tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post8005382909077594315..comments2023-09-01T09:38:54.262-04:00Comments on Dumb Looks Still Free: The Warnings of the Founding GenerationA Jacksonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607888697879327120noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-19291430721015486972007-05-25T11:01:00.000-04:002007-05-25T11:01:00.000-04:00jd - Washington actually had a talk with his comma...jd - Washington actually had a talk with his commanders which convinced them *not* to take charge of things. For that we have Washington to thank as the States had not: funded the troops, sent proper supplies to the troops, and had played political games against Washington during the Revolution. That one man can establish a tradition, but it has been ages since a Cincinnatus has actually appeared and they are, apparently, few and far between. America has broken many molds, however, but the sparsity of such good men does not lead me to much enthusiasm with military intervention to assure civil society. Especially in this era where the decay of the Nation State is making its structure fragile on a global basis and America stands as a paramount example of what democracy within a Nation *means*.<BR/><BR/>Also the post-Revolution period under the Articles saw uprisings, insurrections and like goings-on in response to the immediate government's lack of ability to apportion taxes. Many small farmers were being thrown into debtors prison for NO debt they personally garnered. In many cases it was the soldiers who had served who were taking up arms, and Shays came closest of many attempts to change government by point of gun. We are, perhaps, one Shays away from *that* returning to America. We forget our own history and the longer view of it at our peril, and it is only that the Revolutionaries had put forth a democratic means to join in Confederation and utilize forces to establish the Union that the creation of the Union was safeguarded. Any attempting mere brute force without the backing of conceptual understanding that they put forth and adhere to is no friend of liberty. That is the great lessons of Revolutions: the structure that brings them to power will then be IN power once the Revolution is over.<BR/><BR/>America's Revolution was based on the ideas and ideals of democracy and representative government and Congress being able to find a Leader for the Army to then defend the Colonies becoming Nation. Without that backing and the personal strength of Washington, things would have been very different.<BR/><BR/>The class structure that has built up for the political parties and their Elites has been a slow growth business, but has been reinforced by the very things that were meant to 'stabilize' democracy by the Progressives in the late 19th and early 20th century. Diverse and quarrelsome democracy is not pretty, but it does work... just not quickly nor efficiently. By looking to make democracy faster and more efficient the restraints upon democracy have now made it far less than representative of the People. The era of the 20th century that saw the supremacy of the Nation State in all things has led to its corrosion and decay as those wishing to create an undemocratic structure OVER Nations wish to change the course of mankind back to Elite rule.<BR/><BR/>Thus a military coup not backed by democratic means begins to look suspiciously like many another coup in S. America, Africa, Asia, and even in Europe. One of which was the assassination of Arch Duke Ferdinand by a radical Serbian separatist. From small means comes absolute horror and global war.<BR/><BR/>To overthrow government we have two means directly in the Constitution: Amending and Convention.<BR/><BR/>I have always seen Amending as the preferable of the two so as to exercise diverse democracy and then force the power structure to explain itself. That is why I do go on about changing that 'no greater than 30,000' to 'equal to 30,000' for Representatives and then removing House personal staff and only keeping committee staff. We now have means to get nearly 10,000 individuals to communicate and actually do their *jobs* of making good government. Try to find 10,000 dispersed Elites across the Nation in large towns and small and in diverse neighborhoods and congested urban populations. That is actually the *opposite* of Elite.<BR/><BR/>The pay would not be great, you work from home, and you actually have to *live* amongst your neighbors whom you Represent. I am sure the first couple of sessions will sweep up nearly every lawyer in America... who will then disagree so vehemently with each other that their inability to *form* law will be seen. Plain and simple Amendment to return representation to the House.<BR/><BR/>Convention for single issues I have always considered to be ill-advised. Still do for those wanting just one single issue, like, say, abortion or education or some such. That is purely local for scope and needs addressing down to that level. A Governor calling upon his Citizenry to enforce the Laws by their own cognizance, including the Federal, and then having a bunch of illegals that the Federal will not deal with?<BR/><BR/>Where is the equal protection guaranteed *by* the Constitution, in that? For something of that level, where the actual administration of laws unjustly, unfairly or negligently by the Federal Government is a great and grave cause to call a Convention to hold the Federal Government accountable. And the role of the military is to studiously sit on the sidelines and announce: We are Citizens and this is absolutely legitimate under the Constitution and We support it because that is Our Oath to the People.<BR/><BR/>Now you're talking! The shot *not* fired heard around the world.<BR/><BR/>A military that upholds the Rights of Citizens to 'change or abolish government' is the *perfect* way to change things. And there is *nothing* the Washington Elite structure can do about it.<BR/><BR/>The States, clearly, did not sign a suicide pact in 1787. Article I, Section 10 is clear demonstration of it, as are the Bill of Rights securing all Rights not enumerated in the Constitution to the States and the People.<BR/><BR/>One Governor absolutely fed up with the Federal Government is all it takes with Just Grievance and neglect by the Federal side. We gots lots of that around! 7-30 million of them at last count.<BR/><BR/>As said of Andrew Jackson: "One man with courage makes a majority."<BR/><BR/>And that is how one is made.A Jacksonianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07607888697879327120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-14442657192082423082007-05-24T14:54:00.000-04:002007-05-24T14:54:00.000-04:00Re-reading your last response I'd like to make two...Re-reading your last response I'd like to make two points:<BR/><BR/>First you say "...the Citizen as ultimate bag holder with ultimate power" - I agree this is true if the goverment is responsive to the opinions of the represented. But look at this government recently (The Illegal Alien Amnesty Bill for example) The congress and President attempted to push through a very unpopular law decided without public debate or even informed representatives on the subject. That is not the hallmark of a representative government that listens to it's citizens. I would submit that at some point near where we are now some one will decide that since there is no responsibility to the governed's wishes more drastic measure may or should take place - including violence. (I personally would rather legal term limits be tried first)<BR/><BR/>Second you state "To change politics by use of the gun requires the hardest stringencies and threat to liberty and then being held accountable, for good or ill, for taking action and putting forth that it is not something done to make tyrannical choice. Lone gunmen cross that line and decide, for themselves, what is good or not for society and that gets one rule by Warlord."<BR/><BR/>In response to that I would refer to Sulla.<BR/><BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Cornelius_Sulla<BR/><BR/>There is precident for military intervention in western society which later releases the government back to civilian rule. In a manner it is exaclty what Washington did upon leaving offce vouluntarily after his term as president had ended.<BR/><BR/>I just wanted to point out that other than legal means don't always result in tyranny and non-violent means sometimes are not enough.<BR/><BR/>I fear we will move closer to this showdown before we move away.JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10547127815404639435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-48879522661586155612007-05-24T14:42:00.000-04:002007-05-24T14:42:00.000-04:00You response reminds me of the point made by Bill ...You response reminds me of the point made by Bill Wittle at http://www.ejectejecteject.com/. His latest two part essay stresses the need to change as a citizen in order to change the situation of govenrment IIRC. I'm afraid with the built-in upper class of legislators and the degree to which they are unaccountable to their constituents personal change may only work with strict term limits and fearless prosecution of seditionists. The political parties in this country are so dysfunctional no meaningful representation or governance happens anymore. Strict term limits would refocus legislators on their job since they would not be constantly running for re-election.<BR/><BR/>One more thing, I've been reading about the intentions of the founding fathers in "America: The Last Best Hope" by Bill Bennet. Very interesting to read about the thoughts of the FF while the constitution was beeing drafted and ratified.<BR/><BR/>Nice speaking with you.JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10547127815404639435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-62409053195240438342007-05-24T10:48:00.000-04:002007-05-24T10:48:00.000-04:00jd - My thanks! I am trying to find some sense s...jd - My thanks! I am trying to find some sense so as to address a world slowly going senseless. A damned hard thing to do in this day and age.<BR/><BR/>Those who come through the military, in today's generation, are Volunteers and see that the Nation and its principles and values are worth defending and upholding. Of those Due Process of Law is held the highest and paramount to liberty and freedom. One does not join up without that sense to begin with, and the regimen of disciplined work at defending it makes the holding of that ideal very strong, indeed. Violating the trust put in the Armed Forces is something that would break the Union apart down to the core - all the way to the Declaration. Our Citizen Soldiers in many lands have seen exactly what happens when that is broken: chaos and tyranny ensue.<BR/><BR/>Our lack of faith in *ourselves* is likewise dividing the Nation. The 'two sides' now address things that no longer sustain the Nation and put its survival at risk, and because of the size of the US the entirety of the modern world trembles when America founders in its self-belief. That trust of the founding generation on *both* sides of the Constitutional debate was in the inherent ability of the Citizenry to hold dialogue about the common Nation, and yet still have fierce attachment and loyalty to their beliefs and their States. That starts from the Declaration and through the <A HREF="http://ajacksonian.blogspot.com/2006/04/preambling-and-what-it-tells-you-about.html" REL="nofollow">Preamble</A> and puts the Citizen as ultimate bag holder with ultimate power. To change politics by use of the gun requires the hardest stringencies and threat to liberty and then being held accountable, for good or ill, for taking action and putting forth that it is not something done to make tyrannical choice. Lone gunmen cross that line and decide, for themselves, what is good or not for society and that gets one rule by Warlord.<BR/><BR/>Of all the lacks in politics today a Nationalist Party is the greatest void. One that upholds having a Nation in common first and the laws to keep such going via representative democracy. And to let other Nations know that we do stand for *something* that is not 'business' or 'trade' or 'humanitarian concerns'. But FOR Liberty secured so that individuals may know the fruits of their labor and be able to do good by their own conscience. Such a party would have no truck with a 'Peace Corps' nor 'UN' nor 'NAFTA', because there is no basis for them for a Free People... to uphold this Nation amongst all Nations and be held accountable and hold others accountable to their actions. Where is *that* Party?<BR/><BR/>What the People have, with their States, is the way out: Take up arms lawfully and as needed to protect yourself and your State when other forces cannot intercede in times of invasion or Danger. We do not do that in the United States and have handed so much over to the Federal that there is no ability to even *state* that the People are the ultimate holders of law and force and will be held accountable to them, and in that doing HOLD higher government accountable to ITS lacks.<BR/><BR/>The worry was, with the forming of the Constitution, that 13 States would be so parochial, so invested with themselves, that there would be continuous internecine sniping and war. The Constitution was made to limit that, but not *end it*... yet, today, there are only a handful of States that actually have a self-identity left, and while those still have them they do not do anything to defend their State nor history nor outlook.<BR/><BR/>And the Nation suffers because of that.<BR/><BR/>It does not take much to find those that keep and bear arms and ask them if they really mean those arms are a social and societal good *beyond* mere ownership. A good right to defend more than themselves and their families and property, but to defend society and their State and let the Nation know it needs to abide by the agreements of 1787. One State with its People can fundamentally alter the Nation in ways valid and Constitutional, and yet overturn decades of thought in that doing.<BR/><BR/>As it is both 'Right' and 'Left' cooperate in adding more to government and, thusly, taking more from the People and making those things unaccountable. Representative government to actually *represent* the diversity of opinion on what it means to have a Nation was seen as the bedrock of the Nation in 1787. At the time Boston having ONE representative seemed *absurd* for the diversity of opinion in that city on the National scale. Liberty from wide and diverse democracy that represents the People was meant to secure freedom. Limiting representation has limited democracy and slowly shifted the ability of the People to address government as something held accountable to them... instead we find staff and bureaucrats that we are supplicants *to*.<BR/><BR/>An Assassin's bullet does not change that, nor even 435 of them.<BR/><BR/>We must change that, by our actions and our deeds. Because We agree that We hold the bag on this... and the Power to change it as the ultimate source of All Power in the Nation rests in each of us.A Jacksonianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07607888697879327120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-36458145938052079162007-05-24T09:45:00.000-04:002007-05-24T09:45:00.000-04:00Perhaps I was a little loose in my use of the term...Perhaps I was a little loose in my use of the term assasination. Our soldiers, if my memory serves, have sworn to defend the constitution against all enemies foreign AND domestic. I guess my surprise is that of the 10s thousands of active and retired personnel who would have the ability to carry out a professional quality "assasination" none have done so. One would think that in a population that large someone could convince themselves they were fulfilling their oath. Furthermore, they wouldn't have to go very far to convince me they were right.<BR/><BR/>BTW, I love your work. You do a great job and provide a very valuable service providing your point of view.JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10547127815404639435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-25695435193385707342007-05-23T21:15:00.000-04:002007-05-23T21:15:00.000-04:00jd - Most assassins are of the amateur variety, wi...jd - Most assassins are of the amateur variety, with Oswald being the rare exception. That is why I put up my <A HREF="http://ajacksonian.blogspot.com/2006/07/derived-cardinal-rules-for-assassins.html" REL="nofollow">Derived Cardinal Rules for Assassins</A>: most assassins are either amateur or deranged. Professionals do *not* go after public figures, from what I can figure out. Assassins are *not* soldiers and have an entirely different outlook on life. Soldiers kill for their Nation and with sanction - Assassins kill as a profession and need to keep that at the top of their minds for personal survival. <BR/><BR/>The exception to this are terrorist organizations, like FARC's attempted assassination of President Clinton on a visit to Columbia. Terrorists kill for a 'cause' even if that is often a fantastical one.<BR/><BR/>That said, the deranged, psychotics that normally go after political and other high ranking figures have not shown up for over a decade and heading on two. One wonders if that is due to some sociological factor or not... they do, however, show up on school grounds and college campuses. Very disaffected at a younger age and not having time to grow up.<BR/><BR/>Soldiers make the worst assassins, by and large, and when they do go after political figures it is usually not with a sane mind or seeking personal power alone. And it bespeaks very, very highly that the compact of civil authority guiding military action has held up well over these centuries. <BR/><BR/>May it continue to do so.A Jacksonianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07607888697879327120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-8019184522967931402007-05-23T20:44:00.000-04:002007-05-23T20:44:00.000-04:00Further thoughts... I guess that no one's been as...Further thoughts... I guess that no one's been assasinated yet speaks well of the professionalism of our troops. Active and retired.JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10547127815404639435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20372724.post-53290909384632528412007-05-23T20:41:00.000-04:002007-05-23T20:41:00.000-04:00I am amazed that some citizen, more likely than no...I am amazed that some citizen, more likely than not I guess retired military, has not decided to use their sniper or assasination training to start making these tyrants pay for their abdication of representing the citizens. Never has there been a better case for term limits than the crap that passes for the legislative process these days.<BR/><BR/>Legislative term limits or 50 caliber. I'm getting to the place lately where I don't care which.JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10547127815404639435noreply@blogger.com