We have for too long ceded our liberty and power to the very government that was established to secure them. We have failed to stand up to the politicians or have acquiesced to their power grabs, because we wanted them to “give” us something (as if they could do so without first taking something away). It is time for “We the People” to take back our “unalienable rights (Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness)” before we lose them entirely. It is time to take back the power that we have let the federal government usurp from us. It is time for a “New Declaration of Independence.”

Six Years Then Out

In 1951 the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. It specifies that “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice”. This is a good thing. The President is not a king who rules until death. We fought a war to rid ourselves of a king, so why elect one? If we don’t elect kings, why should we elect dukes and duchesses? No individual should be permitted to hold a Congressional office for more than six years.

Let’s Make a Deal for Term Limits in 2010

No politician is ever going to willingly give up power. But where does their power come from? WE give it to them, and WE can take it away! Just as the President has the power to veto legislation sent to him by Congress, WE hold veto power over Congress. Just rearrange the letters and VETO becomes VOTE. We can veto Congress by voting them out of office.

The Offer:  Let’s ask every member of Congress to vote for a six-year term limits amendment and have it signed by the President by September 30, 2010. In return, let’s commit to re-elect every member of Congress who votes for the term limits legislation. We should do so even if this means voting for someone for whom you would not otherwise vote (i.e., Democrats for Republicans and vice versa).

The Consequences:  In November, 2010 we should vote against every Congressman and Senator who fails to vote for legislation authorizing Congressional term limits. Additionally, if it is passed by Congress but not signed by the President, we should vote to remove every one of them. Again, we should do so regardless of our usual political affiliations. We should keep replacing them every two years until they get the message that they work for us, not the other way around, and they pass a constitutional amendment for Congressional term limits.

Do What is Best for the Future of the Country:  “But”, you might say, “won’t I have to vote against a Congressman or Senator that I really like (or for one that I really dislike)?” The short answer is, “Yes”. But this nation will better off in the long run if we can break the grip of the Congressional aristocracy on our individual freedom. Isn’t this really more important than any narrow self-interest we might have in the short term? Won’t our descendants benefit from inheriting a country in which liberty is the natural state? Our Founding Fathers thought so and risked their lives to create such a country. A distasteful vote with a relatively short-term impact is a small sacrifice in comparison to what they did.

Get Ready to Fight

Make no mistake: the politicians will not go down without a fight. They will put as many roadblocks in front of us as they can. They will threaten us, lie to us, cajole us, delay taking action and do everything they can to distract us from this mission. Various interest groups which hope to get Congress to advance their agendas will open their checkbooks and pull out all stops to dissuade you from seeking to limit the power of the government. But neither they nor Congress can tell you how to vote. They cannot look over your shoulder when you cast your ballot (not yet, anyway).

So, be not afraid. Stand up to them. Take back your liberty. We can do it if we set our minds to do so. Will you join me in making a “New Declaration of Independence”?

I was not happy to see that one of the scheduled speakers was Luke Esser, Chairman of the Washington state Republican Party. I have nothing against Mr. Esser personally. I had a nice chat with him on my front porch a number of years ago when he was door-belling my neighborhood seeking support for his run for the state legislature (and I voted for him). Given that this event was sponsored by a group of Republican supporters it’s not surprising that Mr. Esser was invited. To his credit, he did not try to turn the rally into a recruitment drive for the GOP. What irked me was the fact that any politician was allowed to speak.

The Tea Parties are a grassroots movement fueled by anger at what politicians of both major political parties are doing to this country. The people I spoke with are just as upset with the Republicans as they are with the Democrats. We all watched with growing dismay as the Republican-controlled Congress went on a massive spending spree during the recent Bush administration. It doesn’t surprise us when Democrats do it, but many of us expected better from the Republicans. I guess we were wrong.

All of my adult life I have voted for Republican candidates for offices in all levels of government and have contributed money to their campaigns from time to time. I guess that makes me a Republican. But neither Mr. Esser, nor Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee or any Republican office seeker can take my continued support for granted. From now on, it has a price tag.

In my view, the outrageous spending and ever increasing intrusion into our lives by government at all levels are not caused by “Democrats” or “Republicans” – those are just labels. No, the real source of the problem is the professional politician! Congress is filled with people who have been there for decades, a prime example being Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia who first entered Congress in 1953 – the year that Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of England. That is far too long for one individual to hold any position of power. Such a person becomes disconnected from the “ordinary folks” and comes to think he or she knows what is best for them and has the right to impose it on them, even against their wishes.

In 1951 the Twenty Second Amendment to the Constitution, which states that “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice”, was ratified. It is time for another amendment limiting the number of years anyone can serve in Congress. If it’s fair for the President, it’s fair for the House and Senate as well. I suggest that six years should be the limit. That’s three House terms or one Senate terms. (We might want to change the length of those terms, currently two years for the House and six for the Senate, but that’s a detail to be worked on as the amendment is drafted.)

So, Mr. Esser and Mr. Steele, this is the price for my continued support of the Republican Party: make the passage and ratification of a constitutional amendment limiting Congressional tenure a major goal of the GOP platform. Do whatever it takes to have a legislative bill introduced in the House or the Senate and to get every current Republican member of Congress to vote for it by September 30, 2010. If you can’t get such a bill brought to a vote (which is likely with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in charge) then issue a resolution calling for such an amendment. But keep pressing until it happens. If you do this, I will vote Republican in the November 2010 election. If you don’t, I won’t – it’s that simple. And I will stick with this policy until a term limits amendment becomes part of the Constitution. I want to keep voting for Republican candidates. I just want to pick new ones every few years.

I know this idea is scary. It is a major change that will upset the existing power structure. It will be strongly resisted by members and supporters of both major political parties. But consider the underlying message of the Tea Parties – we are looking for responsible and rational leadership! I’m willing to make a sizeable bet that the first political party to champion a Congressional term limits amendment will get overwhelming support from the people of this country. So, step up to the plate and hit a home run! Be the leaders we are seeking.

To the readers, this is my “Declaration of Independence” from the burden of the professional politicians. It matters not whether you are a Republican, a Democrat, or a member of any other political party. In my opinion we will all benefit from having new faces and new ideas in Congress on a frequent basis. I hope you will join me in the effort to take back control of our federal government, which is rightfully ours as stated in the Constitution. Let your voices be heard.