Posted on 11/22/2014 4:56:00 AM PST by Jacquerie
As our once republic swirls down the drain of despotism, a common call at FR to restore freedom is to “just enforce the constitution we have.” In a perfect world of cuddly puppies and chocolate rivers, we could live in unspoiled freedom and happiness if we only enforced the written constitution.
The problem is that no nation ever was, nor will ever be, composed of saints. If men were saints, government wouldn’t be necessary. If that sounds familiar, it should. After years of study on the nature of government in general, and republics in particular, James Madison and other framers rediscovered a maxim that was largely forgotten by 1913, and is sadly forgotten today by most at FreeRepublic.
That is, the structure of government is all important. Insofar as supporting or hindering freedom and happiness, governmental structure trumps the significance of virtue or licentiousness of the people.
Does the constitution of 1787 reflect unbridled confidence in virtue? Of course not. If the framers supposed only moral men would go into government, then a simple republican structure like that of the ancient city states, consisting of a popularly elected, single house legislature would be all that was needed. This fantasy legislature composed of upright men would issue laws that a moral populace would readily agree to and support.
Rather than assume a nation of angels, the constitution assumed a nation of public rogues.
This isn’t to be confused with private behavior, for even the worst monsters in history often had stable and loving families. Don’t doubt that Nancy Pelosi or even the loathsome Van Jones are not devoted parents and spouses. Domestically, they may be model spouses and parents. As holders of any public trust, they are demons.
Far from embracing simplicity or counting on public virtue, the constitution set up a complex system designed to prevent the accumulation of legislative, executive, judicial powers in one, few, or many men. That should sound familiar as well, and if a little time in rational thought is spent on it, it should be clear that is not the system we live under today.
Our government is in rapid transition for the worse. Power increasingly concentrates in the executive branch. Obama’s practical authority is limited only by what he thinks he can politically get away with.
As if distant history was not proof enough, our recent electoral experience should suffice. For years we sent dozens of Tea Party conservatives to congress. How many went wobbly or full rino? This isn’t to say we shouldn’t seek out the best among us. It means the careful selection of reps is insufficient to save our sinking republic.
Fortunately, the framers provided an out, a constitutional and almost extra-congressional route to restore the all-important structure of government necessary to maintain a FreeRepublic.
Repeal the 17th. Restore federalism. Article V. NOW!
Let us not repeat history. Don’t let historians paraphrase and write:
America gave Obama the Presidency. The Presidency gave Obama America.
There is now a golden ArtV opportunity, with about 2/3 of State Legislatures in Republican hands.
And, more specifically, not just any ArtV opportunity... one in particular: With a "topic" to limiting the Federal Govt (from the National one we have now).
Are guys went home! Where does that leave us?
Demons, deceivers, democrats, collectivists, conmen, criminals, socialists, scumbags, totalitarians, rinos and punks.
Article V? 2016? Etc.?
Whatever it takes.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
You would use the law to oppose socialism? But it is upon the law that socialism itself relies. Socialists desire to practice legal plunder, not illegal plunder. Socialists, like all other monopolists, desire to make the law their own weapon. And when once the law is on the side of socialism, how can it be used against socialism? For when plunder is abetted by the law, it does not fear your courts, your gendarmes, and your prisons. Rather, it may call upon them for help.
To prevent this, you would exclude socialism from entering into the making of laws? You would prevent socialists from entering the Legislative Palace? You shall not succeed, I predict, so long as legal plunder continues to be the main business of the legislature. It is illogical — in fact, absurd — to assume otherwise.
/Bastiat
Depopulate demons, deceivers, democrats, collectivists, conmen, criminals, socialists, scumbags, totalitarians, rinos and punks from the body politic.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
Dismantle their architecture
$17,952,849,090,426 and climbing...
Stop their plunder
They did build that.
Lots of targets of opportunity.
Whatever it takes.
live - free - republic
This really ought to bei n general chat
Still fairly certain a repeal of the 17th would be the most useful and immediate cessation of the direction of the nation.
Whatever you do, don’t read my post to find out why Article V is an absolute necessity.
Way way too late for that. Lincoln started ignoring it followed by Teddy Roosevelt, Woody Wilson FDR LBJ etc. etc. etc. That horse has left the barn.
They tell us, sir, that we are weak;
unable to cope with so formidable an adversary.
But when shall we be stronger?
Will it be the next week, or the next year?
Will it be when we are totally disarmed,
and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?
Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?
Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance
by lying supinely on our backs
and hugging the delusive phantom of hope,
until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?
Sir, we are not weak
if we make a proper use of those means
which the God of nature hath placed in our power.
-Patrick Henry at the Second Virginia Convention
at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia on March 23,1775.-
Bravo!!!!!
Caesar dissolved the Roman Republic, installed himself as Emperor, and then Brutus "impeached" Caesar.
Et tu, Gruber?
T’anks my friend—many T’anks.Let u snot repeat history—unless we do so as the Army led by General Washington that this Nation under God may know a rebirth of freedom as President Lincoln put it.I seem to recall the Brits thought they once had America as well.
I read this—and Mr.West —On the Right to Rebel,1776; and President Lincoln March 30 ,1863 proclamation for a National Day of public humiliation,fasting ,and Prayer at least once every year, comfort in the knowing our fore fathers were Reasonable men —sure knowledge that what I see today cannot be reconciled for as Lincoln said “We have forgotten God.”
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
John Adams
Also helps to remember and appropriate the attitude Mr.Marcus Luttrell expresses so well—the only way to take us out of the fight—is to kill us. Unless we posses this attitude we are sheep.
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