Political Hay
Washington Knows Best
Time to pull the plug on the New Authoritarianism.
The health policy atrocity that Washington Democrats are now finalizing represents an ugly new turn in American politics. From almost the founding of the Republic, we have seen demagogues seek to sway public opinion in their favor with crass arguments appealing to base motives in the electorate, from racism to class warfare to xenophobia. But that is NOT what we are seeing in Washington today, on issues from health care to “global warming” to federal deficits, spending, taxes, welfare, energy, and beyond.
What we are seeing in Washington today is much worse. What this mob currently in power is telling us on health care, and the rest of the issues, is that they know what is best, and they are not the slightest bit interested in what the people think. If any of us disagree, that is because we are ignorant yahoos, malevolent Nazis, or crazy teabaggers, and our “elected representatives” have not hesitated to respond by calling American citizens precisely such names when they have exhibited the temerity to dissent. This is not a perversion of democracy. This is a complete abdication of democracy, or rule by the people, displaced by a new elitism, or rule by elites, which is a form of undemocratic authoritarianism.
We can’t use phrases like “health care debate” to discuss what has happened, because there has not been any such debate. Ditto that for global warming policy, where the EPA, following the lead of President Obama, insists on plowing ahead regardless of what the public thinks, or what any dissenting scientific authorities have to say. Debate requires a willingness to listen to what others have to say, and to respond with rational arguments. But Democrats have refused even to hold hearings on their final health care proposals, which were not even released to their Congressional colleagues until the last second, and then rushed to a vote, without even full scoring of their implications. This spectacle is an abuse of office.
From the polls, to phone calls and letters to the Hill, to public protests, all signs indicate overwhelming and exploding public opposition to the Democrats’ government takeover of health care. The Left has now joined the Right in opposing the legislation for their own reasons. But none of this has made any difference to the ruling Democrats. The attitude they are displaying is that they already know everything about everything, and they are not interested in what anyone else has to say.
Demagoguery at least shows some respect for public opinion. What we are seeing in Washington today is the replacement of a functioning democracy, based on consent of the governed, with a New Authoritarianism based on arrogant power. Washington knows best is the new ruling doctrine, and no dissent is respected, or would even be allowed to be heard if the new ruling class were to have its way. Certainly that is the view of the governing bodies of the old establishment media, which not only refuses to allow the airing of dissenting views, but joins in ridiculing them. The one TV network that does allow all sides to be heard, Fox News, is attacked by high government officials for doing so, including the President himself, joined by the so-called mainstream media, from the New York Times, to NBC, to Time magazine. This is starting to look more like Venezuela than America.
That is because from the halls of power in Washington, to the corridors of media in New York City, the New Left from the 1960s has suddenly seized power in America. Its troops are behaving exactly like the New Left campus leftists who have shouted down and shut out dissenting views for decades. The result now is a fundamental crisis of democracy in America. If our system that previously produced the greatest, freest, most prosperous country in the world is to survive, patriots across America, from every village and farm, every town and county precinct, every neighborhood, barrio, and ghetto, every profession, every church, every discipline, will have to rally to save it. Putting America back on track to freedom and prosperity, and the restoration of the American Dream, will require fundamental reforms of our system of government, to put the people back in charge, ensure power to the people, and never allow the threat of such an effective anti-democratic coup d’état ever to arise again.
Medicare’s New Death Panel
This new anti-democratic, elitist, authoritarianism can be seen in the emerging policy results of the health care debacle. As Scott Gottlieb explains in the December 24 Wall Street Journal, the Senate health bill establishes a new unelected Medicare Commission with the power to displace your doctor’s judgment as to your treatment and care with its own. Gottlieb writes, “In particular, the Obama team wants to give the agency the power to decide when a cheaper medical option will suffice for a given problem and, in turn, when Medicare only has to pay for the least costly alternative….In fact, the bill lets Medicare seek almost any restrictive payment authority it wants from a Medicare Commission established for the purpose of cost control.”
The Obama Administration, indeed, has already sought judicial approval of this new authority under current law in the case of Hays v. Sebelius, decided just before Christmas. The case involved Ilene Hays, a Medicare Part B beneficiary, who had been taking the prescription drug DuoNeb for approximately four years under the advice of her doctor, to control Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Though that drug regimen had worked well for Ilene, the Medicare bureaucracy decided that another, less costly drug treatment would work just as well, contrary to the advice of her doctor, and ruled that it would only pay for the cost of that cheaper drug treatment.
Ilene sued, claiming that Medicare does not have the authority under current law to overrule her doctor. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Ilene, concluding that the Secretary of HHS and the Medicare bureaucracy were attempting an end-run around current law, and that “Nothing in the statute authorizes this least costly alternative policy.” But on Christmas Eve, the 60 Democrat Senators voted to overrule Ilene and the Court, and grant the Medicare bureaucracy precisely the power that was rejected in this case, through their vote for the “historic” Reid/Obama health care bill.
When Medicare was adopted, the law expressly prohibited any such government intervention in the decisions of your doctor regarding your treatment and care. Now the Democrats in Washington have voted to take the power and control over your health care away from you and your doctor and give it to the government. And that policy won’t be limited to Medicare. As Gottlieb writes, “The impact of these provisions won’t be limited to Medicare. Private insurance in the federally regulated ‘exchanges’ will take cues from Medicare, since they’re both managed from the same bureaucracy. Medicare will set the standard for medical care across the entire marketplace.” Again, the Democrats and their bureaucrats in Washington are sure they know everything about everything, even how to treat your serious medical condition better than your doctor.
Yet, the problem with the Democrats’ New Left extremism on health care is even more fundamental than this. Today’s pacemakers include wireless computer chips that enable doctors to go online at their offices or other locations to monitor exactly what is happening with their patient’s heart at home or elsewhere. A doctor can send a message for the pacemaker to jolt a stopped heart back to life, or the pacemaker can be programmed to do that on its own. In one case, the heart of a senior citizen who had suffered four heart attacks over 17 years stopped three times on the way to the hospital after his doctor warned him of the danger from a remote location, and each time the pacemaker jolted him back to life. The man is still alive today, and just enjoyed Christmas with his family.
But under the Obamacare socialized medicine system that the Democrats have now whooped through both houses of Congress, you can forget about the investment in both physical and human capital that was necessary for this modern medical miracle. Who is going to invest in the development and manufacture of such high tech medical equipment, and in developing the medical expertise to administer it, under government policies to sharply restrict the compensation for such investment?
Such medical innovation will not only come to a halt. The ability of our medical system to provide such cutting edge, high tech medical care to save lives will deteriorate and go backwards. The great historic achievement that the Democrats claim now to have won is the government takeover of health care so that they can precisely redistribute resources from such care to achieve what they say would be a greater good. But the ugly truth is that what they are really doing is redistributing the hefty health resources that today save the lives of the really sick to other uses where they think they can buy far more votes for all that money. That is the New Authoritarianism at work.
The self-deluded Democrats in Washington are so sure the American people are going to somehow be grateful for this government takeover and trashing of their health care. But the American people will not stand idly by and accept this fundamental assault on a central component of their current high standard of living. Nor will they meekly accept what is essentially a loss of democratic control over their own government, and the fundamental disrespect, of the New Authoritarianism. These are just a couple of the reasons why a political revolution is coming that no one in Washington can comprehend today.
About the Author
Peter Ferrara is Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy at the Heartland Institute, General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union, Senior Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, and Senior Policy Advisor on Entitlements and Budget Policy at the National Tax Limitation Foundation. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under President George H.W. Bush.
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Ret. Marine| 12.30.09 @ 7:28AM
Very well written article, and spot on of what needs to be done in the very near future. I do have a few concerns, regarding the ACORN involvement, and by association of the pretender-n-theif, known as Barry Sorreto, aka, barry obama, aka, barack hussein obama aka who knows. His role in the organization, his influence peddling, his training of their personnal, his involvement of funding of this fraudelent element, his invovement and the direction to the AG of see no evil in the many wrongs they have put upon We the People. We the People of course see this ACORN organization for what it is, we are not stupid as the two top dogs make us out to be but, none the less they are forbiding the investigations to move foreward. The second concern, and maybe some one out here in this forum can explain, why is it that almost every time a political whore makes promises they cannot keep, they are not brought up on charges of fraud, deception, abuse of their office, failing to keep their Oath to protect the Constitution, and to top it off flat out lie as a means to cover their arses, yet are never held to account. Are they in fact "covered" so as to not be brought up to these charges, and why?
If would appear the political elite are stuck on stupid, as they feel the need to be our guardians, our mothers and dad's our one and only choice for any sort of change they alone believe in, which with all I have dug up seems to be, the desire to turn this Consitutional Governance of by the People, of the People and for the People into a Europe lite form of socialism. I for one did not vote for the pretender-n-theif, I voted for an American, which leads me to another concern. Why is it the vetting process took a turn for the worst, I have never in my long life of political observation such a display of total black-out of the then candidate obama, his denial of affiliation's to this country's know, but, unconvicted terrorist ties, Ayers and now very publicaly known associations, his involvement with the funding of Saudi money for his schooling and campaingn contributions ( I know where's the proof, right?) and demial of said matters. Who in hades is this man and where did he come from? again un-vetted, Why? Is he a sleeper, is he actually an agent of the Whabbi-sunni sect disquised as a Christian put in place to conceed this Nation to their precieved power in the world? Inquiring minds demand to know.
I guess We the People will have to wait and see what happens in the mid-term, if there is a crises in the meantime, they had better be prepared to fully explain to We the People of thier actions and hope We the People are as forgiving, as say, Mother Treasa, other wise expect to see our forefathers attitude, our natural rebelious mindset and a change of the guard through force. Patriots, veterans and LEO's remember your Oath.
old white guy| 12.30.09 @ 10:38AM
you folks knew what to do when the crown would not listen. it appears you now have a crown of your own making.
blackwatch| 1.3.10 @ 7:35PM
Correct. Remember that it was the English Crown's attempt to deny the English colonists ball shot and powder (for essential for liberty and self determination) that precipitated "The Shot Heard Around the World." It was a "gun grab" then and when King Barry makes his move will we see the same lies and rhetoric from the MSM as well?
Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 12.30.09 @ 7:49AM
“These are just a couple of the reasons why a political revolution is coming that no one in Washington can comprehend today.”
Ain’t that the truth Brother!! The Liberal Progressive Democrats, or whatever the hell they call themselves these days, (personally I just like to call them fags) have no idea, just how pissed off most people are right now, and we want our complete revenge on them, or at least I do.
This was a great article!! Every idea in it should be part of the Republican platform, for the next round of elections. The people, and the individual States, need to take back as much power from Washington as possible, before it’s too late, and never allow them to get it back again, because, they cannot be trusted with it.
Margie| 12.30.09 @ 12:24PM
"Every idea in it should be part of the Republican platform, for the next round of elections."
~I couldn't agree more! We can only hope they will do so.
Ya know, I used to call the Dems Libs, now Socialists, but I think I'm going to start calling them what they truly are: Communists.
Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 12.30.09 @ 6:21PM
Margie: Make that one of your New Years resolutions for 2010, to call Liberals, Communist. Just be careful saying it to their faces, because you know how they can get, acting like total thugs (ex: SEIU), and I don’t want to get hurt or anything. And Margie, I hope you have a Happy and Blessed New Year too!! But that’s just for you, and not for those stupid Liberal Communist’s, I hope they have a terrible New Year, screw them all!!
Margie| 12.30.09 @ 7:38PM
Ok I will be careful (as I possibly can).. but just in case I run across any I'll remember that I am to love my enemy. That means I tell them that they are a Communist and really ought to give it up because it will take them to Hell.
Happy New Year blessed Soldier!
archaeopteryx| 12.30.09 @ 7:59AM
Why not just call it tyranny?
Jim O'Brien| 12.30.09 @ 8:13AM
The political left always assumes that the government can do a better job than private enterprise, no matter what the issue. Problems with medical care? Turn it over to the government. The American Kremlin can manage health care for over 300 million comrades. Problems with GM? Let's have the taxpayers bail it out. Problems with dependence on foreign oil? Create the Department of Energy to do nothing but spend our money. Problems with education? Create the Department of Education and shovel $billions more in the direction of the schools, to no avail.
Given the recent track record of the government in the war on TERROR (yes, the "T" word), perhaps the entire job of keeping terrorists off airplanes should be turned over to private enterprise. Hire El Al to manage the situation.
old white guy| 12.30.09 @ 10:40AM
it really is past time to start calling terror what it is .islamic jihad.
JohnR22| 12.30.09 @ 2:37PM
Actually, it's worse than that. There have been numerous public opinion polls that indicate even Liberals do not think the govt is efficient or effective. So why then do they push for massive govt solutions? IMO it's partly because they despise capitalism and the wealthy people it creates, partly because they're Statists and they simply prefer a poorly run govt solution to an efficently run non-govt solution, and finally it's because they can't give up on that utopian dream of a perfect world...and only massive centralized power (i.e. the govt) can bring it about.
Allan| 12.30.09 @ 6:03PM
Liberals have no idea how to improve our standard of living so their solution is tear everyone down, making everyone equally miserable in their hapless attempt at so-called fairness and equality.
Pingback| 12.30.09 @ 8:15AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Washington Knows Best [spectator.org links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Richard Baker| 12.30.09 @ 8:40AM
Time to root out the Communists in Washington by voting or by death of the constituent parts. I think of Patrick Henry's speech about Liberty or Death. The Founding Revolutionaries would know what to do with tyranny such as this. Let's listen to them.
Brat Magursky| 12.30.09 @ 8:41AM
The basic problem is human nature...if a guy on the sreet hands you a $100.00 bill most folks wouls say thanks mister (maybe) and then follow that up with "got anymore"? very few would ask where did it come from or what have i got to do to keep it...the lure of money, food; housing (basically everything) for nothing that has been promulgated by the left & has made the majority of it's benefactors dependent and silent and the left knows that full well. Without the resistance of those who benefit most any attempt @ change goes nowhere. I have long said when the well runs dry and those government dependents see the check isnt going to be in the mail box that is when we approach the brink of mass chaos and from that chaos will come a true leader affecting true change. If not, democracy as we know it ceases to exsist...p.s. chances are it will not be Al Franken!
Jay| 12.30.09 @ 8:46AM
The author mentions Carly Fiorina in California as if the tea party movement is going to support her. It is my understanding that she represents all that the "populist" types, which the author romanticizes to a large degree, despise. They seem to be going wholeheartedly for her opponent Chuck DeVore. (There's a similar situation with Crist versus Rubio in Florida). The author needs to at least superficially address the current divisiveness in the right between the traditional country club Republicans and the more "populist" tea-party movements. How can you have a battle plan for the future of conservatism if you avoid discussing the not always perfect present state of the movement?
Blackwatch| 1.3.10 @ 7:44PM
Exactly. There are so few country club republicans left anyway so call them what they are: fiscally conservative democrats. We must all re-invigorate the Republican Party at the conservative grass roots. Start attending your central committee meetings in your county. Make that your New Years Resolution. Get involved now!
Indiana Alex| 12.30.09 @ 8:51AM
Here's another one:
Congress may not be exempt from any laws it passes.
Mike Duke| 12.31.09 @ 12:56AM
This is a simple but great idea! We could call these proposed amendments collectively, "The Second Bill of Rights."
Melvin| 12.30.09 @ 9:01AM
What makes us as a society immune from having our own Adolf Hitler, Mao TseTung, Robert Mugabe, Stalin or Lenin?
The Germans used to call Adolf Hitler, "The crazy little Austrian" before he came to complete power. Robert Mugabe single handily destroyed a thriving and economically viable Country overnight.
To think that our society is somehow immune from having dictatorial fascists come into control of us is a complete falsehood, it can absolutely happen.
Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La, and Senator Ben Nelson, D-NE are current living proof that their votes are for sale to the highest bidder, and neither display any remorse for their actions.
Politicians after politician has come to Washington practically penniless and are or have left multi millionaires through shady land deals Sen. Harry Reid, or sweetheart loans Sen. Chris Dodd, or income tax evasion Congr. Charles Rangel.
No single event but rather a series of events have allowed tyrannical heads of state to take power and destroy their country's through murderous regimes or economic practices.
But the fact is the gears of time in this Country are setting into place a series of events that could take us into a direction that no nation on earth would have figured that we would have gone, but it is happening and Americans are either unwilling to stop this madness or just don't think that it can't happen to us.
"UNITY NOT DIVERSITY"
old white guy| 12.30.09 @ 10:42AM
diversity creates division not unity.
mujalan| 12.30.09 @ 1:32PM
Good point Melvin. As I recall Adolph Hitler was elected. So was Hugo Chavez. As well as other tyrants. The fact that someone is elected does not mean that he or she cannot destroy a country. It would appear that we are well on the way.
ADM| 12.30.09 @ 9:04AM
I don't know why anyone thought that electing more Democrats would turn our country around. I knew that once they were back in control, instead of working for the people, they would use this opportunity for a complete takeover of our lives and the economy. And you know they will use any and all means to retain that power in the next two elections. I'm afraid our country will finally be destroyed by the very people we trusted to protect our freedoms, lead us toward a strong future, and keep us safe.
rvabbott25| 12.30.09 @ 9:25AM
I agree entirely entirely that the health care legislation is a disaster, and that much of the left is impulsively authoritarian. However, the author fails to understand that ours is a representative democracy, not a direct democracy. We the people elect representatives to represent our interests, not reflect our views, and if our legislators fail to do so, we can vote them out at the next election. And for good reason, for tyranny at the hands of the majority is just as dangerous as tyranny of the minority. Public opinion may be with us this time around, but this may not be the case in the future.
The fact of the matter is that there are real differences between the two parties, elections have consequences, and we lost. Hopefully, those on the right who failed to vote because we failed to put up the ideal candidate have learned their lesson. In the meantime, we should use every procedural roadblock available to us in Congress, mobilize the public, and choose the best possible candidates to avoid disappointment next time around. Had the left not stolen the senate election in Minnesota, we would have still been able to scrape by, but had we won more seats this would not have been a problem.
Our founders set up a brilliant system that made it difficult for any majority to gain overweening power. Unfortunately, that system was destroyed by the 17th amendment, which provided for the popular election of senators. We now have two versions of the same House of Representatives. The senate still has some power to slow down legislation, but not like it used to.
Paul in MA| 12.30.09 @ 10:00AM
Wise old saying:
"Politicians are like babys' diapers. They need to be changed often for the same reason."
Lets hope that in 2010 the congress will be taken to the babys' change room.
Howard| 12.30.09 @ 10:05AM
I'm not certain if Obama wanted to run GM, AIG, etc. The reason they hold on is that they are not capitalists. Obama inherently believes markets are faulty and government knows best. I do not see it as a totalitarian impulse, but as weak-kneed nanny state mindset. Similar to Jimmy Carter.
JimBeam| 12.30.09 @ 12:25PM
I think this is a far more accurate than many of the paranoid posters on this site. Obama wants to turn America into Norway or Sweden, not the USSR or Cuba. We'll probably end up as Britain instead. Not totalitarian terror, but malaise and mediocrity.
(BTW, Carter deregulated the railroads and airlines. Obama is less trusting of markets than even Carter.)
Ray| 12.30.09 @ 12:46PM
"I do not see it as a totalitarian impulse, but as weak-kneed nanny state mindset"
I DO believe that Obama, along with a majority of Congress (on BOTH sides!) want's a totalitarian government, he just doesn't want to display the label. For to admit that one is the undisputed 'leader" of an authoritarian government is to admit responsibility for the action of that government, to admit that the government can, and does, make mistakes.
Obama, like many of his supporters in Congress (as well as the general populous) , want to assume complete control without having to assume complete responsibility for their actions.
This is why Obama, and the totalitarian members of Congress, always blame someone else when things go wrong.. It's "Bush's Fault. (which should be trademarked by the Liberals)" Or the fault of "Fat-Cat Corporate CEO." Or the fault of "unamerican" "raciest" "teabaggers."
Old Guy| 12.30.09 @ 10:18AM
PLEASE!!! Stop calling them liberals or progressives or whatever name they give themselves. They are STATISTS who know that they are the only ones smart enough to run your life.
Melvin| 12.30.09 @ 10:36AM
Old Guy is absolutely correct, we are using terms of yesterday, "Statist" is the now. The Statist is a combination of fascist, socialist, communist, Liberal, Republican, and Democrat.
Pingback| 12.30.09 @ 10:22AM
Health Insurance Cost - Health care to remain key issue during Markey’s second year - links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
searcher484| 12.30.09 @ 10:37AM
The closest parallel to what Obama-care seeks to accomplish, is the forced collectivization of the kulaks by Stalin in the early 1930s USSR.
martin j mith| 12.30.09 @ 10:42AM
Two things:( actually 4) First "its the economy stupid" and how many people are negatively effected by it. second,its the vote and for who and against whom. There has to be enough anger,energy ( and long memories ) as well as monitoring to prevent voter fraud. Number three: Our national security. This is tricky. We do not want to see a successful attack but we will see attempts. If the screw ups do not stop that may trump the economy as the issue of discontent.
Remember this people vote on the basis of their level of content versus discontent and they vote for or against the incumbent on this basis.
One final factor is the Republican candidates and how well they campaign--that will be interesting to watch.
Rmm| 12.30.09 @ 11:05AM
The bit about nullifying an election based on a candidates fraudulant promises is a great place to start. Our political system is mired in a swamp filled with scoundrels. The current situation we face is almost incomprehensible from the standpoint of the deception, the deceipt and the dripping contempt for the people.
Every true American must see this fight for what it is. These, whatever label they go under, must be kept away from the levers of power forever more.
martin j smith| 12.30.09 @ 11:37AM
The greatest problem here is the currupt media aka MSM. This is an extemely serious problem because there are many who do not question or doubt. They accept what they are told on face value. For example: If the president says so, it must be true. Or, the such and such news person says so it must be true. This extremely serious because too voters make decsions on MSM and the Presidents oppinions without challenge.
Ksfreestater| 12.30.09 @ 11:11AM
Mr. Ferrera's three proposed constitutional amendments - shall we say "A New Bill of Rights"? - perfectly encapsulate the systemic problems with our current form of national governance. Said New Bill of Rights will not only correct the evils wrought by several generations of elected officials by ensuring that those authoritarian-minded representatives/senators are either removed from office mid-term, or at least are precluded from practicing their political witchcraft for an indefinite period of time, but this manifesto can also be used as a platform to launch a new political movement that re-establishes this country's founding principles: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Now, the only question is whether the Republican Party has the sense to unabashedly embrace these principles. Unfortunately, I can't see the Mike Steeles of the world being the guys to do it.
Founding Intent| 12.30.09 @ 11:37AM
The ONLY solution to limiting the power of the federal government is repeal of the 17th Amendment. Give states a check on Congress and who is confirmed to the Supreme Court
Falcon46| 12.30.09 @ 11:41AM
Mr. Ferrara seems to forget the fundamental issue here and that is that the states formed a Federal Republic over which the states were sovereign not a national government with sovereignty over the states. There are two types of checks and balances: (a) federal against federal, and (b) State against federal. We need more of the state against federal. The people through their involvement most importantly in the primaries (not the general election) must assert their views by supporting candidates who support similar viewpoints. They must also select governors that will employ nullification of unconstitutional federal legislation, enforce tenth amendment rights, and run a well-regulated militia that backs up each states decisions. Madison and Hamilton in Federalist Papers #39 and #85 clearly state that the formation of our Federal Government was a compact between the states with the states sovereign over our Federal Government.
Arrogant Washington DC political and media elites often sight Marshall’s opinion in Marbury vs Madison as the defining statement that our government is a national government sovereign over the states, thus giving them the legal supremacy in legislative issues. A recent article by attorney Timothy Baldwin states that “a true legal study of Marbury v. Madison reveals that Marshall's opinion” (which was actually dicta [opinion not the law in the case]) “never addressed the issue of State sovereignty whatsoever. American historian, Forrest McDonald, reveals this fact in his book, "State's Rights and the Union: Imperium in Imperio, 1776-1876." McDonald states, "Marshall was careful not to claim that the Supreme Court was the SOLE or FINAL ARBITER of acts of Congress." (Emphasis added.) Ibid., (Lawrence, KS, Univ. Press of Kansas, 2000), p. 56. This is, in fact, the case.” And no SCOTUS case since has claimed that supreme court decisions are the final arbiter of acts of Congress.
In reality, we don’t need amendments because it is “we the people” and our state governments that have allowed this arrogance to evolve and flourish. The law is already on our side. We must get more involved and reassert ourselves if we are to maintain our intended constitutional representative government.
mujalan| 12.30.09 @ 1:47PM
I think you have some good points Falcon46. More serious problems are on the way. I live in a relatively conservative state that generally keeps its financial house in order. But now we are going to have to give increased subsidies to states that have played fast and loose with their spending habits. Add to these the payoffs we now would all have to make to fund Harry Reid's payoffs to Sens Nelson, Landrieu, Dodd, and others. Who knows how many more we don't even know of yet.
run_ragged| 12.30.09 @ 12:07PM
I agree with the need for an amended constitution as the only way to check to the power of the elites. However, I see virtually NO chance of any future congress passing them. It will be virtually impossible to get any such amendment through the U.S. Senate.
I think it's time for the states to call a Constitutional Convention. I have been opposed to such a drastic step in the past, because it is very possible such a convention would be hijacked by the elites. But desperate times require desperate measures.
blackwatch| 1.3.10 @ 7:58PM
We must absolutely prevent a constitutional convention!! It would be corrupted and rigged by the elites and the MSM from get go. The Lindsay Grahams of the Republican party would be their mouthpieces.
If you want a 2nd civil war in this nation by all means open a constitutional convention. The Constitution is NOT a suicide pact--millions of us won't go quietly into the night as they steal our birthrights.
AKCapitalist| 12.30.09 @ 12:24PM
Correction, it is the rather unremarkable illegitimate junior senator Mark Begich who stole the election from the venerable Senator Stevens with help from the Justice Department and the FBI trumping up charges, not Al Begich.
We in Alaska will not forget this, nor his votes to saddle ours and future generations with debt and bad, unAmerican policy. If ever there was a need for recall, he embodies it.
Pingback| 12.30.09 @ 12:32PM
Shorts: AARP: Money is an issue; GE; Health reform | mobihealthnews links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Nyfarmer| 12.30.09 @ 12:35PM
Andrew Jackson opposed the national bank and abolished it because:
* it is unconstitutional;
* it concentrated an excessive amount of the nation's financial strength into a single institution;
* it exposed the government to control by "foreign interests";
* it exercised too much control over members of Congress;
* it favors Northeastern states over Southern and Western states.
Andrew Jackson knew that a Central bank improved the fortunes of an "elite circle" of commercial and industrial bankers at the expense of hard working Americans. He was proven right, when during his administration, the U.S. Government was, for the first, and so far the only time, debt free.
From The Andrew Jackson Society
If the coruptocrats were not 'in and of the money' some sanity might return to the nation. Centralization destroys more than it creates!
Oldefarte| 12.30.09 @ 1:02PM
To add to Peter's excellent ideas, let me say that America's current crisis is substantially due to ..............America's voters, who elected these morons congressmen [and president] and put them into their current powerful [and controlling] positions!!!! These leftist dictators would not be there if not for our STUPIDITY. Additionally, if we continue down this imbicilic mental path STUPIDLY and do not vote for true change next year and beyond, we have nobody but ourselves to blame for our demise as a country and as a free people!!!!!
mujalan| 12.30.09 @ 1:53PM
We need to wake people up to the gravity of what is at stake. Voters are in fact bought off. My own congressman sends out letters and press releases bragging about how much pork he has secured for our district. We the voters need to realize that if America is destroyed all the pork in the world will not save us.
Pingback| 12.30.09 @ 1:27PM
Complete abdication of democracy | anti_commi.com links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
jschmidt| 12.30.09 @ 2:07PM
I believe the health bill has a clause in it that prevents it from being repealed. Anyone have more info on that.
sestamibi| 12.30.09 @ 2:18PM
AKCapitalist beat me to the Mark Begich correction.
Barbara Boxer and Chuck Schumer, as loathesome as they are, are not going to be beaten--the former especially by Carly Fiorina, whose most significant accomplishment was running Hewlett-Packard into the ground.
As for Frank Lautenberg, what you said was true in 2002 when he pinch-hit for the arrogance of Bob Torricelli, but it is also true that he served in the Senate from 1983-2000 as well. Furthermore, he was re-elected last year so his current term is far more legitimate. What really enrages me about him was his attack his 72-year old opponent in 1982, GOP Rep. Millicent Fenwick, for her age, while he's now about 86 I think. Talk about hypocritical.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.30.09 @ 2:19PM
Peter,
Thank you.
You have added three arrows to our quivver. ReaLLy good thinking.
Northern Rebel| 12.30.09 @ 2:46PM
If this is not taxation without representation, then I don't know what those words mean!Our "representatives" don't give a damn What we do or don't want, they are going to jam Gummint run health care, and enviro-whacko taxes up your puckered asses, whether we like it or not.
They're smarter than us, and we should shut up, and go get the lotion!
Thankfully, they always overreach, and have no clue how much they are "misunderestimating" the American people.
Art Laffer said he could undo this mess in "a long weekend." It's our job on election day, to see that he gets the proper leadership behind him, or his equivalent.
It's going to be hard, because George Soros money has installed as many socialist Secretaries of States as possible, as fast as he can, and they certify the votes, folks.
Plus A.C.O.R.N., and the Panther party, and their ilk are out there signing up dead people, and illegal aliens, at a record pace, while the Panthers are preparing to intimidate American voters at the polls.
These communists of the democrat party know full well how important next November's election is going to be, and I hope you Patriots do too.
We need to swamp the polls and overrun, and overwhelm the forces of tyranny, that will pull out all the stops to steal as many elections as possible.
Get your hardhats ready my friends, and
LET'S ROLL!
irish19| 12.30.09 @ 5:21PM
I hope the Panthers come to my polling place. We'll see how long they last.
Robert| 12.30.09 @ 3:28PM
A big improvement would be to return election of senators to the state legislatures.
Robert| 12.30.09 @ 3:33PM
I wrote the above before reading the post by Founding Intent with whom I agree.
Paul in MA| 12.31.09 @ 11:27PM
I'm from Massachusetts. As far as I'm concerned, if my state legislature were to elect my senators I would still have the same dirtbags that I have now for my U.S. senators. Maybe other states are different. I can only speak for MA.
davelnaf| 12.30.09 @ 6:12PM
Given the democrats prediction for control and mandate from on high during times when they had slight majorities in Congress many people wondered what they would do once they got big majorities in both houses. The answer: try to control and mandate even more brazenly.
Joe| 12.30.09 @ 6:21PM
I would like to see a constitutional amendment reversing the the broad judicial interpretation of the Commerce Clause - that's the provision of the constitution pursuant to which the Courts have allowed Congress free reign to legislate over nearly every aspect of our lives because each aspect touches (at least theoretically) on interstate commerce. That was not the intent of the framers. Roll back the commerce power, and we can reclaim meaningful state's rights.
Road Kill| 12.30.09 @ 7:16PM
Joe:
You're absolutely correct! The Commerce Clause is like the answer kids get from Mom when they asked why. "Cause I said so!" That one Ammendment, if abolished, would turn things around.
Patriot| 12.30.09 @ 7:07PM
Democrats are Fascists, Nazis, Socialists, Stalinists and Communists; totalitarians, all.
Pingback| 12.30.09 @ 7:21PM
Daily Right 12/30/09 « The Quantum Conservative links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Margie| 12.30.09 @ 7:47PM
I know I'm not especially loved for saying this but I must still say it.. we have to vote Republican in the upcoming elections. There are plenty of conservative Repubs out there who need our backing. For 2010. Can't we find out who they are and seek to help them out?
And then do the same for 2012?
This is my sincere prayer.
A lot of us didn't vote in the last election.. I know I know because of RINO's.. but like Rush said.. Name me one Republican who is a Socialist Communist or Marxist? There aren't any.
We're all angry and it's great but we can't let the next election cycle go the to Communists again!
bobmontgomery| 12.30.09 @ 9:27PM
And so when the guy from the Black Chamber of Commerce said Barbara Boxer was participating in racism, he was ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, COURAGEOUS AND A ROLE MODEL. If Pelosi, Boxer, Obama, Holder, et al, can call us names, we can damned well call right back.
bobmontgomery| 12.30.09 @ 9:51PM
Peter is right on about who has come into power. The problem is those people's development was arrested in the 60's and never restarted, like most of us who eventually grew up. listen to their arguments; listen to their speeches. Parse their diatribes. It is the same sophomoric, unsophisticated radical ranting extant among the Tom Haydens, et al, back then. Of course Bill Ayers is unapologetic. He still does drugs and he never grew up. Ditto for most of that lot. They are lunatics, some of them just started wearing suits and ties.
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The American Spectator : Washington Knows Best PV online links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Uvin| 12.31.09 @ 2:33AM
Premise: The new bill consists of "Death Panel" committee.
Supportive clause: None.
*Yawn*
Moving along...
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Tips For Barefooting Beginners | Skiing Leisure Knowledge links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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November 2009 Erie County REO/Foreclosure Market Report | Buffalo … | Erie County NY links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Mike Snyder| 12.31.09 @ 9:41AM
The line item veto is neither necessary nor desirable. One important task of the Constitutional Convention was to limit the power of the executive. A line item veto gives the executive a lever over even necessary programs that may affect one Congressman or Senator that the executive wishes to coerce more than it affects others. One of our problems is an out of control executive. Let's not give him even more power. Liberate labor from the tyranny of union bosses. Require proof of identity to vote in Federal elections. Limit the amount of revenue that the government can raise. Make all retirement programs vested. Separate the welfare part of Social Security and Medicare from the "paid for" part. Require parental responsibility, including paternity and child support, before eligibility for welfare payments. Make judges follow the intent of law writers and constitution ratifiers rather than their own whims, and make them impeachable specifically for failing to adequately demonstrate the historical accuracy of their reasoning. Secure our borders and deny jobs or public assistance to illegal aliens. These things will all return us to more democracy. Recall may not be desirable in a system in which most of the media are controlled by one party, either.
Don't go for things that just feel good or just punish the fascists, but for things that will decrease the elite's ability to affect their schemes of control of the people by government. Populism is generally understood to be an appeal to the emotions of the masses, as Obama did. We've had enough of that. We need reasonable measures to take power away from Washington, media elites, union bosses, and the educational establishment, but we don't need to give that same power to anyone else.
Pingback| 1.1.10 @ 1:49PM
The American Spectator : Washington Knows Best American Me links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Ken Roberts | 1.2.10 @ 8:27AM
The letter writing will just begin if and when we get someone in the house that will stand up for America, the new law has a suicide clause in it that says it can not be repealed, but I say that is extreme balderdash, any thing can be repealed even the constitution can be amended , So if we take the house back in November the fight will just have begun and the letter writing will have to be boosted and kept up until they repeal this night mare if it passes . I can attest to the fact that they are not listening to the people as to the replies and lack of replies I have received from my many letters to the senate and congress . two and three times a week , it gets habit forming to write these jerks. I hope the people can see that the democrat party has been hi jacked by the left winged nuts and stop supporting them at all. the republicans are in danger of being hi jacked and if they do not get it together we will be looking at a third party soon, which I do not want because third parties mostly lose especially the presidential elections . Republicans had better listen and change what they have been doing and are doing to just to get along.
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BARACK OBAMA: COURTING DISASTERS – suzyrice.com links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Otto Foust| 1.7.10 @ 2:12PM
Support the Constitution Party in 2010. the fastest growing third party in America, vote out all Libs. in 2010--for the most part the democrat socialist. or we will not have a free America.
Jon B| 3.8.10 @ 11:50AM
Missing from this whole debate is the Elephant in the room: Corporate control of both parties. Instead, people are focusing on their own hatreds of other people, in this case it's Democrats, and ignoring the source of the problem: corporate cash in political campaigns.
Hitler once said, "Never underestimate the power of CREATING an enemy for people to use their anger on." Many here are stuck in that trap, and have blocked off their ability to see through things.
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Poptropica | 4.8.10 @ 11:17PM
I’ll have a Poptropica full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!
Getting Hercules to Help You
Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale
You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need to jump up when the Hydra is about to strike. He will rear one of his heads back to attack and his eyes will bulge out. When this happens, jump up in the air and then try to land on top of his head. That head will get knocked out. When all five heads get knocked out, the Hydra will be asleep and you can click on him to get one of the scales. I’ll have a full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!
Getting Hercules to Help You
Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale
You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need to jump up when the Hydra is about to strike. He will rear one of his heads back to attack and his eyes will bulge out. When this happens, jump up in the air and then try to land on top of his head. That head will get knocked out. When all five heads get knocked out, the Hydra will be asleep and you can click on him to get one of the scales. Poptropica
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