Category: Constitution

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Commit Forty Minutes a Once a Week for 10 Weeks to Citizenship

A whole hour would be nice, but around 40 minutes a day would enable you to “attend” an online overview of the Constitution. Now that the University of Chicago Press has changed access to its online version of The Founders’ Constitution*, this opportunity–beginning Monday, February 20, 2012, could be a useful tool to sharpen citizens’ views of issues this election year.

Pass it around, would you?

BTW, here’s an introductory video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=du_GfHlqZXg

h.t. and a big “Thank you!” to Lady Diane for binging this to my attention.

*Use this link to access it now. I’ll update the link in my sidebar soon.

http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/tocs/toc.html

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ti·mo·crat·ic

There were some very, very sound reasons the Founders designed the Constitution to define a timocratic republic, and very,very sound reasons they eschewed mob rule (democracy).

And there are some very, very shrewd–and really stupid–reasons why our political masters have sold the sheeple a bill of goods concerning democracy.

Chew on those two thoughts for a while and get back to me, ‘K?

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“Protect and Defend… “

This video/painting by Jon McNaughton highlights an important issue that most of today’s politicians *spit*, the Mass MEdia Podpeople Hivemind, Academia Nut Fruitcakes and their ilk simply ignore or lie about: the effects of the rampant unconstitutionality pouring out on the country from that cesspool, Washington D.C.

I do have some major problems with the painting though. Lincoln’s apparent dismay at trampling the Constitution? *feh* His entire administration was the most egregious example of unconstitutional behavior of the 19th century, and forms the prime excuse for th hyper-centralization of power that corrupts the Founders’ federalism that we have today.

And Andrew Jackson’s apparent neutrality, as depicted in the painting? *gag* Recall, Jackson’s the guy who pushed for–and got!–the Great Sack and Pillage that resulted in the Trail of Tears, surely one of the darkest times for human rights in American history. Were I able to travel back in time, it’s a tossup which one of these tyrants I’d rather strangle in their cribs.

Fugetaboutit. I’d do both.

Still, the video/painting does raise an important issue for today… and points the finger straight at the most prominent proponent alive today of the complete and utter destruction of The Founders’ Constitution.

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Words I Wish “Feddle Gummint” Officials Lived By

All of ’em have to take this oath, but few, it seems, mean anything by it when they do.

I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

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Exit Strategy, Anyone?

From an article by Robert Rector at NRO Online, some reasons to start looking for an exit strategy from the so-called “War on Poverty”–

Today marks the 46th anniversary of the War on Poverty. On March 16, 1964, Pres. Lyndon Johnson announced a new government mobilization that he claimed would yield “total victory” against poverty in the United States. Johnson promised his “war” would be an “investment” that would “return its cost manifold to the entire economy.”

…Since the beginning of the War on Poverty, government has spent $16.7 trillion (in inflation-adjusted 2008 dollars) on means-tested welfare. In comparison, all the military wars in U.S. history have cost a total of $6.4 trillion (also in inflation-adjusted 2008 dollars)…

…The original goal of the War on Poverty — to reduce both poverty and dependence on government — has been abandoned and forgotten. While occasional lip service is sometimes still paid to reducing government dependence, ironically, this concept almost always appears as a justification for new government spending…

It’s be nice if one were allowed to make a principled argument against “feddle gummint” so-called “welfare” spending (really not-so-charitable “charity” giving by the feds of other people’s money to folks who’ve neither earned it nor, often nowadays, care to.)

Next, might I humbly suggest also looking for an exit strategy from the perennial loser “War on Drugs”–so-called in 1969 by R.M. Nixon. (Of course, as anyone with more active brain cells than a head of cabbage might note, if it took a Constitutional Amendment–now repealed–to outlaw the manufacture and distribution of just ONE mind-altering substance by the feds, what Constitutional authority underpins the “War on Drugs”?)

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“Information is the second most deadly weapon known to man”

And that is the reason so many in Congress want to keep the electorate fat, dumb and thus happy. Of course, as so many are being required to tighten their belts because, of the stupid, venal and corrupt practices of our beloved congresscritters *spit*, “fat” and “happy” don’t seem to be long for the world with a growing number of citizens. “Dumb” is another problem. *sigh* Have to really work on that one with one-on-one and in mass education efforts to combat the Mass MEdia Podpeople Hivemind, the long-term results of “prisons for kids” (A.K.A. “public schools”), in the lies that “fat, dumb and happy” citizens wannabe self-enstupiated serfs have swallowed so eagerly for so long.

But congresscritters working like turks to erradicate “fat” and “happy” could very well–hopefully–lead to the Number One Deadly Weapon Known to Man being pulled on our beloved congresscritters: surprise. At the polls, of course. Let’s concentrate on keeping the nomenklatura in Congress “fat, dumb and happy”… until the hammer falls.

That doesn’t mean not raising a stink at their refusals to keep their oaths to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…” and to ” …bear true faith and allegiance to the same”. No, but it’d be a Good Thing if organizing at the local level to get informed patriots (and efforts to fully inform folks about just how blatantly our congresscritters are, urm, “spitting” on the Constitution MUST be an integral part of organizing locally) to the polls next November caught them with their pants around their ankles, so they could get a return shafting (with a rusty hammer, as it were) for the shafting they’ve been given us as a nice lil surprise.

Surprise! Surprise!

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Oh. Wow. Will the Idiocy Never Cease?

Anti-“blasphemy” regs trump the First Amendment. What part of “shall make no law” is unclear to The 0!? Just more “Sit down and shut up” from The 0!’s White House.

While attracting surprisingly little attention, the Obama administration supported the effort of largely Muslim nations in the U.N. Human Rights Council to recognize exceptions to free speech for any “negative racial and religious stereotyping.” The exception was made as part of a resolution supporting free speech that passed this month, but it is the exception, not the rule that worries civil libertarians. Though the resolution was passed unanimously, European and developing countries made it clear that they remain at odds on the issue of protecting religions from criticism. It is viewed as a transparent bid to appeal to the “Muslim street” and our Arab allies, with the administration seeking greater coexistence through the curtailment of objectionable speech. Though it has no direct enforcement (and is weaker than earlier versions), it is still viewed as a victory for those who sought to juxtapose and balance the rights of speech and religion.

Hmmm, if The 0! is serious about pushing this, expect an effective nullification coming here in the U.S. of

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.

Coming soon to a court room near you:

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Differing Point of View

The Founders viewed government as a necessary evil that needed to be hedged and curbed with great barriers to restrain its encroachment into the liberties of the People. Our current “feddle gummint” views the liberties of the People as a great danger to be hedged and curbed with great barriers to restrain the People’s encroachment into its power.

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I’ll Take “U.S. Constitution” for $1,000, Alex

Answer:

“It’s all different now.” (Newt Gingrich, when he was Speaker of the House)

Question:

Since it took an Amendment to the Constitution (Amendment 18, now repealed) to give Congress the power to outlaw one mind-altering substance, alcohol, which Article or Amendment gives Congress the authority to outlaw any drug whatever?

I submit to you that Newt Gingrich’s answer to the question Jerry Pournelle posed (paraphrased above) is both unpersuasive and an example of just how far from the rule of law our “feddle gummint” masters have strayed.