Posted on 08/20/2012 10:12:01 AM PDT by jazusamo
There are some very serious issues at stake in this year's election — so many that some people may not be able to see the forest for the trees. Individual issues are the trees, but the forest is the future of America as we have known it.
The America that has flourished for more than two centuries is being quietly but steadily dismantled by the Obama administration, during the process of dealing with particular issues.
For example, the merits or demerits of President Obama's recent executive order, suspending legal liability for young people who are here illegally, presumably as a result of being brought here as children by their parents, can be debated pro and con. But such a debate overlooks the much more fundamental undermining of the whole American system of Constitutional government.
The separation of powers into legislative, executive and judicial branches of government is at the heart of the Constitution of the United States — and the Constitution is at the heart of freedom for Americans.
No President of the United States is authorized to repeal parts of legislation passed by Congress. He may veto the whole legislation, but then Congress can override his veto if they have enough votes. Nevertheless, every President takes an oath to faithfully execute the laws that have been passed and sustained — not just the ones he happens to agree with.
If laws passed by the elected representatives of the people can be simply over-ruled unilaterally by whoever is in the White House, then we are no longer a free people, choosing what laws we want to live under.
When a President can ignore the plain language of duly passed laws, and substitute his own executive orders, then we no longer have "a government of laws, and not of men"...
(Excerpt) Read more at creators.com ...
Obama’s beliefs and attitudes towards our Constitution and its subsequent laws can be summed up quite succinctly as follows:
Laws are for controlling the people, not for the government or its employees in their official duties.
I also apologize if my statement was taken wrong. It was not meant as some read.
Yes! If I see your flag flying, factoryrat, I'm heading over to join your forces. Your post indicates you are a strong leader.
If laws passed by the elected representatives of the people can be simply over-ruled unilaterally by whoever is in the White House, then we are no longer a free people, choosing what laws we want to live under.
Excellent, spot-on piece by Dr. Sowell. Thanks for recommending it, sjb.
"The Constitution of the United States cannot protect us unless we protect the Constitution."
That was the money quote from Dr. Sowell's editorial. Too bad the nation and especially our so-called "leaders" failed so miserably in protecting our founding document from "Obama" when they allowed the coronation of this unvetted communist in 2008.
Thanks for the Ping, Jaz.
If laws passed by the elected representatives of the people can be simply over-ruled unilaterally by whoever is in the White House, then we are no longer a free people, choosing what laws we want to live under.
Imagine the outrage by liberals if a conservative President opted to not enforce a variety of laws he didn't like - maybe not prosecuting thugs who beat up illegal immigrants "who don't belong here" , maybe other thugs stealing from welfare cheats, or someone who lost millions of dollars due to MF Global fraud deciding to get revenge by taking unlawful action against Jon Corzine.
Such actions might be justified as vigilante action to right wrongs ...but would create a lawless society.
But the ZERO has already created a lawless society, where Jon Corzine gets to keep money he stole, where New Black Panther party members can do voter intimidation at polls, and bankers can do illegal/unethical behaviour and not get prosecuted. We are doomed as a society if this isn't reversed! [Or we will need to revisit the Declaration Of Independence and take similar action against immoral "kings".)
Another good one from Dr. Sowell. Thanks for the ping jaz.
MudSlimes are not bound to any oaths.
Taquiyaa, and Kahlua at the Bar.
Happy ramadumb infidels! What did you serve at your feast of ifatar dinner?
They and their spokespersons called that Constitution a "living constitution," meaning, in their minds, that it was "malleable" by mere politicans, legoslators, and judges. Once they believed they had sufficiently dumbed down the citizenry, they introduced a bold personality who, himself, expressed an opinion that the document Sir William Gladstone called "the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given moment by the brain and purpose of man," is, in fact, "flawed," and, "a document of negative liberties.".
Others, more qualified and certainly wiser scholars of the Constitution, said these things about that Constitution:
"The structure has been erected by architects of consummate skill and fidelity; its foundations are solid; its components are beautiful, as well as useful; its arrangements are full of wisdom and order...."
-Justice Joseph Story
In my previous post on this thread, are contained other statements of Justice Story about this priceless and historical American treasure--the Constitution.
Roger Sherman stated that as government is "instituted for those who live under it ... it ought, therefore, to be so constituted as not to be dangerous to liberty."
Justice Story's words pay tribute to the United States Constitution and its Framers. Shortly before the 100th year of the Constitution, in his "History of the United States of America," written in 1886, historian George Bancroft said:
"The Constitution is to the American people a possession for the ages."
He went on to say:
"In America, a new people had risen up without king, or princes, or nobles....By calm meditation and friendly councils they had prepared a constitution which, in the union of freedom with strength and order, excelled every one known before; and which secured itself against violence and revolution by providing a peaceful method for every needed reform. In the happy morning of their existence as one of the powers of the world, they had chosen Justice as their guide."
Roger Sherman stated that as government is "instituted for those who live under it ... it ought, therefore, to be so constituted as not to be dangerous to liberty."
As Jefferson wisely observed:
"History, by apprising the people of the past, will enable them to judge of the future; it will avail them of the experience of other times and other nations; it will qualify them as judges of the actions and designs of men; it will enable them to know ambition under every disguise it may assume; and knowing it, to defeat its views."(Underlining added for emphasis) Now, in our dumbed-down state of understanding our liberty, we buy into "another" less-informed and truly dangerous opinion about the document which was to secure our liberty--an opinion from a small mind which has been molded and shaped by the same old tyrannical idea about government-over-people that prevailed in the Old World, before the flame of liberty began to inspire the oppressed to come to America.
Justice Story's words quoted above represent the first half of his statement. The "rest of the" statement included this grave warning for Americans of all centuries. He concluded his statement with these words:
"...and its defenses are impregnable from without. It has been reared for immortality, if the work of man may justly aspire to such a title. It may, nevertheless, perish in an hour by the folly, or corruption, or negligence of its only keepers, THE PEOPLE. Republics are created by virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens."
Our constitution can be shared with the world and passed on to generations far distant if its formula is not altered in violation of principle through the neglect of its keepers - THE PEOPLE. Remember, the provisions of Article V still protect and require that right of "the People" to participate in any alterations or amendments to their document of liberty.
Some of the above is quoted, with permission, from "Our Ageless Constitution," W. David Stedman & La Vaughn G. Lewis, Editors (Asheboro, NC, W. David Stedman Associates, 1987) Part VII: ISBN 0-937047-01-5
When a President can ignore the plain language of duly passed laws, and substitute his own executive orders, then we no longer have “a government of laws, and not of men”...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
And we have a fascist president.
Read it here:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html
One of the best articles ever on FR. Dr. Sowell truly helps us to take a wider perspective about what it is that is so evil about the Obama administration.
>> “you’re a complete idiot...”
I recognized the confusion upfront, but noticed you were still the gentleman despite the misunderstanding.
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