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the Income tax amendment should have been repealed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