Majority Says the Federal Government Threatens Their Personal Rights

As Barack Obama begins his second term in office, trust in the federal government remains mired near a historic low, while frustration with government remains high. And for the first time, a majority of the public says that the federal government threatens their personal rights and freedoms.

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Jan. 9-13 among 1,502 adults, finds that 53% think that the federal government threatens their own personal rights and freedoms while 43% disagree.

In March 2010, opinions were divided over whether the government represented a threat to personal freedom; 47% said it did while 50% disagreed. In surveys between 1995 and 2003, majorities rejected the idea that the government threatened people’s rights and freedoms.

The growing view that the federal government threatens personal rights and freedoms has been led by conservative Republicans. Currently 76% of conservative Republicans say that the federal government threatens their personal rights and freedoms and 54% describe the government as a “major” threat. Three years ago, 62% of conservative Republicans said the government was a threat to their freedom; 47% said it was a major threat...

Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/21680/hobby-lobby-lawsuit-how-a-company-is-cheating-its-employees-to-make-a-point Hobby Lobby has announced its intention to violate a federal mandate enforcing contraception coverage under Obamacare, facing fines of up to $1.2 million a day over the egregious infringement on their right to the free exercise of their religion. Apparently, “free exercise” now costs $1.2M a day.

Amendment II: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/assault-weapons In January, Senator Feinstein will introduce a bill to stop the sale, transfer, importation and manufacturing of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices. This is a massive Casus Belli infringement on the most fundamental of rights.

Amendment III: No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

As far as I know, no current infringement . . . not yet!

Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2984162/posts In the latest attack on the American people, a decorated War Hero has been arrested and charged with five counts of third degree criminal possession of a weapon, for having empty 30 round AR-15 Magazines in his vehicle. This search and seizure were unreasonable by any constitutional standard. (Bonus points for simultaneously violating the Second and Fourth Amendments)

Amendment V: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/04-108.ZS.html KELO et al. v. CITY OF NEW LONDON et al. Held: The city’s proposed disposition of petitioners’ property qualifies as a “public use” within the meaning of the Takings Clause. The price paid for the land taken against their will was what the City decided was just compensation, but it was nowhere near the value the owners considered just, nor would I consider it just (and I know the area) - the city stole the land at a price set by the buyer and with no regard for the value that an objective buyer or seller would have set.

Amendment VI: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r-idmJTK3I Special Prosecutor Corey mad a systematic effort to contaminate the jury pool and eliminate impartiality among potential jurors in the Trayvon Martin - George Zimmerman circus, in which self-defense has been turned into a murder charge.

Amendment VII: In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

As far as I know, no current infringement . . . not yet!

http://www.policymic.com/articles/21680/hobby-lobby-lawsuit-how-a-company-is-cheating-its-employees-to-make-a-point Amendment VIII: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

(Sorry to re-use an example, but I’m not in the mood to search for the many other examples) Hobby Lobby . . . facing fines of up to $1.2 million a day over . . . the free exercise of religion. If that’s not “excessive fines”, I don’t know how anything could qualify.

Amendment IX: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Violated so systematically that examples are probably not needed. A substantial portion of what our federal government does infringes on the general rights that under the Ninth Amendment are retained by the people.

Amendment X: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

This is violated so systematically that examples are probably not needed. More than half of what our federal government does is outside the Enumerated Powers and thus a violation of the Tenth Amendment.

My sister and I had a debate when she was a teen of about 15 or 16. I am much older than she and she was just beside herself that I could not understand how good socialism is. Now, she was an exceptional student. So, I explained it to her like this.

“In your class are some people like you who have excellent grades for which you have worked very hard.”

She agreed with pride.

I continued, “In your class are many people who have mediocre grades who have not worked very hard or who just are not mentally equipped for academic success.”

She agreed gravely and seemed concerned that some people just aren’t good students or aren’t quite as bright.

Finally, I said, “And there are some people in your classes who do not work hard, who do not care about their grades, and who just want to screw around while marking time in class.”

She agreed and it was obvious she considered these people to be a drain on her academic experience.

So, I offered a solution, “So, we are going to socialize your grades. All ‘A’ grades become ‘C’ grades. All ‘B’ grades become ‘C’ grades. We are going to spread around all those extra GPA points to the underachievers, so all ‘F’ grades become ‘C’ grades and all ‘D’ grades become ‘C’ grades.”

She was appalled and complained that she had worked so hard for her “A’ grades and how it was unfair. Those were her grades and I had no right to take from her GPA to give to people who were unwilling to even try.

I said, “Now you understand socialism.” And, indeed, she did. I continue to use this argument on young people.

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