Allen Jackson: January 31, 2025 | Allen Jackson Now

January 31, 2025 | S25:E131

Allen Jackson NOW is a lifeline for a struggling and anxious nation. A guiding hand for those who are not ready to give up, and for those who want to find a way past the negativity before things get worse. Americans still have hope, they are searching for the wisdom embedded in a Christian World View.

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Allen Jackson NOW | Allen Jackson: January 31, 2025 | Allen Jackson Now | January 31, 2025
  • Well, good evening and welcome to nashville.
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  • I'm alan jackson, and i'm glad you could visit with us tonight.
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  • Our subject is your hard earned income.
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  • How the government collects it and all too often
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  • Spends far more than it collects.
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  • Well, more and more people are shopping at dollar stores
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  • And the price club.
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  • The people in charge of the spending
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  • In washington, especially at the pentagon,
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  • They act as if they have no idea and no desire
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  • To make ends meet.
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  • Well, if this sounds like something you've heard before.
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  • You're right.
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  • It was back in the 1980s when the pentagon
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  • Got singled out for paying $436 for a hammer.
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  • A decade later, it was $999 for one pair of pliers.
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  • Well, armed with that information,
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  • I've started collecting tools.
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  • If this is worth 600 and these are worth 900.
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  • Send me your tools.
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  • We will broker a deal with the pentagon.
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  • Sounds like an opportunity to me.
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  • Well, they spent even more when the 2024 spending authority
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  • Was running out.
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  • The proving $33 billion in the last week available.
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  • The spending goes well beyond hardware.
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  • In just the last month of the fiscal
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  • Year, the military spent $6 million on lobster tails,
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  • Then another 6 million on ribeye steak.
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  • Now that's a lot of top notch dinners on your in my dime.
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  • Well, the grand total for defense
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  • Spending in the current fiscal year is over $850 billion.
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  • It's a global record.
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  • Don't misunderstand.
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  • We're all for a strong defense.
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  • It's critical for our nation to exist.
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  • With all the trouble in the world.
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  • We must have the best weapons and other gear possible.
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  • And the best paid forces as well.
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  • What i'm talking about today is waste
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  • And waste when you're using other people's money.
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  • Well, tonight we have the benefit of talking
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  • To a world class expert on the subject.
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  • He's the chief executive officer of an organization called
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  • Open the books.
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  • It's a nonprofit that monitors the federal budget,
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  • Line by line.
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  • John hart, thank you for joining us tonight.
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  • Well, it's an honor to be with you.
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  • I didn't know
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  • This was going to be a tool show,
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  • But i did notice i have a screwdriver on my desk.
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  • I sent to nashville.
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  • We're going to broker some classes. yeah.
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  • Essentially, the invoice for that.
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  • All right.
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  • Well, i can't resist starting with those lobster tails.
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  • Open the books.
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  • Clearly drills down on specifics.
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  • Even the surf and turf offerings, am i right?
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  • You got it.
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  • You got. yeah. and?
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  • That is a great place to start, because when you think about
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  • The pentagon, that's an area where, you know, i'm
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  • A constitutional conservative,
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  • I believe that we ought to constrain government
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  • And put it back within the boundaries
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  • That are that our founders envisioned.
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  • And that concept of ordered liberty is really at the heart
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  • Of what we're doing.
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  • Well, you know, we're a first principles organization.
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  • We believe in transparency.
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  • That transparency
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  • Is the building blocks of a free society.
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  • And when we have real transparency, that's not a
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  • That's not a two way street.
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  • In other words,
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  • You have the right as a taxpayer
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  • To inspect the government's checkbook.
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  • The government does not have
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  • The right to inspect your checkbook or d bank you
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  • If you don't go along with what the ideological standard is
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  • Of the regime in power.
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  • So this is
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  • A critically important issue where
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  • Every citizen in this country,
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  • They have a right to let their voice be heard.
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  • They have a right to hold elected officials accountable.
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  • And particularly when it comes to our national defense.
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  • So so the example you pointed to, it comes in
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  • Part of that comes about
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  • Because there's a crazy rule within our budgeting
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  • Called use it or lose it,
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  • Where at the end of every fiscal year,
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  • Which happens in september,
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  • That agencies feel compelled to throw and shovel
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  • Billions and billions of dollars out the door
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  • That they don't need to spend, because they're afraid
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  • That if they don't spend it, congress
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  • Will then cut their budget the next year.
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  • But in any sort of
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  • Normal business in a family, if you have money left over,
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  • You don't just throw it away.
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  • You might you may have a party at the end of the year.
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  • You make a vacation,
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  • But you go on vacation with your money,
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  • Not someone else's money.
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  • And you also put some of it away so that if you have a bad year
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  • Next year, you have money to to to lean on.
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  • So what happened in the last
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  • Five years of, of fiscal year 2024?
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  • In september, under the biden administration, we spent
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  • $33 billion in just five days and past year.
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  • That's more than what
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  • Israel spends every year on national defense.
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  • They spend about about 27 billion.
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  • And then in that last month, we spent 79 billion,
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  • Which is more than the defense budget
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  • Of every country on earth except for four.
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  • And it went for things like the lobster tail and ribeye steak.
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  • That's $22 million for rock lobster tail and rib eye.
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  • And that that may be delicious, but but deliciousness
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  • Is not a deterrent in the dangerous world.
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  • And we spent $200 million on new furniture.
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  • And again, you may want to upgrade
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  • The desks at the pentagon.
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  • But when you have a country
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  • Like china threatening to invade taiwan,
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  • You know
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  • He's not going to be deterred by having those new pieces
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  • Of new furniture
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  • As an obstacle on the shores for his landing craft.
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  • And so we need to have some common sense
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  • In how we budget, how we prioritize,
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  • And we really need to honor the people
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  • Who are putting their lives on the line,
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  • And also the taxpayers
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  • That are footing the bill for this money.
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  • Well, if i understand correctly,
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  • Your mission is to dig into government
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  • Spending with the goal of transparency.
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  • It's not judgment.
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  • Judgment will be left to the voters
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  • And the politicians they elect.
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  • Am i right on that?
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  • Absolutely, yeah.
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  • Our goal is to make every year
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  • To put every dollar online in real time.
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  • And i, i work for the late senator tom coburn.
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  • And he he wrote a bill back in 2006.
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  • It was a bipartisan bill
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  • With with a young senator named barack obama.
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  • We passed this together
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  • Called the federal funding,
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  • Accountability and transparency act,
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  • That put all federal spending online
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  • For the first time in history and then opened
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  • The books, was enabled by that legislation
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  • And opened the books looks not just at federal
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  • Spending, but state local as well.
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  • And it's based on this idea that that, again,
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  • Taxpayers, individual americans have the right to know
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  • What government is doing with their money.
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  • Again, it's not a two way street.
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  • The government doesn't have the right to conduct
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  • Surveillance on your checkbook, but you absolutely have
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  • Not just the right,
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  • But the opportunity and obligation as a citizen
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  • In a free country to know what government is doing
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  • And then make your own decision about whether you want more
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  • Lobster tails at the end of the year,
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  • Or whether you may want to have better paid military
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  • Or another submarine or aircraft carrier to deter threats
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  • That are a threat to to your future and your kid's future.
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  • And just to
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  • Clarify, you aren't criticizing the lobster tail purchases.
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  • You're just making the information available for us.
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  • That's right.
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  • Going full steam ahead on this topic.
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  • Listen to what he says.
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  • That will direct all members of my cabinet to marshal
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  • The vast powers
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  • At their disposal to defeat what was record
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  • Inflation, and rapidly bring down costs and prices.
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  • The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending.
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  • Sounds to me like the steak and lobster is in some serious
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  • Jeopardy.
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  • It is, it is. yeah.
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  • And just to back up.
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  • But that's a really important point
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  • That president
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  • Trump talked about is that is that when we think
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  • About these issues of budgets, i you know,
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  • I always think about the pie dilemma, okay.
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  • Like eating
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  • Eating the holiday pie at thanksgiving or christmas.
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  • You know, often we think that's a fixed pie
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  • And you only have to cut it in certain sizes.
  • 00:07:21.099 --> 00:07:23.334
  • Well, in an economy you want the pie to grow.
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  • And it's really important to not just think
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  • About downsizing government, but you have to expand
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  • The economic pie at the same time.
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  • And you do that by actually limiting government spending.
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  • And shifting dollars back to the private sector.
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  • So so i believe that every dollar saved in washington
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  • Is the dream realized somewhere in america.
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  • It's an opportunity
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  • For an entrepreneur or a family to pursue happiness
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  • On their terms without the government dictating
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  • That whether they have to buy lobster, taylor or ribeyes.
  • 00:07:51.529 --> 00:07:54.933
  • And when you when you trust
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  • We the people to make those decisions,
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  • You get a far better economic benefit than if you
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  • If you trust only a handful of unelected bureaucrats
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  • Or even elected politicians in washington.
  • 00:08:05.176 --> 00:08:08.179
  • Makes sense.
  • 00:08:08.513 --> 00:08:09.714
  • Well, hold on to your wallets.
  • 00:08:09.714 --> 00:08:10.915
  • We'll be right back with john hart after this break.
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  • If you'd like to jump in on this conversation,
  • 00:08:14.118 --> 00:08:15.853
  • You can write me an email now.
  • 00:08:15.853 --> 00:08:17.422
  • So in the comments at alan jackson now.com.
  • 00:08:17.422 --> 00:08:25.009
  • So in the comments at alan jackson now.com.
  • 00:08:25.009 --> 00:08:28.199
  • We're back with john hart.
  • 00:08:28.766 --> 00:08:30.301
  • He takes more than a magnifying glass to the federal budget.
  • 00:08:30.301 --> 00:08:33.404
  • He uses spreadsheets and get this common sense.
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  • Your experience on capitol hill prepared you to
  • 00:08:37.642 --> 00:08:39.711
  • Step into the helm of the open the books project.
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  • Tell me a little bit about your journey
  • 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:44.082
  • And how it led to where you are today.
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  • Yeah, thanks for that question.
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  • You know, back when, when i was working on the hill,
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  • You know, i came to dc in the late 90s.
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  • I interned for senator named sam brownback from kansas,
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  • And my supervisor was a young, young guy named paul ryan
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  • Who went on to become speaker of the house.
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  • And then shortly thereafter, i got connected to,
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  • A wonderful member named tom
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  • Coburn, who was a member of the house.
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  • And he was a practicing physician, citizen legislator,
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  • And had three incredible years with him
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  • And wrote a book with him called breach of trust
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  • How washington turns outsiders into insiders.
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  • And coburn was really part of the tea party movement.
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  • He was kind of a godfather of the tea party movement.
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  • And then to fast forward, he he ended up, you know, leaving.
  • 00:09:22.887 --> 00:09:25.523
  • He honored his term limits pledge and then ran for
  • 00:09:25.523 --> 00:09:28.593
  • The senate in 2004, was was elected.
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  • And i worked for him for a decade.
  • 00:09:31.796 --> 00:09:33.965
  • Now, when coburn got to the senate,
  • 00:09:33.965 --> 00:09:35.566
  • He knew exactly what he wanted to do with these new powers
  • 00:09:35.566 --> 00:09:37.902
  • You have as a senator, you have a lot
  • 00:09:37.902 --> 00:09:39.137
  • More procedural authority.
  • 00:09:39.137 --> 00:09:41.005
  • And he kept he would call agency heads and say, hey,
  • 00:09:41.005 --> 00:09:44.475
  • How many programs are you running?
  • 00:09:44.475 --> 00:09:46.010
  • Can you tell me about them?
  • 00:09:46.010 --> 00:09:47.378
  • And they said, well, senator,
  • 00:09:47.378 --> 00:09:48.312
  • I'll have to get back with you on that.
  • 00:09:48.312 --> 00:09:49.480
  • So he had cabinet secretaries
  • 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:51.449
  • Who had no idea
  • 00:09:51.449 --> 00:09:52.984
  • How many programs were in the federal government.
  • 00:09:52.984 --> 00:09:55.186
  • We would have appropriations committee staffers send us
  • 00:09:55.186 --> 00:09:58.823
  • An unsearchable pdf of spending bills
  • 00:09:58.823 --> 00:10:01.192
  • To make it hard for him to know what was in the bill.
  • 00:10:01.192 --> 00:10:03.728
  • Now, what they would do is
  • 00:10:03.728 --> 00:10:04.896
  • They would take a regular word file or excel spreadsheet
  • 00:10:04.896 --> 00:10:07.899
  • And turn it into an unsearchable file
  • 00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:10.034
  • Just to throw up a roadblock.
  • 00:10:10.034 --> 00:10:11.369
  • So he was so upset about that.
  • 00:10:11.369 --> 00:10:13.404
  • He, ended up passing a bill called the federal
  • 00:10:13.404 --> 00:10:16.074
  • Funding accountability
  • 00:10:16.074 --> 00:10:17.208
  • And transparency act that put all federal
  • 00:10:17.208 --> 00:10:19.277
  • Spending online for the first time.
  • 00:10:19.277 --> 00:10:22.013
  • And the vision is that would him
  • 00:10:22.013 --> 00:10:23.347
  • That would empower an ecosystem of organizations
  • 00:10:23.347 --> 00:10:26.384
  • To put permanent downward pressure on spending.
  • 00:10:26.384 --> 00:10:28.720
  • Again,
  • 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.754
  • Just to ask the question of elected officials,
  • 00:10:29.754 --> 00:10:31.456
  • Why are we spending money on these things?
  • 00:10:31.456 --> 00:10:33.224
  • Do we want to see more,
  • 00:10:33.224 --> 00:10:34.992
  • More money on da,
  • 00:10:34.992 --> 00:10:36.060
  • Spending more money
  • 00:10:36.060 --> 00:10:37.261
  • On lobster, more money on ribeye steaks and new furniture?
  • 00:10:37.261 --> 00:10:40.098
  • Or do we want to make sure we spend money
  • 00:10:40.098 --> 00:10:41.833
  • On things like basic infrastructure,
  • 00:10:41.833 --> 00:10:44.202
  • Things that really have a good bang for the buck?
  • 00:10:44.202 --> 00:10:46.704
  • And, and from that legislation, there really were groups
  • 00:10:46.704 --> 00:10:49.874
  • That started open. the books came out of that.
  • 00:10:49.874 --> 00:10:51.776
  • A wonderful man named adam nevsky started.
  • 00:10:51.776 --> 00:10:54.979
  • He took this acorn of an idea that coburn planted
  • 00:10:54.979 --> 00:10:57.749
  • And then grilled a mighty oak out of it.
  • 00:10:57.749 --> 00:10:59.984
  • And adam
  • 00:10:59.984 --> 00:11:01.219
  • Sadly and tragically passed away unexpectedly a few months ago.
  • 00:11:01.219 --> 00:11:04.122
  • And that's why i decided to step into this role,
  • 00:11:04.122 --> 00:11:06.991
  • Because the mission is so critical and important
  • 00:11:06.991 --> 00:11:08.860
  • Right now in our in our country's future.
  • 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:10.995
  • And, and there's there's no shortage of targets.
  • 00:11:10.995 --> 00:11:13.464
  • We're in a very target rich environment
  • 00:11:13.464 --> 00:11:14.899
  • When it comes to government waste.
  • 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:16.367
  • And and i believe very deeply in this idea of we the people.
  • 00:11:16.367 --> 00:11:20.204
  • And i think we have,
  • 00:11:20.204 --> 00:11:21.539
  • We have an historic opportunity to to it's
  • 00:11:21.539 --> 00:11:25.009
  • A, it's a 1989 moment for america
  • 00:11:25.009 --> 00:11:27.445
  • Where we have an opportunity to tear down
  • 00:11:27.445 --> 00:11:29.947
  • The bureaucratic wall that has separated we,
  • 00:11:29.947 --> 00:11:32.416
  • The people, from their government.
  • 00:11:32.416 --> 00:11:34.051
  • And really, the project of the progressive movement
  • 00:11:34.051 --> 00:11:36.354
  • Over the past hundred years has to be
  • 00:11:36.354 --> 00:11:38.656
  • Has been to build this administrative state
  • 00:11:38.656 --> 00:11:41.459
  • That's taken power and agency and authority away
  • 00:11:41.459 --> 00:11:44.195
  • From individuals
  • 00:11:44.195 --> 00:11:45.563
  • And concentrated it in the hands of unelected
  • 00:11:45.563 --> 00:11:47.999
  • Bureaucrats in washington.
  • 00:11:47.999 --> 00:11:49.667
  • And we have an opportunity to take that power back.
  • 00:11:49.667 --> 00:11:52.770
  • And our organization
  • 00:11:52.770 --> 00:11:54.005
  • Was really built for this moment to help the people of goodwill
  • 00:11:54.005 --> 00:11:57.108
  • In the administration and congress
  • 00:11:57.108 --> 00:11:58.709
  • To get the information
  • 00:11:58.709 --> 00:11:59.777
  • They need to make real and lasting and durable change.
  • 00:11:59.777 --> 00:12:04.215
  • Yeah, i agree.
  • 00:12:04.549 --> 00:12:05.850
  • We can't fail in this moment.
  • 00:12:05.850 --> 00:12:08.085
  • Open the books has cited the biden administration
  • 00:12:08.085 --> 00:12:10.688
  • For misinformation and also for delays
  • 00:12:10.688 --> 00:12:12.824
  • In providing information.
  • 00:12:12.824 --> 00:12:14.492
  • But is it this a problem throughout both parties up
  • 00:12:14.492 --> 00:12:16.928
  • Until now?
  • 00:12:16.928 --> 00:12:17.962
  • Listen to republican joni ernst.
  • 00:12:17.962 --> 00:12:20.798
  • Yeah.
  • 00:12:20.798 --> 00:12:21.499
  • My proposal includes selling off
  • 00:12:21.499 --> 00:12:23.768
  • Thousands of vacant and underutilized buildings,
  • 00:12:23.768 --> 00:12:28.139
  • Ordering the irs to fire the thousands of employees
  • 00:12:28.139 --> 00:12:32.877
  • Who owe tens of millions of dollars in unpaid taxes.
  • 00:12:32.877 --> 00:12:38.983
  • Pulling the plug on biden's billion dollar boondoggles
  • 00:12:38.983 --> 00:12:42.587
  • For gravy trains that never leave the station,
  • 00:12:42.587 --> 00:12:45.923
  • And electrical vehicle stations that aren't
  • 00:12:45.923 --> 00:12:48.659
  • Charging up anything but debt.
  • 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:52.396
  • Does her comment give you any better hope that
  • 00:12:52.396 --> 00:12:54.732
  • The congress as a whole might address the debt.
  • 00:12:54.732 --> 00:12:58.002
  • That it does? and she's a senator.
  • 00:12:58.002 --> 00:13:00.104
  • Ernst is one of the great leaders.
  • 00:13:00.104 --> 00:13:01.439
  • She's a part of the doj's caucus in the senate.
  • 00:13:01.439 --> 00:13:03.741
  • We're working closely with them and also the dodge
  • 00:13:03.741 --> 00:13:05.509
  • Caucus in the house.
  • 00:13:05.509 --> 00:13:07.044
  • And, you know,
  • 00:13:07.044 --> 00:13:08.179
  • People always complain
  • 00:13:08.179 --> 00:13:09.213
  • About presidential authority in washington, dc.
  • 00:13:09.213 --> 00:13:12.316
  • But i can tell you, the biggest problem
  • 00:13:12.316 --> 00:13:13.784
  • In washington is not executive overreach.
  • 00:13:13.784 --> 00:13:16.087
  • It's legislative under reach is that we need
  • 00:13:16.087 --> 00:13:18.990
  • We need every senator operating like joni ernst
  • 00:13:18.990 --> 00:13:21.893
  • And putting out their ideas and their list of savings.
  • 00:13:21.893 --> 00:13:24.996
  • Because i guarantee you, if congress puts
  • 00:13:24.996 --> 00:13:27.598
  • A really good bill that downsizes
  • 00:13:27.598 --> 00:13:29.834
  • The administrative state in front of president trump,
  • 00:13:29.834 --> 00:13:32.904
  • You know, let's see if he vetoes that.
  • 00:13:32.904 --> 00:13:34.505
  • I think he's probably going to sign it.
  • 00:13:34.505 --> 00:13:35.740
  • So there's nothing stopping congress from really doing
  • 00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:38.976
  • The hard work of legislating and downsizing these agencies.
  • 00:13:38.976 --> 00:13:42.813
  • And, you know, pastor, we looked at
  • 00:13:42.813 --> 00:13:44.415
  • We're doing a project that open the books.
  • 00:13:44.415 --> 00:13:46.083
  • We're looking at all
  • 00:13:46.083 --> 00:13:47.285
  • 441 agencies listed in the federal register.
  • 00:13:47.285 --> 00:13:51.022
  • The first thing we discovered is that 75 are effectively
  • 00:13:51.022 --> 00:13:54.191
  • Ghost agencies. they're doing nothing.
  • 00:13:54.191 --> 00:13:57.128
  • So the trump administration can credibly claim today
  • 00:13:57.128 --> 00:14:00.164
  • That they can just cut the number of agencies by about 20%
  • 00:14:00.164 --> 00:14:03.467
  • Just by showing up for work.
  • 00:14:03.467 --> 00:14:04.902
  • And minding the store.
  • 00:14:04.902 --> 00:14:06.304
  • And that's before we even look at what
  • 00:14:06.304 --> 00:14:08.306
  • They're what they're actually doing.
  • 00:14:08.306 --> 00:14:10.107
  • But we're going to agency by agency.
  • 00:14:10.107 --> 00:14:11.776
  • And the first one we asked was department of education.
  • 00:14:11.776 --> 00:14:14.845
  • Hey, give us all the outlay data, all the spending data,
  • 00:14:14.845 --> 00:14:18.015
  • But also your head count.
  • 00:14:18.015 --> 00:14:19.350
  • And we asked this under the biden administration,
  • 00:14:19.350 --> 00:14:22.186
  • And they said, well,
  • 00:14:22.186 --> 00:14:23.220
  • We'll get that information to you in nine months.
  • 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:26.123
  • And that's unacceptable.
  • 00:14:26.657 --> 00:14:28.225
  • So we're going to go back to the trump administration
  • 00:14:28.225 --> 00:14:30.361
  • And say, look, we need this information.
  • 00:14:30.361 --> 00:14:32.697
  • It's in your interest to give taxpayers
  • 00:14:33.497 --> 00:14:35.633
  • This information today,
  • 00:14:35.633 --> 00:14:37.335
  • Not wait
  • 00:14:37.335 --> 00:14:38.469
  • Months and months and months, because we need to have
  • 00:14:38.469 --> 00:14:39.937
  • A debate in this country about
  • 00:14:39.937 --> 00:14:41.772
  • Why do we have all these agencies
  • 00:14:41.772 --> 00:14:43.307
  • That don't provide any benefit for taxpayers
  • 00:14:43.307 --> 00:14:45.943
  • And then just go agency by agency, by agency?
  • 00:14:45.943 --> 00:14:48.346
  • You know, i'm a big fan of mike rowe,
  • 00:14:48.346 --> 00:14:49.780
  • You know, the dirty jobs. yes.
  • 00:14:49.780 --> 00:14:52.149
  • And that's really have the mentality
  • 00:14:52.149 --> 00:14:53.818
  • That we need in washington is we need people who are willing
  • 00:14:53.818 --> 00:14:56.687
  • To jump in the swamp and do the hard, dirty
  • 00:14:56.687 --> 00:14:59.457
  • Work of identifying where the waste is.
  • 00:14:59.457 --> 00:15:02.727
  • We need we need less talk and more action.
  • 00:15:02.727 --> 00:15:04.996
  • And thankfully, there are a lot of members
  • 00:15:04.996 --> 00:15:06.697
  • Who really are committed to doing that hard work.
  • 00:15:06.697 --> 00:15:10.234
  • Well, very quickly, i'm curious, do you think the tax bill
  • 00:15:10.234 --> 00:15:13.437
  • Will be approved before the end of the year?
  • 00:15:13.437 --> 00:15:16.540
  • I do, yeah, i do.
  • 00:15:16.974 --> 00:15:17.875
  • I think
  • 00:15:17.875 --> 00:15:18.676
  • There will be at least i don't know
  • 00:15:18.676 --> 00:15:19.944
  • If there's going to be 1 or 2 big quote reconciliation bills,
  • 00:15:19.944 --> 00:15:22.113
  • But i do.
  • 00:15:22.113 --> 00:15:22.646
  • It's critical
  • 00:15:22.646 --> 00:15:23.748
  • To get that done because again, i mentioned earlier
  • 00:15:23.748 --> 00:15:25.216
  • This issue that these pies where you absolutely
  • 00:15:25.216 --> 00:15:28.319
  • Have to solve this problem two ways.
  • 00:15:28.319 --> 00:15:29.854
  • You've got to constrain the stupid spending
  • 00:15:29.854 --> 00:15:32.023
  • That's a low priority.
  • 00:15:32.023 --> 00:15:33.024
  • But you absolutely have to have economic growth
  • 00:15:33.024 --> 00:15:35.893
  • And focus not on growing federal agencies,
  • 00:15:35.893 --> 00:15:38.362
  • But growing your agency and the agency
  • 00:15:38.362 --> 00:15:40.264
  • Of every individual in this country by giving them more,
  • 00:15:40.264 --> 00:15:43.501
  • Letting them keep more of what they earn.
  • 00:15:43.501 --> 00:15:45.569
  • And and again,
  • 00:15:45.569 --> 00:15:46.804
  • That's done by both good tax policy and good spending policy.
  • 00:15:46.804 --> 00:15:49.940
  • Well, john hart,
  • 00:15:50.341 --> 00:15:51.342
  • Thank you so much for being with us tonight.
  • 00:15:51.342 --> 00:15:52.943
  • I hope you'll come back and keep us up to date
  • 00:15:52.943 --> 00:15:54.678
  • On where our money's going.
  • 00:15:54.678 --> 00:15:56.147
  • We'd love to you.
  • 00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:57.148
  • Thanks so much, pastor.
  • 00:15:57.148 --> 00:15:57.915
  • All right, well, in a moment
  • 00:15:57.915 --> 00:15:59.417
  • I want to share some thoughts on how we can all deal with
  • 00:15:59.417 --> 00:16:01.986
  • And get through the very tragic crash of the passenger plane
  • 00:16:01.986 --> 00:16:05.856
  • And military helicopter in washington.
  • 00:16:05.856 --> 00:16:08.292
  • We'll be right back.
  • 00:16:08.292 --> 00:16:14.005
  • We'll be right back.
  • 00:16:14.005 --> 00:16:16.333
  • You know, i suspect most have heard
  • 00:16:17.134 --> 00:16:18.702
  • About the tragic collision in washington, d.c.,
  • 00:16:18.702 --> 00:16:21.872
  • Between the airline and a military helicopter.
  • 00:16:21.872 --> 00:16:25.309
  • Horrible circumstance.
  • 00:16:25.309 --> 00:16:26.811
  • There's no other way to put that.
  • 00:16:26.811 --> 00:16:28.746
  • If you haven't yet
  • 00:16:28.746 --> 00:16:29.847
  • Taken a moment to pray for the families involved and
  • 00:16:29.847 --> 00:16:32.817
  • And all surrounding that, please do so.
  • 00:16:32.817 --> 00:16:36.287
  • You know, sometimes
  • 00:16:36.287 --> 00:16:37.254
  • When there's a tragedy, i hear people respond,
  • 00:16:37.254 --> 00:16:39.423
  • We have to do something more than pray.
  • 00:16:39.423 --> 00:16:42.326
  • And i would agree
  • 00:16:42.326 --> 00:16:43.661
  • That prayer in and of itself is not the ultimate solution.
  • 00:16:43.661 --> 00:16:47.498
  • But i would stridently say that until we have prayed,
  • 00:16:47.498 --> 00:16:51.802
  • The rest of the activity is really just busywork.
  • 00:16:51.802 --> 00:16:55.005
  • The prayer is an invitation
  • 00:16:55.005 --> 00:16:56.407
  • To god into the midst of a circumstance,
  • 00:16:56.407 --> 00:16:58.943
  • And then god can do whatever god chooses to do.
  • 00:16:58.943 --> 00:17:01.946
  • But we want to be certain that we have extended
  • 00:17:01.946 --> 00:17:03.981
  • That invitation
  • 00:17:03.981 --> 00:17:05.116
  • To almighty god into the midst of a tragedy,
  • 00:17:05.116 --> 00:17:07.585
  • Into the midst of our daily lives.
  • 00:17:07.585 --> 00:17:09.753
  • So if you haven't yet prayed for those families involved
  • 00:17:09.753 --> 00:17:12.423
  • In that circumstance, please take a moment to do that.
  • 00:17:12.423 --> 00:17:16.293
  • You know, when there's a tragedy, it
  • 00:17:16.293 --> 00:17:17.528
  • Reminds all of us that our days ultimately are in god's hands.
  • 00:17:17.528 --> 00:17:21.499
  • I think we far too often live arrogantly, presumptively
  • 00:17:21.499 --> 00:17:25.202
  • Imagining we play in our lives years in advance.
  • 00:17:25.202 --> 00:17:27.571
  • And the reality is every breath is a gift.
  • 00:17:27.571 --> 00:17:30.674
  • Let's live each day as if it's a gift from god,
  • 00:17:30.674 --> 00:17:34.178
  • And we will find joy
  • 00:17:34.178 --> 00:17:35.479
  • In that moment and in that day, if we will choose that pattern.
  • 00:17:35.479 --> 00:17:39.216
  • I promise you
  • 00:17:39.216 --> 00:17:40.417
  • There's more reasons for hope than there are for despair.
  • 00:17:40.417 --> 00:17:43.787
  • Well, stay with us.
  • 00:17:43.787 --> 00:17:45.055
  • When we returned, we're going to turn the mic to your emails.
  • 00:17:45.055 --> 00:17:53.005
  • When we returned, we're going to turn the mic to your emails.
  • 00:17:53.005 --> 00:17:55.234
  • Thank you for taking the time to send your emails.
  • 00:17:56.269 --> 00:17:58.437
  • I always enjoy reading your perspectives and your questions.
  • 00:17:58.437 --> 00:18:01.908
  • Janet from pennsylvania wrote
  • 00:18:01.908 --> 00:18:03.576
  • I just want to comment on politics from the pulpit.
  • 00:18:03.576 --> 00:18:06.779
  • You say often that you're called out for it.
  • 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:08.948
  • You put it in context in teaching
  • 00:18:08.948 --> 00:18:11.184
  • Saying jesus was political.
  • 00:18:11.184 --> 00:18:13.352
  • I love your teaching.
  • 00:18:13.352 --> 00:18:14.520
  • What this washington episcopal bishop did was outrageous.
  • 00:18:14.520 --> 00:18:17.990
  • What she was saying from her
  • 00:18:17.990 --> 00:18:19.192
  • Pulpit is not biblical or edifying.
  • 00:18:19.192 --> 00:18:21.527
  • This is my opinion.
  • 00:18:21.527 --> 00:18:23.763
  • Well, janet, i don't really disagree with your opinion.
  • 00:18:23.763 --> 00:18:26.599
  • I do believe it's important that our christianity engage
  • 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:29.802
  • The culture in which we live.
  • 00:18:29.802 --> 00:18:31.804
  • I don't really think that's political.
  • 00:18:31.804 --> 00:18:33.806
  • I think politicians and our system of government
  • 00:18:33.806 --> 00:18:36.576
  • Reflect the hearts of the people in the heart of america.
  • 00:18:36.576 --> 00:18:39.679
  • If we don't like our politicians
  • 00:18:39.679 --> 00:18:41.681
  • And their perspectives and their policies.
  • 00:18:41.681 --> 00:18:43.916
  • We have to have a hard change.
  • 00:18:43.916 --> 00:18:45.585
  • Politicians just want to vote.
  • 00:18:45.585 --> 00:18:47.286
  • But our christianity has to get outside
  • 00:18:47.286 --> 00:18:49.522
  • The walls of our churches
  • 00:18:49.522 --> 00:18:50.957
  • And beyond the boundaries of our sunday
  • 00:18:50.957 --> 00:18:52.592
  • School classes at our small groups.
  • 00:18:52.592 --> 00:18:54.727
  • Or it remains just a theory.
  • 00:18:54.727 --> 00:18:56.696
  • And theoretical christianity
  • 00:18:56.696 --> 00:18:58.097
  • Won't change the world or a human heart.
  • 00:18:58.097 --> 00:19:00.366
  • It's got to be lived out in the real world.
  • 00:19:00.366 --> 00:19:02.635
  • Carolyn kershner from georgia said,
  • 00:19:03.402 --> 00:19:05.171
  • I've just finished reading hoodwinked by john manchukuo.
  • 00:19:05.171 --> 00:19:09.041
  • I couldn't put it aside and was so amazed at all
  • 00:19:09.041 --> 00:19:11.444
  • The truths that he revealed concerning today's issues.
  • 00:19:11.444 --> 00:19:14.447
  • It's a book every person in our country
  • 00:19:14.447 --> 00:19:16.182
  • Should absorb as required reading.
  • 00:19:16.182 --> 00:19:18.584
  • I watched your program the night you hosted the author.
  • 00:19:18.584 --> 00:19:20.786
  • Thank you for recommending his book.
  • 00:19:20.786 --> 00:19:22.555
  • Carolyn, i agree it's a great read.
  • 00:19:22.555 --> 00:19:24.957
  • It's a it's a fascinating insight,
  • 00:19:24.957 --> 00:19:27.159
  • Just an honest perspective on our current culture.
  • 00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:30.229
  • And john frames those ten lives that americans have believed
  • 00:19:30.229 --> 00:19:33.532
  • So clearly and concisely that i think it brings course
  • 00:19:33.532 --> 00:19:36.168
  • Correction to anyone who will take the time to read it.
  • 00:19:36.168 --> 00:19:39.605
  • And then karen has emailed.
  • 00:19:40.206 --> 00:19:41.774
  • I look forward to your shows
  • 00:19:41.774 --> 00:19:43.042
  • Nightly and your sermons on sundays.
  • 00:19:43.042 --> 00:19:45.611
  • We need more of your bible based information and inspiration.
  • 00:19:45.611 --> 00:19:48.547
  • It's food for thought and more importantly, for our souls.
  • 00:19:48.547 --> 00:19:51.884
  • May god bless you and keep you.
  • 00:19:51.884 --> 00:19:54.620
  • Well, karen, thanks for your blessings and your prayers.
  • 00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:57.657
  • And just in case you're not in the habit
  • 00:19:57.657 --> 00:19:59.558
  • Of watching nightly, i will remind you.
  • 00:19:59.558 --> 00:20:01.460
  • You can see us on tbn or you can find us on tbn.
  • 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:05.231
  • I mean, on youtube.
  • 00:20:05.231 --> 00:20:06.265
  • They post the programs every evening.
  • 00:20:06.265 --> 00:20:07.933
  • The information is on the screens
  • 00:20:07.933 --> 00:20:09.669
  • So you can find it at your leisure.
  • 00:20:09.669 --> 00:20:12.238
  • If you have it yet, let me invite you to take a moment
  • 00:20:13.272 --> 00:20:16.042
  • And send your emails to comments at alan jackson now.com.
  • 00:20:16.042 --> 00:20:20.546
  • I might even read them on the program.
  • 00:20:20.546 --> 00:20:22.481
  • Your feedback and questions.
  • 00:20:22.481 --> 00:20:24.083
  • They do a lot to shape our show.
  • 00:20:24.083 --> 00:20:26.185
  • I'm alan jackson.
  • 00:20:26.185 --> 00:20:27.286
  • You have a wonderful evening.
  • 00:20:27.286 --> 00:20:27.286