Physician Heal Thyself

In the early 1970's I recall a speaker at one of our PreMed/PreDent Society meetings in college. A physician from Dallas had a warning for we future doctors. He strongly admonished us not to sign contracts with private insurance companies (pre-dates HMO's) or Medicare/Medicaid, not to accept payment from these plans but only direct cash payments from the patients and not to allow these plans to set our fees or demand discounts. We should certainly provide billing statements for the patient to get reimbursed from their insurance providers and for big bills allow them to collect first and then pay us. But our fee is our fee and whatever they can get reimbursed from their insurance plan is what they get. The contract is between the plan and the patient, not the doctor. The physicians should not be parties to insurance payment contracts with patients. Boy was he right! Sadly, because health insurance became tied to employment without the option of portability or the ability to buy across state lines or the ability of small groups to band together to buy cheaper policies; large insurance companies began going to large employers, signing up their huge workforce and then going to doctors demanding contracts with them for discounts and set fees in order for the doctor to keep his patients and the patient to keep their doctor. Nothing more than high-tone extortion of the doctors by the insurance companies. During that time period the American Medical Association represented about 70% of U.S. physicians but was totally ineffective in heading off this bastardization of the physician-patient relationship. It was during this same time that MediCare instituted Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG's) which dictated to doctors and hospitals how they could treat patients for various afflictions and how long they could be kept in the hospital. Again, the A.M.A. was unable to avert this train wreck. This heralded the decline of the influence of the A.M.A. as its leadership was taken over more and more by leftists in bed with the government. Membership began to bleed off to the point today where only about 17% of U.S. physicians belong. Yet the media and government love to run to the 'doctor's union' anytime they want to report what doctors think about this or that. Pure poppycock. It is now a toothless tiger. The fact that virtually all physicians are under contract with myriad insurance plans and with Medicare/Medicaid, that their fees are set by these entities, that they must accept discounted fees to be allowed onto the plans and that many practices are actually owned outright by the plans thus making the physicians merely employees or contractors has totally perverted the cost/price/value equation beyond recognition. This is one factor responsible for ballooning health care costs; the separation of the provider from the consumer in the payment of fees for services rendered. Doctors don't know how much stuff costs and neither do the patients. People don't know if they're getting a good deal or not. All the doctor knows is that many times he has to argue with some non-physician to get a test done. If the doctor and patient know exactly what everything costs they can sit down and discuss the treatment plan and various options that provide the best care for the best price. Giving the patient more choices in the health insurance marketplace by allowing portability from the severing of health insurance from employment, allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines and allowing small groups to band together and buy better priced large policies would be a good start in bringing down the cost of health care and health insurance and making it available to a larger segment of society. In addition, getting the doctors out of the insurance picture by ending physician contracting and fee setting, having doctors be paid directly by the patients who then get reimbursed by their insurance plan at whatever rate they have agreed to would help the cause as well. Also, let individuals set up medical savings accounts similar to their IRA's. Finally, rational tort reform and scaling back onerous taxes and regulations on pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturers would complete the reform picture.

Rights vs. Entitlements

A Right does not require the time, money, property or effort of other people. Entitlements do. Stop and think; Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness, Free Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom from Unreasonable Search & Seizure, the Right to Bear Arms; all Rights referenced in the Constitution and Bill of Rights and none require input from other people. On the other hand; Medicare, Social Security, Universal Health Care, Food Stamps, Unemployment Insurance, Federal Minimum Wage, Housing Subsidies, Transportation Subsidies, Education Subsidies; all require something (mostly tax money) from other people; and all Entitlements.

In the current debate it is disingenuous to call for a Right to Health Care. Universal Federal Health Care/Insurance cannot be a right; it requires time, money and effort of other people. It is just another entitlement. And it is an entitlement which the U.S. Constitution does not empower or authorize the federal government to provide. (Frankly, most other federal entitlements actually are not authorized by the Constitution either) Thus, it could only be provided by the States or the Federal Government following passage of an empowering Constitutional Amendment.

Next Steps

Now that we have said ‘B’ what is next? One option is to do nothing and maintain the status quo. This course of action enshrines disregard of the Constitution and the rule of law as accepted practice and policy of the federal government. What a wonderful example to set for our children and precedent to set for how to govern. Legislation by whimsy. Sadly, this is essentially what we have now and have had for about a hundred years. And look at the mess we are in. This is the most intellectually bankrupt and thus the easiest course of action and probably what our federal government will take, short of some compelling outside force intervening to the contrary. The second possibility would be to simply disband the patently bankrupt Medicare and Social Security programs at once and let the chips fall where they may. States could pick up the programs if they so chose. While this would be the strictly correct thing to do according to the Constitution, it would ignore the millions of older Americans who have spent their entire adult lives planning and paying (well not really, but that’s another discussion) for their retirement and medical care through these programs. To suddenly drop them like a hot potato would be simply unthinkable. You don’t right a wrong with another wrong. The third option would be to begin a process of phasing out these programs by systematically privatizing portions of them and rolling the other functions to the states. New entrants into the workforce should not be enrolled in these federal programs but rather in the new state-run privatized programs. Workers already enrolled in the federal programs would have their benefits paid as promised, but no new federal commitments would be incurred. Hopefully the states could find better ways to run and fund these programs with some degree of fiscal solvency. It is time to quite throwing good money after bad and start actually following the law. What a concept.

Who Says 'A' Must Say 'B' --WFB, Jr.

William F. Buckley, Jr. often admonished people that who says ‘A’ must say ‘B.’ The gist being that ideas and thoughts have logical natural consequences. Sometimes these consequences are not what the person had in mind when postulating ‘A.’ Many conservatives today make the argument (and quite correctly I might add) that the health care reform bills winding their way through Congress are patently unconstitutional. I believe that this position is correct within the scope of Article 1, Section 8 and the 10^th Amendment. The federal government simply lacks the authority and power to engage in these activities and to compel citizens to do or not do certain things relative to health care. The states, on the other hand would be free to pursue universal health care plans within the confines of their borders and according to their state constitutional dictates. Having posited all of this, now who says ‘A’ must say ‘B.’ Under these same U.S. constitutional proscriptions I believe that Medicare and Social Security must also be viewed in the same light; unconstitutional. They simply are not specific enumerated powers of the federal government under Article 1, Section 8. And please don’t bring up the preamble, the general welfare clause, the necessary and proper clause or the interstate commerce clause. These attempts to subvert the clear language and intent of Article 1, Section 8 have been debated to death and handily dispatched. In addition, I realize that various Supreme Courts have ruled several times in the past to uphold the constitutionality of these programs. This merely speaks to the fallibility of the court. The court is composed of mere mortals and numerous courts have been reversed and nullified. I maintain that the court is every bit as political as the executive and legislative branches. Justices are appointed by Presidents to further the administration’s agenda. And over time I believe that justices embark upon crusades for their own personal agendas. To believe that the court is painfully objective and unbiased in its decisions and rigorously faithful to the actual text and original intent of the Constitution is at best laughable and at worst dangerous. Thus, I call upon my fellow conservative revolutionaries to carry our crusade against a federal health care takeover to the next logical step of disbanding Medicare and Social Security (hopelessly bankrupt as they are) and giving the states the opportunity of taking over these types of programs if they see fit.

Nuggets

• So the buck stops with Barry...and so does the change...and anything else he can squeeze out of you.
• Watching this administration is like looking at a Salvador Dali painting. Everything looks sort of familiar but it's all distorted and bent out of shape.

Profile This!

Profiling has nothing to do with race or religion. It is a rational, intelligent approach to dealing with threat patterns and probabilities to try to prevent bad things from happening. And it works, just ask the Israeli's. We spoiled Americans seem to think that the Constitution protects us from ever being embarrassed, inconvenienced or offended. It does not, that's part of life in a society with other people. If some of it is necessary to prevent people from being injured and killed, then so be it. Good grief, grow up and start acting like adults instead of three year-old brats.

What We Must Do

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Colorado Springs, Colorado

I believe that the Congress and Obama Administration have profoundly underestimated the groundswell of grassroots opposition to this illegal, unconstitutional monstrosity called a federal health care reform bill. If this bill passes, it may become the proverbial line in the sand, the final straw that breaks the camel’s back, the crossing of the Rubicon, the burning of the ships and bridges, the shot heard round the world. This could be an 1860 moment in history. We are fast approaching a critical mass of opposition to the slide away from our constitutional moorings that began under Woodrow Wilson and accelerated under Franklin Roosevelt. The disrespect and utter contempt that our current ‘public servants’ display for the Constitution, the rule of law and the people who still adhere to the Constitution’s tenets is unparalleled. In my lifetime I have never seen such condescending, flippant attitudes toward our heritage and the body politic. It chills me to the bone.

In short, the Constitution simply does not allow this bill and at least 57% of the American people say they don’t want it. Do our ‘leaders’ give credence to either, much less both realities? No, they spit upon the Constitution and in the eyes of the people they serve, who put them where they are and pay their salaries. Hell must have a special place reserved for such as these. They are not fit to ‘serve.’ They should be removed from office immediately, if not imprisoned for violation of the Supreme Law of the Land. Mark my words, with God as my witness a day of reckoning is coming. A sleeping giant is awakening. We have endured the intentional erosion of our God-given freedoms and liberties by our federal government longer than any people should have to and remain obedient. Our very Declaration of Independence proclaimed that mankind is more inclined to suffer abuses as long as they are sufferable rather than take drastic action to right them and perhaps alter or throw off an abusive government and form a new one. But, it warns that when such abuses become so egregious and long-standing then people have not only a right but a duty to take such action as is necessary to alter or abolish the offending government and institute such changes or new form of government as is necessary to redress the injustices. The patience of the American people is growing strained and thin.

Many pundits tell us that we should direct our remedial anger to the ballot box; throw the bad seed out and replace them with better politicians. Sadly, we have been trying this for over 200 years and the situation only grows more dire with each passing election. The federal behemoth has taken on a life all its own, consuming well-meaning politicians and amassing more power unchecked and unhindered by the tinkering of elected officials who quickly come and go. It overruns checks and balances, ignores constitutional restraints and intimidates the states into submission while it sucks out their very sustenance; bringing everyone and everything under its control. There is hardly any nook or cranny of existence that the federal government does regulate, control or tax. This was explicitly not the intent of the framers. The federal government was to have a few specific enumerated powers necessary for the good of all the people and states, but very limited and constrained by Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. The states, on the other hand were to be the laboratories of democracy. They wrote the Constitution that created the federal government for their benefit and to serve their purposes, not vice versa. They are not mere political subdivisions of the federal government. They are the sovereign governing bodies with the most power; being closer to the people they serve. It is ludicrous for the federal government to dare think that it can order them around, trample their authority and direct them to raise taxes and spend money against their will. But that is exactly what has happened. With the clarity of the 10^th Amendment I cannot for the life of me understand why the states have cowered so before the federal altar. No doubt it is due in large part to the boatloads of money (that ironically comes out of the pockets of taxpayers in the several states) that the federal government dangles in front of the states, asking only in return their complicity and acquiescence to unlimited federal power. It is time for the states to reassert their supremacy and return the federal government to its appropriate constitutional role. We must remind those in Washington that they serve by the consent of the governed, not in spite of them. The federal government must once again have a healthy fear of the states and the people it serves instead of the people fearing the federal government. A letter from a citizen to an elected servant should strike infinitely more fear in their hearts than a letter to a citizen from the Internal Revenue Service.

If ballots are ineffective in bringing about the needed change, what other means do we have at our disposal? First of all, surely not bullets as was the case in 1860. Then how about defunding the government? Well, the people lost the power to defund the government by withholding our ‘voluntary’ income tax payments when, during World War II a temporary, emergency process was instituted requiring employers to withhold and send in tax payments automatically on behalf of their employees to insure a continuing stream of money into federal coffers to fund the war effort. Apparently, word of the end of the war in 1945 has not yet reached Washington, as this ‘temporary, emergency’ measure is still in force. Word to the wise, a federal program once begun never ends. The next closest thing to immortality after personal salvation is a federal program. Additionally, I seriously doubt that enough companies would band together and withhold the payments to make any sort of dent in the revenue or statement to the elected officials. And don’t look to the federal courts for any help. In my opinion federal judges, including Supreme Court justices are merely political appointees with personal agendas ensconced for life and accountable to no one. Then what about civil disobedience? Would enough doctors refuse to participate in this health reform fiasco to make a difference? Would enough people or companies or states refuse to participate to make a statement? Would enough companies refuse to participate in Cap &Trade to make it null and void? How would such movements be organized and implemented? What would be the federal government’s response? No one really knows. It would seem that given the history of our separation from England, the writing of the Constitution and the formation of the federal government, we should direct our hope to the states. After all, the 10^th Amendment clearly gives all powers not specifically allocated to the federal government to the states. If the framers had intended for the Constitution to be a blank check of power to the federal government (Article 1, Section 8 notwithstanding), then why a 10^th Amendment? The answer, of course is that they never intended for the federal government to amass such power and control over the day-to-day lives, fortunes and businesses of the American people. They would never have dreamed that the reach of this central government they had created would become so all encompassing. To safeguard any such eventuality they spelled out the specific powers it was to possess in the body of the Constitution and then added an additional safeguard in the 10^th Amendment, ensuring that the states would have the final say in the unlikely event the federal government were to attempt to overstep its bounds. The ultimate expression of state power is the constitutional amendment, the only legitimate path to altering the express or implied meaning of the Constitution. I believe that the framers thought that the federal government would have such respect for the supremacy and almost sanctity of the Constitution and fear of the people that it would never dream of grossly overstepping its authority. This belief was based upon the idea that a representative democracy such as this could only function successfully if the population was informed, engaged and moral. Sadly the liberal control of education over the last 50-60 years has resulted in a pathetic misunderstanding of our nation’s history, heritage, economic and political structure within a large segment of our population. One only has to look at the behavior of our politicians over the last decades to realize that any moral foundation has been utterly lost. In addition, the blurring of lines between political parties and the feeling of a single person’s helplessness in the face of a gigantic federal juggernaut has instilled a pervasive apathy (until very recently) across the electorate.

Is sufficient time left for the people to organize and seize the reins of their state governments so as to reassert their rightful power over the runaway federal government under the aegis of the 10^th Amendment? Or have we already passed the point of no return down the slippery slope to socialism, decay and demise? Only the passage of the next few years will tell. There are signs that people are beginning to awaken to the reality of what is happening. History tells us only about 2% of the American colonists actively supported the Revolution. That would be about 6 million people today, fewer by far than listen to Rush Limbaugh alone in a week. The hope for the survival of the Republic and a future for our children and grandchildren hang on these. We must encourage them to educate and enlist others in this fight. We must peacefully resist the illegal encroachments of the federal government when and where possible. We must organize and move to nudge or take control of state governments to reassert their constitutional power and authority. This is a fight we cannot and must not lose, for as John Adam’s character in “1776” ponders;

“Is anybody there?

Does anybody care?

Does anybody see what I see?”

May God save and bless the Constitution and Republic of the United States of America.

When You Gotta Go!

If you can't get out of your seat for the last hour on a plane, can you pee in the airsick bag?

A Christmas Eve Prayer

The little altar had gone up alongside a street not far from my home sometime in the spring of 2009. I remember glancing over the article in the paper about a single car accident late one night. Two college-age young men were thrown from the car, the passenger died at the scene and the driver suffered serious, but survivable injuries. Out late partying, I don’t know if alcohol was a factor, not wearing seat belts, driving too fast; a momentary mistake and one young life ends tragically and the other must live the rest of his life with the memory that he is responsible for his friend’s death. According to the article the boy who died had been a local high school track star, played hockey and had just started his college studies at a local university.
As the weeks went by friends and family added to the growing altar. A large plastic-covered picture of the boy in his hockey jersey appeared. A wooden cross with his name and the two dates defining his short life inscribed on it was set into the ground. Then pair of track shoes painted gold were hung on the cross. A large rock with names and messages from friends was placed at its base. Over time flowers both real and artificial came and went. Stuffed teddy bears adorned the shrine. He obviously had meant much to many people. As the months turned into fall and winter approached the weather took its toll on the various items arranged around the altar. By Christmas Eve only the cross, bent somewhat by the wind and the rock remained as a reminder to his existence.
I was driving home from the bank about noon on Christmas Eve, mad at myself, mad at God, mad at the government, mad at the economy—and mad for being mad on Christmas Eve. The year 2009 had not been a good one financially. Our incomes were down, business revenue was down and debts were mounting. This at a time I was looking at having several teenagers approaching college soon. Repairs were desperately needed around the house and for the cars. In fact, one of the cars really needed to be replaced fairly soon. Trying to have a decent Christmas, buy food and pay bills were all weighing heavily on my shoulders on the eve of this the happiest day of the year. At that moment I passed the little altar on the side of the road and noticed a pick-up truck parked nearby. A middle-aged woman was bent over straightening out the cross and placing some fresh flowers around its base. No doubt his mother, contemplating her first Christmas without her son and the many Christmases yet to come without him and the children he might have had.
At that moment I was overtaken with a crystal clear revelation of life and Christmas that put my problems and anger into an appropriate perspective. The tears welled up in my eyes and came rolling out uncontrollably. I began to weep for this woman and her family and the loss they had suffered. I was also weeping for my pettiness over my perceived losses. Her loss was real and permanent while my losses were minor and fleeting. Compared to a life money has no real value, it is temporary, it comes and goes. It is something that with time and hard work you can replace many times over. Her son can never be replaced here on planet Earth. I said a silent prayer for the mother and her family, for peace and comfort in the hope of some day being reunited with the young man. I also said a prayer for me and my family, apologizing for my selfish attitude. I asked God for help in our present economic difficulties, but also asked him to help me keep a proper perspective on my life and family and our problems and blessings relative to real hurt and suffering in the world.
God has a way of finding just the right time and place and message for getting our attention to make a point right when we need it most. In our busy lives I think that we are sometimes waiting for a bright, loud magnificent proclamation from God to get our attention and speak into our lives. In doing so, we risk missing the many little whispers and subtle nudges of the Holy Spirit trying to steer us in the right direction. In the coming year I will certainly be working hard and praying hard to provide for my family and give as much to help the less fortunate in our midst as I possibly can. And I will also be praying that I never forget the sight of the woman bending over the little cross by the side of the road and what a profound message from God I heard that day.

Call It What It Is

Standing in a garage does not make one a car; and sleeping in the White House does not make one a President.

U.S. Constitution, Article 2, Section 4

"The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

Paging Senators Nelson, Landrieu...

R.I.P America

Our representative republic is dead.

The Constitution is null and void.

We have no legitimate federal government.

God help us.

A Taxing Dilemma

Every penny taken out of taxpayers' pockets by the federal government should be done so with great fear and trembling.

Don't Watch the Man Behind the Curtain

HOPE & CHANGE has become HOAX & CHAINS

The Three Stooges

Barry, Harry & Nancy; our three stooges are determined to remake America in the form of a big version of Cuba. At least Fidel admits that he is a communist. We are becoming a nation of lazy, whining, selfish slobs.

“I want free federal health care and I want my neighbor to pay for it.”

“I want a federal retirement program and I want my neighbor to pay for it.”

“I want a federal housing subsidy and I want my neighbor to pay for it.”

“I want federal food stamps and I want my neighbor to pay for them.”

“I want the federal government to take care of my kids and I want my neighbor to pay for it (in addition to their kids).”

“I want subsidized transportation and I want my neighbor to pay for it.”

“I want the federal government to tell my boss to pay me more.”

And on, and on, and on. Sounds like three year-olds. If they were my kids I would spank them. That’s right spank.

How did we get to this place? Is this why the Pilgrims came across a deadly sea on a tiny ship? To get food stamps and Social Security? Silly me, I thought they came for freedom and individual opportunity.

Bill Buckley was right when he lamented that when the middle class realizes that it can vote itself subsidies from the public treasury, we are then doomed.

The Constitution is in shreds and the concept of a nation of laws not of men has been jettisoned. We have an MTV/American Idol buffoon for a president all dressed up like Santa Claus. The problem is that he is really just a Chicago street thug taking goodies out of your sack to give to his adoring followers. In the good old days we recognized that for what it really is; theft. And we knew how to deal with it; prison.

So the three stooges do their comedy routines in front of the cameras to distract Americans while the country burns to the ground. I can’t quite decide if we are watching Rome burn while Barry piddles or if this is 1789 France. Let’s just pray that we all come to our senses before heads roll.

The Constitution According to Obama

1787

We, The Thirteen States of The Original Colonies of The New World in America;

Hereby establish this Constitution creating a federal government of the United States of America.

It can do whatever it damn well pleases.

Signed:

Delaware

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

Georgia

Connecticut

Massachusetts

Maryland

South Carolina

New Hampshire

Virginia

New York

North Carolina

Rhode Island

Heads Up Senators

To Senators Kyle & McConnell,

I and many other conservatives believe that this health bill must be opposed in its entirety on constitutional grounds. Quite simply, the federal government has no constitutional power or authority to be involved in health care delivery or regulation or the provision or regulation of health insurance. This would include the current bill before the senate as well as MediCare/MediCaid. (And Social Security and a federal minimum wage; but those are battles for another day) To argue any less is tantamount to an admission that the Constitution is null and void and we are no longer a nation of laws but now rather of men. This will ultimately lead to tyranny and anarchy. These issues are rightly reserved to the States, barring a constitutional amendment. Seeing no amendment movement on the horizon the federal government must cease and desist from this illegal pursuit. Surely someone in the D.C. vacuum must realize that these activities contribute greatly to the current 71% mistrust level of the federal government among the People. Mark my words, a movement is brewing based upon the 10^th Amendment, the States and the People to retake our federal government and reinstate the Constitution, with or without the cooperation of the Congress, President and Courts. The People and the States created the federal government to serve them, not dominate and oppress them. We expect our creation to obey the rules that we set out for it in the Constitution, to the letter. So very much of what the federal government does and spends today falls outside of its Constitutional authority. Understand, the People have had enough of it. This is the proverbial line in the sand. May God bless and save the Republic and the Constitution.

Just in Time for Christmas!

The Bowing Barry Inaction Figure!

Just wind it up and he bows to everybody and does absolutely nothing.

While supplies last!

From zer-O toys.

Two Paths Diverged in a Wood

I am seeing more and more articles in papers, letters to the editor and writings in blogs comparing the current state of our nation to the times of the Revolutionary or Civil Wars. While I don’t think we have reached that degree of disagreement yet, there are some valid points and comparisons. And I am certainly not calling for a violent revolt or overthrow of our federal government. However, I do disagree with those who posit that such an eventuality could never happen here again. Or, that some States might choose separation in lieu of remaining in a socialist or fascist nation. In my estimation, human nature, emotions and passions have not changed in thousands of years. The same ideas and fears that launched those conflicts are still very real and very much alive today. As the writers of the Declaration of Independence related, we Americans are very tolerant and disposed to suffer rather than take hasty action. There is a point, though; at which something must be done. The United States has been slipping free from its constitutional moorings for decades due to the natural tendency of governments to amass more power and the refusal of the States to squash such efforts. We have suffered higher taxes, bloated deficit spending and ridiculous government regulation and intervention in business and the marketplace for far too many years. The current Obama administration has taken this effort to new heights with ferocious speed. We now have trillion dollar deficits as far as the eye can see, government takeovers of banks and automobile companies, pay czars, diversity czars, insane Cap & Trade bills, an attempted takeover and socialization of our health care industry; in short nationalization of the private business and lives all American citizens. This is blatant fascism! I firmly believe that the current administration does not like the way the United States of America is constituted and seeks to completely remake American in its perverted image. This administration regards the Constitution as a bad joke perpetrated upon the American people. Seeing the States unwillingness to hold its feet to the constitutional fire, this administration essentially ignores the Constitution and its restrictions, laughs it off as an old, irrelevant, living, evolving, pliable document (written by white male slave owners) and ridicules anyone who actually still holds to its tenets. The philosophy in D.C. is that the federal government can do anything it wants to do and no one and nothing can stop it. If the Constitution gets in the way, trample and ignore it. After all, what are the consequences? Well, up to this point, none. If the Supreme Court (a bunch of political appointees with personal agendas) or the States won’t enforce the supreme rule of law upon the Congress and the President, what are the mere People to do? Thus, the stage is set for fascism, tyranny and ultimately, anarchy. Yes, the People elected this President and Congress; but with the expectation that they would act within their legally defined authority under the constraints of the Constitution. Now that we are beyond that point, we very quickly are becoming a nation of men, not laws. Don’t forget, we are a Constitutional Republic with democratically elected representatives, whose power and authority is bound by the limits of the Constitution. We are not a pure democracy; which always leads to the tyranny of the majority over the minority. When the highest elected officials of the land will not obey the most sacred and fundamental laws of our nation, why would they expect the People to act any differently (or better)? The question of 2010 is whether the ballot box will be able to stop and reverse this dangerous slide we have begun into fascism and tyranny. If a major reversal occurs in that election, followed by another in 2012, we may avert a constitutional disaster. That would require the undoing of decades of creeping lawless socialism in our federal government, regulations and statutes. This would amount to a bloodless coup to overthrow the Obama/Pelosi/Reid troika. If this juggernaut is not stopped at the ballot box, however; the path to secession movements or other action may fall into place. I fervently pray this does not happen.

“"The liberties of our country, the freedoms of our civil Constitution are worth defending at all hazards; it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors. They purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood. It will bring a mark of everlasting infamy on the present generation – enlightened as it is – if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of designing men." -Samuel Adams”

The Health & Care of our Nation

I have written at great length about the anti-constitutional usurpation of power by the federal government over the past many years. In my, and many others’ opinion the federal government exceeds its constitutional authority to act and spend in the majority of what it does, aided and abetted by a usually complicit President and a sycophantic Supreme Court composed of blatant political appointees with rabid agendas. The notion that the Court is objective and removed from the vagaries of politics is absurd. The reach of the current federal government far exceeds anything conceived of by even those founding fathers with the most inclination to a strong centralized government. The bastardization of the Constitution, the trampling of the State’s rights and the abrogation of the People’s freedoms has of late reached epic proportions. The health care juggernaut currently consuming the Congress may well be the final straw to prophetically break the camel’s back. It is a truly sad and pathetic commentary on the state of politicians today when legitimate questions brought to them about the constitutional authority to act as they are is laughed off as being silly and lacking any seriousness while the questioners are derided and lampooned as simpletons and fools. This is how our public servants treat those who put them in office, pay their salaries and place their trust in them to do the right thing for the country. The world is truly turned upside down. In addition, to hear the contorted explanations of politicians (most lawyers) as to the purported constitutional authority to act merely affirms the pathetic level of constitutional legal education in our nation’s law schools. Or worse, they actually know the truth but think that they can bamboozle the ‘little people’ with byzantine explanations. Well, we will not be bamboozled! The Constitution was written in plain English; it is not that difficult for the common man to understand. And what the common man understands is that this federal government is acting outside and beyond its legal authority, taking and spending money it has no right to and destroying rights and liberties which come not from the government, but from God. The Constitution promises to protect these rights of the ‘common man’ from abuses of government, not protect the government from the will or wrath of the People. It is not the role of the federal government (whether through Congress, the President or the Supreme Court) to be the final dictator of what the Constitution says and means. These entities are created by the Constitution and thus lesser and subservient to it. They cannot rule on what it means and how it applies to them. That is reserved to the People acting through the States. The States, after all wrote the Constitution thereby creating the federal government to serve them and their respective citizens. That is why our country was originally referred to as the United States IN America, not OF America.
As to our current debate, the federal government has no constitutional role in providing for, insuring for or regulating health care. That is strictly a state-by-state issue. And yes, that would also apply to Medicare and Medicaid. That a Supreme Court ruled on their constitutionality only proves their criminal collusion. Programs such as Social Security and a federal minimum wage also fail the test, but that is a fight for another day. Arguments trotted out by our nefarious Congressional spokesmen about the General Welfare Clause of the Preamble, the fabulously abused Interstate Commerce Clause or the Necessary and Proper Clause are breathtaking only in the audacity of their being brought forth and they are convincing not in the least. As I mentioned earlier, such proclamations are either a testament to enormous intentional chutzpah or a symptom of the decline and fall of constitutional education in the law schools. At any rate, while the current Congress many ram through some health care bill, have this fascist buffoon of a so-called President sign it and no doubt the lackey Supreme Court will give it a false imprimatur of legality; the People and the States will ultimately have none of it. Mark these words, a movement is coming, based upon our founding principles as spelled out in the Declaration of Independence to turn back this tide of creeping federal cannibalism and restore the tenets of the Constitution to their rightful place. It will be a movement of the People and the States. We will once again make it clear that the Constitution means exactly what it says. It is not a living evolving document. It can only be changed by the proper amendment process. If Congress does not have the will to propose a Constitutional Amendment to take over the health care system, then it must leave hands off and let the States and the People see to it. We are on the precipice of becoming a nation, not of laws, but of men. In other words, tyranny which will rapidly devolve into anarchy. The Constitution is the only instrument which separates us from rule at the end of a gun barrel. Right now, the Constitution is barely hanging on by a frayed thread. If the federal government can do anything it wants to We the People simply by virtue of proclaiming that it can and will, without Constitutional restraint; then we are truly adrift on a tempest-tossed sea with no sail, no map and no rudder. The Republic is on the verge of collapse. If that be the case, then only God can help us. Let us pray that we soon come to our senses. God save the Constitution, God save the Republic and God bless America.

Fleeting Thoughts

• A philosophy of HOPE is religion, NOT government.

• If I sell incandescent light bulbs after 2014, will the federal government really arrest me for selling Thomas Edison's invention in the United States of America? I would love to do it on national television!

Health Care Debate

The current raging debate about health care is NOT about health care, it’s NOT about health insurance, it’s NOT about how much this bill or that bill will cost, it’s NOT about a public option or co-op’s or opting out, it’s NOT about how many Americans don’t have health insurance vs. access to health care. IT IS about the Constitution, IT IS about Article 1, Section 8 and the specific enumerated powers and constraints upon the Congress, IT IS about repeated Congressional over-reaching, IT IS about the rule of law, IT IS about a republic vs. a democracy, IT IS about States’ and People’s rights, IT IS about the 10^th Amendment, IT IS about a line in the sand. This is it, enough is enough. The People have decided to take a stand here and say, “No more!” Our republic may live or die on this issue. Yes, it’s that big.

So Long America, Hello AmeriKa

I hereby relinquish my citizenship in Obama'a AmeriKa!

The Least Shall be Exalted

The people wanted to make George Washington a king, but he declined. It took 43 more presidents to finally get a king. Why do we treat these politicians like princes, princesses, kings and queens? Why do we look at them with such awe? Why do we give them all manner of special treatment, privileges and perks? We look up to them and they look down upon us. Many of them are dishonest crooks. What happened to the concept of 'public servant?' Why do we fear them instead of them fearing us? Special parking spots, special passes at airports, special medical benefits, special retirement benefits, special dining facilities, special barber and beauty shops, special post offices. Why? Why? Why? We the People should be elevated above them, they are supposed to serve us. They should have to navigate society like everyone else. Instead they have become some sort of uber-class; above us and above the law. Charlie Rangel should be in jail! Instead his peers won't even boot him off of a committee, much less the Congress! These people tell us what they are going to do to us whether we want it or not. These people tell us how much of our money they are going to steal from us whether we want that or not. These people tell us what the Constitution says and what rights they are going to permit us to have or not. ENOUGH! STOP! WHOA! The People must take our Constitution and country back and put these people back in their proper place, under our thumb!

Oh It's Nothing, It's Just the Phone

Beyond the question of why Barack inserted himself in the whole Chicago Olympic mess to begin with (surely not so that his well-healed Chicago donors could unload worthless slum properties for millions as sites on which to build Olympic facilities and venues); why did he have to fly himself, his entourage, several jets, his wife and her entourage to Copenhagen to make the plea? Couldn't he just simply have picked up the phone and called the Committee? It is said that the bill for the jet fuel alone is $1.5 million. How much health care for underprivileged Chicagoans would that buy?

Chicago 2016 Olympic Logo

Obama Considers Newspaper Bailouts

Who will bail out the bailouts?

Oh yeah, right. Ooops, sorry.

I forget.

You.

Me.

Us.

Whoa!

With a clear understanding of the history of the writing of the U.S. Constitution, I as a legitimate party to that covenant and upon close inspection finding no mention of health care or health insurance; demand that the federal government cease and desist any intrusion into these areas until and unless an amendment to the U.S. Constitution has been duly passed granting such authority to the federal government. And yes, I seriously believe that this stipulation would apply to Medicare, and by extension; to such programs as Social Security and the federal minimum wage.

September 11, 2001

Remember

Economics 101

If I live off my neighbor,

he has the right to live off me.

Soon no one works,

and we all live in poverty.

The Honorable Thing

Nix-on Obama.

Time to resign.

Bye Bye Miss American Pie

Now that the election is behind us President B.Hussein O. may be learning just who his voters were as opposed to his current supporters. For the election A.C.O.R.N. and S.E.I.U. were able to round up welfare recipients and 18-24 year-old M.T.V. junkies to go down and vote for his hinney-ness. Those people are now predictably M.I.A. They are not actively engaged citizens who read political punditry, call their Senators and write their Congressmen. They don't attend town-hall meetings or go to political rallies. The don't follow the intricacies of Cap & Trade legislation or study the finer points of the Interstate Commerce Clause. BHO seems totally shocked by the evaporation of his base on Health Care Reform and other wacko lefty initiatives so dear to his heart. There is nothing mysterious about this phenomenon at all. These people thought that they were voting for a performer on American Idol. Well, guess what? This dude ain't got talent. These fickle voters are ready for the next episode and the next contestant. They are done with him. He's all fizzle and no sizzle. If this was the Gong Show the mallet would be swinging. Time for him to bow and exit...stage...left.

New Presidential Theme Song

THE SIDESTEP

From : "The Best Little Whorehouse In Washington"

Fellow Americans, I am proudly standing here to humbly see.

I assure you, and I mean it- Now, who says I don't speak out as plain as day?

And, fellow Americans, I'm for progress and the flag- long may it fly.

I'm a poor boy, come to greatness. So, it follows that I cannot tell a lie.

Ooh I love to dance a little sidestep, now they see me now they don't-

I've come and gone and, ooh I love to sweep around the wide step,

cut a little swathe and lead the people on.

Now my good friends, it behooves me to be solemn and declare,

I'm for goodness and for profit and for living clean and saying daily prayer.

And now, my good friends, you can sleep nights, I'll continue to stand tall.

You can trust me, for I promise, I shall keep a watchful eye upon ya'll...

Ooh I love to dance a little sidestep, now they see me now they don't-

I've come and gone and, ooh I love to sweep around the wide step,

cut a little swathe and lead the people on.

Now, Miss Nancy, I don't know her, though I've heard the name, oh yes.

But, of course I've no close contact, so what she is doing I can only guess.

And now, Miss Nancy, she's a blemish on the face of that good town.

I am taking certain steps here, someone somewhere's gonna have to close her down.

Ooh I love to dance a little sidestep, now they see me now they don't-

I've come and gone and, ooh I love to sweep around the wide step,

cut a little swathe and lead the people on.

Ooh I love to dance a little sidestep...

And, ooh I love to sweep around the wide step...

Cut a little swathe and lead the people on.

Pray for the Czars

From Fidder on the Roof, "May God bless and keep the Czar...far away from here!" Amen!

Breach of Contract

Five political appointees in black robes do not unmake the Constitution. There is no such thing as the Supreme Court, there are only nine justices. People who are imperfect and biased. When the justices function within the boundaries of the Constitution I respect their opinions. When they stray beyond those boundaries, which they have many times I have no respect for their opinions. They then become part of the problem instead of the solution. It is the duty of the President and Congress to reign in the justices when they exceed their assigned authority. There are many horrific rulings which need to be nullified. They do not own the Constitution or have the final, ultimate say about what it means. The Constitution is a contract between the States, which wrote the Constitution and thus created the Federal Government; and the People. The Supreme Court is not a party to that contract. We can all read it and understand what it means. It's time for the People to take back their Constitution and put the Supreme Court, the Congress and the President in their respective places. Which is the back seat, not the driver's seat.

XXVIII Amendment to the United States Constitution

• All laws, programs, rules and regulations enacted by the Federal Government of the United States shall apply to all federal elected officials, all federal appointed officials and all federal employees and contractors equally and without exception. Yes, it's retroactive.
• Members of Congress and the U.S. Senate, appointed federal officials, and federal employees and contractors shall not have the use of any federal government supplied, contracted or run gymnasium, cafeteria, postal service, hair or beauty salon or any other personal convenience service or facility. They shall mingle with the common folk for all of these services.
• No member of Congress or the U.S. Senate, appointed federal official or federal employee or contractor may use any private or private federal government conveyance or transportation. They shall drive their own private automobiles and ride public or commercial buses, subways, trains, boats, ferries or air transportation. They shall not be given any special parking or special treatment or advancement in line for ticket purchase, check-in, baggage check-in or security checks. They created the T.S.A., let them enjoy it. Reimbursement for purchase of transportation for official federal government business shall be granted if approved by the appropriate supervisor and subject to public open records review and if within budget constraints.
• The Interstate Commerce Clause shall mean only that the Federal Government may intervene in a regulatory capacity to prevent a State from imposing unreasonable, prohibitive tariffs, taxes, fees or surcharges on real tangible goods crossing its border(s) to insure free and fair trade between the States. It does not give the Federal Government freedom to regulate any business in any fashion.
• There are no penumbras or emanations from the original text of the Constitution and its approved Amendments. (R.I.P. William F. Buckley, Jr.).

OK, I'm Only Going to Say This Once...

Drop the illegal aliens and people who can afford health insurance but don't want it, then take the 8-10 million who are left and add them to the current Medicaid program, DONE! For cost savings: Tort/liability reform, de-link health insurance from employment, i.e. portability, make health savings accounts available to everyone, make tax deductibility for premiums available to everyone and allow cross-state competition. That's all we need to do. And get the Feds out of the picture!

A Taxing Question

If the current Congress were in office in 1913 do you think that they would feel it necessary to pass a constitutional amendment (Sixteenth) in order to collect federal income taxes? I doubt it.

Sauce...Goose...Gander?

So Congress disobeys the Constitution without penalty. We disobey the Sixteenth Amendment (Income Tax) and go to jail. Fair? Just wondering...

Obama Health Scare Logo

Why So Ssssssocialissssst?

Vanity Fair
July 29, 2008
George W. Bush: Comic-Book Villain?





Los Angeles, California
August, 2009

I Brought You Into This World...

This question of who is responsible for enforcing the Constitution upon the federal government and how to do it continues to be a vexing one. At this point the federal government basically polices itself and decides if it is obeying the Supreme Law. The Supreme Court essentially provides cover for the Congress and President to do whatever they darn well please. Let's admit it, Supreme Court appointments are political appointments. Period. So we have the fox guarding the hen house, the inmates running the asylum. Eighty percent of the time (my conservative guess) federal legislation or regulation is in direct violation of the Constitution and they tell us that the three branches have checked and are in agreement that everything is kosher. Now butt out, leave us alone. The commerce clause has become one big joke that they use to justify doing whatever in tarnation they please. (speaking of tar...and feathers) If the commerce clause is all that is necessary to justify the federal government doing anything at all, then why the very specific enumerated powers in Article 1, Section 8? And why the Tenth Amendment? Does anyone, or everyone else smell a rat? In fact, the commerce clause really should only empower the federal government to regulate tariffs placed by one state on goods passing through it from one adjoining state to another so as to prevent outrageous tariffs that would be prohibitive to commerce between the various states. That's it. It does not authorize the federal government to enact such things as a federal minimum wage, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, complete regulation of our energy industry or a socialized health care system. The answer is right there in the Tenth Amendment. The people acting through their states must stand up to the federal government and yell 'Whoa!' Governors must inform the federal government that such idiocies as nationalized federal health care will not happen in their states. Period. And governors must be prepared to use their National Guard and any other resources at their disposal to enforce their decisions, if necessary. The states may need to get together and pass further constitutional amendments to clarify the role of and reign in the federal government. Hopefully we will never need to call a constitutional convention, but that is ultimately up to the states, not the feds. The states giveth the Constitution and only the states can taketh away or replace it. The fight to save our Constitution and nation is not in Washington, D.C., but in the state capitals. Now get crackin' governors!

Obama the Transformer

"We are just five days away from fundamentally transforming America."
--October 31, 2008




To...

TINSTAAFL

My freshman year of college, first semester Economics 101 the professor walked in the very first day of class and wrote that on the blackboard (yes, with chalk). He asked if anyone knew what it meant. No one did. He explained that it is the fundamental principle of all economics. There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. Even if you did get your lunch for free, someone somewhere paid for it. Stuff does not materialize out of thin air. Except maybe air, and God provided that. In this current debate over health care, and anything else that the government 'provides' we would be well served to remember TINSTAAFL. The federal government cannot give you anything for free. If they say that they will, remember the family down the street will actually be paying for it out of their milk and bread budget. If someone gets something for nothing then someone else always must get nothing for something. The government cannot give anything that it does not have, and technically speaking it has nothing. It can only take or steal things from those who do have stuff or money. One way is taxation. Or, it can print money, but that just artificially inflates the money supply, decreasing the value of goods and services by the amount of new money, driving up the price and at the end of the day everything is a wash. We can borrow money from China to pay to give you stuff (well, they used to be willing to loan to us), but we still have to tax your neighbor to service the debt: pay the interest and eventually pay back the principal (yeah, right). The old saw goes that a government that has the power to give you everything that you want will also have the power to take everything that you have. Think about it, they must have the power to take everything that you and your neighbors have if they are going to give other people things for free. If they don't have that power and exercise it then they cannot give other people stuff for free. Remember, they don't create stuff or wealth, they only redistribute it. That is the process of socialism and it by necessity results in the equal sharing of poverty. It brings everyone down to the lowest common level of existence. Because it creates a climate of disincentives for business and private wealth creation due to high taxation/confiscation, the amount of overall wealth in a society declines. Over time there is less and less to redistribute. Business is driven off-shore and overseas. Taxes continue to rise as service levels fall. Scarce goods and services now must be rationed. Look around the world. Every country that has tried this has come to ruin or is in decline. By contrast, things such as private health insurance are voluntary agreements between citizens to pool their money and pay for major medical expenses incurred by those in the pool. Participants can drop out at any time and are not forced to participate if they choose not to. You have no constitutional or natural right to the money or stuff that your neighbors have acquired or created. You can provide for yourself or ask your neighbors for a handout, but don't beseech the government to go to your neighbors with a gun and demand that they give you stuff. That's immoral. If people are truly disadvantaged through no fault of their own, we have always and will always help these folks out. But still, it is much more efficient to do that through private charity than government fiat. In this debate we able-bodied Americans must focus not on what we can wrest from our neighbors but on how we can best provide for ourselves and families and then give what we can to help the really needy among us.

What Can We Do?

What can we do?
This is the question so many ordinary citizens are asking these days as they see our Constitution being shredded and trashed. What, indeed? Our society has devolved to the nadir where far too many people believe that if they want something done then the federal government can and should do it. The idea of the federal government being constrained by the Constitution is a foreign concept to them thanks to 50 years of inadequate and sometimes intentionally misleading establishment education. Sadly, it’s a foreign concept to the current president and his administration, the federal bureaucracy, federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court and the Congress. They snicker and laugh at those of us who wave the hallowed document in their faces and yell ‘Whoa!’ We are hayseeds, tossed aside as anachronistic throwbacks to a simpler time. Don’t we know that the Constitution is a ‘living’ document that ‘evolves’ to meet the needs of the current generation? Well, truth-be-told it evolves only by the amendment process which has happened only 27 times since 1788. While Supreme Court rulings are important things, they do not amend the Constitution, formally or informally. The Supreme Court allegedly strains to properly interpret the Constitution and apply its tenets to specific cases before it. At the point the Court crosses the line from interpretation to amendment it is incumbent upon the President, Congress, the States or the People to reign it back in across the line. Such was the case with the recent Kelo decision where the Court magically changed the meaning of public to private. Congress subsequently passed a federal law to reverse the Court’s ruling in the federal land use arena. But what were five supposedly intelligent Supreme Court justices thinking? They violated the supreme federal law of the land. That I called for their impeachment and removal from the Court was viewed as silliness by many. They are charged with upholding the supreme law of the land and turn around and knowingly violate it! If that doesn’t constitute high crimes and misdemeanors, what does? If we don’t truly believe in being a nation of laws rather than men then why feign having a Constitution in the first place? If we are not going to enforce our laws why have them?
Beyond the antics of the Court, though; is the bigger issue of the Congress and President conspiring (yes, conspiring) to pass sweeping legislation and perhaps irrevocably alter the fabric of our society in ways that are not permitted by our Constitution and would never have been tolerated in saner times. Their explanation? The People want these things and they want the federal government to do them. And they are happy to oblige because it imbues the ruling regime with enormous power; which is the goal of professional politicians, whether right or left, conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat. We are witnessing the rise of raw democracy which is straight majority rule which is ultimately mob rule—tyranny by any other name. It is the tyranny of the majority over the minority. As Thomas Jefferson remarked, “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” For this reason our federal government was established as a representative republic within a constitutional framework. Representative republic since not every citizen could conceivably participate in debate and vote on every issue before the federal government. Thus, we would elect representatives to act in that capacity on our behalf. Constitutional framework so that the federal government could only do those things which the States, having established the federal government for their collective benefit; specifically enumerate and permit. Those things and no more save a constitutional amendment. It is this constitutional framework which ostensibly protects the political minority from shenanigans of the political majority in power. The federal government is not permitted, by virtue of the States speaking through the Constitution in Article I, Section 8; to do simply anything that is decides to do, even if the People profess a desire for such. The People can effect a constitutional amendment through the Congress or the States to empower the federal government in a new desired area, or this power and authority to act falls upon the States in their separate state legislatures by virtue of the 10th Amendment. Thus the idea of the States as laboratories of change. One needs to understand the perspective that the States created the federal government to serve their collective needs, not vice versa. The federal government is lesser than and subservient to the States. The States are not creations or subdivisions of the federal government. They do not serve it. They are sovereign entities with their own constitutions and bodies of law which existed before the federal constitution and federal laws (in the case of the original thirteen). The President actually serves the States primarily, not the People at large. This is the reason for the Electoral College method of electing the President. U.S. Senators were originally selected by the State legislatures and paid by their respective States since that is who they represented. This was later changed by constitutional amendment. The People’s House, the House of Representatives is the federal body which was designed to provide representation for the People.
This is all well and good when the players, majority and minority alike agree to act honorably and respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. Unfortunately when one side gains a majority and decides to abandon obedience to constitutional constraints without real opposition from other complicit branches of government the situation rapidly runs tragically amok. The rights of the minority are trampled and new federal institutions gain a toe-hold which become virtually impossible to unhinge as the bloated bureaucracies underpinning them grow without bounds. Just look to Social Security, Medicare or the federal Minimum Wage. All are unconstitutional in the strict sense, yet have become so entrenched within our national psyche that just to mention reforming them is taboo, much less eliminating them. The prospect of a new federal health care system stretches the limit of constitutional credulity.
The challenge is that once the camel gets its nose under the tent it becomes virtually impossible to keep the rest of the beast out. After the first and second patently unconstitutional programs become the norm the People come to expect and tolerate more and more. The thrill of breaking the law soon wears off and the mind quickly adapts to the new set-point. Why not, everybody’s doing it? In my mind once the federal government violates one tenet of the Constitution with impunity, the document in whole has been rendered null-and-void. You cannot pick and choose which parts to obey and which to ignore. It’s an all-or-none proposition, kind of like the nonsensical idea of being a little bit pregnant. We are now adrift on the high seas in a life raft with no rudder. I believe that we left the Constitution in the early years of the 20th Century. We have been in free-fall since. Unfortunately all three branches of the federal government are guilty in this unholy alliance and enable the others by their lack of action, egged on by the ever-present bureaucracy. I believe that most of what the federal government does and spends today is in direct violation of the Constitution. If the Founders had meant for the federal government to have unfettered power they would not have written the enumerated powers in Article I, Section 8 or added the 10th Amendment for emphasis. I believe that they would be appalled and outraged at the sad state of affairs today. They would be incensed that We the People have forfeited so much of the liberty which they paid so dearly to obtain for us.
So, back to the original question; what can we do?
One school says to better educate the People and try to send more responsible politicians to Washington. I would argue that we have lost the education initiative and if it could be regained might take 50 years or more. Frankly, we don’t have that much time. Bad things have already become entrenched and the pace of growth of new over-arching programs is accelerating. We have been trying to send better politicians to Washington for over 200 years and the situation is only getting worse. While Presidents, Congressmen and Senators come and go, the entrenched federal bureaucracy remains lumbering on, resisting all change and reform and devouring well-meaning politicians like so much icing on the cake. The federal monster has taken on a life of its own. When the People fear their federal government (just say I.R.S. in a crowded room) more than the federal government (those people hired and paid by us to serve us—public servant?) fears the People, things are terribly amiss. Now they are talking about taxing the very air that we all exhale (carbon dioxide) and putting GPS devices in our cars to track our movements in order to tax our mileage—right! Are you kidding me?!
On the other end of the spectrum are the wackos advocating armed insurrection against the federal government. These are the militia movement types. I categorically rebuke that solution at this point in time. Yes, we fought a Revolutionary War as renegades and took up arms against each other during the Civil War. Both at great loss of life and both for admirable causes. At the time both were tragically necessary. I cannot absolutely rule out that at some future time such things could happen again in this country. People and human nature never change. But this is not the time to discuss such avenues. The situation is not that bleak and other less extreme options have not been exhausted. Just don’t let them erode or repeal our Second Amendment rights!
Another road is that of civil disobedience. Not riots or violent, disruptive events, but rather large groups of level-headed citizens refusing to obey or participate in what they deem to be obviously unconstitutional behavior, programs or laws. Such things as withholding income tax payments (expect that the People never demanded that the federal government repeal employer income tax withholding after the end of WWII). It’s rather difficult to withhold payments when you never receive the money in the first place, but businesses could refuse to withhold and send in the payments. Perhaps it would be refusing to participate in a federal health care system either as a provider, employer or patient. I am not advocating any of these activities and it would take such massive education and participation to be effective that they might not be realistically feasible at all; but they are theoretically possible. It would have to be something big enough to get the politicians attention and painful enough to force constitutionally conforming behavior in them. Cutting off their money is the biggie since money is the mother’s milk of politics. It is a major source of political power.
Some have proposed challenging the egregious federal over-reaching in the courts. The trouble with this choice is that the courts have become part of the problem. Let’s face it, judges are political appointees and have come to reflect the statist drift of the federal government over the years. The courts, including the Supreme Court have made it possible for the Congress and President to work hand-in-glove in carving out more and more power for the federal government at the expense of the People and the States. Activist judges now legislate from the bench rather than merely rule on the question of law in the case before them. This is clearly unconstitutional. Cases move slowly through the court system and far too much significance is placed on prior court rulings than on the actual text of the Constitution. Talk about the blind leading the blind!
The route I would advocate is that of a resurgence of State power over the federal government. Let us remember, we are the United STATES of America. The States created the federal government. It is a law of nature that that which is created cannot be greater than that which created it. The President serves the States and according to the 10th Amendment, all government power except for a handful of very specific items clearly enumerated in Article I, Section 8 are reserved to the States and the People. Just because the People want the federal government to do something does not mean that it legally can do that thing and certainly does not mean that it should or even could that thing. Just look at what a stellar job the feds have done with Medicare and Social Security. They are both patently bankrupt. Remember, a government that has the power to give you everything you want would also have the power to take away from you everything you have, particularly your money and your freedom and liberty. For most things needed from a government (and those should be few) people should look first to their local and state governments. The government closest to the problem and to the People is usually the one best suited to solve the problem or provide the service. Does anyone doubt that your city government can do a better job running your city bus service than the federal government could possibly do? And the best solution might be putting out contracts with private bus companies. You will have more control over that decision with your city council than with the Congress of the United States. If you don’t like the decision you will probably have much more influence with your city council representative than your Congressman. You might even run and unseat your city council representative.
So exactly what power could the States (provided we were able to educate the people and get enough state legislatures to work together for this cause) exert over the federal government? How do average citizens compel their states to act? I certainly do not foresee or advocate the calling of a Constitutional Convention, a route fraught with all sorts of pitfalls. We want to put the runaway federal genie back into the constitutional bottle, not open Pandora’s Box. The current Constitution is more than adequate, we should just follow it. It is really a very sad day when the government officials responsible for defending our borders and our Constitution and enforcing the laws of the land will not even obey the most sacred, fundamental and supreme law of our land themselves. When I read the Constitution I am struck by the fact that there aren’t any enforcement methods or penalties for disobedience written into it. I must imagine that the writers could not remotely conceive of public servants so much as thinking of disobeying any of its dictums, much less flagrantly disobeying them. They probably could not fathom such behavior. To them it would be obvious treason and probably dealt with swiftly, publicly and with overwhelming severity. I imagine they saw it as almost a sacred document to be revered and probably even somewhat feared. More a pillar of marble than one of silly-putty that today’s politicians and judges make of it. It now falls to us, the People and the States to somehow enforce the supreme law of the land upon the wayward and recalcitrant servants and guardians of that very law for straying from it. God help us. So, what can the states really do? Well, here are some thoughts:

• Secession
• Constitutional Amendments
• Refuse to accept federal money: Highway, medical, food stamps, civil projects,
etc.
• Refuse to pay federal fees, tariffs, taxes, etc.
• Evict federal offices (Courts, IRS, etc.) from state
• Withhold national guard from federal service
• Control state borders
• Reclaim federal lands as state property
• Refuse to participate in federal initiatives such as federal health care, cap &
trade, etc.
• Do not permit the enforcement of federal executive branch regulations on people,
private businesses or state/local government entities.
• Do not permit any federal inspections of anything within the state.
• Demand property tax for military bases, national parks, etc.


“…That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security… .”

May God have mercy upon us all.