So, we're about a dozen months out before the next batch of campaign lies begins . Yes, I know, some local and state elections are closer. But, compared to the Big Boys, those wannabees are little more than mere amateurs when it comes to telling tall tales. Not that I mean to demean Amateur Radio operators, aka "hams". Those are some fine folks, some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.
Whenever the professionals make it round to your communities, looking for votes, making promises that even the dumb among us know they can't keep, why not arm yourself with a copy of the U.S. Constitution. Just for giggles. And, every chance you get, quiz each and every one of the politicians on one part or another of our most important document. Challenge them. Put them on the hot seat. Make them squirm.
There are parts of our Constitution that we should all review from time to time. Particularly, the Bill of Rights. In 1789, 12 original amendments to the Constitution were presented for discussion. Of those, 10 were adopted, and became known as the Bill of Rights. Others have been added since then, 17 others all total. Think about it for a moment. In a tad over 200 years, only 17 additional amendments have been added to our Constitution, that document that some much smarter guys than we have today put together. Our elected officials, and the wannabees, should pay close attention to these rights. They should not tread on them.
At the top, the First Amendment, was obviously important to our Founding Fathers:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances
This First Amendment guarantees me that I can say what I want, as I'm doing now; it protects our journalists; it allows me to worship as I please.
Immediately following is the Second Amendment. Those smarter guys I mentioned knew something about the consequences of having an unarmed society. Such a society can never be free.
"No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
-Thomas Jefferson
"The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun."
-Patrick Henry
So, what part of this is hard to understand? Even for the loophole-lawyers of today, I cannot see why there is any argument one could raise. But, they do.
Less than a hundred years after the Constitution was drafted, the great Sam Adams...known for his debating skills...addressed the first and second amendments in, of all places, Massachusetts (Ted Kennedy should have read up on this):
"The Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."
- Sam Adams, Debates & Proceedings in the Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1886-1887
Please take note that Adams said "people". But, there are still folks who argue that "people" are not average "people", like you and me. They argue that our Founding Fathers meant to say "militia". I think that if those smart guys had meant to say "militia", they would have said it. And, they would not have been wishy-washy about it, and say something brilliant like, "...depends on what is is".
I keep saying Our Constitution. Well, folks, that's what it is. Our Constitution was adopted to provide these rights to the citizens of the United States. An illegal alien is not a citizen. A confined suspected terrorist is not a citizen. Our Constitution does not offer them ANY rights. How clear is that? If you want to enjoy the rights of Our Constution, then you must be a citizen of the United States.
Those rights, by the way, are courtesy of our forefathers. The ones who originally adopted them, and those who have fought for more than 200 years to make sure that no foreign government treads on them. I think our military can handle that part quite nicely. But it's up to the rest of us need to make sure that our own government does not tread on them, either.
As I stated, the campaign lies get underway in a year.
Whenever the professionals make it round to your communities, looking for votes, making promises that even the dumb among us know they can't keep, why not arm yourself with a copy of the U.S. Constitution. Just for giggles. And, every chance you get, quiz each and every one of the politicians on one part or another of our most important document. Challenge them. Put them on the hot seat. Make them squirm.
There are parts of our Constitution that we should all review from time to time. Particularly, the Bill of Rights. In 1789, 12 original amendments to the Constitution were presented for discussion. Of those, 10 were adopted, and became known as the Bill of Rights. Others have been added since then, 17 others all total. Think about it for a moment. In a tad over 200 years, only 17 additional amendments have been added to our Constitution, that document that some much smarter guys than we have today put together. Our elected officials, and the wannabees, should pay close attention to these rights. They should not tread on them.
At the top, the First Amendment, was obviously important to our Founding Fathers:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances
This First Amendment guarantees me that I can say what I want, as I'm doing now; it protects our journalists; it allows me to worship as I please.
Immediately following is the Second Amendment. Those smarter guys I mentioned knew something about the consequences of having an unarmed society. Such a society can never be free.
"No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
-Thomas Jefferson
"The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun."
-Patrick Henry
So, what part of this is hard to understand? Even for the loophole-lawyers of today, I cannot see why there is any argument one could raise. But, they do.
Less than a hundred years after the Constitution was drafted, the great Sam Adams...known for his debating skills...addressed the first and second amendments in, of all places, Massachusetts (Ted Kennedy should have read up on this):
"The Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."
- Sam Adams, Debates & Proceedings in the Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1886-1887
Please take note that Adams said "people". But, there are still folks who argue that "people" are not average "people", like you and me. They argue that our Founding Fathers meant to say "militia". I think that if those smart guys had meant to say "militia", they would have said it. And, they would not have been wishy-washy about it, and say something brilliant like, "...depends on what is is".
I keep saying Our Constitution. Well, folks, that's what it is. Our Constitution was adopted to provide these rights to the citizens of the United States. An illegal alien is not a citizen. A confined suspected terrorist is not a citizen. Our Constitution does not offer them ANY rights. How clear is that? If you want to enjoy the rights of Our Constution, then you must be a citizen of the United States.
Those rights, by the way, are courtesy of our forefathers. The ones who originally adopted them, and those who have fought for more than 200 years to make sure that no foreign government treads on them. I think our military can handle that part quite nicely. But it's up to the rest of us need to make sure that our own government does not tread on them, either.
As I stated, the campaign lies get underway in a year.
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