The "American Wisdom Series" 

presents

Pamphlet #604


What Happens on that Day
When the Government

Just Says, "No!"

To Free Speech

or Religious Freedom?



 

We take all our freedoms for granted
but, Should We!
Let's examine the record

Several years after the Revolutionary War
(after we won our independence from England)

in 1789 our United States Constitution was written and ratified by the states.

It became the law of our land,

and

specifically stating what the responsibilities of the Federal Government were to be

 spelling out citizens rights that were not to be infringed upon by government.


Among our most cherished rights are:
Freedom of religion,
freedom of speech,
freedom to assemble,
right to keep and bear arms,
freedom from search and seizure,
right to a trial by a jury of our peers

and

the right to govern ourselves on the state and local level

concerning all things not constitutionally assigned as Federal government functions.

For the most part
these constitutionally allowed Federal functions
are
National Defense,
National Courts
and regulation of Interstate Commerce.


Government's infringement on our rights were kept pretty much in check
until the later part of the 20th century.

In 1913 the United States congress needed to raise money to finance the 1st World War.

To do so they changed the constitution to allow for a personal income tax.

Previously
the Federal government was supported by taxes
on
imposts, imports and excises.

After the war effort was paid for,

the Income tax amendment should have been repealed

but it wasn't.

Why,

because our elected officials liked the power that access to our money provided them.


During our early years elected officials were only part-time employees of government;
having personal careers outside government
and serving as government leaders only short term as a patriotic duty to country.

They were responsible enough to keep themselves in check
because they were first citizens and secondly government employees;
then,
they discovered that being a career politician was a financially worthwhile personal goal.



And
with the use of our tax money
to win re-election after re-election
they could spend a life time in government
rather then being concerned citizens doing their part-time duty.

As government grew bigger,
taking on increasing numbers of unconstitutional functions
it became popular
to infringe more and more on our constitutional freedom and rights.


These losses of freedom have taken place gradually over the past half century.
Kind of like boiling a frog!
Do you know how to boil a frog?
If you place him in hot water he will jump right out.
You'll never get him boiled that way.
But, if you place him in comfortable body temperature water,
he will stay right there.
Turning the heat up slowly,
he, being cold blooded will not notice,
When finally you have the heat turned up to boiling temperature,
well, too late for the frog.
He's boiled!


That's what's been happening to our constitutional freedoms.
We hardly even notice as generations come and go,
the newer generation not realizing the freedoms lost before they were born;
or started paying attention.

Government is slowly infringing on our rights;
always in the name of the common good but,
the cumulative effect is frightening.


Freedom of speech.
There is a lot of talk about censorship lately and should some things be restricted for the common good.

 There is a lot of talk about flag burning
and should it be declared illegal.

All in the name of the common good.


Freedom of Religion.
We see an ever increasing push by some
to prevent religious input into government decision making.

The constitution says government can not interfere with religion
but,
government also may not restrict religious influence.

We see a tendency to try to force separation of religion from state;
this is not in the constitution.

Its being promoted in the name of the common good.


Freedom of assembly.
We for the most part can still assemble in protest of government policy,
but must many times get a special permit to do so.

All in the name of the common good.


Right to bear arms.
There are currently over 4000 laws on various government books restricting this right.

All in the name of the common good.


Privacy rights
 Freedom from search and seizure.
Government is now breaking into peoples homes unannounced without search warrants.

All in the name of the common good.

Drug war, you know!
They are seizing people's property, homes and automobiles,
if suspected of being used for drug trade;
no trial,
not even an arrest or charges being filed.

All in the name of the common good.

Drug war, you know!


They are giving children internal examinations at school without parental knowledge or consent.

All in the name of the common good,

You know,
looking for child abuse!


Sobriety check points.

Stopping cars along the road to check if you have been drinking.

All in the name of the common good.

You know,
detain all people because some people break the law.


Property rights.
We now must get approval of multiple government boards and commissions
if we want to do anything with our property.

All in the name of the common good.


Even clutter - if we allow our property to become what others think of as an eye sore;
we can be arrested and forced to clean up our property.

All in the name of the common good.


What happens when we reach the point
where for the common good

it is determined

that you will no longer speak out against your government's policies?

When you will no longer be able to assemble in protest on government policy.

What happens when they say,
"Newspaper editor,
you can't print this or that,
or we'll confiscate you presses."

or

"Protest group,
we no longer issue you permits;
disband or go to jail."

How about abortion protests?
They are already placing restrictions on those.

How about seat belt laws and helmet laws?
Now it's not only the common good - it's for your own good!


Heaven forbid,
if you chose to earn a living without first getting a government license;
to be a doctor, a dentist, a plumber.


If anyone had told our great grandfathers
60 years ago,
about the government restrictions that would be placed on our freedoms
by the year 2000;

he would have said,
"No way, we have a constitution to protect our rights."
Little did he know!


"The courts will protect your rights,"

you say.

That's what my grandfather thought.

You better think again;

the courts are part of the problem.


There is only one right which we have
that can be depended on to save our other rights;

that is the right to keep and bear arms.

As long as we are armed, we can regain other lost rights,

but this is the one seemingly least cherished right.

It is the one right we have allowed government to infringe on the most.

Where do we draw the line?

When do we draw the line.

Will we,
private citizens,

ever be stronger then we are now?


Some people say,
"It's time for another tea party".

Some say,
" armed revolution."

I say,
" there is still a chance we can accomplish it politically."

If we continue to support the two major parties who have taken us to where we are,

I fear for our future.


If we can't do it politically,
it must still be done!

Better keep your powder dry!


We call on all good Citizens

whatever your race

the rich and the poor,

the strong and the weak,

from our smallest towns,

to our largest cities,

all of us living in Pennsylvania

and out of Pennsylvania

to change your party affiliation;

become a member of a Constitutionally Focussed Third Party;

become a principled candidate

for Local office,

for County office,

for State office,

for National office;

You don't want to become a candidate?

You can still help!

work to help elect

principled Constitutionally Focussed third party candidates;

help pass out literature

help man polling places on election day

help by making phone calls

vote for

Principled candidates.


Constitutional

Statement of Principles

We recognize and affirm the God-given dignity of the individual and believe that the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Pennsylvania Declaration of Rights most clearly articulate this basic principle. To restore and preserve that fundamental human dignity, we proclaim:

That every individual has a paramount right to life from conception until natural death and the government shall not infringe upon that right.

That the right of citizens to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and others shall not be questioned.

That the freedom to own, use, exchange, control, protect, and freely dispose of property and other assets is an inseparable extension of the individual's inalienable rights.

That the primary unit of society is the family (persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption) and it must be accorded all rights and responsibilities to direct care of its members, particularly in the areas of education, health care, discipline, and the upbringing of children without government interference.

That the United States of America is a sovereign nation and therefore must maintain control over its own affairs.

That guided by Divine Providence, our Founding Fathers established this nation on Judeo-Christian principles and therefore the right to the free exercise of religious beliefs is inviolate.

That our government is one of limited, delegated powers operating as a republic within the confines of the Constitution of the United States of America. The federal government derives its authority from its sovereign citizens and it is to be their servant, not their master.


...Preserve, Protect, and Defend
 

Pamphlet #604
was
Published by:

Rhine Publishing Co.

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