[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5] [House] [Pages 5994-5995] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]THE WASHINGTON ELITES (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.) Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, the Washington elites are trying to rule the land like a monarchy, claiming they know best for what they consider the peasants in the vast rural areas. Those elitists grew up in privilege and look down on the rest of the country. The elitists in the imperial kingdom of Washington, DC feel it's their [[Page 5995]] privileged right and obligation to make the peasants happier because those rural Americans don't know how to take care of themselves. Well, let me tell you the truth about those peasants. These great Americans don't look to Washington or the elites or the monarchy for their happiness. They find their happiness in their individuality. The folks that I represent in southeast Texas are patriotic citizens, many from small-town rural America. They love their families and are proud of America. They are honest, hard-working independent citizens who, when duty calls, go off to war to defend this Nation. They attend church on Sunday, and if they don't attend, they still feel strongly about their religion. They believe they have the personal right to bear arms. They are not bitter about life, but they are generally happy. They are not in need of big government coming in in the name of hope and change to control more of their lives. Those in Washington would do well to remember that the salt of the Earth lives in small-town America. Government should keep out of their way, instead of interfering with their lives, their faith, and their right to bear arms. And that's just the way it is. ____________________