[B. A. Conservative]

Freepers,

I am right about this. I have forgotten the origin of this parable and the precise details, but it has great wisdom in regard to the current political environment.

There are a significant number in any society who routinely have the power to put others to death. There is normally only one who can spare those already sentenced to death by others. The ability to withhold death from someone sentenced to die is real power.

By itself, or even in multitudes, our vote is of limited power. The source of the power that we need to change the course of history and the course of our government lies in the power to withhold our vote, not in casting it for Republicans advocating the status quo.

[B. A. Conservative]

As you contemplate today's historic occassion and listen to the many ringing reports on freedom and its benefits, listen carefully to the doubt and how often you hear the word "still" or some other qualifying adjective that carries the implication that some measure of our freedoms no longer exists. Everyone knows we have lost some measure of our freedoms, but no one seems to know how much, where it went, whether it can be recovered, or whether the loss of freedom is ongoing and irreversible. The frustration evident in their voices while relishing the fact that we are "still" the freest people on earth, betrays the confidence in their statements and should flag for those with a questioning mind to do a searching review of the present state of our nation.

If this were the financial world dear reader, this would be followed by a comment regarding do your own due diligence determination. And this would be followed by a disclaimer, "Warning past history or prior performance is no guarantee of future returns." And this is the price of throwing away the United States Constitution. Preserving the sanctity of the Constitution was as close to a guarantee of freedom as you are ever going to encounter. Have americans (small "a" intended) thrown away the promise of We the People for the empty promises of politicians? What is the value of the politician's promises for Social Security and the Social Security Trust Fund, public education, eradication of poverty, and the eradication of drug use? Can anyone actually name and back up with facts, a single government program that actually works as intended and that we can all share in the pride of accomplishment as opposed to feeble attempts to justify?

Three quick questions:

1. Do you personally (or we as a nation) enjoy more or less freedom than ten years ago? Thirty years ago? Fifty years ago?
2. Is your loss of freedom reversible?
3. Is it worth the effort to you personally to attempt the recovery of the freedom you have lost?
4. Is there any other mechanism besides the one I have proposed that offers a "real" chance to recover your (our) lost freedom?
5. Is the alternative equal to or better than the one I am proposing?

[Twodees]

Good thoughts, but why hang your hopes on the GOP? They have proven that they aren't going to do more than pretend to be conservative, no matter what electoral gains they make by running on conservative issues.

It struck me as odd that you would ask if any of us believe that the democrats could be made a conservative party. You should be wondering whether the republican party can be made conservative. The years since Reagan have pretty well shown that the GOP can be dressed up in conservative clothes but can't be made to do more than play dress up.

I think we're going to have to scrap both parties. Together, both total fewer than a million in actual membership anyway. Most voters don't belong to either party. Looking at what the parties have delivered it's incredible that anyone belongs to either of them at all anymore.

[Eagle Eye]

Some great thoughts, good work.

I'd appreciate scraping federal gun control laws along with scrapping the income tax.

Did you mention a provision that would require citing specific Constitutional authority for any new legislative attack act on for the American people?

[sam_paine]

Sunset/Reauthorization Clause is Useless!!

Just like continuing resolutions for spending are done now, congress would merely rubberstamp previous laws at the beginning of each session... Something like the "Congressional Omnibus Reauthorization Procedural Security Exercise...CORPSE"

I have thought about this as the most serious flaw in the Constitution...law creep.

What is needed is a graduated reauthorization procedure. This is where each law requires an increasing majority over time to reauthorize it. New ideas require a mere majority 51%. After for years, 2/3. After 8 years 3/4. 12 years 4/5.

If a law/program is good, it should have no trouble garnering unanimous consent over time. Meanwhile, Congress will be forced to spend most of its time lobbying and voting on maintaining current laws rather then passing and spending on new business.

Just a thought.