Posted on 07/03/2002 11:25:25 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
I wasn't going to write a column today, but the reaction to yesterday's "Happy Dependence Day" commentary inspired me to offer a few more thoughts for this July 4th weekend.
The War of Independence was fought 226 years ago principally over the issues of sovereignty and self-government.
These are two concepts that have been obliterated from the debate today. The war was fought so that we in America would have the ability and right to govern ourselves as individuals and that our individual states would have sovereignty with little interference from London, Washington or anywhere else.
Do we have that today?
Let's just talk about taxes – since that was such an important issue in the War of Independence.
Just like in 1776, we have taxation without meaningful representation. In 1994, for instance, Americans elected Republicans to both houses of Congress for the first time in decades because they promised, among other things, to scrap the tax code. They lied. Let's not mince words. They failed to live up to their "Contract With America," and Americans have not had an opportunity to express their rage against the unconstitutional income tax since.
Today the tax code is every bit as complicated and confiscatory as it was before 1994, if not more so.
We've been living with an unconstitutional income tax in this country now for nearly 90 years. Why is it unconstitutional? Because it is in direct violation of the Fourth Amendment: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
You just try invoking your Fourth Amendment rights to the IRS when it comes to make a claim on you.
Is there any doubt that Americans don't like the income tax? Do you think most Americans would trade it or scrap it if they could? If we had real representation, would it still be around? Of course not. Americans have no choice. The game is rigged – just as it was rigged against the colonials.
Washington is every bit as unaccountable to the people as the British crown was. But Washington has more power, more force, more ability to coerce.
That's why we have far less liberty than our founding fathers had.
In 1776, Americans were much freer to govern themselves and the states had less accountability to the crown than they do today to Washington. Today, Washington is God. The 9th Circuit ruling on the Pledge is a perfect example. What Washington says goes.
Washington dictates policies to the states and local governments and holds individuals accountable to thousands of unconstitutional laws – and declares perfectly constitutional laws invalid with a stroke of the pen. That's not the way our country was designed.
The good news is that there's a remnant of Americans who understand what's happening today and who are going to fight for freedom again. I'm very hopeful that, with God's help, we can establish freedom and liberty again in America just as our founders did 226 years ago. I'm so hopeful, in fact, that I am writing a book about this subject right now called "Taking America Back."
It's going to be a blueprint for a Second War of Independence. It's going to explain how we win our sovereignty back. It will remind Americans what self-government means and what we have to do to achieve it, again.
I'm very upbeat that we can restore freedom in America. I think the founders showed the way. We should emulate their example. I think we have a chance to overthrow the new empire peacefully.
But Americans have to learn to say no. They have to say no to the government indoctrination centers we call public schools. They have to say no to taxes by minimizing by every legal means what they pay in tribute to Washington. They have to fight back by taking control of government locally and declaring sovereignty from Washington. They have to resist participation in election charades where there is no choice – where no candidate truly supports the Constitution in word and deed.
That's a little bit of the prescription I will offer in "Taking America Back."
Are you with me? If so, maybe together we can rediscover freedom and independence once again.
And until Americans finally grasp that without apology, they will always be enslaved to the government in one form or another.
I agree with Farah that the tax code is an abomination and should be scrapped but he commits a factual error with regard to the Contract With America. The Republicans of the 104th Congress did exactly what they promised to do with regard to the Contract. It was one of our country's finest hours.
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)
The real problem is the level of spending. There are more efficient ways to collect taxes, but the overall level is way too high for my taste, and probably yours. Unless the ideas of self-sufficiency, responsibility, and charity rise again, there will be no consenus to deal with the underlying problem. The government must collect funds if it is to disburse them. Unfortunately, the consensus is for more shifting of responsibility away from the individual by more government.
Farah is also dreaming if he thinks that staying away from the polls when the choices are bad and awful will improve things.
JCG:I agree with Farah that the tax code is an abomination and should be scrapped but he commits a factual error with regard to the Contract With America. The Republicans of the 104th Congress did exactly what they promised to do with regard to the Contract. It was one of our country's finest hours.
The 104th Congress did perform according to the Contract with America. It was one of the countries finest times. Then, the Clinton propaganda machine began to demonize Congress. Many sheeple in the electorate began to believe the propaganda. At that point, certain R's in swing districts began to fold. A reasonable question might be asked, why should these swing R's give a rat's *ss about reducing big government, if the majority of their consituents don't care?
One of the first casualties of freedom is the truth. Farah can not restore freedom without telling it.
Too many Americans are comfortable with federal spending rates up between 16% and 20% of GNP. You are right, that is the problem.
The 1st Revolutionary War secured the independence of the States.
The Declaration of Independence declared that the United Colonies were free and independent States.
The US didn't exist until 2 decades later.
Be a Yankee Doodle, but not a Union Party lackey.
Mr Farah grossly underestimates the enemy. Those in power will never go peacefully into the night.
I hope I'm dead wrong, but history says I'm right.
That's one of the problems. Farah didn't exactly tell the truth with regard to the Contract With America.
The level of spending is too high but the tax code is the real threat to liberty. I can pay the high taxes -- somehow -- but I can't resist the control that the tax code imposes upon me.
Thank you, I need them.
May God bless you also.
....(better late than never...)
redrock
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