Posted on 01/19/2010 9:15:13 AM PST by DavidFarrar
"The Tea Party Nation believes that a federal government must be limited in its powers to only those enumerated by the Constitution of the United States of America."
(Excerpt) Read more at teapartynation.com ...
You’ve just proven that you lack a basic understanding of our federal government.
1. Term limits are insane! (governance by the incompetent)
2. Any law passed by congress can be revoked by the next congress.
Only a slate of constitutional ammendments can accomplish the goals that you persue (not a convention - that would undo the founding of this country)
Oops..ment Debra what’s her face...alk! Coffee!!!
If the constitution has not been followed, a judicial course would be open to us. I know you think that the Supreme Court itself has failed to do its job, but that is the state of our present problem. With the present Supreme Court decisions in place, the only avenue is to change the constitution itself, either by a Constitutional convention or by the amendment process. Without empower the people via a redistribution of constitutional power, NOTHING will change.
ex animo
davidfarrar
I understand fully that Senate terms are for six years. As I said, this is simply a list of planks that go to actually changing the power of our government. One four-year term, or one six-year term, instead of one six-year term, with re-election possibilities, is a fundamental change in the power of Congress.
I believe to change the terms of the legislative branch of Congress will take a constitutional convention. I may be wrong in this regard — at least, I hope I am wrong.
ex animo
davidfarrar
I think I said either by a Constitutional Convention or by the amendment process of the Bill of Rights; did I not?
ex animo
davidfarrar
Good suggestion, Okie01. I will add it to the list. However, I think even that change would require a constitutional convention.
Thank you.
ex animo
davidfarrar
No, not especially. But I don’t want it to block addressing gerrymandering either. So instead of simply throwing up your hands and says it’s impossible to change, lets get together and come up with a plan to get it done
I, myself, am thinking of either a Zip Code system or a Area Code.
ex animo
davidfarrar
16th, 17th, and go to the Fair Tax which eliminates the IRS. The Flat Tax keeps the IRS.
Lots wrong with this list.
Okay, fine. I think taxes on individual labor is unconstitutional.
ex animo
davidfarrar
No it is not. All that is needed is to actually use the Constitution-granted power that Congress has to limit the jurisdiction of the Federal courts. A simple majority vote of each house can completely remove certain topics from the jurisdiction of federal courts. AFAIK, that power has never been used, but it is there.
Article III, Section Section 2 "In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make."
To my recollection, the Constitution only specifies that Congress shall convene at least once every two years (thus, the current Congress is referred to as the 111th Congress).
The House and the Senate, then, could presumably set a session limit of six months annually (or whatever) by statute.
To which the natural response would be, "Good luck with that".
Great plan, Ozarkman,
The problem is, that’s precisely the plan we have been following for the last thirty years in America policy. If we don’t learn from our own history, we will be doomed to repeat it.
I really can’t stress this point enough: Even with the best of intentions, the best people in office, following the strictest interpretation of the constitution possible, without an actual change in the enumerated power we the people have given to our government via the constitution, nothing will change. Too assume otherwise will simply be playing to the present special interests’ political agenda.
ex animo
davidfarrar
You think these are liberal talking points?
ex animo
davidfarrar
No, I don’t think a Constitutional Convention will be a dangerous thing to do at this point. If we don’t address the present power structure between the constitution and we the people now, with the blow-back that Obama is obviously generating, we will never be abil to get it done.
As an example, if McCain would have won the presidency, a Constitutional Convention to take back the people’s power from our government would have been impossible.
ex animo
davidfarrar
Okay,
So we, as Tea Party supporters, can all get together and adopt this as a political prerequisite of all Congressional candidates for Tea Party backing. It’s not much, but at least it’s a start at really change.
ex animo
davidfarrar
Been there, done that for the past thirty years. How long are you suggesting we follow that failed policy?
ex animo
davidfarrar
I think in general your list has too many, too detailed, and in several cases conflicting planks. To be an effective platform it needs to outline a few guiding principles rather than a bunch of specific objectives pursuant to those principles.
Think of the Contract with America in 1994. It was 10 items that were somewhat specific, but not nearly as detailed as what you have outlined here. The simplicity of the Contract made it resonate. Had it been broken down into a bunch of specific provisions like your list it would have produced a bunch of arguing over which provision is the best policy idea and would have gone nowhere.
The idea that you could come up with even 10 specific policy recommendations as being an overarching platform for a massive grassroots movement like the Tea Party Movement — let alone the 20 plus that you have in your list — is a non-starter and waste of time. The Tea Party Movement is about limited government, returning to the principles on which our nation was founded, and reducing the scope and power of government in our lives. Trying to centralize and nationalize the movement cuts against many of the very premises upon which it is built.
There is nothing wrong with our current constitution. What is wrong is the character of those in office and the fact that for 40 years “We the people” created this by not paying attention - by just letting it happen.
The above list is an attempt to divert from the real problem. It’s up to us to fix it.
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