Last week, Boston Bruin’s goalie Tim Thomas declined an offer to visit the White House and shared these thoughts regarding his motivation:
“I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People. This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government. Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL. “
This individual choice explained in terms of liberty and freedom is bold; and highlights the message of a large set of Americans with significant and very real disappointment with leaders of both parties. In addition, these words express a genuine frustration with the tools available to the people to protect fundamental rights.
I believe a sentiment common to many American citizens can be boiled down to: The Constitution no longer seems to protect individual liberties from corrupt politicians. Why?
The answer lies, in part, on an over-reliance on the Separation of Powers as a check on government; while other power decentralizing components of the Constitution are simply ignored.
Thomas Jefferson expressed the importance of binding the hands of the central government directly:
“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so they will not become the legalized version of the first.”
Is it possible that these chains on federal power have been relaxed to a point that the beast of corrupt government has been set free to roam? Is it possible our comforting Separation of Powers has been abused to the point of failure?
A general school textbook would outline the branches of government as executive, legislative and judiciary. This places different governmental powers into various branches designed to provide a level of power sharing within a governmental body. This “top-level only” model can break down fundamentally when the goals of the various bodies of government become aligned against the interests of those to be governed.
As an example, let’s consider the recently passed NDAA legislation. This legislation provides a relevant and timely example because it includes undeniably unconstitutional provisions that provide powers to the federal government that are aligned against the citizens. In effect, the legislation allows the federal government to indefinitely detain U.S citizens without trial, a blatant attack on the Fifth Amendment.
How has the separation of power protected the people in this instance? Well, it hasn’t, the bill passed the senate with 93 Senators voting for it, sailed through the house and then was signed immediately by the President. In his signing statement, the President acknowledged the “detention without trial” provisions, indicating that he would never use them. While this statement might sound comforting, it shouldn’t; it clearly proclaimed that the executive branch did indeed have this new power, and it could indefinitely detain citizens at the President’s sole discretion.
The legislative and executive branch, even though they are separate bodies, have failed to provide the check on power necessary to remove these unpopular, unconstitutional and outright dangerous components of the NDAA legislation.
What might happen in the future with the judicial branch? There is now a law on the books in direct opposition to the limitation set forth by the Fifth Amendment. For the immediate future, the executive branch is authorized to detain citizens in ways previously and specifically denied by the Constitution. Regardless of any decision the judicial branch makes in the future, this is the reality for some years. Even if the Supreme Court ultimately gets this right, U.S. citizens will have been exposed to many years, possibly a decade, without a fundamental right to trial. During this time, the President will be free to detain individual citizens for whatever reason, effectively stealing years of their life.
Of course, there is no reason to assume that the Supreme Court will eventually rule this legislation unconstitutional. In practice, leaving the interpretation of a fundamental right in the hands of 9 politically-appointed judges is risky. Jefferson warned:
“… .To consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions is a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy. Our judges are as honest as other men and not more so. They have with others the same passions for party, for power, and the privilege of their corps… and their power is more dangerous as they are in office for life and not responsible, as the other functionaries are, to the elective control. The Constitution has erected no such tribunal, knowing that to whatever hands confided, with the corruption of time and party, its members would become despots….”
Clearly, Separation of Powers, although significant, is not the complete framework that our founder’s envisioned for the protection of liberties. In fact, possibly more important than the check on power *within* the federal government, provided by the Separation of Powers; is the check on power *of* the federal government, provided by the various state governments.
State Governments check Federal Power
The United States Constitution gives significant power to the individual state governments. States are not mere provinces set up to take orders from a central authority in Washington DC and execute these orders regionally. States are afforded sovereign powers of their own. In Federalist #45, the powers assigned to the individual states were summarized by 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.”
As sovereign entities with their own executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government; states are free to govern without federal influence within the confines of their own state constitutions. In addition to the domestic powers outlined by Madison, states assumed the responsibility to actively limit central government’s natural desire to grow beyond the enumerated powers of the Constitution.In Federalist #28, Alexander Hamilton spoke concisely of the state’s duty to provide a check on the power of a growing central government:
“…the State governments will, in all possible contingencies, afford complete security against invasions of the public liberty by the national authority.”
When the federal government signs unconstitutional legislation into law, a more timely solution is required than the slow-moving and centralized federal judicial branch. This is especially true for unconstitutional laws that deny any citizen a basic right. State nullification of these laws is the proper course. States naturally pose an impediment to centralized power, and this competition between the central government and the state government is the key to preserving liberty in such a culturally diverse and regionally large country as the United States.
Interestingly, the recent NDAA legislation shares commonality with the historic Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798; in that both laws attempt to circumvent clear Constitutional rights through standard legislation. In 1798, as a response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, Jefferson and Madison, drafted resolutions outlining the proper course states should take when the central government assumes powers outside the powers specifically granted by the Constitution. Jefferson wrote:
“Resolved, That the several States composing the United States of America, are not united on the principle of unlimited submission to their General Government . . . . and that whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force. . . . that the government created by this compact [the Constitution for the United States] was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the powers delegated to itself; since that would have made its discretion, and not the Constitution, the measure of its powers; . . . . that this would be to surrender the form of government we have chosen, and live under one deriving its powers from its own will, and not from our authority; . . . and that the co-States, recurring to their natural right in cases not made federal, will concur in declaring these acts void, and of no force, and will each take measures of its own for providing that neither these acts, nor any others of the General Government not plainly and intentionally authorised by the Constitution, shall be exercised within their respective territories.”
In effect, Jefferson believed that states should reject, or nullify, unconstitutional federal laws through state legislative declaration; and deny federal authority of enforcement within their state boundaries.
State Nullification of NDAA
Become a member and support the TAC!
The NDAA legislation that was signed by President Obama on New Year’s eve. Already, Virginia has introduced and passed out of committee legislation targeting the “indefinite detention” components of NDAA. More on this bill can be found here: http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2012/01/nullify-the-ndaa-virginia-house-bill-1660/.
In addition, sources close to Tenth Amendment Center (TAC) expect up to ten more states to introduce similar legislation in the near-term. State legislators close to TAC has expressed sentiments strongly against the NDAA.
The Tenth Amendment Center recently released a suggested plan for state legislators seeking to nullify the NDAA in their state. You can help by forwarding this information to your state representative. More about the NDAA: Liberty Preservation Act is available here: http://tenthamendmentcenter.com/legislation/liberty-preservation-act/
@RonPaul_2012 http://t.co/pJLCtcu6 #wikileaks #OpAssange
CALL TO ACTION! Help UNDO NDAA by Petitioning your State Supreme Court for a Protective Writ of Habeus Corpus like this one:
http://occupywallst.org/forum/petition-to-supreme-court-of-alaska-to-block-ndaa-/
You do not have to be a lawyer to file this petition, but attorneys are certainly welcome to step up!
MODS: Why is this comment deleted every time I post it?
CALL TO ACTION! Help UNDO NDAA by Petitioning your State Supreme Court for a Protective Writ of Habeus Corpus like this one:
occupywallst.org/forum/petition-to-supreme-court-of-alaska-to-block-ndaa-/
You do not have to be a lawyer to file this petition, but attorneys are certainly welcome to step up!
The title of this article is right on the money because the Founders clearly articulated the principle during the ratification process; the individual States would protect the people from federal encroachments.
In the New York Ratifying Convention, Melancton Smith stated:
“The state constitutions should be the guardians of our domestic rights and interests, and should be both the support and the check of the federal government.”
Gilbert Livingston would add:
“[I] conceive the state governments are necessary as the barrier between the people’s liberties and any invasion which may be attempted on them by the general government.”
In Federalist Essay No. 26 Alexander Hamilton stated:
“[T]he State legislatures, who will always be not only vigilant but suspicious and jealous guardians of the rights of the citizens against encroachments from the federal government…will be ready enough, if anything improper appears, to sound the alarm to the people, and not only be the voice, but if necessary, the arm of their discontent.”
If the State legislatures were to be the “arm” of the people from federal encroachments, then it follows that the States must have the independent power or authority to perform that function and it would appear to me that no precise description of the method is required.
@Bob Greenslade Excellent points, Bob!
Is anything being done to nullify the TSA?After his unwarranted detention, Sen Rand Paul said(on Foxnews) he was going to attempt to restrain them, legislatively. I thought for sure this incident warranted a TOTAL dismantling of TSA and the goons who work for those coveted union jobs! We don’t want them ‘HANCUFFED&STIFLED’, we want them to be no more! We are paying, with tax dollars, to be molested! How ridiculous is that?
Here’s a stretch , how about boycotting the airlines altogether , thereby reducing ALL the , UNNECESSARY, wasted time ( ours ) and expense ( ours again ) , pollution ( yep , we’re gonna pay for it again ) , and FEDERAL EXPENSE and CONTROL ( guess what ) to GET IN OUR PANTS for something else other than our wallets ! Nothin wrong with keeping things LOCAL , and it keeps people / business invested / concerned at the LOCAL level and MUCH MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DEEDS ! Some companies see the sense of this and are requiring applicants to be LOCAL residents , more are just realizing the sense of it , hopefully they’ll follow suit .
Is anything being done to nullify the TSA?After his unwarranted detention, Sen Rand Paul said(on Foxnews) he was going to attempt to restrain them, legislatively. I thought for sure this incident warranted a TOTAL dismantling of TSA and the goons who work for those coveted union jobs! We don’t want them ‘HANCUFFED&STIFLED’, we want them to be no more! We are paying, with tax dollars, to be molested! How ridiculous is that?Something must be done&I was wondering if anything was. Or is Senator Paul going to be satisfied with hampering and restrictions on the TSA?
@sissy51 While we are at it, we can also eliminate the 180,000 employee Department of Homeland Security. What a waste of taxpayer money! They duplicate the functions of many other federal and military agencies and are not needed or wanted. “He that would surrender his liberty for his security, deserves neither”.
@WinfordNettles @sissy51 I suggest we dispatch them to Siberia under the pretense they will be Protecting our country from “Terrorism”, and spreading Demonocracy abroad ! Gee , now I wonder IF they will figure out the PLOY !
Very good article Mr. Roberts but I do disagree with the wording of one sentence; “The United States Constitution gives significant power to the individual state governments”.
The Constitution gives nothing to the states. They already possess the power by their own right. The states gathered to form the Constitution which grants(surrenders) specifically defined powers to the Federal Government. If it was not listed, it never belonged to the Federal Government in the first place.
I suspect that you are well aware of this but the wording of that sentence dangerously implies that the Federal Government gives powers to the states. The Tenth Amendment established nothing new. It simply emphasizes what already was.
Concerning your question; “What might happen in the future with the Judicial Branch?” I would suspect not much until an American citizen is actually detained under the NDAA travesty. The Supremes in Ashwander V. The Tennessee Valley Authority, as part of Justice Brandeis decision, established a set of rules in which certain situations would have to be met before they would grant certiorari and consider the constitutionality of a congressional act. One of the rules requires that a party must sustain actual damage before they will consider constitutionality. Some of the others could also be used to avoid a decision.
VET91 , Good points made except you made a similar slip of the pen when you suggested in you explanation that the States , through the creation of the Constitution , GRANTS ( surrenders ) specifically defined powers to FEDERAL GOV’T . It is my firm understanding the States , DID’NT “SURRENDER” A DAMN THING . They just created an “entity” to serve them as a FEDERAL POWER representing the “united STATES of AMERICA” in areas of a more “NATIONAL” INTEREST to them . I submit , a much more appropriate word in lieu of “SURRENDER ” would be “YIELDS” . But , alas , I think we get the jist of your point ! Thanks
@ThePainefulTruth
The states had to delegate sufficient power to the “entity” in order for it to carry out its functions. If you take a look at the heading of article 1 section 8 it specifically says”POWERS GRANTED TO CONGRESS”.
Webster defines “GRANT” as to give, concede, transfer, or convey. I don’t believe the states could give, concede, transfer, or convey power to congress yet still retain those same powers for themselves.
Maybe surrender was too stong of a word. However, as you say, we both get the point. Thanks for the exchange.
@vet91 Thanks , Vet91 . Listen , I knew you knew but I just wanted to make sure you knew , so that said , I think I can now say I know you know and I just wanted to know it for sure that YOU KNEW sooo NOW I KNOW YOU KNOW and that I KNEW YOU KNEW and that I KNEW that I was right from the beginning ! Thnx
It is my understanding that, when a law is passed by Congress, and, signed by the President of the United States that is in direct conflict with the Constitution, then, that law is null and void. Should the Supreme Court not strike down this law as unconstitutional, then, they do so at their own peril.
I suspect that this law, the National Defense Authorization Act, is the precursor to a bloody civil/military confrontation in this country. The only real question now is: Will the military side with the Constitution, or, will it side with the federal government? Only time will tell.
God help us.
@WinfordNettles Winford: Some good points made.
The Military should have NO question as to whom they are to side with. They took an Oath to the Constitution NOT to the President or their Commanding Officer.
I think they already know there will be a ‘Revolution’ of sorts which is why they are training DHS and Military Personnel to ‘suppress the people.’
And GOD WILL help us!
Tyranny is already here. The NDAA is Un-Constitutional, Un-American and Un-Acceptable! The Governor NEEDS to NULLIFY!
Red
True , very true , and even more to the point ” ANY ” legislation / law created that is “REPUGNANT” to the Constitution CAN NOT BE , NOR EVER WAS , from it’s Inception , VIABLE LAW ! Aside from that , a great many laws are accepted / presumed to be law , incorrectly mind you , even though they are BEYOND / OVER-REACHING THEIR CONSTITUTIONALLY LEGAL PROPER JURISDICTION and SCOPE of AUTHORITY , ALL without a clue by the general PUBLIC AT LARGE ! It is MASKED as GOOD INTENTIONS and NECESSARY ” PUBLIC POLICY” FOISTED on the Citizenry , by the very people “WE” Elect to Represent “WE THE PEOPLE” . They are SWORN – IN to UPHOLD and PRESERVE the ORIGINAL INTENT ( the ONLY correct interpretation ) of the very Documents CREATED BY THE FOUNDERS , and yet they Act with CARE-LESS Indifference ; even after being made wholly aware of their great responsibilty by Swearing an “OATH” ! Absolutely Shameless ! They’re POISONED to the core with Arrogance and Hubris . It’s brought about by the need to put on Aristocratic airs and posturings of success to fit in with the Elites of Society . Not what I consider “Representative” of “My” voice in a “JUST” Gov’t. , NO THANKS !
To all who commented on my posting here, I thank you. As for the cutting of a program that was mentioned I have, WE ALL HAVE, heard promises about this from those who are running for office. Obama has the tools to put this country back to its original intent.GET OUT OF THE WAY (WAY less regulations), CUT GOVT PROGRAMS WE DON’T NEED(too many govt paper pushers we are paying for), GET OFF THIS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY KICK(open/grant oil/natural gas leases, etc) And STOP TRYING TO CHANGE AMERICA FROM A REPUBLIC TO A COMMUNIST NATION(and we all know he’s holding onto his ideology so tightly it seems he’s suffering tunnel vision), STOP THE CLASS RACE CARD PLAY(he’s so thinskinned he has the unmitigated gall to try to control our internet which belongs to no ONE PERSON). I suppose I could say more and could have worded it better but I’m tired and though I’m a writer I can’t think of anything else. There’s so much one doesn’t know where to begin. So Thanks all. Let us STAND TOGETHER to keep Obama a ONE TERM. POTUS. BLESSINGS.
@sissy51 Well put , Bravo ! There’s STILL along way to go so keep up the good work . I’m with you Buddy .
Maybe a better definition of what’s considered terrorism would help clarify the NDAA’s objectives. The enumerated role of federal government is to provide for the country’s security. If the 5th amendment can be waived for members of the military ” … in time of War or public danger …”, then the same can be done for America’s sworn enemies both foreign and domestic.
Only problem is everyone ignores the Constitution except when it is politically expedient for them
One of my favorite quotes. Jim’s right though – everyone seems to like the Constitution . . . . except when they disagree with it. Then, it is ignored or they do end runs around it, or just redefine the meaning of certain words. If we ignore it for our own purposes, we can’t complain when others ignore it for theirs. It is an all or nothing kind of thing!!!
And in Obama’s case they are one in the same.
Too late for that now!
Nullify. When that fails, call out the Sheriffs… then the state militia… then every armed citizen you can deputize.
I don’t get it. I have read the NDAA, and it specifically has language prohibiting indefinite detention of US Citizens. I know the original Senate bill was horrible because it did infringe on citizen rights, however the bill finally passed was the house version, which contains the language prohibiting detention of US Citizens. If there is contrary language, please publish the section & paragraph and let me know so I can fight this. So far no one has been able to show me this, like you they only continue to write hype & inuendo.
H.R. 1540, NDAA 2012, Section 1022 (b) (1) states: (1) UNITED STATES CITIZENS.—The requirement to detain a person in military custody under this section does not extend to citizens of the United States.
If there is other language contrary to this, please let me know the section and paragraph from the act as passed so I can read if for myself.
.
@litewave Agreed. Thanks for sharing.
@litewave
The only provision from which U.S. citizens are exempted here is the“requirement” of military detention. For foreign nationals accused of being members of Al Qaeda, military detention is mandatory; for U.S. citizens, it is optional. This section does not exempt U.S citizens from the presidential power of military detention: only from therequirement of military detention.
This article addresses this in more detail: http://www.salon.com/2011/12/16/three_myths_about_the_detention_bill/singleton/
Doesn’t corrupt Government expand corrupt state Government with the power of funny money to influence states with?
But aren’t we really dealing with symptoms of something far bigger? Where oh where is this Republic we are to be living with limited Government? Its big in my town, its big in surrounding cities and its big in states and it is enormous at the federal level.
But where were all the people trained to live as a Republic? What is this just some concept we pretend that falls out of the sky and poof, we are one? Or is it one we actually have to practice based on our Declaration of Independence assuring that our constitution fully supports this idea of a Republic?
Here I see us looking at symptoms, symptoms and more symptoms of what we are not doing or are you secretly living as A Republic? Sorry, I am not seeing the Republic part nor am I seeing the foundation laid that produces such an effect.
Where were you trained to live as such a Republic, to decided based upon your Declaration of Independence on how to secure your constitution from being altered in any way?
All these false laws are symptoms of something not taking place and those we keep appealing to have bought into the corrupt ideas because they too have no clue why or what the Declaration of Independence truly means to them or they would have made far better choices. The dumbing down of America was intentional and who is in charge of such training camps? Government and Financiers?
Maybe we should train just as hard as they do to be a Republic by doing the act of. Who says we need them to achieve this, actually we need to free ourselves from their poor concepts.
I highly recommend;
http://www.reclamationprojectx.org/HomePage.htm
For a little training of your own, next I highly recommend training to be a Republic by what we are sure is proper about our Declaration of Independence and our original Constitution. Then lets have a United States Government rather than a Corporate Federal Government in place using false laws to steer our states in the wrong directions. Let us by example steer our towns into being Republics to stand in defiance of our states corruption and then reunite as states to wipe this criminal element of the face of earth.
Anything is possible with the right tools and the the correct training isn t it?
Doesn’t corrupt Government expand corrupt state Government with the power of funny money to influence states with?
But aren’t we really dealing with symptoms of something far bigger? Where oh where is this Republic we are to be living with limited Government? Its big in my town, its big in surrounding cities and its big in states and it is enormous at the federal level.
But where were all the people trained to live as a Republic? What is this just some concept we pretend that falls out of the sky and poof, we are one? Or is it one we actually have to practice based on our Declaration of Independence assuring that our constitution fully supports this idea of a Republic?
Here I see us looking at symptoms, symptoms and more symptoms of what we are not doing or are you secretly living as A Republic? Sorry, I am not seeing the Republic part nor am I seeing the foundation laid that produces such an effect.
Where were you trained to live as such a Republic, to decided based upon your Declaration of Independence on how to secure your constitution from being altered in any way?
All these false laws are symptoms of something not taking place and those we keep appealing to have bought into the corrupt ideas because they too have no clue why or what the Declaration of Independence truly means to them or they would have made far better choices. The dumbing down of America was intentional and who is in charge of such training camps? Government and Financiers?
Maybe we should train just as hard as they do to be a Republic by doing the act of. Who says we need them to achieve this, actually we need to free ourselves from their poor concepts.
I highly recommend;
http://www.reclamationprojectx.org/HomePage.htm
For a little training of your own, next I highly recommend training to be a Republic by what we are sure is proper about our Declaration of Independence and our original Constitution. Then lets have a United States Government rather than a Corporate Federal Government in place using false laws to steer our states in the wrong directions. Let us by example steer our towns into being Republics to stand in defiance of our states corruption and then reunite as states to wipe this criminal element of the face of earth.
Anything is possible with the right tools and the the correct training isn t it?
Doesn’t corrupt Government expand corrupt state Government with the power of funny money to influence states with?
But aren’t we really dealing with symptoms of something far bigger? Where oh where is this Republic we are to be living with limited Government? Its big in my town, its big in surrounding cities and its big in states and it is enormous at the federal level.
But where were all the people trained to live as a Republic? What is this just some concept we pretend that falls out of the sky and poof, we are one? Or is it one we actually have to practice based on our Declaration of Independence assuring that our constitution fully supports this idea of a Republic?
Here I see us looking at symptoms, symptoms and more symptoms of what we are not doing or are you secretly living as A Republic? Sorry, I am not seeing the Republic part nor am I seeing the foundation laid that produces such an effect.
Where were you trained to live as such a Republic, to decided based upon your Declaration of Independence on how to secure your constitution from being altered in any way?
All these false laws are symptoms of something not taking place and those we keep appealing to have bought into the corrupt ideas because they too have no clue why or what the Declaration of Independence truly means to them or they would have made far better choices. The dumbing down of America was intentional and who is in charge of such training camps? Government and Financiers?
Maybe we should train just as hard as they do to be a Republic by doing the act of. Who says we need them to achieve this, actually we need to free ourselves from their poor concepts.
I highly recommend;
http://www.reclamationprojectx.org/HomePage.htm
For a little training of your own, next I highly recommend training to be a Republic by what we are sure is proper about our Declaration of Independence and our original Constitution. Then lets have a United States Government rather than a Corporate Federal Government in place using false laws to steer our states in the wrong directions. Let us by example steer our towns into being Republics to stand in defiance of our states corruption and then reunite as states to wipe this criminal element off the face of earth.
Anything is possible with the right tools and the the correct training isn t it?
We as citizens have dropped the ball along with the States refusing to fulfill their duty to defend us from the Federal regime. Amazingly it’s all 50 of them despite any protestation or legislation they pass because they ultimately refuse to enforce any such laws. This is a clue that the States have been corrupted, and turned into mere provinces of the Federal regime. I think the Founders should have made all the Counties, and Municipalities sovereign with their own Constitutions as well. It would have been almost impossible to get control of thousands of small governments.
@legalinvestigations
Yes, thank you, amazingly it is 50 of them all tied together in corporate legalize, corrupt changes to the Constitution and the 1000s of trained corrupt infiltrating our states all absorbed by poor ideas they never once took the time to investigate. They accepted willy nilly ideas and ran with the ball and look at the effects of such a travesty. Thanks to Lawyers and Corporate giants we are in a web of entanglement which has nothing to do with supporting the people and everything to do with falsifying authority and the wealth to a few not by production but by theft.
@legalinvestigations I personally believe states lost back in 1913 with an overreaching congress and Wilson’s progressive administration. The 16th and 17th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution cemented the federal’s continuing takeover of state’s sovereign domestic affairs. Since that time, the federal government has used the power of the 16th Amendment’s purse to exploit the states with so called social, infrastructure, and numerous special interest handouts. What method do state legislators and administrators have to stop the federal’s power grab? They lost their voice with passage of the 17th Amendment, which was all under the insidious guise of “democracy”. Our country’s design is that of a republic. People had a popular voice in their U.S. House of Representatives and state assemblies. If the 17th was to root out senate corruption, it failed miserably.
The Title of this forum IS also the Answer to the Problem of out of control Gov’t , at all Levels . YES , the STATES are THE Answer to the Federal Dilema , but Let’s make sure we address this Corruption in Gov’t and Law with a three (3) pronged approch . Not JUST at the Federal gov’t nor JUST at the State Gov’t Level but ALL three(3) levels . Granted they ( Federal and State Gov’t ) have more political / economic Clout but Just as the States check the Federal Gov’t so do the Counties / Cities Check the States . The point being that we address Gov’t at the Local level (County / City ) with Constitutional Reform in mind to build up consensus which can then be leveraged against the States to create the necessary Changes . This would seem to be the most logical place to start since we have the most say / control closest to Home and a more direct Benefit derived . This is repeated throughtout until the end is achieved . Atleast Locally we can believe in our power much more readily and see it much more evidently . As Jefferson said ” Gov’t that governs closest to the people governs best”, and WE have the greatest influence in that sphere . Inertia / apathy is hard to overcome but easiest at the Local / smaller / closest levels . I’m concerned about the scale of “Fear mongering” causing peralisis of will ( when not accompanied by Answers ) , rather than the continued reminder of the Problems , WITH Answers , to learn of . Remember , our brains are like Computers , Garbage in Garbage out …, so Let’s Reinforce the Positives / Answers more so than the Negatives so we will “Think” more on the Solutions / Positives to Compel / Motivate towards Positive Actions ; and apply this approach to our local Gov’ts as well .