Do we still believe in the document we call the Constitution?

[Richard Riley]

The present landscape we have in the United States is interesting to say the least. We have an entire bushel basket full of ideological names entrenched in diametrically opposed camps grinding our ability to govern through this economic mess to a very slow crawl. Take your pick of the participating sides ….. Conservative*progressive, republican*democrat, pro-life*pro-choice, right*left, anti-union*pro-union, federal government*state government, local organization*local government, the list just continues to swell. If we take several steps back and look at the driving force behind all this divisive rhetoric, it appears the root cause points to ’social issues’ and ideology. All the finger wagging and raised voices will not resolve the issues we presently face - and sadly both sides know that but put more importance in their side 'winning' at the expense of the country at large.

If you examine and follow the Constitution, you find the founders of our great nation decided to leave all the ’social issues’ for the people to decide — remove the Government’s heavy hand out of that part of the process, in the same manor that the founders approached religion. The Constitution is designed specifically to protect the people FROM government; it does not grant the government ANY power OVER the people. There is no fine print that permits government interference or intrusion for any reason. We do not have a monarchy or dictatorship for that very reason. We need to diligently search for a way to separate the belief that social issues have any place in the government process and stick to the basics of what our government was created for.

 

“Today, when a concerted effort is made to obliterate this point, it cannot be repeated too often that the Constitution is a limitation on the government, not on private individuals — it does not prescribe the conduct of private individuals, only the conduct of the government — it is not a charter FOR government power, but a charter of the citizen’s protection AGAINST the government.” — Ayn Rand

 

The constitution is the very definition of our government here in the United States. It defines our LEGITIMATE form of government. It set up a Senate, a House of Representatives (collectively referred to as Congress), the President, and a Court. Without this document, all that does not exist. That is why those in congress pay ‘lip service’ to the constitution today. It also sets the rules for the conduct of these branches of government.  In this case, specific duties and parameters for those occupying the offices are defined in very concise terms. This is one of the parts our elected elitists are very unhappy about.   Yet another issue rests with the infamous “Commerce Clause”. Once again, if we understand that the Constitution was written to protect the people FROM the Government, then where on God’s green earth do the political elites believe they derive the power to force the people to DO anything? We look at taxation … how is that any different than robbing Peter to Pay Paul? What in the world did Paul Do to earn his payment anyway?  Why rob Peter? Why rob anyone? The laundry list of injuries to the people of the United States by this man made elitist constructed bureaucracy is mind-boggling.

 

Remember this statement:
“When the government fears the people, you have liberty. When the people fear the government [or the IRS, or any other ‘arm’ of the government for that matter], you have Tyranny.”
(Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence of the United States)

So if we can somehow manage to leave the social issues out of the equation and stick to the absolute basics, we may find the ability to slowly bring this runaway government back to its original intent in a peaceful, non-violent process. The political elites will be extremely unhappy about that course of events, but the United States of America will be better off for it and Lady Liberty will be able to hold her head up high once again.

Original 2009 Nov