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!

What Does God Say About Leadership?

So how do we really know what kind of leaders we should have? We look at the Bible.

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.....
4 The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it.
Proverbs 29: 2 & 4

5 Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.
Proverbs 25:5

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king,
And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.
Proverbs 20:28

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace....
14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

In 1877, James Garfield, the 20th President of the United States said this:
"Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the National Legislature."

That was 133 years ago. Can you imagine the corruption that has taken place since then?

How about last year when the government just printed money that had no value? Nice!

Here are some lovely statistics from the MADD website:

William Denley, DWI on 2-21-09, New Hampshire State Senator
Bob Biggins, DUI, driving on wrong side of road on 5-28-08 Illinois State Rep.
Mike Krusee, DWI on 4-30-08, Texas House of Reps.
Ron Menor DUI with a minor under 15 in the car on 4-27-08, Hawaii State Senator
Chuck Graham, DWI 3-car crash, Missouri State Senate
And my two favorites:

Rob Briley, DWI, crash, hit and run, high speed police chase on 9-8-07, Tennessee State Rep
and
Kenneth Ruffing, DWI, Blood alcohol 0.346% on 8-19-06, Pennsylvania House of Reps, COMMITTEE ON LIQUOR CONTROL!!! His blood alcohol was 4.3 times the legal limit. Obviously we know who was NOT controlling the liquor that night!

There were several others on the website.

I also found this information: Number of members of Congress who escaped tickets and/or arrest from a variety of driving offenses ranging from speeding to DUI in 1999 due to Congressional immunity: 217 Number of members of Congress who were released after being pulled over for drunken driving in 1998 by claiming Congressional immunity: 84 (source WikiAnswers) This site also lists several US Congressmen and women who are convicted felons.

WE MUST KNOW WHO WE ARE VOTING FOR, AND GET OUT AND VOTE!!!! It is not only a civic duty, but a Christian responsibility. WE are the only ones responsible for our government, because WE put them there!!