‘Voting Rights’ means nothing without the right to self-government

Federalist Blog ^ | May 9, 2006 | P.A. Madison

[AZRepublican]

Much is made out of voting rights with civil minded groups and leaders finding it almost an obligation to raise a spectacle out of the slightest hint over whether or not a minority is being given a easy avenue in casting a ballot. With each new election brings a new circus of civil rights activists to town -- leaving the real struggle for voting rights alarmingly silent.

The right of citizens to vote is only half of their struggle in exercising their most solemn right under the guaranteed republican form of government. The federal government routinely ignores the very limited powers for which was delegated in its crusade to expand its powers and reach over everyone and everything, not just in this country, but else where in the world as well.

James Madison explained the powers of the federal government this way:

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State.

This ceaseless expansion of power has been costly to the republic in more ways then anyone could imagine. For American citizens it has lead to a most oppressive restraint imposed upon their privileges and immunities. Under our republican forms of government the absolute sovereignty of the nation and power is not in Congress or the Courts, but with the people. It is the people who weld the absolute and final power to decide laws and to make changes for themselves.

California Proposition 187 was a 1994 ballot initiative designed to deny illegal immigrants social services, health care, and public education. It was introduced by Assemblyman Dick Mountjoy (Republican from Monrovia, California) as the Save Our State initiative. A number of other organizations were involved in bringing it to the voters. It passed with 59% of the vote, but was overturned by a federal court.

The people had spoken, yet at the same time their voice was erased because federal courts did not approve of voters exercising their privileges or immunities in the course of self-governing themselves. There is no power under our form of government that can revoke the will and voice of the people through the ballot box. What the people collectively decide may be foolish, unwise or even unjust, but it is the ultimate final exercise of power and sovereignty that the US Constitution recognizes.

Our mix form of government protects the people from oppressive government acts, not against the people collectively exercising this nation's ultimate sovereignty. For example: the Fourteenth Amendment protects people against oppressive acts of the State legislatures, but does not make any attempt to usurp the ultimate voice and power for which this nation rests upon: the people. There is only a few limitations imposed upon the people in exercising the nations sovereignty; such as electing to create and print their own currency or, substitute republicanism for another form of government because the US Constitution guarantees a republican form of government.

Until the people are once again recognized as "the only legitimate fountain of power" in this country, voting rights will remain only a partisan distraction that will serve no one but those who wish centralize all power to the federal government.

[Tzimisce]

Courts have too much power. Why go through all the time/energy/money/trouble of voting on something if the courts over turn it in 2 seconds.

If the US ever falls it will be to the court system.

[Wolfhound777]

It's not soley the courts. It's every branch of government completely ignoring the will of the people. They are completely out of control and 99% of them don't deserve to stay in office or in their appointed positions.