The Beginning of Our Demise?

"For the first time in my adult life, I am truly fearful of what may become of a once great nation, known as, 'America'".

I don't make this statement flippantly, or in jest. We are fast approaching a crossroads in our nation's history that is unprecedented in terms of where this country is likely to find itself in just a few short years from now. The signs are posted for all to see -- and they are ominous.

One of the most troublesome signs of impending disaster is the seemingly total lack of respect our elected officials have for our founding documents, the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. This lack of respect is displayed from the President (Barack Obama) on down to local government officials. 

In Obama's case, he trampled the Constitution before even taking office by thumbing his nose at the provision that establishes eligibility to become President. Most of you are already aware of the dozens of lawsuits by various US citizens calling for Obama to prove his eligibility to be President. He could do this simply by producing his birth certificate. If nothing else, it would put the matter to rest and cost him all of about $50 in the process. Instead, he has hired a slew of high-priced lawyers to fight these lawsuits so he does not have to produce the document, at a cost most of us could not afford to pay for a new home. Does this even make sense to you?

According to the Constitution of the United States, Article II, Section 1, Clause 5: No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of 
this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States. 

This clearly spells out the conditions that anyone aspiring to that office SHALL meet. Not, "...could"...", or "...should...", or "...hopefully shall..."! No, it states, "Shall"! Now, I don't have a PHD in English, but I'm certain that the intent here is to make that condition mandatory. 

Unfortunately, there seems to be a concerted effort to allow this usurpation to take place. The mainstream media, our elected officials (save for a few), federal judges, and even the Supreme Court seem to be complicit. Why this is so, is a total mystery. But where it may lead us is not. We may be headed for a constitutional crisis--unprecedented in our history. Imagine the turmoil and confusion certain to ensue if Obama is found to be ineligible for the office. Apart from the obvious question of who becomes President (the Constitution does provide for that eventuality), what of any laws or treaties that he signs? Or Executive Orders? Or even awards and decorations? All invalid! Not to mention the rage sure to manifest itself in those who will claim that it's all a plot to remove the first black President from office. Will there be rioting reminiscent of the late sixties?

Our Congressional leaders are no better. Like the President, they all take an oath to "...preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States". Yet, they propose and support all manner of policies and laws that strip us of the liberties granted by that document. What most people don't seem to understand is that although the Constitution was written to establish the foundation of our form of government, it was ultimately designed to protect the people FROM the government. 

A good example is the 2nd Amendment. If you ask the average citizen to explain the purpose of that amendment, they'll probably say something having to do with hunting or protection from petty criminals and thugs. Yes, those are valid reasons for having a firearm, but most US citizens don't know that the real reason that amendment is there has to do with "We the People" being able to protect ourselves from the real crooks, our congressional leaders. 

I know there are some who will doubt those words. Listen to what Suzanna Gratia-Hupp, a Texas state Representative, has to say about it ( http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4069761537893819675&p ). 

Please pay particular attention to her last few words. For those of you who have never heard this before, gird your loins and prepare to be stunned! Warning: If you are an elected official, watching this video will probably cause you to break out in a cold sweat, and produce uncontrollable spasms. Watch at your own risk.

Another example of Congressional tampering with our rights is the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" which will undoubtedly rear its ugly head again now that the Democrats control Washington. The misnamed Fairness Doctrine is anything but fair. Isn't it amazing how liberals always seem to misname something when they're trying to bamboozle us? What the Fairness Doctrine is designed to do is to "outlaw" free speech over the airwaves. But, remarkably, the way it has been structured, it will have a deleterious effect ONLY on conservative talk radio. Imagine that?

Even at the local level, our leaders propose and implement policy in direct violation of our rights under the Constitution. A good example of that is Washington DC's former ban on handguns. It was finally overturned by the courts but at one time was the law of the land. 

Let me make this loud and clear for those of you who are apathetic about Rush Limbaugh or Shawn Hannity being told to pack their bags. Or about your neighbor being told he has to give up his guns. After all, you don't listen to those two "right-wing" nuts and you don't own a gun. No skin off your nose, right? Well, that may be true today, but you'd better get your butt in gear and start worrying about tomorrow. Begin--now--to worry about that time when they decide to outlaw your right to teach your own kids at home. Or to limit your ability to worship without government interference. Because, if you fail to stand up against tyranny in any form, you may find yourself in a place you don't want to be. Our liberties can never be taken away abruptly. 
They know we would never stand for it. However, they can be eroded. And that, my friends, seems to be the grand plan. A little here, a little there, and before long, a lifelong communist will feel right at home here in the (formerly) good-ole-USA. 

Alarmist rhetoric? If you think so, I suggest you pull your head out of your nether-regions. The people in power in Washington have a plan to change this nation. They admit it forthrightly. There is no attempt to hide where they want to take us. Of course, they hide the details. Or, they mislead and deceive us about some of the more controversial aspects. But, they also know that if they can get enough of the "dumb-masses" (say that quickly 5 times) to go along with their agenda, or not question their pronouncements, then they can essentially do as they please. 

Well, I for one, refuse to go like a lamb to the slaughter. 

What can we do? Well, we could put our collective heads in the sand and pretend it just ain't so! Ah, but that exposes the "arse" to all kinds of abuse. What about going along with the program because, "...surely our elected officials want to do what's best for the country". Do they? 

One has but to look at our convoluted tax structure or the never-ending bailouts and so-called" tax cuts being planned. Any thinking person has to realize that our tax system is a out-of-control monster that needs to be slain. I'll grant that all of our congressional leaders do think (although it's unclear what they actually think about). They alone, have the power to change our tax system. However, for the most part, they don't want to. Why? Simply stated, because they are not truly interested in doing what's best for the country--they want to do what's best for them. With our current system, they have the power to create winners and losers. Tax the hell out of those they deem to be losers (big oil and tobacco, big corporations, Pharmaceuticals, wealthy Americans) and give subsidies and tax breaks to those they like (agriculture, poor people, environmentalists, etc). Another system, such as one called the FairTax, has been proven to 
be a much better model for raising tax revenue without all the problems of the current system. Yet, most will oppose it. 

What about the so-called tax cuts? Sorry. That's an outright lie. A true tax cut reduces your tax rate so that you pay less in taxes. That's not what Obama has proposed. His plan is welfare. He will give money from the treasury (your money and mine if we pay taxes) to all Americans, even those who paid no taxes. Some may say, "So, what's wrong with that?" Two things. One, it's armed robbery. Don't believe it? Just try not paying your taxes. Eventually, someone will compel you to do so, with the power of government (including the use of force) squarely behind him. Two, this plan is designed to solidify the Democrat's hold on power.  

You see, under their vision of the future, there will ultimately be more who don't pay taxes (dependent on government) than those who do. Those who do will be "asked" to contribute an increasingly larger percentage of their income to the government to make up for the shrinking numbers who pay no taxes. When it comes time to vote, who do you think this segment of the "dumb-masses" will vote for? Those who promise to keep taking money from those evil rich folks and give it to them. 

Yes, it seems Benjamin Franklin was correct when he responded to that question about the longevity of this great republic thusly: "When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."