Are We Out of Options ?
23 March 2012
Posted
by William Kennedy
http://tenthamendmentcenter.com
Let’s face it, the federal government (the Administrative State) is broken.
It is dysfunctional, unconstitutional, careening towards a cliff at breakneck speed, and if it is not stopped, it will drag us all down with it. Am I being too harsh? Am I flat out wrong? Or am I saying what a lot of you are thinking?
We have been watching this process as it has pickup speed since the sixties, but it has really taken off since 9-11. For those who believe in big government and they sit on both sides of the aisle, 9-11 was a crisis too good to let go to waste. In the name of security we have seen a federal government grow like a black hole sucking in state powers, sovereignty and our liberties.
But they tell us it’s for our own good, you know, “to keep us safe from the bad guys.”
If I am spied on, arrested and thrown in jail indefinitely, have my free speech curtailed, am not allowed to show my displeasure at the government, and finally I can be killed at the pleasure of the government, does it really matter if it was done by “bad guys” the or the “good guys?”
So, what do we do about it? Well let’s look at the ways that we have up to this point used to express our displeasure with the federal government.
Option #1
I think it was best said by Joel Poindexter in This time, let’s do something that works!
Unhappy with the direction the country has been moving, there is a large and growing constituency of voters who are in search of a solution, or remedy, if you will. Some have caught onto the fact that voting bums out only gets us more bums, but most are convinced that we just need the right bums in charge. Apparently the last 1800 senators and 10,000 representatives weren’t enough to convince these voters that perhaps there’s more to the problem than just the people in charge.
I got a little more of the “we need new bums” when I sat through another sound bite a minute candidates forum for U.S. Congress. I’m not saying these people were not sincere, but what’s with the “I have a (fill in the number) point plan” that lists all these things that they will repeal when they get to Washington? What is the office they are running for, dictator? The last I knew, they would be just be one of 435 Representatives, and they would need to convince a majority of them and the Senate and the President to repeal some of this stuff. Let’s face it, that’s not likely!
So that’s it - just elect me and all will be well, and you can all just sit back relax, cause I have got it covered!
Option one hasn't worked out well so far hasn’t it?
Option #2
You have seen this dozens of times and it usually is accompanied with a plea for a donation to “our group so that we can reach even more people to spread the word.” Option two is petition, protest, and lobby, or let’s just call it what it really is, beg your federal congressman.
Well, let’s see the success rate on that one using the biggest expansion of the federal government beyond the bounds of the Constitution in perhaps American history, with its encroachment on your freedom – Obamacare. Phone calls, petitions and Town Hall protests were running hundreds if not thousands to one against this legislation, did it stop it? No, of course not. There was too much backdoor wheeling and dealing, and political arm twisting, and your opinion just didn’t really matter.
Option two not working out either, so what is next?
Option #3
Now this one will work, right? It’s got too because we are out of options, right? So, here goes, it’s that tried and true option three, the one that never fails to save our freedoms from the overreaching federal government – litigate/sue!
Or in everyday parlance, beg the federal courts. Don’t you just love all this begging?
What could go wrong with this option? We go hat in hand to federal judges (lawyers) that were nominated by the President (federal government) and confirmed by the Senate (federal government) with a life time appointments to the Judiciary (federal government), who are collecting a federal government paycheck and ask them to limit the power of the federal government.
Really, that is it – option three. Nobody out their see the flaw in this option? When you do not win in the courts what is the battle cry? Well just wait till “we” have control of the presidency and the Senate and then we will get the judges we want.
Please refer back to option one.
So far option #3 is not working out. But maybe instead of options we really should be calling these what they are, strikes – as in strike 3 and you are out!
Just submit to your federal overlord’s because they know best, your opinion is not needed here just move along! Maybe it is best stated by C. S. Lewis,
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”
Now you can waste a lot of time and energy trying these three options that only will work if they will let you win which is not likely, but I like to just jump to the option that will work whether they like it or not, it is what any three year old can do just say, NO!
Option #4
First a few quotes from the founders who were seeking ratification of the Constitution to set the stage for just saying NO!
Henry Lee, “It goes on the principal that all power is in the people, and that rulers have no powers but what are enumerated in that paper. When a question arises with respect to the legality of any power, exercised or assumed by Congress, it is plain on the side of the governed. Is it enumerated in the Constitution? If it be, it is legal and just. It is otherwise arbitrary and unconstitutional.”
George Nicholas, “the powers granted under the Constitution, being derived from the people of the United States may be resumed by them whensoever the same shall be perverted to their injury or oppression.”
Even before the Constitution was ratified it was understood that the states, and ultimately the people, and not the new general government, were in charge. Later this understanding was expounded upon by two of our most famous founders.
“and that in case of a deliberate, palpable, and dangerous exercise of other powers, not granted by the said compact, the states who are parties thereto, have the right, and are in duty bound, to interpose for arresting the progress of the evil, and for maintaining within their respective limits, the authorities, rights and liberties appertaining to them.”- James Madison, Virginia Resolutions, 1798
The Kentucky Resolutions of 1798-99 were based on the ideas of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison wherein it is stated: “… that the general government is the exclusive judge of the extent of the powers delegated to it, stop nothing short of despotism – since the discretion of those who administer the government, and not the Constitution, would be the measure of their powers. That the several states who formed that instrument, being sovereign and independent, have the unquestionable right to judge of its infraction; and, That a nullification, by those sovereignties, of all unauthorized acts done under color of that instrument, is the rightful remedy.”
The best way to tell you what interposition or nullification is, is by telling you what it is not.
“Nullification is not secession or insurrection, but neither is it unconditional or unlimited submission. Nullification is not something that requires any decision, statement or action from any branch of the federal government. Nullification is not the result of obtaining a favorable court ruling. Nullification is not the petitioning of the federal government to start doing or to stop doing anything. Nullification doesn’t depend on any federal law being repealed. Nullification does not require permission from any person or institution outside of one’s own state. “
If that is what it is not, then what is nullification?
“Nullification begins with a decision made in your state legislature to resist a federal law deemed to be unconstitutional. It usually involves a bill, which is passed by both houses and is signed by your governor. In some cases, it might be approved by the voters of your state directly, in a referendum. It may change your state’s statutory law or it might even amend your state constitution. It is a refusal on the part of your state government to cooperate with, or enforce any federal law it deems to be unconstitutional.”
“Nullification carries with it the force of state law. It cannot be legally repealed by Congress without amending the US Constitution. It cannot be lawfully abolished by an executive order. It cannot be overruled by the Supreme Court. It is the people of a state asserting their constitutional rights by acting as a political society in their highest sovereign capacity. It is the moderate, middle way that wisely avoids harsh remedies like secession on the one hand and slavish, unlimited submission on the other. It is the constitutional remedy for unconstitutional federal laws.“ Nullification: It’s Official by Derek Sheriff
also: Please look at: InPower.com to help combat the administrative state !!
Become a member and support the TAC!
That is the essence of Option #4, it only requires state legislators and a governor that will to stand up for their citizens. Now the question is have YOU elected people to your state that will stand up for the Tenth Amendment, State Sovereignty and your rights?
And one finial quote from Samuel Adams for those who don’t want to stand up to the federal government and assert your God given rights,
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom – go home from us in peace. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!”
William Kennedy is the State Chapter Coordinator for the North Carolina Tenth Amendment Center. A strong supporter of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights with special emphasis on State Sovereignty protected by the Tenth Amendment.
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COMMENTS
West Texan
Nullification? Is it legal? Says who? My criminal justice professor and lawyer friend always reminds me of Article 6, section 2. Don't get me wrong, I'm on your side of the divide. My question to him is why have the 9th and 10th amendments if the federal government can exercise absolute power? My guess is our founders wanted to confine the "... supreme law of the land" to those specified functions stated in the U.S. Constitution's preamble, to PROVIDE for the common defense and PROMOTE the GENERAL welfare for the individual states. Wilson's administration sure upheld that standard when adding the 17th amendment, NOT! State administrators lost their voice at the national level with its passage. Why duplicate the people's national voice? They had their say with with state representatives. Anyway, that's another topic.
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ginaann
How many people on this site shop regularly at Walmart or buy food off of typical grocery shelves produced from Big-Agriculture Factories processed from GMOs with chemicals and oil from Big Corps--and then wonder why they are sick so buy synthetic drugs pushed by Big Pharma? Every dollar is a vote. Until people stop patronizing giant corporations--corporations will continue to own the people--and the government. People need to stop depending on the very corporations that are killing them. I regained my health by buying food from local farmers and producers--and I spend far less money and enjoy life more. Yes, it does all come down to the choices of the people.
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WilliamSchooler
Though I agree with number 4 it is far from the whole picture since state Governments can be found to have the same issues our Federal G is doing, expanding themselves. Luckily the budget bust recently is causing a bit of a subtraction, though not impressed yet I have started the starve the bitch program at my house because of the out of control spending of our state Governor. It is truly out of hand but further than this I did my first ever seminar and a whopping two people showed up which is two more than I started with. But I have other duties prescribed for all of us to do because it is the basis for this country for our constitution and is the reason we are America at all. I am teaching the Declaration of Independence as I learned it, for different from how most have taught it. I am teaching it as a applicable document to be used in decision making for the constitution and the actions we do in our communities. To become of strength and take over city meetings and turn them into true public meetings. This is not the case today, today it is 5 minutes which is no way to state a case period.
For the record my two turned out to be very challenging because of all the old decisions but when I was done they were very happy they attended and they said we will work to bring more, The Declaration of Independence in our most important document next to the Constitution. When Liberty fails the warnings given become visual to experience. It is good to know this document as a tool of choice, for choice and the primary key to choice in America. The reasons I give are hard to argue and can be learned by anyone willing to learn.
Together with Nullification, together with the Reclamation Project x project to correct our Constitution and together the other life in this country that chooses this direction we shall prosper. Our enemy only prevails because they are true to their principals, they have many supporting them and most of us are going to have to give up some of their ideas to fully support ours. We have in our midst everything they have, the ability to create ideas and the will to decide. Force and momentum are persistent numbers in a direction, the more numbers the more persistence the more force is carries. We simply lack the basics and it us up to us to put these into our decision pot. Choice holds the key to all things and I will give you this lesson to discover what I mean for yourself.
I want you to look around the room you are in and find every item that is an idea, now I want you to ask yourself if all these items were then decided upon before they were brought into existence? If you get this, if you discover the truth will you realize the force you personally hold, now magnify this by thousands.
All good choices are in support of LIFE, a living entity able to create ideas and decide ideas to cause these things to take place. It is good to know yourself, my passion of me will be the passion I share with you and we can become a true force to be reckoned with in all honesty. The time is now, people are more ready than you know and it is time we educate ourselves without the old ideas of savages, those pesky financiers of ignorance.
So no we are not out of options unless we decide we are and then for sure we are, I refuse to decide that way because I know better and I know why and you should too. Read this document, find the original draft and read it, figure out what all these things are and use these for choice. If you think I am crazy you should, anyone willing to take on this crap has to be, so I join with the rest of you who are crazy, crazy about life that is.
From A Producing American
William Schooler, delivery possible.
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ThePainefulTruth
WilliamSchooler Unfotunately YOU are Soooo far Behind in the Discovery and Awareness Process and have such Weak and Unsound Reasoning and Communication Capabilities that the Best thing YOU can Do to Help the Struggle and Cause of Liberty in the Present Effort is "Contribute" to the sites that ARE Strong in Soundness of Reasoning and Depth of Knowledge of the Principles and Guiding Documents of Liberty . You don't ADD any Clarity of Thought or Share any Insight of Importance nor Demonstrate enough WISDOM to Carry the Mantle of Credibility and Respectability . So WHY Muck up the Political Scene with Your Dull and Enervating Ideas and Thinking , which can ONLY Reduce the Ongoing Discourse to a Social Din of Collective Confusion based on Unwitting Opinion of Insignificant and Debased content . So Take Your Lame EGO and Stuff it in the nearest trash can , Put on your Big Boy Pants , Close your Mouth , Pay attention , Watch the Informed and Enlightened activists ALREADY Carrying the Torch you tell yourself that YOU are Carrying and then Maybe YOU will Get up to Speed in the WISDOM necessary to Deal in the Craft of Politics and Social Engineering .
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OldWarhorse
There's only one solution to stop the Federal government in its tracks..stop any and all payments to the IRS! Companies stop making payroll deductions and don't individuals worry about their tax refunds because without the IRS they'll be better off than any refund due them this year. The Federal government is only as good as we allow it to be by paying for them to function and the day we (I mean every real patriotic American taxpayer) say enough is the day we can begin a road to really recovering our rights/freedoms within a Constitutional Republic. All other options are only illusions..period!
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shouldn't there be a No Parking No Stopping No Standing sign on the sign post as well
I keep saying, Here comes civil war II. And this time is going to be a very big one.And we the people will win this one to. We the people are on Gods side,Just like last time.Good always wins over evil every time. Psalms 7:11 God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. Psalms 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God
No, No & Yes!
I agree and I'm very concerned about the future for our children and grandchildren!
WOW!!! I just finished reading the " options " article. I had no idea that nullification was such a powerful weapon to use against Federal encroachments.
Shh! You made me lose count! I'm loading magazines...
It's time to rattle the cages at the State Legislatures.... We, the People need resolution and it will only come from those who are willing to Say NO! If We the People can but get our State Legislatures to ACT, which is their SWORN DUTY, then there is HOPE for the Future of These United States of America..!
Ron Paul 2012 The only one thats not a Wall Street insider.
It needs to be "abolished" yesterday.
You are saying exactly what I am thinking!
In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
The lemmings and the sheeple will ride the gravy train right over the cliff as long as the party line is still that they're entitled to whatever they want and they don't need to be responsible for themselves. Baaaaa! Baa baaa! :( Unfortunately they're taking the rest of us down with them.
our last hope without violence is ron paul.
Unfortunately you're right on the money...
As long as there’s a dollar menu, and Dancing with the Stars, nobody cares.
Buy more bullets.
Nope, not harsh. Truth. The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off. ;-)