Ahtanum Valley Museum

Romney's done it. He's the first non-incumbent Republican presidential candidate to win both Iowa and New Hampshire. Beyond making him the odds-on favorite for the Republican nomination, this feat has made him enemy number one for a few of the big-name, big-ego Republican hopefuls who've been thoroughly trounced. Texas Governor Rick Perry now calls Romney a "vulture" whenever he can find a microphone. Newt Gingrich, whose high ride in the polls collapsed just a few weeks ago, describes Romney as a "looter of companies." So much for Reagan's eleventh commandment, "Don't speak ill of your fellow Republicans." Perry and Gingrich are now embarrassing themselves, coming off as second-rate, career political hacks who are consumed with jealously and revenge and a compulsive desire to get attention. But they're also hurting Romney, something they so badly want to do.

Engineers improve the welfare of the community at large. A respectable class of individuals, engineers have brought us the world we enjoy today. However, there are divisions that are thwarting the endeavors of American engineers. The divisions are multifold, but recognizable. There is one America we recognize as the imperial America, or the American Empire, or better put, The United Corporations of America.

Big and powerful central government proponents have been working to alter or destroy the American experiment since before this republic was established. There are those who simply cannot palate the idea that individual human beings should be sovereign over their own lives. They wish to impose their view of how life should be lived, on others. Just take Whoopi Goldberg's positive comments made recently on The View about communism. Generally, I like Whoopi and she seems like a nice person, but come on. She said, "Communism is a great concept that makes perfect sense. " Then she went on to say the problem with communism is people screw it up. Why? She contends something to the effect, because some corrupt leader will rise to usurp and maintain power through oppressive and brutal means. Yeah, that's the problem with communism.

But what about the individual who simply doesn't want to be a farmer or a factory worker, an actor or a scientist or a lawyer-whatever the central government has chosen for them? What if these individuals try to "screw up" a communist government, which Whoopi says, "...makes perfect sense?"

Engineers engineer our world. Therefore it is up to engineers to take the lead and engineer a world in which the fundamental structure is democratic, thus fostering Liberty, thus improving the community at large, thus benefiting all Americans through the innovation of American integrity. How is it that we allowed undemocratic forces to usurp the fundamental principles that gave us all Liberty? The pursuit of Happiness is not viable under the present paradigm. Corporations require a complete structural remodeling to mirror the democratic American values that promote Liberty, and happiness for all. This is not a dream.

What about those individuals who wish to remain just that, individuals? What about those people who simply have something burning in their spirits and intellect straining to burst out and become some amazing idea or creation? What if these remarkable individuals simply refuse, or are unable, to contain their inner creativity in a direction the central government simply won't allow the individual to go?

Please tell me, how are you going to keep these individuals down? Because, certainly, if you allow this person to express his or her own personal desires, if you make that one exception, what do you do when the next inspired individual comes along wanting to express his or her creativity? What about the individual who considers him or herself creative, or inspired, when the "talent" might be, let's say, elusive to others? Who decides if this individual is or is not creative, inspired, or talented? More importantly, how do you stop him or her? Generally, in a free market, the market decides these things. The invisible hand. In a communist society, it's the iron hand, or fist, that stops people.