Historically Speaking...

I am fired up today. It's been a crazy week, what with the holiday weekend, a marathon garage sale, and arcing power lines in my pear tree that Consumer's Energy didn't bother to fix in FIVE days...it took the FIRE department to get them out here to fix it!

I want to state at this point that politically I am neither Republican nor Democrat. I am Conservative, I am a Christian, and I believe our government has entirely too much power, and is a far cry from its original purpose.

James Madison is considered the main author of the Constitution. He is also the man who pushed for a Bill of Rights, to PROTECT the people from governing bodies, and clearly EXPLAIN their place in this newly founded country.

On June 8, 1789, Madison rose to address Congress and impress upon them his urgent desire for these first 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. In The Annals of Congress, House of Representatives, First Congress, 1st session, pp 448-460 we find Madison's original intent summed up in his own words:

"I wish, among other reasons why something should be done, that those who have been friendly to the adoption of this constitution may have the opportunity of proving to those who were opposed to it that they were as sincerely devoted to liberty and a Republican Government, as those who charged them with wishing the adoption of this constitution in order to lay the foundation of an aristocracy or despotism. It will be a desirable thing to extinguish from the bosom of every member of the community, any apprehensions that there are those among his countrymen who wish to deprive them of the liberty for which they valiantly fought and honorably bled. And if there are amendments desired of such a nature as will not injure the constitution, and they can be ingrafted so as to give satisfaction to the doubting part of our fellow-citizens, the friends of the Federal Government will evince that spirit of deference and concession for which they have hitherto been distinguished."

Madison wanted to ensure that the people who fought and died for our freedom were guaranteed that this new government would NOT become an aristocracy, or worse, fall into the hands of a despot, as is the case at this moment in United States history, in my humble opinion.

He wanted “First, that there be prefixed to the constitution a declaration, that all power is originally rested in, and consequently derived from, the people. That Government is instituted and ought to be exercised for the benefit of the people…. That the people have an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform or change their Government, whenever it be found adverse or inadequate to the purposes of its institution.”

Our founding fathers were as concerned about limiting the power of government as they were about their independence from England. They didn’t want to be subjects like they had been. That’s what they bled and died for. If they could see us now. How far we have strayed in just over 200 years. As far as a civilization goes, America is STILL a baby…It terrifies me to think of Her as a toddler with our current President and trends toward Socialism.

And check this out: Madison knew how easily power can get away from where it belongs, WITH THE PEOPLE. He said, “The exceptions here or elsewhere in the constitution, made in favor of particular rights, shall not be so construed as to diminish the just importance of other rights retained by the people, or as to enlarge the powers delegated by the constitution; but either as actual limitations of such powers, or as inserted merely for greater caution.”

Madison goes on to say, “But whatever may be the form which the several States have adopted in making declarations in favor of particular rights, the great object in view is to limit and qualify the powers of Government, by excepting out of the grant of power those cases in which the Government ought not to act, or to act only in a particular mode.” To read the speech in full, go to http://www.usconstitution.net/madisonbor.html I really encourage you to read it all….I would love to put it all here, but there’s a lot, and this is getting too long!!

Do you see what this country was founded on? The power of the PEOPLE to govern THEMSELVES as they see fit. Do you see a welfare program in there anywhere? How about nationalized health care? Insurance companies that tell you which doctor you may or may not go to? Let’s go a step further…helmet laws? Seatbelt laws? Laws that require a person not to drink and drive, not to text or talk on the phone while driving? Where the heck is our common sense??? Do we really need a government mandating this?

I realize that many of the above laws are for our safety. But can you imagine telling James Madison that the government would have the right to tell them when they can see the local doctor? Or that he has to ride his horse a certain way? He would laugh in your face. There really is no difference. We have taken so much for granted! We have been like sheep, dumbly following along and staying mute as our government leads us to the slaughter.

Well I say, SILENT NO MORE! We have right, no, the OBLIGATION to pursue freedom from tyranny and despotism. The very Constitution that began this country demands it! In 1775, Patrick Henry was willing to die for liberty. What are YOU willing to do? Write a letter? Stand out from the crowd? Voice your opinion? VOTE? Strive for change? (A real change…for the BETTER, not the “change” that Obama has brought us: nearer and nearer to Socialism and losing our rights completely!)

What are you willing to do? I can’t physically go out and go door to door. I can’t storm the capital. But I can exercise my First Amendment rights. I can research and try to education and encourage. I want to evoke passion in you! I want to remind you what we REALLY have in America…where we have come from….and where we have gone.

Say it with me: Silent No More!