If you have ever set forth in a book store, you are bound to have seen them, row upon row of these books for Idiots and Dummies. There are books for understanding computer programs, personal finances, income tax preparation, and a whole slew of other topics designed to ease you through the subject of your choice. There is even a book entitled Constitution for Dummies which is supposed to help you in your understanding of our nation’s Constitution.

I don’t know how effective those books would be at explaining the intricacies of our Constitution, but somebody needs to do something to explain to the people of this country the function of their government…that is if it isn’t already too late.

Our nation didn’t just pop up out of nowhere, we were once subjects of the English Crown. Numerous laws, acts, and taxes were imposed upon the colonists and were enforced by subjects loyal to the Crown, or by the Kings Army who were stationed here to maintain order.

On many occasions the colonists petitioned the King, voicing their grievances, only to have their petitions fall upon deaf ears. When the burden of these laws, and taxes became so grievous, and the Kings Army decided to disarm the colonists at Lexington and Concord, that war broke out between those who valued their liberty and those who wished to continue to oppress the colonists.

Not everyone was supportive of the war, some sided with the Crown, while others remained neutral. Yet eventually the colonists were successful in gaining their independence and a new nation was born.

For the first time in history, a nation born out of a struggle for independence would be able to create their own system of government aimed at safeguarding those liberties which were paid for with the price of the blood of their patriot brethren.

Their first attempt failed in that it was endowed with too few powers to manage the affairs of this new nation. So a gathering of men came together, and over the course of the summer of 1787 drafted our nation’s Constitution. In less than six-thousand words, these men had written a document which breathed life into our system of government.

At the end of the Convention, Ben Franklin had the following read to the delegates assembled, “In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does…”

With the document written, it then fell upon the people of this country to either accept, or reject the plan. In Federalist 2, John Jay wrote, “WHEN the people of America reflect that they are now called upon to decide a question, which, in its consequences, must prove one of the most important that ever engaged their attention, the propriety of their taking a very comprehensive, as well as a very serious, view of it, will be evident.”

We, and by we I mean generations of Americans, have dishonored the sacrifices which made it possible to live in a nation whose government was designed to safeguard our liberty. We have failed in the simple task of understanding how our system of government was set up, and the limits imposed upon it. We have taken for granted the fact that it exists, and that it can, and will, enact laws regarding matters which are not to be found among the powers specifically granted them by the Constitution. We whimper, whine, and complain about the abuses of powers by our government, but we continue to let them pass more laws which only serve to make matters worse, while limiting our freedom.

If people would only take the time to understand how their system of government was designed to operated, then they would see that GOVERNMENT IS THE PROBLEM, NOT THE SOLUTION.

Prior to the original 13 states accepting the Constitution, 3 men, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, wrote their own version of Constitution for Dummies entitled the Federalist Papers. They were written to go through the proposed Constitution with a fine tooth comb and alleviate any fears the people may have had about an all-powerful government which would strip the states, and them of their newly gained liberty.

In Federalist 84, Alexander Hamilton said, “The truth is, after all the declamations we have heard, that the Constitution is itself, in every rational sense, and to every useful purpose, A BILL OF RIGHTS… And the proposed Constitution, if adopted, will be the bill of rights of the Union.”

Our government was designed to be a delicate balance of power, distributed between the government as an individual entity, the members of the House who would be representatives of the people, and the Senate who would represent the states themselves. To tinker with the structure of our government would be to grant one branch more power than it was envisioned they have. To allow one branch to exceed the powers given it would lead to tyranny and despotism.

In Federalist 47, James Madison defined tyranny for us by saying, “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”

In Federalist 48, in regards to ensuring that no one branch would overstep its authority, Madison wrote, “What this security ought to be, is the great problem to be solved. Will it be sufficient to mark, with precision, the boundaries of these departments, in the constitution of the government, and to trust to these parchment barriers against the encroaching spirit of power?”

So, instead of boring you with my thoughts, I intend to provide you with a few chosen quotes taken from the Federalist Papers. After all, it was the original Dummies Guide to the Constitution. Hopefully I will cause some people to question the actions of their government. If I can do that, I will have achieved my goal. So, without further ado, I present you the Federalists…

“But the safety of the people of America against dangers from foreign force depends not only on their forbearing to give just causes of war to other nations, but also on their placing and continuing themselves in such a situation as not to invite hostility or insult; for it need not be observed that there are pretended as well as just causes of war.

It is too true, however disgraceful it may be to human nature, that nations in general will make war whenever they have a prospect of getting anything by it; nay, absolute monarchs will often make war when their nations are to get nothing by it, but for the purposes and objects merely personal, such as thirst for military glory, revenge for personal affronts, ambition, or private compacts to aggrandize or support their particular families or partisans. These and a variety of other motives, which affect only the mind of the sovereign, often lead him to engage in wars not sanctified by justice or the voice and interests of his people. But, independent of these inducements to war, which are more prevalent in absolute monarchies, but which well deserve our attention, there are others which affect nations as often as kings; and some of them will on examination be found to grow out of our relative situation and circumstances.” – Federalist 4, John Jay

“Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. Even the ardent love of liberty will, after a time, give way to its dictates. The violent destruction of life and property incident to war, the continual effort and alarm attendant on a state of continual danger, will compel nations the most attached to liberty to resort for repose and security to institutions which have a tendency to destroy their civil and political rights. To be more safe, they at length become willing to run the risk of being less free.” Federalist 8, Alexander Hamilton

“By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community..Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.” - Federalist 10, James Madison

“In the first place it is to be remembered that the general government is not to be charged with the whole power of making and administering laws. Its jurisdiction is limited to certain enumerated objects, which concern all the members of the republic, but which are not to be attained by the separate provisions of any. The subordinate governments, which can extend their care to all those other subjects which can be separately provided for, will retain their due authority and activity.” – Federalist 14, James Madison

“This inquiry will naturally divide itself into three branches the objects to be provided for by the federal government, the quantity of power necessary to the accomplishment of those objects, the persons upon whom that power ought to operate. Its distribution and organization will more properly claim our attention under the succeeding head.” – Federalist 23, Alexander Hamilton

“IT WAS a thing hardly to be expected that in a popular revolution the minds of men should stop at that happy mean which marks the salutary boundary between POWER and PRIVILEGE, and combines the energy of government with the security of private rights. A failure in this delicate and important point is the great source of the inconveniences we experience, and if we are not cautious to avoid a repetition of the error, in our future attempts to rectify and ameliorate our system, we may travel from one chimerical project to another; we may try change after change; but we shall never be likely to make any material change for the better.” – Federalist 26, Alexander Hamilton

“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, and which against the usurpations of the national rulers, may be exerted with infinitely better prospect of success than against those of the rulers of an individual state.” – Federalist 28, Alexander Hamilton

(In regards to taxing for the general welfare clause)
“But what color can the objection have, when a specification of the objects alluded to by these general terms immediately follows, and is not even separated by a longer pause than a semicolon? If the different parts of the same instrument ought to be so expounded, as to give meaning to every part which will bear it, shall one part of the same sentence be excluded altogether from a share in the meaning; and shall the more doubtful and indefinite terms be retained in their full extent, and the clear and precise expressions be denied any signification whatsoever? For what purpose could the enumeration of particular powers be inserted, if these and all others were meant to be included in the preceding general power? Nothing is more natural nor common than first to use a general phrase, and then to explain and qualify it by a recital of particulars.” – Federalist 41, James Madison

“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State.” – Federalist 45, James Madison

“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” – Federalist 51, James Madison

“It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers, but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part. Different interests necessarily exist in different classes of citizens. If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure.

Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.” – Federalist 51, James Madison

“It is equally unnecessary to dilate on the appointment of senators by the State legislatures. Among the various modes which might have been devised for constituting this branch of the government, that which has been proposed by the convention is probably the most congenial with the public opinion. It is recommended by the double advantage of favoring a select appointment, and of giving to the State governments such an agency in the formation of the federal government as must secure the authority of the former, and may form a convenient link between the two systems…Another advantage accruing from this ingredient in the constitution of the Senate is, the additional impediment it must prove against improper acts of legislation. No law or resolution can now be passed without the concurrence, first, of a majority of the people, and then, of a majority of the States.” – Federalist 62, James Madison

“The President of the United States would be an officer elected by the people for FOUR years; the king of Great Britain is a perpetual and HEREDITARY prince. The one would be amenable to personal punishment and disgrace; the person of the other is sacred and inviolable. The one would have a QUALIFIED negative upon the acts of the legislative body; the other has an ABSOLUTE negative. The one would have a right to command the military and naval forces of the nation; the other, in addition to this right, possesses that of DECLARING war, and of RAISING and REGULATING fleets and armies by his own authority. The one would have a concurrent power with a branch of the legislature in the formation of treaties; the other is the SOLE POSSESSOR of the power of making treaties. The one would have a like concurrent authority in appointing to offices; the other is the sole author of all appointments. The one can confer no privileges whatever; the other can make denizens of aliens, noblemen of commoners; can erect corporations with all the rights incident to corporate bodies. The one can prescribe no rules concerning the commerce or currency of the nation; the other is in several respects the arbiter of commerce, and in this capacity can establish markets and fairs, can regulate weights and measures, can lay embargoes for a limited time, can coin money, can authorize or prohibit the circulation of foreign coin. The one has no particle of spiritual jurisdiction; the other is the supreme head and governor of the national church! What answer shall we give to those who would persuade us that things so unlike resemble each other? The same that ought to be given to those who tell us that a government, the whole power of which would be in the hands of the elective and periodical servants of the people, is an aristocracy, a monarchy, and a despotism.” – Federalist 69, Alexander Hamilton

“There is no position which depends on clearer principles, than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid. To deny this, would be to affirm, that the deputy is greater than his principal; that the servant is above his master; that the representatives of the people are superior to the people themselves; that men acting by virtue of powers, may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid…It is not otherwise to be supposed, that the Constitution could intend to enable the representatives of the people to substitute their WILL to that of their constituents. It is far more rational to suppose, that the courts were designed to be an intermediate body between the people and the legislature, in order, among other things, to keep the latter within the limits assigned to their authority. The interpretation of the laws is the proper and peculiar province of the courts. A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law…Nor does this conclusion by any means suppose a superiority of the judicial to the legislative power. It only supposes that the power of the people is superior to both; and that where the will of the legislature, declared in its statutes, stands in opposition to that of the people, declared in the Constitution, the judges ought to be governed by the latter rather than the former. They ought to regulate their decisions by the fundamental laws, rather than by those which are not fundamental.” – Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton

“The truth is, after all the declamations we have heard, that the Constitution is itself, in every rational sense, and to every useful purpose, A BILL OF RIGHTS… And the proposed Constitution, if adopted, will be the bill of rights of the Union. Is it one object of a bill of rights to declare and specify the political privileges of the citizens in the structure and administration of the government? This is done in the most ample and precise manner in the plan of the convention; comprehending various precautions for the public security, which are not to be found in any of the State constitutions.” – Federalist 84 Alexander Hamilton

I know this was rather long, and contains a lot of material to digest, but there are 85 Federalist Papers, each of which contains valuable information if you are to understand how our Constitution was supposed to govern the actions of our government.

My point in writing this is to prove without a doubt that our government no longer exists as it was intended. It has assumed powers it was never intended they assume; it has deprived us of rights it was intended to protect; and it has decided that it alone is the sole decider of its power and authority.

Yet people wonder why I get so mad, so stressed out over all this. Were Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams alive today, they would either have started another revolution, or been hung for spreading treasonous propaganda against their government. I also hope, that wherever those men are, they are looking down upon my efforts with approval, because I don’t honestly give a rats ass what the people of this country today think about me, as it is their ignorance and apathy that allow our government to continue to abuse its power and restrict my rights. And for that, I have just about the same amount of respect for them as I do for those traitors in Washington D.C. who deserve to be hung – NADA!

June 12, 2011

~ The Author ~
Neal Ross can be reached for comments at bonsai@syix.com.

If you wish to comment, please go to Neal’s blog so that others may partake of your wit and your wisdom as well…http://www.zombie-slayer.com/neal/ http://www.zombie-slayer.com/neal