by Walter E. Williams
If there is anything good to say about Democrat control of the White House, Senate and House of Representatives, it’s that their extraordinarily brazen, heavy-handed acts have aroused a level of constitutional interest among the American people that has been dormant for far too long.
Part of this heightened interest is seen in the strength of the tea party movement around the nation. Another is the angry reception that many congressmen received at their district town hall meetings. Yet another is seen by the exchanges on the nation’s most popular radio talk shows such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and others. Then there’s the rising popularity of conservative/libertarian television shows such as Glenn Beck, John Stossel and Fox News.
While the odds on favorite is that the Republicans will do well in the fall elections, Americans who want constitutional government should not see Republican control as a solution to what our founders would have called “a long train of abuses and usurpations.” Solutions to our nation’s problems require correct diagnostics and answers to questions like: Why did 2008 presidential and congressional candidates spend over $5 billion campaigning for office? Why did special interests pay Washington lobbyists over $3 billion that same year?
What are reasons why corporations, unions and other interest groups fork over these billions of dollars to lobbyists and into the campaign coffers of politicians?
One might say that these groups are simply extraordinarily civic-minded Americans who have a deep and abiding interest in elected officials living up to their oath of office to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution. Another response is these politicians, and the people who spend billions of dollars on them, just love participating in the political process. If you believe either of these explanations, you’re probably a candidate for some medicine, a straitjacket and a padded cell.
A far better explanation for the billions going to the campaign coffers of Washington politicians and lobbyist lies in the awesome government power and control over business, property, employment and other areas of our lives. Having such power, Washington politicians are in the position to grant favors and commit acts that if committed by a private person would land him in jail.
Here’s one among thousands of examples: Incandescent light bulbs are far more convenient and less expensive than compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) that General Electric now produces. So how can General Electric sell its costly CFLs?
They know that Congress has the power to outlaw incandescent light bulbs. General Electric was the prominent lobbyist for outlawing incandescent light bulbs and in 2008 had a $20 million lobbying budget. Also, it should come as no surprise that General Electric is a contributor to global warmers who help convince Congress that incandescent bulbs were destroying the planet.
The greater Congress’ ability to grant favors and take one American’s earnings to give to another American, the greater the value of influencing congressional decision-making. There’s no better influence than money. The generic favor sought is to get Congress, under one ruse or another, to grant a privilege or right to one group of Americans that will be denied another group of Americans.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi covering up for a corrupt Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Charles Rangel, said that while his behavior “was a violation of the rules of the House. It was not something that jeopardized our country in any way.” Pelosi is right in minimizing Rangel’s corruption. It pales in comparison, in terms of harm to our nation, to the legalized corruption that’s a part of Washington’s daily dealing.
Hopefully, our nation’s constitutional reawaking will begin to deliver us from the precipice. There is no constitutional authority for two-thirds to three-quarters of what Congress does.
Our constitution’s father, James Madison, explained, “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined … (to be) exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce.”
Walter E. Williams is the John M. Olin distinguished professor of economics at George Mason University, and a nationally syndicated columnist.
Copyright © 2010 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
Love Walter E Williams! Dead on as usual!!!
We can only hope so. I think we all need to realize what exactly is going on here.
We, as a country, have been fat and happy for so long that we have forgotten why our country was framed the way it was framed. Anyone against big government and say "That's the way the founders wanted it!" but that argument doesn't hold in a PC kind of world. The first thing you'll get back is, "They also wanted slaves" or "That's too old fashioned, this is a new world", or similar type comments. We need to get to the definitions and examples of WHY capitalism and freedom are great. We need less emphasis on who has supported them in the past. Give examples or what capitalism has done in the past. Give examples of how absolute freedom has made people better and societies better and helped the poor and everything else.
The reality is, we're in an ideological war. The end goal is to achieve the best government available. Most of the people reading this see that as, the end goal is to be the freest possible. But our fellow citizens don't exactly see it this way. Entirely too many of them accept the patriot act to feel safe. Entirely too many of them accept the 16th amendment so they have a government pillow to fall on if life is ever unfair. Entirely too many of them are happy with not rocking the boat as to not have to accept a different direction than what "our fearless leaders" are taking to. But the fight is on.
An awakening would be a wonderful thing. But we need to fight the perpetual war of ideas and do that to enlighten the VOTING MAJORITY.
This is an important read and I can only hope his optimism is accurate. We MUST look backwards to the Founders in order to see our way forward out of the mess we're in.
Absolutely, Mark – right on as usual! I was glad to see Walter's optimism in this column as well. I do believe that more and more people every day are looking to learn about the real meaning of the constitution – and other wisdom from the founding. The key, of course, will be to make that sustained for the long-term.
I've been reading and rereading the constitution and realize that it doesn't make sense unless you look at it as a natural law and federalist document. Then it begins to fall into place.
I also believe this is a reawakening, but not just pertaining to the constitution. When we look at another person, they inspire us by exemplifying the traits and principles we know are right and good and so strive to be like them. In other times we look at an individual and they inspire us by exemplifying traits and twisted morals so much so that we basically know we must not be like that, that we must be better. I speak to people and it's not just the constitution that seems to be in the hearts and minds of Americans again but the need to live a better and more principled life. Many have began reading the constitution and history more thoroughly and have had their eyes opened. We read about the framers and look at this administration and we are inspired by them both. One we strive to be like in almost every way, the other gives us a clear picture of what we do not want to be. I myself have felt an awakening of principle. I have been reading history and the constitution. I watch and read about this administration and the corruption in our current system. I have to thank all of our founding fathers for what they gave us and for showing me the nature of the person I wish to be, but I also have to thank President Barack Obama and this administration for showing me the way I never wish to be.
interesting perspective, thanks for sharing!
I agree with what you have written here above with one exception. I thank the last several presidents for showing me the way NOT to be.
Barack doesn't have a monopoly on constitutional abuses by a long shot, the presidents club since at least Jimmy Carter have basically destroyed the document in the minds of most americans. I talk to so many people who think the constitution is outmoded, I believe we are outnumbered.
We need to educate the masses about liberty and the authority of our law of the land…
dead on
I only wish that people like Walter Williams would use and follow his own logic towards the Government itself, instead of using his logic to uphold a republican/right stance. While I see the use politically, I dont see the outcome being very good for the people in the long run.
Take taxes for instance, why not apply the same logic to his arguments on "ObamaCare"? Why should government dip into the pockets of Americans to pay for the newly proposed healthcare plan?- I agree, great question. Now…Why should government dip into the pockets of Americans to pay for the two-thirds to three-quarters of what Congress does? He said it himself that there is "no constitutional authority" for that either. Yet still millions of Americans are "legally" robbed every year in many more ways than one thanks to the unconstitutional income tax.
It is theft. Plain and simple. Just because it was "authorized" by a group of men that are mostly dead by now, and written on pieces of paper, doesnt make it right.
There is a great awakening toward understanding the Constitution, but there still those apathetic sheeple who say the Constitution has already been trashed. My feelings are those who violated their solemn oath to protect, defend and preserve the Constitution of the United States should be tried in court on treason charges. If convicted by a jury of their peers they should be hung at a public ceremony to humiliate those liars and cheats. This form of punishment would do more to insure honorable people wanting to fill the vacancies created. The founding Fathers left it up to the Creator to pass judgement but it is our duty in this faster society to see that judgement comes quicker.
jtdunap. Absolutely they should be tried for treason. They took an oath and have severely violated it.
A very clear distinction needs to be made as to who the constitutionalists truly are. I have been rudely reawakened to this lately. A true constitutionalist wants ALL of the document adhered to, as opposed to the current republican perspective of bits and pieces as it suits them. Under the current form of "conservatism", only small bits and pieces of the unConstitutional health care bill are being challenged. What should have happened from day one, was to refuse to even discuss the bill at all because it was unConstitutional in its entirety. However because our "conservative leadership", including the change agents on talk radio and fox steadfastly refused to do so, it was shamed through. When a true (pre 14th ammend.) Constitutionalist attempts to point out the way the Constitution clearly states how things are to run, they are dismissed and the Constitution is thrown under the bus. The Constitution in its entirety is NOT wanted by either of the banker parties because it stays their hand from the evil they are want to accomplish for their masters. Now the Tea party Express has been co-opted by some of the very people that blew their nose on the Constitution for so many years.
I too have always loved Walter Williams however, as time is so dreadfully short, I need to know how firm a stand he is going to take. … The Constitution cannot be maintained in a piecemeal fashion! It is an all or slavery proposition. Even the smallest infraction is of GRAVE concern! For if the smallest infraction is not agressively dealt with it does lead to the grave for the patriot and slavery for the cowardly and ignorant. We simply must stop just sticking our baby toe in the waters of the Constitution. Restitution of these States United requires that you be all in. C'mon in the water's fine!