The Federal Observer

My last two commentaries sure stirred up quite a ruckus. Those who responded unfavorably to what I said seem think that I am putting forth the call for all freedom loving Americans to take up arms against anyone we disagree with.

One of these individuals put forth a lot of effort to write a commentary about what I had said. He believed that there must be a plan, and we must have leaders who can outline the plan. He believed that our best course is to unite all true conservatives together under common leadership that will speak for the masses.

Another individual said that I am willing to take up arms over my personal disagreement over policy issues and that I should work within the system while a peaceful alternative remains available.

To both of these individuals, and to any who believe as they do, I would like for you to consider something Ronald Reagan once said, “To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping that he will eat you last- but eat you he will.”

Even Alexander Hamilton, who believed in a loose interpretation of the Constitution, had this to say, “If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no resource left but in the exertion of that original right of self-defense which is paramount to all positive forms of government…The citizens must rush tumultuously to arms, without concert, without system, without resource; except in their courage and despair.”

My argument with my government, and those who support it in its current state, has nothing to do with the general policy decisions made by the government. My argument lies in the fact that my government is trampling upon my rights.

I consider those who say they believe that our Constitution was written to protect our rights, yet are unwilling to stand up for them when they are infringed upon, as sideshow patriots. In most cases they talk the talk, but are unwilling to put their money where their mouth is.

It seems there is a great deal of misunderstanding as to what constitutes rights, and whether or not the government has infringed upon them. James Madison is quoted as saying, “The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.”

Madison did not say that Government was instituted to provide services for the people, only that it was instituted to protect our rights.

Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution clearly define what powers we gave to our government. Amongst those powers it is not mentioned once that the government has the power, nor authority to instituted programs to benefit the people.

While many claim that the Constitution grants our government these powers by way of the General Welfare Clause, let me remind you of what Thomas Jefferson had to say about that, “Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated.”

James Madison went into much greater detail, in fact it seems as though he foresaw our government as it exists today, “If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the sole and supreme judges of the general welfare, they may take the care of religion into their own hands; they may appoint teachers in every State, county and parish and pay them out of their public treasury; they may take into their own hands the education of children, establishing in like manner schools throughout the Union; they may assume the provision of the poor; they may undertake the regulation of all roads other than post-roads; in short, every thing, from the highest object of state legislation down to the most minute object of police, would be thrown under the power of Congress… Were the power of Congress to be established in the latitude contended for, it would subvert the very foundations, and transmute the very nature of the limited Government established by the people of America.”

Why do I repeatedly go over this point? Because any time our government takes on step outside the powers granted it by the Constitution, particularly when it comes to instituting programs to benefit the masses, it is violating my rights.

For far too long it has been believed that the only rights we as a people held where those contained in the Bill of Rights. That is one of the reasons a Bill of Rights was argued against. As stated in Federalist No. 84, “I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and to the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers not granted; and on this very account, would afford a colorable pretext to claim more than were granted. For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do? “

Thomas Jefferson once said, “To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.”

Jefferson also told us that, “A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned — this is the sum of good government.”

Read that again, particularly the part where it says ‘…shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned.’

So, if you tie these concepts together, what do you come up with? First, our government had limited power and authority. Secondly, our rights were numerous, going much further than what were mentioned in the Bill of Rights. Lastly, that when our government taxed us to instituted programs to benefit the people it was sinful, tyrannical, and a violation of our right to enjoy the fruits of our own labor, is it not clear that our government has been trampling upon our rights for many years now?

Our government is currently considering legislation which would grant them power and authority over the health care industry in this country. Those of us who are protesting this legislation, according to Senior Advisor to the President, David Axelrod, are wrong because we are a minority.

That may be true, we may in fact be a minority, but as Thomas Paine once said, “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.” In other words, just because the majority of the people in this country think it is perfectly fine for our government to do this, it still does not alter the fact that it is illegal for them to do so.

From the 4th Annals of Congress, 1794, James Madison is quoted as saying, “I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.”

Our government was created to protect our rights, not to trample upon them. Yet former President Clinton clearly stated the general belief held by those who have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, “If the personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution inhibit the government’s ability to govern the people, we should look to limit those guarantees.” 12 Aug 1993

In other words, if our rights get in their way, they mean to take them away from us. Patrick Henry warned us to “Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force.”

Thomas Jefferson told us that, “The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

John Adams told us that, “The right of a nation to kill a tyrant in case of necessity can no more be doubted than to hang a robber, or kill a flea.”

Yet there are those who still seek to seek justice by working within a system that has been corrupted. They hold on to the belief that by uniting conservatives together, we can return our nation to government according to the Constitution.

These are the people Samuel Adams spoke of when he said, “But there are some persons, who would, if they possibly could, perswade the people to never make use of their constitutional rights or terrify them from doing it.”

All you have to do to see if your rights have been infringed upon is to open up the Constitution to Article 1, Section 8. Read those specifically enumerated powers. Then think about all the taxes that our government takes from you to fund all the agencies, and programs that ARE NOT mentioned in those powers. Then you will have your answer.

The question you need to ask yourself is, how much longer are you going to tolerate these infringements upon your rights? But then again, maybe you don’t care, or maybe the cost is too high for you to consider. I just thank God that our nation’s founders had more courage, and felt stronger about the preservation of their liberty than you do.

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?“

~ The Author ~
Neal Ross can be reached for comments at bonsai@syix.com. Visit Neal’s Blog at http://www.zombie-slayer.com/neal

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This entry was posted by The Publisher on Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 at 11:58 PM and is filed under • Book of Ross. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.