By Dan Beaulieu
updated 9/28
Instilled deep within us is the pride of what it means to be an American. That pride is derived from the notion that, in our country, our values and our way of life is superior to those of other countries. Indirectly, that pride pays homage to our founding forefathers for establishing and protecting those values in our Bill of Rights.
Our founding forefather’s vision for America was based not only on their recent emancipation from the British oppression, but also from their collective knowledge of history and mankind’s past mistakes. They understood the evolutionary process of how a society could transform from freedom to totalitarian empire by studying the mistakes of so many failed governments that came before us. With that knowledge, they created a safeguard; the Constitution was written to shield us from the otherwise inevitable fate of tyranny and ultimate self-destruction.
I can’t articulate enough just how privileged America is to have a heritage of such great revolutionary thinkers. These intellects have sculpted America into the greatness that it became and their words still resonate to this day, hundreds of years after their deaths. However, just as most privileged children naturally do, we live our lives simply pursuing our own priorities while taking for granted the great gift of liberty bestowed upon us. We fail to understand the necessity of demanding that our legislators remain diligent in upholding the constitution.
“If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions.” - Thomas Jefferson
It’s the nature of the government, to continually expand and rarely, if at all, retract. These expansions are almost always at the peril of our constitution; our personal liberties. The income tax is a perfect example of this unconstitutional expansion. Although there have been taxes dating back to antiquity, the first U.S. income tax legally declared was in 1861 as a “temporary tax” to pay for the Civil War, which then expired in 1871. The income tax was tried again in 1894 but was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. However, in 1913 they found a way to pass the income tax, by writing a 16th amendment. The income tax was passed into law under President Woodrow Wilson after the 16th Amendment was ratified.
It won support by the masses under the guise that it would only affect 1% of the richest Americans. “Soak the Rich” was the twisted banner the people rallied to. Just a few short years later the tax didn’t just include the rich, it expanded to incorporate the vast majority. This example displays both the relentless persistence and the deceitfulness that we were warned to keep in check.
Oftentimes, when these intrusive laws are sold to us, the lawmaker first designates a purported evil. In the case of the income tax it was “the rich”, drawing them up as unethical thieves who are leeching off the poor anyway. The privileged children buy into the propaganda and rally support to justify battle against an ostensible evil. This evil takes many shapes: race, creed, class and sexual alignment to name a few. We must never give into this, as selling out our fundamental principles only opens the door for totalitarianism.
“He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” - Thomas Paine
It is my personal belief that the decline of our founder’s moral virtues greatly accelerated in the dawn of the 1900’s. Between bad legislation, central economic planning, wealth redistribution, war propaganda, unconstitutional and undeclared wars, military occupation, the nanny welfare state, the creation of the Central Intelligence Agency along with the conception of hundreds of tax funded bureaucracies. They, in concert, brought on the complete annihilation of our forefather’s vision, and welcomed even worse legislation into existence…
The precipice of desecration came shortly after September 11th 2001, where, for security, we traded our civil liberties and welcomed with open arms The Patriot Act. This horrific legislation represents the worst transgression against our civil liberties that we have ever encountered. A Trojan horse of sorts, just as with the income tax in 1913, we bought into an evil, and sold out our principals to combat it. The impulse to accept such a devastating law rested in the obvious anger, fear and strong desire for vengeance which clouded our prudence to fully deliberate what exactly we were signing on to.
“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Benjamin Franklin, 1759
Since the Patriot Act’s incarnation we are so far removed from our roots and fundamental morals we now employ… Freedom of speech zones, security checkpoints, unwarranted surveillance, torture, indefinite detention, forced inoculations, sneak and peak searches. This act violates everything that our Bill of Rights stands for. We have turned our back on our moral values in the name of “The War on Terror”... in fear.
You might ask yourself what the motives are for such transgressions, and although I believe that answer is centered on control, I know it is extremely multifaceted, simply meaning that there is no specific answer. So I once again draw reflection on Thomas Jefferson’s logic, “It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions.” Once we failed to be vigilant in the protection of our founder’s great gift, that our “general nature” will slowly consume our freedoms. One of the worst unconstitutional displays of control is Obama’s new Super Congress which has usurped all power from the congress, thus silencing the voices of the American people. Make no mistake, America is now an oligarchy.
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right and raises at first, a formidable outcry in defense of custom.” - Thomas Paine
Have we ushered in the age of the Orwellian big brother society? When the people of the United States have come to the point of openly applauding the idea of a colossal razor wire barrier that encompasses our borders, I think it’s apparent, that we truly have strayed from American fundamental principles. This whole notion brings frightening images of the berlin wall to mind; images of prison guard towers with razor wire glistening from the searchlights. What a disturbing vision for America, our Army standing at the border as we deign to the level of North and South Korea.
It's strange that people don't understand that all we need to do is change the appealing climate our government has set for illegal immigrants and our problem would be solved. Between welfare, tax breaks, entitlements, scholarships and hand-outs... why wouldn't they want to come here? If we remove those elements, suddenly the climate for illegals is diminished, and the desire to come here altogether fades drastically. That notion, coupled with an easier pathway to citizenship, is the only way, the moral way, to stop the immigration problem.
Big Brother is truly watching us all. Since 9/11 our privacy has been drastically diminished. Between the TSA groping’s in airports, subways, football games and even proms we are no longer secure in our persons. With wiretapping and warrantless sneak & peak searches we are no longer secure in our homes. We now see video monitors installed at banks, fast-food restaurants and Wal-Marts with looped videos of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano urging us to spy on our neighbors saying, “If you see something, say something”. This is designed to invoke a constant state of tension and fear of looming terrorist threat. Furthermore, new legislation has come forth which would allow the government to take over the screens on your smart phone for urgent Presidential Addresses. The underlying message of “give up your freedoms and the government will keep you safe” prevails.
“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” - Dwight D. Eisenhower
Has the age of the Military Industrial Complex that Dwight D. Eisenhower warned us about come to fruition? Our politicians bequeath cartels and handouts to colossal conglomerates in trade for career-making campaign funding. These large super companies own financial institutions, energy companies and healthcare establishments amongst a great many other things. They control our data flow through printed and televised media which gives them the opportunity to portray events or legislation in a light that benefits their cause. At the same time the same company will also produce the various tools and weapons of the war. Our government then gives other countries our tax dollars in the form of foreign aid with the condition that they use that aid to buy our (company’s) munitions.
This conflict of interests insures perpetual war, dishonest media coverage and a duopoly of corrupt lobbyist and bureaucrats in our political system. It also has particularly negative effects on our economy and small businesses. Driving our work overseas and underselling the more heavily regulated and taxed small business. This has killed the American entrepreneur and the dream of our forefathers… This is not how America was to be.
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” - Thomas Paine
The revolutionary war wasn’t just a war of muskets, steel and blood; it was a revolution of ideas. Once again, and long overdue, the notion of revolution has finally risen to the mainstream. The American people are reeducating themselves on the Constitution, studying economic policy and rethinking our role in the world; the privileged children are growing few. Our movement is swimming against the current of big business, political interest and the mainstream media, but still we are within striking distance of reinvigorating the American Dream. We must be wise and choose the correct leader to hold the torch as the path is dark.
“…every generation needs a revolution...” “…at least once every 20 years…” “…a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.” – Thomas Jefferson
Right now that there are several great leaders among us. The People are putting them in offices throughout the nation. The revolution has begun. We now need a true leader in the white house to usher in a new day. Someone we can trust. I believe there is one obvious choice to return America constitutional sanity. There is one obvious choice that will revive our economy and return us to financial prosperity. There is one obvious choice to restore America's name throughout the globe by ending the immoral and unconstitutional wars. With him the sun will set on the dark ages of intellect, and bring forth a new day. We must defend the American Pride that is our heritage by upholding the constitution. You can choose to stop buying into the duo-political system that enslaves us and vote for an idea. You can choose to restore the American Dream.
“I am an imperfect messenger, but the message is perfect.” – Ron Paul
Some people believe the constitution is out-dated and simply will not work in today’s age, but logic perseveres, our founders were not simple men. America is just a newborn child in comparison to our civilization as a whole, and even in ancient times there were governments. Each fallen Empire became a testament of man’s “general nature” and how it shifts governments into Empires. Studying the triumphs and failures of man kinds past, our founding fathers created the constitution to stop history from repeating itself. We cannot be so vein as to think their logic doesn’t transcend both time and technology, as their logic was forged from 10,000 years of civilization. Their logic is sound.
Regardless of opinion, let’s look at the facts. We’re hated globally for our occupation, we’re $14.7 Trillion in debt, and we’re being spied on and groped by our own government. We’re broke and on the verge of collapse.
History is about to repeat itself one way or another: Collapse or Revolution.
I cannot believe I am the first to comment......... Most of ur theories are sound but......some are way out of line. Ur right (starting from the end and working up). We r a freaking mess. R u kidding me? I'm a divorced mom of two and my finances are stellar compared to this countries. We r hated although we give more than any country in the world, I wonder..... would they hate us more if we gave nothing and took care of our own? Business is business and sorry but I don't give a rats ass what's going on in Africa. Call me insensitive but....we have more problems than we can handle here, where's our aid???? Fat chance of that. We give and give and give, which brings me to ur razor fences. R u so rich and fat that u can afford to support illegal aliens? Cuz I am here to tell u that I live paycheck to paycheck and I can't afford any more. My kids are uninsured and so am I. But were I Mexican and illegal my kids would not only be insured but they would get special translators at school and free dental and vision AND basically free housing. So, do I vote for the razor fences???? yes, I do. You must understand that it really isn't 1901 and illegals aren't coming here to make an honest living, they r coming here to leach off of me and u then send ALL their income home. This isn't the good ole days. Agendas have changed. Do I blame them? He'll no,,, they are only taking what we are all but forcing down their throats. Most people aren't stupid no matter what language they speak or where they come from....America is begging the "less fortunate" to take advantage of our generousity-or should I say the RAPING of the middle class hard working American. It's hard to comment in order as I have this small box and have to keep going up and re-organizing my thoughts but is corporate America and politicians corrupt??? Absolutely. It's all about the money. But sadly the money is mine....I finance big gov't. And we are all ok with that. Your comment from Jefferson about civil uprising every 20 years to keep gov't in line. That man is genius but as smart and ingenious as we Americans are we haven't had an uprising for what 120 something years? Maybe it's time. Thought provoking. I would take on Obamas army tomorrow. Oddly, the military men and women r me. They are hard working individuals that believe strongly in Right and wrong and fighting for their country all for almost minimum wage. They r amazing. I can't imagine how they would fight against me I civil war.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment, let me address what you have said in the order from which I saw them.
ReplyDelete"We r hated although we give more than any country in the world, I wonder..... would they hate us more if we gave nothing and took care of our own?"
Do you realize that when we "give" money to other countries we are "demanding" that they buy our guns and ammo? Sure the government and the rich people in those countries likes that a lot! Does it benefit the poor (vast majority)? Not at all, think back 10 years when the person receiving the money was Qaddafi? Did his subjects like us then?
Also, do you even grasp that we are giving money to BOTH Pakistan AND Israel right now? We give the weaker country MORE money so the fighting (arms sales) go on perpetually.
"R u so rich and fat that u can afford to support illegal aliens?"
No ma'am, and you completely missed the point all-together. What draws illegal immigrants here? Entitlements, tax breaks, scholarships and handouts. How about instead of erecting the Berlin wall, we take those things away from them???
What our government, and people like rick perry do, is create a climate that is welcoming for them to come here illegally. So how about we destroy that climate instead of the American way?
"America is begging the "less fortunate" to take advantage of our generosity-or should I say the RAPING of the middle class hard working American."
You just proved my previously stated point.
"Oddly, the military men and women r me."
The revolution is the people vs the tyrant government. I have friends in the Army, Air-force and Marines. They are our brothers and sisters, my enlisted friends have told me that most of the soldiers they work with also see whats coming and are on the Peoples side.
But you miss the point, you don't have a choice. It'll come regardless of you opinion. The American Revolutionary War had only 3% of the public activly involved and only 10% supporting it.
Thanks for your comment, your always welcome here.