Today is the 221st Anniversary of the ratification by the Commonwealth of Virginia of the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights, making it the Law of The Land! Of course, this document doesn’t grant rights, it simply enumerates some important rights lest the federal government forget they exist.
Two such enumerations come to mind today – Amendment I, reminding the government we inherently possess the rights to peaceably assemble; to petition the government to redress grievances; to prohibit the government from establishing religion; and prohibiting government interference with free speech and the press. Without which I might be restrained from writing this blog.
And, Amendment II, reminding the government the people inherently possess the right to keep and bear arms, without infringement. The lynch pin. A measure without whom the other nine amendments would be left to the whims of said government.
“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” - Thomas Jefferson
I’d like to ask just what gave anyone the legitimate authority to decide any of this for others, whether then or now? If some people wish to be governed by others, that is their choice, but by what possible right do some people choose FOR us, however benevolent or well intentioned they are… or seem to be. I do NOT consent to the “government” of Jefferson, any more than I do to the tyranny of Obama. I DO NOT CONSENT to be governed by anyone but myself.
Hologram of Liberty http://www.javelinpress.com/hologram_of_liberty.html
The Constitution’s Shocking Alliance with Big Government
By Kenneth W. Royce
Civic Belief #1: The Congress was given few specific powers. All else was left to the States and to the people under the 10th Amendment. Ample checks and balances protect the Republic from federal tyranny.
Civic Belief #2: The Federal Government has become so powerful only because despotic officials have overstepped their strict, constitutional bounds.
If #1 is true, then how did #2 happen?
“The Constitution has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it”. Lysander Spooner, No Treason (1870)
Think about that. By either the Constitution’s purposeful design or by its unintentional weakness, we suffer under a federal colossus which takes a third of our lives and regulates everything from alfalfa to xylophones. This is Freedom? So, why aren’t Americans free? Perhaps we weren’t really meant to be!
Posted by MamaLiberty | December 15, 2012, 12:12 pmGotta love Lysander Spooner! Thanks for your thought, ML!
Posted by guffaw1952 | December 15, 2012, 12:15 pmBy either the Constitution’s purposeful design or by its unintentional weakness, we suffer under a federal colossus
I don’t think there is an unitentional weakness with the Constitution. The weakness lies in the people of the US who let the govt do whatever it wants. We have largely become a nation of gutless slugs.
Add to this a huge portion of ‘gimme what I deserve’ folks and we have what we have now.
The ‘ample checks and balances to protect the Republic from federal tyranny’ is the people.
Those previously mentioned slugs however are just too damn lazy to do it.
Posted by Anonymous | December 16, 2012, 12:35 am