Respectfully, allow me to remind us about the good old days of the 1800's.

During the first 65 years of the century 4 million African Americans suffered under slavery. For more than 100 years after they were subject to Jim Crow laws. They lived under the threat of lynching the first 70 of those years.

Women were denied the vote in the vast majority of the nation before the 1920's.

During the 1800's people died of cholera and tyfoid before the advent of public sanitation.

During the 1800's Native American populations were nearly decimated and driven onto reservations where many still live in poverty.

The lumber barons stripped off the lumber in Michigan. The Railroad barons bought huge tracts of land from the government for nearly nothing even when you include the graft. The mine owners made mining the most dangerous job in the nation. The steel barons provided horrible work conditions for its workers and Henry Ford sped up the assembly to the point where auto workers were committing suicide rather than return to work.

These kings of industry did these things largely for their own benefit. Yes, they developed new science and products which have made life better. But their excesses led to laws designed to limit monopolies, and protect workers and the public. Their unbridled greed led to the rise of labor unions which in their early years improved worker safety and security and later became a vested interest that reduced productivity and undermined industry.

My point is this. Big Government began as a response to the Big Moneyed Business of the 1800's.

The battle continues and will continue. But before we want to return to the good old days one must ask what benefits we would like to give up to do so? Liberty for all, black and white, male and female? Clean water and cleaner air? A chance that the middle class working stiff might have a vote and a say against the power of big money?

No thank you. I'll stay right here and work for a better tomorrow. No going back. No going back.