Everyone thinks that the office of the President of the United States is one of enormous power but that is not so. What power does the President really have. In Article II of the Constitution section 2 it spells out the power that the President. Besides being the commander-in-chief of the military, the power to pardon for "Offenses against the United States, and the power to fill positions that were vacated when Congress is in recess; Presidential power is tied directly into Congress. He can appoint cabinet members, judges, and ambassadors but the Senate has to confirm the appointment. When it comes to treaties, the President can make treaties but Congress must pass it in order for it to be legally binding. The President can suggest legislation but Congress must pass it. The one thing that the President can do is to sign legislation into law or veto it and send it back to Congress. In those cases, Congress can try to override the President's veto, rewrite the bill, or do nothing. Of course the President does have the ability to issue executive orders but if they are unconstitutional, they will be overturned.
If you look at Article I of the US Constitution, you will notice that the powers given to Congress, while they are wider, are still limited. Why is it that we allow Congress and the President to get away with so much instead of taking a stand against them when they make a power grab.
There are some that say that this started in the 1930s with FDR's New Deal. Others say that it started in 1913 with Wilson. I say that it started in 1861 with Lincoln but I will write on this later. No matter when it started, FDR's New Deal kicked it into high gear.
One of our founders said that a government benevolent enough to give you everything is powerful enough to take everything away. We are there and have been there for decades. Look at the power of the IRS. In a court of law the burden of proof is on the government. With the IRS they make a claim and then you have to prove them wrong. Where did we go wrong? We must work to elect people who will go to D.C. to repeal. Repeal must be on our minds and the minds of our elected officials. They need to sign a contract or pledge saying that they will work to begin the dismantling of the federal leviathan.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Selling Our Posterity Down the River
Over this past week much of the news has surrounded the "stimulus" package that has been debated in our nation's capitol. The President has claimed that the time for debate is over as has Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D) and to some extent others in both the House and Senate. Whenever any kind of salesman tells you that you have to act now. What is your first reaction? For me, I start looking for the fastest way out of their before I get trapped into a deal that I'll regret. Why should our reaction be any different because it's a politician saying the same thing? Truth be told, when a politician tells us that "the time for debate is over" or "we have to pass this now," our reaction should be to stop them and place your hands firmly on your wallet before they take it from you.
The only thing this stimulus bill is going to do for the nation is put us deeper in debt and slide us further down into recession and closer to depression. We can tell that Wall Street and other investors aren't happy with the prospects of living under the bill. On Feb 9, 2009 the Dow closed at 8,270.87 which was down ten points from the previous day. The next morning the market opened with the Dow already down 65 points. This was only a preview of what the rest of the day was going to be like. By closing bell the Dow had dropped to 7,888.88 which was a 4.8% drop. What will the markets do in the future is anybodies guess but if 1928 is an indicator of what we have to look forward to you better brace yourself because the worst is yet to come.
I would raise my objections to the stimulus bill by asking about the constitutionality of it but I know that will only fall on deaf ears. Who wants to hear about the Constitution and enumerated powers when the government is handing out "free" money. For those who don't see a problem with this, I ask you, "Are you so selfish as to condemn your posterity to a life of bondage?" Alexander Tytler wrote;
If we are to believe what the politicians are saying, the bill must be passed or we're doomed. Didn't they say the same thing in October and November about the bailout bills and stimulus packages? They claimed that those bills were what was needed to fix the economy. All the bills did was to hurt the economy even more; prolonging the time it will take for the economy to recover. The economy can't always go up. There will always be short periods of economic downturns, that is the natural course of events. Even when there are downturns, as long as the government doesn't meddle with it, they will only last for a short period of time before the markets bounce back.
Trust in capitalism they won't let you down. The only thing you can count on when the government is in charge of the economy or business is misery and lines. Look at the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe under communism, China, and any other communist or socialist nation. All they had or have is misery, shortages, a crumbling infrastructure, and failed central planning. What makes us think that we can expect anything different.
The only thing this stimulus bill is going to do for the nation is put us deeper in debt and slide us further down into recession and closer to depression. We can tell that Wall Street and other investors aren't happy with the prospects of living under the bill. On Feb 9, 2009 the Dow closed at 8,270.87 which was down ten points from the previous day. The next morning the market opened with the Dow already down 65 points. This was only a preview of what the rest of the day was going to be like. By closing bell the Dow had dropped to 7,888.88 which was a 4.8% drop. What will the markets do in the future is anybodies guess but if 1928 is an indicator of what we have to look forward to you better brace yourself because the worst is yet to come.
I would raise my objections to the stimulus bill by asking about the constitutionality of it but I know that will only fall on deaf ears. Who wants to hear about the Constitution and enumerated powers when the government is handing out "free" money. For those who don't see a problem with this, I ask you, "Are you so selfish as to condemn your posterity to a life of bondage?" Alexander Tytler wrote;
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.I understand that we are not a democracy but are a representative republic or a constitutional republic. But the point is still valid.Great nations rise and fall. The people go from bondage to spiritual truth, to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependence, from dependence back again to bondage.
If we are to believe what the politicians are saying, the bill must be passed or we're doomed. Didn't they say the same thing in October and November about the bailout bills and stimulus packages? They claimed that those bills were what was needed to fix the economy. All the bills did was to hurt the economy even more; prolonging the time it will take for the economy to recover. The economy can't always go up. There will always be short periods of economic downturns, that is the natural course of events. Even when there are downturns, as long as the government doesn't meddle with it, they will only last for a short period of time before the markets bounce back.
Trust in capitalism they won't let you down. The only thing you can count on when the government is in charge of the economy or business is misery and lines. Look at the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe under communism, China, and any other communist or socialist nation. All they had or have is misery, shortages, a crumbling infrastructure, and failed central planning. What makes us think that we can expect anything different.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Taking Our Country Back
Earlier this week it came to my attention that Rep. Itse of New Hampshire introduced HCR 6 in the NH state legislature which restates NH's sovereignty under the 9th and 10th amendments of the U.S. Constitution and reminds Congress that the Constitution spells out specific and enumerated powers that the States and people have only allowed them to have very limited powers and nothing more.
If the federal government wants more power then they are the ones who should be coming to the states with hat in hand and ask the States for more power, not just do a power grab and expect the States to accept it. Don't think New Hampshire is just one isolated event either. According to the web site http://www.taxtruth4u.com/eight%20states.html there are a total of seven other States that have had similar pieces of legislation introduced in their state legislatures.
The States have been quiet for far too long and allowing the feds to get away with too much, this is the case of the straw that broke the camel's back. Even if none (or even only a one or two) of the States are able to pass the legislation, this should serve as a warning to Congress that they better read the Constitution and strictly abide by it.
If we can't get Congress to listen to the States and the people, should a constitutional convention be called or should we go farther. I, for one, hope that we are able to reign in the federal government by passing legislation in the individual States.
If the federal government wants more power then they are the ones who should be coming to the states with hat in hand and ask the States for more power, not just do a power grab and expect the States to accept it. Don't think New Hampshire is just one isolated event either. According to the web site http://www.taxtruth4u.com/eight%20states.html there are a total of seven other States that have had similar pieces of legislation introduced in their state legislatures.
The States have been quiet for far too long and allowing the feds to get away with too much, this is the case of the straw that broke the camel's back. Even if none (or even only a one or two) of the States are able to pass the legislation, this should serve as a warning to Congress that they better read the Constitution and strictly abide by it.
If we can't get Congress to listen to the States and the people, should a constitutional convention be called or should we go farther. I, for one, hope that we are able to reign in the federal government by passing legislation in the individual States.
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