WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

vanity | 12/22/10 | Louis Foxwell

[Louis Foxwell]

We have an Executive and a Legislative branch run amuck. When coupled with a preponderance of Supremes who similarly exchew original intent can there be any hope of maintaining Constitutional government?

[Louis Foxwell]

We have an Executive and a Legislative branch run amuck. When coupled with a preponderance of Supremes who similarly exchew original intent can there be any hope of maintaining Constitutional government? Yes, if the people insist upon it and hold their representatives and appointed Supremes in contempt of the Constitution. Representative government can not stand if it is in conflict with the will of the people. How, then, shall the people require their representatives to follow the mandates of the law? If a spirit of rebellion against tyrannical officialdom gains sufficient ground among citizens for their representatives to be held in contempt and their mandates be ignored or openly rejected those representatives will have no legitimate recourse but to resign from their elected or appointed positions. To do otherwise such as by enforcing hateful mandates makes of them enemies of the people. We are perilously close to this impasse. Both the Executive and the Legislative bodies are held in absolute contempt by a substantial segment of citizens. Their response to date is to insist upon their absolute authority. Such a position cannot prevail. Elections are not the only recourse of citizens. They may, if they so choose, demand that their representatives demure or step aside. Acts of civil disobedience in which citizens in vast numbers refuse to respect odious laws creates an environment inimical to normal government. Antagonistic officials may, if they choose, establish martial law. Such actions amount to a declaration of war against the citizens. This must lead to bloodshed. We are not yet at that point. That a civil war is brewing is not in question. What remains is for officialdom to acknowledge their obedience to the demands of the citizens. their failure to do so will not end well.

[NonValueAdded]

Where are we headed? See that tube over there ...

[Frantzie]

The public/masses are easily controlled by TV. I see it even here where people think Prince Al Waleed’s Fox is their savior and Murdoch is a good guy. People are incredibly naive. Your monthly cable or sat TV bills keep the saudi puppet in power.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

A new alternative, and one that makes sense, is to create a new national court, the Second Court of the United States, that is uniquely *not* a federal court, but a logical *restraint* on the federal courts, the congress, and the presidency, by the States.

To start with, because America has a surfeit of federal judges who whimsically assert a federal intrusion into all varieties of State law, every year now, some 8,000 federal cases are appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States, clogging the system.

Because the Supreme Court can only hear perhaps the “top” two dozen of these, the vast majority revert to whatever decision was made by the federal circuit courts, for better or worse.

Often worse. But no matter what they decide, it accepts the notion that it *should* have been heard by the federal courts in the first place.

A Second Court of the United States would be composed, not of federal judges, but of State judges, *appointed* specifically by the legislatures of the individual States, much as how the US senate was originally intended.

Importantly, their role would *not* be to determine if a decision was constitutional or not, but to determine if a circuit court decision on the way to the Supreme Court *deserved* to be in federal court at all, or if it should be taken from the federal court system and returned to its State of origin, as a State, not federal, matter.

Cases that *should* be in the federal system will by this point already have their constitutional merits evaluated by lower federal courts, so there will be ample information on which the Second Court can make its jurisdictional determination.

Of those 8,000 or so cases currently appealed from the Circuit courts to the SCOTUS, it is likely that the vast majority would be taken out of federal jurisdiction and returned to the States, as *not* being a federal matter to decide. Likewise would be many decisions made by federal judges that are oppressive to the States, such as ordering States to appropriate money for the judges whims.

Otherwise, the Second Court of the United States would also have an original jurisdiction: to be the first court to receive lawsuits by the States against the federal government, and by the federal government against the States.

Right now such lawsuits, like the one by the Justice Department against Arizona, have to go through a long, time consuming, and unnecessary process, of first the federal State District Court, then a panel of the circuit court, then the full circuit court, before finally having a shot at the Supreme Court. Such lawsuits are almost *guaranteed* to have to be determined by the SCOTUS, so why go through the motions?

Especially if the SCOTUS is too busy to hear them.

So instead, by going directly to the Second Court of the United States, there would be an opportunity for all 50 States to tell the federal government to “back off”, in such matters as the Justice Department suing Arizona over its immigration law.

The great value of a Second Court of the United States would be that for the first time, the United States would have a means, an institution, whose purpose would be to “trim”, to reduce, the federal government. To pull the federal government back from performing actions not authorized by the constitution.

This is because it would not only limit federal judges from their excesses, but because the individual States could challenge the laws of congress and the bureaucracy, and the actions of the “imperial presidency” at least at *some* point in the process.

Even a constitutional amendment otherwise limiting their power would likely not be able to do this, because as soon as it was written, there would be a concerted effort to undermine and evade it. But a constitutional amendment creating an *institution* like the Second Court of the United States, would have the institution to defend itself, and its purpose, providing constant “push back” against federal overreach.

Somebody to fight back for the States and the people, against a monolithic and intrusive federal government.

[John O]

The public/masses are easily controlled by TV.

It's true. Just last night I was watching a rerun of the Andie Griffith show (I just love Aunt Bea) and my TV forced me to go on a tri-state killing spree! (Sorry about those folks in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee)

Hey! Looking at the TV guide I see there's a "Leave it to Beaver" marathon going on!! Do you think I'd be safe watching it. Ah well, if not I've not been to Chicago yet. I better stock up on ammo though in case my TV forces me to kill again.

[ducttape45]

The only place this country is headed towards is judgment. Mark my words, God has lifted His blessing from the USA and it is only a matter of time before complete and utter chaos descends upon us. Just look at all of the natural disasters happening all around us, His judgment has already begun.

[NonValueAdded]

Actually the tube I was thinking of looks a lot more like a drain than a television set. Besides, in this day of LCD flat panels, how can we still call a TV a “tube?”

[anniegetyourgun]

There is truth in comments left by everyone here. Lawlessness now abounds. There are actions that can be taken (that don’t involve violence), but it appears Americans (including conservatives) are satisfied to use old tactics (faxing, calling, emailing, rallying) in this “new world” we live in. And, that’s exactly what the Left is hoping we’ll continue to do.

[meadsjn]

Where are we headed?

Google "Allende+Chile", "Venezuela+Chavez", "Zimbawbwe+Mugabe", "China+Mao", "Cambodia+Pol Pot", "Ukraine+Stalin", etc.

[pabianice]

Has any other Congress in our history been as viciously anti-American as this? You know the answer. What the new Congress does or doesn’t do is all important.

[Blood of Tyrants]

That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

[SkyPilot]

WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

1. Pray to Jesus Christ

2. Buy physical Gold and Silver (they are God's money)

[SkyPilot]

There are actions that can be taken (that don’t involve violence), but it appears Americans (including conservatives) are satisfied to use old tactics (faxing, calling, emailing, rallying) in this “new world” we live in. And, that’s exactly what the Left is hoping we’ll continue to do.

I think that is called the "Law of Normalcy" - or something like that. Forgive my malapropism Annie, but the point is the same.

The people at the foot of Vesuvius didn't evacuate during the earthquake.

They went to the wine bars to get drunk when the hot ash cloud formed.

And they staggered to the brothels when the pumice started falling (ever so lightly at first) from the sky.

We have to understand something: most Americans are lost. Completely.

I was an military officer during relief operation of Hurricane Katrina. I was Air Force, working under the command of First Army (who was in command under Rus General Honore).

What I witnessed totally changed my outlook. I had massive compassion, especially on the children. I also saw African-Amiericans who were heroes - and full of love. To the letter, these actions were confined to black Christian churches and their members - and that's it.

If ATM cards, credit cards, and especially welfare cards stop working. If there is no water. If there is no food. If panic sets in....and people know there is no authority....then you have between 8 and 24 hours left of anything resembling a "normal" society.

After that, things go downhill very, very, very, very quickly.

[anniegetyourgun]

Yes, that’s what it’s called...and the nation has it bad. It’s a strong delusion.

[SkyPilot]

You know, I saw the "running of the bulls" on YouTube of the people at Target who basically were willing to kill each other over a $199 laptop.

I just sent a Jewish Freeper (who is so great) a mail that contains a message that is just inside of me....God is Alive! The God of Israel! The God of Jacob! The God of Abraham!

HE is here. Is there Judgment coming? You bet, and I don't want that, as much as I know it is necessary. I also know that my own sins will be shouted from the rooftops. But, God is alive.

That is what drives pagans, liberals, and militant atheists crazy.

Also, I have met many honest, good Freepers here who are Agnostics, whom I highly respect. They are searching for answers, and those are the same questions all those chosen by God seek.

I guess I am a Calvinist after all.

[BenLurkin]

[itsahoot]

You forgot to mention the Prince is a great friend of the Bush family, and both make a lot of money on oil.

[anniegetyourgun]

The LORD is working His plan...and though it may seem counterintuitive (as so much of Christianity), I do want that.

[SkyPilot]

I know Annie. None of us do. I would prefer to be a child of Noah, and escape it all. To be honest, I don’t know my fate. Nor, do I really understand what is going on, other to know (by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit) that we are living in serious, terrible, and horrific times.