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1
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2
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- He lost three times,
running as a candidate for the Libertarian Party.
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3
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- In 1999, he spent several weeks helping a tribe of native Polynesians
protect their lagoon.
- He helped by creating a website, sending faxes and emails, and composing
a song.
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4
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- Karen Senffner is his wife!
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5
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6
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- How
the Ggrrrinch
Stole
Congress!
- based on:
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7
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8
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9
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- www.CSMNL.com
- www.madeiraSociety.com
- www.charlesOlson.com
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10
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- The Privatization Amendment
- The Decentralization Amendment
- The Organic Rebirth of American Communities Amendment
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11
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12
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- Helped an autistic child integrate into a 5th grade classroom
- Taught Chess classes
- Taught Science classes & Science camp
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13
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- No Weapons.
- No Ganging Up.
- Stay in the Park.
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14
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- No Talking.
- No Moving.
- Line Up Straight.
- Do What You’re Told.
- Or Else.
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15
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16
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- Jackson Turner Main, 1961,
“The Anti-Federalists: Critics of the Constitution”
Quadrangle Books, Chicago, IL
- Robert Allen Rutland, 1966,
“The Ordeal of the Constitution”
Univ. of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK
- James Curtis Ballagh, Ed., 1914,
“The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, Vol. 2,
1779 - 1794” MacMillan
Co., New York, NY
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17
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- Bernard Bailyn, Ed., 1993,
“The Debate on the Constitution”
The Library of America, New York, NY
- Oliver Perry Chitwood, 1967,
“Richard Henry Lee: Statesman of the Revolution”
West Virginia University Library, Morgantown, WV
- John Carter Matthews, 1978,
“Richard Henry Lee”
Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission, Williamsburg, VA
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18
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- Thomas Paine, “Common Sense”, 1776
- The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles;
Lesley Brown, Editor; Clarendon Press; Oxford; 1993
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19
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- For You, for listening to my thoughts & feelings.
- For my beloved country:
- The United States
of America
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20
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- Unlike the “Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union” (1781-1788)
which was written and ratified over a period of several years, the
Constitution was written in a summer, and was approved in less than a
year.
- Many Americans opposed this plan to create a strong central govt.
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21
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- On August 31, 1787,
he indignantly declared that “he would sooner chop off his right
hand than put it to the Constitution as it now stands.
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22
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- “… I believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a
Course of Years,
and can only end in Despotism as other Forms have done before
it…”
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23
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- Philadelphia, 9/24/1787
- David Redick to William Irvine:
- “… in my oppinion
the day on which we adopt the present proposed plan of
government,
from that moment we may Justly date the loss of American liberty.”
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24
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- “As it is, I think ‘tis past doubt, that
if it should be established,
either a tyranny will result from it,
or it will be prevented by a civil war. ”
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25
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- I was born in 1732
in the colony of Virginia.
- I was a Leader of the Revolution.
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26
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- My first bill in the House of Burgesses was:
“to lay so heavy a duty on the importation of slaves, as
effectually to put an end to that iniquitous and disgraceful traffic
within the colony of Virginia.”
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27
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- I formed an association for the purpose of deterring all persons from
accepting the office of vendor of stamp paper.
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28
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- The terrified collector pronounced the oath, and brought out his
commission and stamp paper, which were solemnly burnt in his presence.
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29
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- A person ... had accepted the office of stamp collector. When Mr. Lee was informed of these
circumstances, according to the fourth article of the association, he
gave notice to as many of the members of it as he could, and summoned
his company of horse. They
proceeded to the residence of the stamp collector, and required him to
bring out his commission, and all the paper he had in his house, and
deliver it to them; and also to bind himself, by an oath, neither
directly nor indirectly to promote the sale or use of stamp paper. The collector expostulated, hesitated,
and at length refused. A stout
and fierce-looking man of the troop advanced at this moment to him, and
with a stern look and penetrating voice addressed him, “Swear.” The terrified collector pronounced the
oath, and brought out his commission and stamp paper, which were
solemnly burnt in his presence.
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30
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- “Of more worth
is one honest man
to society and
in the sight of God, than all the
crowned ruffians
that ever lived.”
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31
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- In England a king hath little more to do than to make war and give away
places; which in plain terms, is to impoverish the nation and set it
together by the ears. A pretty business indeed for a man to be allowed
eight hundred thousand sterling a year for, and worshipped into the
bargain! Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of
God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.
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32
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- Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free
and independent States…
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33
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- Let this most happy day give birth to the American republic. Let her arise, not to devastate and
conquer, but to re-establish the reign of peace and of the laws.
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34
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- I was busy with something I considered more important...
- A Convention in
Virginia
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35
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- Let us examine these Articles, which were written and approved over a
course of years.
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36
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- The Stile of this Confederacy shall be
- "The United States of America".
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37
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- Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every
power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation
expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.
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38
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- …, delegates shall be annually appointed ..., with a power reserved to
each State to recall its delegates, or any of them, at any time within
the year, and to send others in their stead for the remainder of the
year.
...
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39
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- ...
- No State shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor more
than seven members; and no person shall be capable of being a delegate
for more than three years in any term of six years;
- ...
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40
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- In determining questions in the United States in Congress assembled, each
State shall have one vote.
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41
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- …; nor shall the United States in Congress assembled, or any of them,
grant any title of nobility.
- ...
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42
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- All charges of war, and all other expenses ... shall be defrayed out of a
common treasury, ...
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43
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- … The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied by the
authority and direction of the legislatures of the several States ...
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44
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- ...; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of
them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a Congress of the United
States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every State.
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45
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- Sovereign, free and independent states
- No executive (No “President”)
- No judiciary (No courts)
- No federal power to tax
- Operate by Consensus: each state 1 vote
- Rotation in office
- Amendments approved by each state
- Creation and ratification took years
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46
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- The devastation of war
- Heavy taxes to pay war debts
- The Rebellion started with petitions to the government for paper
currency, lower taxes, and judicial reform.
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47
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- “Indeed the minds of men have been so hurt by the injustise, folly, and
wickedness of the State Legislatures ; & State Executives -- people
in general seem ready for any thing.
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48
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- An “efficient” Government
- A “vigorous” Government
- An “energetick” Government
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49
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- The Congress shall have the Power
To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts, and Excises, to pay
the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the
United States; ...
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50
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- The Congress shall have the Power...
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51
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- The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the
United States, and of the Militia of the several States, ...
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52
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- The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it
necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, or
- on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several
states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments,
- which , in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as
part of this constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of
three-fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three-fourths
thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by
the Congress ...
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53
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- This constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made
in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made,
under the authority of the United States shall be the supreme law of the
land;
- and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the
constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.
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54
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- The ratification of the conventions of nine states, shall be sufficient
for the establishment of this constitution between the states so
ratifying the same.
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55
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- We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect
Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
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56
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- The word “Liberty” appears once, in the Preamble.
- the Preamble (really a Postscript) was tagged on
at the end of the Constitutional Convention
- The word “Power” appears 43 times.
- The Constitution submitted to the States had no Bill of Rights.
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57
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- ~ RHL to George Mason 10/1/1787
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58
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- ... Having procured an opinion that Congress was qualified to consider,
to amend, to approve or disapprove, the next game was to determine that
though a right to amend existed, it would be highly inexpedient to
exercise that right, but merely to transmit it with respectful marks of
approbation. In this state of
things I availed myself to the right to amend, and moved the amendments,
a copy of which I send herewith, and called the ayes and nays to fix
them on the journal. This greatly
alarmed the majority and vexed them extremely; for the plan is to push
the business on with great dispatch, and with as little opposition as
possible, that it may be adopted before it has stood the test of
reflection and due examination. …
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59
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60
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- Webster’s:
L Foeder-, Foedus compact,
league
- Shorter Oxford:
L foedus, foeder- covenant
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61
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- An agreement or covenant between two or more parties
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62
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- An association of nations or other political entities for a common
purpose
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63
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- Shorter Oxford: 2 : Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a system of
government in which several States form a central political unity but
remain independent in internal affairs
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64
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- December 10, 1787
In The American Herald (Boston):
- “A FEDERALIST is a Friend to a Federal Government --
- An ANTI-FEDERALIST is an Enemy to a Confederation. –
- Therefore, the FRIENDS to the New Plan of CONSOLIDATION, are
Anti-Federal, and its Opposers are firm Federal Patriots.”
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65
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- Anti-Federalists vs
Federalists
or (more
truthfully):
- Federalists vs Nationalists
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66
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- Anti-Federalists
- Blockheads
- Grumbletonians
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67
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- It was authorized to make alterations in and additions to the Articles
- NY and MA explicitly limited the changes to revisions of the Articles
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68
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- ...; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of
them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a Congress of the United
States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every State.
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69
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- Many Anti-Federalists cited history
as showing that
Freedom is incompatible with
a powerful central government
over a vast territory.
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70
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71
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- 2/3 of both Houses:
- NY, RHL
- Convention minority
in VA, NC, MD
- 3/4 of both Houses: NH
- RI, PA: no standing army.
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72
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- deliver us, we pray thee, from
STANDING ARMIES, and CINCINNATI OFFICERS
- [if the Constitution is adopted]
The military profession will then be respectable...
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73
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- “The Convention knew this was not a free government; otherwise, they
would not have asked the powers of the purse and sword.”
- -- John Smilie (an
Anti-Federalist)
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74
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- Ballot Access Laws
- Since the 1880’s, the “Australian Ballot” requires the government to
print the ballots.
- Before this, anyone could print or write out a ballot.
- “Campaign Reform” has helped incumbents (who enacted it).
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75
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- provide for the general Welfare
- Who defines the “general Welfare”?
- necessary and proper
- Who decides what is “necessary and proper”?
- supreme law of the land
- No ambiguity here. Just power.
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76
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- the difficulty in amending the Articles of Confederation was a
protection
- the difficulty in amending the Constitution was viewed as a threat
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77
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- those who favored ratification of the “gilded pill” were the “NOBLE
order of the C[incinnatu]s, holders of public securities, men of great
wealth and expectation of public office, B[an]k[er]s and L[aw]y[er]s:
these with their train of dependents from Aristocratic combination.”
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78
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- “The rich will have enough advantages against the poor
without political advantages.”
~ Reverend William
Gordon
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79
|
- ignored Article XIII, and the call to revise
- a national govt.-- not a confederation
- the power to levy direct taxes
- a standing army in time of peace
- Congress has control over elections
- ambiguities & implied powers
- amendment process too difficult
- economic interest
- its creation and ratification was rushed
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80
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- On Sept 28, 1787, 16 Anti-Federalists failed to return from the noon
recess (a delaying tactic)
- The legislature’s sergeant at arms was ordered to seek out absent
members
- Only 20 hours between Congress’ transmission and PA’s scheduling of the
state convention early in November
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81
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- The rapid pace favored the Federalists, who were stronger in the cities
with their merchants and lawyers,
and it hurt the Anti-Federalists,
who were stronger in rural areas,
among the farmers.
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82
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- At the convention, the Anti-Federalists, outnumbered 2-1, attempted a
filibuster.
- At the last moment, petitions arrived from the back countries,
beseeching the delegates to adjourn until spring.
The petitions were ignored.
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83
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- Droves of lawyers were supporting the Federalist movement
[General Knox reported to Washington in a survey of the
Massachusetts situation.]
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84
|
- Alarmed at the prospect of failure, Federalists courted John Hancock
with promises of support for higher office.
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85
|
- The first ratifying convention (during the winter) was adjourned by the
Federalists when they sensed defeat.
- A later convention ratified the Constitution: June 21, 1788; 57-47
- NH recommended 12 amendments, attempting to restrict the power of the
new government.
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86
|
- “That no standing Army shall be Kept up in time of Peace unless with the
consent of three fourths of the Members of each branch of Congress, ...”
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87
|
- The ratification failed on a popular vote of 2,708 opposed to
ratification
237 in favor.
- Later, a convention ratified the Constitution: May 29, 1790 [34-32]
- RI included a declaration of rights
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88
|
- “… that standing armies in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and
ought not to be kept up, except in cases of necessity; ...”
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89
|
- “What right had they to say, We, the people?”
- “I look upon that paper as the most fatal plan that could possibly be
conceived to enslave a free people.”
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90
|
After a great struggle,
including a stupendous effort by Patrick Henry,
Virginia ratified the Constitution:
June 26, 1788
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91
|
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92
|
- When thirteen states are molded into one
- Your rights are vanish’d and your honors gone;
- The form of Freedom shall alone remain,
- As Rome had Senators when she hugg’d the chain.
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93
|
When the backcountry
learned of the ratification,
“the people had a Coffin painted black, which borne in funeral
procession,
was solemnly buried,
as an emblem of the dissolution
and internment of publick Liberty.”
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94
|
- Elected to the U.S. Senate
- Helped establish the Bill of Rights
- Retired in 1792 due to failing health
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95
|
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution were ratified in
1791, three years after the Constitution was ratified.
This was an attempt to protect the rights of Americans under the
Constitution.
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96
|
- Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
- A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be
infringed.
- No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without
the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be
prescribed by law.
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97
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- The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be
violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause,
supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
- No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous
crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in
cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in
actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be
subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or
limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness
against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without
due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use,
without just compensation.
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98
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- In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have
been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature
and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses
against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his
favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
- In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no
fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the
United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
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99
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- Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted.
- The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
- The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people.
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100
|
- Despite the requests of States,
the Bill of Rights does NOT include
any amendment limiting or prohibiting
a Standing Army in Time of Peace.
- Today our Standing Army stretches across the entire globe.
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101
|
|
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102
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103
|
- “[Supreme Court Chief Justice] John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it.
- ~ President Andrew Jackson,
1832
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104
|
- "Anyone in a free society where the laws are unjust has an
obligation to break the law.“
~ Henry David Thoreau
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105
|
- "How does it become a man to behave toward the American government
today?
I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated with
it.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
|
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106
|
- Ralph Emerson
[visiting Thoreau,
who is in jail for refusing to pay the War Tax]:
“Henry, what are
you doing in there?”
- Thoreau responded:
“Ralph, what are you doing out there?”
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107
|
- many other countries ended slavery
without massive violence & bloodshed.
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108
|
- “No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority” [1867]
- “Vices Are Not Crimes: A Vindication of Moral Liberty” [1875]
|
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109
|
- The Constitution has no inherent authority or obligation. It has no
authority or obligation at all, unless as a contract between man and
man. And it does not so much as even purport to be a contract between
persons now existing.
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110
|
- Vices are those acts by which a man harms himself or his property.
- Crimes are those acts by which one man harms the person or property of another.
- Vices are simply the errors which a man makes in his search after his
own happiness.
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111
|
- The New Colossus
- by Emma Lazarus
- Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame
- With conquering limbs astride from land to land...
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112
|
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land,
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!"
cries she With silent lips.
"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning
to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
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|
113
|
|
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114
|
- By conquering Spain and taking the Philippines, the U.S. government was
conquered by the principles of the old Spanish Empire.
|
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115
|
- These voluntary community organizations provided insurance for their
members.
- By 1900, there were thousands of Friendly Societies.
|
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116
|
- Woodrow Wilson’s
re-election campaign slogan 1916:
- “He kept us out of war”
- 1917: He got us into war.
|
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117
|
- "It [the telephone] will unmake our work. No greater instrument of
counter-revolution and conspiracy
can be imagined."
~ Joseph Stalin
|
|
118
|
|
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119
|
- The Truman Doctrine:
- "The United States will defend free people and their free
institutions
at any place
at any point
in the world
where outside communist aggression threatens that nation's
internal stability."
|
|
120
|
|
|
121
|
|
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122
|
- The USSR decentralized….
- So can we.
|
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123
|
|
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124
|
- World Trade Center
- Pentagon
- White House?/Congress?
|
|
125
|
|
|
126
|
|
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127
|
- "If we cannot by reason,
by influence,
by example,
by strenuous
effort, and
by personal
sacrifice,
mend the bad places of
civilization,
we certainly cannot do it by force. “
~ Auberon
Herbert
|
|
128
|
|
|
129
|
- War on Poverty
- War on Drugs
- War on Iraq
- War on Terror
|
|
130
|
- 98.5% of incumbents were reelected to Congress in 2002
|
|
131
|
- Article V of the Constitution:
“The Congress …
shall propose amendments to this constitution, or …
shall call a convention…”
|
|
132
|
- The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it
necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, or
- on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several
states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments,
- which , in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as
part of this constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of
three-fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three-fourths
thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by
the Congress ...
|
|
133
|
|
|
134
|
- ...for when The time comes for reform.
|
|
135
|
Keep the history of the
“Articles of Confederation
and perpetual Union”
and the Anti-Federalists
alive…- ...for when The time
comes for reform.
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136
|
|
Notes