For all of my Tea Party/Libertarian/Conservative Constitutionalists:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
I start with the premise that the government is THE PEOPLE; not some big mysterious “thing” that formed from a void. I believe that the definition of “Form[ing] a more perfect Union” has more to do with the people banding together to watch out for each other than it does to separate us into an “each man for himself” society. I do not believe that we can choose to ignore any part of the reason this government was formed and this constitution written. Many dwell on the “JUSTICE”, “DEFENCE”, and “BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY” parts while totally ignoring the “DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY” and “GENERAL WELFARE” parts.
For all of those who would suggest that taxes are somehow evil and that “our founders did not intend for a ‘Big Government’
“Section 8 - Powers of Congress
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;”
It has always seemed to me that the biggest difference between the conservative and progressive viewpoint has been in defining “the general Welfare.” I have taken (and continue to hold to) the position that it is the primary function of our government (our “collective society”) to protect and defend our common freedoms and liberty by ensuring a level playing field for each citizen’s “pursuit of happiness.” Many who today would decry universal healthcare have no problem with funding a fire department or police force. So many among us would dismantle “public education” and yet have no problem with a full time standing military. Yet each of these things contribute to the general welfare of our nation; for how can one be truly free and partake in the “blessings of liberty” if they are denied access to quality healthcare and education. Indeed, how can our nation expect to grow and prosper unless all of our citizens are able to participate to their fullest ability?
Today I hear the argument (from both the Republicans and far too many Democrats) that the purpose of government is to enable business so that business can bestow its blessings on the people. The argument for unregulated/unfettered Capitalism rings throughout the land. And yet; I can find no example in history where such a socio-economic system has sustained a free and Democratic society. In fact, at the time the United States was being settled by European immigrants, many were actually fleeing the oppression of such a society where the rich business and landowners controlled every aspect of human endeavor. For many, there is a notion that “Business” has a heart and soul and will exhibit a benevolent spirit if left to its own designs. I suppose if you are told that vinegar is sweet enough times, you may actually come to believe it is so – until you taste the vinegar. Twice in recent history, this country has tasted the vinegar – once in the late 1920s and then again during the first decade of the 2000s. Left to their own devices, it is the purpose of business (as well as their legal obligation) to reap profit for their stockholders. If there is any doubt about this, simply take a look at the profit margins of every major corporation doing business in this country and compare those numbers to the unemployment rate and the related foreclosure and bankruptcy rates. Trickle down? Let’s talk about this ocean view property I have in Phoenix sometime.
For those who would continue to suggest that President Obama is pursuing a “socialist agenda”; I think you might be better served getting your news from C-Span rather than
As I recall, most people complained that our tax dollars went to bail out the banks and business interests; while most of us Progressives/Liberals/Socialists begged for a WPA-style government works program where the government went about investment into infrastructure. This would have immediately put Americans to work with paychecks with which to pay bills and help move the economy. Oh sure, there were jobs created in certain areas and even job losses that were prevented, but by and large to bail out went to those at the top and here we are still sitting at over 9% national unemployment while profit margins for the banks and big business are at record levels. Not a very “socialist agenda” if you ask me.
Healthcare “Reform”. While half the country was up in arms over Obama’s “Socialist Healthcare takeover” (Obamacare), the facts are these: The healthcare reform passed by the congress and signed by President Obama, ensured that millions more Americans would be placed into the clutches of our “for profit” healthcare insurance market. The Progressive/Liberal/Socialists’ call for a “Single Payer” system that would have eliminated (or at the very least competed with) the insurance industry was scrapped before the first congressional hearings were held and the crumbs that might have been a “Public Option” were held out as a smokescreen to make it appear that Obama might be even remotely Progressive until the very end at which time it was eliminated from the plan. In the end, we are left with absolute codification of the “for profit” healthcare system that still finds more and more people relying on emergency room treatments and those of us “fortunate enough to have a job with a healthcare “benefit” find our rates climbing to off-set those costs. Socialist? Buy a dictionary and contribute to the economy and your education.
Tax Cuts. This has got to my favorite fantasy complaint about Obama. While Progressive/Liberal/Socialists have been fighting for 10 years to roll back the infamous “Bush Tax Cuts”, Obama actually signed an extension of this truly destructive scheme and thus took ownership of the famous “trickle down” “Voodoo economics” scheme that is the very cornerstone of the new Republican philosophy of “borrow and spend.” I defy anyone who declares Obama to be a Socialist (or even simply Progressive) to explain how a Socialist agenda leaves us with a system that does not make the slightest effort to pay for the obligations to “pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States.”
With the people of the various colonies/states coming together to “Form a more perfect Union” the United States was founded to provide for the collective good of “We the People.” It is my belief that we are moving away from the goals of our founders not because we are becoming too expansive in our care for each other but because we are shrinking from our duty to each other as fellow citizens of the union.
Republic: a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, retain supreme control over the government.
Oligarchy: a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people. These people could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, corporate, or military control.
Tell me which way we are headed.
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
3 comments:
In response to your blog posting, I will begin with a few things I hold to be Truths:
I Love America, and believe in the Constitution.
I believe in American Exceptionalism.
I believe the great experiment that ‘Man can rule himself’ has been proven in America, and defines its’ exceptionalism.
I believe America is broke and on the verge of bankruptcy. Tough times are coming quickly.
I do NOT believe in Collective Justice or spreading the wealth around. Americans are compassionate and generous people. The Government cannot be everything to everybody.
Opinions are fine, but I place my beliefs with facts and history. The constitution was crafted by our forefathers through knowledge and understanding of HISTORY, HUMAN NATURE and RELIGION. I believe the forefathers were wise enough to leave behind documents which define exactly what our constitution means, and warnings about its’ decline. The Federalist Papers were most helpful for me to understand what and why the constitution is written the way it was. I would urge you to read and study them if you are interested in the Constitution. If your answers are not found there, then I would suggest you study the founders themselves to gain an understanding of their beliefs and principals.
Most of what we disagree about can be found in their own words in the Federalist Papers.
The Federalist Papers were written to promote the signing of the Constitution. PUBLIUS, (Hamilton, Madison and Jay) Explained the Constitution and argued the opposition to it. These published papers, explain intent and reasoning behind the Constitution, and contain many warning as to its demise.
I see these warnings playing out today, more than ever.
An example of one warning might be; “The delegation of particular technical tasks to separate bodies, while a regular feature, is yet the first step by which a democracy progressively relinquishes its powers.”
“The Road to Serfdom” by F. A. Hayek, and the British Government call these QUANGO, (Quasi-Autonomous Non Governmental Organizations)-an agency funded by the taxpayer, but at arms length from the government. An example of this on a huge scale would be the EU. Another example of this in our government would be the appointment of Czars to various departments or organizations with power to regulate and enforce.
I was stunned with your belief that they intended a ‘Big Government’ for the United States.
“The constitution is not an instrument for the Government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the Government - Lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” Patrick Henry
No matter how many times I read statements like this one, I can only come to one conclusion. The Constitution was written to PREVENT big Government.
Federalist 23 defines the primary purpose of the Constitution. “The constitution does not give the Federal Government too much power to manage our “National Interests, nor has any convincing argument been offered to show that it has. If that were true, as has been suggested by some critics, then the enormous size of our country will make it unsafe to give any government enough power to rule it. That would also mean that the very nature of the Constitution is flawed and would prove that we should divide ourselves into separate confederacies capable of ruling over countries of a more practical size.”
Federalist 37 outlines the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary branches privileges and powers.
Federalist 41-44 defines specific powers given to the Federal Government.
Federalist 85, perhaps one of my favorites, “The solution isn’t to destroy the Government it’s to restore the proper balance of power.”
“Equal Rights for everyone; no special interests, or treatment for wealthy, well-born, and the great. No misrepresentations and concealments of the truth from public eye.”
cont;
The warnings throughout the papers, is stunning, and a testament to their relevance in time.
Fed 51, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on Government would be necessary.” James Madison. Madison uses the terms “Human Nature” and “Predictable Ends”, to explain the “Checks and Balances” written into the Constitution. “Trust, but Verify.”
Warnings of politicians include, “Politicians will figure out, “Changing the meaning of the language is easier than changing the constitution itself”. I see this everywhere in the Progressive movement. It is hard to keep up with organizations promoting the Progressive agenda. One example would be ACORN, or what ever name it is known as at this time. They have a habit of changing unpopular terms as well.
Fed 41-44 warns “Power to advance the public happiness involves a discretion which may be misapplied and abused.” Madison.
One of my concerns with the last decade has been the States Rights. The erosion of States Rights is horrific and this administration has hastened their loss.
Fed 17, “It will always be far more easy for the State Governments to encroach upon the national authorities than for the national government to encroach upon the States authorities.” My, my how far we have slipped.
Publius believed the federal Government has power over the States to “protect our liberties and our nation”, not to force States to carryout policies that the Federal Government believes threaten those liberties.
Fed 23, “Protect our liberties and rights so that the people can pursue happiness.”
I think we can agree that the Obama Admin is carefully, and thoughtfully fundamentally changing our country into something we do not recognize nor do we want it. Be he Socialist, Communist, Marxist, or something of his own combination, one cannot tell.
I would recommend thought to what is becoming known as “Globalist”. I surmise he fits that description more than any other.
It was not that long ago that ‘One World Government’ was cast as nothing more that a conspiracy theory and good theater for 007 movies and books.
In the last three years or so, George Soros has emerged from his shadows with embolden vigor thru the Progressive movement. From his own mouth he proclaims his Globalization agenda using the Progressives to do his bidding. The well known friend and confidant of Bill and Hillary Clinton claims to have manipulated currencies around the world to topple various governments, including the British Pound.
cont..
I would say to Democrats and Progressives a like, ‘Do your homework’, this guy is not just a major influence in our politics, but his money supports a web of organizations with other than our welfare in mind. His foundations cloak his every move towards his own agenda. The Tides Foundation is one of the major players dispersing funds at his direction to shadow his involvement. In his own words, I urge you to read his books on Globalization and his lectures series. They describe a very scary ideology and power of his purse.
Fed 1, “Safety=preservation of peace and tranquility; dangers from Foreign arms and influence; and like kind arising from domestic causes.”
George Soros has used the Obama White House and Administration to further his Globalization agenda. I see his influence throughout our Government. Obama has surrounded himself self proclaimed Socialists, Communists and Marxists, like Van Jones, Bill Ayers, Valerie Jarrett, Cass Sustein and numerous appointees and Czars to manipulate and nudge America in line with the Soros Globalization agenda. They are bankrupting America, according to the perfected plans of George Soros, to build a new one in their perceived image of what it should look like.
Call me a Conspirator, but do some homework on the players in our government, and see what you come up with. You will see it is all the same players, nice neat group.
A small sampling of reading I base my thoughts and beliefs on;
“Original Intent” by David Barton
“The Road to Serfdom” by F.A. Hayek
“The Shadow Party” by David Horowitz
“The Coming Insurrection” by The Invisible committee
“Rules for Radicals” by Saul Alinsky
“George Soros” by George Soros
“Communist Manifesto” by William Ayers
“Globalization” by George Soros
“Lectures…” by George Soros
I can go on and on, but would appreciate your conversations more if they were based on our founding fathers words and not solely opinion. Not wanting to offend you, but look forward to more meaningful dialogue
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