Posted by
Mike Griffin on Sunday, April 19, 2009 7:42:41 PM
A New Declaration of Independence
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.”
Congress is the New Aristocracy
Members of Congress look after their own interests first, those of their campaign contributors next and, only when it suits their purposes, their constituents’ interests. All of them, Republicans and Democrats alike, seem to base their every decision and action on one standard: “will this help me get re-elected?” They often behave as if they have a divine right to be there in perpetuity, like the 18th century European aristocracy against whom we rebelled in 1776. Some members have been there for over half a century. We need to loudly and clearly remind them that they serve at our pleasure and that we are not their servants.
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”?