Restore the Foundation

by Scott N. Bradley

As Election Day draws near, it is astounding to observe the tactics of those who seek our votes! "Change" seems to have become the watchword of the major candidates.  Ch ange means something different to everyone who hears it. Those who utter this platitude apparently hope that each who hears the word will internalize it and interpret it as the change they desire, and thereby throw their support and vote to the change-a gent that best reflects their agenda.  Gender and color seem also to be in the forefront of those wrangling our vote.  Thirty second sound bites that tickle our ears and tweak our emotions are cleverly crafted by political machines that have te sted the shifting winds of popular sentiment and special interest groups, hoping to sail on to victory at the expense of sound principle.  How foolish, how absurd!  Foundational principle is rarely, if ever, considered. Consequently, all that is worthy and great in America is unraveling.

The Founding Fathers of the United States considered the United States Constitution to be a written binding contract between the people of the nation and those who we select t o hold positions of responsibility within our government.  The founders considered the "binding" concept to be so essential that within that great foundational document, that charter of liberty, they require every office holder to take an oath to up hold that contract as written. Article II in the Constitution requires the president to take a specific oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."  Article VI requires all other officers in the nation to take an o ath "to support this Constitution." Today, virtually all those seeking high office have a publicly available voting record.  Sadly, a close examination of their record of how they cast their sacred vote when they were in a position of authority rev eals their disdain for their oath.  We are foolish to expect their current sweet talk, which is calculated to lead to victory this election, to miraculously translate into future sound constitutional behavior! We deceive ourselves if we harbor such sentiments!

The words in the Constitution are written in plain English.  Words have meaning, and those meanings may be known.  We, the people, have a responsibility to know the words well enough to know when our elected representatives violate them, and hold those officials accountable, including removing them from office for perjury when they violate their oath.

The United States Constitution created a national government whose powers are few and defined. The document enumerates the specific powers delegated to the national governmen t, and specifically notes that all other power is retained by the states, or the people.  Constitutional protocol, which was clearly understood by the Founding Fathers, prohibits any re-delegation of power granted to a specific body (legislative, ex ecutive, or judicial), or the usurpation of authority or power not granted by the Constitution.  Their positions are well documented for those who will honestly seek them out.

Contrary to what is currently practiced in violation of constitutional protocol, only the legislature may create law (not the executive or judiciary).  Only congress may exercise powers granted in Article I Section 8 of the Constitution.  None of these listed powers may be re-delegated by congress to other bodies (foreign or domestic). The legislative, for example, may not constitutionally re-delegate the power to regulate our foreign commerce to the president, or to any international body. Congress may not transfer their war-making powers to the president, or to any international body. Congress may not delegate to the president or any international body the pow er to create courts inferior to the Supreme Court.  Congress must decide how to deal with prisoners captured in conflict, not the executive.  These powers are delegated to congress, and they are theirs and theirs alone to exercise.  No amo unt of sophistry or "political-speak" can justify the blatant disregard congress has exhibited in these and countless other matters. The charge of dereliction of duty must be laid at their feet because they lack the courage to fulfill their constitution ally mandated duty.

And what is astounding is the fact that while failing to fulfill their constitutionally delegated charge, the national government seeks constantly to encroach into areas not d elegated to that level of government. Contrary to popular belief and practice, the redistributing the wealth of Americans to foreign powers, to corporate moguls, to the various states, to special interest groups, or even to individuals is not a power gr anted to our government. The phrase, "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need" is not found in the United States Constitution, but, rather, in the writings of Karl Marx! Were there space, countless other examples of usurped po wer could be enumerated. Oh, how far we have strayed from the sound principles of Americanism which made this nation the freest, happiest, most prosperous, and most respected nation on earth!

Liberty and proper government cannot prevail if the great charter of our nation is ignored and set aside by we, the people.  If those who represent us fail in their duty to abide their oath and keep their actions within the bounds established by the Constitution, we are in grave danger, indeed!

Rather than "change" (whatever that means) this nation desperately needs "restoration."  Restoration to the foundation upon which it was originally built. Restoration to a recognition that the powers of the national government are limited to the specific powers enumerated in the Constitution.  Restoration to the understanding that mankind's rights come from God, and that government's only purpose is to preserve tho se rights.  The Declaration of Independence succinctly captures that essence. The Constitution is our charter of liberty under which our sacred, God-given rights are vouched safe.  Look to the Constitution. Read it, ponder it, understand its plain English words, and compare it to the drivel promoted by political shills.  Reject the false philosophies that have been so powerfully promoted by pandering politicians for so many decades.  Vote wisely.  Vote for a restoration and th e preservation of our liberty! Our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor are at stake.