In Defense Of Our Constitution

TIME magazine would be worth more if it could be used as toilet paper

The perfect storm of Progressive politics has deluged this Republic. Chances of its survival look mighty dim.

While I feel that the Constitution is very important, and that it should be protected by everyone. That's part of the problem we have today.

In my state, Florida, every voter signs this Oath when they register to vote:

Oath: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida, that I am qualified to register as an elector under the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, and that all information provided in this application is true.

That's very important. Also, every elected official in our state, from the city Mosquito Control Officer up to the Governor also have "protect and defend the Contitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida" featured prominently in the oath of office.

Here's why this matters, and why we must hold all of our elected officals accountable to these oaths.

Let's say a County needs a new sewage treatment plant. Now, let's say that instead of raising local taxes, or cutting spending somewhere else to free money for this new priority, the Commissioners go to Congresswoman Sugar Mamma and ask for help in the form of a "Federal Grant." So the Congresswoman gets a grant, or an earmark or whatever for this local project. The people in this county need to be vigilant. They not only need a Congresswoman who understands the limitations on federal power and the limited, enumerated powers listed in Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution. The people also need some new county commissioners. They need to ask there county commissioners, "Where in Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution would Congress get the authority to tax the people of Montana, Idaho and Wisconsin to pay for a local sewerage treatment facility in Florida?" And they need to remember, come election day, that their commissioners favor a strong federal Congress that ignores the limits of the Constitution and does things that are "extra-constitutional." How is that conistent with the County Commissioners' oaths of office? And how is re-electing people like that consitent with the oath taken by the voters?

The problem isn't just in Washington. We have an over-reaching federal monstrosity because our local governments want to avoid local responsibility and want the Federal Congress to involve itself in things that are clearly outside the scope of federal powers.

State legislatures can pass all the "10th amendment resolutions" they want. But if they don't stop asking for "federal block grants" and funding state projects with "Grant money" and "stimulus money," those "10th amendment resolutions" are meaningless.

yep

And you, sir, have clearly pointed out why there is no hope for peace being part of what lies ahead (And that is frightening).

If anyone dared run on that platform, or any official in office acted in that fashion, they would be voted out so quick in landslides. Anyone could beat that person in any election. Terribly sad, but true.

The problem is with us, the voters, the “only Romney can win” types. The people who think any elongated conversation about politics is “weird and extreme”. You have accurately described the cure, the problem is the the majority of the American human species isn’t interested in that medicine, sad to say.

Time's headline story is titled, "Does It Still Matter?'. It refers to the U.S. Constitution. And in large part, Stengel's answer is "No".

Whenever a leftist is in power, the Constitution is a boring old piece of irrelevant paper written by clueless white guys long ages ago.

Whenever a conservative (or even half-conservative) is in power, it suddenly assumes a Divine importance, and must be protected from the marauding tyrant at all costs.

Individual Rights in NJ wrote:

And you, sir, have clearly pointed out why there is no hope for peace being part of what lies ahead (And that is frightening).

If anyone dared run on that platform, or any official in office acted in that fashion, they would be voted out so quick in landslides. Anyone could beat that person in any election. Terribly sad, but true.

Well, this may (or may not) be a problem in your part of the country. I'm in mostly rural Florida. Our TEA Party and 9-12 project sends people (often several) to every County Commission meeting and School board meeting in our county. And when our elected officials are taking "Grant money" or discussing asking for "Grant money," the people here ask them where they think that Congress gets the authority to take that money in taxes and allocate the money in these "Federal Grants." We ask our commissioners how they personally resolve these actions in light of their oaths of office.

It's working. We now have 2 actual repubican, TEA party types on the commission. Next year, we hope to pick off at least one more Party over Principle Republican (career politician wannabee) and replace them with another TEA Party/9-12 type candidate. In 2010, we ousted the only Democrat on the Commission and replaced her with a 9-12 Project member with strong principles and a healthy knowledge and respect for the U.S. Constitution.

Between now and July 4, 2012, our TEA Party members and 9-12 Project members plan to personally hand copies of the constitution to every voter in every precinct, along with pointing out that oath on the voter registration card.

It will take education, but the damage can be undone.

This is not saying we want our Commissioners to just raise our taxes and spend wildly. But if any project in this county, primarily for the benefit of residents of this county, if that project isn't important enough, and if the Commissioners don't feel comfortable asking their neighbors, the people at their churches, the guys they golf with or the guys at the bowling alley to pay for something, they shouldn't spend the money. Passing it off to New Yorkers, Wisconsins and Californians doesn't make the project any more worthwhile.

The Constition, especially the 10th amendment, is as much about responsibility on the personal and local government level as it is about limiting Federal power. If the locals and states won't take responsibility, it just leaves a vacuum that invites Congressional extra-constitutional mischief.

Confusion by Louis J. Tonetti In trying to figure out the danger or harm caused by the willful or unintentional misrepresentations of God's word, His truth, I keep coming back to CONFUSION. I think that's it. The same applies to the treatment afforded our founding document, the Declaration of Independence, and our United States Constitution. People aren't stupid. When things don't seemingly “add up,” a likely reaction could be that of simple acquiescence. “Oh, well. That must be the case.” If something still doesn't seem quite right, then either flat out rejection may take place, or else someone in an attempt to rectify these perceived inconsistencies will decide to “investigate.” This is a person who wants to clear up the matter or resolve the difficulties, someone who “takes the bull by the horns,” as it were. The latter requires work, especially “thinking work,” which is the hardest kind of work there is (which many people studiously avoid at all cost). In the absence of any positive action the resulting status quo creates an air of uncertainty or doubt or confusion which lingers. Yes, this is true regarding our dealings with God's word and also with our Law of the Land. Unfortunately this gradually festers into an open sore, at which point people throw their arms up in the air and say they give up. “It's too confusing.” “It must be just a bunch of old wives tales.” “Leave it to the experts.” However, when we ourselves do nothing about this, we can easily stray from our core values. Then we will soon stand for nothing and subsequently fall for anything that comes along. Or worse yet, people may find they just don't care any longer. That's what we are seeing today with respect to our “Constitution and our constitutional republic,” and with respect to God's word. When the people of this nation embraced their Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and the principles and values embodied therein, they grew mightily in almost every aspect of their lives; of course, a lot of hard work helped. But, it wasn't just the fact that they were bitterly clinging to these cherished documents, they were actually embracing the underlying source of such righteousness. This source is the source of all sources, the Lord God of all creation, the One Who has given us His word, His Holy Scripture. When the people acknowledged and acted upon these foundational values contained in His word, and conducted their lives accordingly, they flourished. This nation grew and prospered, welcoming all who legally came to these shores in search of a better life, immigrants who contributed to the new nation's greatness while assimilating into and cherishing their new found way of life, adapting to their new culture. They did not come to transform this nation, they came to embrace this nation and make better lives for themselves and their families in the process. It didn't take long for the “reformers” to begin working. These are those who felt they knew a better way, a progressively new way, a way which didn't rely on such old fashioned core values as set forth in our founding documents and in the precious word of God. Our ancient Constitution needed some updating; it needed to become a “living document,” able to adapt to the changing times of modern life. So, too, the Bible was no longer a relevant part of people's lives. It also was outdated and not in touch with the progressive thinkers who knew much better how to look out for and take care of the common good. Today we have “multiculturalism” and political correctness run amok. These two factors greatly contributed to the ultimate result: moving us away from our core values, constitutionally and biblically. Unfortunately, these influences continue to build momentum, both here and all over the world. Why? Because we allow it. We need not only to stop it, but also to reverse this flow of wickedness. Now it's one thing to have external forces and factors at work seeking to marginalize and nullify the words God has given us, and the words set forth in our cherished founding documents, but it is downright inexcusable when such damage is done from within. By this I mean, teachers and preachers and pastors and evangelists o'plenty who have been and who continue to misrepresent the word of God. This often is unintentional, but I am convinced much of this has been intentional. It doesn't matter. The damage has been done and continues to be done. So, too, with our Constitution. Activist judges from the radical left have been undermining and re-writing the Law of the Land with their ridiculous interpretive rulings, eroding our individual liberties, advancing tyranny in the process. Moreover, crooked politicians are the rule rather than the exception. Blasphemy is the name of the game. The transformation has already begun, and the head transformer mockingly resides in our White House. Why would he promise to transform America unless he hated the present state of America? He is actively tearing down and destroying our great society in his efforts to remake us in his image and in his likeness. The “progressives,” the “statists” or “transformers” have been on the move for quite some time, and are now in “high gear.” They must be stopped. We are now living in an era of “clear and present danger” to all. Those of us who cherish liberty and freedom and truth, especially God's truth, need to take back what is rightfully ours, our unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Without the federal government deciding just how much of our property, our liberty, we can keep for ourselves. We are not serfs. We are not subjects. We do not exist for “them.” We are citizens. There are many examples of misrepresentation and twisting that can be cited which have greatly affected our lives. One example which caused a serious erosion of our individual liberties is the Supreme Court's ruling in the “Wickard v. Filburn” case when in 1942, the justices unanimously ruled against a farmer, Mr. Filburn. The government claimed that if the farmer, Mr. Filburn, grew wheat for his own use, he would not be buying it — and that affected interstate commerce. Thus, by the wildest distortion and stretch of the imagination, it was held that a man growing wheat for his own individual consumption was negatively impacting the free flow of interstate commerce. This is government out of control aggressively reaching for control over the individual, reaching where it had no business to reach. This is far from an isolated example of our government, the gargantuan which Ted Nugent calls “Fedzilla,” gorging and bloating itself at the expense of our liberty and freedom. Likewise, the disastrous fraud known as “Obamacare” is not about universal health care at all – it is all about control, pure and simple. One of the government's arguments in defense of this healthcare monstrosity cites the “Wickard v. Filburn” case in support of its extremely weak and tenuous position. The government further asserts that this infamous decision also gives it the right to force someone to purchase something involuntarily, against his or her will. If that isn't tyranny, I don't know what is. Another example involves an extreme distortion of God's word concerning His stated order of the events which are to come. All sorts of wildly fantastic imaginations are running rampant all over the world regarding what is commonly referred to as “the rapture.” As James was often fond of saying, “ ... My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” (James 3:10 KJV). I think it's time we took a close look at this thing called the rapture, and see if we can sort out all the rubbish in order to find out the truth God was conveying to us. If we do not understand what God intended to convey, it is not God's fault – it is ours, and ours alone. The Rapture One of the primary Scripture passages cited as proof of this thing called the rapture is found in the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV) Since this passage is used so extensively to promote all kinds of wild and fanciful teachings and doctrines concerning the rapture, wouldn't it be good to examine it more closely in order to make sure we are indeed on a solid foundation? If you base your belief upon an error, even if you are completely sincere, you will soon find yourself falling off the edge of the cliff, perhaps taking others with you. Plus, if you loudly proclaim that all those who don't believe as you do are guilty of “erroneous biblical teaching,” shouldn't you be absolutely certain of your position before making such accusations? Let's take this closer look, shall we? Right off the bat there are several things wrong with the translation and interpretation of this particular passage. First, in the Greek manuscripts there is no article associated with the word translated as clouds. It should read “in clouds.” But, is it simply “in the clouds?” No, the intent is to describe the people who will be caught up; there will be clouds of them being caught up to meet the Lord in the air. A minor point, but remember it is important to be faithful in the little things so you can demonstrate your trustworthiness with the bigger issues. Next, think about what's going to be happening during this future event. Jesus Christ will have left His place in heaven and will be on His way to be personally present upon this earth for one thousand years. He is not coming to bring everyone back to heaven with Him. The living and “the dead in Christ” will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air as He descends to this earth. They will meet Him on His journey. This earth is where He and they and we will be, with Him. So many people believe this means they will be with Him forever in heaven. Look closely. Does it say that? Another thing to notice is the presence of the Greek word - ἅμα (1Th 4:17 BGT) which means “at the same time,” and is most often left ignored in translations. One of the many “mighty men of God” who pontificate profusely on this topic insists that there is a seven year period between the rapture and the second coming of Jesus Christ. Can you see such a gap here? I certainly don't. I guess there are those who want to see this seven year period, so that is the way it must be, which explains why they ignore this little Greek word which is plainly present. The living shall be caught up together with them (the dead in Christ) at the same time in clouds (no article) to meet the Lord in the air. What I am getting at is that no seven year period exists between the "catching up" and the return of the Lord to this earth. Furthermore, this hasn't anything to do with the bride of Christ, and her coming back with Christ to put an end to the “battle of Armageddon." Where does that come from? Furthermore, this same “pontificate” says that the rapture is a secret event. No one will know it has taken place until it is noticed that a lot of people have gone missing. Read the passage again. Does it sound like a quiet, secret event? I think it sounds like a rather noisy affair with shouting and trumpeting, etc. I don't think this event will go unnoticed, do YOU? Continuing with our analysis, here is a blatant example of mistranslation. The Greek word “parousia” doesn't mean “coming,” as it is wrongly treated twenty-two times out of its twenty-four occurrences in the Bible. It means a personal presence when one is present in light of his duties or official responsibilities. It is a precise technical term, used to express a precise position. It is not simply a presence, but an official presence. Consider a typical courtroom scene. Those in the audience are present, but not in an official capacity. The Greek word to describe their condition in this case would be “pareimi.” However, the judge, the bailiff, the prosecuting attorney, the defense attorney, the defendant, the members of the jury, would be present in light of their official duties. Their presence would appropriately be called a parousia. When the translators committed their transgressions with this word, they were stultifying the magnificence and glory of this future time period when our Lord will be personally present upon this earth for one thousand years. Another name for this period is the millennium, which simply means one thousand years, albeit a very special one thousand year period. “The millennium.” A further note concerns “the dead in Christ.” This refers to a specific body of people – those who will lay down their lives as martyrs during the rebellion against God's kingdom, during the time of (the) “Great Tribulation.” (Also notice that in the Greek manuscripts there is no article associated with Great Tribulation. It is talking about a time of great pressure and testing). They will be resurrected as a company to meet the Lord in the air as He descends to earth. Wait! What? You mean this kingdom of God takes place before the Second Coming of Christ? You betcha! That's the missing piece to the jigsaw puzzle of prophecy. If you can “see” this, many other things will become much clearer and will start making much more sense to you. That's right! I said it! What do you think? The Nation of Israel will have the preeminent place during God's kingdom. It will be through Israel that all government, judgment and blessings will flow out from God to all the nations of the earth. Israel will live in perfect safety and liberty at that time and will certainly not have to worry about Hamas' rockets flying throughout their land. It was their land, it will be their land, and no one or no thing will be able to take it from them. At least, that's what God has said. Do YOU believe what God has said? This is the first installment for now. There is so much more to discuss, hopefully intelligently, concerning this matter. [I am a believer in and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe the Bible is the verbally inspired word of God upon which I take my stand, no matter what the cost. I want the truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God. I have no other agenda. In my quest for truth, I am an “over-watcher.” I watch over what people say about God's word and what they say it says. I will test your words as you, of course, can test my words]. Greetings from Overwatcher.

Wow! I know paragraphs are my friend. When I posted all the paragraphs, etc. were clearly there. I don’t know what happened.

All good, my friend.

I would never subscribe to any of these magazines. They are less useful than toilet paper.

If you were using plain-text and put any HTML tag in the post the previous formatting will be unrecognized (i.e. destroy the paragraphs).

I realized later that was exactly it. Thanx.