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Pester Your State Assemblyman to Restore Federalism

Posted on 09/04/2013 12:38:27 PM PDT by Jacquerie

Like a modern day Patrick Henry, Mark Levin may have sparked a revolutionary train of events. The Liberty Amendments rationally examine where we are, where we are headed, and what must be done to restore our once federal republic.

Fussing and fuming at FR, demanding the political head of Boehner, electing conservatives, etc., are all necessary but demonstrably insufficient to check our death spiral into despotism. Those who profit so well from the system they corrupted have no interest in reform. The key to restoration resides with us, the sovereign American people.

What follows is a letter I sent in June to my Florida state assemblyman, several weeks before the release of Mark’s book. I am under no illusions, but any journey must begin with a first step.

To the Honorable Halsey Beshears,

I suspect members of the FL legislature are as fed up with our national government’s overreach as I am. From opposition to Voter ID and general election reform, refusal to secure our borders, to Obamacare and probably hundreds of other mandates, the states that birthed our republic have been reduced to little more than petty administrative units of a consolidated, all powerful government.

Most conservatives believe the solution to this overreach is to elect fellow conservatives to Congress who will resist the Washington DC culture and bravely slash spending, eliminate agencies, consent only to original intent judges, and restore constitutionalism.

I disagree.

The very structure of Congress prevents restoration of constitutional governance. Constitutional governance, meaning one of limited, enumerated power, and designed to secure our unalienable rights is impossible as long as voters are encouraged to demand more and more from their fellow citizens. Our Framers knew exactly what to expect from legislatures derived directly and solely from the people. We are living in what they designed our Constitution to avoid, a rapidly failing democratic republic on a fast track to despotism. The structure of Congress must be changed from one entirely derived straight from the people, and back to the design of our Framers.

The Framers designed the Constitution around separation of powers. You know from experience, and the rest of us from high school civics, the familiar division between legislative, executive, judicial functions. Less well known, but equally important was the Framers’ vertical separation of powers structure. A Senate of the States provided the first division of power, between states and federal government. The Senate was the structural means for states to secure their interests, protect the rights of their people, and most important, prevent our previously federal government from becoming the consolidated monster it is today.

Sir, the 17th Amendment was not a minor adjustment to the Constitution. It allowed the national government to assume many powers that were once, and should be, state responsibilities and prerogatives. As predicted by our framing generation, a single, consolidated government spanning a wide continent can only be despotic and trample our liberties.

A return to a Senate of the States means that you, as a Florida representative, will have a say in national matters. In addition to federal statutes, our two senators will be responsible to you for treaties and federal court appointments. Instead of listing here the many benefits of a Senate of the States, I will mention but one. Is it reasonable for me to assume you would oppose seating a federal judicial nominee whose earlier writings and speeches reflected hostility to the states? Is it also safe for me to assume you would impress that on our senators?

As distinguished from the far smaller number of men and women in our legislature, the vast majority of Floridians cannot keep track of the votes of senators Rubio and Nelson. This promotes a complete lack of responsibility from our senators, who get away with blowing demagogic smoke in the face of their constituents every six years.

As opposed to our current system, I am confident that with a return to a Senate of the States, our senators would actually have to answer for their votes, every one of them, to you. It is time for the states to call for repeal of the 17th Amendment. I am under no illusion that repeal will be an easy task, nor will it be a national panacea. However, I am certain it is an absolutely necessary prerequisite to the restoration of our constitutional republic.

Sincerely,
Jacquerie


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; FReeper Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 17th; articlev; constitution; seventeenth; statesrights

1 posted on 09/04/2013 12:38:28 PM PDT by Jacquerie
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To: 1010RD; Repeal The 17th; Bratch; 5thGenTexan; Greysard; lone star annie; boxlunch; central_va; ...

17th, Article V ping!


2 posted on 09/04/2013 12:39:34 PM PDT by Jacquerie (To restore the 10th Amendment, repeal the 17th.)
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To: Jacquerie
Unfortunately, my Rep is Anne Kuster from NH2. She would only be interested in changing the individual states to soviets.

I would write her and ask her to vote against the Syria War expansion, but I come from the American part of New Hampshire, and I have no say in her Amerika.

3 posted on 09/04/2013 12:41:42 PM PDT by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
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To: Redleg Duke

I have a semi-commie state senator. I doubt the jerk has read our constitution, but sent a similar letter to him anyway. I think it is important for these people to understand the there is another coming groundswell of resistance.


4 posted on 09/04/2013 12:46:14 PM PDT by Jacquerie (To restore the 10th Amendment, repeal the 17th.)
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To: Jacquerie

I am on board the train.


5 posted on 09/04/2013 12:48:59 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)
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To: Jacquerie
Okay. I posted to her Facebook page and I wrote Senator Ayotte, for whatever good that will do. She is McCain's and his girlfriend Linda Graham's pet poodle, so I suppose she will vote however he commands her.

Writing to Jeane Shaheen is a total waste. I am certain her staff is ordered to shred any mail that even leans toward the center.

After all, she is the "Abortion Queen".

6 posted on 09/04/2013 1:18:56 PM PDT by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
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To: Jacquerie

This is the only viable option left for restoration of the Republic. To not do this simple thing is tantamount to surrender without firing a shot. Call your State Rep. and make it clear that this is RESTORATION OF AMERICA AS FOUNDED.


7 posted on 09/04/2013 1:37:06 PM PDT by HMS Surprise (Chris Christie can STILL go straight to hell)
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To: Redleg Duke

Well, for constitutional restoration, I was referring to our state reps to use Article V and ignore congress all together, but your efforts certainly cannot but help.


8 posted on 09/04/2013 1:40:00 PM PDT by Jacquerie (To restore the 10th Amendment, repeal the 17th.)
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To: HMS Surprise

I obviously agree, yet must admit that the response from my first efforts have been disappointing.

There really is no other way out, is there?


9 posted on 09/04/2013 1:42:10 PM PDT by Jacquerie (To restore the 10th Amendment, repeal the 17th.)
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To: Jacquerie
Most conservatives believe the solution to this overreach is to elect fellow conservatives to Congress who will resist the Washington DC culture and bravely slash spending, eliminate agencies, consent only to original intent judges, and restore constitutionalism.

Yes, but that's only part of it. Your letter adds more of the solution.

10 posted on 09/04/2013 2:25:42 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Redleg Duke

Writing to DC is good. But this is about working on your State Legislatures. Get them to start the process of restoring federalism.


11 posted on 09/04/2013 2:28:16 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Jacquerie

Excellent letter!


12 posted on 09/04/2013 2:34:39 PM PDT by St_Thomas_Aquinas (Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: Jacquerie

Throw in the repeal of the 16th and now you are cooking.


13 posted on 09/04/2013 3:16:10 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: central_va

All good things are possible, when the 17th is but a bad memory.


14 posted on 09/04/2013 4:36:26 PM PDT by Jacquerie (To restore the 10th Amendment, repeal the 17th.)
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To: St_Thomas_Aquinas

Ditto from me; an example for many to follow!


15 posted on 09/04/2013 6:27:55 PM PDT by John Valentine (Deep in the Heart of Texas)
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To: Jacquerie

Excellent.


16 posted on 09/04/2013 6:52:05 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: Jacquerie

Excellent letter. I’m going to start working on mine this weekend.


17 posted on 09/04/2013 7:16:11 PM PDT by boxlunch (Psalm 105)
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To: Jacquerie

Thank you for adding me to your ping list. God bless you.


18 posted on 09/05/2013 3:42:15 AM PDT by Arthur Wildfire! March (George Washington: [Government] is a dangerous servant and a terrible master.)
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