Guest Column: Unintentional Revolutionary

by Ed Dunnigan

Sometimes, an individual gets an idea that is so radical, that his actions change the culture forever. Eli Whitney, Henry Ford, Orville and Wilbur Wright; It is such men that create the societal changes that span decades, or even centuries. Consider Bill Gates; wanting only to make computers as available to the public as televisions, he managed to create an irreversible change in society, especially regarding the exchange of information. Much to the chagrin of the major news agencies, people are no longer reliant upon them to find out what is happening in the world.

But the revolutionary idea doesn't necessarily have to be a new or radical concept; sometimes the idea that is put forth just seems radical because it is old wisdom that has been largely forgotten. Once it is put before a modern audience, the truth contained within the concept resonates with the modern listener, and the person that brought the concept forth is considered to be a visionary, if not a genius.

Dave Ramsey is such a man. Now, before you roll your eyes and move on to the next article, consider this; Dave Ramsey was espousing individual fiscal conservatism at the same time that our president was telling us to charge our purchases and take out loans for the good of the economy. Now that those chickens have come home to roost, Ramsey seems like a prophet.

So what, you ask, does this have to do with guns? Plenty.

President-elect Obama is a product of Chicago politics; the most corrupt, anti-gun, political machine in the nation. His presidency looks to be the first in our nation's history that views gun control, not as some politically expedient platform that he uses to gain congressional support, but as a method of controlling and eliminating his political opponents. We will almost certainly experience a new and more invasive Assault Weapons Ban, and his overt hostility to the idea of concealed carry indicates that he will work to counter all of the progress made by the pro-freedom movement.

With this in mind, it is certainly tempting to go out and charge the purchase price of a semi-automatic rifle, magazines, ammunition, and all of the kit to support such a thing. However, as counter-intuitive as this may sound, I am telling you that that would play directly into the hands of those that would subvert this country, and replace it with their version of a socialist utopia. To go into debt to buy an AR15 is to sell yourself a little deeper into financial slavery.

Modern day Americans are the most indebted generation in our nation's history. An individual that has a mortgage, car payment, and massive credit card debt cannot afford to financially support the people on our side that would fight our legislative battles for us. Think of it; if you are fighting to pay the minimums on your credit cards while maintaining all of your other bills, how can you concentrate your attention, let alone your finances, to donate to the cause? (And by that, I'm not talking about national lobbying organizations that talk a good fight and then compromise with the enemy, I'm speaking of the grass roots organizations that do the hard, hairy, work locally while their national counterparts with the seven-figure salaries travel the cocktail and hors d'oeuvres circuit.)

It is no secret that those that seek to eliminate the Second Amendment fear us. We only have to remember Henry Waxman's mewling about fifty caliber rifles penetrating his limousine to remind us of that fact. They also know that an overt confiscation of our weapons would result in a bloodbath, with their blood as the main ingredient. Therefore, they will hit us where we are the most vulnerable: in the legislature. Make no mistake, The Senate, and The House both run on money, and he with the biggest bag of cash gets all of the attention. A beautiful chronicle of this process can be found in the book "Hill Rat-Blowing the Lid Off of Congress" by John L. Jackey. And while you're at it, read "Ricochet" by Richard Feldman and learn how, sometimes, your worst enemies are your friends. Most of all, read "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey. It's more than a financial guide; it's a roadmap of the path to freedom.

Freeing yourself from this slavery is the single most important step you can take in redeeming our republic. An individual without debt is better insulated from the idiosyncrasies of the economy than is his leveraged-to-the-gills brethren. One who doesn't have to skip a utility payment to donate to his or her favorite charity can be more effective in the legislative battles. As well, someone for whom taking a day off work to testify before the state legislature isn't a financially-crippling
indulgence can become a powerful force at the grass roots level. Remember, we have no George Soros providing us with endless funds with which to war against our foes. Our strength lies in our numbers, but those numbers are worthless if we can't afford to fight the war.

In short, if you do not currently own a semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine, learn to be more effective with what you have. In the meantime, listen to Dave's show, read his book, and follow the steps chronicled therein. Whether he intended it or not, Dave Ramsey has given us the tools to fight the coming battle, all we have to do is use them.