Sent: Friday, December 13, 2013 2:34 PM
Subject: Can we unite in a common Spirit?
My optimism about the future of the United States of America is at a low, and I fear it is still on the ebb tide. The question is: will the tide turn?
I am not saying I am the most well-read of individuals, but from what I have read it appears that the founding fathers of our nation were not just spiritual men, but also men who shared a common Spirit.
The difference between people of a religious spirit and spiritual men is major—the difference between night and day. Our founders knew the difference, which was why the First Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…
Two things do not mix well with government: religion and industry.
Combine religion and government and you get religious tyranny. This is why Islam is an enemy of the Constitution, as it is a religion that is inescapably a worldview that combines religion and government. The same can be said of the religions of environmentalism, secular humanism and atheism.
Combine industry and government and you get the tyranny of fascism/communism, which may be slightly less horrid than a religious state.
America has become guilty of doing both—combining religion and industry into government. By a corruption of the Commerce Clause, it has opened the gates wide to a limitless ability to usurp control over what was once considered a “free enterprise system.” Through junk science and political correctness it is creating a secular/humanist religious state, which is fostering the degradation of this nation, from one which had endorsed common spiritual values to one which increasingly emulates the most pagan, and causes its citizenry to discard sound values.
It comes down to a contest between the spirit of man and the Spirit of God—Man’s thinking versus God’s thinking. As the Word says “our righteous acts are as filthy rags.”
That is what happens to a nation when it is governed by the thinking of man—things just go south. Every time a decision is made that lacks the wisdom of God, things just get worse. The law of unintended consequences rule supreme.
I am not a religious man, but I am a firm believer in God—as the author of the universe and the perfecter of my faith. One thing I have grown to know: The ways of God work, and the ways of man do not work.
This, ultimately is why (though it can sound great) I cannot adhere to the policies of a Libertarian—as God and His wisdom is stripped from the equation.
As close as was ever done by mankind, the Constitution of the United States of America was founded on Spiritual insight—to be a document that would work (so long as its people remained basically grounded in the Spirit of Truth).
The Constitution provides that “The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative;…”
One of the greatest concerns for preserving the integrity of the House of Representatives was the adequacy of the size of the House. A high degree of citizen participation in the government — via the House of Representatives — was believed crucial for protecting the citizenry from the government.
Article the First (also referred to as the Congressional Apportionment Amendment) is the first proposed amendment to the United States Constitution—though it has not been ratified (and also was sabotaged by changing one word in the final clause replacing the word “less” with “more” thereby destroying the purpose of the amendment). It was the first of twelve amendments produced by the 1st Congress on September 25, 1789, and submitted to the state legislatures for ratification pursuant to Article V of the Constitution. Article the first: “After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.” The word more replaced the word less, rendering the amendment pointless and unenforceable after the number of representatives reached 200
It is unfortunate that this amendment was corrupted and did not get ratified, as the number of persons represented by a member of the House of Representatives is critical to the process whereby citizen participation can be effective. Our founders recognized that there was a functional limitation on the number of people represented and still be able to assure that the representative was in fact accountable to the people. The founders looked at 30,000 to 50,000 as being a workable number. I would suggest that to exceed 100,000 would be to destroy the ability of the citizenry to truly exercise control over the process. Currently, the average House member represents is approaching a 1,000,000 people. As the number gets larger (exceeding 50 to 100 thousand), the ability for the citizenry to maintain a direct relationship via public and other meetings diminishes, and the processes of politics takes over—which include all the gimmickry found in the modern political process. Under the current system, we no longer elect citizen statesmen accountable to us, but politicians, carefully choreographed to get the vote—either self-serving or accountable to special interests.
The Constitution was intended as a
document whereby the federal government could fulfill its function, while the
people and the States could effectively limit and control it from the tyranny of
despots and self-serving politicians.
Plain and simple, nowhere that I have found is the concept of small district representation—as existed at the time of our nation’s founding—being taught as a critical element to self-government by We the People. Small districts should exist for the House of Representatives as well as for state legislatures so they also remain accountable.
The 17th Amendment effectively stripped the States of the ability to protect their interests. And, a combination of the Appropriations Act of 1911 (which fixed the House at 435 members) and the evolution of primary elections for selecting political candidates—combined--has effectively stripped “we the people’s” ability to control the House of Representatives or the Senate.
Both Senate and House represent huge numbers of people—far more than manageable for true representation. All the gimmickry of politicians—deceptive advertising and big money—reign supreme. Thanks to the primary election process, even the ability to select a candidate by a local convention is stripped away and the political gimmickry and big money reigns. We the People have truly lost the House of Representatives and we the people did not gain the Senate via the 17th Amendment, but instead yielded State interests to those of political gimmickry.
The Senate was designed to work by having the State Legislatures select the senators. The House of Representatives was designed to work by keeping the number of Representatives large enough to truly represent the interests of the people. Instead the politicians have won—those who prefer self-interest over the general welfare.
God’s ways work. Industry is to be rewarded. Honesty and Integrity are critical to the national character as is the family unit. Certain lifestyles work, others do not—God does point the way to what works and discourages what does not.
However, our nation is not following God’s way. In fact even the churches are fearful of promoting God’s truth with regard to our nation—for fear of the government.
The federal government was intended to safeguard and promote the GENERAL WELFARE, and instead has been busy promoting special interest welfare to the detriment of the general welfare—but that is what you get when you destroy the legislative process as was done via a few simple acts of government and a cowardly or otherwise religious (as distinct from Spiritual) church.
It is easy for people to gather together to be religious, it is not so easy for two or more to gather together in the common Spirit of God—which I would suggest is the only way that we can get some creative thinking about government going other than to stay where we are: operating in the fleshly and shallow thinking of man.
I believe this nation could turnaround quickly—but the time is short. However, I do not see any indication on the horizon of it happening. Can we gather in the common Spirit and work from wisdom—or do as we are and keeping spinning our wheels?
We are encumbered by laws that lack wisdom, consume valuable resources, and wear us down. We are encumbered by government programs that are not just inefficient, they are counter-productive and should never have been. The values that once made America great are now the values that are condemned.
I live in a rural community. I just drove three blocks to the school to pick up my grand-daughter. The school is surrounded by iron gates and fencing. The younger kids who are not picked up by parents within a few minutes are sent to day-care.
When I was young, I always walked to and from school, even in kindergarten —and the distance was much more than three blocks. My parents did not worry about my being molested, nor did they worry if I dallied on my way home. I was able to wander the neighborhood and play with friends without parental supervision. Today, it is a different world. It does not have to be that way.
A DIRE WARNING OF WHERE THIS NATION IS HEADING: “History has proved it over and over, worldwide; only an all-powerful government could ever hope to control a populace with no moral core.” -- The Eye of Moloch, page 139.
Do you understand our form of government? If you do not understand the important difference between a Constitutional Republic and a Democracy, you are not equipped to understand the politics of our struggle against tyranny. Please watch this 10 minute 36 second video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDS1OHk7Lf8&feature=related
Political Opportunism – The forces of political opportunism overshadow and blind us to the real issues. To turn this nation around, we must escape (at least for the moment) the tyranny of politicians and the promotion of such—as no man or group of men will be the salvation for our nation. In the early days of the Massachusetts Colony, it is said that for an individual to seek public office was an immediate disqualification. If only we, who wish to restore our Republic, could grab hold of that concept and live it, perhaps we could not just focus on the battle plan of action needed to restore our limited federal government, but also protect our potential candidates for public office from character assassination—by having the focus being on the policy that is being proposed, and not the individual candidate sworn to promote that policy. This is an idea that bears much thought in order to come to fruition—for in its fruition is the only hope that corporate wisdom of “We the People” will prevail over the short sighted political process that governs modern American politics.
Do you want to understand the sad history as to how our nation is on the verge of bankruptcy due to its supposed WAR ON POVERTY? I thought I understood the background fairly well until I read the book by Marvin Olasky, THE TRAGEDY OF AMERICAN COMPASSION. The saga behind today’s government programs is truly a war on the values that made America a great nation! Maybe, after you read the book, you will be like me and want the book made into a documentary so that the “useful idiots” that are manipulated by the enemies of our republic might learn something! The Tea Party movement is never going to gain a true foothold on solving the nation’s ills until it understands that those at the bottom, the poor, those who have become dependent upon the myriad government programs are just as much victims as those who pay the bill. Until the Tea Party learns this and promotes that reality it will remain a marginal power to effect the change needed to restore this nation.
Darwinian Evolution versus Nature’s God – Our founding documents refer to nature’s God. This is a most serious issue for the survival of our Constitutional Republic—for a valueless, rudderless populous is easy to lead astray. As the Progressive's convince our youth that Darwinian Evolution is a scientific fact, they undermine our nation's foundational strength. One does not win the war of ideas by being uninformed. There are a lot of books that I could recommend on the subject. If you lack time, at least take a little time to view a video on Science and Creation, I recommend the 1 hour and 8 minute video by Hugh Ross. It is currently available on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPvO2EkiLls This is an important topic if we are to reverse the Progressive move to eliminate God from the public forum, and if we hope to disarm the pseudo-intellectuals who mockingly refer Christianity as “intellectual suicide." I highly recommend all of Hugh Ross’s books, and the resources available at http://www.reasons.org/ (For those who bargain shop, these books are significantly less expensive if purchased on Amazon.com).
Stop letting those who hate the Constitution dictate the agenda and terminology: BLUE reflects patriotism and should be for the Patriots of our Constitution, those, Conservatives, Republicans, Libertarians, and yes: Classical Liberals who wish to restore our lost freedoms and the integrity of our Constitutional Republic. RED is the color of socialism/communism and should be the color to portray Progressives, Libertines, Leftist Liberals, Statists, Socialists, Communists, Fascists, Anarchists, and all those simple minded groupies that are easily led astray by shallow ideologies. Why should we patriots follow the color code dictated by the radical left who wish to portray us in an unfavorable light? Look at the map of our last election in the true blue colors:
If you look closely at the map, you will see that we must win back the cities. The election was no landslide for the opposition; we only lost by just over 2%. We need to explain (through the popular media of music, video, Internet, etc.) to the poor how they are being enslaved by government programs, and provide a realistic and optimistic view of a future where they too can have a fruitful and fulfilled life. (This can be achieved through such means as true parental choice in education, restored freedoms to work and create enterprise, and restored rights of private property so the poor can realistically pursue and achieve the American Dream!)
Our nation is going down the tube because our federal government is violating the tenants of the U.S. Constitution. Via a corrupt interpretation of the Commerce Clause, the federal government has usurped authority never granted by the Constitution and based on that corrupt interpretation a lion’s share of our federal bureaucracy has evolved to the detriment of “we the people”, the economy, the nation, and the rights of the individual States. You cannot effectively work to restore our freedom unless you understand the Constitution. A book I recommend (and it comes with an MP3 audio book and also available in video) is the 5000 Year Leap. Learning the subject matter as contained in this book should be mandatory for any high school graduate. If you have not read it, you are missing something important to your knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and your ability to fight the good fight to save America. Check these resources: http://www.learntheconstitution.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/5000-Year-Original-Authorized-Edition/dp/0880801484
I am a classical liberal—as were our nation’s founding fathers: Classical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets. http://www.ncpa.org/pub/what-is-classical-liberalism Just like everything else, those who hate the freedoms our forefathers gave us and want to create a powerful central state to control every aspect of our lives takes perfectly good terms (such as liberalism) and distorts it for their corrupting purposes.
Good viewing: Gun Control for Dummies – good information on the Bill of Rights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F584p5kJL-U
This nation is “losing it” as it progresses in a self-destruct mode. This glorious nation, one uniquely founded on a most reasonable, albeit “sane” foundation than any previous in history—one which brought it to become that shining light to the world—is now becoming an irrational blight upon its own people. Three of the powerful aspects that made America great are being devastated: 1) The strong moral and spiritual base within its people, 2) a free enterprise system, 3) the Constitution of the United States of America established to promote the first two aspects and to protect the public from the tyranny of unrestricted government power.
Our nation was founded by those who fled the despotism of Europe—both religious and governmental. Leaning on the lessons from history it chose to found its government in a way as to keep the three major elements separate: Religion, Government, and Economic Enterprise. For, when any two of those combine, the result is tyranny.
Over the past 150 years, our once strong moral base has been undermined by relentless attacks on our religious beliefs, led by a once plausible theory of evolution—which in light of recent scientific discovery is at best the most far-fetched of pseudo-science—but now enforced by government in the public forum and taught as fact (for those who would care to do some reading on the subject, one book I would recommend is WHY THE UNIVERSE IS THE WAY IT IS, by Hugh Ross).
While the Supreme Court still has the Ten-Commandments prominently displayed, our government actively promotes laws which undermine each and every one of those commandments—making it such that even the most evil of religions can righteously point to this nation as “The Great Satan.”
Unlimited expansion of the federal government has been made possible through a twisted and unintended interpretation of the “Commerce Clause,” –whereby the federal government has undermined the original intent, while blatantly neutering the Tenth Amendment. This has allowed the federal government to unconstitutionally expand is power and diminish our once healthy and prospering free enterprise system.
Any student of history or of human nature knows how fallible man is, and what wickedness he is capable of inflicting on his fellow man. And any man of spiritual understanding can see beyond the shallow ideologies of socialist, communist, and progressive thought which dominate modern politics.
We are in the midst of a war where the enemy is bent on destroying our nation’s moral and spiritual base, our free enterprise system, and the Constitution created to protect it from man’s natural inclination to use government to accumulate power over others.
The attack of the enemy is on multiple fronts and relentless. We must learn to fight effectively—but the battle is the Lord’s. If we are to wage it successfully, we must seek His light, His wisdom, His direction, and His Power. I am not a religious man and must fight off the tendency to hold the institutional church in America in contempt, as it has allowed the enemy to flourish. But thank God we do not need the institution of the church to save this nation, but we do need God. As Christ said in Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." While I applaud the efforts of patriots in various Tea Party movements to expose the attacks of the enemy, we need to establish a true battle plan to win back our Republic. Only with God’s power and direction can we achieve this. I for one, welcome the opportunity to meet with others in prayer for the purpose of seeking God’s direction and power to turn this nation around.
Be aware America:
"Foreign influence is
truly the Grecian horse to a republic. We cannot be too careful to exclude its
influence." – Alexander Hamilton
"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." –
Edmund Burke
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that
matter." – Martin Luther King Jr.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do
nothing." – Edmund Burke
"Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided
missiles and misguided men." – Martin Luther King Jr.
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who
are willing to work and give to those who would not." – Thomas
Jefferson
"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem;
government is the problem." – Ronald Reagan
"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the
government fears the people, there is liberty." – Thomas Jefferson
“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.” –
Psalm 146:3
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths
straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
"There is no gain without struggle." – Martin Luther King Jr.
"Divide and rule, a sound motto. Unite and lead, a better one. "
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate,
tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." – Samuel
Adams
“I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts” – Will Rogers
“If we will not be governed by God, we must be governed by tyrants.” – William Penn
Registered to vote? Check the voter registration status of yourself or a friend: http://www.wallbuilders.com/vote/ Every patriot you can get registered to vote increases our chances of making positive change come the next election. Even better, why not provide them the form to fill out to vote absentee?
As longshoreman philosopher Eric Hoffer once observed, "Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket."
“That's the difference between a totalitarian and a normal person. Liberals are obsessed with controlling what other people do.” – Ann Coulter 2/27/13
"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!"—Samuel Adams, 1776
“It would be a dangerous delusion were a confidence in the men of our choice to silence our fears for the safety of our rights; that confidence is everywhere the parent of despotism; free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions to bind down those whom we are obliged to trust with power; that our Constitution has accordingly fixed the limits to which, and no farther, our confidence may go….In questions of power, let no more be said of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.”—Thomas Jefferson