My letter to my Senators (re: Flag Burning, Eminent Domain ruling, and Freedom) (VANITY)

I am writing to you today to express my opinion on two different subjects, but both with very serious implications on freedom and liberty in the United States. Our place on the Indexes of Economic and Political Freedom has been slipping recently, and I unfortunately see no turnaround in the trend since Republicans gained control of the Congress and the White House. It began long before Congress passed, and the Supreme Court upheld, McCain-Feingold restricting political free speech in clear violation of the First Amendment right to (political) free speech, but that is just another recent example. It continued with other recent Supreme Court decisions based on international law and public opinion.

The main point of my email today was going to be about displeasure with, and hopes for the defeat of the Flag Burning Amendment. I am very dismayed that I have to agree with some Democrats and the ACLU on this, but burning the flag, as abhorrent as I find it is political speech deserving the protection of the First Amendment. This proposed Amendment trashes the very concept of freedom, liberty, and free speech that the flag represents. How does the old saying go, “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Well, hundreds of thousands have died protecting this country and the freedom on which it was founded. This Amendment is an affront to each and every one of them. It is my opinion that this proposed Amendment should be defeated in the US Senate.

And now, the far more disturbing topic of this email, today’s Supreme Court decision allowing Government to seize property from one private owner to give to another private owner. Eminent domain has always been a hot topic for me, as I hear more and more stories of local government abuses. But this is an abuse of the worst kind, because it was perpetrated by the Supreme Court, which is supposed to protect our constitutional rights. This one ruling has practically destroyed the concept of private property rights in the United States. No property is safe, as long as some willing government thinks they can get just a little more tax money from another owner.

There has been quite a few stories in the news recently predicting that the housing bubble is about to burst. If private owners can have no faith that their property is safe from tax hungry politicians, the incentive to invest in real estate will be severely diminished, if not destroyed. Any supposed burst in the housing bubble will look like a walk in the park if this is allowed to stand.

What can Congress do to reverse this ruling? Is Congress willing to do anything, or do you approve of the recent actions of the Supreme Court? Perhaps Congress should propose more Constitutional Amendments that actually protect personal rights and individual freedoms, rather than proposing Amendments that further restrict freedom and liberty.

I have been a strong supporter of the Republican Party, nationally and in Georgia. Through my positions in the Young Republican organization, I have worked to advance many Republican campaigns, including yours. But I am realizing more and more that the campaign promises don’t survive swearing-in, and the party platform isn’t worth the paper it is written on. With very few exceptions, the Republican record over the last few years has been abysmal. Huge increases in (non-defense) spending, a new prescription drug entitlement and bureaucracy, and failure to secure our borders, just to name a few. I hope it won’t become necessary to find another political home, but that is looking more likely every day.

Some people are purposely going to misconstrue your letter. Burning the flag in protest is an abhorrent act, and you see it as such. This is but a single act of protest that could incite a violent reaction. If the protesters switch to burning effigies of the president, replicas of our Constitution, Declaration of Independence, of making political satire of 9-11, will Congress find it necessary to add an amendment for each? And everyone needs to keep in mind very few flag burning protests occur in our country. The overwhelming majority of these flag burnings occur in foreign nations where our laws do not apply.

I embrace my country, and the flag representing it, but I hold the Constitution more respectfully, and cherish my citizenship most. It should surprise no one that I recognize my citizenship with the highest regard. Unfortunately, this is not true of many people, and most are our government leaders.

Few people are aware there is another amendment that has been awaiting ratification by the states for about two hundred years and it goes well beyond acts of protest. It addresses concerns over acts of allegiance to foreign powers. Here is the text of the amendment:

"If any citizen of the United States shall accept, claim, receive or retain any title of nobility or honour, or shall, without the consent of Congress, accept and retain any present, pension, office or emolument of any kind whatever, from any emperor, king, prince or foreign power, such person shall cease to be a citizen of the United States, and shall be incapable of holding any office of trust or profit under them, or either of them." (Proposed in the 2d session of the Eleventh Congress, passed by both houses of Congress, and awaiting ratification of the states.)

The political landscape of our nation is littered with current and former heads of our government that have accepted positions of office, and titles of nobility from foreign nations and royalty. Most are lobbyist acting on behalf of foreign interests for financial gain. They have bartered away their allegiance to our nation for their own personal gain. They place our nation at grave risk, yet Congress wants people to believe burning of the flag in protest is the more grievous act. Hogwash! Any citizen that will take a position of allegiance to another nation must cease being a citizen of our nation. No man can serve two masters.

With the proposed flag amendment Congress is trying to establish a higher standard of behavior for our citizens than they are willing to uphold themselves, and it is their acts that places our nation in the greatest jeopardy. Many uniformed members of our military have died protecting our flag. Many times more have died by the acts of treasonous betrayal of our own citizens. It is the right of the citizens of our nation to hold our elected, appointed and employed in government to the highest standard of allegiance. Burning our flag in protest can upset me, but government leaders compromising their allegiance to our nation can kill us, severely peril our nation, and our way of life.

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