Posted on 03/06/2011 9:10:41 AM PST by rabscuttle385
I am pleased that the Constitution has received a lot of attention in recent weeks, thanks to the tea party movement. The 112th Congress kicked off with a reading of the Constitution on the floor of the House. It goes without saying that Members of Congress should have read the Constitution many times, and should continue to study it.
Citing the particular clause of the Constitution that authorizes newly introduced legislation is a reasonable suggestion, yet in reality it will do little to restrain unconstitutional growth of the federal government. We have had such rules in the past and no benefit came of it.
The laws that are passed reflect the preferences and personal agendas of those in charge. For too long those agendas have expanded government at the expense of personal liberty, regardless of which political party was in charge. This expansion of government clearly violated the Constitution, yet it was always argued that this or that program somehow conformed to that “living” document.
By misinterpreting the general welfare clause, the interstate commerce clause, and the “necessary and proper” clause, Congress has justified every conceivable expansion of the federal government. Congress also has misinterpreted the 14th Amendment and legislated as though it had repealed the 10th Amendment. Sadly, Congress has also systematically abdicated its prerogatives and responsibilities to the executive branch over many decades.
Too many people, in and out of Congress, grew up being taught that the Constitution was a “modern living document.” Though the authors allowed for flexibility through the amendment process, this process has been ignored for the sake of speed and convenience. As a result, the Constitution now has little actual meaning.
Our Constitution should be viewed as law, and Members of Congress should be expected to follow, respect, understand, and uphold the law. But a document is just a piece of paper if those who represent us and promise to obey it ignore it instead. Celebrating the Constitution without this understanding will do nothing to restore the greatness of America.
Simply praising the document distracts from the need for Members to resist special interests, political self-interests, emergency needs in times of crisis, fear-based economic myths, and the persistent temptation to seek security over liberty while ignoring personal responsibility and self-reliance.
I wonder: will this welcomed renewed interest in the Constitution lead to a healthy reassessment of all of our policies? Will there be no more wars without an actual congressional declaration? Will the Federal Reserve Act be repealed? Will only gold and silver be deemed legal tender?
Will we end all unconstitutional federal departments, including the Department of Energy, Education, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Labor?
Will the Patriot Act be repealed and all warrantless searches stopped?
Will the TSA be abolished?
Will the IRS's unconstitutional collection powers end?
Will executive and judicial quasi-legislative powers end?
Will we end the federal war on drugs?
Will we end the federal government's involvement in medical care?
Will we end all of the federal government's illusionary insurance programs?
Will we ban secret prisons, trials without due process, and assassinations?
Will we end our foreign policy of invasion and occupation?
For America to once again become the standard for a free society, our love of liberty and desire for peace must far surpass any public display of fidelity to the Constitution. We must first look to strong moral character, respect for the rule of law, and an understanding of the proper role of government in a free society.
Excellent ideas and a valid point - that the Constitution can best be honored by following it as opposed to pompous but meaningless declarations of support.
I have yet to figure out how such a mindset can end up coming across as such a nutjob when caught off guard.
Must be time to start preparing for 2012.
Make this audio go VIRAL. Get the word out! Ping your lists, send it to your email lists and ask them to forward it, post it on your facebook page, post it on twitter, post it is all over the internet NOW !!!!!
Trying to avoid a Constitutional crisis in Wisconsin. What’s going on is much more than what you think. It’s no more just about “the budget”.
MUST LISTEN to this attorney working with Scott Walker:
bttt
It would be nice if Paul were correct. Unfortunately, the antifederalists were correct, and Paul is incorrect.
I find it utterly ironic that overwhelming majority of people who have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States have never even read it. I spent 22 years in the US Army defending it and have read it cover to cover about a dozen times.
That’s right up there with the sheer criminal stupidity of village idiots like Pelosi going on record as saying that “We need to pass the Healthcare Bill to find out what’s really in it”. If stupid people like Pelosi made similar comments in the private sector, they would be told to turn in their keys and clean out their desks.
We can talk about the Constitution all we want, but as of 9/11/01 through 9/11/2011 (Obama renewed the national emergency regarding terrorism) we live under what the president decides is best for the U.S. And, there were addends to the 350 page Patriot Act (not read) which are off-limits to all except the executive branch.
Congress has given all power to the president, including dissident camps and “fusion” of the military with the police to “protect” our nation as long as each new president renews yearly the national emergency under Bush. Who knew we would ever elect a Manchurian Candidate who could set himself up as a dictator?
The Constitution is a wonderful document, but so what? It’s been shown to not be applicable under the current regime.
Theoretically true.
However, we have been living in a functional oligarchy for some time. The President, the Senate majority leader, and the Speaker of the House (three people) decide on the Federal budget, with the expectation that the Speaker and the Majority leader will be able to deliver votes.
The Speaker controls which bills will be voted on in the House. The Majority Leader controls which bills wiil be voted on in the Senate.
This oligarchy is being sold as a democracy. Anyone who suggests that the United States is a sovereign Constitutional federal republic is dismissed as a nut job.
Yeah, there is something wrong with this picture. But it is what I see.
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