power-to-the-people-webby Michael Boldin

For those of you who are regular TenthAmendmentCenter.com readers, activists, and the like, you know full-well that the Constitution doesn’t grant us our rights. Our rights are ours by our very nature, and liberty is best secured by strictly limiting government to specific functions…and nothing more.

That’s where the 10th Amendment comes in.

The 10th is what’s known in the legal world as a “rule of construction.” In short, it’s what tells us how to view the entire Constitution: that “We the People” of the several states created the federal government to be OUR agent for certain, enumerated purposes – and nothing more.

THE ESTABLISHMENT

But that’s not something you’re likely to hear from politicians in DC, political pundits, government-schools, or just about anywhere else. It’s generally not in their interest, either.

If politicians and their backers were promoting such crazy ideas as “originalism” and “limited government” they’d never be able to convince you that they have the power to tell you what kind of health care plan you’ll be getting, how big your toilet can be, what kind of plants you’re allowed to grow, where you’re allowed to exercise your “right” to free speech, whom you can buy and sell from, and even when you must send your children to die for them.

No matter what side of the political aisle you sit on, the federal government is not your friend. It’s not a friend to the Constitution, and it’s certainly no friend to your liberty. For years and years…and years, people have yelled “vote the bums out!” “Call Congress now!” “March on DC!” But, in the long run, little to none of this actually works. And the proof is all around us.

If you oppose this national health care plan, they’ll give you that one. If you oppose one war, you’ll get another one. If you oppose today’s bailout, they’ll find a different one tomorrow. Decade in and decade out, the government keeps growing, and your liberty keeps shrinking. And it doesn’t matter if the person in charge is named Obama, or Bush, or Reagan, or Clinton.

THE TRUTH

In the 3.5 years since the Tenth Amendment Center was created, more and more people are learning these simple truths – and they’re turning here to TAC for news, opinion, education and more – information they’re unable to get in the mainstream media. Every day more people are learning that liberty isn’t going to grow by electing a new batch of federal politicians, or running to federal courts for protection, or demanding (read: begging) federal politicians to respect the Constitution and your liberty.

Why? Because when politicians and bureaucrats have the ability, like they do today, to determine the scope and extent of their own power – their power will continue to grow – regardless of elections, the separation of powers, and other much-touted limits on government.

So the sad reality is this: The Constitution cannot – and never will – enforce itself. You have to.

TENTHERS: BRINGING IT HOME

Earlier this year we made it our goal to bring the 10th Amendment and the principle of nullification to the mainstream political discussion. And today, as 2009 closes, we “Tenthers” are making headlines day in and day out.

Already 7 states have passed resolutions reaffirming the principles of the Founders and Ratifiers, 20+ states have passed resolutions or laws refusing to comply with the 2005 Real ID Act, and 2 States have passed (and nearly 2 dozen others are considering) laws to nullify federal gun laws and regulations. On top of all these successes over the last few years, there’s more to come in 2010. 20+ states will be considering laws to nullify national health care, and others will be considering laws to resist DC on issues like “federalization” of the guard, Constitutional Tender, Cap and Trade, No Child Left Behind, the Patriot Act and more.

The founders and ratifiers gave us a brilliant system – one where the most difficult and most divisive issues would be kept close to home. They understood that when states and local communities take the lead on policy, the people are that much closer to the policymakers, and policymakers are that much more accountable to the people. Few Americans have spoken with their president; many have spoken with their mayor.

TAKING ACTION

Thomas Jefferson once wrote – “The several states composing the United States of America are not united on the principle of unlimited submission to their general government”

He and many leading founders advised us to look to state governments whenever 2 or more branches of the federal government were conspiring against the Constitution and your liberty.

We feel that time is now!

That’s why we recently launched our state and local coordinator program – to take action close to home – and we must have your help to make it the success that it needs to be.

In just a little over a month, we’ve launched 9 official state chapters of the Tenth Amendment Center – in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. In the coming week, we’ll be launching chapters in Indiana and Ohio as well.

But that’s just the beginning. Our plan is to have Tenthers positioned with TAC Chapters in every state, every county and every city possible – please join us in this effort!

Domestic policy, foreign policy and everything in between – there’s very little that the federal government does that’s actually authorized by the Constitution. To turn that around might seem like a pipe dream, but Goliath though he was pretty safe too, didn’t he?

The time for you to lead is now – this long struggle for liberty is as difficult as it is exciting and important. Great patriots – Jefferson, Paine, Warren, Adams – what would they give to be alive today, resisting tyranny!

Together we can do great things – today, and for the future. Please join us today!

Michael Boldin is the founder of the Tenth Amendment Center

Copyright © 2009 by TenthAmendmentCenter.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

Michael Boldin

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