our leaders from trampling on those rights. Unfortunately, today we have a President and federal officials who are no longer accountable to the American people because they consider themselves to be above the law.

Consider Obamacare, federal legislation mandating that all people purchase health insurance or be penalized with a fine. In addition to being forced upon the American people, Obamacare is a job killer, it has negatively impacted the American economy, and it is crushing our small businesses—the backbone of America. And, after three years of preparation, the federal government couldn’t even get its own Obamacare website to work properly. Nonetheless, Obama demands that all Americans allow the government—which cannot even create a functioning website—to control the most personal aspects of their lives, their health.

Recent polling shows that approval of Congress is at an all-time low, and more than half of the American people are distrusting of the government. This is what can be expected when the government grows too big and encroaches upon the rights of the people.

A half century ago, Ronald Reagan told the American people, “No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. A government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth.” Unfortunately, that statement is even more true today. We are facing the consequences of an expanding government and it is up to us—the American people—to hold our leaders accountable, should we wish to advance freedom for generations to come.

As seen on Breitbart.com

GOVERNMENT DOES NOTHING AS WELL OR ECONOMICALLY AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR
This fourth video focuses on private sector.

Ronald Reagan understood the evils of communism and socialist policies. He knew by diminishing the role of the private sector, government stood to benefit and subsequently control the American people.

One of the most powerful lines of his 1964 speech was, "Governments don't control things. A government can't control the economy without controlling the people. When a government does that it must use force and use coercion to achieve its purpose."

In his "Time for Choosing" speech Reagan also said, "They also knew--those Founding Fathers--that outside its legitimate function government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector."

That statement is even more meaningful today, as we face the disastrous economic consequences of Obama's socialized healthcare system. Contrast that statement with today where we know have a socialized healthcare system. Obamacare has been a completely failure--taking away choice from the American people and subjecting them to a government run health-care program that is less than adequate. We are seeing healthcare costs rise under this socialist system because the private sector marketplace is forced out by government regulations. Inefficiency and waste are also inevitable when we take power and financial resources away from the private sector and put them in the hands of the federal government.

Our President believes that the government is the solution to all of our problems. He has single-handedly grown government programs and pushed forward his own socialist healthcare program. Obama bailed out the auto industry with taxpayer dollars, believing that the government was the answer to the crisis. He refuses to recognize the success of free-markets and places more control in the hands of federal government bureaucrats. It is not surprising, that as government grows we have seen scandal after scandal in Washington, D.C.--a result of granting government bureaucrats excessive power and with no accountability.

Ronald Reagan was truly a visionary. Before he ever stepped foot in the White House, he saw the path of destruction that progressives were creating for America. Reagan truly believed in the power of the individual, the entrepreneurial spirit, and the private sector. His policies helped to create a sustainable economy--one which continued to prosper long after he left office. Today's policy makers would do well to follow in his footsteps.

As seen on Breitbart.com

Self-Determination vs. Government Regulation and Reagan’s Rise to the Presidency
This final video focuses on self determination and concludes with Reagan’s rise to the presidency.
The final video focuses on self-determination and concludes with Reagan’s rise to the presidency.The final video focuses on self-determination and concludes with Reagan’s rise to the presidency.

Ronald Reagan understood that America’s strength comes from our people and not from our government. It is the independence of each American that makes our country unique and exceptional. When government takes away our independence in order to exercise control of its people, America suffers.

In his 1964 speech Reagan said, “This is the issue…Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.”

Think about how much control the federal government has today and how much the bureaucrats in Washington try to dictate the lives and choices of the American people. Each progressive policy that comes out of Washington slowly takes away American independence.

The Founding Fathers sought—and many gave their lives—to protect the rights and individual freedoms of the people—and to ensure that the federal government never encroached upon those rights. When Reagan assumed the presidency, he fought to protect those unalienable rights. Today’s federal officials consistently trample upon those rights. We need to return to a government that is accountable to its people and do as Ronald Reagan advised: “Preserve for our children, this, the last best hope for men on earth.”

Join Our Email List

Reagan Ranch