Something To Think About
By William Bailey (07/30/03)
For some time now, there has been a loud outcry about the absence of accountability in a lot of areas, but the loudest and most oft heard seems to be related to the accountability of teachers in the educational system in this country. And, there’s no question that the output (the students) indicate the need for some accountability by those in charge. But, what about the accountability of another group ? Specifically, those who sit in the seat(s) of government ? Primarily, those who occupy the seats in the hallowed halls of the Congress ?
The Preamble to that magnificent document, the Constitution of the United States contains only fifty-two words . . . but, oh the power of those words:
“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.”
The “building-blocks” for this experiment in freedom are, perhaps, more simply stated in twenty words from the document that preceded, and is the foundation for and companion of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence:
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
The oath of office of those who sit in the hallowed halls of Congress states:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God”.
It is quite clear, from the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the oath of office that “government” in this Nation of ours is “We the People” . . . not the Congress. Further, it is clear that the power of this “lesson in liberty” lies with the people . . . not those elected to represent them.
So . . . what’s so hard to understand about the limits and boundaries of authority placed on Congress by the founding document ? As has been stated many times, all one has to do is read Article I, Section 8, Clauses 1-18 along with the Tenth Amendment to understand what Congress is and is NOT authorized to do. The words are there. Is it not time to hold Congress accountable for their “output” in the same manner it is suggested the “educators” should be held accountable for theirs ? Makes sense to me . . .
The National Arboretum, in our Nation’s capital, is supposed to contain a display of every tree, flower and plant native to this country. I have visited this beautiful facility, but there’s one tree that seems to be conspicuous by its absence . . . the “money tree”. Yet, Congress seems to think that all they have to do to pay for the programs they think we need is to run down to the Arboretum and fill up the basket from the “money tree”. Guess what . . . it doesn’t work that way. “We the People” are the “money tree” that funds government. “We the People” have to pay the tab for the programs Congress enacts. Where is the authority ? Where is the accountability ? What they don’t seem to understand is that there are three other levels of government plucking funds from the “We the People money tree”. And the limbs of that “We the People money tree” have been plucked for so long now they are getting rather bare. But yet, year after year, new programs are enacted . . . funding for old ones gets increased . . . and the whole silly cycle continues without any apparent Constitutional authorization nor accountability to the governed. Isn’t it about time that this nonsense stopped and we got back to the principles on which this much-loved nation of ours was founded ?
Every time one turns around there seems to be a demand for an investigation for this or for that. Maybe . . . just maybe . . . we should have an investigation into what it is about the Congressional oath of office and the provisions of the Constitution our elected representatives don’t understand. Then maybe “We the People” could get an understanding of what they believe their source of power and authority really is. From the simple words of the Preamble, and the oath of office, it appears that the authority is assumed . . . not expressly provided for.
Unless, and until, “We the People” speak in a voice that is loud and unmistakable. A voice that can and will be heard. A voice that clearly enunciates that “We . . . “ are the government of this Nation, business as usual will continue.
Something to think about . . .
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