We in the United States protect our freedoms listed in the Bill of Rights with dogged determination. Freedoms of speech and assembly (1st Amendment), religion (the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment), freedom against unreasonable searches (4th), due process and against self-incrimination (5th), the right to keep and bear arms (2nd), against cruel and unusual punishment (8th), and others carry such impassioned support among the people that we will defend them with our last breath. But there are two basic human freedoms at the end of the list of ten that we have sadly neglected for over 100 years.
The 9th Amendment makes it clear that the powers given to the Federal Government by the constitution are not removed from the people, but rather granted by them. The people retain ultimate sovereignty and the government serves at the pleasure of those it purports to govern. The 10th outlines that the Federal Government is authorized only the very few powers given to the by the Constitution. All other powers not specifically listed as belonging to Washington are reserved to the several state governments.
These two Amendments have been sadly neglected, and the Federal Government has crept into supreme power as a result. In fact, by this year of 2009, the Federal Government has grown into a separate entity with its own self-interests that are unrelated to the interests of the people and the local and state governments they create. Its prime constituency today is its own quest for power and not a desire to serve the needs and desires of the people for reasonable self-government.
The encroachment of the Federal Government permeates all three branches and both major political parties. The solution cannot be a partisan remedy. It is not a red/state issue, a Republican/Democrat struggle; it is not conservative, nor is it liberal. Rather, it predates all those labels, and it became apparent during the First Presidential Administration of George Washington. It is the difference in governmental philosophy that caused Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton to argue bitterly and constantly, while competing for President Washington’s agreement. Most of the original thirteen states would never have ratified the Constitution had it not been for the inclusion in the Bill of Rights of these two liberties.
Washington the capital can no longer be looked to for enforcement of these two freedoms. It is now necessary for the state governments in the 50 capitals to take up the cause of fighting for their own sovereignty. State legislators and governors must be made aware that it is up to them to defend the people’s right to self-government.
This web site is devoted to news and communication related to the movement in all 50 states to declare and enforce state sovereignty.
