My congressman sent out an e-mail in which he was inexplicably whining about some backlash he\u2019s gotten from his constituents over some recent political decisions.\u00a0 He appeared genuinely perplexed at why we would be upset, and went on to wonder if compromise and \u201cgetting along\u201d would ever be possible in Washington.\u00a0 I wrote him what I think (and hope) was a thoughtful letter, trying to explain at least my frustrations with his positions.<\/p>\n
I also made a genuine offer to meet with him to help him understand the thinking outside the Beltway, so I don\u2019t want to mention him by name in a public forum.\u00a0 I would love to get a fair hearing from him, and I don\u2019t want to give him a reason, by my own foolishness, to decline my offer.\u00a0 Before you dismiss this as a fool\u2019s errand, I will say that as cynical as I am about politicians (as you\u2019ll see below), I think there might actually be an outside chance that he might be willing to listen.\u00a0 He ran as a conservative small business owner from my area, and he has been an otherwise fairly reliable congressman.\u00a0 So I will give him the benefit of the doubt.\u00a0 For now.<\/p>\n
But he has really blown it in my opinion \u2013 and, apparently, in the opinion of many \u2013 because of some recent overtures to the Left on the budget, gun control, declining to hold government officials accountable, and spending\u2026 not to mention a significant campaign donation to the current President.\u00a0 Seriously.<\/p>\n
Anyway, just for grins and giggles, I thought I\u2019d share with you some of the broader philosophical issues that I explained to him, which apply to all of our \u201cpublic servants\u201d.<\/p>\n
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY \u2013 LIBERTY<\/b><\/p>\n
When politicians take office, they raise their right hands and take the following oath:<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
They do not swear to get along with, or find common ground with, anyone else \u2013 of any party.\u00a0 They do not swear to enact \u201ccommon-sense\u201d laws.\u00a0 They don\u2019t even swear to represent the people of their districts.\u00a0 They actually only swear to \u201crepresent\u201d the Constitution of the United States.<\/p>\n
In short, they have one duty: to defend the Constitution, and in so doing, defend liberty.<\/p>\n
This is why Ron Paul (think what you want of him) never had to explain away a vote, or say he didn\u2019t want to \u201cdwell on how we got here\u201d (Washington speak for \u201cdon\u2019t blame me\u201d), or lose track of excuses for various contradictory positions.\u00a0 He could simply say, \u201cThe Constitution does not authorize Congress to [fill in the blank].\u201d\u00a0 This makes decision making very easy.<\/p>\n
When legislators consider a piece of legislation, they should ask themselves two questions: (1) Does the Constitution authorize Congress to do this?\u00a0 (2) Does this bill expand liberty?\u00a0 If the answer to the first is \u201cno\u201d, then there is no need to go further; they cannot support the legislation.\u00a0 If the answer is \u201cyes\u201d, then they consider the second question.\u00a0 If that answer is \u201cno\u201d, then again they cannot support it.\u00a0 That\u2019s it! \u00a0Done.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go get a beer.<\/p>\n
POWER \u2013 LIBERTY\u2019S ENEMY<\/b><\/p>\n
At its root, the problem of mankind is his desire for one thing: Power.\u00a0 J.R.R. Tolkein wrote in The Lord of the Rings<\/i>, \u201cMen\u2026above all else, desire power.\u201d\u00a0 Government is power, and it attracts people who hunger for it.\u00a0 A recent article in a well-known publication said my congressman\u2019s trouble with his constituents is \u201csadly emblematic of what ails Washington today: hyper-partisanship<\/span> in politics and new media; powerful and unaccountable interest groups<\/span>; vast amounts of undocumented money<\/span>; and a Congress corrupted by the system<\/span>.\u201d (Emphasis mine.)<\/p>\n However, the author of that article fails to understand that each of these problems is a result of power itself.<\/p>\n If the government did not wield such power in every aspect of our lives, it would not occupy so much of our thoughts, discussions, arguments, bitterness and anger; thus, there would be no hyper-partisanship in politics.\u00a0 We wouldn\u2019t have to get angry about what the other guy\u2019s partisan politician is doing to us.<\/p>\n If the government did not wield such power, there would be no need for any special interest groups.\u00a0 Do lobbyists ever knock on your door offering luxurious golf outings, cruises or other forms of graft, so you can grant them special favors?\u00a0 Why not?\u00a0 Because you have no power that is useful to them.<\/p>\n If the government did not wield such power, there would be no money chasing it.<\/p>\n And if the government did not wield such power, there would be no corruption.\u00a0 Actually, the article stated it backwards: Congress is not corrupted by the system, as though it is some poor victim; it created and preserves the system<\/i>.<\/p>\n We need to continue to educate our fellow citizens to the truth and danger of political power.\u00a0 Thomas Jefferson understood its dangers when he said: \u201cIn questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.\u201d\u00a0 So did James Madison: \u201cWherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression.\u201d<\/p>\n More recently, libertarian economist Doug Casey, founder and chairman of Casey Research, said this: \u201cIt’s been said that power corrupts, and that’s true. But it’s more to the point to say that the corrupt seek power. A good case can be made that anyone who wants to be in a position of power should be precluded from it simply because he wants it.\u201d<\/p>\n I hope and pray that my congressman gets it before he becomes even more a part of the problem.<\/p>\n {This post is courtesy of my friend – SweenDog, who makes some very valid points.\u00a0 Hopefully, we’ll be seeing more posts by him, or her.}<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"